2014
the ultimate guide to sea to sky weddings
whistlerweddingmagazine.com
Contents fall
commissioners share their
in love with Whistler
most memorable ceremonies
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22
wedding : whimsical forest
wedding : winter wonderland
Ashleigh & Jay
Helena & Paul
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24
celebrate your wedding in
how to stretch
extreme Whistler style
your wedding budget
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28
wedding : romantic adventures
wedding : going local
Kathy & Tim
Liane & Andy
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30
Director y 34
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editor Clare Ogilvie Alyssa Noel production manager John Magill graphic designer Lou Stevens sales manager Susan Hutchinson sales executives Tessa Sweeney, Amy Allen, Lynn Pasko, Jennifer Gibson, Andrew Daly contributing writer
cover photo
Blake Jorgenson Photography / www.blakejorgenson.com
Whistler Question, a division of Whistler Publishing LP and Glacier Media Inc. wplp president Sarah Strother address #103-1390 Alpha Lake Rd., Function Junction, Whistler, B.C., V0N 1B1 phone 604.938.0202 website www.whistlerquestion.com published by
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fall
in love with Whistler WHISTLER IS A MAGICAL PLACE ANYTIME OF THE YEAR
F
ROM THE MOMENT you arrive in Whistler, its magical presence can be felt. From the towering mountains, to the lush green of the forests, the sparkle of fresh snow in the winter — it doesn’t take much more than this to create the perfect wedding location. The Sea to Sky corridor has served as the setting for many love stories. Recently, model Tori Praver and professional surfer Danny Fuller chronicled their heart-warming Whistler engagement in fashion-powerhouse publication Vogue. The pair was on their annual snowboard trip when Fuller popped the question a few days after Valentine’s Day to ensure Praver would be surprised. “It was their first day on the mountain,” the magazine relays, “and
the snow was falling around them as they looked out over Whistler Village.” While that couple chose Hawaii for their laid-back celebration, their high-profile romantic tale shows that Whistler is the perfect spot for everyone from fashion models to extreme athletes to declare their love. For those looking to tie the knot in a traditional setting, there are a wide variety of indoor locations where shoes will remain dirt free, and wild animals will (probably) stay out of the ceremony. The Edgewater Lodge, located on Green Lake, is one option, with a rustic lodge that’s perfect for a ceremony, rehearsal dinner, reception or all three. Nita Lake Lodge, next to its namesake, Nita Lake, is also a popular location, boasting a
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serene setting where photo opportunities abound. Some other ideal hotels in which to exchange vows: the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Four Seasons Resort Whistler and Green Water Resort, located just north of town. There are also venues that cater to couples seeking epic views with easy access. To that end, Whistler Blackcomb has you covered. WB runs the Roundhouse Lodge at the top of Whistler Mountain, which is easily accessible via gondola. Located a whopping 1,849 metres above sea level, this venue can hold up to 1,500 people for a reception. For a smaller party, there’s also Raven’s Nest up Creekside Gondola, with a multi-level patio and room to accommodate 50 guests. Whistler Sliding Centre showcases
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10 an impressive Olympic venue with excellent views of the valley. For outdoorsy couples, there is an endless array of lovely locations next to rivers, lakes or tucked away in the woods. The setting might be spectacular, but it’s risky too. All wedding experts agree: choose a sheltered back-up location in case of inclement weather. A few possibilities for outdoor ceremonies include the sandy shores of Lost Lake, located on the edge of the village, Meadow Park, next to the River of Golden Dreams, or
even Rainbow Park, which features sprawling views of Alta Lake. In nearby Pemberton, North Arm Farm hosts and caters weddings that feature mountain views in the expansive valley. Or, on the other side of Whistler, the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club in Squamish boasts incredible views of both Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains, along with plenty of space for ceremonies and receptions. Inside or out, taking advantage of the Sea to Sky corridor’s natural beauty will ensure your big day is unique, gorgeous and memorable.
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Personalized Wedding & Event Planning, Design & Decor
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a whimsical forest wedding
Ashleigh & Jay LAST FALL OLYMPIC FREESKIER ASHLEIGH MCIVOR WOKE UP FROM A VIVID DREAM ABOUT HER AUNT SHIRLEY WHO HAD RECENTLY PASSED AWAY
I
N IT, HER aunt looked healthy and happy while she read a book in the sunshine. When Ashleigh told her boyfriend, Vancouver Whitecaps’ soccer team captain Jay DeMerit about it, she had no idea that he had Shirley’s engagement ring and was preparing to pop the question later that day.
“Jay had known he’d have the weekend off for Thanksgiving and had mentioned wanting to go to hike up to a waterfall (near Pemberton),” Ashleigh recalls. “I had been inviting all of our friends, as we do, with no clue he had big plans. Eventually he said, ‘Why don’t we just go on this hike just the two of us?’ I didn’t think anything of it.”
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When the pair reached the top of the waterfall, Ashleigh still had no idea, though she remembers experiencing overwhelming feelings for her thenboyfriend. “When Jay finally looked up at me and went to open his quivering lips to say something, I knew,” she says. “I knew he was about to make me the happiest person on this beautiful planet.”
Jay had secretly asked Ashleigh’s mom and sister for the ring so he could propose with it, but had plans to design a ring with his new fiancé later on. “After the proposal, we began to design our own engagement ring with our friends at Rare Investment, a local diamond wholesaler that specializes in natural fancy coloured diamonds,” Ashleigh says. She had designed a ring with the company to auction off for charity after the Olympics and knew they did great work. Choosing a blue-green diamond, the couple decided to incorporate some of the elements from Ashleigh’s
Olympic gold medal into the design, along with orcas, which they both love, and wolves, which mate for life. “My rings have those designs in yellow gold inlayed in white gold on the inside of my bands so that only I know it’s there and Jay’s ring has subtle components of them on the outside,” she says. That do-it-yourself ethic was the unofficial theme of their wedding. After choosing a secluded spot in the woods just outside of Whistler, they treated their preparations as a giant art project. The pair hung mirrors in vintage frames on trees in the area, gathered antique furniture to create an ethereal
living room setting and even set up a chandelier to hang over them at their ceremony. The result was whimsical. “We didn’t want to over-decorate because the natural beauty of the location was so breathtaking in itself,” Ashleigh says. “The mirrors were a great little touch for pulling it all together by framing certain details to help our guests just focus on the natural beauty. Everybody wore glamourous wedding attire and we had elegant furniture and classy décor, much like you’d find in the Hotel Vancouver, but in the middle of the forest.”
WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 11
Please call to book an appointment 220 West Esplanade North Vancouver 604-986-5200 www.isabellesbridal.com 12 WISHES 2014 WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE
Afterwards, the 300 guests moved up to Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley where they enjoyed dinner. Then around 50 more guests joined them before they trekked back into the woods for the party. “One of the reasons for picking that location for both the ceremony and the party was the dramatic backdrop of moss-covered rocks piled below an overhanging rock face,” Ashleigh says. “This was the backdrop for our vows and later doubled as the natural atrium that the DJ booth backed on to.” The guests used wedding favours that included flashlights with Jay and
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Ashleigh emblazoned on the side to light the way. They also received sightseeing or bike park passes along with rings to make their own wine glass charms using beads that were placed on each table. While it was a difficult choice between a mountain-top celebration or a forest wedding, Ashleigh says in the end, they made the right decision. “I grew up in Whistler and although most people know me for my accomplishments on the mountain, my favourite place to be is in the woods, typically on my bike, but more frequently on foot now that I’ve met Jay and he’s not allowed to do things as dangerous as mountain biking,” she says. “We really wanted to showcase this beautiful province and help guests recognize what it is about this area and the lifestyle that Jay and I have fallen so in love with.”
photography by
Blake Jorgenson Photography www.blakejorgenson.com Blake Jorgenson has gained worldwide attention documenting the ski and mountain bike scenes in his adopted hometown of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. He continues to shoot action, landscape and lifestyle images, capturing a steeper, deeper and more breathtaking world through his eyes and bringing it down to earth.
WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 15
celebrate your wedding in
extreme Whistler style A GUIDE ON HOW TO THROW THE BEST LOCAL STAG & STAGETTE PARTIES
FLYING HIGH: Ziplining is a great way to take in the Whistler sights while experiencing a treetop adventure.
C
WHITE KNUCKLE RIDES: Celebrate with a splash on a whitewater rafting tour.
ELEBRATING YOUR LAST wild, free and single days with your friends is an important rite of passage before a wedding.
rounded up some outdoor activities to get the party started, Whistler-style.
Whether you’re looking for a more traditional stag or stagette party — complete with a night out in the village — or a less conventional option, Whistler has an array of destinations for a memorable event. For locals and visitors alike, we recommend enjoying the best of both worlds: plan adventurefilled activities during the day followed by an evening on the town.
Ziptrek Ecotours runs its ziplines — located between Blackcomb and Whistler mountains — throughout the year, but the busiest months are between April and July. “We’ll see stags and stagette groups every month of the year,” says Cindy Nieuwkuyk, sales coordinator with the company. “We also see wedding parties and family tours as well. Ziptrek is an activity that caters to a wide range of ages
To help you map out the fun, we’ve
ZIPLINING
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and comfort levels. We’ve had guests from six to 92 years in age, so it’s an adventure everyone can enjoy together in a wonderful environment.” The activities range from a canopy walk to the 10-zipline “mammoth tour” to everything in between. For more, visit www.ziptrek.com. Also check out Superfly Ziplines, which boasts not only exhilarating ziplines, but also Treetop Adventure courses. Enjoy an afternoon traversing bridges, rope swings, tight ropes and monkey bars. More information can be found at www.superflyziplines.com.
WHITE WATER RAFTING Choose your own adventure! Wedge Rafting offers white water rafting trips from the mellower Cheakamus River to the intermediate Green River up to the challenging Elaho-Squamish River. Tours run from May until the end of September and welcome kids as young as six (over 50 pounds) for the less strenuous trips. Check out the website at www.wedgerafting.com to learn more.
FREEFALLING: Shake off those prewedding jitters by booking a group bungee.
YourFillHome
With Happiness
WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE What better way to celebrate taking the plunge than plummeting downhill in a bobsleigh or skeleton? The Whistler Sliding Centre offers both options. The bobsleigh experience gives riders a chance to try out the sport — with help from a professional pilot — and careen down the track at up to speeds of 125 km/hr. For the skeleton ride, you will be strapped in by the track crew and sent down the track’s six corners at speeds up to 100 km/hr. You can find out more about both adventures at www. whistlerslidingcentre.com.
BUNGEE JUMPING Matt van der Horst has seen some pre-wedding hijinks during his time as the general manager at Whistler Bungee, where multiple stag and stagette parties visit every weekend throughout the summer. One example: when the bride or groom-to-be is kept in the dark about their party’s destination until the last minute. “Several times this past summer the group has blindfolded the person getting married until they get up on the bridge so they have no idea where they are until they are up on the middle of the bridge,” van der Horst says. “It’s pretty entertaining!” Whistler Bungee, located south of Whistler, is open year-round. For more information go to www. whistlerbungee.com.
wedding registries available Fine housewares, small appliances, linens, home decor and more.
BACKCOUNTRY TOUR For those who want a more intimate peek into Whistler’s majestic mountains, check out the backcountry tours offered by Canadian Wilderness Adventures. To kick back and relax: head up the mountain in a jeep, careen through the snow in a dogsled or enjoy a fondue snowcat excursion on top of Blackcomb Mountain (season permitting).
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Those who want to shift it up a gear can climb onto a snowmobile or, in the summer months, an ATV to explore the breathtaking scenery Whistler has to offer. All of the options for tours can be found at www.canadiansnowmobile.com.
AND MORE… The Adventure Group (TAG) will help you organize almost any outdoor adventure in Whistler you can imagine in both summer and winter. www.tagwhistler.com The Peak 2 Peak gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains is a great sightseeing activity. www.whistlerblackcomb.com For even more ideas visit Tourism Whistler at www.whistler.com. WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 17
romantic wedding adventures
Kathy & Tim THE THEME OF KATHY AND TIM MCDONALD’S RELATIONSHIP HAS ALWAYS BEEN ADVENTURE
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IM PROPOSED ON a skating rink in Paris, Kathy planned much of their wedding from a sailboat in Mexico, and the Seattle couple chose the shores of Green Lake for their summer ceremony. “We love the mountains, the ocean, the outdoors,” Kathy says. “We’re frequent visitors to Whistler and we just love it.
It’s such a beautiful place we thought, ‘Let’s get married in the mountains.’” Rewind to two years into their relationship for further proof of their spontaneity. Tim had planned a surprise trip for Kathy, and up until they arrived at a connecting flight in Dallas, she had no idea they were headed to Paris. “We’ve both travelled
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the world and we love Paris,” she says. “There’s no better place than Paris for love and romance.” With that thought in mind, Tim knew he would pop the question during their stay, only he wasn’t sure where. When they stumbled upon a skating rink, he says the moment just felt right. “The next thing I know, he’s down on one
knee proposing,” Kathy says. “The second surprise was a trip to New York to pick out the ring.” The travels didn’t stop there. Last year the self-described IT nerds both quit their jobs and decided to sail around Mexico for a year. “We planned the wedding six months in advance from a sailboat in Mexico, all online,” Kathy says. Risky, sure, but this laidback couple wasn’t too worried. They just wanted to offer their small list of guests a fun-filled weekend. “We wanted to do something adventurous because we’re all about the adventure and the experience,” Kathy says. During her wedding research she came across the website for Whistler Air, which offered seaplane tours at an affordable rate. From there, they arranged to get married on a hidden sandbar on Green Lake, next to where the planes take off. Nearby Nicklaus North Golf Clubhouse was also a perfect setting for patio cocktails. The evening would end with dinner at Quattro. On the big day, it all unfolded without a hitch. Although it was the weekend of Crankworx, a popular mountain bike festival that draws huge crowds to Whistler, the couple discovered that they had chosen the perfect spot that only locals were privy to for their ceremony. “I think there were only four or five other people there,” Tim says. Adds Kathy: “It was just a gem we stumbled upon. It was exactly what we were looking for and it was right there with Whistler Air and the patio.” The reception was a low-key affair, but the McDonalds were sure to add their own flair. “Kathy and the wedding party secretly went to Quattro before dinner and blew up whoopee cushions and put them on all the seats,” Tim says. “When everyone arrived, they pulled out their chairs, saw them and took the opportunity to jump on them.” Also taking advantage of their friend’s good sense of humour the pair bought WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 19
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Groucho Marx glasses and a giant picture frame for goofy photos, which were a big hit with the guests. The goal of the whole weekend was to have fun, they both say. “We rented a huge house in Creekside and we all stayed there together,” Kathy says. “It was perfect. Everyone got to be
photography by
Anastasia Photography www.anastasiaphotography.ca
together in the evenings and we played games and ate breakfast together.” A tip for other couples planning Sea to Sky nuptials? “We didn’t have a super strict schedule, other than the plane taking off,” Tim says. “We tried to kept it a little bit flexible. We just wanted to enjoy our time there.”
Chad comes from a photojournalistic background as a world traveller and Anastasia comes with her extensive experience in lifestyle portraiture. Together, the mixture is perfect for weddings; clean, crisp images that are artistic and unique. They’re not there just to document your wedding; they’re a true storytelling team!
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whistler wedding commissioners share their most
memorable ceremonies WHISTLER’S SIX LOCAL MARRIAGE COMMISSIONERS ARE KEPT BUSY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
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LYING UP MOUNTAINTOPS, tromping out to far-flung lakes and driving to secluded lodges to conduct ceremonies. They might work in the same area, but each has different stories from their most memorable weddings. For commissioner Margaret Clare, taking part in a wedding “on top of the
world” on a cold, December day was an experience she will never forget. “The bride wore a white fur hat and muff with a white ski outfit, set off by a black fur hat on the groom,” she recalls. “We flew up to Rainbow Glacier where vows were exchanged with mountain peaks stretching beneath us in every direction. Later, glasses of champagne were raised in gloved hands to the blue sky.”
Sometimes, though, nature gets in the way of the ceremony, as Tracy Kerr learned. Last summer, she was presiding over a wedding in a location that attracted not only the couple, but also a group of wasps. Kerr was worrying about being stung when “the bride began looking at me with a concerned look,” she says. “I then noticed that most of the guests were also looking
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rather shocked. Knowing that I wasn’t referring to the couple by the wrong names, I looked back to the bride who whispered, ‘There is a bear behind you.’ I continued the ceremony, pronouncing them ‘lawfully married,’ relieved that it was a bear and not a wasp.” Gordon Dyson’s most unusual wedding included a surprise not from a four-legged creature, but from a couple who asked him to oversee their “non-wedding.” “It was the most expensive of any wedding I have ever attended in any capacity,” he remembers. “None of the participants or guests was Canadian. The groom lived in the U.S. and his future wife was moving there to be with him, but her mother insisted they get married. The couple agreed, as long as they were able to have their ‘dream Canadian wedding.’ The mother agreed, but the immigration lawyer didn’t, instead advising them they should marry in the U.S.”
The couple, undeterred, decided to hold the elaborate ceremony and then officially get married at a town hall ceremony in the U.S. the following week. “We all went through the motions of an elaborate wedding, except there was no marriage license and no government paper work. I don’t know if the mother was aware that the couple did not get married that day.” Carol Guinn presided over a very real and extremely memorable wedding this summer: her daughter’s. At first she was worried that pulling double duty as commissioner and mother-ofthe bride was a bad idea. But in the end, “It was absolutely amazing,” she says. “The groom was dabbing his eyes and my eyes as well. It was very intimate and lovely.” In the end, commissioner Linda Jones wasn’t able to narrow down her experiences to one stand out ceremony. “Every one of my weddings has been memorable and the best part of each
one is to see the look of joy as each bride comes up the aisle,” she says. “It is a wonderful experience to take part in one of the happiest days of their lives.” Wedding commissioners are a popular option for ceremonies in the Sea to Sky corridor, largely because so many couples opt to marry in unconventional outdoor locations rather than in a traditional church setting. Considered civil servants, commissioners are appointed for five-year terms by the province and charge a nominal fee for their services. Because they conduct civil ceremonies, they avoid religious content — though they often work with couples to craft unique vows. For more information on how to contact a wedding commissioner (including Sandy Pyatt, an experienced commissioner who was unavailable to comment for this story) in the Sea to Sky corridor visit www.vs.gov.bc.ca.
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winter wonderland
Helena & Paul HELENA COX AND PAUL CHARMAN NEVER HAD ANY DOUBT THAT THEIR WEDDING WOULD BE SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A WHISTLER WINTER
“I
LEARNED TO SKI in Whistler when I was a teenager,” Helena says. “We chose to move to Vancouver because it was super close to Whistler. It was the obvious choice for our wedding.” The couple, originally from England, had also become engaged at the bottom of Blackcomb Mountain.
“I booked a couple of nights at the Fairmont,” Paul says. “Helena has a love affair with snow, so I knew it had to be in the snow and I wanted it to be at sunset.” One small problem: the gondola closes before the sun sinks behind the mountains. Instead, Paul set to work convincing Helena to go for a hike
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to take some photos to send back to family at home. “I got down on one knee to take a photo of her and I popped the question,” he says. Engaged for nearly two years, they had plenty of time to plan their wedding, but one thing was certain from the beginning. “Deciding to have it in Whistler was really easy for us. It’s a
special place for us. We were always up on the weekends skiing and hiking. The tougher part was choosing the venue because there are so many gorgeous options in Whistler,” Helena says. Finally they settled on the Edgewater Lodge. Their theme: rustic ski chalet meets vintage chic, which they achieved with help from wedding planner Marcie Gaukrodger from Bliss Event + Design. “The details were all inspired by that theme,” Helena says. For the ceremony, their 45 guests — many of whom travelled from the couple’s native England — gathered on a deck (with heaters) while the couple and wedding commissioner were perched on the snowy banks of Green Lake. The wedding party might have been chilly, but Helena says she hardly even needed the cream-coloured jacket she picked out to complement her strapless gown. “I was surprised I wasn’t cold,” she says. “I think it was the adrenalin.” Aside from the unique winter setting, the couple also added their own details to make the day special. Helena, for example, dug up her first pair of skis
for guests to sign instead of a book. “They happened to fit well with the colour scheme,” she says. “They were purple and white. We also had a hot chocolate station with customized cups for our guests while they were waiting for us to come out. By the hot chocolate station, we had a chalk board that said, ‘Baby it’s cold outside’ with a vintage frame on it.” The outdoor theme continued with pinecone place cards. For their guests, most of whom hadn’t been to Canada before, they decided on maple syrup favours. One last surprise: a choreographed first dance. “We wanted to make our first dance a little different,” Paul says. “We did a mash-up of six of our favourite songs that mean something to us. I did that at home with DJ equipment. It was pretty fun, but Helena is by far the better dancer.” While the ceremony and reception were both perfect, the couple — who recently took another plunge and moved to Whistler — say that the best part was their time together taking photos in the snow. “We had so much fun,” Helena
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says. “Paul had dress shoes on, so he was falling all over the place.” Despite his slips, Paul agrees. “That was my favourite part of the day,” he says. “We had portrait shots with the lake and mountains in the background. I fell over in three feet of snow and we were in hysterics.”
photography by
Tallevi Studios Photography www.tallevistudios.com Relive all the laughter and all the tears through the eyes of this husband and wife team. Tim and Karen’s individual personalities and styles come together seamlessly to tell the story of your wedding day — a story that will continue to be told by future generations.
WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 27
how to stretch
Your wedding budget A WHISTLER WEDDING PLANNER OFFERS TIPS FOR SEA TO SKY NUPTIALS
I
T’S NO SECRET that weddings can be pricey.
Buying a dress, renting a venue and hiring caterers all adds up. While ambitious (and budget-conscious) brides and grooms might try to take on the task of planning their big day on their own, some things are better left to the professionals, and Whistler has no shortage of experts ready to help.
Marcie Gaukrodger, a wedding planner with Bliss Event + Design, says that one of the best ways to make your money count is by hiring a wedding planner to attend the big day and ensure everything goes smoothly. “More and more couples are going for a day-of director rather than a full wedding planner,” she says. “I think that’s really changed since I started in the business.”
PHOTO: ROBYN LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO: ROBYN LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Couples can book the vendors, find the florist and musicians then hire a planner to oversee the rest, for example. “Most people have never managed a wedding before and they don’t know what happens behind the scenes,” Gaukrodger says. “They arrive for the ceremony and everything looks perfect. But there are so many things that happen that no one knows about. If you have a wedding planner on site
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Thank You Squamish
SIMPLIFY: Multi-functional table decoration using the napkin slips to showcase the menu also
that day, you’re not giving that job to your family.” While friends and family might want to pitch in for the big day, Gaukrodger suggests taking advantage of their expertise. For example, if you have a friend who’s also a burgeoning graphic designer, recruit them to put together your wedding invitations so they can use the finished product for their portfolio. Another cost-saving tip: reuse your décor from the ceremony at the reception. Last February, Gaukrodger helped plan the wedding of another wedding planner. The bride brought much of the décor on her own, but Gaukrodger helped set up at the Four Seasons. “We reused her twinkling, pretty trees on her dinner reception table,” she says. “It was reusing things and not having a completely different set of décor for the dinner reception. She saved a ton of money that way and it was one of the most gorgeous weddings.” The Sea to Sky corridor might offer unique, natural beauty for a wedding, but there are also some one-of-a-kind complications that could arise. To that end, Gaukrodger doles out some tips for local weddings: “I think one of the most unique things is that you always have to have a rain back up. Also, have a photographer who’s familiar with Whistler, or is willing to come up and do a site tour before the wedding. That’s huge because our sunsets go down so fast. Finally, make sure that your vendors — your photographer,
entertainment, hair and make up people — realize the highway gets busy in the summer and they have to plan for that.” Her final tip for Whistler weddings is a simple one. Don’t rule out ballrooms. “Everyone wants to get married with a view,” Gaukrodger says. “Couples want something really unique, but they don’t want to get married in a ballroom. A winter wedding can be gorgeous, if you’re willing to put the money into it.”
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WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 29
going local
Liane & Andy WHEN LIANE BISNAIRE AND ANDY BEADON STARTED PLANNING THEIR WHISTLER WEDDING, THEY KNEW THEY WANTED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
“T
HE MOST IMPORTANT part for us was spending our money ethically and responsibly,” Liane says. To that end, the Vancouver couple set to work scouring the Sea to Sky area for the perfect location. After sorting through the offerings, they settled on the picturesque Rebagliati Park next
to the Fitzsimmons Creek for the ceremony. “We wanted to make sure we were putting our money in the hands of people who would do good with it,” Liane says. “The municipality got our location fees and we chose our other vendors accordingly as well, focusing on small businesses that were getting started or not affiliated with large corporations.”
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The outdoor location was a perfect fit for the couple. Both love skiing, mountain biking and hiking — so much so that Andy decided to propose during a gruelling trek on the Chilkoot Trail bordering Alaska. “We like adventure and hiking and we had some friends up in Whitehorse, so we went up there to visit them and hike the Chilkoot Trail together,” Andy says. “I had the plan
in my head for a while. I had my great grandmother’s engagement ring and I was going to do it on the summit.” Only, when they reached the peak it was “raining sideways” and clouds blocked what was supposed to be a memorable view. “I thought that was a little inappropriate,” he says. So, Andy waited until further down the trail when Liane stopped for a bathroom break. Returning from the woods, she discovered him staring into
a pile of snow. He called to her to come look at the object he had found, but she wasn’t too keen on taking off her heavy pack yet again. “The whole trail is littered with discarded things from the gold rush,” she says. “I thought he was getting me over there to look at a random object from 100 years.” “Well, it was from 100 years ago,” Andy adds, with a laugh. It took Liane a few seconds to realize what was happening. “That was
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last summer,” she says. “We knew right away the wedding would be in Whistler.” To help give the event local flair, they recruited Whistler duo The Hairfarmers to play at their reception at Spruce Grove House, The Collective Kitchen to cater a gorgeous and colourful familystyle feast and Senka Florists for the floral arrangements. While the wedding day went off without a hitch — in part, thanks to the local expertise — one unexpected moment came from local photographer Darby Magill. “She surprised us with a canoe for photos,” Liane says. “Being from Ontario, we had spent summers at camp and it was a nice little touch.” In the end, Liane says, the best way to plan a wedding is to “be true to yourself.” “Decide what’s important to you and spend your money that way,” she says. “And have fun with it! It’s only one day and it will be perfect no matter what.”
photography by
Darby Magill Photography www.darbymagill.com Getting the opportunity to photograph one of the most intimate and memorable celebrations professionally is a true honour. Creatively I get to explore the relationships amongst family and friends with a strong focus on the organic interactions. That is where my eye gravitates to and hopefully my photography shows that.
WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE WISHES 2014 33
Director y Squamish Valley Golf Club
FLOWERS & DECOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
A Priceless Event
Anastasia Photography
604-892-4915 www.apricelessevent.com
604-902-8111 www.anastasiaphotography.ca
Senka Florist
Blake Jorgenson Photography
604-932-3301 www.senkaflorist.com
604-902-1095 www.blakejorgenson.com
Whistler Flowers
Crystal Brown Photography
604-848-4430 www.whistlerflowers.ca
604-905-8735 crystalbrownphotography.com
GIFTS
604-898-9521 www.squamishvalleygolf.com
Whistler Sport Legacies (Wedding Venues) 604-964-0041 www.whistlersportlegacies.com
WEDDING DRESSES Isabelle’s Bridal 604-986-5200 www.isabellesbridal.com
Darby Magill Photography
Whistler Home Hardware
604-902-1427 www.darbymagill.com
604-932-1903 www.homehardware.com
WEDDING PLANNERS
Tallevi Studios
Blue Violet
HAIR & MAKEUP Kerry Waring Makeup & Hair Artist 778-839-2656 www.whistlermakeup.com
JEWELRY Gem Jewellers 604-892-3002 www.gemjewellers.com
MUSIC Diamond Doug DJ Service 604-902-0156 djdiamonddoug.blogspot.com
V & G Music 604-255-6603 www.violinandguitar.ca
604-902-5483 www.bluevioletevents.com
604-898-6658 www.tallevistudios.com
Sea to Sky Celebrations
VENUES
604-938-1627 www.seatoskycelebrations.com
Big Sky 1-800-668-7900 www.bigskygolf.com
Whistler Wedding Planners 604-938-2564 www.whistlerweddingplanners.com
Edgewater Lodge 604-932-0688 www.edgewater-lodge.com
PHOTO BOOTHS
Nicklaus North Golf Course
Cheese! Box
1-800-386-9898 www.golfbc.com/weddings
604-932-7876 www.cheesebox.ca
Pemberton Meadows Golf
Whistler Photo Shack 604-902-0674 www.whistlerphotoshack.com
1-800-390-4653 pembertongolf.com
Pemberton Valley Lodge 1-877-894-2800 www.pembertonvalleylodge.com
Now online
Whistler’s only dedicated wedding magazine is now online. Scan this ad with to find out more. W H I S T L E R W E D D I N G M AG A Z I N E . C O M
34 WISHES 2014 WHISTLER’S WEDDING MAGAZINE
From the ‘will you’ to the ‘I do’ and everything in between... C E L E B R AT E A M I L E S T O N E B I RT H DAY O R E V E N T W I T H U S ! Wedding planning I Event and day of orchestration I Birthdays/Wedding and Baby Showers Corporate Productions I Event and Decor Rentals I Floral Designs by Mountain Blooms Event Decor Cupcake and Wedding Cake Designs by Tricia Marshall Field
whistlerweddingplanners.com I 604-938-2564 Linda Marshall Director of Special Moments I linda@whistlerweddingplanners.com Whistler’s most experienced wedding & event specialists Celebrating our 1,000th wedding September 2013 with Rebecca & Chase Conway
Kelly Czekurlon, Rebecca Conway, Linda Marshall, Lesley Ballhausen, Whistler Wedding Planners
Cakes by Tricia Marshall Field
Credit: www.gadboisphotography.ca
Florals by Mountain Blooms
The Edgewater is one of British Columbia and Whistler’s most spectacular wedding locations. The views from the lodge, the garden areas, and the dining room are unparalleled in Whistler.
Contact us today!
Visit us at edgewater-lodge.com Reserve online or call 604 932 0688. 8020 Alpine Way. 10 minutes north of Whistler Village at Hwy 99 & Alpine Way
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