We had a lot of fun with Shelley and Ryan’s guests at their reception out in Stettler, Alberta.

The Stettler Community Centre was magnificently decorated for Shelley and Ryan’s wedding reception. The theme of blue, black, and white was immediately evident upon entering the hall. To the left of the entrance was a reception table draped in black with a shimmering blue runner down the length upon which rested the guestbook, pen, and sprigs of blue dendrobium orchids. One each end were white, spherical lights made from weaved folds of plastic, one topping a tall flute-like vase.

Further inside, the same tall vases and lights were featured on half of the tables while the rest had similar but larger lights suspended above them. Each table was draped in black with a blue runner and was surrounded by chairs with black seat covers and large blue bows. The tables with the suspended lights where accented with a centerpiece of a uniquely angled vase containing blue dendrobium orchids. Rather than tables numbers, every table had a special element that related to Shelley and Ryan. For example, one table had a bottle of Fiji Water hinting at their honeymoon destination, and a Kananaskis golf ball served as a reminded for Ryan’s stag locale. Along the wall close to the bar was a long table brimming with chocolate and vanilla cupcakes capped with copious amounts of icing. The head table’s tablecloth was black with an interesting flower motif done in a sparkly blue ribbon. At either end of this table was a special chocolate cake with butterfly designs. Even the basket-like weaving pattern that elevated the top platter about a foot high was constructed from chocolate. Every place setting in the room consisted of a large square plate with a white napkin upon it, all tied together with a diamond encrusted buckle on a black and white ribbon. And literally topping off the decor of the hall were wide swaths of translucent fabric suspended from the ceiling that hung down and glowed in the illumination of the ceiling lights.

The Flashworks Photobooth was on hand in the foyer area of the hall and greeted guests as they entered the building during the cocktail hour. As the guests waited for the bridal party to arrive, Klay the DJ, played music and entertained the children with some chicken chucking (throwing the rubber chicken into the hula hoop) and inflatable balloon sword fighting. When Shelley and Ryan pulled up in a new 2012 ZR1 Corvette along with the rest of the bridal party, the groomsmen dressed in black suits with blue shirts and white ties entered first, followed but the bridesmaids in black dresses. Shelley and Ryan were then introduced while “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease played in the background.

MCs Jason and Jeff introduced the head table and laid out some ground rules for the evening. To get the newlyweds to kiss, one would have to come to the podium and draw a cork out of a bowl. However, these corks were coloured: a blue cork would see the bride and groom kiss, a green cork made the one who drew it kiss their date, while a black cork had everyone in attendance kiss their respective dates. Tables were called to dinner via their unique identifying objects and guests feasted on a deliciously catered meal with a range of salads, melted cheese pasta, long beans, garlic mashed potato, teriyaki chicken, and roast beef.

Entertaining and concise speeches followed dinner including a funny story of sisterly love and bathtub mishaps by Shelley’s sister. The newly weds thanked everyone for their attendance, assistance, and well-wishes. A slideshow then played depicting Shelley and Ryan’s youth and relationship together, after which they danced their first dance to James Taylor’s, “How Sweet it is to be Loved by You” in a dance routine akin to something from Dancing with the Stars. This concluded the formal portion of the evening and kicked of the dance where DJ Klay kept the dance floor packed with a great mix of music from all genres and decades, complete with lights and hypnotic visualizations on the projection screen. Later in the evening, a late lunch of pizza and chicken wings was served, and a hula hoop contest made for a fun activity for all ages to engage in.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed the Flashworks Photobooth and dressing each other in our colourful and eccentric props. There was never a dull moment as people conceived of different faces and poses for their photo-strip mementos, half of which were being collected for the young couple.

Shelley and Ryan, we enjoyed meeting you and all of your enthusiastic guests. We would like to wish you a marriage full of happiness and blessings, surrounded by loved ones and those you care about. Congratulations!

To view Shelley and Ryan’s online gallery, CLICK HERE.