Calgary has some amazing wedding venues, but one of our favourites continues to be the Faimront Palliser Hotel. Opened originally in 1914 as a Canadian Pacific Railway hotel, it’s like taking a step back in time to a period of grandeur and elegance. It’s one of the few historical venues we have in the Calgary area, and it’s a definite treasure!
When you step into the lobby, it’s high ceilings and marble columns make a lasting impression. With Old World charm, there are lots of great spots for wedding pictures from the grand staircase to the newly renovated Hawthorn Dining Room and Bar. Of course, there are also other great corners and vignettes in and around the space. Outside its front doors are Stephen Avenue and other great photo opportunities all within a block or two away. (It is important to note that only couples who are having their wedding reception at the Palliser are able to use the Palliser lobby for wedding photographs.)
The Palliser Lobby has an elegance and charm all its own. (Photo credit: Andras Schram Photography)
One of the things I love most about the Palliser is their staff. Each and every person we’ve met who works for the hotel is fully committed to hotel guests, offering incredible and unparalleled service. Many of the staff have worked for the hotel for years, and perform their job with the utmost pride in what they do, showing loyalty and dedication to providing excellent service.
There are so many great photos spots in and around the Palliser, such as this recessed stairwell just outside the main doors. (Photo credit: Edward Ross Photography)
Noted for their fine dining and cuisine, the Palliser offers many delicious food options to treat your guests to a wonderful culinary experience. They are one of the few venues who continues to offer menu tastings if you are planning to have a plated dinner reception. They are dedicated to working with you to meet your dining needs, adjusting the menu as required, and are able to meet any food or dietary concerns that your guests may have. Another important point to note is that the Palliser has an in-house pastry team. As a result, your wedding cake can be made by them with the cost going towards your overall Food & Beverage Minimum Spend instead of having to work with an outside vendor on this.
Your guests will enjoy a culinary dining experience at the Palliser. (Photo credit: Edward Ross Photography)
Turner Valley Room
This is the smallest of the Palliser’s main wedding venue spaces. Painted in a rich, deep red color with accents of cream and gold chandeliers and sconces, it has a majestic, regal presence. Plush, thick carpeting is laid throught he room, but the carpet at the end part of the room can be removed to reveal a real wood dance floor.
The Turner Valley Room can be a great ceremony space or reception space for a smaller-sized reception.
It is definitely designed as a more itimate space for smaller celebrations. It works well for a ceremony space for up to 120 or a reception banquet space for around 80. Please note that if you choose to have your ceremony and reception in the same spcae, there does need to be some time allocated for a room flip.
The Oak Room
This is one of Calgary’s newest wedding venues! Recently renovated, this inviting and innovative space has just been reveled this past April. Done in a neutral palette of greys and blues, it will work with almost any color theme. Ideal for groups of 50 to 100, this space has flexibility to be used for both ceremonies and/or receptions. It’s massive windows allow in lots of natural light. It has all of the elgance we have come to expect of the Palliser, but with a hint of contemporary and more modern with the light fixutres. The space also allows for various set-ups that couples are looking for today in terms of room layouts.
Recently renovated, the new and improved Oak Room will be one of Calgary’s most desirable wedding venues with a modern take that still remains true to the timeless elegance of the Palliser. (Photo credit: JM Studios YYC)
The Alberta Room
The Alberta Room is the mid-sized venue at the Palliser. Reminiscent of event spaces in European castles, the room is done in a soft, soothing blue tone with ornate gold scrollwork around the room. The vaulted ceiling is painted to resemble clouds in the sky, adding to the romantic and timeless feel of the room.
The Alberta Room is ideal for mid-sized events. Event planning and design: Creative Weddings Planning & Design (Photo credit: Kristy Reimer Photography)
It can fold up to 240 guests for a ceremony and 150 guests for a banquet reception. One of the advantages of this space is that the room rental includes the Marquis Room right next door which can be set up for cocktails, a late night lounge and/or dancing. It also comes with the use of the Alberta Room Foyer, which is perfect for cocktails if you need to flip the room from a ceremony to reception space. (We’ve also used it after having the ceremony in the Turner Valley rooms, cocktails in the Alberta Room Foyer, and then into the Alberta Room for the reception.)
The floor of the room is hardwood, but you have the option of having carpet put down in all or part of the rooms. There is some flexibility depending on where you want the dancefloor.
The Alberta Room is pure elegance! The painted ceiling feature adds definite romance to the room. (Planning and Design: Creative Weddings Calgary; Photo credit: Andras Schram Photography)
The Crystal Ballroom
The Crystal Ballroom is the largest venue space that the Palliser offers. It’s the grand duchess of them all! Opulent crystal chandeliers, large arched windows that allow in natural light, and gold scrollwork on the vaulted ceilings make it one of the most elegant venues in the city.
The Crystal Ballroom is grand enough that little decor is required. (Decor: Creative Weddings Planning & Design; Lighting: Stardust Event Group; Photo credit: Hanafoto)
It is ideally designed for groups of 180 or more, but maxes out at about 300 guests for a banquet setting. A wooding dancefloor is located in the center of the room, setting the stage for a grand entrance with your head table against the back wall. (No backdrop required!)
You won’t need a backdrop for your head table in this room. (Event Planner & Designer: Creative Weddings Planning & Design; Photo credit: White Dress Photography)
In rich blues and creams, the neutral color palette of the Crystal Ballroom works with a variety of color palettes. (Event Planning & Design: Creative Weddings Planning & Design; Photo credit: White Dress Photography)
One of the advantages of the space is that you get part of the lobby area and the use of the Oval Room as part of the rental. These two spaces combined work well for a cocktail space before the offical part of your reception begins. (This allows your photographer and/or cinematographer time to come in to the Crystal Ballroom uninterrupted and get some decor photos.) When it is time for everyone to enter the ballroom and take their seats, the main doors to the space aare opened and guests know they are in for an experience. It truly is one of a kind!
Event Planning & Design: Creative Weddings Planning & Design; Photo credit: Alan Maudie Photography
The Palliser is one of Calgary’s timeluess treasures! It is one of our favourite venues to work with, offering all of the grandeur and elegance normally associated with a wedding celebration. We are proud to be one of the preferred vendors of the Palliser Hotel and relish each and every opportunity we have to work with their professional and amazing event team and banquet staff.
For assistance in finding a wedding venue to suit your needs, please contact us at info@creativeweddings.ca or 1-888-790-6986, ext. 705.
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Cathy MacRae is a Calgary, Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise wedding planner in the business of designing customized weddings that make your heart skip a beat! She is the lead wedding planner and design coordinator for Creative Weddings Planning & Design©, working with couples to plan customized bespoke weddings that make your heart skip a beat! Located in Calgary, Canada, she plans wedding for couples primarily in and around the Calgary, Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise area. Her clients want a wedding that is all about romance, elegance and personalized style with meaningful and heartfelt moments that take your breath away and create an incredible guest experience. She has been in involved in the wedding industry for over ten years now. The foundation of her business has been built on developing relationships with numerous quality vendors that her allow her to best match them with her clients so the end result is a unique wedding celebration that tells a story and sets the stage for the couple’s “happily ever after.” As a destination wedding specialist, she also works with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. She had done weddings in various exotic locales such as Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, and throughout the Caribbean. She is available to plan weddings internationally.
She has earned her Professional Wedding Planner© status with the Association of Bridal Consultants, and is also a member of the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada. In addition, she is a Certified Sandals Specialist and WeddingMoons© Specialist with Sandals© and Beaches© Resorts, specializing in romantic travel. Cathy also owns Consulting For Creatives, where she works as a business coach with both new and experienced entrepreneurs in the wedding and event industry with a desire to get ahead.
For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at 1-888-790-6986 or email her at info@creativeweddings.ca.