From ‘nice to meet you’ to ‘I do’
SAIT was where they caught each other's eye — and it's where they made it official.
After meeting in their first year of the Professional Cooking program, Julien Prives and Katie Perreault knew they had a special connection — even their classmates predicted a perfect match.
"We were dubbed the classroom husband and wife," says Prives. "We spent a lot of time together in class — but we had no idea it would grow this far."
They became close during their time at SAIT and by graduation, they were dating. A few years later, Prives asked Perreault to marry him. When it came time to pick a wedding venue, the choice was obvious.
"We decided to have our wedding at SAIT because we met here — so it's very important to us," says Perreault.
Planning the perfect day
SAIT helped Prives and Perreault visualize their wedding right from the start, inviting them to campus for a preview of what the big day could look like.
"We got to taste the menu and see different set up possibilities — tables, flowers, table cloths, napkin colours," says Perreault. "It gave us a better idea of what we wanted."
"The treatment we received and attention to detail was great. We felt like VIPs," added Prives.
SAIT is set up to be a one-stop-shop as a wedding venue — including catering, décor setup and tear down, planning assistance and accommodations on campus in the residence buildings.
"Whether it's an intimate wedding in historic Macdonald Hall or 500 people seated in the Irene Lewis Atrium, we can host a ceremony and reception that works for your guest list," says Jill Glasgow, Conference Coordinator, Conference Services.
SAIT's work behind the scenes allowed the couple to focus on things like visiting with guests and dancing to David Bowie.
"From setting the room up to accommodating our guests' food preferences, they just had it taken care of," says Perreault. "It was nice to not worry about things getting done, so we could enjoy our day with no distractions - that was a big relief."
Peace of mind is something SAIT's wedding team strives to provide.
"On the wedding day, someone from our group is always available on site making sure things are in place, double checking the audio visual gear and providing assistance as necessary," says Jamie Bater, Supervisor, Conference Services.
With Perreault, Prives and numerous wedding guests being members of the culinary industry, Bater knew expectations were high for the menu.
For Prives, the food — which included lamb, striploin, gnocchi, Waldorf salad and Caesar salad — delivered.
"I've been cooking since I was 15, so the food was one thing I was picky about," says Prives, who worked as a sous chef at the time. "It was done better than probably I could've done — it was the best lamb I'd had in a long time."
Picture perfect
More than just a great venue, SAIT provides a stunning backdrop for photos.
"The pictures you get on the hill with the downtown view are phenomenal," says Prives.
"Heritage Hall is a beautiful building to have in the background and we also got a lot of nice shots done in the stairwell of the parking garage," adds Perreault.
"You can get great photos anywhere on campus."
Planning a wedding?
SAIT can make your wedding a smooth and wonderful experience.
2019 dates are still available — contact the Conference Services team for more information:
Email: conference.services@sait.ca
Phone: 403.774.4678