Linda + Cody // Swaneset Wedding, Pitt Meadows

Linda and I first met when I photographer her sister’s wedding in 2021. Since then, she’s become a loyal client and an even better friend. Linda is quite possibly the only other person on earth as obsessed with dogs as I am, and it has created a deep bond between us. I was so thrilled when she and Cody decided to hire me as their wedding photographer. These two are kind, classy, and have a love that is timeless. They decided to privately exchange vows before the ceremony (and played ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to see who would go first). It was a very intimate and meaningful addition to their beautiful wedding day. Thankfully, with Swaneset so close to the gorgeous Pitt River, we were able to sneak away from the reception for some dreamy blue-hour photos before dancing the night away.

Venue: Swaneset Bay and Country Club

Florals: Vivio Flowers

MUA: Jun Studios

Decor: All Occasions Decor

Officiant: Erika from Young, Hip, and Married

DJ: Jace Rivera

Videographer: Still Photography

Planner: Umbrella Events

Chris & Angela // Falls Golf Course Wedding, Chilliwack

I’ve been waiting for this wedding since I photographed Angela’s two sisters’ weddings many many years ago. Angela and Chris mark my third and final wedding for the Stove family- I’ve now completed the trifecta of Stove siblings’ weddings! Being with this crew was like walking into a big family reunion. So many familiar faces and stories. I feel so connected to this family and the incredible love they have for one another. Adding to the emotion of the day, Angela chose to honour her best friend, who recently lost her battle with cancer, with personal touches throughout the day. She wore pieces of her best friend’s jewelry, included a sweet bumblebee in her bouquet (a play on her nickname), and even included a photo of her amongst the guests at the ceremony. It was a beautiful way to carry her best friend with her throughout the day they dreamed of together.

I was in awe of the beautiful space that Angela’s aunt, Larissa (the incredibly talented woman behind Bridal Beginnings!) put together. A mixture of fresh and preserved florals were expertly paired with touches of gold and amber. The reception was warm and elegant and absolutely stunning. It was the perfect way to finish the trifecta of Stove weddings. I couldn’t be more thankful these three sisters chose to hire me!

Florals and Decor: Bridal Beginnings

MUA: The Artistry Duo

Dress: Union Bridal

Venue: Falls Golf Club

Payton + Brian // Fraser River Lodge Wedding

A groovy meets boho wedding in the mountains? Sign me the HECK up. Payton and Brian brought everything they had to this incredible wedding. Brian constructed the gorgeous wooden sunburst backdrop, and Payton gathered all the disco and vintage details. The florals by Wild Rabbit Flowers was just the cherry on top! Then there were the sweet little details like how Payton’s grandma made her wedding dress. And the floral disco ball chandelier? I was blown away by it all. But of course, the most wonderful part of all was two very special guests- Mowgli and Grizzly, their dogs. It was an absolute honour to capture Payton and Brian’s wedding day, especially with an incredible team of vendors:

Venue: Fraser River Lodge, Agassiz, BC

HMUA: Dames and Dolls, Caitlin J Makeup

Officiant: Kristen Olynick, Vancouver Officiant

Florals: Wild Rabbit Flowers

Intimate Mayne Island Elopement at the Cob Cottage // Sophie + Frank

It’s no secret that Mayne Island holds a very special place in my heart. When Sophie reached out to me to see if I’d be willing to come to the island for her elopement, I was all too eager. There are only two ferries to the Island each day from the mainland, so I hopped on the morning ferry, enjoyed the island a bit, then stopped by my favorite charming cob cottage where these two were staying and planned to say, “I do”. Alexis, the incredible human who owns and runs this little cob, is a dear friend of mine. Knowing Sophie envisioned involving the farm animals at the cob as much as possible, Alexis and I planned to lure the animals to the cob with some of their favorite treats scattered about. There’s nothing more fun than leading a herd of eager sheep to a ceremony site, I can promise you that! These two had a private ceremony in front of the cob with sheep surrounding them. I even got to be a witness (since sheep signatures don’t count in the eyes of the government). Sophie had a second dress, so we did a quick change into her second look and headed into the forest for a few more portraits before I hopped on the evening ferry home. It was such an intimate and beautiful day. I’d be thrilled to continue doing little elopements here!

Big shout out to my pal Rachel Patterson for also taking the ferry over from Victoria to do Sophie’s makeup! We first met at a Gulf Island Wedding when we were both pregnant in 2017. It was nice to work a wedding together again.

Alysha + Ryan // Intimate Wedding at Pitt Lake

I first met Alysha and Ryan when Ryan hired me to capture his proposal to Alysha (during a photo session with their pup!). These two wanted an intimate ceremony overlooking Pitt Lake, so they invited a handful of friends and family to the Pitt Meadows dykes. We lucked out with dry weather, but the sun played peekaboo behind the clouds for the entire ceremony. Sometimes they were illuminated in brilliant sun, and other times the light was moody and stormy. It made for a fun mix of mood throughout their photos. We had a ton of fun taking their photos with a classic car (until the battery died- but thankfully I always have jumped cables!) before heading to Chameleon Restaurant in Maple Ridge where everyone sat down for a delicious meal to celebrate. I absolutely love when couples create the wedding day that’s perfect for them, and this one was no exception!

Planner: Dashae at Above and Beyond Event Planning

Hair and Makeup: Shayla at Rose Quartz Beauty

Florals: Westgate Flower Garden

Reception: Chameleon Restaurant

Kathleen + Dave // Rowena's Inn on the River Wedding, Harrison Mills

Kathleen and Dave love adventure. Whether they’re backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail, or relocating to the Yukon, they’re up for anything as long as they’re together. Their wedding day at Rowena’s Inn on the River was such a romantic affair. I couldn’t help but gush over Kathleen’s incredible “Tangled” inspired braid, or her dress that shimmered with a subtle touch of glitter. It was a beautiful nod to every little girls’ Disney dreams. These two lovebirds were married in the middle of a grove of trees- a little nod to their love for the outdoors. Their reception was all class with beautiful draping and elegant candles and fragrant florals. The personal touches- a customized wine label with a cartoon of them backpacking, and every table number showcasing school yearbook photos from the corresponding grade- only added to the charm! It’s always a pleasure to photograph weddings at Rowena’s Inn, and this day was no exception.

Noahmay + Trevor // Wedding at the Secret Garden at Ripples Winery and New Wave Distilling in Abbotsford

Whenever my clients book at the Secret Garden, I am absolutely giddy with excitement. This venue really has it all. Noahmay and Trevor leaned into the greenery for their wedding, and added pops of coral. We loved using some of the greenhouses for photos, as well as the local fields. This area was devastated by catastrophic flooding only 6 months prior to Noahmay and Trevor’s wedding, and Ripples worked tirelessly to return the venue to its former glory. Their efforts truly paid off- it was impossible to even tell that the entire venue was under 4 feet of water.

Noahmay and Trevor are extremely kind and fun-loving people. They met playing a video game, and despite the long distance between them, took a chance on dating one another. They both come from families that love fiercely, and it was so evident how deeply loved these two are by everyone around them. It was an absolute joy to photograph their wedding day- especially with an entire gaggle of flower girls and ring bearers that loved busting a move on the dance floor. Not to mention the exuberant Filipino money dance that was enthusiastically participated in by all the guests. Truly an incredible day to remember!

Venue: The Secret Garden at Ripples Winery

Julie + Geoff // Mayne Island Resort Wedding

Venue: Mayne Island Resort

Forest fire smoke rolled in heavy and thick the day before Julie and Geoff’s wedding. Though smoke-filled skies make for even light, it tends to be pretty orange. The before and after on these images can be a bit dramatic to compensate for the smokey hue, but they always turn out beautiful despite it!

Mayne Island is one of my favourite places to be. Don’t ask my husband how many times I’ve begged him to let us move there. It’s a special spot and an even better location for weddings. Julie and Geoff made the right call when they chose to host their wedding at Mayne Island Resort. The ceremony location is nestled into a grassy forest overlooking the ocean, and the outdoor reception space lined with string lights creates such a beautiful atmosphere for games, conversation, and dining. These two opted to read private vows to one another near the ocean prior to their ceremony and it was such a sweet, personal touch to their wedding day.

Julie and Geoff had this to say:

“We first found Rachel’s portfolio when we were looking at island wedding venues and we instantly fell in love with her photography style. We immediately knew we had to book her, so after a quick FaceTime (which included a lot of smiles and laughs) we knew she was the right person for the job! From the start, Rachel has been so responsive and easy to communicate with. She was flexible and adaptive when we had to reschedule our engagement shoot (twice!) due to some bad weather, and we loved that she was up for any location. Coming from two people who feel a bit awkward in front of the camera, Rachel immediately put us at ease with her genuine positivity, her awesome sense of humor, and her light hearted nature. She made us feel so comfortable and confident on our big day. Our guests haven’t stopped gushing over how amazing and lovely she was, and we’ve received SO many compliments on our photos! Without hesitation I would recommend booking Rachel for any of your special events. She was an absolute pro and a joy to work with, and we’re so grateful she captured our wedding day!!”

Arielle + Sebastian // North Arm Farm Wedding, Pemberton

Venue: North Arm Farm, Pemberton, BC

Planning: Blue Violet Events

Florals: Within The Flowers

Beauty: Colleen Conroy Makeup

There are no words that can prepare you for these two and their effortlessly cool vibes and flawless sense of style. A little bit rock n’ roll mixed with bohemian goodness. Arielle and Sebastian aren’t just a pretty package, they’re quite possibly the most genuine and warm people I’ve ever met. To top it all off? They’re hopelessly in love and have been since their high school days.

North Arm Farm is one of the dreamiest venues that overlooks the iconic Mount Currie. You wouldn’t have known it when you drove up for this wedding, however, since the skies were dark and heavy with rain. The moody atmosphere was the perfect compliment to the rich tones that Arielle and Sebastian chose for their wedding colours (and those FLORALS!), and I was giddy to capture such a stunning combination. We might have had to break out my handy cart of clear umbrellas during the ceremony, but the skies soon cleared and the evening was filled with sunshine and striking mountain views.

The sneak peek from this wedding day went viral on Tiktok, to the tune of 1.5 million views and over 500,000 likes. It’s not hard to see why (and as much as I’d like to take credit, it’s really a combination of many, many, incredible people that helped put this day together). If you really want to set the mood while you look at these images, I encourage you to listen to Light my Love, by Greta Van Fleet (the couple’s first dance song!)

Here are some very sweet words from Arielle and Sebastian about their experience:

“10/10 HIRE RACHEL BARKMAN!

This is the easiest review we could ever give. Rachel was incredible from the moment we first connected to discuss our wedding, continued to surprise us over the 2 years of planning, and finally on our wedding day. We were BLOWN away by the engagement session we had with her at Lighthouse Park, and the previews we received of our wedding photos, (the next day I might add!!), had us in tears. At the wedding she was a master in helping facilitate the events of the day, was so kind to everyone, brought 40 clear umbrellas that she JUST HAD because it was raining, and is just so incredibly talented. There aren’t enough words for me to express what she has done for us. I absolutely adore her, and will cherish these photos for the rest of our lives. She really knows how to make a couple feel special.”

-Arielle and Sebastian

Junie + Nick // American Creek Lodge Autumn Wedding, Hope, BC

Junie and I spent the entire week leading up to her wedding checking the weather. The morning of, it was downpouring, but the hour by hour reports looked somewhat hopeful that we might get some breaks and be able to host her and Nick’s wedding ceremony on the deck of American Creek Lodge. As Junie and Nick got ready, we got closer to the deadline for making a decision for where to set up. Seeing that Junie was clearly in distress about making the decision, I stepped in and told her to take the risk for the outdoor ceremony. The view was worth getting wet for. Not long after she agreed to set up the ceremony outside, the clouds parted and a giant rainbow stretched across the sky. It was only the beginning to an epic wedding day.

Though we had to pull out some umbrellas for a few minutes during the ceremony (and it even started to snow briefly at one point!), the rest of the day was dry and gorgeous. Junie and Nick said their ‘I dos’ and danced under the stars. Junie’s show stopping dress made everyone swoon, but it was the little tuxedo vest she made for their dog, Paddington, that truly stole everyone’s hearts. Honestly, I may begin to limit my services to dog friendly venues only because weddings are 100x better with a dog present. Paddington roamed around all day and got his fill of treats (there was even a treat station just for him at the reception!).

The weather may have been fickle, but this wedding day could not have been more beautiful. Congratulations, Junie and Nick!

Venue: American Creek Lodge

Officiant: Brian Olynick

Decor: Bespoke Decor

Florals: Flower Factory

Hair & Make-up: The Love Team

Catering: Savory Chef

Planning and Day Of Coordination: Maeghan Tuckey

Samara + Andrew // UBC & Cecil Green Park House Wedding

Samara and Andrew met at the UBC School of Music, so they decided to get married on the very stage where they first met. To top it off, they invited their entire choir and family to sing with them during the ceremony, while Andrew showed off his conductor skills. These personal details made their ceremony one-of-a-kind, and oh-so beautiful!

We met up before their ceremony for a first look and to photograph these two with their crew of friends before making our way to UBC for their vows. Then, while the sun set, we enjoyed a romantic dinner under the twinkling lights at Cecil Park Green House. We took a few moments to take a few golden hour photos around the grounds before returning to immerse ourselves in the kind words of their friends and family. This entire day was so thoughtful and personal. I have to say, weddings that intentionally honour the unique aspects of a couple are definitely a favourite! Thanks for having me along, Samara and Andrew!

The wonderful line-up of vendors:

Day of Coordinator: Laurel Events

Venue: UBC School of Music and Cecil Green Park House

Caterer: Scholars Catering

Music: Aurora Chamber Choir

Florist: Budget Blooms

Decor: Past Pieces

MUA: Fresh Faces by Jenn

Hair: Brooklyn at Honeylush Hair

Nicole + Chris // Mayne Island Wedding

The first time I met Nicole and Chris, I instantly adored them. There is something about these two that makes you feel welcome and at home with them. They are sweet and humble people who take time to truly listen when you speak to them. When they told me they wanted to get married on Mayne Island, where Chris’ family has had a cabin since he was a child, I knew we were meant to be. Mayne Island has always been one of my favorite places in the entire world. We bonded over our mutual love for this Southern Gulf Island, and they told me about how Chris proposed at the very point where they were planning to have their ceremony.

Their wedding day was relaxed and filled with warm, loving people. Chris and Nicole exchanged their vows in a forest overlooking the ocean, and then scaled some rocky cliffs for their photos before returning to the Mayne Island Resort for a cozy reception filled with games, good food, and a lot of heartwarming laughter.

Hats off to a great team of vendors and friends that worked hard to put this day together:

Wedding Arch: Built by the groom and stained by the couple

Blackberry Jam Favours: Made lovingly by the groom’s mother from berries the couple picked themselves!

Make-up: Friend of the Bride, Sam Hunter

Dress: Made with Love Bridal from Everly Fine Bridal in Kits

Venue: Mayne Island Resort

Catering: Bennett Bay Bistro

Cake/Cupcakes: Le Gateau Bake Shop

Florals: Maple Ridge Florist

Hair Piece: Atelier Elise in Gastown

Decor Calligraphy: Willow Calligraphy

Driftwood Decor: Friend of the Bride, Claire Boothe

Other Decor: Wood and Willow Event Rental

Megan + Glen // The Secret Garden at Woodbridge Ponds Wedding

I can’t say enough about how sweet and humble these two are. They’re an incredibly talented photo + video duo based in Kelowna (One Peak Marketing), and their choice to hire me was the biggest compliment I could have ever received. Every word they spoke to me was filled with kindness, and if these photos are any evidence, they are genuine, deeply loving humans who value their family and friends fiercely. I won’t even tell you how many times I cried during the speeches (probably as much as Megan!).

Also, can we chat for a minute about Woodbridge Ponds? The grounds are BEAUTIFUL for portraits and the reception tent is a photographers dream with all the filtered natural light and greenery everywhere. I have never been so in love with photographing in a venue! I hope to be back at this venue many, many times.

A huge thank you to this amazing team of vendors behind this wedding day:

Venue: The Secret Garden at Woodbridge Ponds

Florals: Eucalyptus Pop-Up

Catering: Simply Savory Valley Catering

Wedding Dress: The Bridal Gallery

Suit: Indochino

Dresses: Bliss Bridal Kelowna

HMUA: Rachael Mah

Cake: Rustic Designs

Stella + Chris // Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler Wedding

Stella and Chris are adventurous people who love dogs (and even brought their pup, Jello, to their engagement session- which I am a BIG fan of by the way). Stella lights up every room she walks into, and Chris is her steady rock. Throughout the reception, whenever Stella would tear up during a speech, he would quietly tuck her under his arm and hold her in the sweetest embrace while they continued to listen to the kind and loving words of their friends and family. These two are beautiful and generous and the love flowing from everyone at their wedding is sure to stick with me forever. There were probably 20 boxes of kleenex that were used during getting ready alone, haha!

For their photos, we ventured up the Whistler Gondola for photos on the misty mountaintop. All the fog and cloud made for some pretty wonderfully dramatic images! We even spotted a few bears on the ride up. At the top, Stella and Chris took time to read their vows to one another in private. It was a beautiful and tender moment for them to share prior to their ceremony. After descending the mountain, these two tied the knot and partied with their friends and family until late in the night (and Stella’s dad might have been the best dancer there!).

The fantastic team of vendors:

Venue: Nita Lake Lodge

Planner: Elle Weddings

Officiant: Tracy Kerr

Florals: Billie’s Flower House

DJ: Wailin Dalen

Hair: Alyssha Chiang Makeup & Hair

MUA: Makeup by Rae

Dress: Champagne & Lace

Suit: Tom Ford from Harry Rosen

Mark + Thomas // Sea to Sky Gondola and Shaughnessy Restaurant Wedding

Thomas and Mark have officially taken up residence in my heart after majorly bonding with them over the course of their wedding planning. In fact, at their reception, Thomas spent more time sitting with my second shooter, Laine, and I, than he did with his own guests. We simply adore these two! Mark is calm and collected and absolutely SMITTEN with Thomas, and Thomas has the most infectious smile in the entire world, and it’s extra big with Mark is around. These two are the perfectly balanced couple and far too much fun to hang out with. Their intimate wedding on top of the Sea-to-Sky Gondola (which is sadly closed temporarily due to someone vandalizing the gondola), was a bit rainy, a lot of fun, and filled with many, many happy tears.

Also, fun fact: I have a granny cart of 30+ clear umbrellas that I bring along on wedding days if there is a chance of rain. I’ve never felt more like a superhero than when it started raining in the middle of Thomas and Mark’s ceremony and I tossed clear umbrellas to people left, right, and center.

The fabulous team of vendors behind this dreamy day:

Decor: Bespoke Decor

Florals: Flower Factory

Ceremony: Sea to Sky Gondola

Reception: Shaughnessy Restaurant

Suit: Harry Rosen Menswear Vancouver

Kilt: Tartan Town Coquitlam

Drink Coasters (Favours): Sarah Rachel Finke

Hilary + Greg // Fraser River Lodge, Agassiz Wedding Photographer

This wedding is an extra special one for me. Hilary and I became pregnant with our first children around the same time- and pregnancy, childbirth, and raising babies has brought us close together. I’ve known Hilary for years, hiked many mountains with her, and now am learning what it means to be a mother with her. Capturing her wedding day was a grand honor.

This was my first wedding away from my own baby, so it was nice to have Hilary’s little babe along for me to snuggle whenever I needed. It was very special watching Charlie see her parents get married. However, the real tear-jerker moment was when the groom brought his baby girl out during the father-daughter dance and made the entire room collectively sigh “awwww” and reach for the tissues. It wasn’t the only time the day had a few tears- Hilary and Greg chose a beautiful tribute to Greg’s late mother, who passed away a few months earlier. It was a focal point throughout the reception and many reminisced on the wonderful memories they have of her. During the ceremony (which was clouded and moody), the sun burst forth during the exchanging of the rings, and everyone agreed that it seemed to be a sign that Greg’s mom was watching over the ceremony and sending her own little blessing.

Knowing Hilary and Greg well, it’s easy to see how the beautiful life and family they’ve built is only going to continue to grow and bless them as they grow old together. Lucky for me, my part in their story doesn’t stop at their wedding day.

Florals: Kaye Fleur

Dress: Truvelle

Venue: Fraser River Lodge

Officiant: Young, Hip, and Married

Leanne + Taylor // Priddis Greens Wedding Photographer

Leanne + Taylor’s wedding felt like a beautiful breath of fresh air. I admit openly that their ceremony was so full of joy and praise that my soul was rejuvenated just by witnessing it. The delight was palpable, especially between the parents of these two. There were many, many, happy tears throughout the day!

After their ceremony in Calgary, everyone headed to Priddis for the reception. To kick things off, a cocktail hour complete with axe throwing, got the party started. We watched the sun set across the Priddis hills as friends and family spoke their words of love and admiration for these two incredible humans and the beautiful way they found each other. It was an absolutely jubilant day from start to finish and I feel honored to have been a part of it.

Ceremony Venue: Southview Alliance Church

Reception Venue: Priddis Greens

Hair and Make-up: Leah Murray

Dress: Pearl and Dot

Florals: Hen & Chicks Design

Bridesmaid Dresses: Park & Fifth

Suits: Indochino

Ice Cream Bar: Made by Marcus

Videographer: Jessica Sanchez

DJ: I Capture Entertainment

Britney + Brandon // Pipe Shop North Vancouver Wedding Photographer

Britney and Brandon hail from Seattle but chose North Vancouver as the spot to get married in. Their friends and family (and adorable dog, Hobbs) made the journey up for a weekend full of memories and gorgeous fall weather. Everyone feasted on delicious pizza (with generous servings of ranch, Britney’s fave) and listened to a whole lotta Kanye (who was a integral part of this couple’s theme!). Hobbs was a big part of the day (maybe even the main attraction!) and acted as the ring bearer and official cuddler throughout the day. He roamed the venue during the reception and received scraps from everyone’s plates, and afterwards he danced all the treats off by joining in on the first dance. Safe to say, Britney and Brandon are my kinda people.

Venue: The Pipe Shop

Florals: Our Little Flower Company

Dress: Sarah Seven from The Dress Theory

Groom’s Suit: Bonobos

Catering: Whistler Wood Fired Pizza

Krista + Rafael // Brix & Mortar // Vancouver Wedding Photographer

Krista and Raf are the kind of people you want to adopt into your family the moment you meet them. These two are cool without even knowing it. They’ll make you laugh until it hurt. Plus, they’re easy on the eyes. #jackpot.

Krista and I share an insane love for Star Wars, so naturally I consider her my best friend. We also love cats (and animals in general). My favorite thing about Krista, however, is the way that she values people and sentimentality. This entire wedding was dedicated to celebrating their friends and families, and a whole lot of happy tears and sappy speeches that made everyone else cry right along with them. Both Krista and Raf were happy crying for the majority of this wedding. The type of tears that move you, even when you see them in photographs months later. These two love SO DEEPLY. Thank goodness they’re both attractive criers, or else this blog post would probably be hilarious. Instead, I present you with the most beautiful, moving, and love-filled wedding day that I’ve ever been a part of.

Thank you, Krista and Raf, for letting me capture your day.

A standing ovation for the amazing team of vendors behind this day:

Venue: Brix & Mortar

Florals: Sunflower Florist

Dress: Blush by Hayley Paige from Sash and Bustle

Suit: Dirty Inc.

Make-up: Mani Bratch

Hair: Hair by Ashlee

Planner: Jennifer Ungaro from Epic Events

Michelle + Brad // Bodega Ridge, Galiano Wedding Photographer

Michelle and Brad are a riot to be around. The laughter simply flows when these two are involved! I spent a long time anticipating this wedding after a hilariously fun engagement shoot in the snow at Christmas time (not to mention I've been dying to photograph a wedding at Bodega Ridge for a long time!) Michelle was a total show stopper with her gorgeous gown and head piece. The ceremony sat overlooking the ocean, surrounded by arbutus trees (my personal fave) on the loveliest overcast day that Galiano Island has ever seen. This entire day was a dream and an honour to capture. 

Venue: Bodega Ridge

Florals: Trincomali Farms

Dress: Essense of Australia 

Suit: Indochino

Make-up: Rachel DeGoutiere

Hair: Hunt and Gather Co - Mandy