Our Story
Nestled in the heart of Edmonton...
The Cornerstone stands as a tribute to love’s enduring legacy: a once-beloved homestead that began as a daring dream.
My parents were just teenagers when they eloped from their small village in Croatia. Crossing an ocean with little more than a few bills in their pockets, boundless hope in their hearts, and a toddling me in their arms. They worked tirelessly planting roots here, and after many years built this beautiful house.
This home became a haven: a gathering place filled with the voices of family, the delighted laughter of grandchildren, and the warm conversation of lifelong friends. I never imagined it would become anything more than our family’s cherished home.
Yet when my father passed, he entrusted it to me. Though I would have given anything to keep it frozen in time as my parents’ dream house, life as it so often does had other plans.
Then came COVID, a time when so many young couples found their long-awaited wedding days unraveling. Stranded and heartbroken, a few of them asked if they might hold their ceremonies on our grounds. With that simple yes something unexpected bloomed.
Together with my husband-Andreas, our children Annalisa and Michael, and our devoted staff and generous friends, we began transforming this private haven into a place of public celebration. It was truthfully a baptism by fire. Learning as we went and improvising with grace and grit.
Five years later, I look around and feel only Gratitude...
These walls and gardens once echoing with our family’s private joy now ring with the laughter of families who, for one wonderful day, become part of our extended story.
The Cornerstone has witnessed vows spoken through happy tears, dances under string lights, and toasts raised to new beginnings. Hundreds of love stories are now layered atop the one that started it all.
To us this piece of the Alberta countryside is more than just a venue, it is a tribute to faith, hope, and love.
My deepest hope is that every couple, every guest, every wide-eyed flower girl, and every teary-eyed parent leaves here with a heart a little fuller. Carrying forward the same stubborn hope my young parents brought across the sea all those years ago.
Because if these grounds have taught me anything it’s this: love. Whether whispered by two eloping teens, or celebrated by a gathering of hundreds, it has a remarkable way of turning houses into homes, and homes into cornerstones of countless beautiful lives.
I’d like to publicly thank my parents Kate and and Ivan Vukovic for all their unwaivering love and dedication, and for this tremendous blessing.
Meet Christina...
Hello! I am Christina Zadravec, owner of The Cornerstone.
This venue has been an unexpected and deeply rewarding journey for me—one I never anticipated. My hope has been to create a space that my parents and children would take pride in, while ensuring our guests feel truly special, seen, and heard as they celebrate life’s most cherished milestones. Together with my husband and family, it would mean the world to us if your time at The Cornerstone becomes one of your most treasured memories.
Our 5-acre Outdoor Event & Retreat Venue
The Cornerstone Event & Retreat Venue is nestled on 60 acres of picturesque farmland within Edmonton’s city limits. At 5015 127 Street SW, this property embodies rustic elegance and heartfelt tranquility, originally crafted as a family home before transforming into a versatile haven for cherished gatherings.
Let's Celebrate Your Big Day
Weave your dreams into reality. At The Cornerstone we look forward to
helping you craft a unique and wonderful celebration that is totally you.
Our venue and your vibe, a sure combination for all your cornerstone moments.