Madi & Dillon | Azuridge Estate Hotel Wedding

September 14th, 2024

Madi and Dillon's September wedding at Azuridge Estate Hotel was one for the books. I was looking forward to it all season, and it didn't disappoint. Azuridge Estate Hotel is an incredible property in Priddis, Alberta, located less than an hour from Calgary. The boutique hotel, nestled in the stunning foothills of the Canadian Rockies, was once a private residence. Now, it's a coveted destination for weddings and getaways of all sorts. A wedding at Azuridge feels like attending a destination wedding without venturing too far from home. The entire property can be booked out for weddings, so you can make a full weekend out of celebrating with your closest friends and family. The jewel-named suites are modern and spacious, and the grounds are gorgeous. The entire property makes for beautiful photos, and you can't go wrong anywhere you shoot.

The Calgary weddingvendor team for Madi and Dillon's big day was top-notch, and it's always fun to work with friends in the industry. I've worked with RD3 Weddings on multiple occasions, and Ryan and his team are wonderful. I also got to work with Smudge and Smoulder and JD Styling — my go-to hair and makeup team for weddings and photo sessions. I always enjoy working with vendors I haven't had the opportunity to before, like Rev. Cathy Yost and Jody McBeath with Lynn Fletcher Weddings, who did an incredible job keeping the day organized and designing the impeccable decor.

I joined Madi, her bridesmaids, mom, and grandmother for getting-ready photos, and it was a very relaxed morning with plenty of time to ease into the day. The extra time turned out to be needed since there was a bout of rain, but it tapered off by the time we were ready for the first look. Dillon opted not to do getting-ready photos, and I always tell couples not to feel pressured to do certain things. If getting-ready photos aren't important to you, there's no need to include them in your day!

We met Dillon for the first look and private vows, which I always love. It's time for the couple to be together before everything kicks off, and for some it can be easier to share heartfelt words without an audience. We also did Madi and Dillon's portraits and wedding party photos before the ceremony so they could join cocktail hour immediate after. They also did the majority of their family photos before the ceremony. I hadn't done that before, but I'm going to encourage it to more couples! Things can be a bit chaotic post-ceremony and it can be difficult to gather everyone for photos. Scheduling these photos earlier in the day meant no stress and more time to get them done.

The only sunny period of the day happened during Madi and Dillon's ceremony. Even though they shared vows earlier in the day, the ceremony was still filled with plenty of personal touches and great moments. After their "I do's", Madi and Dillon joined their guests for cocktail hour at the Azuridge Pavilion, a multi-level area on the grounds that allows the team to get the main reception space ready. A delicious multi-course plated dinner prepared by the talented Azuridge culinary team followed, along with speeches, a few moments for golden hour photos, and an outdoor first dance. This was another first for me, and it made for a beautiful setting. Pez Productions capped off the celebration with an epic dance party. I've photographed a few Pez weddings now, and the dance floor is never empty when they're handling the music.

Congratulations, Madi and Dillon!

Photo Opportunities at Azuridge

The estate grounds. The grounds at Azuridge are immaculate and perfect for portraits. The pond and fountain, deck, flowers, gazebo, walkways and bridge are all beautiful spots. Any of these areas are beautiful for golden hour too. The tower is also fun and can create opportunities for different vantage points.
Hiking trails. It rained before our portrait session on Madi and Dillon's wedding day, so the trails were too muddy, but there are forested hiking trails behind the estate that are great for couples who want natural backdrops.
Main road. The road leading up to Azuridge has lots of little pockets where it's safe to pull over and hop out of the car for photos in the forest.

Azuridge Estate Hotel Venue Info

Capacities

The Tourmaline (Madi & Dillon's reception venue): 180 seated dinner, 250 ceremony

The Celestite: 180 seated dinner, 250 ceremony

The Tiger's Eye Den: 60 ceremony

Terraces & Decks: 20 seated dinner, 60 ceremony

Gazebo: 40 seated guests over two levels, 40 ceremony guests per level

The Carenlian: 60 seated diner, 125 ceremony

The Grounds: 250 ceremony

Buyout required: Yes, during high season

Overnight Guest Capacity: 48

Pets allowed: Yes, outdoors and in guest rooms