Ashley & Andrew - June 30, 2019

Do you live in northern BC, but want a city wedding? Our couple Ashley & Andrew live in Prince George. We helped to plan their wedding through phone calls, text messages, and the occasional meetings in Vancouver when Ashley was in town.

We met Ashley in the early summer of 2018. Our good friend and fellow boss babe Meghan Hemstra connected us with one another, and the rest all fell into place.

From here, we planned Ashley and Andrews modern city wedding in the heart of Yaletown at Brix and Mortar. Brix and Mortar offers a private space with a patio, restaurant and private bar. The space can hold up to a 100 guests seated, so it’s perfect for an intimate gathering with family and friends.

THE MORNING

The ladies got ready at the Opus Hotel, with the beauty team of Denise Elliot Beauty Co. The gents were brought to the hotel by Luxury Life Limo. The ladies brought platters of sandwiches and veggies to the hotel so they could snack as they got ready. When the boys arrived, they all realized they worked up an appetite that morning. The ladies were gracious enough to share their sandwiches, which made an overall happier wedding party for photos!

The first look took place in the Opus hotel. From there, Meghan Hemstra took the party around Yaletown. An area once known for warehouses and rail yards in the early 1920’s, now a trendy hot spot with brick laid walkways and unique architectural overhanging canopies.

The couple decided on a first look to keep the morning stress free, where Andrew gifted Ashley with a beautiful pair of earrings. The two exchange vows in private and got to share a moment together before the wedding festivities started.

The beautiful bouquets and boutonnieres were all provided by our friend Jane of Budget Blooms. Ashley’s unique bouquet consisted of using a combination of hydrangea, blush roses, dahlia’s, dendro orchids, peony’s and mix of greens, including dusty millar and as per the Bride’s request, three succulents.

DESIGN

We kept it simple. Inspired by the silver in the architectural lines, we paired the contemporary design with seasonal blooms and softened it with candlelight. Brix and Mortar is already a beautiful space, so it’s really about small personal touches that represent the couples taste.

The ceremony was set to be very romantic, in the Courtyard. Candles can make a powerful statement in numbers. We placed over 40 vases, with a mix of floating and pillar candles in vases of varying heights, along the backdrop of the ceremony paired with seasonal flowers in bud vases. We had our florist, Dina of Jorbelina Flowers, provide a floral installation on the cast iron chandelier on the patio – truly wow factor.

Inside, the tables were set with loose greenery garlands, votive candles, silver pintuck runners. We also had custom stationary designed by our in-house designer, Kate of Inky Dot Designs and printed by local custom printer, Tonya at Paper Poet.

To compliment the modern decor, large calligraphied pieces were designed and provided by Chalkboard art by Emily. We placed these pieces around the space, including a large welcome sign on a gold framed mirror.

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

Vancity Officiant Lane performed the ceremony on the patio. IDJ Services provided all the sound and music for the entire event. Lane had a unique take on the ceremony by offering words about love, wisdom about love and a poem about love as the opening words. This set the tone for this romantic setting.

As the couple signed the registry, Brix and Mortar passed around champagne to all the wedding party and guests. This was a lovely way to ring in the couple as newlywed, all together!

Cocktail hour proceeded the ceremony with passed canapes and signature drinks available at the bar.

Due to the lighting in the space, we decided to have the first dance happen before dinner. The guests gathered around the dance space to witness the first dance as husband and wife. Once the first dances were complete, all the guests sat down for a plated dinner. To ensure guests weren’t ravenous before dinner, a small charcuterie plate was provided at each guest table. Speeches flowed through the dinner service in between courses. Tip! If the speeches go over a certain time, allow the restaurant to still serve the food. Guests will appreciate hot food and service staff are courteous and respectful of the speaker(s).

THE PARTY

As the guests ate dinner in the private dining area, the Courtyard was flipped to a cocktail style layout. High top tables and small tables with chairs offered guests a place to sit and visit. IDJ services also provided the photo-booth. A tip! Hire a photobooth when it will be used the most, which is typically during cocktail hour or after dinner. Most photobooths require a 2 hour minimum, so choose your time wisely. Our friends from Frolic and Forage, formerly known as Cakes by Peddie, set up a beautiful dessert bar and a doughnut wall. A dessert bar is a great way to encourage your guests to get up and move around, but also enjoy a new experience by selecting multiple small bites of delicious desserts.

PS – Carrying my little boy in this photo. This photo depicts us as your planners. The end of the day, your wedding day is supposed to be FUN! We are always dancing or in an upbeat mood. It’s your wedding day!