JANUARY 2022
Vancouver Island's Wedding Guide to venues and more! Going the Extra Mile... So you and your guests don’t have to! Our experienced staff are here to help plan your wedding day transportation! Call 250-475-3235 or Email sales@gowilsonsgroup.com
2 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
TIMES COLONIST | TIE THE KNOT
Wilson’s Transportation
largest motor coach company with over 150 vehicles in the fleet. Popular choices for weddings include 15 passenger sprinter vans, 24 or 56 passenger coaches and school buses have been super popular in the past few years. Another option that Wilson’s has to offer in their fleet is the VIP 38 passenger luxury coach. This beautiful coach offers leather seats, LCD screens, a great sound system, and the always important USB chargers to keep those phones charged and ready to grab those special wedding moments. Call the expert team at Wilson’s to discuss your wedding needs 250.475.3235 or visit gowilsonsgroup.com PHOTO: CHRISTIAN J. STEWART (C) 2017
P
lanning a wedding can be an exciting and stressful time in one’s life. There are so many things to order and arrange. One thing many people don’t think about is a wedding bus rental. This can be used as an alternative to a limousine or car service. It can also be a great way to transport guests to and from the wedding venue. This is perfect if the venue is a long distance away or to make it so that your guests are safe getting to and from not only the wedding but also to and more importantly from the reception. A wedding bus rental can be the perfect solution to all your wedding transportation needs. Wilson’s Transportation is locally owned and operated and is Vancouver Island’s
SPECIAL FEATURE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022 | 3
Time to Dream
I
t’s time to take your wedding dreams and make them a reality! With over 30 years of experience helping couples do just that, the Black & White Event Rentals team has everything you need to gather outdoors in style, anywhere on Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands. While the weather can be unpredictable at any time of year, a tent can provide you with peace of mind, and will shelter your guests from the elements… come rain or come shine. A tent is also a handy spot to hang some twinkle lights, and a chandelier or two! Gaze at the moon and stars from under the clear top panels of a Jumbo Track tent, gather beneath a dazzling white Marquee, or celebrate your
Upscale Outdoor Washroom
special day under the sculpted peaks of our Tidewater Sail Cloth tents. While our specialty is providing clients with big, beautiful tents— along with chairs, tables, heaters, and dance floors—new to the Black & White lineup this year is the Upscale WC… a portable restroom trailer (heated and airconditioned) with three separate suites, flush toilets, sinks and mirrors, and plenty of space to comfortably move in. Add some scented hand soap, plush towels, and perhaps a vase of flowers and your guests will feel cared for and at ease. Our 2022 wedding calendar is filling up fast. To reserve the date for your dream wedding, contact Dave Willie (owner) today: 778.433.1282 dave@bwparty.com
4 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
TIMES COLONIST | TIE THE KNOT
ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE STUDIO
All eyes are on you as you take the floor
A
ll eyes are on you as you take the floor… spinning and swaying in perfect harmony. This is a once in a lifetime moment. Your first dance as husband and wife.
Let the professionals at Arthur Murray help you create the dance you envision. Most couples say that taking dance lessons together was the most fun they had in preparation for their wedding! With over 100 years of experience, we’ve taught everything from a romantic Rumba to a traditional Waltz to a spicy Salsa. The possibilities are truly endless. What are you waiting for? 3567 Ravine Way, Phone: 250-940-6050 victoriaarthurmurray.com
The Perfect First Dance
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Victoria www.VictoriaArthurMurray.com
3567 Ravine Way, Victoria
250-940-6050
TOFINO’S LEADING SUPPLIER OF MARQUEE TENTS, WEDDING & SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS 250.266.0978
smashingglasses.ca
SPECIAL FEATURE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022 | 5
Service with a smile. Service you can count on…..PERFECT!
THE RUSSIAN TAILOR
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Custom Tailoring & expert alterations
Knight Limousine K New to The Russian Tailor — The Russian Tailor Boutique — a sparkling, trendy boutique specializing in party, prom and cocktail dresses, including formal and evening gowns for special events. You are sure to be a hit at your special occasion in fashions from The Russian Tailor Boutique.
T
he new premises of The Russian Tailor, situated in the shadow of Victoria’s City Hall, is the culmination of Irina Sitonin’s lifetime of experience. Visit Irina’s spacious shop, where she specializes in alterations, customdesigned bridal and formal gowns, suits and shirts. Irina’s lifelong dream has been realized in her tailoring business, in which she is delighted to share her gift and passion for tailoring beautiful custom clothing with her clients. Growing up in St. Petersburg, Russia, Irina was taught to sew by her grandmother before she was five. By the fifth grade in Russian public school, Irina was taking sewing lessons twice a week. By grade 8, she had attended sewing college in St. Petersburg and finished her high school education over the same four-year period. She went on to apprentice under a master tailor at a clothing manufacturer in St. Petersburg. Irina’s business, The Russian Tailor, is the culmination of a lifetime of experience, a creative and discerning eye and a love of quality apparel. In realizing a lifelong dream,
Irina is delighted to share her gift and passion for tailoring. With a creative and discerning eye, she creates beautiful custom clothing for her clients. “This work is my love, my life,” said the vivacious red-headed Irina, “and I like people. Seeing all the customers, brides and bridesmaids so happy and excited is such a great thing.” Visit Irina and experience for yourself the artistry that an expert tailor can bring to your wardrobe. The Russian Tailor is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction, with a large variety of options to choose from. russiantailor.com
night Limousine has the ideal solution for all your wedding day transportation needs. We offer a worry free, full range service, including if required, wheelchair accessibility. Knight Limousine is family owned & operated since 1991. We are trustworthy and affordable, with professional, safe, friendly, helpful and courteous drivers. We understand exactly what is required to take care of your transportation needs… on this, your very special day. We will discuss your requirements and concerns with you and together decide which vehicles will suit you best. KNIGHT LIMOUSINE’S FLEET INCLUDES 13 VEHICLES: • Sedans • Minivans • SUVs • Full size vans • Mini coaches knight-limousine.ca
www.knight-limousine.com Professional, Quality Transportation Service. Let us transport your family or group in comfort & safety.
Our Fleet:
• Clean/well maintained, 100% non-smoking • Sedans, minivans, SUVs & mini coaches, up to 24 passengers • Excellent Airport, Ferry & Charter Rates • Wheelchair accessible vehicles available
The
“RUSSIAN TAILOR” Expert Wedding Dress Alterations • Custom Wedding Dresses • Add a Custom Bolero Jackets or Sleeves to Your Wedding Dress • Crinolines
Custom Suits & Shirts Tel: 250-388-5543 - Irina 1312 Douglas St. BOOK APPOINTMENT www.russiantailor.com
Book Online – Prompt Confirmation info@knight-limousine.com · 250-598-5855
Expect the Best!
6 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
S
TIMES COLONIST | TIE THE KNOT
An unequalled air of fantasy and romance
PHOTO: NICHOLE TAYLOR
PHOTO: D. LOWES
t. Ann’s Academy, a National Historic Site, has a rich history in Victoria. This stunning location has elegant indoor, outdoor and combination settings available to suit your unique love story. Outside, the Academy grounds feature a variety of garden settings – two in particular that are ideally suited to outdoor ceremonies and receptions. The Novitiate Garden is very secluded, which makes it the ideal location for an outdoor ceremony and smaller reception. The verdant green manicured lawn, perimeter flowerbeds and gazebo create a pleasing, cozy atmosphere.
Vancouver Island's Professional Choice For all your transportation needs
Introducing All-Electric, Audi e-tron SUVs!
250-391-9000 www.lalimo.ca info@lalimo.ca
Photo by D. Lowes
are few, if any, locations in Victoria Twithherewedding facilities that match those of
• Private Garden • Historical Chapel
• Large Outdoor Green Space • Theatre-style Auditorium
St. Ann’s Academy, 835 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC
250-953-8829
stannsacademy.com
For larger scale affairs, the Academy Green offers a sunny field as well as shade under the canopy of grand trees. Inside, the Academy offers a chapel, parlours and a spacious foyer. The chapel is the true jewel of the Academy. Built in 1858, the chapel’s gently flattened arches and hand carved and gilded ornamentation is reminiscent of the
baroque inspired chapels common in Quebec. With golden sunlight cascading through its original art-glass windows, the chapel lends an unequalled air of fantasy and romance to every wedding held within. Though historically Roman Catholic, the chapel has been rededicated as an interfaith chapel, welcoming everyone’s beliefs.
If you prefer something less religiously-reminiscent, St. Ann’s also has a theatre-style auditorium with beautiful art-glass windows and a greater capacity for your special day. Experience the ultimate romantic wedding at St. Ann’s Academy. The historic buildings are the perfect location for your wedding photos. stannsacademy.com
SPECIAL FEATURE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022 | 7
From start to finish, the wedding planner at the Royal Canadian Legion in Langford will help make your wedding day perfect and complete.
A perfect wedding day, from start to finish By Bea LeBlanc Ways & Means Chair, Langford Legion
T
he other day, I was approached by a woman who wanted information about renting our hall for her son’s upcoming wedding. I provided her with our catering menu and costs for renting the auditorium. The next day she emailed me and asked if I could meet with the bride, as she was interested in seeing the hall and finding out more about our venue. Two days later, I met with not only the bride but her mother, the mother-in-law and two bridesmaids! They were very pleased with the size of the hall and started talking about how the decorations could be placed. It was like they saw it as a large, blank canvas to decorate at will. I told them that we also had
a decorator and DJ that we could recommend if they needed either of these services. Once the availability of the hall for the date they wanted was confirmed, we started to discuss the menu, bar service and room set-up, colour theme, etc. We were able to make changes to the menu that suited her needs and also fell within her budget. During the course of this discussion, I discovered that they still hadn’t decided where they were going to have the ceremony. As this was a small wedding, I suggested that they have the ceremony here, as the hall could be divided in such a way that the ceremony could take place at the back of the hall and the reception at the front. The arbour could be decorated with her colours, covered chairs with matching sashes could be set up in two rows with a carpet down the centre.
Once the “I do’s” were completed and the bridal party left for pictures, the guests who needed somewhere to go before dinner could utilize the lounge or games room while waiting until it was time for the reception. A Designated Driver was also made available to ensure guests made it home safely. When the family returned to the branch the day after the wedding to pick up the decorations, etc., they couldn’t say enough as to how appreciative they were about the quality of service they had received, right from the planning stages, and all the way through to the clean-up the day after their event, and how it had made their special day one to remember. Prince Edward Branch 91, Royal Canadian Legion, Langford, rcl91.ca
Need a Hall for Your Event? WHY NOT THE
(MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED) 200-300 PEOPLE CAPACITY FULL IN-HOUSE CATERING Services: • Linen • Reasonably Priced Bar • Plenty of Parking • Wi-Fi • Large Stage/Sound System • Professional Decorator Referral Available
FOR EVENT INFORMATION OR CONSULTATION PLEASE CALL 250-478-1828 761 Station Ave. manager@rcl91.ca Victoria
8 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
TIMES COLONIST | TIE THE KNOT
Brown's The Florist
S
PHOTO: KELSEY LAGERI
PHOTO: AMERIS.CA
PHOTO: AMERIS.CA
o you’re engaged, congratulations! Now comes the fun part: Choosing colours, dresses, tuxedos, fabrics, favours and flowers. Flowers are an essential part of wedding décor because they can bring your vision to life, pulling together textures, colours and that ambiance you really want your guests to feel. At Brown’s The Florist, we have a talented team of designers to offer you some peace of mind with your wedding planning. We really love helping you make your floral dreams become a reality, and that is why each wedding we work on is absolutely unique and custom-made to the couple we are designing for.
Get in touch with us to book your wedding consultation! weddings@brownsflorist.com
Stay Connected WWW.BROWNSTHEFLORIST.COM
|
D O W N T O W N - S I D NEY - W E S T S H O R E
We support some really incredible growers right here in Victoria, from major growers who ship across the country, to some incredible micro growers who service the Greater Victoria area only. We are grateful to them all for growing such beautiful, high-quality flowers and consider them extended members of our flower family. We are proud to say that now more than 80% of the flowers we carry are locally grown on the island or the lower mainland. The list of benefits for using locally grown flowers is long, but what you may
not know is that when you purchase flowers that were grown locally you are supporting many local people, including your local florist, local farmers, and local delivery drivers. It is no secret that choosing local helps strengthen the economy and support real people right in our own backyard.
With three beautiful locations to choose from, we are able to provide full service throughout the Victoria area, from Downtown Victoria and Sidney to the Western Communities. We strive to provide all of our communities with topnotch quality and service. brownsflorist.com