Real Wedding - Amy & Carson

Hi! I’m Amy, and I actually grew up running around the Hilltop property in the beautiful town of Sylvan Lake—driving golf carts with my cousins and making memories long before I ever imagined getting married here. My aunt and uncle are the wonderful owners, and in 2019, I had the privilege of joining the Hilltop team. I run the social media and work as a night host, and over the years, I’ve had the chance to be part of over 100 weddings.

Hilltop is truly a hidden gem for Central Alberta weddings—surrounded by nature, full of charm, and close to everything. After seeing so many weddings here and witnessing the true natural beauty this place holds, there was never a doubt in my mind that I would one day get married at Hilltop.

Having seen what works (and what doesn’t!) from so many celebrations, I had a clear vision when it came time to plan our wedding, I knew I wanted to do things a little differently. I realized that not every tradition felt like “us”—and that’s okay. So we embraced a few unconventional choices that made our day feel even more meaningful, personal, and fun. Here are a few of the less traditional decisions we made—and why I absolutely loved them:

1. A Sweetheart Table for Two

Instead of sitting with our bridal party or family, we chose to have a sweetheart table—just the two of us. It gave us a chance to pause, soak everything in, and enjoy some real one-on-one time amid all the excitement. With a room full of our favorite people, it felt extra special to have that small pocket of intimacy to connect and reflect on the day as it was happening.

2. A Slideshow During Our First Dances

During our dances with our parents—and with each other—we had a slideshow of childhood photos playing in the background. It helped take the pressure off being the center of attention the entire time and gave our guests something meaningful and emotional to watch. Let’s be real—having a room full of people staring at you for three solid minutes can feel a little daunting, so this was the perfect distraction in the best way. It also added an extra layer of storytelling to the moment and kept the tears (and smiles) flowing. To top it off, our wonderful DJ (shoutout to Rhino DJ!) faded the song out after about two and a half minutes, so it didn’t feel too long or drawn out—just sweet, simple, and memorable.

3. No Bouquet Toss or Garter Throw

We decided to skip the bouquet and garter toss altogether. For us, these traditions felt a little outdated, and we didn’t want to interrupt the flow of the night with something that didn’t feel true to our style. There was no awkward scramble or forced participation—just more time for dancing and celebrating.

4. (Mostly) Faux Flowers

We used all faux flowers for decor—except for my bouquet and the guys’ boutonnieres. This one decision saved us thousands. We found incredibly realistic flowers and you truly couldn’t tell they weren’t real in person or in photos. Guests even complimented us on how fresh everything looked! Plus, no wilting flowers to stress over the next day.

5. No Wedding Cake or Cake Cutting

We skipped the traditional cake and cake cutting moment entirely. Truth is, neither of us really like cake, so we figured—why spend money on something we weren’t excited about? After seeing so many cakes go uneaten at weddings I’ve attended or worked, we chose to invest that money elsewhere. Spoiler: no one missed it! We still had an amazing dessert for our guests to enjoy!

6. We Left Before 11 PM

One of the best decisions we made: we left the venue before 11 PM. We ended the night with a sparkler exit surrounded by all our friends and family—one of our favorite moments. There was something so magical about walking through a tunnel of lights with all our loved ones cheering us on as we stepped into this next chapter. After that, we were able to slip away together while our incredible family and friends stayed behind to handle the cleanup. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable day—joyful, stress-free, and full of love.

7. We Had No Alcohol

Yes, you read that right—we had a dry wedding. It might seem uncommon these days, but neither my husband nor I drink, so we thought: why include something that isn’t “us”? Instead, we offered sparkling juices at each table and had a fun self-serve juice station for guests to enjoy throughout the night. Not only did it align with our values, but it also saved us thousands. And guess what? Everyone still had an amazing time—no champagne needed!

8. We Had a Weekday Wedding

We got married on a weekday—and it was one of the best decisions we made. Not only did it give us way more flexibility when booking our dream vendors, but it also made planning so much easier. Fridays especially are the perfect option—our guests turned it into a long weekend getaway, and no one complained about taking a day off work to celebrate in a resort town. Bonus: many venues and vendors offer weekday discounts, which meant we could stretch our budget a little further without sacrificing anything we wanted. Hilltop even offers special weekday packages if you’re looking to save a few dollars while still getting the full experience.

At the end of the day, your wedding should feel like you. Don’t be afraid to ditch traditions that don’t serve you, or tweak the ones that do. Some of our favourite moments came from doing things differently—and I wouldn’t change a thing! 

-Amy