I have a slew of 2017 weddings in the blog queue, and I am just SO happy to have finally had the time to get to blog them! It has been well over a year (dear lord! lol!) and so it is definitely about time. First up, is the September 2017 wedding of Courtney & Richard, and let’s just say it was fit for a castle. I had such a blast working with these guys, and set against the majestic backdrop of Hatley Castle, how could you go wrong?! Everything we did was done to elevate the overall guest experience. Luxurious details and finishings, over the top floral arrangements, luxurious linens, and a gourmet 4 course dinner. The couple opted for a classic palette of White, Grey, Blush & Green, which suited the venue perfectly. Abundant florals were used to enhance the romance of the Castle, and greenery was used as a focal point in the reception, to bring the outside in via drama!

The couple, both of whom are pilots, also wanted to have a bit of wanderlust incorporated throughout the wedding. Custom paper airplane escort cards were hand calligraphered, and the cake featured intricate detail playing homage to their careers (so fun!). With Hatley Castle being the venue, we knew everything we did had to be elegant, luxurious and chic. The ceremony took place in the Croquet Lawn, with a stunning view of the Castle in the backdrop. Because they had a higher guest count though, their reception had to take place outside of the Castle, in a Banquet room on site. We completely transformed the room by having it fully draped in white shear panels. This was quite the undertaking, and over 260 ft. of drape was installed. Insane! And a big shoutout to Sandy and the team at Decorate Victoria for making it happen!

This was truly such an elegant affair, and the photos, by Luke Liable feel like they are something out of Vogue. So, without further adieu, I give you: Courtney & Richard.

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible! All photos courtesy of Luke Liable Photography.

Planning & Design - French Kiss Events
Venue - Hatley Castle
Photography - Luke Liable
Catering - Truffles Catering
Florals - Thorn & Thistle
Hair - Hunt and Gather, Mandy Rogers
Makeup - Prive Beauty Lounge
Cake - Schur to Please
Ceremony Music - Cascadia Quartet
Reception DJ - DJ Pro
Invitation suite - Love by Phoebe
Drapery - Decorate Victoria
Furniture - Bash Specialty
Linens - Faire la Fete

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerDecember 3, 2018victoria wedding planning, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Event Planning, Hatley Castle, luke liable photography, Thorn & Thistle, Truffles Catering, castle wedding, castle wedding inspiration, ballroom wedding, garden wedding, wedding design, wedding designer Comments

Real Wedding: Tiff & Levi

Over 10 years ago, 2 teenagers met while on summer vacation at a campground in Canada with their families. They instantly became friends, and not long after that, started dating. After over a decade of growing up together, falling in love, and building an incredible life together, they decided to make it official in beautiful Victoria, BC! And I'm thanking my lucky stars, as they chose FKE to bring their day to life, and oh man...it was a good one folks! Taking place at the 2 most iconic venues in the city, Hatley Castle and The Empress Hotel, their wedding vision was grand from the start of the planning, and we pulled out all the stops to bring it to life!

One of my favourite things about this wedding, was the epic seating chart that we pulled together. I've had this idea for a few years now, and we were just waiting for the perfect wedding to create it at! As guests arrived to the ceremony, all of their pics were snapped at a portrait station (thanks Four Frames!) near the entrance to the Castle. Those photos were then printed and turned into polaroids that we displayed at the couples reception, acting as the guests personalized escort cards! It was a huge hit, and something that everyonewas blown away by.

The reception space was overflowing with luxurious details and we infused the couples impeccable taste all throughout. The neutral palette of soft creams, greys & blush tones, helped transform the ballroom setting into a modern day take on the traditional space. The menu, custom designed by The Empress's chef, was served tapa style, inspired by all the couples favourite eats! Ranging from sushi to maui rib sliders, the food was a hit! And as the lights dimmed, guests partied the night away to Side One's 8 piece band (always a favourite of mine), photo booth, Mojito bar and Popcorn station!

It was definitely a wedding to remember, and for sure the party of the summer! One of the things I love most about weddings though, is no matter how much planning you do and how many incredible details there are, often the best moments of the day are the unplanned ones. This was definitely the case for Tiff & Levi. After dinner, the couple sneaked out with Ryan Flynn and Kismet Creative for some sunset shots down in the harbour. A band busking in the harbour congratulated the couple, and then asked them what their first dance was. The song was "Georgia" by Vance Joy, and without skipping a beat, the band began playing it for them, and they had their first dance right then and there, in the harbour, just the 2 of them. Pure magic! You can see this gorgeous day unfold below, and make sure to check out the incredible video by Kismet at the top!

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible! All photos courtesy of Ryan Flynn Photographer. Video courtesy of Kismet Creative.