Una and Josh ~ September 2, 2011

September is consistently my busiest wedding month, so I’ve been lucky that the last few Septembers in Vancouver have been warm, sunny and gorgeous. Una and Josh’s wedding day was no exception. We spent the day at the lovely Hycroft, the University Women’s Club of Vancouver’s gorgeous Edwardian mansion in South Granville. The venue is amazing not just for its timeless and elegant decor, but for the diverse spaces that allow you to have a wing of the mansion for the girls to get ready… and a separate space for the men to relax and watch TV!

As her guests began to gather on the terrace for pre-ceremony sangria, Una peeked out the window in anticipation—this is one of my favourite of the images captured by Nick and Deb of The Other Angle Photography.

Meanwhile, the boys enjoyed a cold beer and admired Josh’s newly-restored vintage car.

The steps of the terrace on the North side of Hycroft are the perfect spot for a ceremony; there’s a lovely view of Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains, tons of greenery, and all guests get a perfect view of the bride and groom throughout the ceremony.

The inside of Hycroft is so lovely that you really don’t need to bring much in in the way of decor. Una and Josh opted to make their curly willow wishing tree the focal point of the foyer, and let the rest of the house’s Edwardian charm speak for itself.

The day was full of love and laughter, and came together perfectly thanks to help from the following local wedding pros:

• Photography: The Other Angle Photography
• Marriage Commissioner: Bob Buzza
• Catering: Lazy Gourmet
• Flowers: GJ House
• Hair & Makeup: Pamper Me Pretty

Maria and Peter ~ August 27, 2011

I cannot believe that 6 months have passed since Maria and Peter’s beautiful wedding! Former Vancouverites who now live in Toronto, Maria and Peter were the last of my “long-distance clients” in 2011. Maria and I had spent much of the year chatting on the phone and exchanging countless emails, but it was so great to finally get to meet her and Peter when they arrived in town a week before their wedding. That “I-can’t-believe-we’ve-never-met-in-person” hug is my absolute favourite part of working with couples who come from afar to get married in Vancouver.

Maria and Peter’s wedding day was an absolute stunner in every way—it was a gorgeous, cloudless day, and every person and every little detail looked amazing! Maria had chosen a pale pink and light grey colour scheme, and even the stained glass windows and facade of the lovely Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Cambie Street serendipitously cooperated with our colour palette.

Chris Chernoff Photography was on hand to capture the day, and he and the wedding party had a great time travelling around to some of Vancouver’s best photo locations while florist extraordinaire Rosalba, owner of Fiorire Custom Florals, and I headed up to the Skyline Room at Seasons in the Park to put all the finishing touches on the reception space. The bouquet that Rosalba crafted for Maria was nothing short of a work of art; my jaw dropped when I picked it up from Rosalba, and it was such a treat to be able to present the bouquet to Maria!

Once the room was set and Rosalba and her awesome assistants went on their way, the guests began to trickle in to the cocktail hour where the amazing people at Seasons in the Park began serving what would end up being HOURS of some of the most delicious food I’ve eaten in my life! (Yes, even a wedding planner’s gotta take a meal break!)

DJ Lil Ivan provided music that kept the guests happy all night, and when Maria and Peter took to the dance floor for their first dance, serendipity struck again! Unbeknownst to us, nearby Nat Bailey Stadium puts on fireworks shows in the summer, and just as Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” reached its most triumphant line, fireworks lit up the sky behind Maria and Peter. I got a lot of compliments on my planning skills for that amazing moment—thanks, Nat Bailey!

One of my favourite photos of the day is the last one Chris captured before leaving for the night:

Congratulations on 6 months of bliss, Maria and Peter! Here’s to a lifetime more!