a winnipeg city guide | the refinery magazine

this past summer I was approached by The Refinery Magazine, a wedding + lifestyle magazine out of Vancouver, to see if I would be interested in photographing a prairie-inspired editorial on film for their Adventure Issue. I have been a big fan of the magazine along with the ladies behind it, so I was honoured to get the chance to showcase Manitoba and the wonderful wedding professionals who call it home. I approached my friend Ashley Nicole, a talented local designer + stylist to get our plans in motion. along with the images I was asked to write about some of my favourite places, businesses + people in Winnipeg, to serve as a city guide of sorts, which you can read at the bottom of this post.

Winnipeg is coming into it’s prime, of this I am certain. We have eclectic coffee shops opening all around the city and plenty of creative types to fill them. We have amazing wedding vendors who are internationally known for their work. We have got our NHL team back, we have a folk festival that attracts amazing indie artists and endless outdoor summer events. One of my favourite things about Winnipeg is that it is fiercely loyal. Of all the North American cities I’ve lived in, Winnipeg does the best job at supporting locally grown creatives and entrepreneurs. We look for uniqueness and talent and lucky for me, that oozes into the wedding industry, where I am lucky enough to capture the work of these fine artists in these establishments all year.

Now let’s talk specifics.

Lattes:Thom Bargen Coffee + Tea on Sherbrooke is the real deal. Real people, real coffee, real leather shop in the back that made me a camera strap I use at every wedding. Also their white walls, wood accents and big windows make it the perfect Instagram backdrop.

Bread:Stella’s Bakery + Cafe. It’s a Winnipeg institution. At the café, the chicken sandwich with homemade cranberry sauce and a side of their house salad is my favourite. At their Sherbrooke location, they have a bakery that looks and feels like it’s something straight out of Europe. Indulge in their daily dessert creations.

Stems:Academy Florists is everything right about florals. Their modern twists on classic influences leaves every single bouquet that comes out of their shop amazing and Pinterest-able. They also have a selection of gifts, like eco-friendly candles and household items that make it creative heaven.

Art + Shop:Tiny Feast, a stationary shop, which carries some of the most amazing local and international creatives. The amazing One Plus One Design, who designed the invites for our shoot, has a selection of their cards and prints for sale at the shop, in addition to their Etsy store.

Skating: In the winter Winnipeg has one of the largest trails in the world in the Red River at The Forks. It’s best to go with friends or as a bundled up date night.

Folks: I’d be remiss if I spoke about Winnipeg without mentioning its greatest asset, its people. For instance, Ashley Nicole, the creative genius behind this shoot and one of the most endearing people you’ll ever meet. Lucky for you, there are two of her, as her twin sister Jenna of Jenna Rae Cakes is the talent behind the cake done for this shoot. When you’re here and drinking lattes, it has to be with people like these two. *updated to add: they have now opened up a bakery at 580 Academy Road in Winnipeg. go eat their macarons and sip their red velvet coffee!*

Suffice to say, come to Winnipeg. Come drink our wheat beer and eat our homemade bread. We have all the right ingredients for a wedding and all the right talent to pull it off. The wheat fields are the perfect backdrop for a summer wedding and we have plenty of land to share.

styling + coordinating: Ashley Nicole / invitation suite, custom labels + name tags: One Plus One Design / calligraphy by: Julie Doan / florals: Academy Florists / cake: Jenna Rae Cakes / dress: Bliss Bridal Boutique / hair + makeup: Prep Hair