“𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝”
Downtown rooftops like this are why we love being a Calgary wedding photographer.
"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." I opened this gallery with that line because downtown rooftops always feel a little magical to me. After 20 years of photographing weddings, with my first in 2007, I still love standing above the city with a couple while the skyline lights up behind them.
The Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel sits on 9th Avenue SE, right in the core, and it's built for weddings. It has a big rooftop patio, ballrooms for the reception, and direct access to the TELUS Convention Centre for larger celebrations. Best of all, guests can stay right upstairs. Nobody has to worry about getting home, and the wedding party can get ready on site without a single drive.
From a photographer's point of view, a downtown hotel wedding gives you lots of variety in a small space. We can do rooftop portraits with the skyline, clean modern interiors, and then step outside for city streets and the Stephen Avenue area just a short walk away. This was also a Calgary winter wedding, and winter in the core has its own charm, with city lights coming on early in the evening and glowing in the background of every portrait.
I want to thank the amazing team who made this day so beautiful: The Bridal Boutique Calgary, Sweet Relief Pastries, Glam by Maseeha, Casey Lee Hair and Incredible Florists. Great vendors make my job easy, and these folks are the best.
My tip for a winter rooftop wedding is to schedule the skyline portraits right around sunset for that blue-hour glow, and keep a warm coat nearby. Five minutes up top is all we need for something stunning.
If you're planning a downtown celebration and looking for a Calgary wedding photographer who loves city light, have a look at my Calgary wedding photography page. Follow me on Instagram @tkshotz for more.