On September 3, 2026, Allison and Matt said "I do" at the Canmore Nordic Centre, with a forest ceremony at Tree Island and a reception in the Rundleview Room, planned with Cornerstone Weddings. The Nordic Centre has a pretty good résumé: it hosted every cross-country skiing and biathlon event of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Today it is one of our favourite places for a Canmore wedding, with towering pines, big mountain views and a reception room that looks straight out at the Rundle range. As a Calgary wedding photographer team that shoots all over the Rockies, we love a day like this one: the clouds stayed low and moody, which only made the mountains look bigger.
The details
Allison's details set the tone for the whole day: pearl-covered platform heels, a deep navy invitation with a gold wax seal on a teal envelope, a lace garter, silk ribbon, delicate drop earrings and rings, and a few dark blooms to match the florals by Blue Lakes Floral Design. Her jewellery came from Dana Dow Jewellers.
Getting ready
Allison's off-the-shoulder gown from Aspen & Sage Bridal Boutique had soft, puffed tulle sleeves and lace appliqués, and it looked beautiful in the soft window light as she slipped on her shoes. Her hair was done by Natalia, with beauty by Lilies & Lace Beauty Co., including a loose, textured braid that looked amazing from every angle.
A forest first look
For the first look, Matt waited on a winding paved path through the trees, back turned, in an all-black suit. Allison walked up behind him, and when he turned around he wrapped her in a hug. The forest paths around the Canmore Nordic Centre are perfect for a private first look, with tall pines on every side.
We stayed in the trees for a few close portraits before the ceremony. This one, with Matt leaning in and Allison smiling down, is one of our favourites from the whole day.
A Tree Island ceremony
The ceremony was at Tree Island, Cornerstone's secluded ceremony site at the Nordic Centre, tucked among the trees with peek-a-boo mountain views. A simple wooden A-frame arch stood between tall pines, guests sat on white chairs on both sides, and Aydin Odyakmaz led the vows.
Right after the ceremony, with the guests on their feet and applauding, Matt leaned in for a kiss. Her bouquet of white blooms, deep burgundy flowers and greenery was by Blue Lakes Floral Design.
Three Sisters views
At a Canmore Nordic Centre wedding, Canmore's famous Three Sisters are never far away. Allison and her bridesmaids, in deep green dresses, raised their bouquets toward the peaks.
The best dog
The guest of honour was the couple's golden retriever, Ara, who wore a collar of white flowers and sat with Allison and Matt with the Three Sisters behind them. Ara was a special part of Allison and Matt's day, and having her at the ceremony and in their portraits meant the world to them. If you're thinking of including your dog in your wedding, we're always in.
Mountain portraits
For couple portraits we chased the mountains: a meadow framed by spruce and big boulders, then the shore of the Rundle Forebay in Canmore where Allison's long veil caught the wind. Under that much sky, the veil turned into its own piece of the photo.
A reception in the Rundleview Room
The reception was in the Rundleview Room in the Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge, the Nordic Centre's chalet-style space with vaulted wood ceilings, a central dance floor and big windows looking out at the Rundle range behind the head table. The room glowed with string lights, green uplighting and a greenery-lined head table, and Allison and Matt's first dance took the centre of the floor while guests watched from their tables. The cake was by KAKE by Darci in Canmore. Inside, the room was dressed in eucalyptus garlands, gold chargers and green linens, with a champagne tower waiting for the toasts and a tiny golden retriever topper of Ara on the cake.
Hanging behind the head table, a glowing neon sign said "It's a Love Story", and it made one of our favourite frames of the night.
One last look
We wrapped up with one more black-and-white portrait: Allison and Matt standing small in a wide field, mountain ranges on both sides and a huge sky overhead. A fitting finish for a Canmore Nordic Centre wedding.
Allison and Matt, thank you for having us. It was an honour to tell your story.
Planning a Canmore Nordic Centre wedding?
The Canmore Nordic Centre is about a five-minute drive from downtown Canmore, so it's an easy Canmore wedding venue for guests staying in town, and it's close to plenty of great portrait spots. Tkshotz Photography is a Calgary wedding photographer and videographer team with more than 56 years of combined experience, and we photograph weddings in Canmore, Banff and all over the Rockies. Every package includes a second photographer, and we deliver photos within 30 days and wedding videos within 60 days. Our couples have given us a 5.0 rating on Google across 160 reviews. Most couples book about a year out, so if you're planning a wedding at the Rundleview Room, with Cornerstone Weddings or anywhere in the Bow Valley, take a look at our Canmore wedding photographer page or send us an inquiry. We reply within 24 hours.
Vendor credits
Venue & planning: The Rundleview Room, Canmore Nordic Centre, by Jade Taylor, Cornerstone Weddings — weddingswithcornerstone.com · @cornerstone.weddings
Florals: Blue Lakes Floral Design — bluelakesfloraldesign.ca · @bluelakesfloraldesign
Gown: Aspen & Sage Bridal Boutique — aspenandsage.ca · @aspenandsagebridal
Beauty: Lilies & Lace Beauty Co. — liliesandlace.ca · @liliesandlacebeautyco
Hair: Natalia (@idohairbynat) with Lilies & Lace
Officiant: Aydin Odyakmaz — @aydinweddings
Jewellery: Dana Dow Jewellers — danadowjewellers.ca · @danadowjewellerssk
Cake: KAKE by Darci — kakecanmore.com · @kakebydarci
DJ: provided by Cornerstone Weddings
Videography: Tkshotz Productions — @tkshotz_productions
Photography: Tkshotz Photography — tkshotz.com · @tkshotz