This Banff Wedding Included a Few Canadian Special Guests

By Amethyst Barrett

Destination: Banff, Canada

Ryne Wilson & Joshua Ballard
August 6, 2022

Ryne Wilson knew Joshua Ballard was the one long before the couple had even considered getting engaged. “We were having a picnic for jazz night in Klyde Warren Park,” he remembers. “And I just had this feeling like, ‘I think I’m gonna marry this person.’ ” Josh’s magnetic energy and confidence were what initially attracted Ryne to his partner, but it was Josh who ended up popping the question. “He was actually the one that was unsure of marriage,” says Ryne. “But he took me by surprise and proposed!” The duo went on to tie the knot on August 6, 2022, in Banff, Canada, in a celebration that wove together personal details reminiscent of Josh and Ryne’s love. “I wanted our wedding to be a testament to our relationship,” says Ryne. “I wanted to have that moment and share that experience and joy with our friends and family.”

Ryne Wilson and Joshua Ballard's Wedding, Tour Bus Shuttles

Tourist Trappings

To fill an hours-long gap between ceremony and reception, Josh and Ryne commissioned these open-top tour buses to shuttle guests around the area. They enjoyed photo ops in some of the more well-known parts of Banff for a true “Canadian experience,” says Ryne.

Ryne Wilson and Joshua Ballard's Wedding, Dining Table

Raise the Roof

Planner Meggie Francisco of Meggie Francisco Events says the venue’s ballroom space was a challenge to fill. “The tall ceilings had me a little skeptical,” she says. “The guest count had reduced over time, and I didn’t want the space to feel cavernous or cold.” In the end, painstaking planning paid off. “The variation in tables made the most of the gorgeous hall.”

Guests: 83

Specialty Cocktails:

For dental anesthesiologist Ryne, the “Nitrous” was made with tequila, lime and pineapple juices, and green Chartreuse. For Josh, who works for the Air Force, the “Jet Fuel” contained bourbon, elderflower, crème de cassis, and lemon juice.