4 minute read
Night at the museum
wedding: Night at the museum
Vancouver couple makes their wedding a work of art
by: KEILI BARTLETT
Shortly after Avery Holland and Geoff Butt shared the news of their engagement, Avery’s mother gifted the couple a beautiful abstract painting. The piece would ultimately inspire the artwork on their wedding invitations, which invited their loved ones to the ceremony at the Audain Art Museum.
Avery and Geoff wed on Feb. 22, 2020, the anniversary of their first date. With a winter wedding, an indoor venue was a must, and the Audain was more than capable of hosting their 125 guests.
“We both love skiing and both our families grew up going to Whistler on weekends, so Whistler was a natural choice,” Avery said.
But it was the Audain that brought it all together. Avery said they loved how modern the museum is, with its striking presence and ability to let the outside in.
The sleek building, its steep angular shape reminiscent of the surrounding mountains, is nestled next to the heart of Whistler Village. While the black
metal exterior creates a timeless feeling, the interior’s cedar beams and large windows frame the outdoors, bringing the natural elements inside. The surrounding evergreens are complemented by the cedar inside, creating a warm, minimal space that guides the focus to art or an event. A high peak ceiling in the private section of the museum is similar to that of a church.
The outdoorsy couple, who are based in Vancouver, can often be found on the slopes of Whistler anyway, Geoff said, making the most of time with family and friends. They decided to make a weekend of it, and invited their guests to join them on the mountain to ski the day before their wedding. Together, they enjoyed a classic après in the Village complete with a retro ski-themed photo booth.
“In the summer sometimes at our age it just can become wedding after wedding after wedding,” Avery said. “Being off season, I think people were extra excited for a chance to get together.”
It was also a relief not to have to worry about the weather, she added.
For the ceremony, they timed it with the early winter sunset. End-of-day sunlight streamed through the window, sparkling off the snow-covered trees. White flowers by A Fox in the Flowers complemented the snow. The unofficial officiant, Geoff’s aunt, infused the formalities with family stories, making the moment incredibly personal. Side One performed live with a gentle guitar during the ceremony and accompanied a long happy hour, as the museum transformed into a wedding venue.
Avery said her favourite part was being able to work with the Audain to customize the food menu and the drinks, creating two cocktails to commemorate the couple.
“The meal felt very much like us,” Avery said, of their family-style feast by The Collective Kitchen. “And we brought in ice cream for dessert from one of our favourite places in Vancouver: [Rain Or Shine Homemade Ice Cream].”
As luck would have it, many of their guests later told them it was the last inperson event most of them would attend for months to come. For the newlyweds, it was the last meal they would eat out until their first wedding anniversary.
“We got messages from friends being like, ‘This was the last fun thing we’ve done in the last year,’” Geoff said. “We feel fortunate.”
As for the artwork featured on their invitations, their wedding planners from Spread Love Events gave them the custom original artwork as a keepsake. It’s now a centerpiece for their home.
photography:
Cat and Jeff
Hey! We’re Cat and Jeff of The Apartment Photography. We see ourselves as the lively, dynamic, fun and occasionally goofy couple that absolutely adores creating meaningful connections with our couples. We’re so lucky to call the Pacific Northwest home and if it isn’t the grandeur of the landscape that inspires us, it’s the genuine, kindhearted people we have the honour of capturing. Off the clock you’ll find traveling the cities of the world in search for the best food and tastiest cocktails.
theapartmentphotography.com
vendors:
Venue Audain Art Museum
Caterer The Collective Kitchen
Ice cream Rain or Shine Homemade Ice Cream
Wedding coordinator and Decor Spread Love Events
Band Side One
Hair and Makeup Line Artistry
Florist A Fox in the Flowers
Rental Companies Pedersens & The Reverie Co
Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Co.
Authentic Wood Fired Pizza
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