Nanaimo’s Coast Bastion Hotel Wedding
Tess and John’s Coast Bastion Hotel wedding will forever be legendary in the history of my career as a wedding photographer. In our third email, Tess mentioned their theme was “post-modern neon jungle.” Further explaining, “There’s going to be a lot of colorful lighting and other neat stuff…  trying to create an ironic tension between the formality of the event and the silliness of the theme (that’s the post modern part).” The thoughtful planning that went into this event was evident, and created a unique and delightful experience for the couple and their guests. Purple and pink mood lighting was all that illuminated their indoor ceremony, glowing hair ties, LED sunglasses, and feather boa’s were given out to accessorize their guests, and a stuffed animal tiger would make its way around the dancefloor later that night. The decorations, lighting, and dress code for the guests made for one groovy day!
The dress code was colorful with pizazz, and the guests did not take this request lightly! I saw men dressed in suits of purple velvet, multi-color Hawaiian print, and other pops of color. Women had their hair in pigtails, wore bright pink satin dresses, and of course the biggest smiles. The bridesmaids wore bright purple, and the groom himself wore a handsome teal blue suit. When arranged altogether with the DIY faux florals, the bridal party sure looked snazzy! Tess herself chose to wear a traditional white dress with layers of fabric of which she discovered she was fond to toss around throughout the day. It photographed beautifully, and captured her energetic spirit perfectly.
“We’re doing a bit of a kooky theme: post-modern neon jungle (I know that sounds pretentious but hear me out!!) There’s going to be a lot of colorful lighting and other neat stuff… trying to create an ironic tension between the formality of the event and the silliness of the theme (that’s the post modern part).” -Tess
But What About Peggy?
Incorporating their fur baby Peggy into their wedding day was important to Tess and John. During their first look along Nanaimo Waterfront Harbor, Peggy was by their side. Actually, nearly throughout the full bridal party and couple photos, Peggy was laying comfortably on Tess’s dress. She couldn’t have been more thrilled, mentioning, “This is my dream.” more than once! The Coast Bastion Hotel allows dogs, so Peggy was able to walk down the aisle and stand beside her mum and dad during their ceremony. Peggy was also there during the getting ready process- mum, grandma, besties, sister, and fur baby. Perfection.
Congratulations to Tess and John! Wishing you all the very best! ♥
Wedding Photography Timeline
1:00-1:30pm: Groomsmen Getting Ready
1:30pm-2:20pm: Bridal Getting Ready
2:30pm-3:30pm: First Look/Bridal Party/Bride + Groom Photos
4:00pm-4:30pm: Ceremony
4:30pm-4:45pm: Mingling
4:45pm-5:15pm: Family Formal Photos
6:00pm: Dinner
(Photographer breaks here for 30 minutes, please avoid speeches during this time)
6:45pm: Speeches
7:15pm: First Dance/Dancing
8:30pm: Cake Cutting
9:00pm: Photographer Finishes
Wedding Vendors
Wedding Venue: Coast Bastion Hotel, Nanaimo
Décor: Party Mood
Lighting and Sound: Long and McQuade
“We just finished looking through the photos and they are AMAZING! Thank you so much for your time and effort, and for sharing your talents with us on our wedding day :)” -Tess