Riding Mountain National Park Wedding | Shannon + Steven

Throughout 2020, couples everywhere navigated the pandemic as it pertained to their weddings. For Shannon and Steven, their journey was particularly challenging—both are healthcare professionals, and for them, the planning and day brought them some much-needed happiness.

Explains sweet Shannon, “We were surrounded by love and support from the moment we decided to forge ahead with our wedding amidst a pandemic. As two healthcare professionals, the pandemic has been trying, but we found joy and an escape in planning our wedding. It was truly heart-warming to see how our love impacts others – we found that our wedding celebrations brought joy and hope to people during the challenging times that are the pandemic.”

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Pippa top and Eden skirt via Pearl & Birch  | venue: a cottage in Clear Lake and Riding Mountain National Park | full vendor list below

With the help of friends and family, Shannon and Steven planned an intimate winter wedding at one of their favorite places in the world, Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba. “Our wedding planning was relatively stress-free; it felt rejuvenating to finish a long day of work (we are both healthcare professionals) and then turn our attention to our wedding’s details in the evenings from November onwards. It was a much-needed distraction, and our friends and family were delighted to help us at every twist and turn! We had numerous positive experiences with vendors who made all of our wedding dreams come true. I knew we did not want to postpone our wedding, and so we committed to our winter wedding in the beautiful hills of Riding Mountain National Park!”

When it came time to shop for her wedding dress, Shannon’s search brought her to our Pippa top and Eden skirt at Pearl & Birch. But not before kissing a few frogs!

“I fell in love with my Lea-Ann Belter dress at Pearl & Birch in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Due to government restrictions mandating bridal store closures, the dress journey that brought me to Pearl & Birch was fraught with disappointing online orders – however, finding my Lea-Ann Belter dress at Pearl and Birch’s store made it all worth it! I felt incredibly beautiful and exactly like a bride for my wedding day. The delicate lace on the Pippa top and the smooth silk Eden skirt – I felt graceful and beautiful as I danced the night away!”

More about their magical winter wedding, which included their sweet pup Maslow, from Shannon:

“We were married by one of our very favourite people—our dear friend Andrew. We have been together for twelve wonderful years, so our wedding evolved into a “wedding week.” It was a time to celebrate our long-lasting love and to reminisce on all of our adventures together. More than anything, we wanted to ensure that our wedding felt authentically “us” for our five in-person guests and our loved ones attending our ceremony virtually. It was a day to celebrate our love, all of the love we receive every day from our friends and family, and to celebrate our love of winter—the hoarfrost in the trees, the fresh snowfall, and being able to dance and take wedding photos on the ice of Clear Lake, Manitoba!”

Shannon + Steves Riding Mountain National Park Wedding Vendors

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Pippa top and Eden skirt via Pearl & Birch  | venue: a cottage in Clear Lake and Riding Mountain National Park | hair: Anita Boyd | florals: Beyond Flowers for greenery and Serenity Flowers for silk flowers | cake: Sweet Impressions | groom’s attire: Hugo Boss | engagement + wedding rings: Bijou Jewelry– Canadian diamond from Ekati and Canadian-made bands

Were you a Lea-Ann Belter bride? We’d love to see your pictures and share your story! Email Jessica@Lea-AnnBelter.com.