Real Weddings: Whistler Wedding Ceremony at the Edgewater Lodge
gadbois photography
Meet Ellie and Kirk. Aficionados of Fluevog… Unique soles for unique souls.
Yep. These two are unique souls for sure and they wanted their entire wedding day to reflect their personalities. Including their custom Wedding Ceremony. They knew they wanted a Wedding Celebrant, did a search and found Modern Celebrant.
It was love at first sight for me when I met Ellie and Kirk.
What a fun experience to vision a wedding ceremony for this hipster couple. They definitely did not want just a pretty ceremony, with rituals and words that looked and sounded nice but were empty of meaning. A “Boring same-old, same-old” wedding ceremony wouldn’t have suited them AT ALL!
Ellie and Kirk wanted what I am passionate about creating… a wedding ceremony created from the inside, from the heart — through reflection and learning. We had two dinners at their place where we ate Ellie’s amazing food, drank equally amazing wine, and told stories. Kirk is a gifted storyteller and I hung on his every word.
gadbois photography
This thoughtful open-hearted couple shared thoughtful words with me about their vision for their wedding day. They wanted it to “…be a day to savour. A day to slow things down and let everyone who shares our wedding day take stock of the love in their own lives and realize how important they are to us.” For Kirk and Ellie it was also a chance to stamp a certain point in time and say, “This is the one I love. This is US showing our community how much we mean to each other!”
Day of the rain stopped for the ceremony and we were able to do it outside on the lawn beside the lake. We began with a ring warming where the rings were passed among guests to each hold for a moment and offer their silent wish for Ellie and Kirk’s marriage.
The signature piece of Modern Celebrant ceremonies is storytelling. It is the personal narrative, the story of the couple, that makes our ceremonies such deeply felt experiences.
Ellie and Kirk’s wedding ceremony was fun for guests. It was a little chilly that day but no one minded a bit because they loved hearing about how and who the couple are together… about their adventures, their hopes, and their dreams.
Once the rings had been ‘warmed’ by friends and family during the storytelling, I shared Ellie and Kirk’s own words about what the wedding rings mean to them and what they hoped these would come to mean over time. The tenderness with which they placed the rings on each others fingers is a moment I will always remember.
As for rituals, I integrated two others into the ceremony. We did a simple Handfasting with a long length of white silk that I use just for this purpose. It is imbued with the loving intentions of many couples. Did you know it is from Handfasting that we come to use the expression, “To tie the knot”? Well, now you do!
We also included the mothers by having a gifting of salt to the couple. Historically salt was of great worth and cost. As such it was used to seal contracts and covenants, including wedding covenants. In many cultures it was traditional for each family to give a gift of salt, both containers were then mingled and used as the spice of life in the married couple’s kitchen.
Since this couple are such avid chefs, this was a perfectly relevant ritual to include. I just know they’ll put the salt to good use in all those delicious meals they love so much.
I loved this ceremony! It was as real and honest and adventurous as the couple it was crafted for. That the rain stopped in time for the ceremony, and began again soon afterwards, was a blessing for sure!
Like all Michele’s wedding couples, Ellie and Kirk worked through Modern Celebrant’s Reflective Process in the months prior to their wedding. Partly self-guided and partly done in person with Michele, this allows Michele to know the couple as individuals and as a couple before she creates a wedding ceremony especially for them.
gadbois photography
WEDDING CELEBRANT & CUSTOM CEREMONY:Well, Modern Celebrant of course!
PHOTOGRAPHY: Gadbois Photography, Whistler BC. I loved working with Pascale. She and I are aligned in our paths as wedding professionals who value the deeper currents of what the couple is experiencing, as well as their guests. Pascale captures the moment. Modern Celebrant creates it. Hope to work with her again. Do check out her site.
LOCATION: The Edgewater Lodge , Whistler BC, truly has a fantastic location. Elegant dining room, beautiful and comfortable accommodations, a Lake, canoes, fine dining, mountain views! Love it.
Real Weddings: Michelle and Dave
Michelle and Dave’s wedding ceremony and celebration was truly a reflection of THEM… in every detail. I truly admire this couple for the mindful spirit they brought to literally everything about the day, and their planning for it. The transformative energy of their first steps into their marriage was palpable to everyone present. And don’t you just love the lighting and tonal quality of these photographs by the brilliant Rafael Ferri of Match Studio!
Michelle and Dave wanted to be married on the first day of Spring… a day of new beginnings and fresh starts. How wonderful to come together as a community to honour the sacred human ritual of marriage making, on a day also rich with universal symbolism.
We did the ceremony outside in a local park, near the water in beautiful Port Moody. Life in all its glorious forms was evident all around our merry gathering of 20 or so nearest and dearest. The cherry blossoms were just out, kids were wheeling nearby on their scooters, and families were enjoying the incredible day. I loved the swirl of energy all around us.
Speaking of cherry blossoms… Dave is a talented painter and he hand painted the wedding invitations. I have mine on my desk, beside me as I write this. It is soon to be framed! It’s a vignette of cherry trees in blossom with a couple seated on a bench under the canopy of blossoms. We can’t see their faces, but we know it is Michelle and Dave… seated on ‘their’ bench in the park where they chose to be married. This is the kind of intention and thought that Michelle and Dave brought to everything about their wedding day.
The couple are avid members of the mountain biking community, indeed they met on a ride, and so I had a lot of fun weaving the story of their meeting for their guests during the ceremony. Also the tale of how they knew they were a perfect match very soon after they met.
Though it was a sunny but nippy day, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and folks were fascinated with the Handfasting I performed. Such a tangible joining ritual, and one that is centuries old though rarely seen today. We romped on the boardwalk for photos in the growing twilight afterwards and then Michelle and Dave treated everyone to a lovely dinner at the restaurant where they had their first dinner together. Love it love it love it!
Here are some more of Rafael’s snaps… is it my imagination or are the colours remarkably fine? 
And I can’t resist sharing a note from Michelle that followed in the days after the ceremony.
“Michele…. Dave and I can’t thank you enough for making our wedding day a remarkable one. We both are so honoured to have had you there. You are a special gift to all who come in contact with you. Some friends who weren’t even there, just read the ceremony and were brought to tears by your beautiful words. Those who were there felt what Dave and I felt in the air. There aren’t enough Thank Yous to express our feelings. You will be a part of our lives always.
Love, Michelle and Dave” BACK AT YA!
Vancouver Wedding Officiant, BC Marriage Commissioner, Justice of the Peace?
Many couples don’t know where to begin searching for someone to create and perform their wedding ceremony.
Marriage Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, Wedding Officiant, Wedding Celebrant, Marriage Officiant, Minister, Chaplain. These are all commonly used terms but what do they really mean?
Here in beautiful British Columbia, there are two primary options when choosing the Officiant for a legal wedding ceremony. I fall into the first category.
ONE) An Officiant recognized as a Religious Representative… someone who has gone through BC’s very strict approval process and is thereby authorized to stand in the power of ceremony. While it may sound formal — it certainly doesn’t need to be! For instance, as an Interfaith Celebrant and Chaplain, my ceremonies are deeply meaningful and completely reflective of the couple’s beliefs, whatever they are.
But I digress… the truth is that this is a very diverse group of people who can perform a wide variety of wedding ceremonies. We range from Lay Chaplains (like me) who work in an Interfaith way (again, like me), to Priests, Ministers, Imams, Rabbis, etc who can guide a very formally religious wedding ceremony in a house of worship. We use a variety of titles: Celebrant, Wedding Officiant, Wedding Chaplain. What we don’t use is Marriage Commissioner ...
TWO) A government appointed Marriage Commissioner who uses a preset script. These ceremonies can be fun if the Marriage Commissioner is willing to make changes to the script to give it a more personal feel. Marriage Commissioner ceremonies are not created or written specifically for the couple. These ceremonies fall into what I call ‘the cookie cutter’ category.
That leaves us with Justice of the Peace. In the past these officers of the peace performed wedding ceremonies in city halls and courthouses around BC. Nowadays the Marriage Commissioner has taken over this role.
Did I muddy the water or make it clearer? Please let me know. I’d like to really help people understand this.
Joyfully yours,
Celebrant Michele Davidson, Vancouver Wedding Officiant, Custom Wedding Ceremonies Vancouver and Whistler
A Vancouver Same-Sex Wedding Ceremony
Talk about citizens of the world… Janice and Natalie are definitely the most global couple I’ve had the pleasure to marry so far! Janice is originally from the land down under and Natalie from America. It’s easy to see that they are soulmates, but governments don’t always see what the rest of us do!
Natalie and Janice met in Canada while both were here on work visas –they decided to make their home base in our beautiful country. But first they had to wind their way through the immigration processes from their respective home countries!
Natalie and Janice are inspirational examples of what it means to truly commit to a relationship – to do whatever it takes to be together.
With Canadian citizenship finally complete for both – yay — Janice and Natalie were super excited to gather an intimate circle of dear family and friends for their marriage ceremony. The setting: the picturesque park at Deep Cove. We drew together in the shade under two huge cedars, with the ocean to the east and the North Shore mountains to the North.
At this same-sex wedding ceremony, the two brides were dressed in flowing white. Natalie’s grandmother was there on her cool scooter, Women of Honour Bethany and Clare were calm and excited all at the same time, the couple’s dog ‘Baby’ was divinely attired in a garland of flowers… and everyone else was simply beaming!
After I had welcomed folks to the ceremonial space, I touched on how special this day was for Natalie and Janice given the long road they’d taken simply to be together in one place.
I weave people’s own words into their wedding ceremonies because as a Celebrant I believe it’s what they think and feel that is most important. In our lively interview, Janice and Natalie spoke about their hopes and dreams for their future together. Something they said struck a chord with me. I wish all people could live life like this:
“We want to live fully appreciating and valuing each other. To celebrate each day, to enjoy life, and to know it’s value. People often forget this. We want to always remember how incredibly lucky we are to have each other.”
Natalie and Janice. I have faith that you do and always will celebrate each others uniqueness. That you will taste the preciousness of your shared journey, each and every day. I look forward to watching you create a family out of your deep love and appreciation!
Joyfully yours,
Celebrant Michele Davidson, Vancouver Wedding Officiant, Custom Wedding Ceremonies Vancouver and Whistler
A Custom Wedding Ceremony on Blackcomb Mountain
Riding the new Peak to Peak Chair to a Wedding in the Sky!
The setting for this lovely little wedding ceremony was the top of Blackcomb Mountain on a bluebird summer afternoon.
I love it when couples pull off a mood of elegance and occasion, but with a relaxed easy feel!
Natalie and Jay’s wedding ceremony was all this and how! With just family and a circle of close friends present, their custom wedding ceremony was all about intimacy.
It was so much fun for me to tell the story of how Natalie and Jay came to this place in their lives; to be standing in this beautiful place getting married.
Together, we shared more than a few tears, lots of tender laughter, and an abundance of memorable moments. I’m still tickled that Natalie became so absorbed in my saying the vows for her to repeat, that she forget to repeat them at her cue. One of the sweetest moment of the summer wedding season!!!
I hear from Natalie and Jay that some of their male guests admitted to shedding a tear or two (or maybe three?) and that they consider this a great compliment… me too!
Natalie and Jay are designers, and well, stylish people. They sure know how to plan a party! An added bonus to this wedding was that I got to go on the Peak to Peak Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains — the gondola is an engineering feat, breaking three world records and setting up to be Canada’s newest tourism icon.Thanks you two lovebirds for the great ride!!! I was only scared a little.
Joyfully yours,
Celebrant Michele Davidson, Vancouver Wedding Officiant, Custom Wedding Ceremonies Vancouver and Whistler