Whonnock Lake Centre Wedding in Maple Ridge // Melanie and Matt

Melanie and Matt's intimate December wedding at Whonnock Lake Centre in Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

2017 was a fantastic year!  We travelled all around Victoria, Vancouver Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada, and globally to photograph some truly amazing celebrations.  It was so great to finish on such a high note, photographing Melanie and Matt’s intimate wedding at Whonnock Lake Centre in Maple Ridge.

 Late autumn weddings in Vancouver area always make us think rainy, foggy, misty delight, and always makes for a cozy warm indoor affair.  Melanie and Matt’s wedding was all of those things!  Whonnock Lake with it’s wooden beams strung with lights, the views of a mist covered lake, and floor to ceiling cathedral windows is the perfect place to host such an event.  We love weddings that end up taking place just before the cusp of holiday season, because they always seem that people are extra chatty, extra huggy, and extra emotional as they catch up with people they haven’t seen for a long time, meet new and interesting people, and celebrate the love around them.  It was clear that all Melanie and Matt’s loved ones and friends were having the time of their lives, and enjoying a memorable evening together: as we photographed the evening, it felt that we were photographing a big family reunion with so much closeness, photo booth fun, and dancing joy! 

Thank you Melanie and Matt for having us there to join your family and friends in such a personal and intimate moment in your lives. We hope you love the photos!

Thanks so much to Summer Rayne Photography for coming along to be our second shooter for the day! We appreciate your help and amazing talent!

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:

Hawai'i Vacation Scrapbook - Wedding Photographers do Maui!

Mahalo!  We are back from our vacation in Maui!  No, this holiday was not to shoot a wedding, or landscapes, or our honeymoon. This holiday was for disconnecting, and spending some time with family, to celebrate Matt's father, Brad's, 60th birthday.  We're thankful that we get to travel so much for weddings and photoshoots, and we've seen a lot of incredible places as a result, much of our travelling lately has just been to get to know our new turf on Vancouver Island.  So, some down time with the Neumann side of the family was going to be an awesome, and different, type of trip for us.  We had been excited for this trip for eons it felt like: and just like that, it came, and was over before we could even raise our cameras to take photos.  The best part about this trip in particular was leaving the cameras in the bags, and getting to spend quality time with family members.  As you can imagine, in the busy wedding season, we often only get to see them when we are crashing in their spare rooms so that we can be close to the wedding we're shooting the next day.  Some of the best parts of the trip weren't the grand adventures, but just hanging by the pool with them until after sunset, playing jenga around the dinner table until everyone was too exhausted to carry on. 

We've put together a little scrapbook blog of photos just to show you some of the things we saw and did: lots of sunsets by the pool, trekking up the Haleakala volcanic crater, driving the windy and lush Road to Hana, snorkelling all over Maui (we didn't see sea turtles, but saw so many huma-huma-nuku-nuku-apuaa), waterfall hiking, whale watching, watching surfers, and trying to keep Matt's porcelain skin from burning to a crisp.   He also took the opportunity to work on his vacation beard, which seems to have also traversed the Pacific Ocean and is currently resisting his razor's edge as we make our way back into our normal routine.  

Enjoy the photos! 

Whistler Engagement Session - Kerri and Nik at Green Lake

Kerri and Nik's Wintery Engagement Session at Green Lake in Whistler // Victoria Wedding Photographers

It was a bright and sunny day.  Snow seemed to glow from the tops of Whistler’s Backcomb range, birds sang and darted about through crisp air, cedars towered at the edges of the ice-coated lake, couples smiled at each other as they walked hand in hand, and the magical sounds of Notorious B.I.G echoed out into the world from Nik’s Spotify playlist.  The tone was set for his and Kerri’s engagement session.

With a mid-summer wedding on the calendar, Kerri and Nik were keen to do their engagement photos during winter.  What better place than in Whistler to capture a snowy themed story.  We met on the edge of a lake in Whistler, surrounded by mountainous views, and walkable trails.  When Nik and Kerri first stepped out of their car, they pulled with them a bag full of HBC everything. Hats, mitts, they mentioned they also had scarves, but most wonderful of all was a very delicately folded, vintage Hudson Bay wool blanket.  Nik told us that this blanket meant so much to them; it is one of the very first purchases his grandmother made when she immigrated to Canada.  

We knew right away that our session with Kerri was going to be a delightful dichotomy of sentimentality and hilarity.  We were not disappointed.  We explored the edges of the lake together, taking equal break time to cuddle under their blanket, tumble around in the snow, enjoy a snowball battle, and of course, bust into song and dance when the best songs showed up on their aptly named, Engagement Session Playlist.  

Thanks Kerri and Nik for the laughs, and the stories. We can’t wait for the wedding!

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

Nita Lake Lodge Wedding - Roxanne and Myles

Roxanne and Myles Winter Wedding at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler  //  Victoria Wedding Photographers

It's been a few years since we've been to Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler to shoot a wedding.  We were ecstatic to get up there, in the middle of winter, with Roxanne and Myles for their wedding.  During their engagement session we learned about their families, their friends, and heard so many great things about their little guy, Cohen, so we couldn't wait to travel from Victoria to meet everyone. 

The Nita Lake Lodge was a wintery dream when we arrived.  Bright sun glinting off curtains of icicles, snow piled high making a border around the lake's freshly shoved skating rink, fireplaces flickering away in Myles and Roxanne's respective 'getting ready' rooms.  Excitement, chatter, and cheers filled the rooms.  

We met for the first look on the skybridge near the lodge, with their bridal party looking on in excitement.  Whoops and cheers echoed down the tunneled bridge as Roxanne gave a quick look over her shoulder to smile at her son Cohen, before heading into the bridge to see Myles.  The girls in their glamourous gold dresses held lush Billie's bouquets, and the men dressed sharply in their navy suits, were accented by gold succulents on their boutonnieres.  With the soft afternoon light, snow, and evergreen trees, they all looked like they just stepped out of a bridal magazine.

After the first look, we flowed right into their outdoor ceremony, and intimate reception.  Emotional speeches, and a heartfelt video slideshow had everyone smiling or in tears (most were both), as everyone watched this wonderful family come together as one in marriage.  

Thank you so much Roxanne and Myles for having us there to be part of your day and capture your story.  We're still smiling about it! 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 as Pebble and Pine Photography, Unique Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Minoru Chapel and UBC Boathouse Wedding - Phil and Bernice

Phil and Bernice's Masquerade Wedding in Richmond  // BC Wedding Photographers

When we met Bernice and Phil, we talked a lot about their love of all things quirky and creative.  At their engagement session, they brought along their homemade Bomberman cosplay costume to get silly with.   It should come as no surprise that Bernice and Phil wanted to do something creative and unique for their wedding.

The day of their wedding came in the middle of a Vancouver snow storm. It was such a great time for us to visit from Vancouver Island - it was a winter wonderland!  A blanket of snow on the ground, and billowy snow hugging bare branches, a hedge garden sprinkled gently.  With the Minoru Chapel perched close by, it was a perfect scene for their first look. 

After a cozy and intimate ceremony, Bernice and Phil, their bridal party and guests headed over for a tea ceremony, and dinner at UBC Boathouse. 

As a special surprise for their guests, Phil and Bernice's evening had a masquerade theme.  During the reception Bernice, Phil and their guests guests all donned a colombina mask, enjoyed some live music, and dined by candlelight.  

Thank you to Bernice and Phil for having us along to enjoy your unique and wonderful wedding!

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

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

Hume Hotel Wedding in Nelson - Kristin and Ian

Kristin and Ian's Outdoor Nelson Wedding and Hume Reception // BC Wedding Photographers

From the minute we met Kristin and Ian, they treated us like family. They treat everyone like they've known them their whole lives.  They are so welcoming and easy to get to know, hilarious, and open. They radiated love and support for each other, so much so, that when we first met them, we just assumed they were already married - they weren't even engaged by then, and hadn't been dating all that long!  It was so refreshing and inspiring, we felt so honoured to be asked to be the ones to photograph their wedding.

It was so great to see them again in August when we travelled to Nelson to photograph their wedding.  It was laughs galore with these two!  We could hear the laughter booming down the hallways as we first arrived at the Hume hotel for bride and groom prep photos, and we're sure it rumbled into the night long after we left.

We loved capturing Kristin and Ian's wedding day, which was done totally their way with the help of the gang at Nelson's Florist. The whole event was embellished with bright purple, and accented with superhero motifs, even the cake. How fun!

Thanks Kristin and Ian for having us up to Nelson there to be part of your wedding, congratulations to you both!

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

Golden Eagle Golf Course Wedding - Candy and Tim

Candy and Tim's Outdoor Wedding and Helicopter Ride at Golden Eagle Golf Course in Maple Ridge // BC Wedding Photographers

We had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at Golden Eagle Golf Course a couple years ago and really loved the experience.  When Candy and Tim approached us about their wedding this year, we were excited to come back from Victoria to capture it.  They seemed like a couple who was perfect for each other, and it would be so great to spend a day with them at such a neat place. 

We loved all the personal touches that Candy and Tim put into their wedding were really superb and cheeky.  Being pharmacists, Candy and Tim handed out large prescription bottles for their guests to 'fill' at their candy bar.  They also had all their guests fill out a prescription pad with marriage advice for them to read through in the future. 

With all the excitement of the day, it was nice for Candy and Tim to have a few minutes alone together, to step away from all their guests and absorb the day.  They did this by taking a helicopter ride to a remote riverbed in the forest, just the two of them... and Matt. While they were away, their guests enjoyed their time putt'ing around the greens and listening to Candy's sister play beautiful music on the guzheng. 

Upon their return, it was time for the celebrations, with amazing speeches and stories about the couple and their relationship, they finished off their evening with dancing and sparklers.

Thanks Candy and Tim for letting us be part of this special 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

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

Cannon Beach Wedding in Oregon - Paula and Cameron

Paula and Cameron's Destination Wedding in Cannon Beach Oregon // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

It had been a while since we saw Paula and Cameron: their Sea to Sky Gondola engagement session was way back in March, so their September wedding at Cannon Beach felt like it was going to be eons away!  We were giddy when September rolled around and we were hitting the road from Victoria to Oregon for their wedding. 

We were also excited to visit Oregon again, and specifically a place that holds a lot of emotional value to us as well!  We got engaged at Cannon Beach, so our hearts were a'flutter at the idea of photographing Paula and Cameron exchanging their vows at the same place. 

It was a true event!  For their ceremony, Paula and Cameron picked a secluded area on the northern end of the beach, away from tourists and beach-goers, accessed by a long narrow trail through the beach grass with lead to a clearing of fine sand, surrounded by a circle of beach grass, overlooking blue waters, and cliffy rock formations. What a treat to watch the expression on their guests faces as they stepped out on to the beach to watch Paula and Cameron's ceremony.

After a gorgeous ceremony we wandered the beach with Paula and Cameron, and followed them up to their reception venue, HayStack Gardens at SurfSand Resort.  CC of Roa Luxury Floral Designs happens to be a family member to these two, and created such a gorgeous, airy, beach garden atmosphere for Paula and Cameron's reception.  What a creative and beautiful scene! 

With games, cocktails, dancing, and Pebblebooth fun, we followed the antics into the night, even finding a few minutes to sneak the newlyweds off as the sun set.  When the night crept in, Paula, Cameron and their guests headed down to the beach to round their day off with a midnight bon fire, chatting, and music.

Thank you Paula and Cameron for inviting us along to be part of you wedding 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

UBC Farm Wedding - Lisa and Natasha // Vancouver Wedding Photographers

Natasha and Lisa Get Married at UBC Farm in Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We loooved getting to know Lisa and Natasha, and had such a blast exploring Granville Island during their engagement session that we could hardly wait for their UBC Farm wedding to take place a couple months later.  We knew it would be special, intimate and fun.  We admired a lot of the personal they incorporated into the style of their day and how it unfolded, including the custom invitations designed by Natasha - featuring their love plant, Harriet!

We started with a first look in the forest, just the two of them.  Our cheeks hurt from smiling over the grins on Lisa and Natasha's faces as they admired each other.  Cyclists, runners and passers-by even halted all they were doing to soak in their happiness and wish them their congratulations

From the forest, we went to The Farm.  We were greeted by two aisles of poplar trees,  leading to Lisa and Natasha's nearest and dearest seated in the shade, enjoying some live music.  After a ceremony filled with tears, laughter and song lyrics, Natasha and Lisa joined their guests for cocktails, games, and a glorious charcuterie board.  Cocktail hour lead into a lovely dinner by Railtown Cafe, and a créme-brûlée tower in lieu of cake.  Dessert lead to dancing and more smiles, laughter and photobooth antics.

Thanks Lisa and Natasha for having us there to capture your day!  We wish you a lifetime of smiles and laughter.

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.

Vancouver Elopement at Spanish Banks - Elizabeth and Doug

Elizabeth and Doug Elope at Spanish Banks in Vancouver // BC Wedding Photographers

It's not every day that we get to shoot an elopement on the beach right here in Vancouver!  While the idea of eloping may bring visions of Mexico or Costa Rica, for Elizabeth and Doug the beach of choice was Vancouver's own Spanish Banks.  Beautiful in its own right, with views to the mountains and city, it made the perfect backdrop for them to get married with only their moms and a marriage commissioner present.  As they said their "I do's", the hubbub of action at low tide continued around them, complete with a couple dogs who were keen to say hi and see what we were up to.  

Elizabeth and Doug were considerate enough to bring a cupcake for the marriage commissioner as it was also his birthday that day!  After signing papers on their backs, a bit of celebratory champagne for all, this adventurous couple splashed around for some fun portraits.  What an awesome day to capture this elopement at Spanish Banks.  Thanks again, Elizabeth & Doug!

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

Wedding at Hart House Restaurant at Deer Lake - Charlene and Josh

Charlene and Josh Get Married in an Outdoor Ceremony at Hart House in Burnaby // Victoria Wedding Photographers

When we headed from Victoria to Burnaby, to photograph Charlene and Josh's wedding, we knew we were going to be in a for a treat.  They had so many great events planned for their day, so we'd have lots of action to cover, and lots of people to meet in the process - from the tea ceremony, to first look, to western ceremony, right up to dinner, and dancing to live music, it was going to be a great day!   We started the day off with a traditional Tea Ceremony with Charlene and Josh's family and close friends, intimate and heartfelt. Char dressed in a stunning red and gold embroidered silk gown,  and was a vision done up in hair and makeup by The Love Team. 

As we arrived at Hart House it was immediately clear how much care and planning went into  planning every detail of Charlene and Josh's day - even doing most of the planning long distance, since Char had spent so much time in Minnesota doing her residency program (big congrats to her!!).  Amanda and her team at DreamGroup Productions helped the couple pull together so many gorgeous details, from their live music by Amanda Wood Music , and their stunning floral creations from The Flower Factory.  With all these incredible details creating a beautiful atmosphere, there was another detail that stood out for us, and it reflects on the type of wonderful people that Charlene and Josh are.  On the folded side of each place card, was a personal note, handwritten to each and every single guest, from the couple.  When we saw all the thoughtfulness and care put into this detail, our jaws just dropped - Char and Josh knew exactly how to let their guests know that the wedding was as much about celebrating with their loved ones, as it was about celebrating the two of them.

Congratulations Charlene and Josh, we're so happy you had us there! 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

Gambier Island Wedding at Camp Fircom - Katrina and Brian

Katrina and Brian Get Married at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island during a weekend away with family and friends // BC Wedding Photographers

Summer is camping and hiking, and swimming and canoeing and paddleboarding season. Summer is also our busy season, so needless to say, we've started to embrace many more winter activities since we miss out on camping during camping's peak season. SO when Katrina and Brian told us that they were going to be having their wedding at Camp Fircom, and that all their guests would be spending the weekend there, we lost our crackers.  How fun is that?! 

When we first met with Katrina and Brian it was quickly determined they were outdoorsy and adventurous.  They also have these infectious smiles, and warm inviting personalities.  A camp wedding surrounded by close friends and family was such a perfect way for this couple to say their "I Do's", and we were really excited to be there for it.  Not only did Katrina and Brian make their wedding personal by hosting their guests at this remote location, but they also made their own rings!  The two of them travelled to Washington to craft their wedding bands with the help of the gang at With These Rings. 

With a weekend of events, activities and dinners with their guests, Katrina and Brian hosted a heck of a wedding.  All of their guests travelled from the east, the south, and overseas to be their with them, which made it even more special to be part of.

Congratulations you two!

Thanks Katrina and Brian for having us there, 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

Backyard Wedding in Maple Ridge - Kara Lynn and Kirby

Kara-Lynn and Kirby Get Married on Family Property in Maple Ridge // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We met Kara-Lynn and Kirby over a year ago, and we had a blast with them during their engagement shoot. We could not wait until this year to come from Victoria to photograph their outdoor wedding in Maple Ridge.

We think it's really special when a couple can get married in a place that is personal to them, so a family member's gorgeous country property was such a great place for these two to exchange their vows.  

After the rings were put on and the papers were signed, we hopped in the limo bus with their bridal party and took off to a farm a few roads over.  Kara had driven past this gorgeous red barn every day, and just knew in her heart she wanted her wedding photos done there.  We think we'll have to hire her as a part time location scout, because that farm was fab! 

When we returned to the reception in time for dinner we sat in on speeches, toasts and a wonderfully heartfelt video crafted by a dear friend.  We loved how sentimental, open, honest and welcoming they and their friends and family were the whole day.  It was a very touching wedding... one that had us clutching for our heartstrings. 

Thank you kara-Lynn and Kirby for letting us be flies on the wall at your beautiful wedding! 

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

Overbury Resort Wedding on Thetis Island - Angela and Anuj

Ange and Anuj Host and Intimate Wedding celebration at Overbury Resort on Thetis Island // Victoria Wedding Photographers

We met Angela and Anuj at the wedding of Lindsay and Darren last year.  We got talking about them and their future wedding at Overbury Resort on Thetis Island, and really hit it off.  We were looking forward to sitting down to talk more, two-on-two.  We soon found out it would be a three-on-two meeting, as Ang and Anuj were expecting their baby girl to arrive a few months before the wedding celebration.  We could hardly wait for July to come so that we could travel from Victoria to Thetis Island to celebrate such a momentous time - the arrival of beautiful Ava, and Ang and Anuj's wedding.

When we arrived on the day of their wedding we were greeted by warm weather, a shining sun, lots of Ang and Anuj's closest friends and family - many coming from far and wide to celebrate. The whole day felt like being at a glamourous family reunion, with everyone playing games together, and cooing over babies, at a venue that felt so homey, welcoming and remote.  Part way through the evening, Ange took off her white gown and donned a stunning magenta saree to pay homage to Anuj's Indian heritage.  What a stunning woman! 

Congratulations Angela and Anuj.  Thank you for having us there to be part of your day. Capturing the moments between you, your sweet girl, your family, and friends was such a delight for us! 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

Lighthouse Park Engagement - Katrina and Brian

Katrina and Brian Have Fun Hiking Around LightHouse Park in West Vancouver // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We met with Katrina and Brian while ago to talk about their Camp Fircom wedding, which they were planning no short notice. Four months of planning to be exact.  We learned a lot about them, from when they first met in Phoenix, all the way to their move to Vancouver.  Above all we learned that Katrina and Brian are an adventurous couple: they hike, they camp, they've climbed, you name it!  It only made sense to do a bit of hiking during their engagement session.  They told us about a hike they enjoy around Light House Park, and we thought it would be perfect to go and walk it with them.

As we made our way to the cliffs, waves crashed on the rocks, clouds danced in the sky and sun began its slow dip behind the mountains.  We clicked away with our cameras as Katrina and Brian explored around many of the embankments, in the hunt for the perfect view. 

Thanks so much to Katrina and Brian, for the fun evening, and of course, your infectious smiles and laughter! 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