Well, its been a year. A year filed with big juicy beautiful moments and weddings reimagined. After a 2020 that was full of ups and downs in the wedding industry, one thing was clear. Folks were ready to get married however they could this year.

And they did. With me.

I’ve compiled a few images from some pretty memorable moments of 2021. Unsure how to sum it all up really. It’s been a remarkable year.

What. A. Journey.

There were moments when I was barely holding on and others where I was literally on top of the world. A wild ride and a beautiful one for sure. Full of gratitude and for all the lessons this past year has brought. SO many lessons⭐️Through it all I’m so thankful to have such incredible clients to share it all with.

Years ago I changed from shooting a LOT of weddings in a year to shooting about 10-14 comfortably. Giving me time and space to take on some family sessions and enjoy life with my own kiddos and family. Enter 2020 cancelling/postponing most of my weddings. The 2021 season and wedding vendors had to try and squeeze everyone in. 2020 and 2021 clients. All rolled into a few months. I photographed 35ish weddings and elopements this year and to some who shoot more than that it may not seem like a lot but it certainly was a lot for me.

What is clear to me is that I love how my clients and the wedding industry has shifted towards elopements, intimate and insanely unique celebrations. I’ve had so many incredible opportunities and adventures because of folks getting creative! I’ve been on sea planes, float planes, boats, tiny airplanes that land on remote beaches and SO many helicopters. My clients have gotten married on glaciers and mountaintops, on farms filled with every conceivable barnyard creature, others said "I do" right in their own back yard or on rugged, breathtaking remote beaches .

They’ve done headstands on paddle boards and ran barefoot through west coast storms. They have braved the elements an ongoing global pandemic with ever changing restrictions and done it all with exquisite style, grace and joy. These quirky, inspired and love filled intimate celebrations are where it’s at for me.

2021, you weren’t without challenges… but you were, beautiful.

To all of my mind blowingly wonderful, flexible, gracious, patient, determined and glorious 2021 clients thank you for choosing me to share your moments with. I celebrate you all in these images.

And to all of the remarkable vendors who shared these clients with me, Thank YOU for being so rad. (there are more of you, I'll add!)

Gowlland Harbour Oceanfront Resort

Wildflower Beauty on Location

French Kiss Events

The Good Party - Creative Planning + Production

Bezaire Floral

The Good Wife Gourmet

Coastal Cake Company

Rook & Rose

Why should you elope on Vancouver Island?

The question is really why wouldn’t you? (of course waiting until our current travel restrictions loosen up)

But whats not to love?

We’ve learned to roll with a lot of change on the island, restrictions changing plans as quickly as the weather changes in the spring. Elaborate wedding celebrations whittled down to only the essentials. Creative, breath taking and remarkable decor turned into wildly epic vistas and romantic, intimate moments. Not entirely ideal for our industry, but we’re making the best of it here on Vancouver Island and if us islanders know how to do anything, it is celebrate immersed in the natural beauty that is literally around every corner here.

From the surrounding islands, to the remote beaches, sea caves and mountaintops. There truly is no limit to what magic you can create here. Come, elope with us. You’re in good hands. ox

Some of my favourite elopement places and vendors to help you create the island elopement of your dreams.

Transportation

Campbell River

49 North

Grizzly Helicopters

Tofino

Atleo River Air Service

Venues

Long Beach Lodge Tofino

Wickininnish Inn Tofino

Gowlland Harbour Quadra Island

Seabreeze Hornby Island

Fossil Beach Farm Hornby Island

Dolphins Resort Campbell River

Strathcona Park Lodge Campbell River Area

Sonora Resort Sonora Island

Nimmo Bay Resort Nimmo Bay

Wild Pods Tofino

Sleeping Dog & Mermaid Farm Comox

Florists/Planners

Bezaire Floral and Events

Wildfloret Weddings Florist

Dresses

Unbridled

Catering/Cakes

Coastal Cakes

Cakebread Cakes

Hair/Makeup

Wildflower on location

Foundation

Headquarters Hair

Videographers

Painted Sky Films

Catering

More Eatery

Officiant

Craig Gillis

Barbara Densmore

2020 was shocking wasn’t it. I personally felt completely unprepared for a global pandemic. Hard to wrap my brain around the thought that the NHL could even be shut down, or that Disneylands doors could even close. The impacts were far, wide and deeply felt by everyone. Some industries hit harder than others. So devastating for so many. Including my business initially as well.

The wedding industry was initially shut down entirely with travel restrictions and gathering sizes limited. The impacts were felt by our entire industry, instantly. With so many uncertainties and questions about when in person packed dance floor weddings would resume, it was overwhelming for all to attempt at rescheduling or cancelling or deciding how to proceed with bookings. It was a lot. (For vendors, for venues, for brides, grooms, families, for me as well) Just a LOT. I think everyone would agree.

As things slowly opened back up in the early summer I was fortunate to be able to photograph a few micro weddings and elopements. It was inspiring to see how some couples chose to celebrate their love despite their dream weddings being cancelled. Some eloped and chose to postpone their celebration to another year. Some postponed. Some, reimagined what an epic day could look like all together.

Danielle and Reid had their Quadra Island celebration all mapped out, guests scheduled to come from all over. Visions of friends and family eating and laughing and celebrating together. When that wasn’t possible for the foreseeable future they decided to say “I do” in an epic way.

It was so wonderful in fact that 49 North and I have now teamed up to create helicopter elopement packages. It was truly spectacular and really did get me excited for all the reimagined elopements and celebrations in the future. I’m a fan of making the most of a situation (and when clients do too) I am so grateful to have been a part of their sweet mountain top elopement.

Each celebration is so deeply personal and each couple so different. This way to celebrate isn’t for everyone, but it is certainly one that I am a huge fan of.

If you’re interested to see or hear more please check out 49 North for packages with me.

Any time I get an email about a wedding at Hatley Castle in Victoria my heart skips a beat. It is just so stunning. The grounds offer so much luscious variety and beauty. There is literally no bad angles for photos. It is one of my favourite Vancouver Island Wedding Venues. I am also particularly fond of small, intimate weddings (anywhere) but really lovely here as well. Alicia and Jesses Hatley wedding was all sorts of beautiful and I feel incredibly lucky to be the one to capture this incredibly picturesque piece of their love story.

I hope this takes you away momentarily to another beautiful Vancouver Island wedding celebration.

Venue: Hatley Castle

For so many reasons this was one of my favourite weddings, maybe ever. There was a lot of fear and nerves leading up to their 2017 Parksville wedding. Nearly the entire guest list was coming from Australia. We were experiencing one of the worst fire seasons ever on the island and the skies were thick with smoke and haze. I was nervous it would look awful with the smoke, but it wound up creating a perfect photography diffuser and the light couldn't have been more magical. Not only were the details and the people beautiful, but the emotions and connections were so breathtaking it left me speechless at the end. I was swept off my feet by Clare and Andrews beautiful Vancouver Island Celebration and I hope you will be too.

Vendor love:

Event Planning: Shaping Memories by Braeja

Venue: Pacific Shores

Catering: SmokenWater

I came across the Jane Goodall quote “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” I feel like it is a beautiful summary of the days we are experiencing with our current global pandemic as well as our human effects on the planet. All so connected. Everything is connected.

As I started looking through my photographs from the past I was moved by how so many of them rely on the magic of mother earth. Without her kiss of sunlight dancing in my children’s hair, the deep blues of ocean, the god rays reaching through her fluffy clouds, the vivid pinks of her showing off sunsets and the take that awe inspiring fireworks of her west coast skies. What would my images be without her gust of wind filling up a dress, or a dark storm brewing in the background. Without the blanket of fog weaving through the trees and the plump cherry blossoms dangling from the branches. They would loose so much. This place, this one precious and miraculous earth. Don’t we owe her this long pause, can’t we give her this break. When the walls are lifted, when the chains and rules are opened up… will we charge back into the same destruction or will our pause be long enough for real change and creativity into a more sustainable future for us all.

Dear Earth, thank you for your sacrifices and gifts. Power and grace. Magic and lessons. I hope we can repay you.

We are not gifted the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children.

Be gentle with each other, tread lightly on the earth.

So much to love about these two and their incredibly laidback but super stunning wedding at Church and State Winery in Victoria BC. Hathaway and Bill chose this stunning landscape as a destination wedding for all of their friends and family to celebrate with them and fall in love with as they had. So many beautiful details but what I loved more than anything was the beautiful heartfelt emotion that was apparent in every moment of their wedding day. Nothing more beautiful to me. So grateful to have been a part of their journey with such a dream team of vendors as well.

Venue: Church and State

Event Planning: Chambers and Co

Flowers: Ingrid Rose floral artistry

Hair & Makeup: Erin Bradley

Music: Cascadia Quartet

Prestlee and Scott. So much to say about this duo. One look at their photos and you will know… they are not short on vibrance, energy and joy. So much fun photographing such an exciting and love filled day. Not only are they super gorgeous humans, but their spirits match and surpass their outward good looks. Truly. So much fun, and all of the things that makes me love wedding photography. Connections. So many amazing connections, laughter, fun.. kids (all the beautiful kids). Prestlee had so much energy that it was literally uncontainable. I would try and get a moodier look or image and she was virtually incapable of standing still for one, and was so excited she could just barely contain it all. SO beautiful. Set in the woods in Cowichan, their families went wild helping them achieve their wedding dreams, which is truly #weddinggoals

To make matters even juicier, there were a few beautifully familiar faces as I had photographed the grooms brothers wedding on the same date 6 years prior, as well as a few of their wonderful guests weddings. When the right people find you, magic happens. Loved every single thing about this wedding and if my life was filled with moments like this… I’d continue to be the happiest. ox So grateful Prestlee and Scott chose me.

If you need more details on their stunner wedding it was featured over on Real Weddings magazine and you can have a peek HERE.

• Catering: Truffles Catering 

• Event Coordination: Party Mood 

• Rentals: Black and White Event Rentals 

• Dress: Willowby by Watters at The White Peony 
  Suit: Tip Top Tailors

Karen and Jesse met sailing the seas onboard Princess cruise ships with a shared love of video. These two talented humans make up one of Vancouver Islands favourite wedding videography teams Painted Sky Films . They travelled the world together onboard ships and worked with a few of my very favourite humans on board ships. Jesse reached out to me before we shot our first island wedding together and as soon as we met I felt like I was reconnecting with a kindred spirit. Cruising is a small world and the connections you make at sea often stay with you for a lifetime. Later when I received an email from Karen and Jesse asking if I would photograph their wedding I not only felt incredibly honoured but also seriously excited. I knew they would be surrounded with good people, and a good time.

As anticipated it was a beautiful day, with gorgeous humans and soulful connections in the stunning Quadra Island laid back atmosphere at Gowlland Harbour Resort.

Vendor Love:

Venue: Gowlland Harbour Resort

Videography: Paper Heart Films

Dress: Enzoani

Hair: Headquarters Hair Studio

Maekup: Paige Willett

Katie and Todd’s Wickaninnish Inn beach wedding was all of my photography dreams come true. Fog in the morning, connection, emotion… so much love and to top it all off a spontaneous and sudden sky fire sunset. Relaxed, laid back, barefoot and rugged. A recipe for a stunning coastal celebration. Katie and Todd chose the Wick as their perfect destination wedding location, and it did not disappoint. If halibut cerviche on the beach is wrong… I give up. It is perfection. Along with a few of their favourite people (who all travelled from New York) they roasted marshmallows on the open fire, and danced the night away under the stars. What a treat it was to be their chosen one.

Vendor love:

Venue: Wickaninnish Inn

Florals and ceremony set up: Wild Bloom Tofino

Dress: Grace Loves Lace

I had a very hard time making this post short and sweet… so it isn’t. I want to share them all!!! So much beauty and love and joy. (And very cute kids) Also upon walking into the bridal suite Allie confessed “I’ve been waiting for you to photograph my wedding since I was 15!” What. An. Honour! I instantly teared up... and then quickly thought... holy that makes me feel a bit old! I feel so lucky to have been photographing weddings for 12 years on Vancouver Island. 12 years of witnessing all the moments, all the magic, all the beautiful places in all sorts of weather. Fall weddings are my favourite and although the weather can at times be unpredictable this wedding was just stunning. Thank you Allie and Jason, for choosing me. xo

Such an incredible team of vendors, so grateful to be a part of it.

Ingrid Rose Floral Artistry

Trend Decor Event Design

Hunt & Gather Hair Company

Jen Clark Makeup Artist

Rylan Gladson Films

Beacon Hill Park

Union Club of BC

1. Ask your photographer what will work best for light and timing before the wedding.  The right lighting can literally make a location magical or not magical. Having your wedding at noon in the summer is most wedding photographers nightmare, however a time closer to sunset is more ideal for lighting.

2. Dried rose petals are my personal fave and the best for your guests to shower you with after you're announced as the newlyweds. They are more impactful in photos than most things.  

3. Always have a back up plan for weather.  (Not just sometimes, ALL the time) My motto is plan for the worst, hope for the best.  Have a tent on back up if your wedding is outdoors, have umbrellas and boots for back up ALWAYS not just sometimes. On the island it rains suddenly, spontaneously and even when there is no rain in the forecast! Be prepared and hope for the best, you’ll be less worried and stressed if you have a “just in case” plan in place. Trust me!

4.  Embrace bad weather... like rain!  Seriously folks, rain is ok. Rain is freaking beautiful. It adds mood, dimension and forces your photographer to be more creative and may even inspire them to try something new or more creative. I don’t really do the “rain on your wedding is good luck” but I am on the “rain on your wedding can be freaking magical and memorable” train. Embrace your day, worrying about it isn’t going to change a thing. If you truly just embrace whatever your day is brewing up for you… you will enjoy your wedding way more. Clients of mine know, if it’s raining they may even be treated with seeing me in an umbrella hat!

5.  Be present. Stress less, be in the moment more.  Seriously, breathe and try and sink into your moments! Go with the flow! These are moments in your one wild and precious life! Good moments! Enjoy them! Your photos will reflect YOU and your day.  If you are having the time of your life with the love of your life your photos will ALWAYS be better.  

6. Have your wedding outside of “wedding season”. Wedding season on Vancouver Island is about May to September. However, many are wisely choosing weddings outside of the summer for a variety of reasons. Some places and vendors are more flexible with rates in their slower season as well as your guests will love a wedding outside of the busy summer months when they may already be attending a handful of weddings! Hello fall weddings?! Most beautiful!

7.   Expect the unexpected, and roll with it. Weddings are a perfect place for unexpected to happen. A sudden hailstorm, a toddler tantrum (or on occasion an adult tantrum) a power outage, a broken ankle, an unwanted pimple, something forgotten, misspoken etc. Try as much as humanly possible to keep all things in perspective and try to have a sense of humour about it all as well. All of the crazy things that can happen will all just be another part of your beautiful story one day.

8. When in doubt, ask. We’ve seen it all and we want your wedding to be rad. If you are doubting or questioning something about your ideas or timeline. Ask us, we’d rather be in the loop with what you’re up to than left out. We like to prepare and anticipate all the juiciest moments so a heads up is appreciated!

9. Follow your vendors on social media for a good while BEFORE booking them. You should get a feel for who they are and what they value through their feed. If they are constantly posting things that bug you, maybe not the best fit. Also I urge you to seek out client testimonials and hear what others experiences have been with them. If you’ve hired someone you love and trust then ask them for their favourite vendors as well! Create your own personal dream team and your day will be a dream.

10. Do your wedding YOUR way.  It doesn't have to be something out of a trendy blog or magazine, or a $10k dress or even a $1k dress.  It can be as elaborate or as intimate as you desire.  It truly is all about what you and your sweetie dream up or what feels right for YOU.  Get your dress at the thrift store, go barefoot, have your grannie be your flower girl, have a pancake breakfast, or have a food truck for dinner. Just whatever you do, DO YOU.

Dear Maisie, 

I've always loved your birthday parties.  This year, I had the luxury of time creating your rainbow art party, and I must say... it was so fun for me.  I hope you always choose art parties (and that your amazing Auntie Shannon will continue to love to create incredible crafts with you all!  What a gem!)  

I hope you remember these parties and know that I "mommed" hard on this one.  xo 

Love you my sweet peach, 

ox mom

Special thank you to Shannon for creating, orchestrating, demonstrating, putting together, overseeing, and inspiring these sweet souls.  Luckiest kids to have you creating with them!  THANK YOU!  

As well as our Party helpers Auntie Heather and Elijah for hammering in all of the nails in the boards! (which were custom drilled by Shannon earlier WILD) These are amazing!  Thank you also to Maisie's amazing tribe of creative, crafty souls for coming and celebrating her 8th birthday with her.  It was a celebration she will never forget. .ox  

Laura and Mike had a clear vision for what they wanted for their wedding day.  Black Rock Resort a very intimate few friends and loved ones and a day to celebrate their connection.  Simple, remote, intimate and absolutely lovely.  Intimate weddings can seem daunting to plan, there are family members feelings to consider (I know this first hand) there are a lot of things to consider.  But, if its what your heart truly wants, the people who cherish you will love you and respect your choices.  These small but meaningful weddings have my heart.  I always feel so honoured to be chosen to photograph your weddings, but when it is such a small group... perhaps even more.  The images will be how you share your wedding with all of your family who weren't there with you.  It just feel so special to me. 

This west coast wedding began with a dusting of magical snow (I was so excited) but ended with a sudden burst of light through the clouds at the property of a chance meeting of a lovely local fellow who invited us to his property for photos.  Here are a few of my favourites from such a special Black Rock Resort wedding in the ever amazing Ucluelet BC. 

Dear Maisie, 

How do I sum up 8 years with you.  To be honest, I barely remember what life was like without you. 8 years of highs and lows.  Of firsts and lasts.  

The first time you looked up at me with those big brown eyes, first time you walked, got stung, fell down, touched the sea.    The last time you wore your baby slippers, your sleep sac, wore diapers.  The first time you smiled, talked, danced, sung {you were always singing}.  The last time I breastfed you, bottle fed you... fed you with my hands. The first time you wound up in the Emergency Room, got immunized, read a book, made a friend.  First birthday photoshoot, first day of pre-school, kindergarten, grade one, grade two.  Your last day of preschool, kindergarten, grade one.  The first wedding I photographed after having you {first time pumping milk in the car/bathroom/bushes wherever}.  My first truly sleepless nights/weeks/months.   8 years filled with firsts and lasts.  8 years of adventures, and unexpected joys and experiences.  8 years of getting to know you.  Of laughter, tears, drama, excitement, epic pouts and charming all the creatures.  8 years of beautiful surprises and meaningful experiences and moments.  8 years with you Maisie.  I feel like the luckiest human being on earth.  You make everything better.  You make me better, want to be better, try to be better.  I am constantly in awe of the amazing being you are, mesmerized by your kindness, compassion and grace.  You are vivacious, creative, thoughtful, smart, witty and sharp.  How much can happen in 8 years.  How deeply grateful I am that you chose me to be your mom.  

May your life be filled with light, love, conviction, strength, bravery and the unique power and gift to be vulnerable enough to live in your own way, on your own authentic path.  May you always be able to be you.  I tell you all the time, but feel I should write it here too.  

You just be you.  You don't need to DO anything for my unending love.  Nothing.  Not a thing.  Just be you.  Stay kind, be awake, be aware, help others, use your beautiful gifts to bring the world what only you can bring.  Use your you.  Be Maisie.  But clean up after yourself, don't be rude, be quick to right your wrongs and be humble.  Be polite, but stand up for yourself and those around you.  Make magic.  Be magic. Shine on beautiful soul.  

You are so very loved my remarkable girl.  

xo mom

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” — Hal Borland

What could be more precious, more fun, more magical than baby ducklings.  Baby ducklings in a bath tub perhaps.  I had the incredible pleasure of photographing these little sweeties with their children friends at their incredible farm.  You should check out their amazing camps, openings and petting farm days.  Just one of my favourite places to take my kiddos (and visit myself).  

Holly Hill Farm

Shannon and Sean.  These two are many of their friends #relationshipgoals 

"she described him as an angel. Her bridal party gushed over what a sweet, romantic man he is and wished their partners would take a page from his book ." 
Whats not to love, when the groom literally bursts into tears when he sees his love on their wedding day. I could barely see through my blurry eyes to focus. Such a perfect Victoria BC day.  Sunshine, blue skies and all of the beautiful moments. 

Laurel Point 

Details Special Event Planning and Decor

Thorn and Thistle Flowers

Conscious Hair