A Dreamy British Columbia Summer Wedding

Set against the stunning backdrop of Big Sky Golf Club, this summer wedding blends natural beauty with personal charm. The mountains complement the vibrant dresses of the bridal party and the lush summer florals. From a princess-like gown to a cozy garden party, every detail was carefully chosen to make the day truly special.

THE LOVE STORY

Emma and Dan’s love story began at university, where they met through a Christian fellowship group (IVCF). Emma was in her first year, Dan in his second. They became friends, chatting casually during classes and events. For a year, their friendship grew without them realizing something more was developing.

Over time, their connection deepened as they had longer conversations about their shared faith, values, and studies. It became clear they had a deeper connection. After Dan returned from a summer vacation, they finally confessed their mutual affection.

Emma and Dan always wanted to marry their best friend. Their relationship, built on that strong friendship, made their journey to love feel natural and easy.

THE PROPOSAL

Dan planned a beautiful surprise proposal for Emma, starting with her being picked up blindfolded so she wouldn’t know the location. He had a videographer there to ask her about their journey as a couple, and as she reflected on their relationship, she was already in tears, overwhelmed with gratitude for Dan.

When Emma arrived, she could hear the sound of people and a water fountain. Once the blindfold was removed, Emma saw Dan standing there, ready to take her hand. Surrounding them were white lanterns and pictures from each of their seven years together, tied to white balloons. Dan walked her down an aisle filled with these memories, leading to a spot where his brother and a friend played live guitar.

“Not gonna lie, the music did really add to the whole ambience! I honestly couldn’t believe it was all happening because I had dreamed of this moment my whole life”. Then, with a full heart, she said ‘YES’ to her favourite person in the world.

THE DRESS

Before Emma found the dress, she had tried on over 40 dresses at two different stores in one day. At one of those stores, she pulled a style from the rack she never thought she’d wear—an off-the-shoulder dress that hugged her arms perfectly. While the fabric and overall design weren’t quite right, it sparked something.

When she arrived at Novelle Bridal, she went straight for an off-the-shoulder dress called the "NADINE." It was the first dress she tried on, and as soon as she saw herself in it, she started tearing up. “Funny enough, I’ve been one to always ensure that I don’t regret my decision so I ended up trying on a handful of dresses after”. Nevertheless, she kept coming back to the "NADINE” because it felt like the dress.

With its satin-organza ruched sweetheart neckline, off-the-shoulder straps, and full A-line skirt, the dress made her feel like a princess. And it even had pockets—perfect for storing tissues on her wedding day!

WEDDING & RECEPTION

July 23, 2023, at Big Sky Golf Club in Pemberton, BC

Emma and Dan’s cocktail hour took place on a charming outdoor patio, featuring freshly shucked oysters by The Wandering Mollusk, paired with drinks from Edna’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Co., where guests could choose to have their drinks alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

The reception followed in the golf club’s dining area, with a mix of round and long tables, creating an inviting and open atmosphere. With around 120 guests, family and friends traveled from all over the world, including Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, to celebrate with them.

Emma envisioned the reception as a warm garden party, and the décor perfectly reflected that. Bright, rosy bud vases from a local farmer in Pemberton (HappiLife Farm) filled the tables, while soft tan runners added a gentle flow and movement. Instead of real candles, they chose battery-powered tea lights, flickering naturally in rose-gold votives, casting a soft, romantic glow over the space.

“Our reception was overflowing with love and community”. Bringing together friends and family from their past, present, and future. Emma and Dan were overwhelmed with emotion, realizing that everyone who had been a part of their lives at different stages was now gathered in one room—a true "pinch-me" moment. The best man and maid of honour speeches had everyone laughing, while the heartfelt toasts to their parents left the room in tears.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

Live music and worship were among Emma and Dan’s top priorities for their wedding day. As regular worship leaders at their local church, they chose to lead two worship songs during the ceremony: Great Things by Phil Wickham and Goodness of God by Bethel Music. Their wedding party, along with close friends and family, formed the ceremony band, playing and singing as Emma walked down the aisle.

One of the most special surprises came from Dan’s brother, who was also the best man, and Andy, a groomsman. They each wrote original songs for the big day, which they revealed the night before during a campfire jam session at Ancient Cedars Lodge. Emma and Dan then surprised their guests by playing these songs during the reception, even using one for their first dance, replacing their original choice, Honeymoon by Johnny Stimson.

Instead of a traditional mother-son dance, Dan’s family—his mom, dad, brother, and Dan himself—performed a live song together, making the moment extra special. For Emma’s father-daughter dance, she asked her dad if he preferred a slow dance or something more fun. He quickly sent her a list of 50 karaoke songs, and they ended up dancing to Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees.

A close university friend of Emma’s created three custom décor pieces for the wedding. One was a wooden board inscribed with “I have found the one whom my soul loves” from Song of Songs 3:4. The second was a vintage mirror with “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, love never fails” from 1 Corinthians 13:7-8. The third was a custom bar sign for the happy hour, letting guests know they could choose between cocktails or mocktails made with Edna’s drinks.

The love and support of their community touched Emma and Dan deeply. It wasn’t just words, but actions that showed how much they were cared for.

Emma’s favourite moment was when she turned the corner to walk down the aisle. Seeing all their loved ones and locking eyes with Dan in front of the stunning backdrop of Mt. Currie was a memory she’ll cherish forever.

PREPARATIONS & INSPIRATIONS

Emma’s wedding vision was inspired by the beauty of God’s creation, particularly the vibrant colours, textures, and shapes of summer flowers. The idea of a summer garden party reflected her deep connection with nature. As she planned, Emma found herself drawn to outdoor elements, which ultimately led to the decision to marry in front of the stunning Mt. Currie backdrop in Pemberton. This setting served as a powerful reminder of the nearness of God.

While gathering wedding inspiration from Instagram and TikTok, Emma focused on keeping things simple. She tried using Pinterest but found it overwhelming with too many choices. Instead, she drew inspiration from weddings she had attended before, incorporating elements that reflected her and Dan’s love for nature. This helped her create a personal and meaningful wedding day.

FROM EMMA

Your wedding day is only 24 hours. The days and months leading up to it will feel like forever, but when you get to the very day just focus on being present. The things that are meant to be there will be there. Breathe and enjoy every moment of it!!

Hire the day-of coordinator. You don’t want to be running the show or hiring a friend/relative that has never run a large event before as it is multifaceted. The day-of coordinator also has done other weddings before so it's not their first rodeo. Our day-of coordinators helped us work through elements we would have never considered about a wedding. And they helped us narrow down what we prioritized and ensured that it happened on the day :)

Planning your wedding will likely be the first and biggest group project you’ll do with your fiancé. It will test your patience, teamwork and reveal your priorities. Individually and as a couple. You may even find yourself navigating varying expectations from family members and be met with unexpected responses from friends over the years. Therefore, your wedding season can be the most beautiful and the most trying all at the same time. If you make it a priority to work together as a team and not one against the other or even taking family sides, you will become stronger.

Book the wedding videographer (and photographer ofc)! We had our videographers (@greyhousevisuals) document our whole day and now we get to relive the moments every year. They captured varying aspects of the day that helped us savour it all the more.

Special thanks to:

I had come across Maple Jane’s photography on Instagram but to my surprise, she was my brother’s neighbour! Most of my research for vendors was through Instagram. Browsing people’s weddings – locally and near where I was getting married to see the options I had. Since I am a foodie, I wanted to ensure that the food offerings during the cocktail hour and reception were unique and fun.

Photographer @maplejanephotoco
Venue @bigskygolf
Videographer @greyhousevisual
Wedding Rings @goldnrosejewellers
Stay @ancientcedarslodge
Food Vendors @wanderingmollusk @ednascocktails @bonmacaronpatisserie
Wedding Dress @novellebridal.vancouver
Wedding Veil @vimowedding
Reception Flowers @happilifepemberton
Hair @iamkarentakeuchi @kolourwithk

Lis Simon Bride Emma