**Private and Sweet Upper Bankhead Elopement**
Discover the enchantment of Nicole and Vuong's intimate elopement at Upper Bankhead in Alberta, Canada. Amid the natural beauty, a small gathering, and a delightful stop for beavertails, Kerry’s Photography beautifully captured the magical moments and shared joy between this loving couple.

THE LOVE STORY

“We met at the gym! I know, super original.”

Nicole found herself in a routine at the gym, and amidst the familiar faces, her future husband emerged as one of the regulars. After weeks of synchronized workouts, a chance encounter outside the gym sparked a two-hour conversation. Two days later, Vuong mustered the courage to ask her out, but in a surprising twist, forgot to request her phone number, revealing later that nerves got the best of him. Relying solely on the agreed-upon time and place, they hoped both would show up for their date. Luckily, Nicole got there just in time, avoiding the idea that she stood him up.

The two had a wonderful four hour lunch, though she figured the server might not have been thrilled. Then, a few days later, a job offer in Calgary came her way. When she accepted it, she told Vuong about it, both recognizing the upcoming long-distance challenge and assuming their relationship wasn't going to get too serious since she was moving soon. Surprisingly, every weekend, Vuong tossed aside the casual vibe by driving from Gibbons to Calgary just to be with her. Even more surprising, after only two months of this routine, he threw caution to the wind and moved in with her, going against what they initially expected.

Somehow, they discovered that living together was surprisingly easy, right from the start. Their journey as a couple had begun in 2016, and since then, they had relocated to Edmonton for her job and purchased their forever home three years ago. “From the very beginning, being with Vuong was easy and effortless; and I wanted our elopement to mirror the same mood”.

THE PROPOSAL

September 10th, 2022

The couple were planning their annual trip to Mexico, and at the very last minute, Nicole’s sister wanted to tag along. In the midst of the preparations, Vuong, her then-fiancé, sprung up with a new backpack, complete with an oddly placed lock. Back then, she didn’t give it a second thought, just figured it was another one of his random ‘gadget’ buys off Amazon.

During their first full day in Mexico, the trio found themselves in the pool as the day wound down. Just as relaxation was settling in, the sister got a sudden urge for sunset photos by the beach and hurried everyone to get camera-ready. Nicole reluctantly peeled away from the pool, squeezed in a quick shower, brushed her hair, and changed into a casual outfit for dinner: “At this point I was already getting hangry, which was exacerbated by my sister coming into our room and bemoaning about how I was not dressed up enough”. Despite her insistence that I wasn’t going to be photographed, her sister wasn’t taking a no for an answer. Giving her then-boyfriend the “I’m about to lose it” look. However, ever the peacemaker, he subtly mouthed, “it’s okay. Just do it so we can get to dinner.”

Annoyed but begrudgingly compliant, Nicole took a moment to fix up her hair and switch into something a tad fancier. Meanwhile, her sister, always in a hurry, kept urging them to hustle to catch the golden hour of sunset. Once they hit the beach, they snapped a few pictures of her sister before she generously offered to take some of the couple as well. Little did she know, the sneaky sister was filming the exact moment when Vuong got down on one knee. What started as an evening of annoyance took a wild turn into pure elation and joy. In a hilarious twist, at the end of the video, Nicole cried out, “I would have done my hair much nicer and worn a better dress!” Later, she apologized to her sister for her initial sour attitude “as she did have my best interest at heart!”

T H E D R E S S

“I had a great dress shopping experience. I knew exactly what I wanted so I only had to try on a few dresses before I found the one”.

Sharing the experience with her sister, Jordana, was particularly special. They share a striking similarity, making Jordana the go-to for honesty and understanding. The moment Jordana picked out MOLLY, it was an easy ‘YES’. When Nicole slipped into the dress, it felt like a match made in heaven. The one-shoulder design and open back accentuated all the features she loved about her body, giving her a sense of confidence, classic styles, quiet luxury and effortless elegance. To complement the dress, her sister also chose a beautiful pearl veil that added the perfect finishing touch.

THE ELOPEMENT

Sept 06, 2023 at Upper Bankhead AB Canada

Nicole and Vuong’s elopement day kicked off with a cozy breakfast alongside her parents. A leisurely stroll through town led them to the hair salon, followed by a quick lunch with the groom. After a few hours, Nicole and her husband-to-be started getting ready in separate rooms. In their room, Nicole and her sister got their makeup done. Once primped and primed, the couple hopped into separate vehicles and headed to Upper Bankhead for their first look and took stunning portraits. The families later joined for a heartfelt ceremony. Returning to Banff, Nicole changed into her Cheongsam, and she and Vuong celebrated with BeaverTails while strolling downtown to their dinner spot. Grateful for their guests making long drives to be there, they treated them to a savoury dinner and ample drinks.

“This was one of the luxuries of having a small wedding and a flexible budget. The entire day was everything we wanted it to be”.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ELOPE

“My husband and I chose to elope with immediate family since the vision for our wedding was to celebrate our love with the ones we love”.

During their six years in Calgary, the two frequently embarked on day trips to Banff. Whether it was for a hike in the scenic landscapes or simply to chill downtown with their dog, Timber, their routine always concluded with indulging in some delicious BeaverTails before heading back home.

Nicole and Vuong crafted their elopement plans to capture the same laid-back vibe. They aimed for a super relaxed day, cherishing quality time together, only this time in much fancier clothing. Their wedding centred around their love and the merging of their two families. Equally important was having their fur-baby Timber present. “With a smaller wedding it was easier to have Timber well taken care of during our day”.

They also made a deliberate choice to prioritize memory preservation over splurging on traditional wedding elements like florals, decor, cake and music. They opted for an outstanding photographer, videographer, and a special dinner for their beloved guests. Choosing to elope allowed them to keep the wedding as intimate as possible, made even more special with Nicole’s sister as the officiant. Additionally, they aimed for an environmentally-friendly celebration, especially since their elopement unfolded in a national park. Keeping it natural meant steering clear of wasteful decorations and minimizing one-time use items that typically end up discarded by the end of the evening.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

Anecdotes from the Bride:

I changed into my traditional Chinese wedding dress (Cheongsam) after the wedding ceremony. I wore it around Banff downtown before, and during dinner.
Being able to spend the whole day with my husband (except for two hours when we were getting ready).
Having my sister officiate our wedding and not a stranger.
Having a small sit down dinner with family at one single table. Being able to talk to everyone without rushing from table to table, having small conversations.