A wedding is made up of a series of key moments. There’s the moment the couple catches a glimpse of each other for the first time. Those precious seconds when they say “I do”. The first dance. The final speech. I could go on and on. But for wedding planners, there’s one more moment on that list that not many people know about: the reveal.
After months of working together with our couples and hosts to make their vision a reality—creating mood boards, choosing the decor, preparing sample table settings—this is the day it all comes together. And so, as we’re planning out the event, we set aside a few minutes before the guests arrive to walk our couples through the space and give them a chance to take it all in.
Many wedding planners look forward to the reveal as one of their favourite parts of a wedding, but I tend to go into them with nervous butterflies in my stomach. What if the room or the flowers or any other details don’t meet their expectations? So far (knock on wood!) those fears have been unfounded. Once our couples see how all of their choices and decisions have aligned to create a beautiful reflection of who they are and the event they’re celebrating, their excitement is contagious.
Over the years, these moments filled with awe and excitement have been captured by photographers—resulting in some of my favourite photos from the events my team and I have helped to create. Take a look!
When Shirley walked into the lush forest of trees, moss, and pink and white hanging flowers we created in the Vancouver Club, she was in awe. Since Vancouver was a destination wedding for her and Jing, we had agreed on all the details via Skype, but nothing could have prepared her for the floral tunnel framing the room filled with West Coast details. In this photo, she had just noticed a funny element across the room and we were having a giggle about it. Captured by Jonetsu Studios.
Before I started my own business, Krista and I used to work together as wedding planners—and I had to make sure that every detail in her ballroom was perfect. As you can see in the photo, she loved it! The rich cream tones, complemented by luscious orchids and roses were the icing on the cake of a beautiful day. Captured by Jonetsu Studios.
Find yourself someone who looks at you the way Ainsley is looking at this room. This wedding was a dream to put together. The bride and her mom had very clear ideas of what they wanted and were always excited to meet and discuss our plans. When she came into the room, Ainsley was blown away. The contrast of the blush bouquets against the moody black tables had a stunning effect and was much better than she had expected. Captured by Jenn Best Photography.
Janice’s family commitment ceremony was one of the most unique events I’ve ever put together. Partnering with Koncept Events, we created a space in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia’s Spanish Ballroom where Janice and her three children could extravagantly celebrate their past and what the future had in store. The family asked for dramatic decor—and that’s what we gave them. Janice couldn’t believe it when she saw the room. Not pictured? Her jumping up and down in excitement. Captured by Yaletown Photography.
This may be one of my favourite montages of all time. When Aurora took Courtney into her reception hall, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Shock, awe, joy, and excitement are just a few of the reactions you can see on Courtney’s face as she takes in all the details of her small but elegant ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Captured by John Bello.
What I love about this photo is that there’s so much more to it than meets the eye. Two days before the wedding, we had to relocate the reception to a new venue because of strike concerns. Following all the stress from the last minute changes, this moment was when Pam and Yves walked in to see their vision turned into reality at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, and they let their emotions take over them. Captured by Mattie C.
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