Rolling prairie hills, lush stalks of wheat, a clear blue sky, and their closest friends and family: this is exactly what Lindsay and Cuylar imagined for their dream wedding. On a sunny July day in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, a quaint little town in Canada, this dream wedding came to pass. 

For the bride and groom, selecting Nipawin as their wedding location was easy. Their family farm is closeby, and Lindsay used to spend lots of time in nearby areas as a child. 

“We both grew up on the prairies and love the boreal forests, so Nipawin is an ideal location to celebrate our love of each other and the province we call home,” the couple says.

When COVID-19 hit just months before their wedding, Lindsay and Cuylar quickly problem-solved. They reduced their guest count from 120 to 30, and treated their guests to a fun, intimate night, with a few creative twists thrown in to ensure they followed the guidelines.

“We weren’t allowed to host a dance, and everyone needed to be diligent about sticking to their tables,” the couple says, “So we settled on doing a 7-course taster menu and a trivia night instead!”

The decision to center the night around food came from the pair’s shared enjoyment of great cuisine, and their love of the restaurant, Mable Hill Farm Kitchen and Marketplace, where their wedding was held. The couple frequents the restaurant and always have an incredible experience, thanks to chef Michael Brownlee.

“Once they announced that they were going to start hosting weddings, there wasn’t any doubt that it was the right venue for us,” the pair says. “Just kind of knew!”

With the guest count small, and their vendor options limited, Lindsay and Cuylar decided to create their centerpieces themselves. Lindsay did not want flowers on the tables, but instead wanted to collect prairie grasses.

“My sister (Maid of Honor) and I spent the morning of the wedding out in the field with our scissors snipping grasses to place in the wine bottles I used for vases,” Lindsay says. 

For Lindsay and Cuylar, Mable Hill really was their dream venue. They admit that if they had not done a destination wedding, they would not have been able to treat their guests to a great meal, or capture such stunning photos with the surrounding landscape.

“Mable Hill is pretty much our dream venue, and something comparable to it in Saskatoon was definitely not feasible in our price range,” the couple says.

In the end, despite the curveballs they were thrown by a global pandemic, Lindsay and Cuylar experienced their dream wedding. It all comes together in the end.

“Sometimes planning a wedding feels like a nightmare,” the bride and groom say. “But at the end of the day, everything will be fine, and your only job is to enjoy the experience with your significant other.”

Vendors: Photography: Sarah Meagan Photography; Ceremony/Reception Site/Dessert: Mable Hill Farm Kitchen & Marketplace; Florist: Nipawin Florist; Stationery: EdiDesignCollection & Vistaprint; Hair Stylist: Jessica Rost; Gown Designer: Paloma Blanca; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Abito Menswear; Maid-of-Honor Gown: Asos; Best Man’s Suit: Anthony’s Fashion