An excerpt from our January/February issue, where we annually carry a western wedding feature. Be sure to subscribe and catch next years edition.
Date: August 10, 2013
Photographer: Nicole Wade
Ceremony Location: Willow Creek Ranch, Saskatchewan
Their Story: Ashley is a Saskatchewan farm girl who grew up riding good horses and making her way through the 4H ranks. She was soon led to the rodeo arena, where she competed in college rodeos and progressed to many rodeo associations across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Tyler, on the other hand, did not grow up in the industry, but got his first taste of agriculture at 19, working on a grain farm, outside of Kindersley, Saskatchewan. He stayed with farming, going on to attend Olds College. It was there that he developed a love for roping, which would lead him to compete on the University of Lethbridge college rodeo team when he moved on to study there.
It was the commonality of the love of the rodeo and farming industries that brought the two together. In 2009, the couple met while both were employed at a feedlot outside of High River, Alberta.
\”It was love at first sight. After getting to know one another, we realized how much we had in common and found it hard to beleive we were both living in High River, but grew up not far from each other near Kindersley, Saskatchewan.\”
After a short time of travelling back and forth, trying their hand at a challenging long-distance relationship, both Ashley and Tyler moved back to Saskatchewan and were engaged by the spring of 2012.
The Horses: With a background heavily laden with horses, the couple wanted to include them in their big day. Tyler\’s uncle drove the groom and groomsmen with his grand team of Clydesdales, while the bride and bridesmaids made their entrance in a wagon driven by a local neighbor.
Dress: Ashley\’s dress caught her eye as soon as she laid eyes on it. It had a pretty sweetheart neckline and feminine layers of lace lining the bottom.
Bridesmaids: The bridal party dresses were made by Alfred Angelo; chocolate brown in colour, with matching Macie Bean cowboy boots and turquoise jewelry from Arizona.
Men\’s Attire: To pick up on Ashley\’s chosen colours, the groom and groomsmen wore turquoise shirts, chocolate brown tuxedo jackets and Cinch jeans; their attire was wrapped up with boots and hats, of course.
Cake: The cake was a 3-tiered creation, wrapped in turquoise and brown ribbon. With a Montana Silversmith cake topper and fondant horseshoes adorning the front, it made a pretty statement for their western wedding.
Favours: Ashley\’s bouquet was one of her favorite parts of the day. It was fashioned from old antique brooches that she had collected, stuffed into the center of white Gerbera daisies and roses. The arrangements were wrapped in burlap and accented with turquoise pieces.