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

Here’s a few ways a guy + a gal with a few extra cameras can give you the tools to make the most of your day:

1. We can help you discover a location and plan your elopement in a way you’re excited about

Struggling to figure out where/how to get married? Having filmed more than a handful of weddings, we can offer quite a few suggestions, especially if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of planning your wedding or elopement. 2020 is the year of adapting, becoming resilient and growing more creative, especially when it comes to planning a wedding.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you haven’t planned a full-on wedding before, unless you have a thing for wearing matching dresses + planning. Even then, there’s a good chance you haven’t been to 50+ weddings. We have and are more than happy to help!

2. Videographers can offer suggestions for timing and assist with setting the tone for your day

A wedding video tends to be one of the last things couples think about. You book your venue, your photographer, your caterer and then you’re spent. Literally! There are SO many ways to spend money on a wedding and having a video from the day you get married may feel like a luxury. We are so much more than camera operators. Sharing timing ideas, offering tips for locations for photos and even sourcing AirBnb’s for you to stay at — we want you to tap into our wealth of knowledge.

3. A videographer can boost creativity with fellow vendors and advocate for capturing your day more candidly

You can tell when someone feels awkward, stressed or just uncomfortable. This is the opposite of how you deserve to feel on the day you get married. We’ll encourage movement, connection with your partner and just plain fun. You deserve a day filled with good food, great friends and a whole lot of love.

Gone are the days of mammoth cameras with a massive mic and florescent lights ruining the mood. Our cameras are subtle, often smaller than a photographers and designed to capture moments on the move. We are designed to move (one of the key reasons Grady wears stretchy pants) and be observant, seeking out the little interactions that will matter to you. And future you.

4. A video gives you the gift of reliving moments that matter

Video offers another perspective to share with everyone who matters to you. The people you choose to capture your day will be with you all day and it’s pretty important that you like them. They need to know what you’re looking for, have to be willing to work cohesively and have the understanding of the kind of experience you want, so that it’s one that will make you feel good.

With COVID-19 sticking around for the the foreseeable future, it may be a long time before you can have the kind of reception or celebration with the 50+ people in your life you care most deeply about. Video captures what a wedding is all about — you and your favourite people celebrating in one place.

5. You deserve to feel your wedding day with more than a single frame.

Sound, emotion and words bring memories to life. When people talk about their wedding day going by fast, this is what they mean. Imagine the look on your face when you hear words straight from the heart of the person you love most. Imagine hands grasping your back with a giant hug and then holding your face in their hands as they look on lovingly. These fleeting moments make us human and are captured so beautifully with movement and sound.

Bonus!

We’re a lot of fun to have around. Totally dorky, love-junkies who adore dogs, food + good times! You’re probably going to have an awesome wedding regardless, but if you think there’s a small chance any one of the above perks are worthwhile, we’d love to hear from you.

Wondering whether it’s worth it to include a videography team in your day?

Our approach as videographers is to guide, prompt and suggest ways of being together that encourage you to feel connected and present with each other. Oh, and we’re totally here for the snort-laughs, too.

A really good film captures movement and tiny details that showcase people as they are, connecting you to how the day felt. Our job is to find out the deep connection a couple shares in their relationship, giving them a way to highlight this for years to come. We fully believe a talented photographer and videography team will give you an even more amazing experience.

You want videographers who will take care of and be there to support you! This is one of the ways we show up and bring a little extra pizzazz. We connect ourselves with environment, capturing what extends this moment in time without making you feel like you need to be anywhere else.

What video can capture, is something that’s hard to describe — it has to be felt. A laugh, the emotion felt in a voice and the subtle in-between moments. It’s beyond seeing something happen, it’s being fully immersed in all the senses of the experience.

Video can literally take you right back to being in that moment. There’s an artistic side to creating a film, which makes videography subjective. There’s a key difference between a transaction and an experience. A talented videographer gives you the guidance and support to make the most of yours!

Maybe you’re not the kind of couple who wants a video of themselves — together — celebrating the commitment you’re making, and that’s totally okay. Thanks for being here and exploring the possibilities!

If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of planning your wedding or elopement you’re in luck! 2020 has become the year of adapting, becoming resilient and growing more creative, especially when it comes to creating a really beautiful way to celebrate getting married.

We’re storytellers and the cameras are our essential tools to connecting you back to this day.

— 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
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FULL DAY GULF ISLAND DESTINATION ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

Location: Salt Spring Island, BC

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

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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.