It was our first time visiting Pender Island and it did not disappoint. There’s something about small islands, where the time slows down and nothing feels as rushed as in the city. (Except maybe when you have to catch the ferry to get back to Vancouver ;). Better not miss that one.)

Both Jeanine and Carmen are beyond doubt the fittest people I know, so it was fitting they started the day off with a not-so easy hike. Jelger and I joined the fun later on when it was time to get ready. The duo planned to take som photos together before the wedding, with a small block of extra photo time during the sunset. (always a good plan!) That way they didn’t have to abandon their guests. Some guests had traveled all the way from the Philipines to be there with them!

Adorable puppy Froja definitely stole the show. She did so well during the ceremony!

Basically this wedding truly had it all: the island vibes, great company, games (the giant jenga was so fun!), live music, the cutest puppy, amazing food, a gorgeous sunset… Certainly a day to never forget. 🙂

Thanks you two for trusting us to photograph you day! And cheers to much more Belgian food together

Pender Island Wedding Vendors

Wedding Venue: Poets Cove Resort and Spa. What a perfect spot for an intimate wedding!

Hair and Makeup Artist: Natures Beauty Makeup

Wedding Planner/Decor: A Day to Remember Weddings & Events

Florist: Mercedes Papalia

Wedding dress: Isabelles Bridal

Groom suit: Harry Rosen Inc

Bride shoes: Vessi

Cake and macarons: Le Gateau Bake Shop

Musicians: Adam Dobres and Daniel Lapp

Are you planning your own wdding at Pender Island? Take a look at our contact page for photographers we recommend!

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Jelger and I occasionally visit Pacific Spirit Park in UBC, but this time it looked like Narnia. What a fantastic location for a winter wedding ceremony! Despite the freezing cold, these two were all smiles! After their short but sweet ceremony and some forest portraits, we drove to a nearby beach.

Using the word cold for what we experienced on the beach is an understatement. The wind chilled everyone’s bones and even with jackets, it felt hard to stay outside! Previously the forest protected us more from the elements. But Kellen and Jeff were determined! I absolutely love the look of the snow on the beach (definitely a first for me) and I’m glad they went for it!

There may have been a lot of talk about the warm and indoor activities for after our photo session. 😉 And Kellen came prepared with hand warmers and leggings. Find a couple more tips here for your own elopement in the snow!

Thank you very much for starting 2022 with us you two! What a memorable day.

Winter elopement in Vancouver info

Locations: Pacific Spirit Park, UBC and Spanish Banks

Officiant: Linda Cohen

Are you considering to get married in the snow? Check out some of our winter and snow photos here. Some locations guarantee snow, while of course it’s more rare for the beach to have any snow at all. We can help you with ideas for your elopement.

If you’re not sure about the location yet, here you can find a helpful post with 30 amazing elopement locations in and around Vancouver.

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Even at that time, there were some new restrictions, but with a small group of friends and family, they made it happen! And what a day it was! Jelger and I have been photographing in Stanley Park for years and we’ve NEVER seen snow like this! It was a gorgeous winter wonderland and the most beautiful sunny day. 🙂

But before starting portraits, we briefly joined Crystal and Sally at their hotel room, where they helped each other to get ready. I absolutely loved the atmosphere in the room. They were so ready for the day! And there’s something special about helping your partner get ready.

Next we ventured into the snow! This duo braved some COLD weather, but they were absolutely up for it. 🙂 Enjoy these photos in the Lost Lagoon area of Stanley Park.

For the ceremony at Ferguson Point, we were joined by family, friends and furry guest of honour: Timber! 😉 Sally’s family couldn’t be there in person, but they joined online and got to experience the beautiful ceremony in real time.

And at the end, we got to join the two of them for a few more freezing photos at the sea wall! 🙂

Thank you so much Crystal and Sally for having us as a part of your special day! And I really enjoyed seeing all your adventures in BC afterwards, hehe. Cheers to many more of those!

Elopement in the snow info

Getting ready location: Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver

Ceremony location: Ferguson Point in Stanley Park

Do you want to elope in the snow? You might have to travel up a mountain for it, unless there’s a unique snow situation in the park again. 😉 Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and find out more info!

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Luke and Charlene didn’t meet up before their ceremony, so Luke saw her for the first time when her parents walked her down the aisle. Absolutely beautiful! They sealed the deal with a heartfelt ceremony. And afterwards they joined us for portraits in some different locations throughout the park. During their photo time, the two of them couldn’t stop laughing and smiling. They were so giddy and excited, I absolutely loved it! Such fantastic energy! 🙂

After the photos, the two of them joined their family and friends for a fun dinner at the Boat House in Port Moody.

Thank you for having us as your wedding photographers Charlene and Luke!

Elopement at Buntzen Lake info

Wedding commissioner: Holly Genereux

Reception dinner: Boat House Restaurant in Port Moody

An important tip when planning your elopement at Buntzen Lake, is to make sure all your guests are aware of the fact that there is no cellphone reception in the area. As a consequence of this, some taxi drivers aren’t able to process payment on the parking lot. So If you’re arriving with a cab best to either bring cash or warn the driver beforehand so he can stop before the connection is lost.

Another more recent change, is that new parking restrictions will be implemented in the coming months. While parking remains free (and available in morning or afternoon time slots), they do require a reservation. So unfortunately that might mean this park will be less convenient to plan for in summer. (check the park website here for updates on parking)

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When the day of the wedding arrived, the forecast called for rain, but mother nature changed her mind. We were treated to a gorgeous day! For the ceremony, Jelger and I had scouted a more hidden spot to give them some privacy and avoid interruptions. We loved everything about the ceremony! And afterwards we visited the more open areas for some photos with the epic North Shore Mountains in the background.

I loved how they added some fun personal touches, like the sunglasses they brought and their champagne toast! It’s always a great reminder for anyone planning their elopement: you can do anything you like! 🙂

During the portrait time, we encountered a random couple that congratulated them and turned out to be Finnish as well! They had been married for 30 years and shared some stories. Sometimes it’s truly a small world! What are the odds! When photographing outdoors in a public area, it’s always an adventure and you never know who (or what!) you’re going to meet.

After their elopement, Maria and Dean traveled through BC and enjoyed the beautiful nature. We’re grateful we got to meet them and be part of their experience.

Cheers to many more adventurous travels!

Cleveland Dam elopement info

Wedding commissioner: Joan Mitchell

Location: Cleveland Dam and surrounding forests

Planning your own elopement in vancouver? Check out some popular elopement locations in Vancouver here or get in touch with us and inquire about our elopement photography services!

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1. Know your dog

You know your dog best! If they are rather anxious in social settings with new people, maybe your wedding ceremony might be too overwhelming if you have a lot of guests.

An engagement session, while much more low key, can also be stressful if it’s a new environment (and new people). As much as we love dogs, we wouldn’t want to force anything! So bring your dog if he or she loves to be social. 🙂

2. A friend to help out or an option to take a break

We generally recommend starting your engagement or wedding portrait session with photos that include your pooch. That way we can take photos without them afterwards and you no longer have to think about them. It definitely helps to have a friend or family member help out to take your dog after the photos.

Another option is for your dog to stay in your car. Of course this option is only viable for a short time. And only if they’re comfortable in this environment and never in extreme weather.

3. Choice of location

There are several off leash locations in and around Vancouver. But of course there’s just as many where you have to keep your puppy on a leash. If you’re thinking about your wedding, check in with your venue if you have one!

There’s absolutely no problem with either option, but it’s something to keep in mind when planning your session.

4. Your dog and props

Bowties, suits, funky leashes… anything that floats your boat, we’re on board! Just keep in mind that it might not work out. And that’s ok. Some dogs get out of their outfits REAL fast, haha. 😉 So while you can absolutely try, don’t feel disappointed if you end up with a photo of your dog fighting his or her outfit instead.

5. Treats and bribery

Of course the word treat itself might help, haha. But experience taught us that only works for a very limited time. 😉 In the busyness/hurry of getting ready for your session, it’s something to easily forget. So we definitely recommend getting it ready beforehand. After all, who doesn’t love to be bribed with snacks. (This works on photographers too.)

6. Going for a walk before the session

If your dog has a lot of energy, it’s very helpful if you can walk him/her beforehand. That way some of that excitement has found a way out and maybe (just maybe 😉 ) your doggo will be extra relaxed.

7. Leave no trace

In city parks you can find the occasional bags and plenty of garbage bins. But especially when visiting more remote locations, don’t forget your poop bags! Same story as with the treats, it’s easy to forget in a moment of excitement, so a good idea to have it ready in a convenient spot!

In case you’re interested in the leave no trace principles, the idea is to leave a place the same way you found it. And with Vancouver’s parks being so crowded, it’s certainly nicer to not have to revert to stick and flick. 😉

8. Have fun!

And as always: have fun! No need to be overly worried about the outcome. Regardless of what happens, your dog’s character will show! And definitely ask me about some funny dog events after your shoot, lol.

I hope this helped and bring your furry friend(s) along!

And of course there’s ALWAYS room for cats too. 😉

Interested in photos of you and your pet? Get in touch with us here!

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The two of them didn’t want to see each other before the ceremony, so Andrew saw Amelia for the first time when she walked down the rocky aisle, to their ceremony spot that overlooked the Howe Sound. Talking about an epic spot! They chose it together and it was perfect. Amelia and Andrew met while working in outdoor education, in Switzerland. (in the same village I used to go skiing as a kid with my parents, haha, it’s a small world sometimes) And they still love being outdoors and enjoying sports together. Whytecliff Park with it’s rocks was a nod to rock climbing. And that while showing off the gorgeous BC nature of course.

After the ceremony we took the two of them away from their guests for couple portraits for a little bit. The park has such unique features and it’s always fun to explore new parts. And their dog was the cutest!! Always love a pet appearance at a wedding, hehe. 😉

We left them with their family and guests at their picnic. They love Lucky’s donuts (good taste) and had great coffee and pastries.

Thank you so much for having us Amelia and Andrew! We loved meeting you and your family and are happy everyone can travel again now!

Whytecliff Park wedding photos

Are you interested in taking your own wedding photos in Whytecliff Park? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us here and get your own adventure started. And if you’re wanting to see more wedding photos, check out more wedding posts here.

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They opted to take photos in a couple of different areas, before meeting up with their guests at the beach for their ceremony and an epic sunset picnic!

First look and forest photos in UBC

After a beautiful first look, we ventured into Pacific Spirit Forest together. It’s one of our favourite places in UBC, because the forest is just amazing! It made the perfect background for a salsa intermezzo! That’s right, Bianca and Daniel met in Cuba on a salsa trip, so of course some salsa needed to happed! These two are GOOOOD! 🙂

Portraits and ceremony at Jericho Beach

If you’re familiar with Jericho Beach, you know it’s pretty large! So before the ceremony, we joined Bianca and Daniel at a different location on the beach, for more portraits. They didn’t want to leave their guests for too long after the ceremony. The beach provided a totally different environment than the forest.

When it was time for the ceremony, everyone gathered around in a secluded spot. Accompanied by romantic guitar tunes, everyone got in the mood quickly. One of their friends made sure family at home could watch the ceremony life. My personal favourite moment is always the personal vows! They’re just the best. The moment when every guest held the rings to make a wish for the couple, was also very special.

Wedding picnic and sunset photos at Jericho Beach

After the ceremony, it was time for their epic picnic. Epic in so many ways, haha, not only was the sunset breathtaking, the atmosphere was so warm and happy. And of course as Belgians (who love to eat) we noticed the impressive spread. 😉

We snuck out for a couple of quick sunset photos with Vancouver in the background, but quickly returned the couple to their guests. And that’s where we left them. We walked away hearing the sound of the ocean, guitar music and laughter.

Thank you so much Bianca and Daniel for trusting us with your photography! We had a great time with you two and we hope you’re still dancing a lot of salsa!

Intimate wedding at Jericho Beach – vendors

Wedding officiant: Laura Bee Ceremonies

Picnic decor + food: Folia Events

Guitarist: Ruel Morales

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Caroline and Tom are a playful duo with a very active lifestyle. They met each other through parcours. And no, those photos below aren’t photoshopped, haha, real stunt work happening there. 😉 Tom is a parcours pro and Caroline is also an athlete. With hiking as a hobby, the forest seemed a perfect backdrop for their engagement photos. Together we navigated through the forest and managed to avoid the crowds. We even had the suspension bridge to ourselves for a couple of photos. (a rare event!)

Thank you guys for the enthusiasm and the fun time! We can’t wait to photograph your wedding in June!

Are you considering your own forest engagement photos? Check out all of our galleries featuring forest spots here. It’s not a secret that BC has amazing rain forests. And we’re very lucky to have so many forests within a close distance of Vancouver.

If you’re considering Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver, we highly recommend choosing a weekday outside of the tourist season. Generally July -August are the busiest months. And especially weekends are very busy in this area. Another option to avoid crowds is to opt for an extra early session. I’m not a morning person, but for photos, I’d be absolutely on board, hehe.

Contact us any time for more information about our engagement sessions!

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The pandemic threw them a curveball, as it did with so many couples. But this duo also had to rearrange their honeymoon last minute. They planned on starting a trip in BC right after their wedding, but unfortunately the forest fires changed their initial plans. Luckily they were able to make the most of it anyways. And I’m grateful we didn’t get smoke in Vancouver during their wedding.

I love how the two of them put effort into the little details. From the adorable little carpet, to their gorgeous dried flower, to a champagne toast: beautiful! Also kudos to Angela for doing her own makeup, I’m beyond impressed.

Thank you Angela and Tanner for having us as your witnesses and photographers! We enjoyed your amazing sense of humour (Belgians love dry humour, haha) and hearing about your Belgian beer adventures. Cheers to the next 10 years!

Vancouver forest elopement info

Officiant: Linda Cohen from the BC marriage commissioners

If you’re planning your own elopement, feel free to check out this post about how to plan your elopement. Another great source is our 30 elopement locations article. You can also check out more photographs featuring forest scenery here.

And as always, feel free to get in touch with us with any questions you might have or to inquire about your own Vancouver forest elopement!

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