Oh, Canada. I seriously heart you. Every.single.wedding you send our way is like a warm, cozy hug on a freezing cold day – and it just doesn’t get any better than today’s darling Vancouver Island affair. The stunning oceanside setting, fabulous tented reception and brilliant blue skies have me grinning from ear to ear… and when you add to all of that lovely a pair of sweet as can be college sweethearts and a gallery of breathtaking images by Erin Wallis Photography, well. Call me COMPLETELY captivated. Click here for more.
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From the Bride… When Patrick and I met at boarding school on Vancouver Island, Patrick was a prairie boy from Edmonton, Alberta, and I was a small town island girl who grew up on (and most often in) the ocean. It didn’t take long for Patrick to fall in love with life on the water and, although it took us 12 years to finally get married, we talked about marriage a lot, and there was never a question that we would get married by the ocean. I was never one to dream about my wedding day growing up, but once the time came to start planning our big day, we knew right away that Pacific Shores would be the perfect place, with the natural beauty of the property and the stunning views overlooking the Strait of Georgia. We had family and friends coming from near and far, including Patrick’s Ouma from Cape Town, South Africa, and Pacific Shores allowed our guests to enjoy the true beauty of Vancouver Island.
Our overall vision for our day was a romantic garden party with plenty of beautiful flowers and delicious west coast food! I became slightly obsessed with our photographer Erin Wallis, who always manages to capture such magical moments with an essence of romance. I knew Erin shares the same love of the ocean and it would be effortless for her to make gorgeous photographs. I have always loved the idea of having a tent reception, particularly one overlooking the ocean. I put all my faith in the talent of our florist from Petal & Kettle, who absolutely blew me away with the tent decor. Glowing chandeliers and crystals draped over the head table, making it feel so warm and romantic. My dad, who recently took up wood turning, handmade all of our beautiful wood centerpieces, which held tall, over-sized vases filled with white and cream flowers with dashes of vibrant green. My florist took care of absolutely everything, and when I saw the final product, I was in awe. I couldn’t have envisioned what she gave us.
When planning a wedding, everyone loves to give bits of advice and I find myself passing on one very important piece of advice to others: Don’t stress about the small details. No one remembers them anyways, and it’s not the small details you will remember when you look back on your wedding day. When I think back to our day, I remember looking out at all the people we love, seeing their smiles and knowing we had so many people supporting us. I remember our ceremony, the wind blowing my veil, the waves crashing in the background. I remember our speeches which made us cry and laugh till our cheeks hurt. I remember the words my dad was whispering to me as we walked down the aisle and the look on Patrick’s face when he saw me for the first time. I remember the the beautiful acoustic guitar my brother was playing as I walked down the aisle. I remember the sunset, which was so breathtaking that everyone congregated on the edge of the water, watching every last ounce of sun until we went and danced the night away. I particularly remember everyone commenting on how much love they felt on that day. Sometimes it day actually seems like a dream, and we truly enjoyed every moment.
Wedding Photography: Erin Wallis Photography / Wedding Venue: Pacific Shores Resort & Spa in Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia / Floral Design + Decor: Petal & Kettle / Catering: The Landing West Coast Grill at Pacific Shores Resort & Spa / Sound: Beyond Sound / Honey Wedding Favors: Rock Cheese & Honey / Cinematography: Hans Trupp / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston Vineyard Collection / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Natasha Winters / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lela Rose / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Tiffany & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Crystal Hair Pieces: From London