Three Fairmont Banff Springs weddings, three completely different design directions, and why we believe no two celebrations should ever feel the same.
We don't believe a wedding should look like a Lottie Weddings wedding. It should look and feel like the couple we’re celebrating.
Our role isn't to give every couple our signature aesthetic. It's to understand who they are, what they value, how they celebrate, and how they want the people they love to experience their wedding. From there, we take those little pieces of their personalities and translate them into something they might not have imagined themselves.
This year, we had the opportunity to plan and design three very different weddings at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs. All three celebrations took place in the beautiful Mount Stephen Hall, yet each had its own personality, atmosphere, and approach to design.
One Iconic Venue. Three Completely Different Stories.
There is something special about returning to a venue you know so well. At the Fairmont Banff Springs, we've become familiar with the architecture, the logistics behind the scenes, and the way guests naturally move between the outdoor terraces, cocktail spaces, and reception.
We know which areas lend themselves beautifully to certain design elements, how to make the most of the ballroom's incredible character, and how small adjustments to a floor plan or guest arrival can make a surprisingly big difference.
But knowing a venue well shouldn't mean repeating what worked last time.
In fact, we think it should give you more freedom to explore something different. When you understand a space and how it functions, you can start thinking beyond the obvious and find new ways to use it.
These three weddings are a perfect example. Same planning and design team. Same historic ballroom. Three completely different interpretations of what a wedding at the Fairmont Banff Springs could look and feel like.
We Start With the People, Not the Pinterest Board
One of the first things we want to understand when getting to know our couples is how they actually like to spend their time.
Not everyone loves hosting a big party. Some people are happiest outdoors with their closest friends, while others love an excuse to dress up, order another cocktail, and dance until the lights come on. Some want an intimate dinner where everyone feels connected, and others want their guests to walk into a room and immediately feel the energy of a celebration.
Those differences influence far more than the colour palette.
They affect the timeline, the floor plan, the entertainment, the food, and even how guests are introduced to the space. Sometimes moving something by just thirty minutes can completely change how an evening feels.
Of course, we want guests to walk into a beautifully designed room and be impressed. But what we really love is when they look around and say, "This is SO them."
We also want our couples to look back on their wedding photographs years from now and remember more than how everything looked. We want those images to bring them back to their vows, their personalities, the people they shared the day with, and all those little things that make their relationship theirs.
So, let's look at how that translated into three very different weddings at the same venue.
M + J — Whimsical, Romantic, and Immersive
May 2026 | Fairmont Banff Springs
M + J came to us with a feeling rather than a fully developed design. They wanted something whimsical, romantic, and complementary to the Fairmont's incredible architecture. One of the first pieces of inspiration we worked from was actually an AI-generated image of a watercolour wedding cake.
It might seem like an unusual place to begin designing an entire wedding, but that image gave us something to explore. We weren't necessarily designing around the cake itself; we were trying to understand what M + J loved about it.
As we got to know them, their vision developed into a romantic secret garden, with a little Bridgerton influence and plenty of personal details. Cascading wisteria, lush greenery, soft florals, and custom watercolour stationery helped bring that feeling to life. We even incorporated elements inspired by their travels, creating meaningful details that felt connected to their story.
But the design wasn't just about what guests would see.
We wanted them to experience the space through all their senses. Guests were welcomed with a champagne wall featuring edible flowers, accompanied by a live violinist. Greenery and florals brought the garden atmosphere into the historic ballroom, while the positioning of the bar and gathering areas encouraged guests to move through the room and discover different parts of the celebration. We especially loved their guest’s individual watercolour paintings for them to take home.
The result was whimsical and romantic, but still very much at home within the grandeur of Mount Stephen Hall.
M&J’s Wedding Vendor Team - Planner & Designer: @lottie.weddings, Venue: @fairmontbanff, Photo: @miltonphoto, Photobooth: @snapbeautyphotobooth, H&MUA: @topknotbrides, Florals: @calyxfloraldesign, Officiant: @marriedbycole, DJ: @classactdjservice, Violinist: @angelaviolinist, Live Artist: @designbystlight, Stationery: @paper.panache, Cake: @blackdog_bakery; Rentals: @modernrentals.ca, Rentals: @mountainscape.rentals, Transportation: @ampmlimousine, Suit: @menswearhouse, Dress Designer: @martinalianabridal, Activities @pursuitcollection, Bride: @michellietaz
S + H — Timeless Romance with Vintage Warmth
August 2026 | Fairmont Banff Springs
Their wedding embraced a softer, more nostalgic kind of romance, with a palette of white, pistachio green, and warm gold. We wanted the design to feel elegant and timeless while incorporating vintage-inspired details that complemented the historic character of Mount Stephen Hall.
Stained-glass signage and table numbers were a particularly lovely way to connect the design to the venue's existing architecture. Rather than introducing something that felt separate from the space, we took inspiration from what was already there and interpreted it in a way that felt personal to the couple.
Their reception also featured connected tables, creating a distinctive dining layout that brought guests together in a way that felt intimate despite the grandeur of the room. Cascading florals, warm metallic accents, and thoughtful styling carried that romantic atmosphere throughout the celebration.
And then there were the swans.
We incorporated swan details throughout the design, some much more noticeable than others. I love details like these because they give a wedding another layer of personality. You might not notice every little reference immediately, but when you take a closer look, there's more to discover.
S + H's Jewish wedding traditions were also an important part of their celebration, adding meaning and personal connection beyond the visual design.
Where M + J's wedding felt like stepping into a whimsical garden, S + H's was softer, warmer, and filled with vintage romance. Both suited the same ballroom beautifully, but neither could have been mistaken for the other.
Vendor Team - Planner & Designer: Lottie Weddings, Venue: @fairmontbanff, Photo: @keeleyjoyphotos, Video: @michaelkfilms, HA: @rjstylesco, MUA: @blushandcocobrides, Florist: @hawthornplains, Rentals: @mountainscape.rentals, Officiant: @tamarajuju, DJ: @classactdjservice, Quartet: @uptown.strings, Live Artist: @artbyanne.gloton, Cake: @bakemydayyyc, Suit: @mooresclothing, Dress Designer: @martinalianabridal, Dress Boutique: @rebeccasweddings, Stationery Artist: @calligraphybytracy, Spray Tan: @vividtans.yyc
A + M — Moody, Contemporary, and Full of Contrast
October 2026 | Fairmont Banff Springs
A + M discovered Lottie Weddings through another Fairmont celebration we'd designed, drawn to its edgy, unconventional style. They wanted that same sense of individuality, but finding their own design direction took a little exploring.
Our initial concept wasn't quite hitting the mark, and A kept returning to one word: contrast. That became our turning point. We refined the design to pair rich, colourful florals with black chairs, contemporary details, and an abundance of candlelight, creating a beautiful contrast against the Fairmont's historic architecture. With A + M's trust and creative freedom, we brought together something that felt distinctly theirs.
Guest experience was equally important. Rather than bringing guests directly into Mount Stephen Hall, we guided them along the upper mezzanine, giving everyone a first glimpse of the candlelit reception from above. This also naturally staggered arrivals at the champagne seating display, preventing long queues. Two bars, comfortable gathering areas, an oyster bar, and plenty of food ensured guests were well taken care of throughout the evening.
And we can't forget the weather! With an outdoor October ceremony in Banff and a rather chilly forecast, A had even hired an Etsy witch in hopes of a little sunshine. Whether it was luck or wedding-day magic, the clouds began to lift just in time for their ceremony, revealing the Canadian Rockies behind them.
A + M's wedding was a beautiful reminder that embracing individuality, trusting the creative process, and prioritizing the people you're celebrating with can create something truly unforgettable.
Vendor Team - Planner & Designer: Lottie Weddings, Venue: @fairmontbanff, Photo: @naliaweddings, Video: @sevillaweddings, H&MUA: @topknotbrides, Florals: @calyxfloraldesign, Stationery: @sageandthistleyyc, Cake: @blackdog_bakery, Sax & DJ: @slimtymeevents, Suit: @mysuit, Gown Designer: @katherinetash, Gown Boutique: @wanderatelier, Rentals: @modernrentals.ca, Rentals: @mountaineventrentals, Transportation: @patagoniachauffeurservices
What does personal mean to us?
When we talk about personalized wedding design, we don't necessarily mean putting your dog's face on cocktail napkins or naming every table after somewhere you've travelled.
Although, sometimes we absolutely do. And we love that too.
But personalization can also be much quieter.
It can be the pace of dinner, the decision to have a live band, or the way guests enter a room. It might be a menu inspired by someone's childhood, a family tradition incorporated into the ceremony, or a colour combination that nobody else would have thought to choose but somehow makes perfect sense for that couple.
Sometimes it's something as subtle as the swans woven throughout S + H's wedding. Other times it's a room full of cascading wisteria or an unexpected contrast between black chairs and romantic florals.
We're translating a personality, not simply decorating facts about someone.
And that's an important distinction.
We don't believe a wedding needs to include every hobby, favourite food, or inside joke to feel personal. Sometimes the most meaningful decisions are the ones guests don't even realize were made.
They simply feel comfortable, connected, and completely immersed in the celebration.
That's what we're working toward.
What’s the Lottie Look?
If you asked us what a "Lottie wedding" looks like, we'd probably have a difficult time answering.
And we're proud of that.
We don't want someone to recognize our weddings because they all share the same florals, colour palette, or design style. We want them to recognize our work because the celebration feels considered. Because the details have a reason for being there. Because the guests are taken care of. And because, when our couple finally walks into the room, it feels like an elevated version of themselves.
The Fairmont Banff Springs is an incredible venue, and one we're always excited to return to. But what makes each wedding special isn't simply the architecture, the flowers, or the view of the Canadian Rockies.
It's the people we're designing for.
Same planner. Same venue. Three completely different weddings.
Exactly as it should be.
