Golden Ears Park Wedding - Maple Ridge, BC
Golden Ears Park in Maple Ridge is one of the largest parks in British Columbia. It’s home to mountain views, campgrounds, hiking, and equestrian trails. Alouette Lake is located within this park - one of the most popular lakes in Metro Vancouver. It is well admired by swimmers and people who like to fish.
It was only fitting that Ian and Danelle’s first look and portraits took place in this famous park, as it is located only ten minutes away from their home. When a moss and fern-covered forest is filled with a couple who is deeply in love, and their loved ones, the outcome is pure magic. Their outdoor park wedding felt like a big picnic: their guests brought their own lawn chairs and blankets to mingle comfortably during cocktail hour. Some of the kids even played lawn games, including ultimate frisbee and spikeball. They had a catered picnic with delicious food, accompanied by live music played by their friends. Ian is part of a band called Dear One, and they played a few tunes during the reception.
I had Ian and Danelle share a few words about their fondest memories of their Golden Ears Park Wedding and a tip for couples getting married. Enjoy!
How they met
Ian had just been hired in the school where Danelle worked. It was when a friend invited them to a concert that they first met. While Danelle drove to the concert, Ian sat in the passenger seat and immediately had her laughing. From there, their love for one another and their faith brought them closer together than ever. It wasn’t until after a dinner hosted by Danelle that Ian finally confessed that he hadn’t stopped thinking about her for months. Danelle was giddy and said, “FINALLY!”
First look at Golden Ears Park
“As the mother of the bride fought the sash on the back of the wedding dress, Ian ended up waiting for the first look for a LONG time in the forest by himself. He was early, and we were late. He calmed his nerves by making friends with a caterpillar and awkwardly waving to people walking past on the trail.”
Picnic Cocktail Hour
“The structure of the day was a bit different since we had an evening wedding. We decided not to have a formal reception, but we still wanted good food! So we ended up with a catered picnic on the grass to start, followed by the ceremony, and then some great live music!”
Outdoor Park Ceremony
“The best memory of our wedding was the very beginning of the ceremony. We had all of our friends and family walk up the aisle ahead of us in a beautiful and casual representation of those who have supported us, and those whom we dearly love. Then we walked down together, just the two of us, walking towards that gathering of our community who waited to receive us and pray for us at the front. It was a powerful and thrilling moment, to be embraced by love and joy like that.”
Danelle said it best, “If you don’t understand or value certain wedding traditions, don’t do them. Plan a day that makes sense to you, that will have meaning and bring you joy!”
If you’re planning on doing something different on your wedding day, I’d love to chat and document your vision! Here’s another look at an outdoor wedding in Vancouver at UBC Botanical Garden.
