A Bear Mountain Resort Wedding Fairy-tale

Tamara and Terrence each have large families and are a romantic couple at heart who admire the princes and princesses they read about in books. They wanted to feel like royalty and have a fairy-tale wedding- Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria was the perfect wedding venue for their whimsical story. With 175 guests, they exchanged private vows during their first look beneath the Wisteria arbor, married in the ceremony circle, held a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony in one of the event rooms and were gifted with a Lion Dance at the reception.

Incorporating Chinese Cultural Traditions into your Wedding Day

Terrence is a Canadian-born Chinese man who wanted to honor his family by incorporating Chinese cultural traditions into his wedding day. Tamara was very encouraging of the idea, and with the help of Terrence’s family, their multi-cultural wedding was a beautiful success! Here are a few ways they included Chinese wedding traditions into their wedding day;

• The bride wore a Qi Pao before the ceremony. This is a red dress symbolizing happiness, prosperity and good luck.
• The bride wore a fertility charm
• A Chinese Tea Ceremony was held where the bride and groom show respect and gratitude towards their family members. Kneeling on red pillows while serving tea, the family members receiving the tea give their blessings, well wishes and advice to the bride and groom. The tea ceremony symbolizes an official belonging and welcoming of families merging.
• A Chinese Lion Dance was performed at the reception. This traditional dance signifies courage and stability and is a performance to chase away evil spirits. A yellow lion and a red lion moved throughout the room to the beat of the drums, cymbals and gongs as guests were captivated by the sight and sound.  Performed by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club.

Their Love Story

Terrence the librarian fell in love the Tamara the school teacher. When they met, their love of words and reading was quickly surpassed by their love on each other. They are a goofy, silly kind of couple who put pride and effort into their work, but at the same time don’t take life too seriously. They enjoy playing Pokemon, reading books in both French and English, spending time making friends and raising their son, Caleb. Check out their engagement photos to see their silliness in action.

Vendor Love

Ceremony/Reception Wedding Venue: Bear Mountain Resort

Catering: Bear Mountain Resort

Tea Ceremony Stationary & Decor: Mesa Rentals & Designs

Florals: Julie’s Bloomers from Kenmar Fams

Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Trish

Wedding Cake: Pure Vanilla Bakery & Cafe

Wedding Dress: Shades of White Bridal

DJ: Request the Best DJ Services

Lion Dance Performance: Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club