Victoria Weddings and Photography

Planning a wedding in Victoria? It is just like planning a wedding anywhere else. Victoria is a unique wedding destination, in a sense, as it offers such a contrast of wild , rugged nature and a classic historic look at the same time. It  is hard to find one place where you can get all the info at once.
I will certainly try to make my website as helpful to you (my customers and wedding clients) as I can.

With our mild climate here on Vancouver Island and especially Victoria, the most annual sunshine in BC, and flowers year round, Victoria is a perfect wedding destination. Victoria and the greater Victoria area include the coastal communities of Sidney to the north-east, Oak Bay to the east through to Sooke via the  Western Communities all featuring spectacular ocean views, beach access and many Bed and Breakfasts and small Inns that will happily provide location and services for your wedding. Duncan is only a 45 minutes away.  Shawnigan Lake and Cobble Hill offer some spectacular scenery as well.

The Victoria area is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and is surrounded by the sea on 3 sides. Every community along this coast from Sidney to Sooke have beach access as well as wedding venues, ceremony and reception locations which capitalize on the romantic, sensual and spiritual aspects of the sea. Rugged sea-side, beaches with driftwood and overhanging arbutus trees provide theme, colour, texture and create great photographic opportunities that are easily accessible. These rocky shores give way to hills of evergreens and old rain forests.

The locals are dedicated to preserving natural park areas and many parks abide with twisty trails in the shade of forest where rivers and lakes sparkle. The beautiful green of moss covered rocks will look captivating in a photo but the experience of the ancient silence of these forests will whisper to your souls.

Victoria offers year round adventures for everyone: whale watching, sailing, eco-tours, salmon fishing, mountain biking, golfing, rollerblading, and beach combing.

The gateway to this paradise is Sidney-by-the-Sea , the closest community to the International Airport, BC Ferries to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver, BC, as well as the ferry from San Juan Islands and Anacortes, WA. Another 20 minutes gets you to Victoria by highway or an hour or more by twisting back roads past villages, pastures and road-side stands of the agricultural communities of Saanich.

From the traditional “English” charm of Oak Bay, to the around the clock bustling streets of downtown Victoria, to the eclectic variety of places to shop, eat, visit and sleep, there is truly something for everyone here.

An attractive and clean city, Victoria is as picturesque as they come. Victoria’s British colonial history and Native culture is evident throughout the city in the form of heritage buildings and totem poles. The Inner Harbour of this “sophisticated seaside city” is home to the BC Legislative Buildings, the Causeway (where many local artisans entertain), and several grand hotels and elegant Bed & Breakfasts. The Inner Harbour bustles with passengers from sea-planes, yachts, the Seattle and Port Angeles ferry and the 100’s of cruise ships that visit each year.

Many of the city’s beautiful character buildings date back to the 1800’s with popular pedestrian-only areas, highlighted by charming shops and restaurants tucked into restored historic buildings. The majestic Legislative Buildings and The Fairmont Empress on the Inner Harbour are historic landmarks recognized worldwide.

A honeymoon or intimate wedding highlight is a horse-drawn carriage tour of scenic Victoria, clip-clop gently through the tunnel of overhanging trees of Rockland, past rainbow array of roadside corner flower gardens and monumental historic homes ending with a picnic in a meadow in Beacon Hill Park with a stunning view of the Olympic Mountains over the wide expanse of the Juan de Fuca Straight.

Explore the city, take a pedi-cab ride, horse carriage ride, walk the safe and friendly streets of downtown,

have a seafood dinner in one of the nearby hotels or many restaurants. Ocean Point resort, Laurel Point Inn, the Empress, Hotel Grand Pacific are all located right on the edge of the harbour offering a full range of wedding services and fantastic views.

With all this beauty, easy access and nice weather it is a perfect little town for a wedding. It is even more perfect for wedding photography, assuring that in creative hands, rain or shine your photos will capture the style and atmosphere, timeless charm of either the city or the rugged West Coast beaches and create memories and images to enjoy for a lifetime.

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Here is a short list of some of the locations and services you may find useful:

In the City:

Accommodation and wedding venues:

Empress Hotel – Larger venues, accommodates large groups, classic English decor, good food, central location, outdoor and indoor wedding ceremony options.

Notable features:  Rose Garden is nice for a smaller wedding ceremony, Interiors are stylin’ but hard to photograph, a bit dark inside the hotel, makes for a nice atmosphere but poses challenges for photography.

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Ocean Point Resort – Larger venues, accommodates large groups, more modern look not trendy but clean contemporary, good food, central location, outdoor and indoor wedding ceremony options.

Neat features like a large stairway looking up towards the hotel, seaside walk, very nice and photogenic. Lots of space, bright, easy to work with, great views.

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Laurel Point Resort – Larger venues, accommodates large groups, more modern look in upper rooms not trendy but clean contemporary, uncomplicated food, central location, outdoor and indoor wedding ceremony options.

Features great penthouse, upper rooms looking out into the inner harbour have balconies and patios great for pre-ceremony shots.
Outdoor ceremonies are great in the garden, can accommodate large or small groups. However for large group photos oddly enough there is not much room. At least I find it challenging to fit in a big group, usually have to go around the pond into a little park area.
Downstairs reception area with huge windows and glass ceiling is fantastic for reception photography, brightest of all places.

Note: I am updating this page regularly and will continue adding new material …