The West Coast played a huge recurring role in Breanne and Luke’s relationship, so it’s no wonder their DIY wedding had a laid-back vibe. They met during a hiking trip on the West Coast Trail, and Luke proposed in Sloquet near Whistler.

The Proposal

When he dropped Breanne off at the airport for a girls’ winter camping trip, he was the last person she expected to see in the mountains. After they arrived at their campsite, Breanne’s friend convinced her to hike to the river for a photo. Breanne got the surprise of her life when Luke managed to appear in the middle of nowhere and propose with his grandmother’s vintage ring. It turned out he hid in the backseat of her friend’s car for three hours!

The Big Day

They held their intimate wedding at Breanne’s family cabin to share the special place with close friends and family. The bride and groom shared a quiet moment during their first look, which put Breanne at ease and reminded her what the day was really about. She then walked past her childhood playhouse to the deck where she and Luke enjoy their morning coffee, then said “I do” over the glimmering lake. They wrote their vows separately, but they mirrored each other beautifully. “It was a symbolic reminder of how much we truly complement one another,” says Luke.

Engagement Ring Cut

Three Stone

First Dance

“Sea of Love”—Phil Phillips

Newlywed Advice

“We’d recommend hiring a week of or day or wedding planner. Taking on too much can cause unneeded stress on your wedding day.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

Honeymoon

Vancouver Island

Modern minimalism at it’s finest. This styled shoot starts with a blank white canvas and ends with the slightest pop of gold metallic in hexagon shapes for a more dynamic look. The Vancouver based vendors behind this wedding shoot wanted to create a simple and obtainable – yet still beautiful – look to inspire brides-to-be.

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but there’s something undeniably attractive about a man who can cook. Jessica met Steven at one of his famous dinner parties and soon discovered they shared interests in food, wine and travel. They ended up cooking together and trading recipes, which eventually led to a tropical engagement.

The Proposal

The couple booked an overnight catamaran expedition during their trip to St. Maarten, and Steven used the opportunity to propose on the deck under the twinkling stars. They celebrated with champagne and were serenaded by the gentle lapping of waves and the sound of terrible karaoke drifting over the bay.

The Big Day

Jessica and Steven chose to host their wedding at Emerald Lake not just for the spectacular setting, but also for sentimental reasons; when they first started dating they stayed at Emerald Lake Lodge on the recommendation of a friend who worked as an apprentice chef there, and Jessica had fond memories of camping at Yoho National Park as a child. After a beautiful day full of laughter and tears and an evening full of food and dancing, the groomsmen swapped their tuxes for their birthday suits and jumped into the frigid lake.

Favourite Moments

Jessica:“My favourite moment was walking down the isle hand in hand with my soon to be husband.”

Steven:“The first look. It was nice to see each other and bring some calmness to the day before the big moment.”

Engagement Ring Cut

Pear

First Dance

‘Higher Love’ Steve Winwood

Newlywed Advice

“Do what is right for the both of you, don’t worry so much about what everyone else thinks you should do and hire the right vendors! It was wonderful to have Julianne Young Weddings help us with all the planning and the staff at Emerald Lake Lodge were so accommodating. We worked with them to create three wonderful hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour and they were a big hit with the guests – along with the east coast oyster bar, and the late night poutine take-out containers.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

The newlyweds now look forward to exploring new destinations around the globe together.

Honeymoon

Osoyoos, B.C | Resort: Watermark Beach Resort

Despite sharing many mutual friends while living in Calgary, Maxine and Theron didn’t meet until seven years after moving to the city. When their stars finally aligned, their relationship quickly progressed; they packed up their lives and moved across the planet together the following year.

The Proposal

During their two years living in Australia it became obvious they were meant for each other. Theron proposed during a weekend of hiking, picnicking and riding in a hot air balloon in the Gold Coast Hinterlands. “It was beautiful, simple and private,” says Maxine.

The Big Day

The couple wanted a naturally beautiful outdoor wedding and Bottega Farm Inn & Studio in Kelowna provided the perfect inspiration. The forest served as the backdrop for their ceremony and the spacious great hall was decorated with crisp white linens, lush greenery and subtle hints of gold for the reception. Blush bridesmaid dresses and navy suits complemented their wedding palette.

Favourite Moments

Theron was awestruck when he first saw Maxine; her headpiece and jewelry shimmered in the sunlight as she walked down the aisle. The highlight for Maxine was having friends and family from all over the world join them to celebrate their marriage. “It was very special for us and we felt very loved and supported,” she says.

First Dance

“Crazy Love”—Van Morrison

Newlywed Advice

‘Don’t forget to have fun during the process. Planning your wedding is not a checklist or tedious tasks to complete. Also, make your guests feel comfortable and welcomed — they are there to celebrate with you!’

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

Maxine and Theron are looking forward to the next big chapter in their lives together—becoming parents in summer of 2017!

Honeymoon

New York City, NY

Danielle Lucier is both a talented photographer and an avid daydreamer; she uses daydreams to calm her mind amidst tight deadlines and stressful moments, and also to let her creativity run free. During one particular late-night editing session, she found herself distracted by a video of Swan Lake. She envisioned a serene pond in the early morning mist, heard the rustling of tall grass and trilling of birds, and felt dawn’s first rays on her face. She imagined dancing along the water’s edge and running her fingers through the fog, watching it dissipate into nothingness.

The pale blue walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and myriad of textures and colours in the intricate décor of the Wedgewood Room beautifully represented the dream-like pond of our Black Swan cover shoot. Accents in shades of black and white mirrored the concept of duality that Danielle found most inspiring. She captured the internal conflict between light and dark, movement and stillness, and showed “that both can be beautiful and that they can meld together.”

Our Fall Winter 2017 issue will be on stands at Chapters and Indigo from mid August until mid January 2018. You can also order a copy online.