• H+M Get Married in the Rain at Grouse Mountain

    grouse mountain

    I met H+M just prior to the start of the Pandemic, when I took part in a wedding trade show here in Squamish. They were one of the couples that visited our booth, and put their entry into our contest box – ultimately winning an engagement session! As H+M are both avid hikers and visit the Whistler area frequently, we met up at Green Lake to capture their engagement.

    H+M were one of the many couples affected by the onset of Covid-19, and their initial Grouse Mountain wedding planning had to be postponed, and then postponed… again.

    So, what did they do? They pivoted! They opted then to get married in an intimate morning ceremony, surrounded by their parents, in the Whistler forest, and I was so lucky to be invited to capture them declaring their love to each other, and committing their lives to each other.

    With their vows being declared, and the rings being exchanged, they toasted each other, and their families, and celebrated!

    Once the world shifted back into normalcy, H+M then planned a beautiful celebration, atop Grouse Mountain. It was full of friends and family, laughter, dancing, and so many beautiful speeches and toasts. It was the proper send-off for these two very special people as they start their married lives together.

    Despite the rain, H+M had a beautiful day, with a friend playing the cello during the ceremony, and a stroll around the mountain with their wedding party, including a stop over to see the Grizzly Bear exhibit (that was a first for me!).

     

    Cheers to you two, and I can’t wait to see what life brings to you!

    Q: Your story – the Who, What, Where, and When – did you meet each other?

    M and I met in 2015 after we both (independently) joined the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club. We had both signed up for a run through Garibaldi Provincial Park from the Cheakamus Lake trailhead to the Rubble Creek trailhead. During that event, we spent most of the run chatting and getting to know each other, and instantly connected. The next week, we went on a run to Norvan Falls, and then kayaking in Deep Cove the following week, and then North Shore mountain biking the week after that… we have been together ever since that first VOC event and call that date our anniversary. We just celebrated 7 years together.

    Q: What kinds of hobbies do you enjoy together, or what is one of your favourite memories together?

    In 2019, we bought a van and did a 2 month road trip through the western US and Canada. We explored so many incredible national and state parks. We also decided for sure that we wanted to get married while on this trip 🙂 We love the outdoors, especially trail running, skiing, biking, canoeing, and camping. We also love traveling, going to concerts, playing board games, cooking and baking, hosting dinner parties, and spending time with family and friends.

    Q: Tell me about your favourite thing about each other.

    Our favourite thing about each other is that we are both always up for adventure. We have a lot in common but we also have some differences, and these complementary personality traits make us stronger as a couple.

    Q: Who were your vendors, if you had any (hair, make-up, catering, venue, wedding officiant, planner, and any other shoutouts you’d like to make!)

    Hair & make up by Andrea Salazar http://www.makeupbyasm.com
    Venue & catering by Grouse Mountain https://www.grousemountain.com
    Wedding officiant & DJ – Mike from Dynamic Weddings https://www.dynamicweddings.ca

  • R & S – Sea to Sky Gondola Proposal

    sea to sky gondola proposal

    The views from the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, BC are nothing short of breathtaking… that is, on a clear day.  If 2021 brought us anything here in BC, it was truly, utterly, unpredictable weather.  The weeks leading up to this surprise proposal session, we didn’t get many dry days… which is just one of the reasons I loved this couples session so much!

    sea to sky gondola proposal

    R & S stopped by Squamish and took a tour up the Sea to Sky Gondola on their way to Whistler, all the way from Winnipeg – so trust me, the timing for the sun could not have been better.  Meeting clients that you’ve never met, ahead of one of the most exciting, and important moments of their lives is always anxiety-inducing, but R was sneaky, texting me what colour their clothes were, and when they got to the gondola at the bottom. S said she saw me getting onto my gondola going up, and I can imagine her thinking that I must have looked sick with nerves!  Once I got them in my frame, it was all good, and we had a blast.  We toured the trails, and played in the beautiful snow after she got that absolute stunner of a ring on her finger!

    sea to sky proposal

    These two have been friends forever, meeting at a part-time job in University, but not becoming involved for a few years after that.  Having been together for seven years, these two definitely know how to make each other laugh.

    sea to sky gondola proposal

    When asked what a favourite memory they shared was, their response was all of their travels together – including this trip!  How could it not be, with the Hallmark day we had!

    sea to sky gondola proposal

    They didn’t stop smiling the entire time we spent together, and I could tell their sense of humour and love of life was a common ground for them.  S’s family was invited along for the trip, and we made our way around to the lookout at the Lodge, to fake them out with a pretend proposal – I loved getting to witness the joyful family celebration immediately afterwards.

    sea to sky gondola proposal

    Thank you, R&S, for this lovely day – I wish you all the best in planning your wedding, and I can’t wait to see images of it!

    Angela Bliss photography