Reykjavik Elopement in Iceland // Farrah and Lance

Farrah and Lance elope in Iceland at the Blue Lagoon, black beaches, with a sunset vow exchange at Seljalandsfoss // Victoria Wedding and Elopement Photographers

We met Farrah and Lance through our friend Emma of Emma McCormmick Creative, and were so excited when they told us that they wanted to elope in Iceland and have us there to take the photos!  Like all of our couples, Farrah and Lance had their own unique way of doing their elopement, and we loved photographing the whole experience.  Farrah and Lance had a not-so-secret elopement, and even had a handful of family members and friends along to share in the day.  A mini wedding! We  love it!  

The day started out dark, with rain clouds looming over Reykjavik and as far as we could see: we assumed that our lucky weather streak had run out.  Our only option for the day was to follow the road in any direction that might lead us towards any sort of light. What a great decision that ended up being!

Black lava rocks, topped with bright green moss is what covers most of the Reykjanes Peninsula where we decided to head.  At Blue Lagoon, the vibrantly blue pools of water cut a contrasting path through the green and black blanket. They're made all the more vivid by their stark white silica borders.  For Farrah and Lance's first look, it made for a very surreal setting, even as rain threatened to pour on them.  From there we headed east, where we were treated to black sand beaches; their grassy dunes stretching for thousands of acres. Here we found an absolute absence of people, and warm sunlight bursting through dense fog, creating an otherworldly and romantic atmosphere.  

Farrah and Lance had saved their vows just for Iceland, and they were hoping to be able to exchange them at a waterfall at some point through the day.  As the day wound down and the sun began to set, we made our way further east to Seljalandsfoss, stopping along the way to visit with some Icelandic horses, and trying to coax them into cuddles with the promise of apples. We made it to Seljalandsfoss just in time for a glorious sunset, which couldn't have been more perfect for Farrah and Lance's romantic vow exchange.

Thank you Farrah and Lance! We had such a great day with you and your squad, chasing the light, fishing for horses, and walkie-talkie-ing like truckers between our vehicles!  Congratulations to you both, we hope these memories last forever!

Fan Tan Alley and Beacon Hill Park Engagement Photos with Susan and Peter

Susan and Peter are getting married in gorgeous Southern California, but approached us because they wanted us to do their engagement photos in gorgeous BC.  We talked for a while about all the great places we could get together for their session; should we go to Osoyoos? What about Vancouver?  In the end, the day before the photo shoot, they made the last minute decision to come to gorgeous Victoria and make a little weekend holiday of it.  We were so excited!  Vancouver Island has some of the most amazing places to do photos, which still end up being quite private. 

We met at Fan Tan Alley downtown and immediately hit it off.  Peter and Susan had one-liner after one-liner and lots of funny banter that kept us on our toes, and hurt our stomach from laughing so hard.  We love to see couples who can effortlessly make each other burst out laughing and smiling.  We explored around the alleys for a while and then headed through Beacon Hill Park before ending our session with with some intimate time on the beach.   It was great shooting Susan and Peter in these iconic Victoria spots, on a gorgeous day before tourist season; it felt like we had the whole town to ourselves and we could capture Susan and Peter in their element.

Thanks for the hilarious memories Susan and Peter, and thanks for coming all the way to the Island to let us photograph you!  Hope you love the photos, here's a few of our favourites! 

East Sooke Park Engagement Photos with Lindsey and Brent (and Willow!)

Lindsey, Brent, and Willow romp around the fields, cliffs, and beach at Aylard Farms in East Sooke Park during their engagement photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

East Sooke park is the first place the two of us visited that made us fall in love with, and eventually move to Sooke.  After talking to Brent and Lindsey about their upcoming Church and State wedding, we got to talking about all the areas they really love around here.  We weren't surprised in the least when Lindsay and Brent told us that East Sooke was one of their favourite places, and that they'd love to do their engagement session there, near Aylard Farms.  It also happened to be a first-hike-together place for them, as Lindsey puts it: her and Willow, her dog, were going for a hike date together, and invited Brent along. They hit it off, evidently!!

The day of the engagement session came and we all romped around the park talking about their upcoming Church and State Winery wedding, summer and travel plans, and laughing at all Willows silly antics.  Lindsey and Brent finished off the evening with some good old stick-toss into the ocean for Willow, and stuck around long enough to catch a couple curious seals swim by. 

Thanks to Lindsey and Brent for hiking around the park for us during your engagement session, we had loads of fun! We're excited about your wedding!!

Mystic Beach Engagement Photos with Kristi and Kyle (and Chase!)

Kristi and Kyle hike through the rainforest for their sunset engagement session at Mystic Beach

// Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We met Kristi and Kyle, along with their wedding planner Anouk, about a month ago to talk about their Oak Bay Beach Hotel wedding.  They told us about their life in Victoria, their wedding plans, and showed us pictures of their cute little dog, Chase.   We found them so endearing, especially the way they'd look in each other's eyes and immediately smile every time we asked them questions about their everyday life, and their relationship.  We are always drawn to couples who have a strong connection to each other that way.  When they told us that they had considered a place like Mystic Beach for their engagement photos, we almost fell out of our seats.  

Mystic Beach is one of our (one of most people's) favourite places to visit, and we've been dying to go there with a couple.  Within 10 minutes of weaving through the moss and fern coated forest, Kristi and Kyle's shoes were covered in thick mud, and Chase's tiny white paws were painted black.  To which, Kristi laughed and said, "Well, we're committed now! It'll totally be worth it!"  And she was so right.  Appropriately named, Mystic Beach makes most people feel as though they've stepped out of the forest and into a dream.  It often overwhelms people with a kaleidoscope of feelings which is why it's such a great place to photograph people there.  We had so much fun photographing Kristi and Kyle as they explored the beach, the waterfall, and ran around the beach with Chase, who was clearing feeling energized after being liberated from his leash! We finished off with a gorgeous hazy sunset by the waterfall, followed by our slow and tedious hike back to the cars through the pitch black forest.

Thanks, Kristi and Kyle, for being so adventurous and taking on this crazy excursion with us, for your engagement session.  Thank you for letting us try out some creative photo techniques with our lighting, and panorama style too!  We just couldn't wait to show you these images, and we totally hope they are worth the sore ankles and backs!  We're sooo looking forward to your wedding in September.

Thanks for checking out our blog!  If you'd like to learn more about us, please head over to our "About Us" section!

Tips for Looking and Feeling Awesome in Your Engagement Photos

Some great suggestions on how to look and feel amazing during your engagement photos, from Victoria Wedding Photography team, Pebble and Pine Photography.

Let's start with why we love engagement sessions so much!  We get asked a lot by couples if engagement sessions are a totally necessary part of getting married.  The truth is, they aren't.  You can get married without having engagement sessions and your marriage is still just as legal, haha.  However,  we've found that engagement sessions are so valuable because they are a great way for us to get to know our couples a bit more before the wedding.  It helps us to see how you interact with each other, get to know your dynamic as a couple, and how we can best make you feeling comfortable and confident in front of the lens so the wedding day is effortless and has a smooth natural flow to it.  It's also incredibly helpful and fun for our couples who are preparing for the big day.  It shows you how we work as a photography duo, how you feel being photographed, and help you to get more comfortable in front of our lenses, so that you have less to feel nervous about when your wedding day comes. 

 In our experience of photographing weddings, we've found that many of the couples we work with have not had professional photos done together before working with us.  They often have questions about how they can best prepare for the engagement session, so we've put together a handy little tips list.  That way, you can put your nerves at ease, and feel excited!

First and most importantly to remember; this is not a do-or-die list.  As with all advice, follow it to the degree that you're comfortable with, and that feels right for you!

Ability to move freely. 
Because we’ll be walking around, and getting the two of you interacting with each other, the ability to move around with ease is the best way to feel natural in front of the camera.  You want to make sure that you can wrap your arms around each other comfortably, and also be able to walk and sit down without worrying what your clothes are doing, or feeling restricted by them. We also love taking candid photos of you guys just spending time together, so the less you carry with you (purses, backpacks, etc), the more spontaneous the photos can be.  Some couples like to make sure they can keep their phones close by, or like to bring a small makeup/lip touch-up kit along which is totally fine. In those instances, we will usually just carry those things for you in our camera bags until you need them, so they don’t show through your pockets and clothes.

Wear the clothes, and do the hair and makeup style that make you feel like the most confident, comfortable, and vibrant version of yourself.
Keep in mind that when you look at your photos later, we want you to feel like your photos are a reflection of your true self, not a costumey version of yourself.
Our best advice is to not wear clothes, or get hair and makeup done to an extreme or style that feels unnatural or uncharacteristic of you. The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 
Brides who are planning to have hair and makeup done at the wedding often opt to have some hair and makeup for the engagement session, to see how it feels to be photographed with it done.  Typically it’s slightly more toned-down, and less formal than it would be on the wedding day.  The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 

Decide on a location you love and feel comfortable in.
We encourage couples to choose a place of significance to them, and a place they feel comfortable in.  We love engagement sessions to tell some kind of story and have a flow to them, so that you don’t feel like you're just standing in front of the camera posing the whole time. If you're in a place you love and are excited about, you'll feel more at ease in front of the camera.  This way we can get you interacting with each other to really capture your personalities, and your dynamic together.  A lot of couples choose walks on the beach or the woods in areas they like, or decide they want to have a date night, like a wine-and-sunset picnic somewhere.  Other couples choose to have their photos taken doing a hobby they enjoy doing.  We like to chat with our couples about ideas that work best to reflect their life together.

Match your engagement style vibe to the atmosphere and style you’ve planned your wedding. 
Weddings nowadays have become less of a traditional mould, and more of an expression of your relationship.  Chances are, you’ve planned your wedding to reflect your personalities, your style and taste, and of course your eccentricities.  We recommend matching your engagement style to fit amongst the same general style of your wedding, and your own personal style.  Some couples consider themselves more outdoorsy and adventurous. Some couples vibe with boho, whereas others are more modern and edgy, etc.  So to avoid feeling uncomfortable or inauthentic to yourself, we usually recommend couples dress in what Matt refers to as, “casual plus, or better".  It's a spruced up version of your own real, personal style.  For example, a couple we shot last year, during a beach sunset, described their outfit choice this way, “we chose outfits to that we would wear to a beachfront patio, on a night out for dinner and drinks with good friends we hadn’t seen for a long time.”   

Complement each other’s style. 
This is not a suggestion to wear a matchy-matchy couples onesie outfit, though that would be hilarious. We do, however, recommend your clothes complement each other’s style and scale of formality. We’ve found most couples have a similar style anyways, but we just throw this in as a tip.  For example, if one of you is in a suit jacket, the other might not want to wear those oh-so-cozy LuLus and gym top.  Or, if one is in a brightly coloured, patterned summer dress, the other probably wouldn’t be rocking the Johnny Cash all-black-from-head-to-toe look.  You're both individuals, but these photos show how you complement each other as two equal parts of a whole.

Play off the season and location.  
This all goes with the goal of feeling comfortable and natural in your surroundings. We want you to dress and feel awesome for the weather, and location you're in.  Heels aren't always the best shoe choice for snowy mountains or sandy beaches. If you're planning to rock a strapless dress at the top of Cypress in the winter, bring along a cute jacket to wear.  If you're planning a romantic summer sunset on a hot beach, leave that parka at home and wear layers instead. 

I know, I know! This isn't one of Andrea and Eddie's engagement photos. But we love their use of vibrant colour and eccentric prints to show their personal style. Don't be afraid to be bold, friends!

Don't shy away from bright colours or prints, but avoid fluorescent neon materials. 
Bold prints and vibrant colours can be a great way to show your personal style, but be weary of fluorescent and neon.  Think Olivia Newton John in her 80’s aerobic leotards.  While these types of colours are mostly seen in workout and road-worker attire to promote visibility and road safety, they have started to pop up in regular style as well for a visual punch.  Great in real life, but these fluorescent and neon colours are so reflective that they’ll reflect their own colour onto your skin in photographs.  If these colours are on the front of your shirt, they will often cast their colour up onto your face and your partner’s, even on a cloudy day. (We’ll have a photo in the blog to show an example of this effect.)

A good night sleep, proper meals, and lots of water! 
This is just a general rule for day to day life, but it applies to the day of your photoshoot as well.  If you’re nervous the night before, try to hit the hay early to make sure you’re not tired the evening of your session. If you’re busy with hair and makeup on the day of, make sure to allot time for food and water through the day of your the photo session.  It’s the best way to look vibrant, feel refreshed, and stay excited through your photos together. Plus, as we all know, it’s hard to smile and feel lovey when we’re hangry. 

These are some of our prep / attire tips. But again, only follow these to the degree that you’re comfortable with, and don’t feel restricted by.  We usually spend a few minutes at the start of each photo shoot to let you guys know what expect so that you know how to interact with each other and the camera during the photoshoot. We’ll shake out all those nervous, awkward feelings at the start so you guys can feel awesome in the photos! 

Feel free to check out some other blogs here:

Westwood Plateau and The Pear Tree Wedding - Inna and Kevin

Inna and Kevin's Intimate Elopement-Style Wedding in Burnaby // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We're ringing in 2017 by doing some time travelling!  All the way back to 2016.  We have the technology!

Today we're reminiscing about that time we travelled from Victoria to Burnaby for Inna and Kevin's wedding at Westwood Plateau.   With the club closing for winter, Inna, Kevin and their dozen guests had the entire venue to themselves, and cozied into a window-filled room to exchange vows and rings. 

After the ceremony, we all headed to a place very special to Inna and Kevin, The Pear Tree Restaurant, in Burnaby.  Known for their fine dining experiences, the staff treated all its guests to a bouquet of courses: each innovative, intricate and flavourful.  After each delectable course, toasts, laughter, and vodka flowed through the room.

Thank you Inna and Kevin for having us there to celebrate your love with you and your loved ones!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Whonnock Lake Lodge Wedding - Minna and Trevor

Minna and Trevor's Intimate Wedding at Whonnock Lake in Maple Ridge // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

Today we're sharing some of our favourites from Minna and Trevor's wedding at Whonnock Lake Centre.

We were so honoured to be there to capture Minna and Trevor's big day with them, and their family and friends.  For those of you who know what the Vancouver area is like in the winter, you know we get rain.  A lot of it.   With the rain pouring down the wall of windows of Whonnock Lake Centre, and the sun setting low into a nest of mist and cloud,  Minna and Trevor hosted one of the most intimate and cozy weddings we've had the pleasure of shooting.  Underneath a canopy of lanterns strung from the wood beams, they and their guests danced and drank the night away. What a celebration!  

Thank you Minna and Trevor for having us there to capture it.  Thanks for standing in the rain while we did some photography experimentations on you!  You're such great sports.

We hope you love the photos!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Centennial Beach Engagement Session - Bernice and Phil

Bernice and Phil Get Silly at Centennial Beach in Richmond During Their Engagement Session //  Vancouver Wedding Photographers

We've been waiting eagerly for Bernice and Phil's engagement session and their upcoming wedding for some time now!  They're quirky, animated, and so fun to be around. Their smiles and laughter are contagious.  We were so excited to come to Richmond from Victoria to photograph them!

We met up with Bernice and Phil around Centennial Beach in Richmond for their engagement session.  It was windy and cool that day, so we opted to start our session in a more sheltered area, amongst some gorgeously coloured autumn trees.  After a bit of walk through the trails, we made our way to the beach to play on the logs and race down the shore.

Phil and Bernice enjoy cosplay, and it only seemed right to pull out their homemade, expressive BomberMan heads to have some fun! We were so impressed with the way Phil and Bernice embrace doing things their way - from the custom engagement ring, their enthusiasm for cosplay, and the unique details they are putting into their wedding.  We're so looking forward to their December wedding!

Thanks for all the laughs, Bernice and Phil! We hope you love the photos as much as we do.

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

British Columbia Elopement - Aria and Zach // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Aria and Zach Elope on the Sunshine Coast in the Forest // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We're romantics, of course. I think you have to be to work in such an intimate field, photographing such an intimate and monumental milestone.  For a lot of us, an elopement is the epitome of romantic.  So, you can imagine how our hearts were a flutter when Aria and Zachary called us to talk about photographing their elopement on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. 

We had so much fun with the two of them and their charming officiant, Greig - just the five of us exploring Cliff Gilker Park near Gibsons, and Smuggler Cove past Sechelt.  We loved talking to them, and getting to know about their relationship.  Aria and Zach started dating and knew right away that they were going to spend their lives together.  They got engaged a few months into their relationship, and felt an intimate and private elopement would be right for them... down the road.  They spent their 5 year engagement getting to know each other, growing together, and  then moving from the States to BC together.  As they explore the mountain ranges in BC together, their matching wedding bands illustrate the mountain ranges from where they came.  We love their story, their positive attitudes, and their sense of adventure - it's not everyday that a couple decides they want to get married or elope by a waterfall, in the middle of the mossy woods, in a province they just moved to.

Thank you Aria and Zachary for inviting us on this great adventure with you! We wish you a lifetime of adventures together, and hope you love the photos!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding and elopement photographers, you can read About Us.

Furry Creek Wedding - Kim and Kyl

Kim and Kyl Get Married in the Rain at Furry Creek Near Squamish // BC Wedding Photographers

When you live on Vancouver Island, and anywhere along the coasts of BC, much of your life is impacted by the ocean, the forests, the mountains.  It goes without saying that west coast couples love to incorporate those elements into one of the most special days in their life.  Kim and Kyl were definitely one of those couples, and found a venue that emulated all aspects.  Furry Creek Golf Course is perched on the side of a forest covered mountain, and its reach stretches all the way down to the waters of Howe Sound.  We couldn't wait to spend the day with Kim and Kyl, their guests, to watch as they exchange their vows, and explore the golf course!

On any given saturday Furry Creek would be packed with enthusiastic golfers, but as luck would have it, those famous west coast rains kept the golfers away.  Kim, Kyl and their guests had the entire venue to themselves, giving their wedding an exclusively intimate feeling.

A very special thanks to Kim and Kyl for trekking around the whole golf course, in the rain, the get all the great portraits that day! We hope you love the photos! 

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Milner Chapel & Centennial Lodge Wedding - Halyna and Jason

Halyna and Jason's Vintage-Inspired Wedding in New Westminster //  Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

Our first glimpse of Halyna was at back in January, at our booth in the “It’s My Wedding” Fair.  Along with her bridesmaids and mom in co-ordinating shirts, Halyna leapt into the photobooth to give it a whirl!  She probably wasn’t expecting to be the winner of our wedding giveaway at the time, but at the end of the weekend, we pulled her strip of photos out from our bucket of 200 entries!

When we got to sit down with Halyna and her fiance, Jason, we learned all about this beautiful blonde and handsome brit, their story, and their autumn wedding plans.

The Milner Chapel in Langley seemed a perfect place to host their ceremony, with the men in their suits, and Halyna in her romantic lace dress.  The cozy quaintness of the chapel created such a welcoming atmosphere for in-town, and out-of-town guests to congregate.   After that, it was off to Queens Park in New Westminster for some photos, and the reception. But first, was a quick stop at a British Pub for the gang to have some post-ceremony, pre-dinner cheers.

The reception was filled with clever kissing games, gorgeous homemade decorations, and of course, delicious food and shots of vodka. The speeches were all so touching and heartfelt, and the dancing was was! What a wedding!

Thanks so much to Halyna and Jason for having us there to be part of our day! Enjoy the photos!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Church and State Winery Wedding in Victoria - Lindsay and Darren

Lindsay and Darren's First Look at Brentwood Bay Resort, Photos at Woodwynn Farms, and Wedding at Church and State Winery // Victoria Wedding Photographers

When we met up with Lindsay and Darren for their engagement shoot this spring, we could tell their big day was going to be a special one.  Having brought along a few props to use during their engagement photos, it was clear that Lindsay and Darren not only had an eye for detail, but a knack for making details very personal.  We could NOT wait for their wedding at Church and State in Brentwood Bay.   It has to be one of the very best wedding venues in Victoria, probably one of the best wedding venues on Vancouver Island!

 When their big day arrived, that part of Lindsay and Darren’s personalities shone from start to finish; with how they prepared their day, their use of personal items, thoughtful tokens from and for their loved ones, personal typer-writer note cards, their unique vows, their silliness, and how they hosted their friends and family.  They truly did everything they could to make sure their guests felt comfortable, welcome, and excited.  That’s what we think weddings are all about.

The morning of their wedding day, every shade of blue painted the horizon.  The sun peeked through the clouds, but the rain was threatening.  Little did anyone know, a record-breaking windstorm was headed our direction, and the power would go out at their ceremony and reception site at Church and State Winery.  By the time Lindsay and Darren were ready for their first look, the rain had started and the wind picked up.  The moment Darren turned around to see Lindsay, and both their faces lit up, everyone forgot about the weather.

That’s the beautiful thing about love, and about weddings.  It’s natural to fret a little about the skies beforehand, but when the day arrives, the weather pales in comparison to the moments you’ll share with the company you have.   Lindsay and Darren’s wedding was a perfect example of that.  You couldn’t hear the wind over laughter.  You couldn’t feel the rain amongst the warmth of friends. You didn’t notice the loss of electricity when you were surrounded by intimate candle light. Their day was truly spectacular!

Congratulations Lindsay and Darren. Thank you for having us there to photograph your day. “We’re so glad you chose us.” ;)

Lindsay and Darren incorporated so many great, hard working local Vancouver wedding vendors, and Vancouver Island wedding vendors in their day, and we’d love to give a shout out to a bunch of them featured!
Venues: Church and State Winery, Woodwynn Farms
Florist: Rook and Rose
Cake: Coastal Cake Company
Hair and Makeup: Ma-Luxe
Gown: Truvelle gown, from The White Peony
Jewellry: Catherine Hartley
Groomsmen Ties: Beauxties
Officiant: Bobbi Salkeld of ‘Young, Hip and Married’
Music: Cole Schmidt

Thanks so much for having a look at Lindsay and Darren’s Vancouver Island Wedding at Church and State Wines. If you’d like to see more of our photos,  follow us on Facebook, and check out our feed on Instagram.

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Outdoor Kitimat Wedding at the Rod and Gun Club - Darlene and Rob

Rob and Darlene's Kitimat Wedding and Second Day Photo Shoot // BC Wedding Photographers

If you saw our last blog post, you know we went up to Kitimat for a couple weddings, and to visit Matt’s hometown.  Darlene and Rob were first on our list.  We love shooting weddings where we get to run into familiar faces, and catch up with the couples of weddings we’ve photographed in the past.  Rob is the brother of Mike, of Mike and Lindsey, who got married in Sooke 3 years ago.  He’s also the cousin of Philip, of Philip and Crystal, who had their wedding in Whistler last year.  I guess you can say that we love ‘Keeping Up with the Campbells!’  If Darlene and Rob’s wedding was going to be anything like their kins’, we were in for a treat.  They did not disappoint!

Darlene and Rob hosted their intimate, outdoor ceremony along the Kitimat River, at the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club.  The early-evening light, and the views of the mountains and riverbed really set the mood.  We love when couples involve their children in their ceremonies, and we have to say they their son Riley was an incredibly dapper, dinosaur-clad ring bearer, and little brother Casey made a wonderful supervisor-of-the-ceremony-events.

After the ceremony, it was straight into dinner and dancing with their guests – partying late into the night and creating some pretty raucous memories in our PebbleBooth.

We got to do a fun and intimate second-day shoot with Darlene and Rob.  We still can not get over how gorgeous the two of them looked that day – two lovers, on a mountain, amongst the trees, overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Outdoor Rainforest Wedding in Kitimat BC - Kaylee and Travis

Kaylee and Travis Get Married in The Mossy Forest in Kitimat at Minette Bay // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We took a trip up to Kitimat, BC recently to visit Matt’s hometown roots, and to shoot two very beautiful weddings.  Kaylee and Travis were one of our couples that week, and their story is one we truly love.   Kaylee spied Travis for the first time while he was playing a gig with his band.  She told us that the minute she saw Travis’ cape dangling from his shoulders while he was up on stage, she knew he was someone she wanted to know.  It wasn’t a surprise that Travis’ outgoing personality would draw Kaylee’s attention, since she has been a long time lover of cosplay, and has an astonishing gift for creating costumes.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise then, that Travis proposed to Kaylee, in costume, at an Anime Revolution convention.

On the day of the wedding, with the threatening rain, Kaylee and Travis were calm and casual.  The rain didn’t bother them, and they intended to do their outdoor ceremony regardless.  The rain worked out for the better, in our opinion at least.  Mossy forests glow green when they are dampened, distance mountains turn blue, and hovering mist creates a dramatic backdrop, perfectly accentuating Kaylee’s purple hair and white gown, and Travis by her side.

Following some intimate photos in the woods, and by the water, Kaylee and Travis met up with their guests for what would be a hilarious, touching, and memorable reception.  It was evident that their guests and wedding party put a lot of effort into creating speeches, and a slideshow that perfectly represented Kaylee and Travis’ life together.  Even their anime-proposal was printed on their guitar pick favours, a perfect blend of two aspects of their lives.

Congratulations, Kaylee and Travis! We hope you enjoy the photos!

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Stormy Steveston Engagement - Char and Josh

Charlene and Josh Outrun a Storm in Steveston During Their Engagement Photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Last week was our first time meeting Charlene and Josh in person.  We got to know a little about their story over a Skype chat a few months ago, and learned about their elaborate and fun proposal.  A day long proposal to be precise.  The day he popped the question, Josh sent Charlene on an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt.  With a friend in tow to document the adventure, Charlene was sent from place to place, from clue to clue, to end up at the Capilano Suspension bridge where Josh was waiting… to trick her with a bracelet.  Later that evening Charlene and Josh met up with family and friends at their church, where Josh proposed (for real) in front of all of them!  We loved the story.  An adventure proposal?!  How amazing is that!  Charlene and Josh sounded like a couple we wanted to get in front of our lenses.

Since Charlene is currently doing her residency in Minnesota, we decided it would be a great opportunity to do their engagement photos when she came back in the summer for a week.  We had a date picked to meet up in Steveston for a candid picnic themed engagement session.  The day we picked was rainy and dark.  All.  Day.  Long.  So, we picked our back-up date and that was it, we would do it rain or shine!  The day rolled around and it seemed we were going to have a little bit of both: rain and shine.  Like troopers, Charlene and Josh braved it all.  When we got to Steveston the sky along the horizon looked promising, but the large black, wet looking cloud above us was threatening.  We walked and talked with Charlene and Josh (and some curious swans), trying to keep ten steps in front of the rain, quite literally.  The looming rain was never able to keep pace, but created such a unique setting for Charlene and Josh’s outing in Steveston.  We’re always so grateful that we get to shoot so many couples who are willing to roll with the punches, and embrace the unknown!  Afterall, that is one thing marriage is all about.

Thanks Charlene and Josh for being so adventurous, we think it totally paid off!  We can’t wait to see what happens on your wedding day, and be there to capture what will surely be an adventure.

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Wedding at Shaughnessy Restaurant at Van Dusen Gardens - Esther and Jimmy

Esther and Jimmy get Married at Shaughnessy Restaurant at Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We met up with Esther and Jimmy around this time last year, to discuss their wedding.  They told us about their laid back lifestyle, how they met, and some of the unique details of their wedding.

We were excited from the start: not only are Esther and Jimmy easy-going and easy to talk to, they planned on doing a few things at their wedding that would be entirely new experiences for us.  By the time their wedding day came around, we were bouncing in our seats.  Jimmy and Esther were hosting their wedding at iconic VanDusen Gardens, in Vancouver, a first for us, they were doing a first look which we love to do, and they’d be playing door games before the wedding.  All of these elements were going to make for a beautiful, sentimental, and fun-filled day.  Needless to say, easy going Esther and Jimmy kept us on our toes!

If you’re not familiar with Chinese wedding traditions, door games are something you should definitely know about!  The morning of the wedding Jimmy sent his handsome groomsmen to retrieve his stunning bride, Esther.  However, Esther’s bridesmaids weren’t about to give her up so easily.  Presented with obstacles, Jimmy and his groomsmen had to complete a series of challenges, to the gleeful delight of the bridesmaids (and to us capturing it).  These challenges included everything from rapping on the spot, to tasting a variety of questionable ‘candies’.  The games finish with groomsmen bribing the bridesmaids for the bride, a few aching stomachs (for the groomsmen – from the food, for the bridesmaids – from the hilarity), and of course, with one very green mouthed groomsmen.  Victorious, Jimmy headed outside to see Esther, in her wedding attire!

After a beautiful and intimate first look, it was off to Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen Gardens to meet up with family and friends for the wedding and photos. With quests traveling all over the globe for the day, table-to-table cheers and toasts, and occasional roaring chants of “Fiddy! Fiddy!”, Esther and Jimmy’s wedding reception proved to be beautiful, heartfelt, and so entertaining!  Hope you enjoy the photos.

Vendors we loved from the wedding:

Venue // Shaughnessy Restaurant // VanDusen Gardens
Ether’s dress // David’s Bridal
Sash // Davie and Chiyo
Jimmy’s Suit // Moore’s
Bridesmaids // Autoalive
Makeup // Anita Ho
Hair // Cathy Nguyen
Officiant // Verna Magee Shepherd
Flowers// Sky Florist
Cake // BlueBird Cakery

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Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Merridale Ciderworks Wedding - Tarilyn and Joel

Joel and Tarilyn's Summer Orchard Wedding at Merridale Ciderworks on Vancouver Island // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Man, we sure love a wedding on Vancouver Island.  Merridale Ciderworks is one of Vancouver Island's best outdoor wedding venues.  It's private, it's remote feeling, it's beautiful, it's intimate. It has delightful food, and guests, and couples rave about the times they have there.

The day of their wedding took place on Tarilyn’s grandma’s 67nd wedding anniversary, and was very sentimental. It was easy to see how celebrated Joel and Tarilyn’s relationship is, and how happy their wedding guests were.  Family and friends were all participants during the ceremony events, and were a constant mob of hugs, smiles, and tearfully joyous congratulations throughout the afternoon and evening.  Their glasses were raised high following all of the heartfelt speeches, and clinked often for eventful newlywed kissing – which, of course was followed by a chorus of Ooh’ing and Ahh’ing!   Bride and Groom, in similar fashion to their engagement photo session, could not keep their eyes off each other.  Whether they were dancing, jumping in the photobooth, talking to guests, or across the room from each other, Tarilyn and Joel’s eyes were glued to one another the whole day.  After sneaking them away from friends and family to do a few more portraits among the twinkle lights, we left the couple to dance all through the night together.

Thanks so much Tarilyn and Joel, for inviting us to be part of this very very special day.

Joel and Tarilyn had a lot of amazing, local vendors!  If you’re planning a wedding on Vancouver Island, be sure to check out their work:

Venue: Merridale Estate Cidery / Merridale Ciderworks  //  Florist: Daisy Chain Florists //  Hair: Rosa Harris  //  Wedding Gown/Shoes: Lisa’s Bridal  //  Bridesmaids: Everything But The Groom  //  Wedding Favours: Sweet Little Things Bakery  //  DJ: HiWay Productions – Ron Larson //  Officiant: Barbara Densmore

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Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Outdoor Wedding in East Sooke - Kristen and Chris

Kristen and Chris are two amazing people…the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen!  We had so much fun at their ridiculously awesome DIY wedding on their property in East Sooke, BC.   We had no idea what a gorgeous area that is…we were blown away by the beautiful beachscapes!   The amount of time and effort put into building their wedding site, and the attention to detail were equally mind-blowing.  This is a true inspiration to anyone looking to do their wedding their own way.  I think I may have selected a LOT of photos to share from this one, but there were just so many cool details it was hard not to.  Enjoy the photos!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Craidelonna Lodge Wedding in Sooke - Lindsey and Mike

Lindsey and Mike's Outdoor Beach Wedding at Craidelonna Ocean Edge Lodge in Sooke BC // Victoria Wedding Photographers

I love travelling for my photography, and jump at pretty much every opportunity that I get to do it. When Mike and Lindsey contacted me about shooting their wedding at the Craidelonna Oceanside Lodge, I was pretty excited because it looked like just an amazing location on the water.  Located near Sooke, BC it was a great opportunity to go spend some time on Vancouver Island. I love coastal BC!

When I got to the lodge I was immediately stoked on the location!  It was so picturesque and well landscaped.  My excitement over photographing this wedding was compounded again when I saw the care that had gone into the decor of the wedding. Lindsey’s attention to detail with her place settings and general decor was amazing, and matched the overall flavour of the lodge so well.  Combined with the natural beauty of the surroundings, we were able to get some beautiful shots.  Hope you enjoy them!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.