I always said we’d elope. Having been around weddings since I worked in restaurants in my teens, I’ve seen a whole bunch of celebrations.

I wanted absolute freedom in having a day that was just ours. One filled with love, treats, mountain views and giggles galore.

So, we picked an island in the Pacific where we shared a lot of fun memories and decided to go for it.

I agonized over how we could have a small wedding without making sacrifices. Silly me for waiting to be married until a pandemic arrived.

We went through so many iterations of what a small celebration would look like. How many people could be on our guest list and where could we have the ceremony WE want. With the implications of the limited freedom to gather, how to celebrate safely and if we could, would it still be what we wanted?

What does it mean to Elope?

Choosing to get married in an elopement-style of wedding means enjoying an intimate, laidback way to celebrate your lives together. Doing so in a way that honours your playfulness, creativity, joy and appreciation for one another. 

We had an incredible engagement party after being together for a decade, so I didn’t feel like we needed a big wedding.

Do we have a lot of people in our lives we care about? Absolutely! I wanted to be able to truly connect with each person present on my wedding day, not so much of a fleeting hi/bye as a let’s cozy up by a fire and chat.

2020 threw a GINORMOUS curveball to the entire world. And, in this little corner of the planet, two videographers decided to seal the deal.

If you’ve been to Vancouver island and the PNW, you know the opportunities to explore outdoors are endless. But, maybe, you might not know where to start – small weddings, adventure elopements and traveling celebrations can be done entirely on your terms. How cool is that?

P.s. Llamas are welcome guests if you find yourself in the Cowichan Valley.

Here’s what we did instead of having a big wedding:

1) Booked a helicopter to have a first look in a place that felt super special to us

2) Ate dinner at a fancy restaurant the night before our first look.

3) Chose our ceremony location based on what it felt like to be there along with the view

4) Picked up a vegan chocolate cake, organic raspberries and fresh-plucked rosemary

5) Chose two very close friends as our witnesses and shared vows overlooking the Gulf Islands on a misty October afternoon

It was important for us to have an element of adventure and when we first got engaged, it was overwhelming. Having been together for 10 years we chose to host a part in celebration!

The fun part is everyone thought we were getting married right then and there, and the tension was palatable. All we wanted was to treat our friends and family to a delicious evening (2 weeks before Christmas!) in a way that felt authentic to us.

So, if any of this is making you think hmmm,… I want this for my wedding day, this is entirely your call to make. And, if you’re still searching for ideas of how to get married, especially if you’re thinking of an adventure elopement – we have plenty of ideas to share!

Imagine creating a day filled with your favourite things, a day you dream of with the goal to allow you to be totally present on the day you get married. It’s curating an experience beyond the norm, centred on who you are as a couple, your connection to each other curated amidst an environment that brings joy and serenity to your decision to get married. 

Elopement Myths

1. Eloping is boring

2. Eloping means excluding the people you care about

3. Eloping is for cheapskates

4. Eloping is less fun

5. Eloping needs to be quick/fast

Even if you decide to get married in small-scale celebration now doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your loved ones in creative ways.

Eloping in your hometown can be super special if you allow your imagination to run wild. Rather than thinking about what you’re not able to do, consider what is possible. And lean into it.

Example Elopement timelines:

4 hours in Victoria, BC

• 3pm finish getting ready in your vacation rental

• 4pm meet for a first look by the water or in the forest

• 5pm head to a private spot overlooking the ocean to share your vows

• 6pm finish the day at Sherwood as a married pair, joining your best friends on the patio for dinner + bubbles!

Full Day in Victoria BC

• 11am start the day with brunch at the beach

• 12pm start getting ready in your home or vacation rental

• 1pm meet for a first look + capture the scenery

• 2pm travel for a picnic snack + treat together (drive-thru ice cream/midday brew?)

• 3pm Take a harbour ferry to your ceremony location

• 4pm get married outdoors overlooking the city

• 7pm finish the night at your favourite restaurant

• 8pm watch the sunset across the water, followed by dancing and cozy hangs as a married couple

Vancouver Island has an unbelievable amount of places to explore and beautiful landscapes. We’ve filmed at a handful of them and can’t wait to explore more.

The access to city centres and ease of travel makes the island an ideal place for eloping or hosting a wedding. You can experience the sun, surf and snow all in one day and still kick your feet up in front of the fire at the end of the day.

Why it’s awesome: You can venture to a remote location by helicopter (like we did!) or hike up a mountain to share your vows.

Savvy tip: If your date is flexible, you’ll have much more success securing the place/photographer/videographer you want. This is one of the perks of having a small wedding.

Choose HOW you want to get married and where you want to have a celebratory dinner. This might look like pizza on the beach or hot-tubbing at your airbnb while popping bubbly. Curious to see more? Check out Jordan & Zach’s Jordan River & Mystic Beach Elopement video here

 

Are you a fan of cozy layers, hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire after a trek outdoors?

Same here! We find embracing the chilly temps and simply getting outside is just so refreshing.

Wintertime exploring has it’s perks including your choice of accommodations, smaller crowds and plenty of creative adventures. If you get just as excited about wearing rainproof boots and bright jackets, you’re in good company here.

2020 started with some awesome local travel, hitting up the mountains every two weeks.

To give ourselves a boost of confidence in the backcountry, we signed up for The Great Escape in Squamish while we visited with our talented friend and published author, Cait Flanders.

Having embarked on a few snowshoe adventures over the last few years on Mt. Washington, Whistler and Nederland, Colorado, there are some of our top choices that make for an fun experience.

On one of these treks, we stumbled upon Frozen Dead Guy days after snowshoeing around El Dorado in Colorado a few winters back. Imagine Rifflandia meets an ice skating rink filled with Food carts, and this sums up the festival pretty well.

Last February, we joined in on a backcountry survival class where we learned 5 ways to get an injured person out of the wilderness with only the gear on your back. We learned the value of having a trip plan (including how to use webbing to pull someone out of the bush if they were injured + 4 other ways to carry someone out of the backcountry if needed).

It was fascinating! I now look at my Gore-tex jacket and MEC pack with an entirely new affinity. We were taught how to fashion a makeshift stretcher using 3-4 inch branches and a ski jacket.

Knowing winter weather can change quickly we feel much more equipped to handle ourselves in the event of trouble on the mountain with the insight learned from this 2 hour course.

Leaders of the workshop requested brave volunteers who could demo the validity of the setup. One brave soul even allowed another participant to drag him on the floor using only nylon webbing as a pulley.

We couldn’t help but be reminded of the overarching theme of experience over stuff. How being in a position to help your fellow trekker with the key items to have on your person can mean the difference of a casual adventure day and a much more intense rescue scenario.

Discovering the multi-use advantages of ski poles, the versatility of the straps on your pack and making use of warming blankets has heightened our awareness of venturing into the backcountry confidently and safely.

We can’t speak highly enough of the people who shared their first-hand knowledge along with the appreciation we felt afterwards. Trusting we could be capable of rescuing someone in the backcountry adds another layer of competence and excitement into the trip plan.

Amazing BC Winter Destinations

• Mt. Washington Alpine Resort

• Whistler and Squamish

• Mt Cain, Vancouver Island

• Strathcona Park, Campbell River BC

• The Cowichan Valley

• Golden BC, especially Kicking Horse Resort

When it comes to making the most of winter adventuring, a little extra trip prep makes a world of difference.

If you’re new to winter sports, start with groomed, well laid out trails at local mountain resorts like Mount Washington or Whistler.

Ahead of embarking on any backcountry exploring, we recommend exploring paper maps or referring to an app like AllTrails to get a sense for the topography and orient yourself to the area before you head out.

After snowboarding for many years and feeling the thrill, we’re all about strapping on our snowshoes to experience the beauty of the wild.

The adventure brand, MSR has a detailed breakdown and Winter Pack List here along with a summary of snowshoeing safely. We are not experts, but here are a few items we’ve found to be valuable to have on hand for a winter snowshoe.

Winter is incredible for colourful skies and remarkable sunsets, which makes it a beautiful time of year to get married for these reasons:

1. Snowy landscapes offer beautiful scenery and lighting for better photo and video captures

2. You can layer with beautiful blankets and scarves — no need to freeze your buns!

3. Enjoying snow-centred activities like snowshoeing, skiing and boarding

4. Helicoptering to a glacier atop a mountain

5. Snowshoeing to a warming hut like Elfin Lakes (once it’s open again!)

If you are thinking of getting married in the mountains, we believe you can create a once-in-a-lifetime memory. How amazing would it be to snowshoe to a viewpoint, share your vows and wrap up the day with a fondue by the fire?

When designing your plans, consider inviting a few snow-loving friends or family members who can double as day-of helpers. Aside from helping make your day memorable, they can help by making sure you are hydrated and have everything you need.

As photo/videographers we’re happy to port your bouquet, bring some extra goodies and help with direction along with location scouting beforehand. carry rings, vows, set up champagne or snacks for a post-ceremony treat in front of the fire at your Airbnb.)

Local hiking blogs are an amazing resource for sharing insight on snowy trails and suggestions for finding routes that match with your skill level.

Winter Snowshoe Pack List:

• waterproof jacket/pants

• toque/ear warmers/buff

• gloves and pocket hand warmers

• wicking base layers

• extra warm clothing/socks

• hiking boots/snowboarding boots

• warm, synthetic or wool blend socks. We love our Darn Toughs!

• headlamp

• whistle

• avalanche beacon

• emergency blanket

• 2L of water per person

• hot chocolate packs

• energy bars, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and Noble Jerky (the teriyaki flavour is YUMMY)

• our favourite addition - a snow-happy dog (like Raven, the VHS foster dog featured we had in 2020)

It’s important to recognize we all play a part in taking care of these breathtaking locations by following Leave No Trace principles and planning ahead to minimize our impact. We are so lucky to have nature so wildly available and the onus is on us to ensure it’s available to explore for years to come.

We’d love to hear about your favourite winter activities and places to visit in B.C. And, if you’re thinking of infusing more adventure into your elopement plans we’ve got plenty of ideas to share for making your dream day a reality!

You can read about how to plan an elopement and explore more of our films here. Happy Adventuring!

— Bre & Grady

We can all agree 2020 has been WILD to say the least, and an absolute whirlwind for couples planning their wedding for this year and 2021.

Thankfully, this massive shift is creating space for people to dream up some seriously amazing celebrations. So, let’s look at what’s possible and the options you can explore together.

Vancouver Island is chock-full of incredible scenery, locations and possibilities for planning an incredible wedding experience, if you’re willing to get creative. So, where do you start?

We’ve been filming weddings for 5 years and have seen some amazing ways to celebrate. With more couples looking to get married and not worry about a big guest list, we want to share what we’ve seen work really well.

HOW TO PLAN AN ELOPEMENT

First, choose a time of year you’re drawn to: Summer is the most favoured month to get married, and with good reason! With long days, outdoor spaces and glorious sunsets, there are endless options.

Victoria BC offers a pretty striking Autumn season with the changing leaves and extended summer warmth well into September. If you choose to elope in Victoria late summer, you’re usually treated to 20 degree (celsius) weather in both September and early October.

Spring is beautiful with cherry blossoms blooming as early as March and warmer days appearing mid-April. Depending on if you’re willing to travel (and Whistler is definitely a spot we’d highly recommend exploring), snow can start as early as November.

The winter season is incredible if you’re looking to feel cozy, admire colourful sunsets and maybe even ride a chair lift up to the top of a mountain to share your vows.

Decide on 3 elements you want to focus on for your day: Are you a foodie? Are you excited to spend time with your family and friends? Do you adore hikes on new trails? Will you be over the moon if you can eat cake in your pj’s at 9pm?

Consider who you need to to have present on your wedding day. This article from Junebug Weddings gives you a few ways to include family and friends if you want to keep your guest list on the small side.

Where do you imagine sharing your vows? Sometimes, choosing the location is the toughest part, followed shortly by where you’ll have dinner and continue the celebration!

Eloping = endless possibilities. Downtown Victoria is touted for it’s romance, and if you’re after a more casual vibe, you can take a short ferry ride to elope on the Gulf Islands. You can extend your wedding to a honeymoon and cruise up to Tofino.

Choose the pace of your day: Do you want to be free from constraints of schedule? Do you want to have the space to enjoy a three-course meal? Can you imagine yourself waking up and climbing a mountain in time for sunrise?

We believe: You deserve to get married in a super fun, stress-free way. You deserve the freedom to decide how you get married, wherever in the world you want to.

EXAMPLE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO TIMELINES

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FULL DAY ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

Location: Victoria, BC

Best suited to time of Year: Spring - Summer - Fall

12:00 pm - Getting ready and prep at your Airbnb, photographer/videographer arrives (with fresh bread!)

1:00 pm - Travel to nearby beach for a first look

2:00 pm - Meet your partner for a first look at Dallas Rd + shared vows

3:00 pm - Leave beach and head to ceremony location

4:00 pm - Get married at local vineyard with just your 2 best friends as witnesses

5:00 pm - Cheers with a flight of wine and charcuterie outdoors on the winery patio

6:00 pm - Wine + champagne toast, Facetime celebration with friends/family

7:00 pm - Catered long-table dinner indoors at your favourite local restaurant

8:30 pm - Cap off the evening with handmade local macarons and a cozy hang at your Airbnb
—

FULL DAY GULF ISLAND DESTINATION ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

Location: Salt Spring Island, BC

Best suited to time of Year: Spring - Summer - Fall

—
1:00 pm - Getting ready in your cozy Airbnb with some croissants and mimosas

2:00 pm - You meet your partner for a first look at the beach + portraits

3:00 pm -Travel to local cheese factory for a pre-ceremony snack

4:00 pm - Hit up local brewery for a pre-ceremony flight and hang

5:00 pm - Travel back at Airbnb for Ceremony at your Airbnb 

6:00 pm - Champagne toast and Facetime celebration with friends/family  

7:00 pm - Private catered dinner long-table outdoors at your cabin

8:00 pm - First dance with each other at your Airbnb deck as the sun sets

9:00 pm- Star-gazing by the wood-burning fire plus a hearty slice of chocolate cake  

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HALF DAY ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

Tofino Elopement + Float Plane Adventure

Best suited to time of Year: Spring - Fall - Winter

2:30 pm -  Drive to float plane dock in regular clothes

3:00 pm - Arrive at Meares Island for a first look on the beach + portraits

3:30 pm - Depart by float plane, back to Tofino

4:00 pm - Arrive at Ceremony location on Mckenzie Beach + get married!

5:00 pm - Champagne toast and frolic on the beach

6:30 pm - Dinner at Wolf in the Fog for two!

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Your official to-do’s before the I do’s:

1. Research the type of ceremony you’d like to have. Are you looking for something easy or personalized. Explore a celebrant or secure an officiant to make your ceremony official. If you’re considering a wedding out of country, you can also become legally wed before or after your elopement day. Follow this link for more info on civil ceremonies.

2. Secure a wedding license. In BC, marriage licenses are valid for 90 days and can be found at London Drugs and cost ~ $100 CAD.

3. You’ll want to secure a few witnesses to legitimize your marriage. Fun fact: these can be your friends/family or even your photographer and/or videographer.

An elopement is your wedding day, inclusive of everything you want — you can make it your legal ceremony or an adventurous one, or both! Your day can include a hike, a dip in a river capped off with a fancy dinner. However you can imagine yourself celebrating the fact that you just got married, make it happen!

You can snowshoe to a hut in the middle of the woods and drink wine out of your pack. You’ll be able to indulge in sea, surf and sand — potentially all in one day if you’re up for the challenge.

Keep your heart and mind open: We know it can feel discouraging if you’ve dreamed of a big wedding your entire life, but there’s always the possibility of having a celebratory reception in the future. And, it’s safe to say when that happens, people are going to be pretty excited about it!

Deciding WHERE to get married is one of the hardest decisions you’ll make, closely followed by choosing how many people you’ll have join you on your wedding day. Grant yourself permission to explore ideas you’re drawn to. Everyone interprets weddings and what they mean, differently.

If you’re wondering what to do next and you’re in the planning phase of your elopement or intimate wedding, we’d love to help! Email us or watch our films and we’d be happy to share more ideas for ways to make your elopement day a stress-free, fun-filled and happy experience.