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Layla and Christopher surprised their guests with a picturesque wedding in the alpines of Whistler. They let us in on the secret, and we got to photograph their beautiful seaplane wedding from Vancouver to Whistler.
About the Bride & Groom
Layla and Christopher met at work, but it wasn’t a romance right from the start. The two were hesitant to begin a relationship with a colleague, but they built a solid foundation of friendship. By the time they took the plunge and went on their first date, they were already best friends.
The proposal came on a trip to Ucluelet, BC – on the coast of Vancouver Island – that Christopher planned. They packed up their things, wrangled their dogs, and set off on the trip over the Family Day long weekend in 2020. Layla had hoped that he was going to propose but wasn’t expecting it that weekend. But on a rainy hike with their dogs in tow, Christopher proposed at a lookout point along the trail.
The mid-hike proposal was the perfect setting for this couple. Layla and Christopher love to spend their time hiking the trails with their dogs, travelling, and boating in the many bodies of water in BC.
Surprise Whistler Seaplane Wedding
Layla and Christopher planned an intimate wedding with only twelve guests. All the guests, except Layla’s sister, believed that the couple would be marrying at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. In reality, the bride and groom had a more adventurous wedding plan in mind.
The guests were stunned and excited to learn that everyone would be flying to an alpine lake to watch their loved ones say their vows. Layla and Christopher knew their guests would be thrilled but unprepared for an outdoor wedding, so they gifted them a survival kit with all the essentials – a blanket, slippers, and other valuable trinkets.
We’ve photographed many outdoor adventurous weddings and mountain elopements in British Columbia, including hiking weddings, helicopter elopements. But we’ve never had a chance to be a part of a seaplane wedding. We were so excited!
The Day of the Seaplane Elopement
The day of a seaplane elopement is always filled with a lot of excitement and happiness. And while there is always a lot to do and think about, it all comes together beautifully.
Getting Ready in Vancouver
Layla and her sister got ready at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. Once the dress was put on, the makeup was done, and the hair was perfectly in place, Layla had an emotional moment with her dad, showing him the complete bridal look.
Layla and Christopher decided to keep to tradition and not see each other before the ceremony. The first time Christopher saw his bride is when she stepped out of her separate seaplane, ready to walk down the aisle.
Seaplane Flight from Vancouver to Whistler
A seaplane wedding from Vancouver to Whistler begins at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, where all the guests check-in. Just the view alone was breathtaking. From Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, and the Northshore Mountains, the sight of Vancouver from the sky is something everyone should see.
All the places we usually see from the ground are completely transformed when you’re up in the air. Despite all the hiking done at Garibaldi Park, flying over it on the way to Whistler and seeing it from above is a different experience altogether.
Backup Plan for a Seaplane Wedding
When you’re having a seaplane wedding (basically any type of outdoor wedding), you need to have a backup plan for the things you can’t control – like the weather. We always have an alternative if things don’t go as planned.
For Layla and Christopher’s seaplane wedding, the original plan was to fly to Lake Lovely Water and exchange vows there. Unfortunately, due to some cloud cover, the pilot had to divert to the new location: the stunning Green Lake in Whistler.
Seaplane Wedding Ceremony in Whistler
Layla and Christopher’s wedding took place on the wooden dock of Green Lake with open water and mountains in the background. Surrounded by friends and family, the bride and groom exchanged touching vows that left everyone with tears in their eyes.
Following the ceremony, there was a toast to the newly married couple, followed by photos. We took stunning family photos and photos of the bride and groom with the stunning landscape of Whistler as their backdrop.
Wedding Reception at Brix and Mortar
After flying back to Vancouver, the bride and groom and their guests were met by an awaiting limo. We took the opportunity to take more photos in Stanley Park before heading to Brix and Mortar for their reception dinner.
Layla and Christopher’s wedding radiated love and happiness. We’re so glad we got to document their stunning seaplane wedding from Vancouver to Whistler with their loved ones. We have no doubt this is just the beginning of their many adventures as a married couple.
