Three weeks before he proposed, Dave Emond took his partner Matthew Lowe on a birthday helicopter adventure near Canmore, Alberta. Matt, who had always wanted to ‘get behind’ the Three Sister Mountains behind Canmore, loved every minute. One might think it would have been the ideal place to propose, but the couple, who value day-to-day life over special occasions, are much happier with their story. It was a random Thursday in April 2016, over take-out pizza and a bottle of their favourite bubbly, when Dave popped the question. Pizza, champagne and a proposal? Priceless.
Matt and Dave had met a decade earlier over sushi in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood. The two, who were living in Ontario at the time, had only just met, yet they ended up talking nonstop in their booth, recognizing something special in the other, not wanting their date to end. They meshed so well from the very beginning that their relationship progressed quickly.
As Dave explains, "it took me over a decade to propose because we were too busy having fun and living life together!"
The two, who both work in the Financial Services industry, eventually made their way to Calgary, drawn to the breathtaking rocky mountains, fresh air, and weekends at their Canmore property biking, skiing, and après-skiing.
Once engaged, the couple moved quickly to plan their dream wedding, choosing the spectacular Emerald Lake Lodge as the backdrop for their wedding weekend extravaganza.
Taking over the entire lodge for their 119 guests, the weekend was pure magic for everyone given the intimacy of having the place to themselves.
The couple worked with a team of professionals overseen by event planner Lynn Fletcher to create a chic, woodsy atmosphere that set the stage for a cocktail reception followed by a 4-course menu that included charcuterie, Bison Short Rib Gnocchi, and a main course of Elk Wellington with a Wild Mushroom Jus.
One of the best moments of Dave and Matt's wedding weekend was a pre-wedding Polar Bear swim. The couple convinced over 30 of their guests to take a dip in glacier-fed Emerald Lake, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and enveloped in water whose temperature was a frigid 2 degrees. The event proved to be a highlight for both those who swam and those who watched.
When it comes to their entertaining style, these newlyweds describe themselves as eclectic, preferring casual elegance over anything too formal - or informal. To them, it's all about paying attention to the details. "That's why great champagne and pizza delivery is one of our favourites," adds Dave. "And now, we have so many beautiful items to enjoy them with."
