Tigh Na Mara Beach Wedding ~ Love on Parksville's Shores

Sandals and Sunshine: a Parksville Beach Wedding

Vicky and Matt’s Tigh Na Mara beach wedding was celebrated wearing sandals while covered in sunshine. During our initial consultation, Vicky stated they were opting for something a little unique for their wedding day. They were seeking a casual vibe with quality time spent with guests. As a long-term employee at Tigh-Na-Mara, Vicky’s wedding was particularly special, with the ceremony taking place right on the beach! This unique location required some careful planning, including determining the perfect low tide timing months in advance. The setup on the big day was no small feat- hauling chairs, a wedding arch, a signing table, and even a battery-operated DJ speaker system down the steep path to the beach took a few trips. But for Vicky and Matt, it was all worth it- a definite “heck yes!” to making it happen.

As Vicky made her way down the path to the beach, coworkers greeted her and watched from afar, as her family, friends and other coworkers were seated on the beach awaiting the bride. Matt was turned around, facing the ocean as he waited for the signal to see his bride for the first time. But before he could see her, they crowd was delighted and entertained by the flower guys! Two grown men wearing fanny packs filled with flower petals made their way down the aisle, teasing and tossing petals to the giggling group. Then, Vicky’s dad walked her down the aisle to get married to her sweetheart.

First Look With Dad

Before heading down to the beach to marry her man, Vicky made time to spend a quiet moment with her father. Tucked away in the privacy of the Japanese Maple tree, I had her father stand facing away as Vicky then walked up to greet him. I find these moments to be rather emotional, as I myself don’t have a dad anymore, and I envy the beauty that takes place here knowing I will never experience the same. Seeing his daughter dressed up more beautiful than any other day, wearing a gown that is absolute perfection on her, glowing and happy- is a precious moment!

Wedding Photos on the Beach

After the Tigh Na Mara beach wedding ceremony was finished, guests spent time mingling on the sandy beach for a while before we transitioned into photos. In just 60 minutes, we took all family photos, bridal party photos, a large group photo, and of course bride and groom portraits. The lighting was gorgeous, and the low tide was a treat. The clear blue skies allowed wonderful views of the distant snow capped mountains, and we were having a blast. I noticed that the tide was making its way back, and rather quickly. But I did not realize how wet the sand was becoming! The bottom of Vicky’s dress became saturated with salt water and sand, and had to be blow dried cleaned before the reception. I apologized and made a mental note to avoid that in the future! Vicky did not mind at all, and laughed it off as one of the groomsmen helped carry the sandy wet dress train

Garden Patio Reception

After the ceremony and formal photos, the rest of the evening was spent in the beautiful outdoor garden patio reception space. The Star Wars themed cake was cut, dancing was enjoyed, and quality mingling with guests was spent. Their guestbook was a custom tree painting done by a friend of theirs, where wedding guests would press their thumbprints into ink and make leaves on their wedding tree. A very beautiful remembrance.