Outlooks for Men – West Coast Weddings

Groom’s Attire for the West Coast Beach Wedding

Laura Kalcsa — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:11:36 +0000

Groom’s Attire for the West Coast Beach Wedding! We love to see the guys in their wedding suits and tuxes, but many of our West Coast grooms are marrying on the beach – which often involves running through the ocean! That means a tux may not be the best choice…so what is the well-dressed groom wearing to his beach wedding?

The current trends for grooms feature blues, pale grey and beige – the perfect palette for any seaside event.

The current trends for grooms feature blues, pale grey, and beige – the perfect palette for any seaside event. Those are also the colours that tend to look the best when surrounded by nature. While there are no ‘rules,’ be sure the groom’s look will stand the test of time.

You are invited to more groom tips!

Lisa Kopp Photography | Outlooks for Men

That being said, what most grooms love about a beach wedding is that they can go less formal. Undoing a few shirt buttons, maybe losing the tie/jacket, or simply being able to wear more casual fabrics. Some grooms still prefer to wear a suit but choose a looser fit that is more comfortable.

Tegan McMartin Photography

Whatever the look…be sure to take a cue from the bride. What she chooses as her bridal gown will influence how a groom will style. Go for a timeless yet comfortable look and enjoy a wonderful day with family and friends!

Luke Liable Photography | Outlooks for Men

Tips for the Beach Wedding Groom:

Always allow the bride to take the lead in how casual your wedding will be – you may have to abandon your plan to wear shorts if your bride has found her dream princess gown!

Footwear can be anything from traditional to sneakers – but always have the appropriate shoes for your style.

Grooms can go sockless but always wear invisible socks with closed shoes.

Cotton and linens or lightweight wool suits are perfect materials for outdoor weddings!

Never wear a formal tux under the beach skies. Always go towards lighter suits. Remember – it can get hot!

with thanks to Dale of Outlooks at Men (outlooksformen.com)

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Sweet and Sexy Industrial Glam

Laura Kalcsa — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 17:45:37 +0000

Sweet and Sexy Industrial Glam...A unique look that is a little sweet, a little sexy and a little rock and roll. Inspired by the Powerhouse industrial buildings, this glamourous and moody design uses pampas grass ‘wings’ to create a smoky backdrop to a cement cake, epic floral cascade and a record player.

She Wore Flowers designer, Ashley, dreamed up this free spirited and non traditional sparkly skirt for the bride. Ashley designs beautiful white wedding boho gowns but for this special tableau, a bit of rebellious sparkle and colour was perfect. Sunglasses, flowers in the hair and dramatic makeup brought this bridal style to perfection. The groom was a picture, as well, in his sophisticated suit.

The floral design is over the top in imagination using pampas grass to create the look of ‘wings’ for the bride and groom. The bridal bouquet included gold sparkled palm leaves along with peach and white roses. The piece de resistance, of course, is the floral cascade over the edge of the sweetheart table. Gold candlesticks with tall candles, black chairs and black tableware contrast with neutral tones in linens.

We love the ‘rock n roll’ touches…a record player, the champagne moment, sunglasses, guitar picks and a ‘cement’ cake! All moody and romantic! The unique paper suite and custom rings pull all the strings together in this sweet and sexy industrial glam inspiration by wedding designer Brittany Sagal. An epic elopement idea for any west coast wedding couple!

You are invited to another industrial wedding inspiration!

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Courtenay Dream Wedding Show

Laura Kalcsa — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 19:00:00 +0000

Courtenay Dream Wedding Show

We’d love to have you visit our Spring Dream Wedding Show at Florence Filberg Centre Courtenay BC.
Come spend the day meeting with wedding enthusiasts, check out the on stage presentations, fashion shows, and take in the samples, freebies and fun! Wedding Planning Starts Here!!
Date: February 23, 2020
Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Admission: FREE

Pick up your free copy of West Coast Weddings Magazine

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Charming Garden Wedding Features Gin Deck

Laura Kalcsa — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 03:28:38 +0000

Charming Garden Wedding inspiration awaits in this lovely garden locale featuring a gin deck. The venue, Maple Bay Manor, is an elegant boutique retreat nestled among the rolling hills, lush forests and tranquil seascapes of Vancouver Island.

The Gin Deck Terrace is the perfect spot for newlyweds to relax after a ceremony and enjoy signature cocktails created for their special day. We love that the cocktails are colour coordinated to the blush peach and white anemones which are tied along with greenery and ribbons. Small arrangements of the same floral grace the garden furniture set on the terrace.

The charming garden wedding sophistication continues with a bridal gown featuring a flowing skirt over a mini underskirt and a lace bodice with cutout. The bride’s hair is simply gorgeous with tiny white flowers tucked into the back. The groom shines in a grey tweed suit and lighter bow tie.

You are invited to another Maple Bay Manor wedding inspiration….

REAL LIFE LOVEBIRDS: Jaclyn & Patrick

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Local Love + 100 Mile Cowichan Valley Wedding

Laura Kalcsa — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 18:06:34 +0000

Local Love is a wedding editorial dedicated to the The Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. It is an amazing and beautiful area rich in wineries, farmland, forest, lakes and ocean. So, of course, it is also the perfect backdrop to weddings!

The inspiration for this eye popping editorial stemmed from the “The 100 Mile” book that strived to source and eat food grown within 100 miles of where you live. Susan Rodgers, of Cobble Hill Cakes, thought she would take this idea to 30 km of where she lives and show the rich array of wedding opportunities around her. And so the planning and sourcing of this wedding celebration began and ended within the Cowichan area (the exception being the bridal gown as there is shop in Cowichan!!)

The shoot took place at The Maple Bay Manor where twenty local love wedding professionals purposely planned around the world-renowned rhododendron garden dating back to the early 1900’s. The colors of the rhododendrons, cherry and magnolia trees showcased the natural beauty of Cowichan Valley. A theme grew with inspiration from the excitement of the upcoming royal wedding and the beautiful gardens where it was taking place. Think ‘casual English garden wedding’.

The bride is radiant in lace with floral grown right on a non-sprayed flower farm in Cobble Hill and foraged from local gardens. We love the incredible sunset shots on the lake and the plethora of water lilies surrounding the couple. The ‘Gin Deck’ is an inspired idea for using all the venue space.

Congratulations to all the Cowichan Valley locals who came together and proved what an incredible beautiful wedding area they live in! And an inspired idea!

You are invited to more Cowichan Valley Wedding Inspiration!

Concept Design, Planning and Coordination: Susan Rodgers from Cobble Hill Cake Co. | Event Planners: Jeanell and Amanda from Lock and Key Events | Photography: Kim and Amanda from Three Sisters Photography | Venue: Lynn from The Maple Bay Manor | Floral Design: Adria from Little Bee Blooms | Cake and Desserts: Susan from Cobble Hill Cake Co. | Chocolates: Cheryl from Chocolate Pearl | Gin: Brennan from Stillhead Distillery | Wine: Maria and Xavier from Cherry Point Estate Winery | Furniture Rental: Tavera from Fallen Olive | Furniture/sofa: Ashley from The Vintage Brush | Paper Elements: Laura Lavender Calligraphy and Illustration } | Hair Styling: Brittany Foote at EK Hair | Make-up: Jessica Pool Makeup | Bride’s Ring: Susan Koch Atelier | Bridal Gown: Kim at Luz Bridal Boutique Victoria | Bride’s shoes: Jean from Cardino Shoes | Bride’s Hair Accessories: Vanessa from Enchanted You | Bride’s jewelry: Claire from Claire Crowfoot Jewelry | Menswear: Miles from Outlooks for Men Duncan | Groom’s Hairstyling: Victory Barber and Brand North | Bride: Ashlee | Groom: Garrett

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Beautiful Winter Wedding Adds New Chapter to a Love Story

Laura Kalcsa — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:13:49 +0000

Beautiful Winter wedding inspiration from Jenelle & Lonnie who are the perfect couple for this winter scape. Jenelle is a planner extraordinaire with impeccable attention to detail. We loved the many touches that made this wedding so warm and inviting.

Mount Washington on Vancouver Island showcases the incredible snow covered mountain top views that surround the couple and their guests. They did have to deal with a tiny bit more snow than expected (20 cm!) but it seems to have just made the day more special.

Let’s start with some of the details that made us fall in love with these nuptials. Warm blankets in a basket for cold guests, a completely unplugged ceremony, a sign stating venue elevation and lots of signage. Our fav is the ode to Lonnie’s golfing hobby where guests had to sink a putt before the couple would kiss!

Jenelle confesses that she originally had a summer wedding planned. Then she really looked at Mount Washington and fell in love with the open beams and windows. So she adjusted her plan to a winter wedding! Eucalyptus and mercury votive in black lanterns adorned the long tables and provided a warm and cozy feel.

Winter Perfect Gown + Stole

We love the Enzoani lace gown covered in a leaves motif (eucalyptus leaves!) and the faux fur stole is perfect! The pearl bracelet is from Jenelle’s mother – who bought it 33 years earlier in Hawaii while on her honeymoon. Jenelle planned the colours carefully for the wedding party as she did not want a ‘christmasy’ look but a winter wedding. A real hit were the groomsmen’s sweaters!

Jenelle + Lonnie exchanged wedding gifts which were so personal. Lonnie gave seven gifts – one for each year they had been together and each representing a milestone in their relationship. Jenelle gave Lonnie leather golf head covers customized with the wedding date.

For more winter wedding inspiration!

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English Inn Wedding Infused with Stunning Fall Colours

Laura Kalcsa — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 00:20:09 +0000

English Inn Wedding Infused with Stunning Fall Colours is filled with delicate hints of whimsy. This stunning fall Vancouver Island wedding shoot that betrays a love of all things simple. The English Inn has all the comforts of the modern world but, with it’s architecture, harkens to days gone by. The Inn hosts many weddings each year and the moated gazebo with tall pillars provides the perfect setting for a romantic reception. We look forward to seeing the future changes to this wonderful venue.

Laura, at Caribou Creative, dreamed up the navy, gold, and ivory suite with gold lining and laser cut lace detail. The deep blue linen paired with a plum runner is a nod to the change of seasons while the lush greenery and white hydrangeas acknowledge the summer that is passing. The gold shimmer accents add a touch of whimsy that is reflected in the charger plates, champagne napkins, gold cutlery and the cake pedestal. The lanterns added to the romantic tone with lit candles. Topping the cake is a pair of pears which serves as an amusing pun! and was created with love by Laura of Schur to Please boutique cakery.

The first dress bride Sonora is wearing is reminiscent of what an English Rose would wear with it’s blush tone. The second dress, a strapless beaded, chiffon complemented by gold necklace and matching earrings reflects the hints of gold in our decor. Marian, from Kenmar Flower Farm, created the bouquet with dazzling mondial roses, burgundy dianthus, and viburnum berry with an ivory ribbon.

Sonora’s hair is styled with loose curls and partially pinned back to show off her beautiful cheekbones. Erin Bradley accented her features with a smokey eye in browns and plums for the fall theme and finished with a peach toned lip.

The groom, Tyler, wore a heather grey suit with a deep purple lining. Outlooks by Men provided a plum bow tie and navy vest over a white, crisp shirt. The boutonniere mirrors the bouquet with a single mondial rose and burgundy dianthus. This English Inn Wedding infused with stunning fall colours is full of beauty and love!

You are invited to a Gatsby English Inn wedding!

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A Dreamy Bohemian Romance

Laura Kalcsa — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 05:31:03 +0000

Ryan & Autumn suit the modern bohemian style perfectly. We love the blush colours, the greenery and the contrast with the blue of the grooms suit. The Vancouver Island ocean vistas behind draw the eye to the dreamy and romantic palette. The floral bouquet and crown are filled with antique beige roses and succulents along with various types of foraged greenery. The finishing touch are the ribbons flowing from the bouquet. This couple epitomizes the boho-chic romanticism creating a naturally beautiful wedding day.

The photography style creates a real mood for these couple shots. Ryan and Autumn had sent their photographer ‘style photo boards’ prior to their wedding day. They had collected photos that they loved off Pinterest so that their photographer had an idea of the shots they really wanted. It’s obvious that this idea worked out well for them and the photographer!

Bohemian Tips:

Looking to have a bohemian wedding day? Overflowing bouquets, head wreathes, lots of lace and lush floral displays are a must. You can also add vintage décor and family heirlooms. Mismatched bridesmaid gowns add to the boho theme and allowing your bride tribe to choose their own dresses always makes them happy!

For the After Wedding Shoot!

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Nautical Love on Vancouver Island

West Coast Weddings — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 20:25:17 +0000

Nautical Love on Vancouver Island! We admit it…it was the four-legged friend that caught our attention first in this fun Vancouver Island beach wedding editorial! However, the romantic boat and shared blanket between this lovely real couple were not far behind. A soft, natural, and fun vibe permeates these photos of our bride & groom (+ dog!). After all, weddings are about lots of love, especially nautical love, in this case!

The beach picnic looks so romantic and is easy to DIY. It’s perfect for an elopement or proposal. It features blue and beige blankets, throw pillows, and pretty flowers. Don’t forget the ‘love’ signs to complete the look.

We especially love the bride’s head wreath made of eucalyptus leaves and small peach roses, which showcases her natural beauty perfectly. It also creates a sense of boho, which is partnered by the deep blue suit worn by her groom. This is a beach wedding with lots of style and colour!

You are invited to another naturally beautiful wedding!

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English Garden Wedding with Gatsby Style on Vancouver Island

West Coast Weddings — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 22:19:04 +0000

We couldn’t top this classic vintage Vancouver Island English garden wedding editorial on the beautiful grounds of the former English Inn in Victoria. Timeless Great Gatsby elegance is embodied by everything from the décor to fashion, especially the vintage car and top hats. We love the sophisticated men all decked out by a local menswear shop. And the cat in the groom’s arms just made us melt!

The art-deco vintage wedding theme is beloved among couples as it allows many beautiful choices. Romantic deep tones paired with bold jewelry, hairpieces, shoes, geometric hairstyles, and statement makeup showcase a golden age in history. The décor is especially creative, with over-the-top glamour and gorgeous details.

Vancouver Island offers plenty of venue choices for an English Garden wedding in the Gatsby Style. The year-round high temperatures create lush greenery and outdoor spaces that will delight any vintage couple. The English historical influence on British Columbia has gifted the area with many venues influenced by the garden look. So start your venue search for your Gatsby wedding day theme!

Vintage Garden Wedding Inspiration: Take a look around you – you might find yourself surprised that family members have some wonderful vintage pieces that you can build your look around. Start haunting vintage and thrift shops for décor pieces. Table décor can often be designed around one excellent rental piece, such as the candelabras in this editorial. (We are proud to say that the smaller vintage pieces all came from the personal collections of those involved in the shoot!) Small details, such as the napkin holders on this tablescape, can often make a difference. Floral designs add an art deco feel when fruit or other novel pieces are added to the bouquets. Mismatched gowns add to the Gatsby’s feel, while headpieces are a must. Have fun planning your vintage Vancouver Island wedding day!

Another wedding in the gardens….

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