Carrie & Simon - Bird’s Eye Cove, Vancouver Island Wedding Photographer
When Carrie and Simon contacted me about their wedding at Bird's Eye Cove, I was excited to get the chance to shoot at this barn wedding venues near me, in Cowichan Valley. I heard many wonderful things about the venue and the staff, and in 2016 they won Best Venue at the BC Wedding Awards. Nestled in Genoa Bay, the 300 acre property offers a variety of options for ceremony sites. It has a fully equipped bridal suite for getting ready and there is also a cabin down the hill for the groom and his groomsmen to use. There is the option to the venue cater the reception, and a slow roasted pig on a spit is a popular choice. My favourite part of the property is the receptions site. Held in a barn style room, it features solid wood beams and beautifully large windows with long tables. Ah, such a dream to photograph!
The day itself went off without a hitch. The bride, Carrie, is an event planner by day and didn't miss any of the details. With the help of Tam, from Blue Lilly Events, guests enjoyed a seamless day on the property. The ceremony took place later in the afternoon in the orchard. Bovine roamed freely in a pasture behind the couple as they said their vows. Simon, originally from New Zealand, had an international crowd of rugby friends who flew out to Vancouver Island to be present on his big day. There was lots of cheers and comradery all day long. After the ceremony the guests moved to the patio for games and cocktails, or to just chill in the outdoor lounge.
I was happy to get access to the barn on the other side of the property for portraits of the bride and groom. The wood panels let light leak through and Carrie and Simon got to spend a few moments alone having a dance. Then dinner was served and it was nothing short of spectacular. The London Chef had charcuterie boards along the tables and everyone feasted while guests stood up and toasted the new couple. For desert, the maid of honour Lydia, who is a professional baker, made a variety of beautiful cakes, each offering a different flavour pallet.
Here's what the day looked like.
Special thanks to Georgia Johnston for shooting the wedding alongside me!
Vendor Credits:
Venue - Bird's Eye Cove
Wedding Coordinator - Blue Lilly Events
Flowers - Platinum Floral Designs
Dress: Blush Bridal Vancouver
Suit - Barkers
Hair - Jenna McInnes
MUA - Carly Flint
Catering - The London Chef
Officiant - Lura McCallum
Music - Ceremony - Geoffrey Lundstrom
Band for Reception - The Broken Strings
Cake - Lydia Gibson
Decoration - Bash Speciality
