Ceremony in the Great Outdoors?

With the reception site now booked, J and I turned our attention to the reason for this whole shindig: the wedding ceremony. Like me, maybe as you plan your wedding it seems a little odd to focus so much attention on what is essentially a big party while leaving the meaningful lifelong commitment part somewhere on the back burner. But the first rule of planning is logistics, and reception venues are limited! Plus, the costs associated with the reception are going to be a large portion of your overall budget and your guests will be spending the majority of their time at your reception.

Luckily for brides, the possibilities for wedding ceremonies are endless which means that the most important part of your day can also be the most personal. Just don't plan to have a friend or family member conduct your ceremony. In British Columbia, marriages can only be performed by a religious representative or a marriage commissioner and they must be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency.

We decided to look at 3 different options for our ceremony site: outdoors, at the reception venue and in a church. Outdoor ceremonies have the advantage of a natural backdrop and can be staged with as much or as little fanfare as you like. The city of Vancouver allows couples to book certain parks or beaches for wedding ceremonies. A small fee is charged to reserve these sites for 4 hours at a time. The Parks Board website also has a great list of community centres and gardens around the city to consider for your wedding day.

At the start of our planning I had my heart set on a garden wedding and there were so many gorgeous locations to choose from. Van Dusen Botanical Garden has an intimate ceremony space suitable for up to 30 guests, as well as 2 large lawn areas that can accommodate 100 or 120 guests. The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens offer a peaceful oasis amid the bustle of Chinatown. For a classic (and fragrant) ceremony, consider rose gardens at UBC, in Stanley Park, at Burnaby Mountain or Queens Park in New Westminster.

The Celebration Pavilion at Queen Elizabeth Park is becoming a popular spot for ceremonies and it was at the top of our list. There are stunning views of the city and a dramatic water feature adjacent to the ceremony site. The pavilion has unique and modern architecture and features a wall of coloured glass that can be opened in the summer for an outdoor feeling. The only disappointment with this location is the price. Although the rental fee includes all decorations, the officiant and your choice of classical musicians, we thought the $2900 price tag was just too much.

If you're thinking about an outdoor ceremony, be sure to consider a plan in case of poor weather! You can't control the elements and having an alternative location or a tent rented just in case will put your mind at ease. Don't forget details like ease of access for disabled or elderly guests, and have a good sound system so that everyone can share in your vows.   

J and I decided that the atmosphere of an outdoor ceremony wasn't worth the stress of uncertainty around weather and organizing chair rentals. Could our reception venue be the perfect spot for our ceremony?