Rustic Elegant Wedding on Galiano Island
Planning a wedding a few hours away has me feeling a bit disconnected; I can’t imagine planning one from around the world. This couple did just that, organizing their Canadian wedding from their home in Australia, and not only did they succeed, but they did so with one elegant, yet rustic and relaxed, affair. Whitney Krutzfeldt captured it all in this beauty of a gallery that I’m majorly crushing on right here.
From the Bride… Todd and I had been together for nine years before our wedding, so we had a lot of time to think about what we wanted. Living on the other side of the world from our family and friends, it was important to us to have a wedding that was fun and casual and allowed us to spend lots of time with everyone. Our three day wedding was everything we could’ve asked for and more.
The most important aspect for us was finding the right venue. As soon as we saw Bodega Ridge we knew it was the place we wanted to get married. In fact it was the only venue we looked at! The ceremony site was spectacular, the location stunning, the lodge perfect, and the fact that the majority of our guests could stay on site was a bonus. Jesse Keefer (owner) and his team were amazing and the entire day went off without a hitch (despite some torrential downpours mid-morning).
We weren’t too fussy about the little things especially as we had to plan the entire British Columbia wedding from Melbourne, Australia! The decor was minimal, as the surrounding nature and permanent features of Bodega really stole the show. Everything on the tables was DIY’d by us or friends. The table flowers were exactly what I wanted, simple and elegant. We wanted the tables to be clean and bright and allow for easy conversation. Two of my favourite parts were the stained wood table runners which we did ourselves and the river rock place cards, made by our good friend.
With our bridal party, I allowed the girls to pick their own dresses, just staying in the same colour scheme. I think it turned out great and everyone was comfortable in something they had chosen. The guys looked dashing in their blue suits and each had a bit of themselves with the mismatched pocket square. I adored my dress! It was exactly what I wanted and I loved the added uniqueness of the appliqué which I found online. My seamstress really did a fantastic job. I only wish I could wear it again and again!
The things that stand out for us on our wedding day were spending time with our friends and family. We both loved getting ready with our bridal parties and having that time with great friends we see so little of. Our vows, which we wrote ourselves with the help of our celebrant, are something I will never forget. And of course dinner (amazing local food!) and dancing into the early hours of the morning was incredible! It really was a perfect day!
Photography: Whitney Krutzfeldt Photography | Floral Design: Queensberry Flower Company | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Ceremony Venue: Bodega Ridge | Reception Venue: Bodega Ridge | Groom's Attire: Soho Workshop | Groomsmen's Attire: Mexx | Bridal Boutique: Isabelle's Bridal | Photography - Assistance: Kristina Belkina Photography