Alyssa and Chhase's Laughter-Filled Tigh-Na-Mara Wedding | Sunshine, Referee Emcee's, and Handstands - Devee Photography: Parksville Wedding & Family Photography

A Tigh-Na-Mara Wedding in Parksville

Alyssa and Chhase chose an iconic Tigh-Na-Mara wedding in Parksville, BC, for their west coast celebration. Both born and raised in Vancouver, they spent time on Vancouver Island during their post-secondary years. Now living in Alberta, they saw Tigh-Na-Mara as the perfect destination wedding venue. This stunning 22-acre property offers three kilometers of sandy beach, cozy cabins nestled among Douglas Fir trees, and a beautiful reception space for up to 200 guests. Their ceremony took place in the gazebo overlooking the ocean, bathed in warm August sunshine; a classic Tigh-Na-Mara wedding scene.

“Chhase and I are BC-born and raised from the mainland, but went to school on the island for a few years. We have a lot of ties to the island and are definitely West-Coast kids at heart. Hence why we really loved Tigh-Na-Mara. :)” -Alyssa

Volleyball and Fun

A total of 104 guests traveled to celebrate with Alyssa and Chhase, on a Thursday of all days! Why a Thursday? To maximize time with family and friends, of course! With the wedding on a Thursday, they had the entire weekend to relax and enjoy quality time with loved ones, including a full day at the beach playing volleyball.

Volleyball is a passion the couple shares, and it made its way into several fun moments throughout the day. Their emcees wore referee outfits, a large group photo featured guests striking volleyball poses, and Alyssa even showed off her sporty side during bridal preparations. The couple’s athleticism also shone through during their reception, where they played a game called “Replicate the Kiss.” In this game, one couple acts out a dramatic kiss, and the newlyweds must replicate it. And Alyssa? She effortlessly performed a handstand in her wedding dress—something I’ve never seen before as a 11+ year photographer. Oh my!

A Family First Look

You’re probably familiar with the traditional “First Look” where the bride and groom share a special moment before the ceremony. Another popular version is the “First Look” with the father of the bride. In Alyssa’s case, we had the entire family involved! Her mom, dad, and brother all joined in for a special moment to wish her well before the ceremony.

Originally, we planned to have this moment in the forest across from the ceremony site, but to avoid being seen, we decided to have her family meet her in her room instead. While Alyssa stayed hidden in the bathroom, I positioned her family and got ready to capture their reactions when they saw her for the first time. The moment was truly priceless!

“Our experience with Deanna was nothing short of incredible. She was easy going, insightful, patient during our time leading up to our special day in August. We were leaning towards hiring a second shooter for a few extra hours (wedding size 104), but she knew the wedding venue like the back of her hand and was efficient during the day.
If you are looking for mediocrity, please move aside and find another photographer This rockstar human delivers and stays true to her word at an unbelievable price point. If we were to get married again (not in this lifetime hopefully), I’d be choosing Deanna to shoot it!”

Chhase