2018
The ultimate guide to Sea to Sky weddings
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Romantic Escape
Contents wedding
Getting married in a museum 6 the list
Tips for creating a guest list 10 wedding
Finding magic at North Arm Farm 12 food
Late night eats to fuel the fun 16 wedding
A colourful mountaintop wedding 20 videography
Not your parents’ wedding video 24 wedding
Camp-inspired winter nuptials 26 vendors
Directory 30
Pho
Sarah Strother editor Alyssa Noel Louise O’Brien wplp production manager Karl Partington contributors Brigitte Mah, Kim Vanlochem, Megan Lalonde sales manager Susan Hutchinson sales executives Amy Allen, Jennifer Gibson, Tessa Sweeney, Kate Whitley publisher
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address
published by Whistler Publishing LP, a division of Glacier Media Group #103-1390 Alpha Lake Road, Whistler, B.C., V0N 1B1 phone 604.938.0202
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wedding
Getting married in a museum Forget mountains — the Audain Art Museum provides a stunning backdrop for a ceremony
S
ARAH and Nate Stewart had a whirlwind romance. While the couple had been friends on social media for some time, it wasn’t until they reconnected in real BY: ALYSSA NOEL
life that sparks flew. “We went out a few times and then he joined me on a trip to Hawaii and it took off from there,” Sarah recalled. 6 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
“He proposed six weeks later on New Year’s Eve on a beach in Hawaii (during a return trip). Then we got married six months later.” While it was fast, that old adage is true, Sarah said: “When you know, you know… there’s a point in your life where you know what you’re looking for. When that comes along, to us it was very obvious.” The romance might have come easy, but planning a Whistler wedding
in just six months, at first, seemed daunting — even for a couple that lives part-time in the resort. For one, the time crunch narrowed down the available venues. Luckily, Sarah has deep ties in the area: she spent plenty of time up in the valley growing up in Vancouver and her father, Jim Moodie, is credited with convincing his friend Michael Audain to build his Audain Art Museum in the Village. The stunning building — which
houses Audain and his wife’s (Yoshiko Karasawa), extensive, private art collection — turned out to be the perfect venue. “I hadn’t thought of it (as a venue) before my dad mentioned it,” Sarah said. “We couldn’t have been happier — and it meant so much to my dad, who put so much work into (the museum).” While the ceremony took place outdoors in the back of the museum, surrounded by lush, green trees,
photographer Jarusha Brown made sure to highlight the award-winning building’s crisp lines and unique design. Then there’s an extra-special portrait featuring the happy couple in front of Salvador Dali’s Santiago El Grande. “They were very willing to let us go in and take photos,” Sarah said. “That huge Dali was there; that was lucky.” It proved that Whistler has more to offer than just its mountain backdrop. “We thought about taking time to go
into the forest or up the mountain for photos, but our main priority was not to keep our guests waiting too long,” Sarah said. After the photos, the couple hopped in a classic car — borrowed from a family friend — and moved the celebrations to Dusty’s Bar & BBQ, which happened to have a cancellation the weekend the couple was planning to wed. “It was nice having a formal wedding celebration at the museum and an informal party afterwards,” Sarah
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photography :
Jarusha Brown Jarusha began taking photos in high school when she sold her saxophone and bought an SLR. (According to Jarusha she was a terrible sax player!) She earned a BFA in photography in Calgary which lead to various awards and exhibitions. She now call Squamish and Vancouver home. Jarusha is a proud member of the Professional Photographers Of Canada, the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada, and Nikon Pro Services as well as a founding member of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Portraits, an event offering portraits to low income and homeless women in the city. jarushabrown . com
wedding planner :
Roxanne Cave, Celebrate Events celebrateevents . ca
ceremony venue :
Audain Art Museum audainartmuseum . com
reception venue :
Dusty’s Bar & BBQ whistlerblackcomb . com
8 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
added. “It was total luck we got it.” The couple deliberately kept the decorations at the Whistler watering hole sparse, opting to move the bright, bold flowers from the ceremony into the venue — alongside a candy bar, strings of lights overhead and a special display featuring pictures of the guests during important moments in their lives. One surprising benefit of both venues: they required a wedding planner, for which Sarah is grateful. “I had no idea the level of detail involved in planning a wedding,” she said. “I had always laughed at the idea of having a planner, but she (Roxanne Cave) saved
my life.” Aside from hiring a wedding planner and a photographer whose work you admire, another piece of advice Sarah offered other couples is to take advantage of the stunning setting and help your guests enjoy all that Whistler has to offer. As a bonus, it means you’ll get to spend more quality time with friends and family too. “The wedding itself is over so fast and with 140 people, you don’t get much time with everyone, if any,” she said. “Having more events throughout the weekend really let us appreciate the effort people had made to celebrate with us.”
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the list
Tips for creating a guest list How to ensure ever yone feels included on your big day
robin o’neill, robinoneillphotography.com
A GUEST LIST takes some time and effort. While your mind might be preoccupied with that perfect wedding dress or decor, creating your BY: KIM VANLOCHEM
guest list is a priority. Whether you are planning a large celebration or an intimate ceremony, Whistler has what you need to accommodate your 10 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
friends and family. The main factor that determines the size of most guest lists is budget. Once you know how much you have to spend on the ceremony and reception, you’ll be able to do the math. Of course it’s not all multiplication and division; you might want a big party or cozy ceremony regardless of budget. “I have been to weddings with a small, intimate ceremony and
larger dinner and reception for other guests,” said Carlee Cindric of Pocketful Productions. “It worked really well and never felt awkward because the wording of the invitation made it clear about having an intimate ceremony.” Creating a short-list for the ceremony and inviting a larger crowd to the reception is a budget friendly option for brides and grooms. While inviting guests only to your
wedding ceremony is a faux pas, with the reception you have a little more flexibility. It does require that you communicate very clearly with your guests and plan your time accordingly. You can either print two invitations (one inviting a smaller group to both your ceremony and reception, and one inviting the rest of your guests to the reception only) or, to keep costs a little lower, have your main invitation printed with the reception information, then include an insert card for the smaller group of guests who will also be invited to the ceremony. “Some couples use the phrase ‘celebration of our marriage’ when planning a larger party after the ceremony. It implies that you’ve already tied the knot,” Cindric said. “It’s a great way of keeping your costs down while still celebrating with the rest of your family and friends.” Whistler is also a popular location
for destination weddings. Whether the bride and groom are Whistler locals with a lot of out-of-town guests, or a couple looking to get away for their nuptials, there are some tricks for making everyone feel at home. It’s no secret that out-of-towners will go to a lot of effort and expense to share in your wedding day so making them feel welcome, helping them get around and keeping them entertained is a nice gesture. “Many of the couples I’ve worked with that come for a destination wedding are very aware of the added expense for their guests,” Cindric said. “Some will make arrangements for transportation, maybe plan a larger rehearsal dinner and extend the celebrations into a brunch that day after the wedding.” One of the simplest, most useful things to do for guests is provide a wedding itinerary. A complete run down of events leading up to and following your walk down the aisle
can turn your guests’ experience into a mini vacation. Whistler has a variety of activities from cheap and cheerful excursions to a day at the spa. Out-of-town guests also need a place to stay. To keep expenses to a minimum, some brides and grooms choose to explore bed and breakfast options that can accommodate several guests. “In Pemberton there are a lot of bed and breakfast options as well as vacation homes. You can rent one out for the whole family and a kitchenette gives them meal options,” Cindric said. At the end of the day it’s important to remember that your wedding is yours and not to get lost in the many lists a wedding can bring. “Your wedding is a celebration of two people joining together for life and should reflect the two of you. It should be a day that celebrates the two of you and your life together,” Cindric said.
Let’s create more than just a party.
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Planning celebrations for a lifetime.
778-840-1647 createweddingsandevents.com
CreateWeddingsandEvents @createweddingsandevents
WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
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wedding
Finding magic at North Arm Farm Traditional meets rustic in Vancouver couple’s wedding
I
N the shadow of the magnificent Mount Currie, Jayne Pong and Orion Winkelmeyer posed for their BY: KIM VANLOCHEM
wedding photos. It was just one sweet moment in a day full of magic at Pemberton’s North Arm Farm. 12 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
When Vancouver residents Jayne and Orion first got engaged, they dreamed of a rustic wedding nestled in the heart of the mountains, much different from a typical big city wedding. “We really wanted to have nature around us. We wanted a casual, fun wedding where everyone could let loose and have a good time,” Jayne
said. The couple teamed up with Whistler planner Ola Smazynski of Flock Events, who turned their vision into a magical reality. From the beautiful flowing arbor to the succulents tucked into the bridal bouquet, every detail gave tradition a rustic flavour. Jayne and Orion’s wedding was anything but typical, starting with a
traditional Chinese tea ceremony to honour Jayne’s heritage. The timehonoured tradition is a significant way for the bride and groom to pay respect and show their gratitude towards their parents for all the years of nurturing and love. In turn, the family expressed blessings for the newlyweds as they start their marriage. “It was my first tea ceremony to witness and I loved that they brought that tradition in. After the ceremony, Jayne switched over to her wedding dress in the shed,” said Leah Martin of Leah Kathryn Photography. “I loved how easy going they both were. I think it’s the feeling you get when you go through the photos.” The couple was so easy going that Jayne admits her wedding day was the first time she saw North Arm Farm, in person. After an Internet search from Vancouver, Jayne stumbled across the venue and was hooked. The venue was booked based on the stunning online WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
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photography :
Leah Martin Leah Martin is a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Whistler, B.C. She loves to capture the joy and beauty in the everyday — from those intimate moments that her clients share to the outdoor adventures that are part of her daily life. It is not unusual to see Leah climbing trees at weddings or wading chest deep into water to get the shot. Your session will be fun and natural; sit back, relax, let your authentic self shine bright. leahkathrynphoto . com
wedding planner :
Ola Smazynski, Flock Events facebook . com / flockweddingsandevents
venue :
North Arm Farm northarmfarm . com
catering :
The Collective Kitchen collectivekitchenbc . com
flowers :
Flowers & Jules flowersandjules . com
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photos. “I was googling my life away and I came across this photo of a barn with market lights and thought it must be hours away. To my delight, it was located in Pemberton,” Jayne said. “When I walked in with my bridal party, I was blown away. The pictures are nice but North Arm Farm is even better in person.” Mount Currie stood witness during the ceremony and a wooden pergola sheltered the couple with billowy fabric and flowers while they exchanged hand-written vows. The reception was held on site with guests seated around a beautiful farm
table shipped up from Abbotsford. With the mountains as the backdrop, decor was a mix of simple greenery and pretty flowers from Flower & Jules. Guests were also treated to unique charger tables complete with everything from bowls full of popcorn or candy to bug spray if needed. “Seeing the vision of my dinner table come together was truly magical. I loved the greenery and everything had character, just shaggy enough to give its own personality,” Jayne said. The Collective Kitchen in Pemberton catered a family-style meal, served on elegant white dinnerware amid pink roses and natural greenery
runners. Chef John Ferris creations included bison sliders, lamb and scallops to name a few. “John’s food was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t do it justice with a description. John is amazing and he doesn’t stop serving until people stop eating. Everything was local and much of it harvested right in Pemberton,”
Jayne said. The couple and their guests danced the night away in the barn that Jayne fell in love with online. The rustic barn was decked in market lights with a seating area for guests to rest next to an exquisite dessert bar. For Jayne and Orion, their Sea to Sky wedding turned their vision into a
day they will always remember. “I think overall the Sea to Sky is such a special place to have a wedding. It’s a neat group of people who make your event happen. Everyone from the makeup artist to the photographer is connected,” Jayne said. “No introductions were needed. They are all friends and work together seamlessly.”
Wedding & Event Planning Design & Décor
Rachael Lythe Whistler: 604-935-7781
Kerry Thompson US: 425-422-4070 enquiry@seatoskycelebrations.com www.seatoskycelebrations.com
WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
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food
Late night eats to fuel the fun Local eateries boast an array of options for midnight snacks
WHEN DINNER IS done, the cake has been cut, and the music is slowing down, the party doesn’t always stop. BY: BRIGITTE MAH
To keep the celebration going into the wee hours of the morning, many couples serve late-night snacks to fuel the fun. Here’s a list of the popular, 16 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
creative and easy ways for everyone to gnosh and keep the stomach rumbles away. Tacofino Vancouver and Sea to Sky corridor tacofino.com/catering A true West Coast experience, Tacofino brings the salty tang and windy breeze of the ocean to
weddings with an eclectic assortment of sun-kissed inspired tacos. These aren’t your ordinary ground beef, cheese and salsa tacos, either. These tacos take you for a dip in the sea and a swing in a hammock. Couples can choose from six options: a classic fish taco with the heat of chipotle mayo, a chorizo taco with kale and pickled onions, a skirt steak
romantic. memorable. personalized. Nita Lake Lodge offers a striking environment, bridal spa services and customized catering. An exceptional venue choice for your Whistler wedding. 2131 Lake Placid Road, Whistler BC sales@nitalakelodge.com www.nitalakelodge.com Photo: Tara Lilly Photography
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with black garlic mayo, an albacore tuna with soy, sesame, wakame seaweed and wasabi mayo, and a smoked chicken taco with guac, mango and pineapple salsa. Vegetarians aren’t left out, either, with two choices: a crispy tofu taco with black garlic mayo, pickled daikon and carrot and the heat of sriracha, or a cauliflower taco with pickled onion, tomatillo and feta cheese. “My favourite is the skirt steak, but the most requested is our ever-classic fish taco, which you can find at every restaurant and truck,” said sales and catering coordinator Jana Nixon. Tacofino will drive their iconic truck up to any wedding location in the Sea to Sky corridor until 12:30 a.m. Whistler Cooks Whistler and Sea to Sky corridor whistlercooks.com/weddingcatering With all the components of a wedding to keep organized, sometimes it’s easier to have a one-stop shop for your food. Whistler Cooks is a local’s favourite for catering services and if they’re cooking for your wedding, they can add a late-night snack as well once the dancing dies down. Popular requests are poutine or mac and cheese — all made from scratch. “Everybody wants poutine,” said wedding sales manager Mal Attorp. The poutine features Pemberton potato wedges with authentic Quebec cheese curds and house-made beef gravy, and the mac and cheese is made with a house cheese sauce and topped with anything from bread crumbs to tomatoes to crumbled bacon, or handmade ketchup. Attorp and her team can also deliver dishes during the day, like a charcuterie board, for later consumption if Whistler Cooks isn’t catering the wedding. A favourite are the flatbreads that are made with either brie, caramelized onion and arugula or Pemberton potato wedges, manchego cheese and truffle oil. For those looking for comfort food,
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Whistler Cooks can also toss wings in a variety of traditional sauces like spicy buffalo, honey garlic, or salt and pepper. The team delivers throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. Fat Tony’s Pizza Whistler and Sea to Sky corridor fattonyspizza.com There’s a reason 99 cent pizza shops are always next to bars and clubs; nothing quite beats the late-night hunger after dancing up a storm like pizza. A Whistler locals’ legend for over a decade, Fat Tony’s Pizza has seen its fair share of brides come through the doors on their wedding night to satisfy the craving for gooey cheese, tomato sauce and their favourite fixings. “Some like lots of variety and some play it safe and just get the classics,” said owner Ozge Onemli. “Beef and blue cheese is always a favourite.” Couples can choose from 31 pizza options ranging from classics like pepperoni, Hawaiian and ham and bacon to a meat lovers filled with ham, pepperoni, chorizo, Italian sausage and bacon. Adventurers can sink their teeth into the teriyaki chicken pizza that’s made with slowroasted chicken, sweet corn, red onions and teriyaki sauce. Vegetarians have seven options including one that combines broccoli, cheese, red peppers and black olives, or they can switch out the broccoli for potatoes. Then there’s the local’s favourite of beef and blue cheese, where ground beef gets drizzled with a mild blue cheese dressing in a partnership that mirrors the perfection of a marriage. Onemli and her team of pizza elves will deliver all over the Sea to Sky corridor until 3 a.m. Lucia Gelato Vancouver and Sea to Sky corridor luciagelato.com A local business that offers one-ofa-kind flavours, Lucia Gelato has the luxury of being small enough to
custom make anything, but popular enough that its reputation precedes it. Each bite of gelato harkens to the chill of the mountains, the freshness of the alpine air and the sweet delight of a wedding. Couples can get as creative as they want with outrageous flavours like dirty chai, olive oil, or saffron rosewater or stick to classics like salted caramel, Two Tony’s Espresso and RCMP. “People love the boozy flavours,” said owner Kathryn Shepherd, adding that a popular request is to serve the couple’s favourite cocktail as a gelato flavour. Shepherd can also do a late night gelato martini bar, which combines gelato and liquor in either a do-it-yourself environment or with Shepherd’s team as bartenders. Dee’s Donuts Vancouver and Sea to Sky corridor deesdonuts.ca When it’s late and you want energy to keep going, nothing gets you moving like sugar — especially if it comes in adorable bite-sized rings. Dee’s Donuts makes fresh, hot mini donuts right at any wedding location, and they top them with an array of perfectly partnered flavours reflective of a perfect marriage: Nutella and Skor, cookies and cream, pumpkin spice, chocolate cookie crunch, lime and coconut, s’mores, pecan sticky buns, cinnamon sugar and lemon meringue. Think French pastry-styled artistic toppings on your favourite amusement park mini donut. “(They’re) super cute and the perfect yummy wedding dessert or late-night snack,” said owner Damian Boyle. You can also custom make toppings or match a glaze to your wedding colours.
Regardless of the type of food you choose for your wedding, your guests will thank you for thinking of them — and in return, they’ll keep celebrating with you for as long as you can stay awake.
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wedding
A colourful mountaintop wedding Indian celebration combines tradition and stunning scener y
H
EATHER Benz and Arnav Moudgil were surprised when dozens of runners appeared BY: ALYSSA NOEL
during their wedding ceremony on Whistler Mountain in September. 20 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
After they discovered that their celebrations coincided with the second annual Valley to Peak trail race that emotion turned again — this time to jealousy. “We were really upset because we’re both trail runners,” Heather said, with a laugh. “We would’ve loved
to do that race.” The Missouri-based couple had never been to the Sea to Sky corridor when they began scouting locations for their wedding. They had only two requirements: the location had to incorporate the mountains and be close enough to vendors who could
supply everything they needed for a traditional Indian wedding. “We both really love the mountains,” Heather said. “We were looking for somewhere to get married with the mountains, but we needed to have a traditional Indian wedding. Arnav is Punjabi and Vancouver has one of the largest Punjabi populations in North America.” After Heather’s mom suggested they check out Whistler (she was keen to vacation there), the pair made a quick trip to check it out. “We went jogging around town and went, ‘OK, it’s not bad.’ Then we rode up the mountain where the wedding location would be and we were completely blown away.”
Luckily, so were their guests, many of who were confused about why they were travelling all the way to Canada for the wedding. “It was really gratifying,” Heather said. The Indian wedding stuck to tradition, incorporating several days worth of events — from Heather having her arms and feet painted with henna to the Milni, or meeting of the families. For Heather, who is not Punjabi, there was no question about the type of wedding they would have after Arnav proposed while they were on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountain backcountry. “To me, a lot of nondenominational wedding ceremonies
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photography :
Pascale Gadbois Pascale is a photographer because we all have a story to tell. Looking through Pascale’s lens you’ll see a fusion of photojournalism and fine art. To her, a good image is one that captures a true moment, one that you can look back on and still feel butterflies in your stomach, one that is timeless. Great images are the ones that tell a story to everyone, even if the real story is only known to one. gadboisphotography . ca
wedding planners :
Sea to Sky Celebrations seatoskycelebrations . com Always and Forever Weddings alwaysandforeverweddings . ca
ceremony venue :
Whistler Mountain whistlerblackcomb . com
reception venue :
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre slcc . ca
ceremony decor
Charming Affairs Decor charmingdecor . ca flowers
Senka Flowers senkaflorist . com cake
The Flour Pot theflourpot . ca rentals
Event Rental Works eventrentalworks . com
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today are short and there’s not a lot to them,” she said. “We didn’t have a good reason not to (have a traditional wedding). It was so fun.” Plus, she added, there’s an array of colourful dresses involved. “I got to wear three outfits!” she said. “They’re prettier than a wedding dress, I think.” The ceremony itself was stunning; full of bright flowers and elaborate, decadent traditional wear. Set against the backdrop of rocks and sky, the resulting photos resemble a painting. “Everyone rode up the gondola together and did a parade at the top,” Heather said. “We got a lot of attention.” While the ceremony itself incorporated as much tradition as they were able to (it wasn’t possible, for example, for the groom to ride in on a white horse), the most moving moment for Heather was seeing the mandap — or the canopy under which the ceremony takes place — for the first time. She was moved to tears
when she saw it, draped with flower garland. “It had been really stressful trying to plan for the mandap,” she said. “I think about a week out we still didn’t have one. We were in a complete panic. Seeing it was really amazing because it looked exactly as I imagined.” Afterwards, the celebrations carried on down the mountain at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre where the couple surprised everyone with a group of bhangra dancers. “They had so many spaces,” Heather said. “We had cocktail hour on the back patio — that’s a beautiful space. Then we moved into the Great Hall. It really felt how I wanted.” For Arnav, the highlight was seeing his relatives embrace the mountain town. “He has a much older uncle and his uncle was saying, ‘I would’ve never ever come to Whistler. You gave me this experience I wouldn’t have otherwise had,’” Heather said.
We can make all your Whistler wishes come true! Over 1130 weddings & events planned by Linda & her team Wedding Planning • Event & day of orchestration • Birthdays • Baby Shower • Corporate Productions • Event & Decor Rentals • Floral Designs • Cakes by Tricia Marshall Field
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videography
Not your parents’ wedding video How professional videographers are turning wedding day highlights into works of art
valarie st-arnaud, calling mountains productions
EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR with traditional old wedding videos. You know, the ones often featured in America’s BY: MEGAN LALONDE
Funniest Home Videos, with fuzzy footage, accompanied by a date stamp, and lacking any editing. But these days, wedding videos take on a much different form. Rather than simply pressing play and recording a ceremony, professional videographers can capture your day and turn the best moments into a highlight reel. Often accompanied by music and overlaid with snippets of vows and speeches, these short films have a way of summing up 24 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
the most important day of your life in a beautiful, perfectly produced work of art. With so many creatives flocking to the Sea to Sky in search of inspiration from our breathtaking landscapes — and just as many couples seeking out the most stunning of venues for their big days — it’s no surprise that the number of filmmakers turning their talents to wedding videography is taking off. One of those is Valerie St-Arnaud of Calling Mountains Productions. “It’s definitely a new trend, but it’s going to become huge,” she said. Though St-Arnaud had been in the video industry for years, she only made her first foray into wedding videography
after a friend asked her to take photos on her wedding day. “I (also ended up) filming a little bit, and that’s when I fell in love with doing wedding videos because I was able to capture the real emotion and really able to put life into the memories,” she said. “That really struck me.” She said the idea of creating an emotion-evoking recap of the day is especially attractive to couples who chose to elope. “Because they can’t share their day with anybody else, to have those videos and be able to capture that, then they can show everybody who missed it,” she said. For more traditional weddings, “The day goes really, really fast, so it’s being
able to relive every moment and relive that love over and over for the rest of your life.” In addition to the shorter, edited videos, a full-day package with StArnaud will also yield raw footage of the ceremony and speeches, in addition to any other particularly important moments. “I can’t fit all of that on the highlight but I want them to have it,” she said. St-Arnaud also emphasized the importance of using a professional, rather than a friend who knows their way around a video camera. “If you don’t use somebody who’s a professional, especially for videos, what happens is that they won’t be able to work with the photographers. They’re going to be in their way, and it’s not going to be a cohesive atmosphere,” she said. “I make sure with my non-invasive equipment — (including drones) — that I’m not making out the day as a film set. I’m more staying behind, being a bit goofy, kind of calming them and blending in and capturing what they want out of their day.”
MAKING A CASE FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS The photos taken on your wedding day will undoubtedly become some of the most important and treasured photos you’ll ever take. To that end, having a relationship with the photographer who will be clicking the shutter button goes a long way towards ensuring those photos turn out to your liking. That’s just one benefit that comes along with shooting engagement photos before the big day, explained Whistler-based photographer Logan Swayze. “It lets us get to know each other… By the time I get to the wedding day, we’ve hung out together already,” he said. “We know each other and they know what it’s like to be in front of my camera. It tends to be a lot more relaxed if I’ve shot an engagement session with people.” Without the strict time constraints of a wedding day schedule, engagement shoots also offer photographers and couples the opportunity to get a little more creative with details like lighting and location — even if it requires a little extra effort to access. In the case of one full-day session that Swayze shot, that included a sunrise walk around Rainbow Park and a helicopter trip to an alpine ice cave, before finishing the day off with a riverside hike through the forest. Another couple Swayze photographed opted to snowboard to their preferred ice cave instead. “We get to select the best time of day for the best light, the best location — wherever we want — and we just get to go create really cool photos,” Swayze said. Those photos can then be turned around and transformed into save the dates, guest books, ceremony schedule pamphlets, wedding day decor and more.
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wedding
Camp-inspired winter nuptials Cheakamus Centre offers snowy backdrop for big day
S
OMETIMES the fates have a hand at choosing your partner. That was the case with Catherine and Beau Eugenio, whose lives brought them to the same places BY: BRIGITTE MAH
over and over until they met. The first time they saw each other was at church over 15 years ago. Catherine was 13 at the time and an 26 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
alter server; she served while Beau was at mass. He sat front and centre and captured Catherine’s attention right away. “At the time I thought he was off limits,” she said, adding that Beau was two years older. But their lives continued to coincide. Their cars were always parked next to each other at church, and when Catherine was in Grade 10 she became the manager of the
junior boys’ basketball team. Her team played at Beau’s school, where she saw him again in the hallway, though she said nothing because she was too embarrassed. “I remembered his face. I thought he was cute,” she said. It wasn’t until first year university that Catherine would see Beau again. She was working at the Nike store on Robson Street in Vancouver and Beau came in to apply for a job. “I didn’t recognize her until she
came and talked to me when I was leaving,” said Beau. “It didn’t click until after that this was the girl from church. I had been telling my friends about her in high school, that there was this really good looking girl.” Beau then asked Catherine out and the rest was history. On their 10th anniversary he proposed at Brandywine Falls, and Catherine said yes amidst a flood of tears. “I was a sobbing mess,” she said. “It had built up for so long.” The two then made plans for their wedding, aiming for it to be on Dec. 11, which was their 11th anniversary. “We didn’t want to lose that date,” said Catherine. “December was an awesome time of year for us.” They chose Cheakamus Centre because it runs outdoor high school programs in Paradise Valley. Since Catherine and Beau both went to outdoor school they thought it would be fitting to tie the knot in a place that recalled the spirit of their youth and the time when they met. Catherine’s father also worked at the Cheakamus Centre and he passed away in 2014. “It was a way to incorporate my dad into our special day,” said Catherine, adding that the centre was perfect because the log cabins gave their guests the chance to arrive on the Friday and stay for the weekend. In the spirit of the portmanteau naming trend, the couple were often referred to as EuJu – a blend of their last names. They dubbed the
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photography :
Jeff & Cat Chang, The Apartment Photography The Apartment is a photography duo made up of Jeff and Cat. They have been photographing weddings together for the past 11 years and two years ago got married themselves! Jeff and Cat are honoured that their passion for photography has taken them all over the world, but the best part of it all has been making genuine connections with the people they photograph. It’s not their goal to make people look like supermodels or take images that give you bragging rights. They want to make meaningful images and memories that are expressive, emotional and, most of all, real. theapartmentphotography . com
venue :
Cheakamus Centre, Squamish cheakamuscentre . ca
catering :
Cheakamus Centre, Squamish cheakamuscentre . ca
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centre Camp EuJu, welcoming their guests with a wooden sign, s’mores ingredients and hand warmers. The pair had hoped to have snow for their camp-inspired winter wedding, and although it was snowing when they drove up to the centre the day before their celebration, none of the flakes were sticking to the ground. “We were so disappointed,” said Catherine. But Mother Nature didn’t let them down and blanketed the grounds overnight with several inches of snow. Catherine and Beau woke to a winter wonderland, which set the scene for the rest of the day.
Catherine and Beau’s passion for the outdoors was everywhere in the wedding, from the swirling snow to the wood burned name discs to the Adventure Awaits signs to the personalized Camp EuJu enamel mugs that had etched symbols of the pair’s favourite outdoor elements. Guests sat on wooden benches in the crisp, fresh air while wrapped in blankets with cups of steaming hot chocolate in their hands. Beau was cold from standing in the frigid temperatures but the moment he saw Catherine he felt fireworks. “My jaw dropped,” he said. “That moment was the highlight of the whole
CRISPIN CANON PHOTOGRAPHY
wedding.” The ceremony was 20 minutes, but the celebrations went on for the entire weekend, with a brunch the day after — the official date of their 11th anniversary. And although Catherine’s father wasn’t there to walk her down the aisle, his spirit was all around them, from his Cowichan sweater that Catherine wore when she walked down the aisle by herself, to his truck that they drove out to the spit just after their first look, to the Cheakamus Centre itself. “I felt like he was there,” said Catherine. “The snow was falling like crazy, but everyone was safe, everyone was there. The way everything went smoothly I felt like he was watching over us.” And for Catherine and Beau, who were wrapped in more than blankets that day — they were wrapped in the love of their friends and family — that reflected the very essence of Camp EuJu and their new adventure together.
LOGAN SWAYZE PHOTOGRAPHY
TARA LILLY PHOTOGRAPHY
LEAH KATHRYN PHOTOGRAPHY
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Director y COMMISSIONERS Whistler Wedding Pastor whistlerweddingpastor.com
JEWELRY Gem Jewellers 604.892.3002 / 1.877.714.4455 (TF) gemjewellers.com
MUSIC Alison Hunter 604.932.2979 whistlerharp.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY Jarusha Brown jarushabrown.com Leah Martin leahkathrynphoto.com Pascale Gadbois gadboisphotography.ca Robin O’Neill robinoneillweddings.com
The Apartment Photography theapartmentphotography.com
RENTALS
WEDDING DRESSES
Canadian Wilderness Adventures 604.938.16616 canadianwilderness.com
Isabelle’s Bridal 604.986.5200 isabellesbridal.com
Event Rental Works 604.259.7655 eventrentalworks.com
Nita Lake Lodge sales@nitalakelodge.com nitalakelodge.com
SPAS
Rockwater Secret Cove Resort 1.877.296.4593 (TF) rockwatersecretcoveresport.com
Scandinave Spa 604.935.2424 scandinave.com
The Brew Creek Centre 604.932.7210 thebrewcreekcentre.com
VENUES Aava Hotel 1.800.663.5644 aavawhistlerhotel.com Audain Art Museum 604.962.0413 audainartmuseum.com Big Sky Golf Club 1.800.668.7900 bigskygolf.ca
Celebrate your
P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y: M A R U P H O T O G R A P H Y
604.932.2979 • whistlerharp@gmail.com www.whistlerharp.ca Whistler Harp
Pocketful Productions 604.938.3800 pocketfulproduction.com
The Meadows at Pemberton 1.800.390.4653 pembertongolf.com
Sea to Sky Celebrations Whistler: 604.935.7781 US: 425.422.4070 seatoskycelebrations.com
Whistler Sport Legacies 604.964.0043 whistlersportlegacies.com
Whistler Wedding Planners 604.938.2564 whistlerweddingplanners.com
VIDEOGRAPHY Calling Mountains callingmountains.com
BRIDAL
with the beautiful sounds of the harp...
Harpist Alison Hunter has over 30 years of professional experience.
Create Weddings and Events 778.840.1647 createweddingandevents.com
Isabelle’s
Wedding Day
Celtic, Lever or Concert Harp available.
WEDDING PLANNERS
604-986-5200 220 Esplanade W North Vancouver, BC info@isabellesbridal.com
30 WISHES WEDDING MAGAZINE 2018
Bre 8x
Intimate, exclusive, just for you When you say “I do” at The Brew Creek Centre, there’s no one else here on our secluded 12-acre rainforest property except your family and friends. What you will find is all the elements for the destination wedding of your dreams: A beautiful, serene place intentionally designed to encourage connection, sophisticated yet unfussy fare locally sourced, and warm, personal service. We take care of the details – you make cherished memories of a lifetime.
WHISTLER, BC
www.thebrewcreekcentre.com
Lauren and Marty | August 13th, 2016 The Apartment Photography | theapartmentphotography.com
Brew Creek ad 8 x 10”
CYAN
YELLOW
MAGENTA
BLACK
audainartmuseum.com To plan your wedding with us, contact: T. 604.962.0413 ext. 103 E. marketing@audainartmuseum.com 4350 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC Canada Image captured by Jarusha Brown Photography
Masterpiece Moment.