Anyone who spent this summer in Vancouver knows that it got off to a decidedly UNsummery start. June and July were bleak; many Vancouverites hadn’t yet retired their winter coats for the season, and couples planning outdoor weddings were collectively on edge. We had all bookmarked that seductive page on the Weather Network website—the “14 day trend”—a page designed to give false hope and/or add unnecessary stress to couples and wedding planners alike! Two weeks before Chris and Kendall’s wedding, this online oracle boasted that June 25 would be a cloudless day: hot, sunny… in short, perfect for a wedding in the park. But as 14 days became 10, and then 7, and then 3, the “trend” also changed—and not in our favour.
That morning, the streets were drenched and the sky was dark grey. I spoke with Kendall about the possibility of enacting our rain plan, which would necessitate moving the ceremony indoors, but she could not be swayed. She had always envisioned an outdoor ceremony, and outdoors it would be! Armed with her adorable gumboots, she said, “if it rains, it rains. We’re getting married outside.”
The ceremony took place in Sutcliffe Park on Granville Island. A very well-dressed troop of groomsmen arrived on scene to help me decorate the ceremony space—if you look closely at some of Sakura Photography’s gorgeous photos, you’ll see their adorable handiwork in the endearingly poor placement of paper lanterns in the tree behind Kendall and Chris! Even as we put these finishing touches on the space, the sky looked as if it would open up and give us a good Vancouver downpour at any moment. But, the show must go on!
I looked at the clock, and it was ceremony time. Getting the groomsmen in place next to Karen Ell (one of the very best Marriage Commissioners around, in my humble opinion), I headed off to meet the bridal party. As Kendall and her bridesmaids rounded the corner onto the False Creek boardwalk, a very wonderful thing happened: the sky brightened up. And the closer they came, the brighter it got. As Kendall and her dad walked across the grass toward a beaming Chris, the clouds parted, the blue sky emerged, and the sun shone on them as they said their vows. Everyone agreed that Chris’s dad, with us in spirit, had “pulled some strings” to ensure that their wedding was just as beautiful as they had imagined it would be.
After the ceremony, the guests were given a map and a list of Chris and Kendall’s favourite things to do on Granville Island. They entertained themselves in the public market, visited the artisan sake maker, and enjoyed a sliver of sunshine as they waited for the reception to begin at Dockside Lounge in the Granville Island Hotel. And it was worth the wait, as everything at Dockside was incredible; the delicious food and craft-brewed beer, the accommodating and professional staff, and the gorgeous view of False Creek were unbeatable. The reception was great fun. Kendall and Chris welcomed a huge contingent of guests from Australia, and the reception featured excellent speeches and great dancers! Believe it or not, this is not always the case 😉
This was my first wedding working with Leslie and Mark of Sakura Photography (but not my last!). They’re such fun, kind, and talented people, Kendall and Chris kept saying, “we want to hang out with them all the time!” Click this link to see a slideshow of Sakura’s incredible shots of Chris and Kendall’s awesome day.
In these photos you’ll also see gorgeous bouquets by The Flower Factory, an elegant wishing tree from All Occasions Chic Decor Rental, and to-die-for desserts by MIX: The Bakery. Thanks also to DJ Lil Ivan for the great tunes!
[…] Chris, a former wedding client, got in touch with me to enlist my services for a different kind of project, he led with […]