Stanley Park Teahouse Wedding // Christine + Alex

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If you are planning your wedding at the Teahouse Restaurant in Stanley Park or any other restaurant wedding venue in Vancouver and still need a wedding photographer I would love to hear from you. Please use the contact form at the top of the page or email me directly at mf@mathiasfastphotography.com. I am currently booking Vancouver and Cape Town weddings for this year and next.

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There are few better venues for an intimate wedding than the Teahouse Restaurant in Stanley Park.  My day with Christine and Alex started when I met them for their first look inside the Portside Pub. While this watering hole in the heart of Gastown isn’t where you’d expect to take wedding photos, it was the perfect location as it’s where they first met. The large windows along with the exposed wood and brick walls actually made for a stunning first look location. After a few portraits throughout the rest of the building we drove out of downtown and into the the crown of Vancouver – Stanley Park. Its safe to assume that Stanley Park is the most popular location for wedding photos in Vancouver but for good reason as it’s stunning (and not so long so long ago name the best park in the world!) I have a number of different locations I prefer for wedding portraits in the park and with the clouds threatening rain on this day I chose a spot that was covered. Tucked just off the road on the way to the Teahouse Restaurant, its my go to location for when clients want photos in the forest. Alex and Christine couldn’t have been more sweet with each other and made for some really natural candid portraits. Didn’t hurt that they both look amazing – Christine in a gown from Bisou Bridal and Alex in a suit by Z Zegna. I also loved that Christine chose a single protea flower as her bouquet. It was extra special (for me) considering it’s the national flower of South Africa and all the time I spend in the country photographing weddings. The rain started to fall so we walked back to their town car and headed off to the Stanley Park Teahouse for their wedding. With help from Bespoke Décor, the wedding ceremony location at Ferguson Point was stunning. Christine and Alex opted to get married literally surrounded by their family and friends and it made for my favorite ceremony setup to date. With the oceans and mountains behind them and candles encircling them, the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. With a nod to Christine’s heritage, they incorporated some Pilipino elements into the wedding ceremony. While Stanley Park is a public space, the city requires couples to obtain a permit through the Vancouver Parks board to use it. Another option for wedding ceremony locations is the conservatory green and can only be reserved for those couples having their wedding at the Teahouse Restaurant. Christine and Alex chose instead to use this space for their cocktail area. A quick aside – the Teahouse Restaurant also has indoor space by its fireplaces which work great for intimate wedding ceremonies when its raining outside. Before heading inside the teahouse for their wedding reception, the three of us headed down to third beach for a few “sunset” wedding photos. While extremely popular for both wedding photos and sunbathers in the summer months, we had the entire beach to ourselves.

Leanne Leong had the the conservatory room looking perfect for our arrival and Christine and Alex made their grand entrance to a space filled with greenery and candles. The Teahouse Restaurant is best suited for intimate weddings and that’s just what Christine and Alex were going for. Even though they rented out both the conservatory and the tea room it still felt like a very intimate gathering of friends and family. Speeches were mixed with random bouts of dancing throughout the evening and it wasn’t long before Girl on Wax DJ had the place rocking. I left to Christine and Alex breaking it down on the dance floor and was already looking forward to my next Teahouse Restaurant wedding as I drove out of Stanley Park.

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Wedding vendors who helped make this Stanley Park Teahouse Restaurant wedding happen:

Venue // Teahouse in Stanley Park

Decor // Bespoke Decor

Day of Coordinator //Leanne – Lovelea Weddings

Makeup // Denise Elliot

DJ // Girl on Wax

Florist // Our Little Flower Company

Ceremony Music // Musical Occassions

Dress // Martina Liana from Bisou Bridal

 

L’Abattoir Wedding // David + Eleanor

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David and Eleanor’s wedding at L’abattoir in Gastown was unlike any I had photographed before. While their reception at the trendy Vancouver restaurant was a highlight, their day started much earlier in a home their shared with friends. David and Eleanor chose to get ready together in their home just across from Queen Elizabeth Park. Save the date beauty took care of Eleanor’s hair and makeup before she helped David decorate their cakes. Getting ready on the morning of your wedding isn’t anything new but I loved the moments they shared as they put the finishing touches on the wedding cake. While Eleanor got into her custom wedding gown David got ready with his groomsmen downstairs. Going the classic route and opting against a first look, their wedding ceremony in the backyard was intimate and emotional. They both love the home they live in with their close friends so it was extra special to get married in the backyard. Young hip and married officiated the ceremony and true to their style made it both lighthearted but personal. David and Eleanor exited to bubbles and then returned for a knot-tying ceremony, something I haven’t photographed at a wedding before. Each guest received a coloured piece of clothe which they tied to someone else’s’, forming a large circle. David and Eleanor were the last ones to tie a knot, closing the circle and symbolizing their unity. It was a very cool moment! Never ones to do this by the book, David and Eleanor (along with their guests) decided to eat their wedding cake immediately after the backyard ceremony. Another special place to them both was nearby Queen Elizabeth Park so after dessert everyone made their way over to the park for Frisbee, bocce and badminton. The site of everyone walking across the road into the park was something else. A large reason why David and Eleanor hired me to photograph their wedding was my emphasis on candid portraits. The relaxed atmosphere and lawn games made for plenty of creative photos. After a quick session in the nearby forest everyone headed into Gastown and the heart of Vancouver thanks to ?? transport. The private dining room in L’abattoir is perfect for intimate weddings and can seat up to 50 people. While guests made their way past the kitchen and inside the exposed brick room David and Eleanor waited outside and I took a few more candid photos in my favorite Gastown alley. Known for their brick and beam style, the private dining room at L’abattoir blends that perfectly with industrial steel and glass accents. The setting is extremely intimate and warm. Had the pleasure of working with Wade from Vincent and Theo Studios on this L’abattoir wedding and it was his lighting that helped create  fantastic photo opportunities. After an incredible meal, the ?? team moved some tables and David and Eleanor had their first dance lit by a single window at one end of the room. Can’t wait to photograph another wedding at this gem of a restaurant in Gastown!

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Thanks for stopping by! If you are planning your wedding at L’abattoir Restaurant in Gastown or any other restaurant wedding venue in Vancouver and still need a wedding photographer I would love to hear from you. Please use the contact form at the top of the page or email me directly at mf@mathiasfastphotography.com. I am currently booking Vancouver and Cape Town weddings for this year and next.

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Wedding vendors who helped make this L’abattoir Wedding in gastown happen:

Planner // Kelly – Say Events Co.

Videographer // Vincent and Theo Studios

Hair + Makeup // Save the Date Beauty

Ceremony Venue // Private home opposite Queen Elizabeth Park

Reception Venue // L’abattoir Restaurant

 

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