Rustic Vancouver Island Summer Wedding
This is one wedding I really wish I was a lucky guest at; not only do I love cider (and this shindig was held at an actual farm and ciderhouse) but the colors of these florals and the beauty of the natural light - all captured by Ameris - makes it extra special. French Kiss Events worked their magic and Verbena Floral Design created bouquets that I can't stop staring at - and thanks to all these pics in our VAULT, my own Pinterest boards are getting a pretty update. Join me there and thank me later!
From the Bride... Colin and I had been dating for five years before we exchanged vows in a gorgeous garden on a sunny afternoon. We moved around a lot over those five years and while we pursued our individual education and careers, we spent three of those years living on opposite ends of the province. We had an incredible amount of support from our wonderful family and friends during this time, so we really just wanted the day to be a big party with everyone we love most in the world. We envisioned a relaxed, fun atmosphere and something that truly reflected us. We knew we wanted to celebrate somewhere that felt meaningful to us, and our hearts and roots are on Vancouver Island where we grew up. The first time we saw Starling Lane, I could picture our wedding day (which was a really surreal moment!) It was romantic and stunningly gorgeous, and we said our “I dos” in July under a beautiful tree in the garden surrounded by our friends and family. Following the ceremony, a cocktail hour took place throughout the gardens. Guests were treated to farm-inspired food from the London Chef, refreshing summer beverages, and live music by The O’Brien Family. Since both of our dads absolutely love music, incorporating live music throughout the day was a must.
For our décor, we wanted a balance between pretty and naturally rustic, with a lot of personal details and an “at home” feeling. Barb Walker from French Kiss Events took every thought or idea we had, whether it was said in passing one day or discussed over coffee, and brought everything together to create a day more incredible than we could have ever imagined. I had mentioned my love of horses to Barb and horseshoes were incorporated throughout the day. It made everything feel so personal and meaningful, and it was honestly a day that truly reflected Colin and I and our relationship. Flowers also played a big role and Vanessa at Verbena Floral Design completely took my breath away with her incredible natural flower arrangements and attention to detail. Like Barb, she took our vision and ideas and brought them to life in a way that exceeded all of our expectations.
After the ceremony and cocktail hour, we knew people would be ready to party and wanted a venue for everyone to be able to socialize, have fun, and let loose – they did not disappoint! Sea Cider was perfect for this with their gorgeous cider house, a wrap around deck, and unbelievably delicious cider. Guests were greeted with a glass of cider and passed canapés, and a pathway of lanterns lit the way to the tent for dinner, drinks, a family-style dinner and some more live music. A rustic wood bar and a blush-sequined covered dessert table complete with a ribbon backdrop incorporated both elements of pretty and naturally rustic that we envisioned.
A few DIY touches were added, such as the wooden table numbers that were made by Colin and I, and we each borrowed a ladder from our parents to create the seating chart. However, the most meaningful DIY came from our families. Colin’s dad made over a hundred bottles of homemade white wine, complete with a custom label. My dad also brewed beer at a local brewery and had them made with the same label. It was so thoughtful and really added to the day. Family really is everything to us, and it was amazing to see everyone come together.
There are so many incredible moments from that day, but my favourite memory is sitting down at dinner as Mr. and Mrs. Cadger and looking around to see all of our amazing family and friends celebrating with us. We have never felt so lucky and it truly meant the world to us to have everyone there. I still feel so overwhelmed with love when I think about this day. We feel extremely fortunate to have had Rob and Julia from AMERIS with us on our day. They captured every single special moment so beautifully and organically. This day was beyond perfect, but went by SO fast that we truly appreciate their incredible talent and the fact that we can go through our photos to relive the day together.

For our décor, we wanted a balance between pretty and naturally rustic, with a lot of personal details and an “at home” feeling. Barb Walker from French Kiss Events took every thought or idea we had, whether it was said in passing one day or discussed over coffee, and brought everything together to create a day more incredible than we could have ever imagined. I had mentioned my love of horses to Barb and horseshoes were incorporated throughout the day. It made everything feel so personal and meaningful, and it was honestly a day that truly reflected Colin and I and our relationship. Flowers also played a big role and Vanessa at Verbena Floral Design completely took my breath away with her incredible natural flower arrangements and attention to detail. Like Barb, she took our vision and ideas and brought them to life in a way that exceeded all of our expectations.
After the ceremony and cocktail hour, we knew people would be ready to party and wanted a venue for everyone to be able to socialize, have fun, and let loose – they did not disappoint! Sea Cider was perfect for this with their gorgeous cider house, a wrap around deck, and unbelievably delicious cider. Guests were greeted with a glass of cider and passed canapés, and a pathway of lanterns lit the way to the tent for dinner, drinks, a family-style dinner and some more live music. A rustic wood bar and a blush-sequined covered dessert table complete with a ribbon backdrop incorporated both elements of pretty and naturally rustic that we envisioned.
A few DIY touches were added, such as the wooden table numbers that were made by Colin and I, and we each borrowed a ladder from our parents to create the seating chart. However, the most meaningful DIY came from our families. Colin’s dad made over a hundred bottles of homemade white wine, complete with a custom label. My dad also brewed beer at a local brewery and had them made with the same label. It was so thoughtful and really added to the day. Family really is everything to us, and it was amazing to see everyone come together.
There are so many incredible moments from that day, but my favourite memory is sitting down at dinner as Mr. and Mrs. Cadger and looking around to see all of our amazing family and friends celebrating with us. We have never felt so lucky and it truly meant the world to us to have everyone there. I still feel so overwhelmed with love when I think about this day. We feel extremely fortunate to have had Rob and Julia from AMERIS with us on our day. They captured every single special moment so beautifully and organically. This day was beyond perfect, but went by SO fast that we truly appreciate their incredible talent and the fact that we can go through our photos to relive the day together.
