The Four Top Wedding Hair Trends for West Coast Brides

From windswept beaches to elegant urban lofts, West Coast weddings call for hair that feels effortlessly chic, timeless, and just a touch undone. Whether you envision a soft, romantic look or something sleek and modern, these four hair trends are making waves across British Columbia and beyond.

Textured Low Buns

Low buns have long been a bridal staple, but this year they are getting a more relaxed update. Think soft waves tucked into a loose chignon at the nape of the neck, with delicate face-framing tendrils. This style suits everything from minimalist gowns to boho lace dresses, and it pairs beautifully with veils or statement hairpins. The textured low bun is especially practical for West Coast weddings, as it can withstand a breezy ocean ceremony without losing its shape.

Polished Ponytails

Elegant ponytails are stepping firmly into the spotlight for contemporary brides who want a clean, refined silhouette. A sleek ponytail gathered at mid-height or low with a wrapped section of hair around the band creates a sophisticated finish. This look is perfect for showcasing an embellished gown or dramatic earrings, offering a balance of modern style and bridal polish.

Hollywood Waves

Timeless and undeniably glamorous, Hollywood waves are a favourite among brides seeking vintage allure. Cascading, uniform waves parted deeply to one side, flatter every face shape and photograph beautifully. West Coast brides are embracing this style with subtle shine sprays and soft volume, giving a nod to Old Hollywood while keeping the overall effect fresh and romantic.

Effortless Half-Up Styles

Half-up hair has evolved into a laid-back yet elevated choice that feels right at home on the coast. Loose twists, delicate braids, or pinned-back sections allow brides to enjoy the best of both worlds—hair away from the face while maintaining natural movement and volume. Whether accented with fresh flowers, pearl clips, or minimalist pins, the half-up style exudes approachable elegance and suits nearly any wedding backdrop.

The top four wedding hair trends for West Coast brides are waiting for you. Whether your celebration takes place in a forested vineyard or a sleek city venue, these wedding hair trends will help you look stunning and ready to exchange vows! 

Be sure to admire the sophisticated hairstyles of these adorned brides!

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2025 West Coast Weddings Magazine 

Celebrating the Release of West Coast Weddings 2025: A Fresh Look, New Love Stories, and Naturally Beautiful Inspiration

There’s something undeniably magical about weddings on the West Coast—where ocean horizons, ancient forests, and wild shorelines set the stage for unforgettable love stories. That magic comes to life once again with the release of West Coast Weddings Magazine 2025, now unveiled with a gorgeous new design and naturally beautiful inspiration.

The 2025 edition is more than a magazine—it’s a love letter to British Columbia’s wedding couples, creators, and celebrations. With a modernized layout, eye-catching visuals, and plenty of event ideas, the new design puts every story, image, and inspo into beautiful focus. Each page feels more deeply connected to the spirit of West Coast romance. (You are invited to read our last issue, too!)

Inside, you’ll find real wedding stories that capture the authentic joy of couples who chose to marry against mountainscapes, under cedar canopies, and along windswept beaches. Their stories highlight not just beautiful moments, but meaningful ones—quiet vows, cultural traditions, blended families, lots of laughter, and the beginning of a life together.

Natural Inspiration + Bespoke Tips

West Coast Weddings 2025 is also packed with planning tips for modern West Coast couples: expert guidance from planners, décor trends shaped by nature, fashion inspiration from local boutiques and designers, and thoughtful advice on navigating the journey from engagement to “I do.” Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement or a grand celebration, this issue has your vision.

What truly sets the 2025 West Coast Weddings Magazine apart is its celebration of community—the photographers, florists, planners, venues, and makers who bring West Coast weddings to life. Their artistry fills every page, reminding readers that the best celebrations happen when creativity and collaboration meet. What are some of the highlights within this issue’s pages? Be sure to check out catering trends, how to write your wedding vows, venue spotlights, and the high fashion shoot featuring bespoke jewellery. 

With its new design and its heartfelt collection of stories and insights, West Coast Weddings 2025 is here to inspire, uplift, and guide couples as they plan their unique day. This year’s edition invites you to savour the beauty of Western Canada and discover new ways to celebrate love in all its West Coast forms.

The new issue is officially out—ready to be flipped through, bookmarked, and dreamed over. Here’s to another year of amazing celebrations and the people who make them possible.

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10 West Coast Wedding Floral Crowns

We love summers here at West Coast Weddings because that is when photographers drop their sneak peek photos from that weekend’s weddings! One trend that we are enjoying is the gorgeous floral crowns.  Once reserved for the hippie bride, bridal wreaths are everywhere. Traditional brides combine floral crowns with veils, while bohemian brides wear them atop loose curls.

Head wreaths for brides are a way to create a more casual look for the formal bride. There is no reason why you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Are you wearing a cathedral veil for a church ceremony? Why not change it out to a floral crown for those beach photos? Or have your wreath ready for the pre-wedding photos?

Floral crowns can come in various sizes, from dainty rings of flowers to more adventurous bursts of greenery and colour. Wreaths and coordinating bouquets can create the most beautiful bridal portrait, so go ahead and have one made just for the photos.  Some brides are excited to don a floral wreath for woodland engagement photo sessions.

Floral crowns can create a lovely and ethereal look for the traditional or non-traditional wedding!

No matter the style or colour, floral crowns create a lovely and ethereal look for a traditional or non-traditional wedding. Let your imagination soar, and enjoy the beautiful results!  We chose ten West Coast wedding floral crowns to help you design your wedding day wreath.

We invite you to more West Coast wedding florals!

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Fabulous Wedding Shoes! “I want to wear boring shoes on my wedding day,” said no bride ever!  These fabulous shoes prove that anything goes for those with a flair for the original.  We love the sparkle, the vintage, and the colors that grace bridal soles lately…

But wait, you say, shouldn’t comfort be the most important consideration for your wedding day?  While it’s true that most bridal couples these days will end up trekking through nature at some point for those must-have photos, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your ‘sole’ dreams of an outrageous pair of shoes.

The most important way to ensure you are comfortable in your fabulous wedding shoes (or boots!), no matter your choice, is to break them in far before your big day. Please don’t pull your shoes out of their box for the first time the morning of your nuptials—you have to be a masochist to try that! So practice wearing your special day footwear far in advance.

Photographers quickly point out that they can capture amazing shoe photos early in the day. They prefer bridal parties with ‘sensible’ footwear waiting in the wings for outdoor photography sessions.  Of course, when it comes to the first dance, you will still want the fab shoes to be around, but there is no rule saying you must keep them on through the reception. (Check out this pair of Wizard of Oz-inspired ruby red slippers!)

What to wear for the casual part of your day? If you are going through the forest, you may need lace sneakers or a pair of stylish rubber boots.  However, if you are going to the beach, then be sure to check out the latest trend of bejeweled flip-flops!

So feel free to go for outrageously beautiful or simply outrageous shoes on your wedding day – but keep a pair of comfy ones within reach.  After all, your wedding day is the best excuse ever for a shoe adventure!

Heels by Erin Wallis Photography

Stylish Shoes by Summer Rayne Photography

Rainboots by Masika May Photography

Cowboy boots by Lilly Ann Photography

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Choosing Your Vancouver Wedding Location

British Columbia weddings and elopements are truly epic, boasting some of the world’s most spectacular venues and backdrops. You can tie the knot from mountaintops to the ocean, with waterfalls, lakes, and forests in between. You can exchange vows at wineries, resorts, glamping, gardens, luxury boats, and ballrooms—an endless choice of how and where to celebrate your day.

Special thank you to Erica Miller Photography!

Fly Away With Me 

Looking to reach the highest mountaintops? Luckily, BC can fulfill that wish! Check-in with SKY Helicopters Heli-Weddings or ride high with Sea to Sky Air. We love the ‘two for one’ option where you wed on the beach and celebrate in the mountains or vice versa. Also – mountain flights are a great way to propose!

TIP: We highly recommend having an experienced team help you—seriously, this is not the time for DIY. The pros know where to go, the weather, the timing, and how you should dress. Start with Erica Miller Photography/Young, Hip and Married or Amanda Coldicutt Photography.

Extraordinarily Unique

Are you looking for a signature statement venue? Try restaurants like Brix + Mortar or artistic venues like The Polygon Gallery or The Pipe Shop. Invite culture to your wedding at The Permanent or the Vancouver Art Gallery. Are you a farm wedding couple? You will be thrilled with Mt. Lehman Meadows or Maan Farms. Why not marry at the Bloedel Conservatory or one of the hippest coffee shops? And for Asian history, you cannot beat Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Gardens.

Garden Vows

If gardens are where you grow, meander through Bloedel Conservatory, Hycroft Manor, Cecil Green Park House, UBC Botanical Gardens, Harrison Hot Springs Resort, and Stanley Park Pavilion. Pop Up Weddings by West Coast Weddings will be happy to help you find your secret garden!

Ballroom Beauty

Natural beauty and amazing ballrooms go hand in hand in BC. You can trip the light fantastically in your version of a royal wedding AND have waterfront photos taken just steps away. To get started, take a tour around Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Shangri-La Vancouver, The Sutton Place Hotel, and The Douglas.

Forest + Ocean

Love and adventure await couples in the majestic mountains and coastal waters. Sea to Sky Gondola offers a world-famous view and a suspension bridge experience. Or marry in the rainforest with Peaks and Vows, specializing in adventure weddings, including hot air balloons, yachts, glamping, and seaplanes! We recommend chatting with Young Hip and Married, who seem to know every nook and cranny where newlyweds can celebrate!

Choosing your Vancouver wedding location means having your pick of the most amazing locations in the world. So enjoy every minute spent finding the perfect spot (or two!!) for your special day.

All Photos by Erica Miller Photography

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Midnight Hour Bridal Inspiration

Where Classic Elegance Meets Moody Romance is at midnight. A beautiful bridal inspiration where, in the stillness of the night, beneath a celestial canopy embroidered with the twinkling pearls of the universe, something timeless unfolds. This bridal theme captures the beauty and inherent romance set at the witching hour.

Drawing inspiration from classic literature and age-old traditions of moonlit rendezvous, the Midnight Hour theme is the perfect amalgamation of moody aesthetics, classic elements, and understated elegance. Set against the brick backdrop of an opulent yet rustic building in Gastown, Vancouver, this photoshoot uses dim, diffused lighting to create a sense of secrecy, intimacy, and sophistication. The darkness is contrasted by the light glow of pearls, the flickering candles, and the natural luminescence of the moon, symbolizing the gentle yet piercing power of love that thrives even in the cloak of night.

The Bride
The bride is the epitome of classic elegance. Adorned in a form-fitting, modern gown by Made with Love Bridal with the perfect touch of elegance and drama, her look is accentuated with custom pearl sleeves that sparkle in the light as though kissed by the midnight stars themselves. Her bouquet is an array of calla lilies, embodying this mysterious affair’s rich, classic, yet simple undertones.

The Atmosphere
Every image aims to capture the ineffable magic that can only exist in the quietness of a cool night. The visual palette is a rich tapestry of deep blacks and old brick tones punctuated by bursts of pearl, blush gold, and moss greenery. In this world, time seems to stand still. Each frame is a frozen moment, a stolen second ruled by the soft, beguiling whispers of the night.

Midnight Hour Bridal Inspiration is a poetic ode to the fearless lovers who find solace in each other’s arms as the clock strikes twelve, declaring their undying love in the silence of a world fast asleep. Through the lens, we explore the beauty that manifests when love, like a whisper at night, cannot wait for the light of day.

Writing Credit: Thank you to the team that created this magic and wrote beautiful words about it—we could not write anything so lovely as this! 

PHOTOS: Anastasia Sun Photography 

CONCEPT | DESIGN: Artemis Liang

FLORIST: Flowers by Shadow

MUA: Artistry by T

HAIR: Mikado Wedding Hair

GOWN: Made With Love Bridal at Everly Bridal 

VENUE: L’Abattoir Vancouver

DÉCOR RENTAL: Sie Collection

DÉCOR SUPPLY: Camilia Supply

JEWELERY: Ecru Collective Co  

MODEL: Jane Xu

FILM: Kidult Knows Media #kidultknows 

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Fleur Vancouver 2020 by Aly Armstrong returns for it’s third year!  Whether you’re getting hitched or simply adore romance, you need to attend FLEUR, an exquisite annual wedding show produced by Aly Armstrong Event Planning and Design. Taking place on March 8th, at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, the glamorous affair is perfect for engaged couples, wedding party members, entourages, or anyone dreaming about their big day. 

One of the things we love to do when attending Fleur Vancouver is watch brides to be and engaged couples as they realize what they are looking at – over the top creations by some of Vancouver’s best and most creative talents in the wedding industry. It’s really fun to see it all through their eyes as they,  and their entourages, are taken aback by the sheer grandeur and decor audacity shown by the talented exhibitors. Literally, there is nothing a couple could dream up that cannot be realized by the event professionals they are privileged to be meeting. 

However, Aly Armstrong has also put Fleur Vancouver on the map as the show that the industry needs to attend. She has encouraged her vendors to be part of a wonderland of trends, out of the box works of art and superlative tableau that are meant to push every event creator to greater heights of inspiration in their own work.  A fun part of the yearly bash is watching the who’s who of the Vancouver event industry greeting each other excitedly – as mutual IG admirers  recognize each other in RL and the air is full of number exchanges and plans to work together in the coming year.  ‘Friendors’ are everywhere and it’s a joy to experience the exuberance of talented people admiring each other’s creativity.

FLEUR is a true wedding wonderland, connecting elite industry professionals and celebrity influencers with the public in a magical environment. Guests are spoiled for choice with matrimonial activities, including a riveting panel discussion led by Erin Celuba featuring Desiree Siegfried, The Bachelorette (season 9) and designer at Desiree Hartsock Bridal; an immersive stroll through diverse décor concepts with enviable details, enhanced by tantalizing bites crafted by the JW Marriott culinary team; and a fashion show starring a breathtaking parade of classic, sultry and dramatic dresses.

Attendees keen to explore the hottest wedding trends for 2020 won’t want to miss the lively breakout session hosted by Alison McGill, editor-in-chief of Weddingbells. Those seeking photography perfection can score a seat at the second breakout session with experts at Blush Boutique, who will share insider tips like creating a shot list for your photographer. Both breakout sessions are first come, first served, so arrive early to claim your spot!

“We are thrilled to return for another season of inspiring brides and grooms, families and loved ones, and anyone seeking support in planning the perfect wedding,” said Aly Armstrong, principal planner of Aly Armstrong Event Planning and Design. “FLEUR offers something for everyone – a fun afternoon out with your friends, practical education for your upcoming wedding, glimpses at upcoming trends and breathtaking environments that can be replicated for weddings, parties or simple gatherings. You won’t want to miss it!”

Tickets include champagne, canapés, sessions with in-demand industry expert, access to the main panel featuring Desiree Hartsock & designer fashion show. To scoop up your ticket to this elegant event, visit fleurvancouver.com 

Be sure to watch the 2019 Fleur Vancouver Show to see what you can expect at the 2020 Show! 

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Lustre & Lace…We loved this original editorial shoot showcasing a fascinating jewelry line, vintage dresses, and organic beauty. Mieke, creator of Flux & Stone Jewellery, designed this shoot with vintage wedding gowns and clean makeup, which lends to the feel of natural beauty.

So, what makes this artist’s work so fascinating? Mieke explains, “I like to call some of my work ‘bridal science’! I take lace from a wedding gown and, using electroforming, encase it in copper. It can be described as growing copper around an object using positive and negative charges.” The result is beautifully original.

Mieke finds herself particularly inspired by the West Coast and Vancouver Island and describes her work as infusing love into each piece. “I like to remind women of their wild nature and natural beauty. Wedding jewelry doesn’t always have to be blingy…it can be earthy and original.”

So, as a bride, think about more unusual jewelry for your wedding day. The current bridal style of boho chic suits custom pieces, and they make lovely gifts for your wedding party. Walk on the wild side for your wedding jewelry and stand out from the crowd. Lustre & Lace is our inspiration!

Photo: Hannah Covey Photography | Models and Makeup: Aisling Goodman & Julia Hirschbold | Florals: Mieke Lily Van Orden of Flux&Stone | Hair: Atmosphaire!

You are invited to love more unique bridal looks!

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Romantic Floral Filled is the theme of this beautiful affair captured by Vanessa Lust Photography at God’s Mountain Estate. Spectacular real couple Kira and Nate were the centerpiece of the design by White Event Studio and Celsia Florist. We love the Rime Arodaky gown and Naturae Design headpiece provided by Union Bridal—the gild on the lily by Jenny McKinney Makeup Artistry. 

The white-on-white feel of this design affair creates a lovely magical backdrop for romantic floral-filled tables and tasteful cuisine. The artfully arranged drapery and hanging greenery draw the eye to the detail-filled tablescape of this West Coast wedding. Enjoy the pretty! The pale pink and blush roses appear throughout the tableau, and the white baby’s breath is set around in bunches creating a delicate feel to the entire look. 

Our Favourite Things at this Wedding Affair!

One of our favorite things at this Affair was the installation of greenery on the ceiling, which delicately hung over the entire table. This unique trend is a beautiful way to romanticize any wedding table. 

We loved the cut-out back, the casual groom’s clothing, and the gorgeous floral…but, ultimately, we must admit the tablescape drew our eye! The white on white is stunning alongside the crisp green leaves hanging over the table!

You are invited to more romantic wedding editorials!

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Trends & Inspiration: After the Wedding Styled Photo Sessions are increasing in popularity for couples who are looking for photos in remote locations or just in a more relaxed state of mind than on the wedding day.

Trends & Inspiration: After the Wedding Styled Photo Sessions

It’s true that there is no way to go to multiple locations and spend hours with a photographer on your wedding day. That time is usually spent with guests and enjoying the marriage ceremony. But who wouldn’t like to have more opportunity with their photographer? So, after the wedding sessions are popping up all over and the results have been spectacular.

There seems to be two schools of thought – the after session being a completely different look to the wedding or recreating the wedding day. It’s certainly a great excuse to get to wear the dress again! Some sessions are becoming beautiful styled shoots which are set in the couple’s favorite spots or centred around a certain theme.

We loved this After Wedding Styled Shoot with Rachel & Gabriel. Their session began from a very sad story involving their wedding day photographer losing their photos.  Instead of dwelling on such a negative experience, Gabriel & Rachel decided to throw themselves into a gorgeous styled shoot with photographer Brij Charon that highlighted both Vancouver and Victoria landmarks such as Fairmont Hotel Georgia and St. Ann’s Academy.

We appreciate Rachel’s advice about their experience. “We never thought we would be the couple who would have a photography disaster. But that allowed us to dream up something bigger and better with a styled shoot. The flexibility with timeline was so much fun and created a chance for better shots and creativity.”

Photos: Brij Charan Photography | Gown: Shades of White Bridal

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