Vancouver Island Wedding at Dolphin Resort from Erin Wallis

Good food, good friends and an entire weekend of fun.  That’s what this darling duo had in mind when they planned their breathtaking Dolphins Resort soiree and, oh my goodness, did they succeed with flying colors.  Because this gorgeous gem of a day?  This beauty of a wedding?  It’s most definitely the kind of affair you dream about having… and attending.  From the picturesque scenery to the vintage stylings to the homemade cookies and ice cream, you can’t miss a moment captured by Erin Wallis in the full gallery.  Trust me.

From the Groom… When planning our wedding, we set out to make it representative of our new life together. Moving from the prairies of Saskatchewan to Campbell River, we knew that we wanted a Canadian “destination” wedding that gave our family and friends a feel for the west coast. After discussing a few ideas, Dolphins Resort emerged as the ideal setting. We had read and heard so many great things about the resort, especially the cuisine, we knew we could not disappoint our family and friends by asking them to join us at Dolphins. Nearly all our guests were traveling to meet us, so the twelve rustic cabins were perfect for a weekend gathering.

We met many times with Carmen Amberson, the value-added operations manager for the resort. Always confident that she understood us and our vision, we put our wedding plans in her hands. She worked tirelessly with her husband Joe, the chef, to make our vision a reality. The venue and food were taken care of. All we really needed to concern ourselves with were the outfits, music, drinks and decoration.

The idea for decoration was simple: antiques and trinkets that you would find in our home. No matching centerpieces and no ‘colours’. Carmen and Jessica combined efforts and trinkets to place throughout the reception cabin for the dinner, drinks and dance. Jessica’s sister and nanny baked our favorite cookies to go with Joe’s homemade ice cream and toppings in lieu of a cake. We didn’t expect complaints and we didn’t receive any!

When the day finally came, we exchanged vows on the beach and shared a champagne toast. After the ceremony the guests walked up to the top lawn for hors d’oeuvres, sangria, and Heather and Golden Ales from Salt Spring Island Ales. Meanwhile, Erin Wallis made us look like we felt with a shoot on the beach and float dock. Anyone in or around Campbell River already knows that Erin Wallis exceeds expectations.

In keeping with west coast weather, the rain began to fall and we moved to the main cabin to open the bar and dance the night away. We are told that our company carried on well after we retired to the beach house.

Wedding Photography: Erin Wallis / Wedding Venue + Catering: Dolphins Resort in Campbell River, Canada / Floral Design: Amy from Willows Market / Cookies: DIY by Bride’s Family / Dreamcatchers: DIY by the Bride + Friends / Wedding Dress: Adrianna Papell / Shoes: David and Joan / Bridesmaids’ Attire: BCBG / Groom’s Attire: Theory  / Groomsmen Attire: Le Chateau / Hair: Amy from A Cut Above