A Stylish Bodega Ridge Wedding With All the Thoughtful Touches

Weddings

May 23

I absolutely loved capturing Kristina and Brandon’s Bodega Ridge wedding on Galiano Island, BC. Not only were they the most laid back, talented and stylish couple, but they managed to fill their wedding day with so many personal touches.

Of course, any wedding at Bodega Ridge is going to be a beautiful one. The entire property is amazing, the staff is incredible and the food is out of this world! In fact, Kristina says the reason they chose Bodega Ridge as their wedding venue is because the food is so good.

When Kristina first reached out to me on Instagram, she said, “Love all your work I've seen and I would love for you to be there to capture our day! Those portraits you did from below of that couple looking up, he had a moustache?...you know that shot? Anyway, SICK. I love modern editorial stuff and real moments and I think you do both wonderfully. Also your colours are amazing in your edits.”

It’s always nice to hear what someone likes about my work - especially when that person is a fellow photographer, like Kristina is.

And so I ventured over to Galiano Island from Vancouver to celebrate Kristina and Brandon’s incredible wedding weekend at Bodega Ridge!

Finding the perfect Galiano Island wedding backdrop

After getting ready in the Bodega Ridge cabins, we headed out for Brandon and Kristina’s portrait session.

Having photographed quite a few weddings on Galiano, as well as other Gulf Islands like Mayne Island and Pender Island, I knew there would be some incredible scenery for us to use. I had scouted out these caves on the island beforehand that seemed perfect, and was sure we could nail Brandon and Kristina’s vision.

I’m so proud of how these cave portraits turned out! I think they perfectly captured the “editorial meets outdoor” vibe that K & B were after.

We continued taking photos along the water and later in the evening, headed out for sunset photos in the forest and in front of the picturesque Bodega Ridge cabins. Seriously, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to photo backdrops at Bodega Ridge lodge!

“Aileen was such a joy and talent to work with! We cannot get over our stunning wedding photos. She absolutely crushed it and managed to capture every moment perfectly.” - Kristina & Brandon

A thoughtful ceremony personalized to K & B

A huge part of Brandon and Kristina’s Jewish wedding ceremony was signing the Ketubah.

After not being able to find a Ketubah they liked, in typical Brandon fashion, he decided to make his own. As a talented industrial designer, he was able to make something sculptural, modern, beautiful and unique.

PS: Brandon and Kristina now sell their own handmade Ketubahs through their company, Studio Tzuri!

The rest of the ceremony was just as meaningful. Kristina and Brandon took part in traditions, like smashing the glass before their first kiss, and had a friend officiate. Brandon also handmade all of the signage at the ceremony, adding another personal touch.

A family-oriented reception without a dry eye in the house

Brandon and Kristina’s reception started with a lively version of the Hora, complete with chairs in the air and stage diving into the arms of their friends. This was so much fun to photograph!

During dinner, K & B added even more thoughtful ways to include their families in their wedding day. Brandon’s siblings read a speech that his late mother had written for Brandon’s bar mitzvah, bringing everyone to tears.

For her second look, Kristina changed into a mini dress that was made out of her mother’s wedding dress from 1993. A friend of Kristina’s redesigned the dress so it was perfect for dancing - and put the biggest smile on Kristina’s mom’s face when she saw it. I loved photographing Kristina in this special dress, especially in front of a vintage truck during night portraits.

And when it came time for dessert, it was once again a family affair. One of the desserts served was a nod to Brandon’s late mom and the main wedding cake had been made by Kristina, her mom and her friends.

All in all, it was a beautiful wedding, made even sweeter by K & B’s thoughtful touches!

Planning your own Bodega Ridge wedding? I’d love to hear more about your plans and capture your beautiful day on Galiano Island. It’s one of my favourite venues. Get in touch and let’s chat!