Posts in Real Weddings

What a way to kick off back to work, after 3 weeks of vacation!!! I am SO excited to have this Intimate West Coast Wedding, featured on Junebug Wedding's: What Junebug Loves, for 3 reasons. Reason #1: I love this wedding SO much, Reason #2: They only feature the best of the best wedding photography (enter Jesse Holland Photography who killed this wedding!), and Reason #3: I seriously LOVED this wedding! Seeing Brandy & Mitch's beaming faces on this beautiful blog is the cherry on top, and I am so thankful that they fell in love with it as much as I did! Make sure to check out the feature here.

At the end of June, on the longest day of the year, Brandy & Mitch got married. And what a wedding it was! Set at the stunning Brentwood Bay Resort, and overlooking some of the most breathtaking views around, this stylish couple had a destination wedding that blew everyone away!! With all their guests coming from Alberta, they wanted to make sure that their guests had an evening they wouldn't forget. So, keeping this in mind, we created an intimate and elegant soiree that had a strong focus on the celebration and the coming together of families. By infusing a few pops of raspberry into the details, and incorporating ferns and other foliage that are found in abundance on the west coast, we were able to put a fresh spin on the classic wedding they desired. High-end finishes were found throughout, and the details remained simple but extremely elegant. And by creating an intimate dinner party atmosphere (as lets be honest...the food at the Resort is amazing!!), the guests were able to mingle, share stories, and enjoy the experience of fine dining. The energy of the event carried on late into the evening with a Photo Booth, dancing, and a s'mores bar! Yum!

So many incredible vendors came together to help make this wedding as special as it was! Big thanks to:

Photography: Jesse Holland Photography Second Shooter: Shane Deringer Photography Planning/Decor: French Kiss Events Florals: FLEURtacious by Lynda Marie Beauty: Belle Amour Live Music: Allegro Con Trio Food/Drinks: Brentwood Bay Resort

I've said it before, and I'll say it again....photo booth's are awesome!! Such a fun way to get your guests more interactive and lets be honest...after a few drinks, who doesn't love a good photo booth?!!

FKE Featured, Real WeddingsBarb WalkerNovember 11, 2014Brentwood Bay Resort, FLEURtacious, Jesse Holland Photography, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding Planning, West Coast wedding inspiration Comment

The Weekend Roundup

This past weekend, I got to: hang out at a castle, play with soft blooms and rustic pieces (love!), spot a bald eagle, and oh yeah, help an incredible couple get married!! Not too shabby of a job, if you ask me! And my favourite part of this wedding was hands down, the ceremony. Having a friend perform your ceremony always adds an extra level of intimacy, and this guy totally nailed it!! I laughed with them, I cried with them, and I am so honoured to have witnessed their beautiful day.

And thank you so much to the lovely Nichole Taylor Photography, for passing on these wonderful sneak peek's! They're perfect!

Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs.!! It was absolutely lovely getting to know you both over the past couple of months!

xo Barb

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerMay 26, 2014Charming Decor, Hatley Castle, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding PlanningComment

Freddie & Jeremy

A barge. A private Island. A Rabi flown in from Australia. Need I say more? The wedding of Freddie & Jeremy last summer, on a privately owned Island in East Sooke, was the definition of epic! Guests flew in from all around the world to spend the week with this lovely couple, and to party well into the night at their black tie affair. Being from England & Australia, Freddie & Jeremy really wanted to embrace the west coast, and the natural beauty of the Island, and with a setting like this, how can you not?!! They say it takes a village, but this wedding (in my mind) took a city of incredible vendors! Verbena Floral Design & her crew set up a mini floral studio on the Island, and blew everyone away with their floral creations! Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine and Side One (only THE best wedding band in BC) both made their way over from Vancouver and impressed everyone beyond belief! And a HUGE thanks to Ameris, for the incredible photos below, and for also being so much fun to hang out with on this wedding day!!

I am so happy that I was able to work with Freddie & Jeremy on their fairytale wedding, and still to do this day, get a huge smile on my face when I remember how incredible it felt to pull this one off! I wish nothing but the best for this incredible couple, and hope that our paths cross again in the future.

xo Barb

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerMay 16, 2014Ameris Photography, Side One, Verbena Floral Design, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding Planning Comments

The Weekend Roundup

Now that wedding season 2014 has officially begun, I am so excited to be starting a new weekly series, called The Weekend Roundup. A chance for me to share with you, a small glimpse into my weddings from the past weekend! And to kick it off, I spent this weekend at a Lawn Bowling Club....yes, that's right, a Lawn Bowling Club!! The place where they met as kids was the place where they said their i-do's, and I couldn't think of a more fitting place for Shannon & Steve's afternoon tea reception! And a HUGE thank you to Taylor Roades Photography, for these seriously AMAZING sneak peeks!! I can't wait to see the rest of them!!

Congratulations to the newlyweds! Laura & I had a blast being a part of your wedding!!

xo Barb

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerMay 12, 2014Lawn Bowling Wedding, Taylor Roades Photography, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding PlanningComment

Melissa & Sean

The story of Melissa & Sean's wedding is a good one (you might recognize Melissa from this party). 12 bridesmaids, champagne baths, a spontaneous dance party, white and gold (love!!), a stunning Bride & Groom, and most importantly, a LOT of heart. It can be best told, through these ridiculously amazing photos, courtesy of the ridiculously talented, Ameris. I have been dying to share these with everyone, and was thrilled to see their wedding featured on Wedding Bells last week. So before you loose yourself in the photo's below, let me tell you a bit more about this really special day...

I began working with Melissa & Sean almost 18 months before their wedding, back in the Spring of 2012. This power duo was after a wedding like no other, and placed a really strong emphasis on their guests and the coming together of their 2 wonderful families. Over the next year and a half, I loved getting to know them, their story, and being able to create a wedding that was perfect for them! From concept to execution, every part of the planning was just so much fun! And with a fantastic roster of vendors alongside us, the results were spectacular! Chocolate Lily Floral Design, Beauty & Style by Erin Bradley, Studio 745, Designer Weddings and Events, Passion for Cakes, and Melting Moments Catering, pulled out all the stops! And the talented team of iDo Productions created one of the best wedding videos I have seen to date! Definitely make sure to check it out at the end of this post.

Thank you, Melissa and Sean, for asking me to be a part of such a big part of your life! I am blown away with your kindness, generosity, and love for each other. I can't wait to see what is next for the 2 of you!!

xo Barb

And thank you so much Rob, for capturing this last photo. It is moments like this, that make this the best job in the world!!

And here's the video from I Do Productions!! Utter perfection!

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/75936894]

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerMarch 17, 2014Ameris Photography, Chocolate Lily Floral Design, Erin Bradley, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding PlanningComment

Julia & Ross

Every once in a while, I get the chance to work with a couple that are too cute for words! Julia & Ross were that couple, and I was so thrilled to be asked by them to be their Day-of Coordinator, for their wedding last June. With an obvious love for detail, Julia & Ross prepared so many perfect touches, that my team & I couldn't stop ogling over them all day! From the adorable "Bird Bride & Groom" pie topper, to the hand painted driftwood place cards and petal filled music sheet paper cones, the heartfelt details were everywhere! And being able to take the stress away by ensuring all their hard work was executed perfectly, is something I am so happy we were able to do for them! And their actual wedding was pretty wonderful as well!!! With a fantastic crew of Victoria vendors by their side, including the always lovely, Erin Bradley, for hair and makeup, Chocolate Lily Floral Design creating beautiful florals (I just LOVE succulents!), and Hunt and Gather Photography, the day was filled with many laughs and even more smiles. Julia & Ross, thank you so much for having me a part of your wedding day! I can't think of a more gracious couple, and a more perfect pair! And thank you so much to Peter & Natalie of Hunt & Gather, for these wonderful pictures!

...and you've gotta love it when the guests get right into a fun photo booth! The lobster hats are still my favourite prop!

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerFebruary 18, 2014Chocolate Lily Floral Design, Erin Bradley, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding PlanningComment

Maren & Ben

Working on Maren & Ben's wedding, at the stunning Inn at Laurel Point, was a wedding planners dream come true! Not only were they an incredibly sweet and gracious couple, (with THE BEST sense of humour!) but they had an obvious appreciation for quality, and were totally committed to ensuring that their guests had an amazing time! Which is, in my opinion, the best priority to have! Originally from Germany, Maren had many guests travelling to Victoria for their wedding, and wanted to make sure that they were made to feel right at home. So with a nod to their international theme, amazing custom Passport invitations, were designed by the extremely talented Tuktu Paper Co. Many of the paper goods by Tuktu, were done in both English & German, including my favourite, the Bi-lingual Phrases to know/Escort card. It had the basics, like "My name is...", and "Do you know the Bride/Groom", and then the super handy ones like, "My room number is...." and "I've had too much to drink. Please don't take me seriously" (which in case you were wondering, is "Ich habe zu viel getrunken, nimm mich bitte nicht ernst." in German)

Dahlia's and Baby's-breath were the flowers of choice, and were the perfect fit for the soft grey, pink & green colour palette; Clare Day Flowers went above and beyond to deliver some of the most romantic and fresh florals around! And to top it all off, pink and blue slippers were provided to all the guests, to ensure that they could party the night away to Jason Cook's band, The Adults!! A HUGE thank you to the wickedly talented, Jon-Mark Photo, for the fabulous photo's below! And thank you to Maren & Ben, for asking me to be a part of your wedding! I had the most incredible time working with you both on the planning and design, and couldn't have asked for a more lovely Bride & Groom!

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerJanuary 19, 2014Clare Day Flowers, Inn at Laurel Point, Jon Mark Photo, Victoria Wedding, victoria wedding planner, Victoria Wedding Planning, Wedding PlanningComment

Kristy & Matt

The wedding of Kristy & Matt is special to me in so many ways! Not only was it my first wedding at the stunning new(ish) venue of Birds Eye Cove, but it was one of those amazing weddings where my inspiration for the wedding & the couples personal style meshed together so perfectly, that wedding magic was created!! It was the small details in this wedding, that mattered the most. The mismatched vintage china serving platters, the record players for cocktail hour entertainment, the natural linen tablecloths, and the hand stamped escort cards, are just a few of my favourite details! I also had the rare opportunity of working alongside some of my favourite people in the industry, and still cannot get over how beautifully it all went together!! Thank you so much, Kristy & Matt, for having me be a party of your wedding! You guys are two of the most authentic people I have had the privilege of working with, and I will treasure your wedding for a long time!! Thank you also to all the fantastic vendors who worked alongside me, to create this stunner: Rook & Rose Floral Design Boutique (those dried flower napkin blooms killed me!), Food For Thought, Conscious Hair by Elena, Melanie Baird Makeup Artistry, and of course, the AMAZING Ameris, for the drop dead photos below!!

View More: http://ameris.pass.us/kristy-matt-married

Real WeddingsBarb WalkerOctober 20, 2013Ameris Photography, birds eye cove wedding, Farm wedding, Rook & Rose Floral Design Boutique, victoria wedding planner, Wedding Planning Comments

Heather & Jim

For the first wedding of the season, not only did I have the absolute honour of working with the sweetest and most gracious couple ever, I ALSO got the chance to work alongside an "all-star" wedding team! Rook & Rose Floral Design Boutique always takes their design to the next level, and this wedding was no different! They brought Heather's garden-inspiration to life, through the gorgeous terra-cota plants, cafe-lighting & mini-rose favours. And don't even get me started on Heathers bouquet...it was stunning! And Ameris' images from the day are so jaw-droppingly beautiful, that I almost couldn't choose which ones to share! We have 4 more weddings together this season, and I can't wait to spend more time with them!! Working with Heather & Jim throughout the past few months was absolutely wonderful! It is always so nice when a couple has complete faith in their vendors, and is more than happy to pass over all artistic control. I loved creating the custom menu's & typewriter inspired stationary for them, and being there to make sure the day went seamlessly! Heather & Jim, thank you so much for asking me to be a part of your beautiful wedding day!

All photos courtesy of Ameris Photography www.ameris.ca