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From the very first time I met Sandy and Brook I knew their Off the Grid Winery wedding in Kelowna was going to be incredible. Easily one of the coolest couples I’ve gotten to photograph; their loft engagement session was one of my favorites ever!

Sandy and Brook saw their wedding as an opportunity for both sides of the family to experience new things. Most of Sandy’s Indian relatives had never been to a wedding at a vineyard before and most of Brook’s side had never experience an Indian wedding. The result could not have been more beautiful as everyone came together to celebrate this amazing couple.

Off the Grid Organic winery was chosen as the wedding ceremony location both for its sustainable practices but also because of the incredible views it has of the Okanagan. The field where the ceremony was held is at the edge of a cliff and surrounded by 30 year old vines. As guest arrived on the property they were met by parking attendants and then transported to the ceremony via golf carts. Off the Grid staff were on hand to provide complimentary wine tastings before the ceremony kicked off. One of the Okanagan’s best kept secrets, Off the Grid winery is capable of hosting both large and small weddings.

Following family photos on the winery grounds we headed over to nearby Sanctuary Gardens for portraits. This private property normally hosts weddings but we lucked out with a free day and were able to have the place to ourselves. Sanctuary Gardens charges a fee for photo shoots but its well worth the cost in my opinion. The property is well maintained without being too manicured and just like Off the Grid Winery it boasts unparalleled view of Lake Okanagan. The colour of the ladies saris against the blue lake and sky was incredible!

Most weddings in Kelowna happen on vineyards and for good reason – they’re beautiful! The downtown core has some great locations too though so Sandy asked that we take a few urban portraits. After changing from her Indian sari into a more traditional western wedding dress we set out to explore the back alleys of Kelowna. Sandy and Brook were both effortless and incredibly easy to photograph.

One thing Kelowna doesn’t have a lot of is indoor wedding venues that can see hundreds of people. Thankfully the Laurel Packing House is one of them and its beautiful. With a stage at one end and massive exposed wood beams throughout, this venue is perfect for hosting large wedding receptions.

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Shoutout to the Kelowna vendors who helped make this Off the Grid Organic Winery wedding happen:

Reception Location // Laurel Packing House

Getting Ready Location // Delta Grand Hotel

Hair + Makeup // Grace Coradetti

Florals // Petal and Vow (Jenner is an incredibly talented florist – highly recommend considering her for your own Kelowna wedding)

Wedding Planner // Shabby Chic Events

DJ // XFusion Roadshow

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A few words from the bride on her experience working with me: “Mathias is a gem. He photographed our engagement shoot and our wedding day. Like many of the other reviews I agree whole heartedly about his kind, easy going and humorous nature. We had an enormous bridal party of 14 people and he managed to keep everyone engaged. We have been married for three months and I still look at the photos almost daily. We loved our experience with Mathias, the photos are incredible!”

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A little more about these two completely different wedding venues in Kelowna:

Kelowna is known for its outdoor wedding venues and Off the Grid Organic winery has to be one of the best.  It is solely a wedding ceremony venue and best suited for large weddings. The expansive lawns (10k square feet!) offer breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Okanagan. Surrounded by 30 year old grape vines, there don’t come many wedding venues as scenic as Off the Grid Organic winery. While the views are what makes this wedding venue stand out you are able to add your own personal touches such as adding florals to the permanent pagola on site. Added bonuses are the golf carts that will drive your guests from the parking lot to the ceremony space and the complimentary wine tastings. The perfect start to any winery wedding! Finally, the resident goats on the roof are a unique little touch that your guests will love.

As an urban wedding venue in downtown Kelowna, the Laurel Packing House is completely different from most in the Okanagan and a breath of fresh air! There are not many indoor wedding venue options in the Okanagan and the Laurel Packing House is the best. It is ideally suited for large weddings as the space is expansive. The exposed beam ceiling and red brick walls give the place character but still allow for creativity depending on what kind of wedding you’re after. A huge bonus to having your wedding at the Laurel Packing House is that you are allowed to bring in your own alcohol. As Kelowna’s first official Heritage building, the Laurel Packing house is steeped in tradition and has been often awarded best wedding venue in the area.