Any wedding planners reading this will know that there are some weddings that push you to the limit in the best possible way. These weddings demand creativity and encourage you to come up with ideas that aren’t just new to you, but to the industry as a whole. Annie and Andrew’s wedding extravaganza was one of those weddings.
Almost two years later, I still find myself thinking about it and missing the creative energy I was able to tap into while planning it. Working with Annie was so much fun, and I will always be thankful that she encouraged me to turn her event into a fantastic, big, bold wedding extravaganza.
The planning process for this wedding was a journey. When I first met Annie — and fell in love with her strong sense of style — she had envisioned having a tented wedding in the mountains. As we started looking at venues, however, I started to get the sense that perhaps this wasn’t quite aligned with everything else she wanted for her big day.
When I told her this, she agreed. This led us to turn our search towards impactful venues in the city, and we landed on the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Note to newly or soon-to-be engaged couples: your vision for the wedding is bound to change as you start planning it. And that’s totally ok! Just make sure you stay open to change and trust your instinct if something no longer feels right to you.
What really appealed to us about the Vancouver Art Gallery, in addition to the rotunda being one of the most beautiful architectural features of the city, is that it has so many different spaces. This meant that each component of the wedding day — the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, first dance, and dance reception — took place in a different space in or around the gallery.
Before I share the details about the wedding day itself, let me take a step back. Annie and Andrew had a three-day wedding event, including a welcome party the day before and a farewell brunch at the Vancouver Club the day after.
For the welcome reception, guests were invited on to a yacht for drinks, snacks, and live entertainment. We had even had drag queens performing — including the now reigning winner of Canada’s Drag Race, Venus. The theme for the event was Beverly Hills Hotel meets Palm Springs, and that meant it was filled with colour, balloons, and fun vibes.
It was the perfect way for the couple and guests to let loose before a spectacular production the next day.
On the wedding day, guests were welcomed into the gallery through the side entrance. They walked under a canopy of snapdragons and other summer blooms that we hung from the awning, and immediately got the sense that they were walking into a fairy tale.
And they weren’t wrong. As they made their way towards the ceremony space, guests were greeted by ballet dancers and a string quartet from Élan Artists. The performers were absolutely sublime, and they wore floral costumes that fit in seamlessly with the rest of the design of the wedding.
This progression of musicians and dancers led guests into the gorgeous rotunda, which felt like a gorgeous fairy party right out of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
One of the boldest design choices we made for the whole wedding was hanging flower garlands in the circular shape of the rotunda’s dome. As Annie and Andrew stood saying their vows to each other, it looked like flowers were raining down on them. It was absolutely stunning, and I am still so in awe that the teams from Koncept Events and Flowerz made it happen.
In addition to the cascade of flowers, there were also lush bouquets that went up and down the symmetrical staircases, and it was a gorgeous way to frame the space.
During the ceremony, the team closed the drape behind guests and transformed the entrance foyer into a fun space for the cocktail hour. Following this, everyone was invited up to the rooftop for dinner.
The rooftop had been completely transformed. We covered the floors with carpets, tented the entire space, and added white drapes that acted as the perfect backdrop for all the pink and purple flowers that filled the space.
As guests were seated at vibrant tablescapes, they were treated to another performance from the Elan troupe. A violinist played and was accompanied by two flower dancers clad in flowers and sparkles.
Following dinner and speeches, everyone returned to the rotunda for the cake cutting. The cake was another stunning creation from Rain Bake Shop, and it continued the theme of pansies which were included in the invitations, table decals, and more.
The rotunda also proved the perfect location for the couple’s first dance, and they held each other closely as guests watched them from the balcony and staircases. It was truly a beautiful moment.
To wrap up the night, Annie and Andrew led their guests outdoors to a tented space we created in the square. With more dancers, live dancers, and tonnes of energy from the guests, it was a fantastic way to end a stellar evening.
This wedding is one that will live in the history books of Alicia Keats Weddings & Events. We put so much work into making it happen, and it was an absolute joy to bring Annie and Andrew’s vision to life for their wedding weekend.
Looking to plan a fantastic wedding extravaganza for your big day? We’d love to help. Get in touch today.