Preppy Vancouver Wedding

Today’s couple met as they were drifting upon the Caribbean Sea — groom Gavin was the captain, while Nadia worked on the ship’s crew. Ashley of Spread Love Events took this theme and ran with it, implementing nautical details and the couple’s love story throughout the wedding day. Rebecca Amber Photography took the reins capturing the big day, making one sweet Vancouver wedding story!

From the bride, Nadia: Gavin and I both wanted an intimate, simple, fun and special day that we could share with our close family and friends. The thought of a wedding would sometimes overwhelm us, as we both didn’t want something too traditional or to have too much attention on ourselves. We decided to instead think of the day as a chance to throw a party and nice evening out for those closest to us. This shaped our decisions and made the planning process more fun.

Our planner really helped our vision of the day become a reality. We wanted to the day to be classic, romantic, personal and beautiful. Our main theme was to incorporate our love of the sea and sailing. There were hints of nautical decor and some nods to the Caribbean, which is where we met. Our colour scheme included classic and bright colours such as navy and coral. Although the wedding was in spring, and we were expecting rain, we incorporated the bright colours to give us a feel of summer, our favourite time of year. Luckily for us, we got a summer day in spring!

One of our favourite memories was the time we spent beforehand, getting our photos taken at one of favourite beaches in the city. The weather was so beautiful with the cherry blossoms and flowers in full bloom. We did our first look under the trees and it was so special to have that time together before the ceremony. Our other favourite memories are of the amazing speeches are friends and family made, and our first dance in the courtyard, surrounded by our loved ones holding sparklers.

What advice do you have, if any, for brides planning their wedding day now? The classic advice really does ring true. Don’t stress about the small stuff. Everything works out in the end and your day will be special to you no matter what happens. The planning and day itself go by so fast, that you will look back and wish you were in the moment and soaked as much of it in as possible. Also, hiring a planner saved our lives. If it is possible with your budget, we highly recommend it. Our planner was such a great support. She kept us focused, made sure we were on track and took care of all the details, decor, organizing and scheduling, down to every minute on the day itself. We knew we would have lots of guests coming in from out of town, and not having to stress about all those tasks, meant we could enjoy our time with everyone leading up to and after the day. With her in charge the day went so smoothly, was planned perfectly and styled beautifully.

See Also

Intimate Wedding in Georgia in Bold Pink

Wedding Music:
First Dance: “Make You Feel My Love,” Adele
Processional: Bach’s Prelude Cello Suite No.1 and “Lagrima,” Tarrega
Recessional: “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz

Wedding Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada / Photographer: Rebecca Amber Photography / Second Shooter: Christie Graham Photography / Wedding Planner and Design: Spread Love Events / Wedding Flowers: Celsia Florist / Wedding Venue: Brix / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca / Hair: Christine LeBlanc / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan / Groom’s Suit: Canali / Musician: Stanton Jack