VIWIA – West Coast Weddings

Vancouver Island Wedding Industry 2020 Awards

Laura Kalcsa — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:21:09 +0000

Vancouver Island Wedding Industry 2020 Awards Special Edition...it was a year of changes in every way and that included this year’s Vancouver Island Wedding Awards. The Board members looked for a way to recognize the industry while acknowledging the difficulties and positive moments. The decision was made to create categories that reflected the circumstances and celebrated the community.

This Gala format was something completely new, so everyone was relieved when 17 Black Events came onboard with their online event experience. Mary Winspear Centre once again offered their theatre for filming while Sara of The Good Party worked away at scripts. Friendors throughout the Island sent in pre=taped intros while Painted Sky Films put together a mix of images from the previous year.

Tamara and Scott, surrounded by decor and floral by The Good Party and Fleurtacious by Lynda Marie, guided us through an evening of awards, giveaways, music and recognition of those who are supporting the Island wedding community. DJ Chris Poynter opened the evening with a half hour set while Jill Cooper played the intermission and ended the evening with her vocals. We especially loved Derek and Lindsay with their hilarious ‘in bed’ working moments and the crowd out in Tofino who crowd sourced their ‘friendor’ intro! (thanks to Long Beach Lodge Resort!)

Giveaways throughout the Awards were provided by Bilston Creek Farm, Charcuterie and Co. , Gardens at HCP, Bear & Joey Cafe, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Jam and Co. Luxury Picnics and The Fat Macaron. The most important portion of the evening were the Community Contributors being recognized for their work on behalf of the wedding industry. Jon-Mark Photography, Rare Earth Events, Artistry for Alexa, Four Frames Photo Booth and Paper Heart Films were all nominated by their fellow vendors for this honor.

Many thanks to everyone who worked to make the 2020 Awards happen: the Sponsors, the Industry Association board members, the volunteers and, of course, our judges. A special thank you to the creator of our one of a kind West Coast awards this year – Melanie Anne Designs.

The past year has certainly not been what anyone was expecting…in business or personally. However, we hope to come out a stronger group of ‘friendors’, ready to help couples as they choose to marry on Vancouver Island. We look forward to the Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Awards Gala in 2022. See you there!

WINNERS

THE BALANCING ACT: Kelsey Goodwin of KGOODPhoto
FINALISTS: Tammy of Blue Lily Event Planning + Susan of Cobble Hill Cake Co.

BEST VIRTUAL/AT A DISTANCE EXPERIENCE: Twist Victoria
FINALISTS: Karen of Bezaire Floral and Events | Kailli of Dancing Dandelion Farms | The Good Party

POSITIVE UNEXPECTED OUTCOME: Bilston Creek Farm
FINALISTS: KGOODPhoto and Twist Victoria

MOST UNIQUE SERVICE DELIVERY: Dakota of The Good Party
FINALISTS: Vow and Co. and Oak Bay Beach Hotel

MACRO TO MICRO: Details Planning + Design
FINALISTS: The Good Party + Tulle and Tweed Photography

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2020 Wedding Awards – Virtual COVID Edition

Laura Kalcsa — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 02:30:00 +0000

2020 Vancouver Island Wedding Awards – COVID Edition

VIWIA is proud to present a special COVID edition of the annual Wedding Awards. The virtual awards night will be held on Friday March 12th 2021 at 7pm. The Live event will be produced by 17Black Events and hosted by Mary Winspear Centre.

What are the 2020 Awards – COVID Edition ?

As a group, the VIWIA aims to represent a diverse group of vendors and, this year especially, we have worked hard to find a way to listen to and honour everyone’s wishes.

In recognition of this, we have done away with the traditional categories and awards structure in favour of awards that recognize what this year was.

Award categories will recognize the ups and the downs, the pivots and the innovation, the good and the bad, and all the crazy in-between. We hope to capture both the work that was put into events this year, as well as the work that had nothing to do with events but kept our community going.

Register to watch the livestream event, produced by 17 Black Events from the comfort of your home, or (regulations allowing) in your own small viewing parties. There will be entertainment, fun giveaways, and a great chance to celebrate the incredible work and businesses from across Vancouver Island.

There is NO COST for entering or watching the event this year.

If you would like more details or have a question about the awards please Email: viwedindustry@gmail.com

Photo: Delgado Photography

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Vancouver Island Wedding Awards 2019

Laura Kalcsa — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:17:03 +0000

The Vancouver Island Wedding Awards, hosted by the Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Association, returned to its roots with this year’s Gala on Feb 28^th, 2020. Mary Winspear Centre was showcased beginning with a cocktail hour in their foyer area featuring savory and sweet treats alongside Twist Victoria and fun photo booth action. There was so much chatter it was difficult to persuade guests into the Charlie White Theatre for the actual Awards experience!

Photos by Dave Delgado Photography

Over forty awards were handed out by hosts Kelsey Goodwin, Jon-Mark Wiltshire and Kenny Podmore, who were surrounded by balloons, flowers and bright lights! Popcorn, macarons, an Empress Gin sponsored drink and personal charcuterie boards were delivered by an army of servers during the Awards ceremony. Decorate Victoria’s Ian and Sandy ended the Awards portion of the evening with heartfelt speeches handing off the Industry Award to Nicholas Waters of Toque Catering. Guests then heard the music of Noah Edwards and the Flood, who began to play, inviting them to the rest of the evening.

Bodine Hall was transformed by lounges – each lounge sponsored by a team of planners, florists and friends. Alongside these lounges was a spectacular Dessert Showcase featuring various cake makers. The entire edge of the Hall showcased various food and drink sponsors featuring chefs from Toque Catering, Inn at Laurel Point, Truffles Catering, Songhees Centre Catering , Charcuterie & Co., and House of Boateng. Bubble Bus Co and Twist Victoria kept everyone well supplied during the entire evening. Decorate Victoria, The Good Party and Fleurtacious by Lynda Marie headed up the colourful decor which included thousands of flowers from Eurosa Farms, too many balloons to count and ceiling decor that wowed! Guests partied late into the night with DJ Chris Poynter, ending the evening with swag bags in hand, promising to return next year.

We are so grateful for all the ‘friendors’ on Vancouver Island coming together this year and we look forward to working together creating memories for all the couples marrying here in 2020. See you all next year at the Vancouver Island Wedding Awards!

If you would like to be part of the Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Association Board please email viwedindustry@gmail.com.

Congratulations to all the Finalists and Winners!

2019 Vancouver Island Wedding Awards!

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2017 Vancouver Island Wedding Awards Gala Evening Showcases Vancouver Island Industry

Laura Kalcsa — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 17:07:24 +0000

What a wonderful night! This year’s Vancouver Island Wedding Awards Gala Evening was held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Point Resort. Their team, along with Freeman Audio Visual, made sure that the Awards were a perfect affair. The fifth annual Gala stepped it up with the newly formed Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Association Board and over sixty Sponsors! The evening began when dozens of volunteers worked together to create the vision that Decorate Victoria, Emma McCormick and Lynda of Fleurtacious had designed. They worked with decor rental businesses from all over Vancouver Island to bring together the Tropical Elegance theme. Tickle Tree Stationery + Events and Bon Macaron finished each table off with program and favour.

The evening began with a cocktail hour and appetizers by House of Boateng while everyone admired the cakes designed by each of the dessert sponsors. The actual Awards began with Eva, of Beauty Bride. serenading the crowd followed by Anne Pollock, of Party Mood, addressing the sold out ballroom. 34 Awards diamonds, provided by The Bride’s Closet, were handed out with the highlight being the Industry Excellence Award going to Erin Bradley. Special thanks to Black Rock Oceanfront Resort for sponsoring this Award. Door prizes, which included a grand prize provided by Victoria WOW. were hardly over when the host, Dale Olsen of Outlooks for Men, led the crowd to Lure Restaurant for the after party hosted by Laura of Schur 2 Please. The Eryn Sharpe Trio played while everyone partied away the rest of the night. Of course, guests took along their swag bag filled with goodies (that hangover helper was great)!

Special thanks to all the members of VIWIA Board who worked for months to make the evening special, the volunteers, judges, our ‘vanna girls’, all the sponsors and especially everyone who supported by submitting and/or attending the Awards Gala. See you at next year’s Awards Gala or at the upcoming Industry Education Days!

All photos by Spark and Whimsy Photography

VIWIA Board Members: Anne (Party Mood) | Fern (The Bride’s Closet), Sandy (Decorate Victoria), Beckie (Bridal Exhibition/Plan It Events), Lynda (Fleurtacious), Emma (Emma McCormick of The Good Party), Sharon (Victoria WOW), Laura (Schur to Please), Tara (Tiger Lily Events), Steve & Courtney (Julien Photography), Laura (West Coast Weddings Magazine), Tamara (Tamara Olson Consulting), Ron (Hiway Productions)

Social Media + Website: Creations by Sonia | Snap and Twigs Media | Julien Photography | West Coast Weddings Mag

GRAND Door Prize: Victoria WOW with Spark and Whimsy Photography | Sharon Rai Hair and Makeup Artistry | Magical Moments Decorating | Villa Marco Polo Inn | Brown’s the Florist

After Party: Lure Restaurant and Bar | Schur to Please Boutique Cakery | Party Mood | Eryn Sharpe Trio

See you next year!

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