The Grooms Wore Tanner Fletcher to Their Vintage Chalet-Inspired Wedding in Banff

This ethos led them to design their wedding attire with the queer-owned brand Tanner Fletcher. “We knew we were inherently going to be breaking a lot of the norms and traditions, so we were in complete alignment with Tanner Fletcher’s mission to create change and break those boxes,” says Johnny. The grooms entered into a collaboration with the designers—who are also a couple—to find their perfect wedding day fits. “When choosing color, Johnny and I both considered wearing colored suits, shying away from white,” says Matthew of the process. “As the wedding drew closer, we began to ask ourselves why. We wanted to break tradition and embrace the elegance, softness, and strength of the white as a gay couple.”

Johnny decided upon a suit in an off-white brocade cotton fabric with a floral pattern lined with satin and lace. His shirt had a retro ’70s influence. “The ruffle and piping details paired with a cummerbund and large bowtie were the perfect addition for that vintage feel, highlighted on [photographer] Mason X Mata’s film captures,” the groom explains. Matthew donned a single-breasted wool suit for his vows. “Comfort is a very important aspect for me—I like to feel a sense of freedom in my clothing while maintaining style,” he says. “We ended up creating a wide pant leg with a pleat, but a tapered waist to create shape. The suit was similarly tailored around the waist to give a cinched feel while allowing room for movement in the shoulders.” He paired the suit with a silk charmeuse blouse with loose ruffles and puffed sleeves. “The whole look gave a soft contrast against Johnny's more structured brocade suit,” Matthew shares. To finish off the looks, both grooms wore Jacques Solovière shoes.

Instead of having a wedding party wear the same ensemble, they asked their 55 guests to follow a lightly themed dress code. “We wanted them all to feel comfortable and not constrained to a certain style or color, so we gave them free rein with the prompt of a ‘mid-century chalet wedding in the mountains,’ which for us meant bolder colors and comfortable expression,” says Matthew.

The wedding weekend kicked off with a relaxed tone, where the grooms picked up friends from the airport and finished with a night of food and games at The Fat Ox in Banff. “We wanted to keep it casual and fun so people felt comfortable getting to know one another while enjoying some delicious food,” says Matthew.

The following morning, the grooms got ready together before heading to their ceremony. The celebration took place beneath a tent with views of Mount Rundle in the backdrop. “Floral arrangements lined the aisles, their mossy base growing organically from the deck floor, leading the eye to the most gorgeous pillars of flowers,” explains Johnny. “We wanted these pillars to stand individually, rather than a connected archway, as it not only expressed our personal individuality, but it also allowed the eye to drift onward to the surrounding nature. Their summer yellows balanced the earthy greens of the surrounding forest, thanks to the brilliant work of Lindsay and Kelly at Fall for Florals.”

Matthew and Johnny exchanged vows in a ceremony led by their dear friend, Broadway actress Ilda Mason. “The ceremony felt surreal, like the universe had aligned to create the perfect moment,” says Matthew. “Sunshine warming our skin, perfect mountain breeze, air that smelled of pine, and an immense outpouring of love from our family and friends. At moments, it felt like it was just Johnny and I, as if we were all alone standing in a forest.” In a special moment, where Ilda spoke of Matthew’s father who had passed, clouds parted and a hummingbird appeared. “Hummingbirds are often seen as a sign of joy, love, and comfort. It felt like the perfect gift from my dad, letting me know he was there with us,” he reflects. Johnny adds of the ceremony, “To quote Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, ‘I may never come down to Earth again.’ Sorry, had to.”

Following the wedding, the couple shared hugs with their guests, then took a drive to capture photos by the Vermilion Lakes. “With big dopey smiles on our faces, we marveled at the beauty we were surrounded by and what a special moment we just shared,” recalls Matthew. The newlyweds then rejoined their guests at Bluebird Restaurant. “The whole vibe was immaculate,” says Johnny of the mid-century chalet-inspired design. Ceremony florals were repurposed throughout the restaurant, and menu and postcard designs by Feast Studio and El Fitz peppered the space. Johnny says, “Our cocktail napkins were inspired by old postcard photos we found of gay couples circa 1910 sitting on a large half-moon set piece; very theatrical, very us."

Throughout a five-course dinner featuring fondue, steak, and key lime pie, a few performances took place. Their friend Julia Murney sang the song “I Don’t Need a Roof” from the musical Big Fish, and later, Matthew took out a ukelele to perform “I Just Want You” by Sara Bareilles. “During his serenade, a quick thunderstorm was passing and lightning graced by the windows,” remembers Johnny. “We were all tucked upstairs in candlelight, listening to Matt open his heart. I tear up just thinking about it. Everything was perfect.”

The grooms kicked off dancing for the night when they took to the floor to sway to Blossom Dearie’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.” “After our first dance, I shared a dance with my mom to 'Wedding Bell Blues' by Fifth Dimension, a song that was hers and my dad’s,” says Matthew. “It felt like an appropriate way to honor his memory and connect with my mom to him at that moment.” Then, the party went into full swing. “We had many performers and Broadway dancers in attendance, so we were turning that floor out,” Matthew continues. “My mother even did some research on vogueing and served us her best poses. It was truly incredible. I’m so obsessed with her and the amazing ally that she is.”

Reflecting on the day, Matthew shares, “It truly felt like a fairytale, which feels so fitting considering how we met.” Johnny adds, “To have all of the people you love in a setting you love, marrying the person you love…it really was what dreams are made of.”