Just Got Engaged in British Columbia? Now What? Your Complete Step-by-Step Wedding Planning Guide

Step 1: Celebrate and Share the News (But Take Your Time!)

Before diving into spreadsheets and vendor emails, take a moment to simply be engaged. This is a special time in your relationship, and it deserves to be savoured. Spend a few days (or even weeks) enjoying this milestone together before the planning whirlwind begins.

When you’re ready to share your news:

• Tell your inner circle first: Call or video chat with parents, siblings, and closest friends before posting on social media. This personal touch means everything to the people who love you most.
• Plan a casual gathering: Host a low-key brunch or dinner to celebrate with your nearest and dearest. The intimacy of an in-person announcement creates beautiful memories.
• Get creative with your announcement: Consider an engagement photo session to capture this euphoric moment. Not only will you have gorgeous images for save-the-dates and wedding websites, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to connect with a potential wedding photographer. At Pursell Photography, we offer engagement sessions that double as a “test run”. You’ll get comfortable in front of the camera while we learn what makes you two uniquely you.

Pro tip from us: Many of our couples book an adventure engagement session. We know all the secret spots in BC and can even arrange boat rides to waterfalls or helicopter flights to mountaintops for truly epic shots.

Step 2: Have “The Big Conversations” Before You Start Planning

Before you tour a single venue or pin another inspiration photo, you and your partner need to align on some fundamental questions, and the biggest one might surprise you: What kind of celebration actually feels right for us?

Understanding your celebration options:

Today’s couples have more freedom than ever to define what “a wedding” means. You don’t have to choose between these options, but understanding the spectrum helps clarify what resonates with you:

• Traditional Wedding (100-200 guests): Everyone you know, extended family, coworkers, neighbours, college friends. Formal structure, scheduled reception, dancing until late. Full vendor team, including DJ, caterer, florist, and day-of coordinator. Budget: $30,000-$60,000+
• Micro Wedding (10-50 guests): Your absolute inner circle, immediate family, best friends, godparents, mentors. All traditional elements (ceremony, dinner, toasts, cake), but intimate and relaxed. You’ll actually get quality time with everyone. Simplified vendor list, more personalized. Budget: $8,000-$15,000
• Elopement (2-15 guests): Just you two, or you plus your closest handful of people. Focus on experience, adventure, and breathtaking location. Ceremony, portraits, plus celebration activity. Minimal vendor involvement. Budget: $3,000-$10,000

The key conversations to have:

• What kind of celebration feels authentic to us? Grand party, intimate dinner, or adventurous elopement?
• Do we want to spend our day managing 150 guests, or would we prefer quality time with a handful of people we love most?
• Which season speaks to us? Summer sunshine, fall colours, or cozy winter vibes?
• What matters most? Epic photography, incredible food, a specific venue, live music, or just being present with each other?
• How involved do we want families to be in planning?
• If considering a smaller celebration, how do we handle family expectations?

These conversations set the foundation for everything that follows and help prevent conflicts down the road.

Step 3: Set Your Budget (The Most Important Step)

Let’s talk numbers and the dramatic differences in investment based on celebration size. Understanding true costs helps you allocate your budget where it matters most to you.

Traditional Wedding Budget Reality (100+ guests):

The average wedding in Vancouver costs between $30,000 and $60,000 for 100 guests, though this ranges from $15,000 for budget-conscious celebrations to $100,000+ for luxury affairs. In the Okanagan, couples typically spend $30,000 to $50,000 for mid-sized traditional weddings.

Typical Budget Breakdown:

Micro Wedding and Elopement Budget Reality:

Micro weddings with 20-50 guests typically cost $8,000-$15,000, saving couples $22,000-$30,000 compared to traditional celebrations. Why? About two-thirds of traditional wedding costs are based on guest count, venue size, catering, rentals, decor, and florals, all of which scale down dramatically.

Micro Wedding Budget Breakdown:

• Photography: $2,500-$6,000 (often the largest investment, and rightfully so)
• Venue/Location permits: $0-$3,000 (many couples use free public locations)
• Catering: $500-$3,000 (intimate restaurant dinner or casual picnic)
• Florals & Decor: $300-$1,500 (bridal bouquet and simple ceremony arch)
• Attire: $1,000-$3,000 (same regardless of guest count)
• Officiant: $300-$800
• Music: $0-$800 (Spotify playlist or single musician)

Elopement Budget Breakdown (often $3,000-$8,000):

• Photography (largest investment): $2,000-$5,000
• Adventure elements (helicopter, boat, guides): $0-$3,000
• Officiant: $300-$800
• Attire & styling: $500-$2,000
• Permits and logistics: $0-$500
• Celebration activity (dinner, champagne): $200-$1,000

A Critical Note About Photography Investment:

Your photos are the only tangible keepsake from your wedding day that increases in value over time, and this principle applies whether you have 2 guests or 200. Professional wedding photography investment typically starts at $5,000-$7,000 for established expert photographers.
This investment covers far more than the hours on your wedding day. It includes:

• Pre-wedding consultations and timeline planning
• Advanced preparation and location scouting
• Professional editing and retouching
• Countless hours of total work per wedding
• Access to expertise that ensures beautiful photos in any weather
• Heirloom-quality products (albums, wall art, canvas prints)

Pursell Photography’s Investment Options:

• Traditional Weekend Weddings (50+ guests): Starting at $4,500-$9,000+ for comprehensive coverage, expert consultation, timeline planning, and peace of mind from 500+ weddings of experience
• Weekend Micro Wedding Package: Starting at $4,500 for up to 6 hours of coverage, including heirloom albums, wall art, and edited digital files
• Weekday A-La-Carte Elopement Package: Session starting at $800, perfect for weekday elopements with flexible coverage options, where you customize your needs

Step 4: Choose Your Date, Guest Count, and Celebration Style

Your wedding date, guest list, and celebration style are deeply interconnected with your budget and venue options, so it’s best to tackle these together.

Timing Considerations for BC Weddings:

Peak Season (May-October):

• Most popular months, especially June-September
• Saturday dates book 12-24 months in advance for traditional venues (high demand)
• Elopement and micro wedding locations have more flexibility, often booking 4-8 months out
• Premium pricing at most traditional venues
• Best weather (though rain is always possible in Vancouver!)
• Long daylight hours mean more time for outdoor photos

Off-Season (November-April):

• More traditional venue availability, typically booking 9-12 months out
• Elopements can often be planned with just 2-4 months notice in winter
• Some venues offer 10-20% discounts for weekday or winter weddings
• Dramatic winter lighting creates moody, romantic photos
• Intimate indoor venues are essential for traditional weddings (BC has stunning options)

Step 5: Book Your Venue or Choose Your Location

For traditional weddings, almost everything else can be booked only after a confirmed venue and date are secured. Your venue dictates your timeline, influences your photographer’s approach, and sets the tone for your entire celebration.
For elopements and micro weddings, you have incredible flexibility. Many of BC’s most stunning locations are free or low-cost public spaces, giving you freedom to focus your budget on experience and photography.

Stunning BC Traditional Wedding Venues (50+ Guests)

Vancouver & North Shore:

• Hart House (Burnaby): Elegant draped tent with Deer Lake views, up to 200 guests
• Stanley Park locations: Multiple ceremony sites (permits required for groups over 25)
• Hycroft Manor: Historic mansion perfect for 50-100 guests

Fraser Valley:

• Harrison Hot Springs Resort: Lakeside luxury with 14 indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Rowena’s Inn on the River: Restored English manor overlooking the Harrison River.
• Fraser River Lodge: Exclusive 18-acre waterfront property with mountain views.

Sea to Sky Corridor:

• Sea to Sky Gondola (Squamish): Mountain-top venue 885m above Howe Sound, Spirit Trail Lookout holds 100 guests

Okanagan Valley:

• Summerhill Pyramid Winery (Kelowna): Iconic winery with lake views
• Quail’s Gate Winery (West Kelowna): Multiple ceremony sites, lake views

Epic BC Elopement Locations (2-25 Guests)

One of the biggest advantages of eloping in BC is access to world-class natural beauty for free or at the cost of a simple permit. Check out our complete guide to best places to elope in the Lower Mainland.

Popular Elopement Destinations:

• Vancouver & Lower Mainland:  Stanley Park, Pitt Lake, Golden Ears Provincial Park, Buntzen Lake, Whytecliff 
• Sea to Sky Corridor: Porteau Cove, Rainbow Lake, Green Lake (Whistler)
• Fraser Valley: Harrison Lake beaches, Cascade Falls, Chilliwack River Valley
• Okanagan Valley: Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, Knox Mountain Park, 50th Parallel Estate Winery
• Vancouver Island: Tofino beaches, East Sooke Regional Park, Goldstream Provincial Park

Step 6: Book Your Photographer (Do This IMMEDIATELY!)

Here’s what most couples don’t realize: top wedding photographers in Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and BC book out 12-18 months in advance for traditional weddings, especially summer Saturdays. For elopements and micro weddings, timelines are more flexible (many couples book 4-8 months out), but the best photographers still fill up quickly. If you love a photographer’s work, don’t wait; reach out as soon as you have a date.

Why Photography Should Be Your Top Priority Booking:

Your wedding photos are the only part of your day that actually lasts forever. The flowers will wilt, the cake will be eaten, the dress will be preserved in a box, but your images will hang on your walls, fill your albums, and be passed down to your grandchildren.

What Makes Pursell Photography Different:

After shooting 500+ weddings and elopements across British Columbia over 17 years, we’ve refined an approach that couples consistently describe as “different” in the wedding industry. Here’s what sets us apart:

1. Advanced Off-Camera Lighting Expertise: Our mastery of off-camera lighting means we create stunning, dramatic photos in any conditions, rain, fog, bright sun, forest shade, or even at night.
2. Fearless Photographers Award Recognition: We’re proud members of Fearless Photographers, recognized as a collection of “THE BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE WORLD”. Our award-winning images place us in the top 2% of thousands of submissions from photographers worldwide.
3. Photojournalistic Storytelling with Artistic Drama: We blend candid, documentary-style moments with dramatic, artfully lit portraits. Whether you’re eloping with just your dog as a witness or hosting 150 people at a traditional reception, you’ll get genuine emotion captured discreetly throughout your day.
4. Deep Local Knowledge of BC’s Best Locations: Living in Harrison Hot Springs and working throughout BC for 17 years means we know secret spots tourists never find. We can take you to hidden waterfalls via boat, arrange helicopter flights to mountaintop locations, and access private beaches most photographers don’t know exist.
5. Weather-Proof Approach: Planning an outdoor ceremony? Rainy day? We say bring it on. Some of our most romantic, cinematic images happen on overcast, drizzly days with soft, flattering light and those misty Pacific Northwest vibes that define BC.
6. Specialized Expertise in Elopement and Micro Wedding Photography: We’ve photographed everything from couples hiking to alpine lakes to helicopter mountaintop ceremonies. We understand that intimate celebrations require a different approach, less formal posing, and more authentic adventure storytelling.

Step 7: Secure Your Other Key Vendors

For Traditional Weddings (8-12 Months Out):

1. Wedding Planner/Coordinator (if you’re using one)
2. Catering (if not included with venue): Schedule tastings early
3. Music/Entertainment: Live bands and popular DJs book quickly
4. Florist: Essential for summer weddings when demand peaks
5. Hair & Makeup: Book trials 4-6 months out

For Micro Weddings (4-8 Months Out):

1. Photographer: Your main investment
2. Officiant: $300-$800, typically books 2-6 months out
3. Florist (or DIY): Just bouquets and maybe a ceremony arch
4. Catering/Restaurant: If hosting a dinner, book 2-4 months ahead
5. Musician (optional): Solo guitarist or violinist for the ceremony

For Elopements (2-6 Months Out):

1. Photographer: Your primary vendor and guide
2. Officiant: Required for legal marriage
3. Adventure elements: Helicopter company, boat rental, hiking guide if needed

Step 8: Handle Marriage License and Permits

Marriage License (Required for Everyone):

• Purchase from any Service BC location or some City Halls
• Valid for 90 days from issue date
• Costs approximately $100
• Both partners must apply in person with a government ID

Permits for BC Outdoor Locations:

Understanding BC’s permit system is important for outdoor ceremonies. Here’s the breakdown:

Provincial Parks:

• Special Event Permit required if you have more than 25 guests OR plan to use amplified sound
• Apply online or at provincial park information centers
• Apply well in advance (at least 4-8 weeks recommended)
• Examples: Joffre Lakes, Golden Ears, Manning Park, Strathcona

As your photographers, we’ve navigated every BC permit system and can guide you through the process, recommend permit-free alternatives. Check out our complete guide to permits for weddings and elopements in BC.

Step 9: Create Your Wedding Day Timeline (With Your Photographer’s Input!)

This is where having an experienced photographer becomes invaluable. We’ve seen hundreds of timelines work beautifully and watched dozens fall apart due to poor planning.

Traditional Wedding Timeline (10-hour coverage):

• 2:00 PM: Getting ready photos begin
• 3:00 PM: First look (if you’re doing one)
• 3:30 PM: Wedding party portraits
• 4:15 PM: Couple portraits
• 5:00 PM: Ceremony begins
• 5:30 PM: Family formal photos
• 6:00 PM: Cocktail hour
• 7:00 PM: Reception entrance and dinner
• 8:30 PM: Golden hour and sunset portraits (critical in BC!)
• 9:00 PM: Speeches, cake cutting, first dance
• 10:00 PM: Dancing and candid reception moments

Timeline Tips from 500+ Celebrations:

• Build in buffer time: Things always run 15-30 minutes behind
• Schedule portraits 1.5 hours before sunset: This is when BC’s light is most magical
• Stay flexible on rainy days: We might need to shift portrait time or wait out a shower
• For elopements, consider sunrise: Fewer crowds, incredible light, and the day is yours afterward
• Factor in travel time: That mountaintop location might require 30 minutes of hiking or gondola rides
• Trust your photographer: With our advanced lighting expertise, we’ve shot in torrential downpours, thick fog, snow storms, and blazing sun and delivered jaw-dropping images every time.

Step 10: Plan for BC Weather

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Vancouver averages 168 days of rain per year. If you’re planning a BC wedding or celebration, you need a weather strategy.
But here’s the secret: some of our most romantic, dramatic photos happen in the rain with soft light, foggy mountain backdrops, and cozy umbrella moments. The moody Pacific Northwest aesthetic is actually enhanced by mist and rain.

Our Weather-Proof Tips for All Celebration Sizes:

• Embrace it: Weather adds character and romance to your photos.
• Choose venues with covered options:
  • Traditional: Hart House tent, Fraser River Lodge’s indoor spaces
  • Micro: Restaurant private rooms, covered pavilions
  • Elopement: Forest ceremony spots under old-growth canopy
• Invest in clear umbrellas: We bring several, and they photograph beautifully.
• Consider elopement date flexibility: If weather is a major concern, build a 2-3 day window, and we’ll monitor forecasts together.
• Trust your photographer: With our advanced lighting expertise, we’ve shot in torrential downpours, thick fog, snowstorms, and blazing sun and delivered jaw-dropping images every time.

Step 11: Decide on Additional Celebration Elements

One of the joys of customizable celebrations is that you get to pick only the traditions and elements that matter to you.

Ceremony Enhancements (All Sizes):

• Personalized vows
• Unity rituals (handfasting, ring warming, blending sand)
• Live musician: Solo guitar, violin, or harpist during ceremony ($300-$800)
• Meaningful readings from close friends or family

Micro Wedding and Elopement Specific Elements:

• Adventure activities (hiking, canoeing, rock climbing)
• Helicopter flights to glaciers or mountaintops ($1,500-$4,000)
• Picnic celebrations with gourmet food
• Campfire and s’mores
• Sunrise or sunset ceremony timing
• Multi-day celebration (welcome dinner, elopement day, post-wedding brunch)

Step 12: Enjoy the Journey (And Let Us Capture It!)

Here’s the secret we’ve learned from 500+ weddings and elopements: the couples who enjoy their day most are the ones who let go of perfection and embrace the authentic, unscripted moments.
That’s why our photojournalistic approach focuses on capturing you two being yourselves, laughing, tearing up, dancing badly, hugging your grandma, adventuring together on a mountain trail, or sneaking away for a quiet moment.

Yes, we’ll create those dramatic, gallery-worthy portraits with epic BC backdrops and perfect lighting. But the photos couples treasure most? They’re usually the candid ones; they didn’t even know we were taking.

Why couples choose different celebration styles:

We’ve photographed hundreds of both traditional weddings and intimate celebrations, and we’ve noticed something: all celebration styles can be deeply meaningful and memorable. What matters is alignment with what you actually want.

• Traditional wedding couples often describe: “Our day was magical, we felt so supported by our community, and the reception dancing was unforgettable.”
• Micro wedding couples consistently say: “We were so present, we actually got to talk to everyone, no stress, exactly what we wanted.”
• Elopement couples tell us: “It was just about us, the adventure was incredible, and we have the most stunning photos we could have imagined.”

There’s no “right” way to get married. The right way is the one that feels authentic to you and your partner.