This elegant and bold colour scheme of navy blue, golds accented with florals of white and lime gave us all the inspiration for a Modern Fairytale Wedding.

Credit: Forever After Studios

We met Bianca & Mikael at the All Dressed in White Wedding Show, late 2018, pre-covid times. We had such a great chat and felt a connection instantly and the couple hired us for full planning. From there, we started to plan for a 2020 wedding. However, the world had different plans for us. Within the pandemic rearing full force, the couple went through two venue changes, guest count reduction, two decor visions, change in vendors. Not to mention multiple layers of PHO changes being thrown at us. Our couple went through every scenario imaginable.

After replanning multiple times, we set on a date of September 25th, 2021. We were going forward with the wedding and would work with the rules presented to us. The PHO did change, but we worked through it and ultimately, the couple got the best wedding day they could ask for.

The Morning

It was an early start for the couple being the ceremony started at noon. The couple got ready at The JW Marriot Parq Vancouver Hotel. Rose Quartz Beauty, Bridal Hair Vancouver and Justine Hair Studio prepped the ladies in the wedding party and the moms for the day ahead. Bianca decided to share a first look with her father, step father and her bridesmaids. This took place in the stunning centre of the Parq Casino with lush green accents on a cement canvas in the middle of the downtown core.

The Ceremony

Bianca and her family have been a part of the Sacred Heart Parish Community for three generations. Father Gary knowing the family, the ceremony seemed flawless and held a sense of familiarity for everyone. The church was decorated with four floral arrangements from Jorbelina Flowers on gold stands, which would later turn into centrepieces at the reception.

Pro tip: Repurpose as much as you can. The ceremony decor can always be repurposed to the reception. Talk to your florist and/or decorator to come up with solutions on how to get the best bang for your buck. 

The Portraits

The couple saw one another at the ceremony reveal at the Sacred Heart Parish. Being the traditional but Modern Fairytale Wedding , the wedding party had some family photos done at the church, then they jumped into the Boss Limo and headed out to Queens Park for more photos. It should be noted, the day brought good weather being a late September afternoon. We did a quick google and discovered Queens Park in New West was very close to the venue which allowed the couple to take their time for portraits and wedding party fun. Forever After Studios took the group through the trees and had lots of relaxed group shots paired with portraits. All capturing film at the same time for the same day edit to follow dessert in the evening.

Pro tip: Simplify your photo locations. If you’re getting married and having your reception in one place, stick close by if you can. If you can’t for some reason, have your photos closer to the reception venue because it’s easy to run over time. You are at least close by for dinner. 

The Reception

We promised the couple an elegant and bold colour scheme of navy blue and golds. In addition to be accented with florals of white and subtle hints of lime. All keeping the inspiration of a Modern Fairytale Wedding in mind. And  f$*%’ing rights, we delivered.

Using the natural wood beans and beauty of the reception venue at Riverway Clubhouse, we took inspiration and started to go to work. We had a design in mind, but it was a look that didn’t quite exist on Pinterest. Clearly, the clients trusted our creative process, and we’re so happy they did! We used navy blue as the base colour. We used two types of linens, a standard poly blend from A&B Partytime Rentals for the guest tables, cake table and gift table. For the ‘money’ shot, we used a beautiful velvet blue linen from Bespoke Decor which tied the theme together but made it ultimately more luxurious.

The Head Table

Without a double, the head table was something we worked together, but didn’t exist in the wedding magazines. The couple wanted something of luxury that wasn’t pipe and drape as a backdrop to the sweetheart table. From Koncept Event Design, we used two gold contemporary bar backs meant for glassware but swapped the glassware for candles, greens and small flowers. It ultimately created this stunning backdrop that paired with the soft velvet linen and white draping. Lead designed Kelly used her tiger torch and adorned the sweetheart table with even more candles.

Guest tables

For the guest tables, we had two looks that alternated on the rounds all designed and provided by Dina of Jorbelina Flowers. The first look was a tall floral arrangement perched a top of gold stands. The second look was floating candles, votives and soften with loosely laid greens.

We wanted the space to feel warm and inviting to invite the Modern Fairytale Wedding theme. Riverway already has lots of warmth with the beans and fireplaces. Simply, we add those blue, gold and lime green personal touches that gave it a cohesive look.

Stationary

All signage was designed by Tonya of Paper Poet. She worked with the couple to create the invitation. Using the invitations as inspiration, the welcome sign and the seating chart showcased a similar design. We suggest to keep your invitations on theme. This gives your guests a small insider look at your wedding. This creates anticipation leading up to your wedding day!

The ‘mmmm Cake!

The cake was provided by our friend Alannah of Cakes by Peddie, the baker behind Frolic & Forage Catering. The couples first date was to a Harry Potter movie. Indeed, the couple wanted just a small node to their first date. Deciding the cake was the best way to showcase it, HP made his presence here. The pictures of this cake speak for itself. Cakes by Peddie also provided sugar cookies as guest favours along with a a large sheet cake to go along side the dessert buffet provided by Riverway Clubhouse.

“After all this time, always.” – J.K. Rowling 

The Party

Above all, to cap off the evening, the dance party was lit. No actually lit. Because of the PHO, we had to move it outside under a tent. With a quick flip, lights going, and some of the guests started breakdancing and spinning on their heads! You can listen about it on our Podcast The Wedding Session, Episode 62 Recapping the 2021 season with our favourite Wedding moments. When telling the story, you can hear our genuine surprise when we ran outside and discovered what was happening. This enhanced the guest experience even further to the Modern Fairytale wedding even further. iDJ Services with Alex Rocco spinning and on the mic was a great choice and pairing for this couples vibe and kick ass dance party.

Besides the dancing, iDJ included a Photo Booth service which took place beside the dance floor. Guests we’re bouncing between dance floor, the bar, the late night snack spread of charcuterie and Photo Booth. A great end to a great day, and we couldn’t be happier these two said I do!

Vendors

Planning & Design: Say Events Co

DJ & Photobooth: iDJ Services

Florist: Jorbelina Flowers

Photography: Forever After Studios

Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Parish

Ceremony music: Musical Occasions

Reception Venue: Riverway Clubhouse

Stationary: Paper Poet 

Photo & Video: Forever After Studios

Makeup: Rose Quartz Beauty

Hair: Bridal Hair Vancouver and Justine Hair Studio

Transportation: Boss Limo

Cake & Guest favours: Frolic & Forage Catering

Dress: The Bridal Gallery

Suit: Debonair

Kind words from the couple

To put into words the gift that Tarina and Kelly have given us by planning our wedding is simply impossible. We always dreamed about the way our wedding looked like and felt like. Amidst each obstacle life had thrown in our way, Tarina and Kelly always were there, right by our sides. Through the planning and replanning and replanning again. Giving us hope in a time where we were close to giving up on our dream wedding. Planning a wedding is difficult but planning a wedding during a pandemic is another kind of beast. They kept the light, love, and excitement alive when we were on the verge of giving up.

Pandemic won’t stop us

And what a wedding they planned! To this day, our guests are still talking about how it was the most beautiful and fun wedding they had ever been to. Tarina planned the wedding perfectly. I still can’t even say if there were any hiccups because even if there were, she made sure everything was taken care of. Tarina made us feel heard and comforted throughout the planning process. She never let us feel like we were in it alone. She always was thinking on her toes to give us different ideas if something needed to be changed. I always felt supported and knew if I needed absolutely anything, she would be there. Which is exactly what a bride needs on her big day.

Decor

The décor was SHOWSTOPPING! I thankfully had a fiancé who was fully supportive of my vision for the wedding. When I had sat down with Tarina and Kelly to talk about the final décor decisions, Kelly completed understood my vision. She asked well thought out questions which resulted in her really understanding what I was looking for. The result?… Absolute Magic! It was perfection. There was not one thing out of place.From the candles placed perfectly, the velvet navy tablecloth, and the sweetheart table that took my breath away. Walking into our reception made our dreams come to life. 

It is impossible to thank Tarina and Kelly the way they truly deserve. There are no words. We felt the love that they both poured into our wedding the entire day. All of their countless hours of their hard work and devotion showered us with love that day. And you truly cannot put a feeling like that into words. 

So the biggest thank you goes to these two powerhouse woman! Without you both, we would have given up on our dream wedding. And YOU have given us the most amazing gift. Lifelong memories for not only us, but our closest family and friends.