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Although it's not set in stone, people can't help but feel a little lighter after the "Open for Summer" plans were announced by the Alberta government last week. After almost a year and a half of people feeling halfway between "this will never be over" and "please tell me this is the last wave", we can finally look forward to that glimmering light at the end of the tunnel. Although we have loved our intimate elopements and 5-person micro weddings, we know so many of our couples want to celebrate with at least a few of their family and friends. If you are curious about Alberta's "open for summer" plans, you can read all about the three stage approach here. We have been keeping in touch with most of our couples as our eyes have been peeled on all the changes, but if you ever have ANY questions regarding your wedding or elopement, you can always contact us here.
In case you are new to the Fly Free blog, before we get into the last minute wedding planning tips, allow us to quickly introduce ourselves. I'm Krystal, lead photographer and Boss Lady here at Fly Free. I'm one of those crazy women who works with their husband, but honestly, if you are looking for a wedding videographer, there is nobody I'd rather have by my side than my husband Mike. For more information about us and our amazing associate photographers, head here.
First Steps to Planning a Last Minute Wedding (2021 Fall Weddings!)
If this good news has you feeling as excited as we are, and if you haven't officially saved the date, you might want to consider a Fall 2021 wedding (or whatever other last minute date you have your eye on!). Here are a few of our top tips for booking last minute! Or, if all of this seems like a lot of work and you are just ready to get married, check out our elopement and micro wedding packages! We have done a lot of the heavy lifting for you when sourcing your beauty team, florist, venue, and more.
Your Wedding Venue
One of the first vendors booked is often the venue, so you should *usually* start your search here. For 2021 (and even 2022), availability will likely be a bit of an issue but here are our a few of our favorite Calgary wedding venues to get your search started. You might also want to consider something a little more untraditional like a backyard wedding, a family property or Airbnb rental, or asking your photographer for their unique wedding location recommendations *wink wink*.
Booking The Rest of Your Vendors
Here's where you get to be a bit of a rule breaker. Instead of a more traditional timeline (where you might have 8,12, or even 24 months to plan), I am going to encourage you to book the vendors *most important* to you first. Do this instead of following some timeline list you found online. Focus on YOUR priorities. A few vendors you may even want to check with before booking your venue.
Just to give you a quick idea, here are some vendors you may want to get in touch with ASAP:
Wedding Photographer/Videographer
Florist
Makeup & Hair
Music
Stationer/Calligrapher
Caterer
Wedding Cake Baker
Photo Booth
Bridal Boutique/Attire
If photography is important to you and you feel like the Fly Free family here might be a good fit, I would love for you to reach out here! We help with the planning and logistics as well, so you don't need to stress about finding a last minute wedding planner. We can walk you through creating your wedding day timeline, choosing your locations, and we are here to answer any other questions you have.
Elopement Packages in Calgary and the Rocky Mountains
Once you have your vendors lined up, things should start to fall into place rather quickly. After all, it might be your first wedding but it isn't ours! If you have hired reputable vendors, many are more than happy to share a little insider advice with you from their experience. If you would like to make things EVEN easier for yourself, you can contact us here and we will help you every step of the way. Or, take a look at our elopement packages (some will work for micro weddings if you want to invite guests!) right here.