Kelsey & Jason's Dreamy Vancouver Island Wedding | Tigh-Na-Mara Resort - Devee Photography: Parksville Wedding & Family Photography

A Dazzling Vancouver Island Wedding at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort

Kelsey and Jason chose to marry by the sea in a cliffside gazebo overlooking the Strait of Georgia and distant snow-capped mountains. That’s a Vancouver Island wedding for you! Ocean, forest, mountains- Parksville’s Tigh-Na-Mara Resort has that desirable West Coast charm. With a guest list of over 100, the support for these two was immense. Emotional speeches by their bridal party and parents revealed much about the pair, and had some real live keepsake quotes! The décor and unique table layout had the reception looking fabulous, and the balloon arch added a playful flair to the dance room.

Formal Photos Before the Ceremony

Kelsey and Jason made a smart decision by scheduling their bride, groom, and bridal party photos before the ceremony. With a 5 pm ceremony and reception starting at 7 pm, time for photos was limited. While I usually recommend 60 minutes for bridal party and newlywed photos, we made it work in 45 minutes for this timeline. To kick things off, we started with a semi-private first look. “Semi-private” because, being a long weekend in Parksville, the beach was bustling with people. However, we found a quiet spot tucked between driftwood and beach grass—perfect for their intimate first embrace of the day.

Bridal and Groomsmen Preparations

Having a wedding at Tigh-Na-Mara is really convenient for capturing both the bridal and groomsmen getting ready preparations. With everything in one location, no travel time is needed! Kelsey gifted her bridesmaids thoughtful jewelry, and her mother helped her dress. I couldn’t help but convert many of Kelsey’s moments into black and white- the elegance of the dress, and emotion of the moment, and the lighting were all too tempting!

A Hilarious Wedding Ceremony

Jason’s comedic flair had the entire guest list in stitches during his vows, which were both heartfelt and humorous. In a delightful twist, the officiant struggled to pronounce Jason’s last name, causing the couple to burst into laughter with each attempt. By the end, the officiant jokingly said, “Oh, you know who I mean!” Having worked with her many times, I’ve never seen her slip up—yet it was the perfect moment for this couple, leaving them with a memory they’ll surely cherish.

Another unexpected, yet meaningful moment came when Kelsey accidentally put Jason’s wedding ring on the wrong hand. It turned out to be a touching coincidence, as Jason’s late father had always worn his wedding ring on that hand.

A Grand Entrance Photo Dash

Following their grand entrance, the happy newlyweds broke into a “Photo Dash”! This is where a song is played, and the couple races to each table to take a group photo with the guests. This fun game added to Kelsey and Jason’s playful spirit and wedding day fun, as well as ensuring a group photo is taken with every guest!