Elope to the Edge of the World: Love on BC’s Wild West Coast

The idea of walking down an aisle makes you break out in the cold sweats? A seating plan makes you want to jump off a cliff? You are not the only one…lots of couples in love decide to toss the big wedding. Instead, they chose to tie the knot by eloping to British Columbia. Couples love the intimacy, the romance, and the choice to elope anywhere at all. Micro weddings and elopements are trending as we see ‘We Eloped’ photos populating our Pinterest feed. So what are some of the amazing things about eloping on the West Coast, and why consider it?

Money, Money, Money 

We know you are in love, but money matters these days—a lot. Fun fact: a traditional wedding costs between $ 30k and $50k, while an elopement costs between $4k and $6k.  Eloping cuts costs drastically and allows you to indulge. Suddenly, there is cash to spare, so go ahead, arrive in a helicopter in the Rocky Mountains, have a lush cascading bouquet, or honeymoon around the world. Some of you who are more sensible will put down a deposit on a condo. Send out wonderful announcement cards when you get home. You can afford it!

On Top of the World

When you were planning a large wedding, you looked at venues near home so guests would not have to travel far. You can throw all that out the window. Do you have a West Coast wedding dream destination on your bucket list? Or perhaps a favourite romantic place you have always wanted to have your wedding ceremony? Go for it! Eloping means you can get married on the top of a snow-covered mountain, on a driftwood-covered beach, under the moss-covered trees in Tofino, in a secret corner of Vancouver or Victoria, or anywhere else you have your heart set on (we have a soft spot for Whistler!). Dream big!

Stress? What Stress? Just Elope!

Remember the cliched bridezilla frantically trying to sort out the seating chart and losing her mind over the appies? Eloping means you will never be one of those brides! Planning companies let you plan your entire elopement online in simple, step-by-step choices. It’s all over in minutes. All you have to do is turn up dressed in whatever makes you and your honey happy. Try Vancouver Island Elopement, Elope Tofino or Young, Hip & Married on the mainland.

The Family & Friends Special

In the past, some couples were shy about eloping because no one would be with them. That is the perfect thing for some who elope, but it’s not a rule. Why not have your closest family and friends join you? Some elopements feature just the wedding party. Others include parents and siblings. That’s the lovely thing about eloping – you can do whatever you like and invite whomever you want!

Stunning, Stupendous, Crazy Epic Photos

Yes, we know that was too many adjectives. But how else do we describe your intimate photoshoot? Instead of rushed photos because your guests are waiting on you or endless variations on family poses, you have all the time in the world to take stunning pictures. Choose an experienced adventure wedding photographer, and voila! photos that will stun you, and everyone else, too!

Loving the Pet-Friendly Vibes

What self-respecting furbaby parent wants to leave their pet at home on such a momentous occasion? Eloping simples that up. Choose an elopement destination that welcomes pets and add them to the travel arrangements. Your pet can serve as the ring bearer/witness for the ceremony! 

Elope to the Edge of the World: Love on BC’s Wild West Coast

We could go on and on about all the fantastic reasons to have a West Coast Elopement, but the best reason of all is how it will make the two of you feel. Newlyweds who have eloped can’t say enough about how it was the best day of their lives. No stress and full of romance and adventure. A truly perfect memory of promising forever to each other. So, relax and truly cherish your wedding day by eloping!

Enjoy this amazing elopement of Andrew + Kenji! 

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Enchanted Rain Forest

Wedding Romance in Tofino at the stunning Wickaninnish Inn…a magical shoot among the towering old-growth trees of Vancouver Island. In the lush forest that whispers tales of forgotten magic, this fairytale-like elopement embraces all the beautiful elements of the West Coast.

The bride’s flowing wedding dress by Hannah Tikkanen recalls the gentle waves of the ocean and harmonizes with the lush greens of the ancient rainforest. The gown is a work of art, an homage to the great paintings of sea goddesses. The lightly colored diaphanous skirt floats behind the bride as she walks through the forest and onto the beach, revealing a unique bodice and sleeves. The groom takes beach style to a new level in his light-colored suit and lovely boutonniere. 

We love the utterly perfect florals in the forest and on the water. Whimsical summer flowers gracefully climb the old-growth tree, blending their colors with the woodland in soft pastels and creamy tones. The beach blossoms work perfectly on the ceremony backdrop, using the blue sky as a blank canvas. We love the bouquet’s trailing ribbons blowing in the breeze.

On Shell Beach, time seemed to stand still as the couple shared intimate moments, embracing the serenity of the golden hour. A long driftwood table decorated with elegant simplicity hosted a romantic dinner for two with a lovely cake nearby just waiting to be cut.  Ayla Pena created beach-inspired invites and vow books using glass and seashells in delicate pastels. We love the gold, ocean-inspired wedding rings by local artist Lisa Fletcher and the log ‘seats’!

Enchanted Rain Forest Romance is the West Coast wedding inspiration of dreams, which is why it was featured in the West Coast Wedding Magazine Vancouver Island issue. We love everything about this green Tofino elopement, and it inspires every rainforest-inspired bride and groom!

PHOTOS: Jen + Brian Photo & Film

VENUE + CAKE: Wickaninnish Inn

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Clearwater Events & Weddings (and some of the beautiful words in this blog)

FLORALS: Wild Bloom Floral Design

RENTALS: Darling Vintage Rentals

BEACH STATIONERY: Lele Chan

PAPER SUITE: Ayla Pena

GOWN: Hannah Tikkanen

SUIT: Black & Lee 

RINGS: Lisa Fletcher

HAIR + MUA: Salty Dolls Hair Salon  

MODELS: Alicia + Matt

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Radiant in the Redwoods…For so many couples over the last few years, their big day plans have been canceled and changed, and for Evan and Vanessa, this happened multiple times. But finally, they had the opportunity to say I Do in front of their loved ones at their small and intimate Tofino wedding on Vancouver Island.

Island Moments Photography captured Vancouver Island’s natural beauty and, more importantly, the warmth and love of Evan and Vanessa’s West Coast wedding.

The bride’s lace gown, with touches of white floral embroidery, was perfectly paired with a long sweeping veil and flower crown, which adds to the enchantment of this forest scene.  Luxx Nova Bridal is an online boutique in Vancouver where Vanessa found her perfect gown. 

Bezaire Florals created this gorgeous free-form bouquet using white and blush roses, crimson dahlias, and eucalyptus. The exquisite flower crown complements their wedding style’s luxuriously wild feel. We just love the photos, which almost appear to be inside some of Tofino’s largest redwoods! 

Salty Dolls Hair Salon added a touch of drama, allowing the bride’s natural beauty to shine. They are happy to work from your location or their salon so you can be pampered on your wedding day—a real Tofino perk! Vanessa is simply beautiful in her West Coast wedding style. 

The red cedar trees and sand of Chesterman Beach create a naturally romantic atmosphere, with the rugged rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. Wickaninnish Inn is an incredible location to have your ceremony as you literally walk out their front steps to this famous beach. Add a private beach reception where cake and champagne rule the day. It cannot get any dreamier than a lovely tent with every guest having their log to sit upon!

Everything came together to make this intimate wedding truly radiant in the redwoods. Vancouver Island wedding couples are lucky to have their dream forest look AND a beach vibe at the same time! A classic ethereal wedding style filled with Vancouver Island’s natural beauty.

PHOTOS: Island Moments Photography | FLORALS: Bezaire Florals | VENUE + CATERING: Wickaninnish Inn | HAIR + MAKEUP: Salty Dolls hair salon  | GOWN + VEIL: Luxx Nova Bridal Boutique | ALTERATIONS: Anni’s Creations 

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Ethereal Elopement Along Tofino Coastline…an intimate wedding on the beaches of Vancouver Island’s beautiful west coast. Radia + Derek embraced the opportunity to have the adventure of a lifetime. They exchanged vows with a backdrop of ocean waves and moody skies. 

Radia + Derek had planned for a big wedding, but fate intervened and gifted them the wedding of their dreams. The two decided to bring their closest friends together in Tofino for an intimate ceremony and celebration on the beach. Pollen& Co. created a floral backdrop to compliment the ocean view. At first, nature did not cooperate, but West Coasters are used to that, and everyone just chilled for a bit. The perfect moment arrived, and everyone came together to listen as Radia + Derek exchanged vows. Their wedding party of one flower girl and their dogs were especially rapt!

Afterward, the famous Tacofino tacos and the couple’s favorite jelly doughnuts were served. I wish we were there for that! Of course, there were drinks to toast the newlyweds. 

We love the three bridal gowns that Radia rocked. One dress was waiting in the wings when the bride saw the blush gown online. She rented it from Taylor Dawning Photography, a huge part of their day. Taylor, the owner of Taylor Dawning, surprised Radia with another unique gown – and a hat! So Radia was blessed with three gorgeous gowns for her day – what bride doesn’t dream of that? She escorted the couple through a six-hour photo shoot. The grey weather gave it a mystical feel for some pretty epic shots.

The newlyweds finished their day with a celebration dinner at Long Beach Lodge and returned to their friends who had been having their party! Radia + Derek could not have been happier with their ethereal elopement along the Tofino coastline. She says, “We had no plan at all, and it just ended up amazing! It is so much more emotional than we thought it would be. It was so, so perfect, and all our guests are still talking about it. I have a smile just thinking about it. The most intimate, perfect wedding we could have had.” Congrats to Radia + Derek on their Tofino elopement!

PHOTOS: Taylor Dawning Photography | GOWN: The Fitzroy |FLORAL DESIGN: Pollen & Co. | VENUE: Long Beach Lodge Resort | HAIR + MUA: John and Marielle of The Knot Artistry

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Tofino Cover for Vancouver Island 2022 Magazine…we love this gorgeous couple on the beaches of the West Coast! The awesome mix of formality and natural beauty captures the perfect cover. Thanks so much to Amrit Photography for snapping this moment in time, and we are overwhelmed to have such talent on the front of our latest issue. 

Of course, one of the first things to draw our eye to this photo was that dress. The lovely light terracotta color is striking against the blue of the water and sky. Equally eye-catching is the formality of the tux and gown. It shows you don’t have to be informal at your beach wedding! Go high fashion for epic photos!

West Coast weddings, elopements, and engagements are popular for a reason. The scenery is out of this world, and Tofino takes the literal wedding cake for beach nuptials. If you dream of white sandy beaches, rainforest adventures, and black rock cliffs, then you are in the right place. Imagine your first newlywed kiss just as the sun sets. 

We are pretty thrilled to have such a beautiful look on the newest issue and very happy to brag about Tofino and Ucluelet! Canada’s answer to the adventure and destination wedding is right here in British Columbia, and we are loving it! (CBC says so, too…) So we hope you all enjoy the Tofino cover for Vancouver Island 2022 magazine and all the inspiration inside its pages. 

PRO TIP: If you are trying to figure out the logistics of a Tofino wedding, be sure to take advantage of the professionals in the area. It’s still pretty wild on the coast in the best possible way. They know the absolute best spots, how to get there comfortably, the best time of day, etc. On top of that, they know which vendors will suit your style and budget. So there are two ways to make your life simple. Venues in Ucluelet and Tofino have amazing on-staff wedding planners who will arrange every little detail down to your dog’s water bowl (Tofino is very pet-friendly!) Or, if you want to go off-grid a little, get on board with a local wedding planner with a ton of experience. Either way works. But we don’t recommend just turning up and trying things on your own. You deserve a stress-free Vancouver Island experience. 

HINT: If you have made it to Tofino or Ucluelet for your big romantic moment, we highly suggest going all out. Take a helicopter trip to the mountains nearby for photos of a lifetime. It’s worth every penny of investment, and you will never regret it. Check out the ‘peak to surf’ romance adventures with Atleo Air to get started. They will have a list of photographers willing to join you in your adventures.

PHOTOS: Amrit Photography

GOWN: BHLDN

SUIT: Suitsupply

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Beach Wed in Tofino – Brittany + Trevor put together a dream team of wedding vendors to help the two of them, along with their ‘bubble’ of family and friends, create a magical elopement on the beaches of Tofino.

The gods decided to be giving and blessed Brittany + Trevor with blue skies and sunshine over the ocean edge where they exchanged their vows.  Young, Hip and Married officiated the occasion so lots of love and laughter highlighted the entire ceremony.

The bride wore a stunning Laudae lace gown with a train proving that beach brides can still go formal! The dress featured a V-neck bodice and a form-fitting skirt. Brittany carried a gorgeous bridal bouquet filled with white flowers and pampas grass. Trevor looked great carrying it as well…we love grooms who carry the bouquet.

The newlyweds took advantage of their surroundings and were adventurous for their couple photos. They climbed up a rock face to get great cliff photos, wandered into the rainforest area, and ran along the beach. The Wild and Wed captured all these moments and, as a result, Brit and Trevor have some epic elopement photos. Beach Wed in Tofino is the way to go for a naturally beautiful west coast wedding. Congrats to Brittany + Trevor!!

You are invited to another Tofino beach wedding!

Planning & Styling: Love Spell Co | Photography: The Wild and Wed | Video: The Augusts | Officiant: Young, Hip and Married | Floral: Crab Apple Floral | Cake: Mooch By Megan | Makeup: Tamara Martin Makeup | Hair: Boheme Hair Studio | Stationery Template: Splendid Moment Co | Ring Box: Blush Vintage Rentals | Dress: Laudae 

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Tofino Beach Wedding for Liz + Cam...this inspired elopement took place at Cedarwood Cove Cabin. The couple’s day was filled with romance and laughter as they sipped on champagne, exchanged vows, tripped over the waves and enjoyed the sunset.

Karley, of Bracey Photography, caught some amazing shots as Liz and Cam had their first look and then walked to the beach for their ceremony. The peacefulness of the beach setting was perfect for the intimate ceremony where they exchanged vows. The natural beauty of a west coast wedding truly served as the backdrop to their special day.

Liz wore the perfect sophisticated lace gown for a beach wedding (we are also impressed with the heels on a beach!!). The V neck, fitted gown flared slightly along the bottom edge and she held a bouquet by Crab Apple Floral. The floral design included dried grasses, ferns, baby’s breath, roses and eucalyptus along with ribbons.

We love how this Tofino Beach Wedding for Cam + Liz brings all the love a wedding day should have and shows off the best of the West Coast landscape. Congrats to you both – best wishes for the future! 

PHOTOS: Bracey Photography | VENUE: Cedarwood Cove Cabin  |

FLORAL DESIGN: Crab Apple Floral 

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Tofino Vows for Talisa and Joel…

Guest written by Taryn Stare Photography

Talisa and Joel made the trek to Tofino all the way from Dawson City, Yukon. Though Talisa is originally from Vancouver, BC, she moved to Dawson some years ago to pursue her dream job (and dream man). They live in an adorable cabin and are parents to two crazy cats, who keep them entertained all winter long.

When they got engaged last August, they originally attempted to plan a destination wedding, because Joel’s family lives in Australia while Talisa’s family is in Vancouver. However, they had a hard time finding the perfect middle ground where all of their family and friends could come together at the same time and place. After a month of stressful big-wedding planning, they decided to fulfill a secret dream of saying their vows together in private, with just a few witnesses and in their favourite place in the world.

Getting Ready

Talisa + Joel spent the morning of their wedding day relaxing in their cozy hotel room. Wickaninnish Inn placed them in SUCH a beautiful room with a massive window and balcony that overlooked the ocean. All morning, we could hardly keep our eyes off the ocean as the stormy weather brought giant waves in, each one bigger than the next. We watched young families run around outside fully decked out in rain gear, letting their pups chase the waves. A more relaxing wedding morning I could not dream up!

First Look + Ceremony

This ceremony was one of the sweetest I have ever witnessed. Both the bride and groom wrote such thoughtful vows that I was moved to tears as they promised to love each other for the rest of their days. Here’s a little snippet from Talisa’s vows to Joel:

As we move forward, let’s remind ourselves that life is what happens between adventures. It’s the in between moments that mean the most – the journey – the countless days we both come home from work tired and creanky and uncertain of what to make for dinner, when we have to race the cat to the vet in Whitehorse, when the boats motor is too small and we forgot the coffee in the car (but you actually had it all along). And there is a storm and we’re soaked and miserable. Those moments are the ones that are the ones we remember, not the stupid glacier.  The moments where life is real and we aren’t always our best selves…those are okay and these are the moments that will define us as a couple.

Afterwards…

The newlyweds enjoyed an intimate photo session in the forest, along the beach, on the road and had Tacofino to celebrate. All in all, the perfect Tofino experience and elopement. It turns out that Tofino vows for Talisa and Joel sublimely suited their wedding day.

Thanks to Wickaninnish Inn who coordinated everything and provided an INCREDIBLE and beautiful experience for the Bride and Groom. Thanks to Rhonda with Cedar and Rose Lifestyle Salon who was such a lovely person and did a fantastic job on Talisa’s hair and makeup. Last but not least, thanks to Crab Apple Floral Design who made the perfect bouquet and boutonniere.

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Beach Wedding for Kristen + Marc! This beautiful ceremony and reception featured the ultimate ocean view as the backdrop. Family and friends camped for the weekend at Bella Pacifica in Tofino and joined this eco couple as they chose local and handmade options for their special day.

The entire occasion was chill with friends and family helping to make the wedding a memorable occasion. The bride and MOH designed the bouquets and floral as well as the charcutterie boards. Marc and Kristen really went out of their way to stay local and featured libations from the Island – Tofino Brewing Co., Phillips Brewing and Tofino Distillery.

Kristen wore a beautiful tulle ball gown with layered skirt and carried the bouquet of blush dahlias and eucalyptus she had designed herself. She walked down the set of stairs to the beach and met Marc at the ceremony arch. Kristen walked towards Marc who was wearing a navy jacket and shirt with tan trousers.

We love the relaxed feel to this beautiful day and how pretty everything is – from the bride right down to the food! The sparkle lights kept this wedding going late into the evening and created a magic feeling. This beach wedding for Kristen + Marc is the perfect inspiration for an intimate wedding on the water.

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Ucluelet Oceanside Wedding for Bill and Kim! This wedding filled us with joy just looking at the photos…champagne, babies, donuts, boots and ocean walk’s in the sunset. Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is showcased with their candlelit dinners, views out into the ocean and the black rock that made it famous. It’s the wedding couple that really shine though with their happy tears and laughter.

Kim walked down the Wine Cellar staircase, which was illuminated with pillar candles, into congregated family and friends and met Bill. There they exchanged vows in front of the glassed view of the ocean’s natural beauty and wildness. Afterwards, they celebrated with champagne and time on the beach together.

The reception was also held in The Wine Cellar which was transformed into a candlelit west coast wilderness theme. Lanterns, driftwood and greenery were everywhere and the sun set  as everyone celebrated. This Ucluelet Oceanside Wedding was filled with romance, beauty and candlelight…a real West Coast Wedding inspiration!

VENUE: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort  |  PHOTOS: Jen McLeod Photography |  GOWN:  Shades of White | DESIGNER: Sottero and Midgley |  RINGS: Brilliant Earth |  FLOWERS: Crabapple Floral Tofino | DONUTS: Rhino Coffee House | CAKE: West Coast Cake Company

You are invited to another wedding on Vancouver Island’s West Coast! 

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