photography by:
P H OTO P H I LC R O
CHANEL
CHRIS
and
H I G H - FA S H I O N M E E T S M O U N TA I N S I D E L U X U R Y I N B E A U T I F U L B A N F F
L
awyer chanel ohlson first met entrepreneur chris avarello in 2011 when chanel
visited chris’ calgary-based auto detailing shop to have her vehicle repaired.
The two struck up a conversation and started dating soon after. The rest, as they say, is
history. In the summer of 2013, Chris planned a romantic proposal that began with dinner at
the restaurant where the couple shared their first date. After dinner, the pair returned home
where Chanel was surprised to see a pathway of candles leading to the front door and two
glasses of champagne on the top steps. “Chris got on one knee, said something beautiful that
I can’t remember to save my life, and put the most gorgeous ring on my finger. I love that
walking through the entrance of our home reminds me of that amazing day,” says Chanel.
The couple were married at the fairmont banff springs hotel, Canada's “Castle in the
Rockies,” on May 10, 2014. Derek MacDonald from boom goes the drum was commissioned
to provide event design and full-service planning for the celebration. The couple worked with
Derek to assemble a team of talented creative professionals to bring their elegant yet modern,
fairytale-like wedding to life. Chelsea Montgomery of stevie + bean paperie created the
wedding stationery, featuring a custom monogram.
Tina Ross at the goldsmiths, a longtime family friend, created the couple’s wedding rings
and loaned Chanel a diamond tennis bracelet that served as her “something borrowed.” The
fashionable bridal party wore gold Zuhair Murad gowns from ette in Calgary and grey suits
paired with white bow-ties from harry rosen. “I had a tall lady, a short lady, a lesbian, and
a dude so needless to say dressing the bridal party was a task and a half,” quips Chanel. The
bridesmaids dressed in gold wore matching quartz drop earrings from the goldsmiths and
metallic Manolo Blahnik pumps.
www.wedl u xe.com
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