Fairytale Beach & Garden Elopement on the Bruce Peninsula
Couple:
Vivian & Kyle
Location:
Keppel Croft Gardens, Bruce Peninsula
From the Photographer:
After postponing their wedding once for COVID-19, and faced with another postponement as Viv's family was out of the country, Kyle and Viv didn't want a pandemic to get in the way of starting their marriage. So they made a big call: they scrapped their guest-list and turned their wedding day plans into a close-to-home elopement, keeping all the beautiful details they had spent forever curating for just the two of them to enjoy. From a beautiful, intimate ceremony in a private garden and a stunningly curated elopement dinner for two to ending the night in style with a walk on Big Bay pier and an exit ride on vintage dirt bikes. This day was a dream for Vivian and Kyle in every way.
Kyle and Viv are a couple who prioritized their love during an unprecedented time. They know what truly matters to them. I'm thrilled to share this elopement because it celebrated all of the things they love in the place they have built their life together. Their wedding day showcases the talent and beauty of the region and proves that you don’t need book a flight to a faraway destination to have a the elopement of your dreams.
- Spring, Spring Morris Photography
From the Couple:
How did you choose your venue?:
We knew we wanted an outdoor wedding in a garden setting. We loved the idea of getting married in nature and surrounded by beautiful flowers and landscapes. After discovering Keppel Croft Gardens and touring the property, we knew it was the one. We loved the welcoming picturesque gardens and the history of the place, owned and created by a lovely couple since the late 70’s. It was dog friendly too which was also really important to us. And being a short walk from the Big Bay General Store and the Big Bay Dock, we thought delicious ice cream on our big day and perfect magic hour photos! It couldn’t have been a better recipe.
What was the most important thing for you for your wedding day?:
The most important thing for me on my wedding day was marrying my person and being able to enjoy our day together, stress free. It was also important to me that my vision and the aesthetic was as I had dreamt. Our wedding coordinator impressively delivered and made it all possible.
Please describe any unique details from your day and why they were special to you:
We eloped instead of having to postpone a second time due to Covid. We tied the knot with just the two of us and we loved that we were able to spend the day with each other on a much more intimate level.
We also had a local duo perform our walk down the aisle and first dance song. We loved that they were able to perform the songs that were personal to us with their unique touch. It was special and it really set the mood.
What was the atmosphere you were trying to create?:
We were aiming for intimate, vintage and romantic. The venue made this pretty easy to achieve with its already beautiful and romantic natural setting. But we also brought in old furniture and floral plates to add the vintage touch. We used my husband’s late grandmother’s old wood dresser for our food display table, our own personal dining table for our private dinner and an old settee for pictures. Sprinkling in our personal touches made the atmosphere that much more special to us.
What area of your wedding did you splurge on? (what was your top priority):
Photography was a splurge but it was completely worth it. We knew hiring a professional photographer was an investment and the right decision because we could not have been happier with our wedding photos. She made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and she captured every moment with beauty and artistry.
What area of your wedding did you save on?
Since we scaled down our wedding due to Covid, we saved a lot on costs associated with having guests. We were able to save on rental costs for the tent, tables, and portable washrooms. We also spent a lot less on food & drinks because we went from catering for a large party of forty to just a dinner for two.
What wedding advice would you give to someone planning their wedding now?:
Invest in a wedding coordinator. Ours was a dream to work with. They’ll significantly reduce your stress of planning and most importantly, you can focus on enjoying your big day while they take care of everything else behind the scenes.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?:
There really wasn’t one moment that was more memorable than the other. The whole day was perfect. From the moment we first saw each other in our backyard for our first look, to when we locked eyes while I walked down the aisle, to gazing into each others eyes during photos while the sun set, it was all unforgettable.
What was your biggest challenge in the planning process?:
Staying within budget, knowing when to say no, and knowing the difference between what we want vs. what we need. Also, planning a wedding during Covid was a major challenge. Navigating through the uncertainty was difficult but we kept reminding ourselves of what was most important to us and we couldn’t be happier with how things came together in the end.
What was your first dance song?:
A slow acoustic cover of You’re my best friend by Queen.
VENDORS:
Photography: Spring Morris
Florals: Serendipity Florals
Planning: Cornelia J Events
Venue: Keppel Croft Gardens
Food: Walker Catering
Music: Tragedy Ann Music
Officiant: Brent McLaughlin, The Best Little Wedding Chapel
Hair & Makeup: The bride
Ice Cream: Big Bay General Store
