In another lifetime, I used to work at Starbucks. During my time there, I got to work with a number of young people that took up a very special place in my heart. Sydney was one of those people. I hired her when she was 16 years old or so, and she always brought so much light and joy into each day. When she called me and asked me to help plan her lakeside wedding, it was such a beautiful, full circle moment and I couldn’t say no. I’m so grateful I got to be there and see her radiate that same joy and laughter on her wedding day.
Sydney and Matt’s lakeside wedding was held at her family cabin on the picturesque shores of Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island, BC. This familiar and delightful space provided the ideal backdrop for the intimate and personal wedding celebration we had planned together.
We kicked things off the day before the wedding, with a Welcome Party on the lake. It was a casual and fun affair, with the afternoon spent boating, swimming, drinking cold beverages, and eating lots of pizza!
The morning of the wedding, the lake was smooth as glass and it was the perfect temperature. The girls got ready at the bride’s cabin and the boys got ready at another cabin further down the lake. As the set up for the wedding got underway the bridal party were able to watch from the cabin and see the magic coming together.
Sydney looked wonderful in her dress, which was equal parts delicate and elegant. The fabric rustled in the light breeze on the day, and it felt like she was constantly floating. Her shoes also had a similar fabric that was styled in a way that was reminiscent of the petals in her bouquet. It was the perfect outfit for a summer wedding.
The spacious dock offered panoramic views of the lake for the ceremony. In fact, the ceremony itself was held on the L-shaped dock, with two blocks of seats on each side. The ceremony arch was built by the bride’s family. It was adorned with beautiful peach florals from Persephone Bloom, and the blue of the lake and the forest provided the perfect contrast. The couple looked so joyous and happy as they were surrounded by family and closer friends.
Complementing the design, the ceremony was simple yet romantic. It was filled with personal vows and meaningful music selections. The sun shimmered on the lake and the light breeze added to the dreamy atmosphere.
When choosing the wedding colours, the groom loved the idea of bringing in bright peach and yellow tones into the flowers selections, and we used the blue of the lake as a backdrop as a complementing colour. These colours also made an appearance in other details, such as the custom drinks during cocktail hour (an Old Fashioned for Matt and a Pink Margarita for Sydney) and the cake decor.
The team from Blush Wedding Photography did a fantastic job capturing both the contrast in these colours as well as the joyful essence of the day.
As the warm August evening wore on, guests were welcomed up to the tent on the cabin’s lawn for dinner and speeches. Filled with colour and simple elements, there were seven long family-style dinner tables where everyone enjoyed a fantastic meal.
As the sun began to set the tent became alive with twinkling fairy lights and candles, transforming the space with dreamy magical light.
Following dinner, guests were invited back to the dock for the first dance. As the gentle waves lapped against the dock and the soft breeze rustled through the trees on the shore, the guests danced the night away.
Mother nature also came through with a wonderful surprise at the end of the night. As guests danced to their favourite songs, they were treated to a majestic meteor shower, which felt like a wonderful omen for the start of Sydney and Matt’s marriage.
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