The last couple of years have sparked a little creativity in the wedding industry here in Golden, BC. Couples are now choosing a non-traditional route and I’m really loving the intimate weddings that are a result of this. Zoe and Scott for example decided to split their day up and have their ceremony on Vancouver Island and their reception in Golden. Their story certainly is proof that there really is no right or wrong way to get married. After all, they got the best of both worlds with the warm salty air of the coast and then a cozy reception that just oozes with rustic mountain charm.
Why did you choose the venues/ town you did?
We chose Gabriola Island because we both love the coast and it was convenient because we had already planned a family trip there that summer. However our reception was at the Winston Lodge in Golden BC and we chose that because it was so intimate and rustic and we just loved the location and feel of it. I’m so happy we did! the lodge was gorgeous the banquet hall was gorgeous and the rooms were suuuuper comfy!
Tell me about your thoughts leading up to the wedding, did you think about it growing up, did you plan it together? How did you feel to make your choices and marry one another?
I had always planned a big fall wedding in my head and wanted to have hundreds of people there and I always thought I’d wear a full lace dress with sleeves, in the end I did none of the above. After our son was born, we realized weddings are expensive. We eloped in the summer on Gabriola Island with 12 people, I wore a sparkly halter dress, and it was the best day of my life. We decided to hold a reception in the fall though so I did get the fall photos of my dreams at least! Not much planning went into our wedding in the end but I would say I (as the wife) planned it by myself, which was fine haha. We are 2 months shy of our 1-year anniversary and still very much in love and happy to call each other husband and wife.
What was your favorite part of the day?
My favorite part of my wedding day was probably the vows. We wrote our own and it was really special.
 My favorite part of our reception was probably singing bohemian rhapsody at the top of my lungs and finally getting to celebrate with friends (post covid restrictions)
What were your favorite details and why? (dress, suits, flowers etc)
I didn’t really do a lot of detail so I’m going to say my favorite part was putting my 6-month-old son in a tiny tux to match his dad.
Do you have any wedding advice for couples getting married in the future?
Eloping with close friends and family and doing the reception later was a lot less stressful than planning everything in one day. Even with eloping you’re in such a scramble it’s hard to slow down and just enjoy it. I could not imagine having planned a reception that same day. I loved our intimate wedding it was so special, but I’m also happy I didn’t have to miss out on the celebration.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with your wedding planning? Perhaps a small intimate wedding or splitting up the day is the right fit for you. Please contact me here for a custom quote 🙂
