Category: Inspiration & Resources

In 2019, we wrote a blog post about how to have an inclusive wedding ceremony. And while the wedding industry has changed a lot in three years – and some aspects are more welcoming and inclusive – we still have a lot of work to do.

So to celebrate Pride Month 2022, we reached out to a few friends in the wedding industry to get their thoughts on inclusion, access and safety for all couples in the wedding industry, particularly LGBTQ+ couples. Below we’re sharing their thoughts to learn more about where the industry is at, inspire action and continue the conversation well beyond Pride Month.

Using inclusive language at your wedding and in your wedding planning

Back in 2018, we wrote a blog post with ideas for inclusive language at your wedding ceremony. So much of traditional ceremony language is gendered and doesn’t fit modern couples. Check out that post to update your language so your ceremony is inclusive of everyone attending (and getting married!).

It’s not just the language on your wedding day that matters, but all of the language you experience during your wedding planning. A few years ago, we changed our contact forms from “Bride’s name” and “Groom’s name” to “Partner 1’s name” and “Partner 2’s name.” We also ask our couples what their pronouns are, so we can address them appropriately, and encourage our officiants to include their pronouns in their bios and email signatures.

Our friends at Rad Occasions shared how they are updating their language. They said, “We are working to be more inclusive in our language (ie: wedding party instead of bridal party) and going the extra distance by educating ourselves and fellow vendors when necessary.”

And check out this great resource by Jess McSweeney sharing simple tweaks you can make to your language as a wedding vendor, and why those tweaks are so important:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CedumqbuTxi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Prioritizing trust and creating a safe space for all

Some couples arrive at their wedding day without the support of friends and family or with a history of being unwelcome by the institution of marriage. As vendors, we have to recognize the importance of the moment and prioritize the safety of our couples. As much as allyship is about celebration, it’s also about history and remembering what people have gone through to get to where they are.

Vancouver photographer John Bello (who we are so lucky to have on our Young Hip & Married elopement photography team!) shares this advice with other photographers, “When you have the opportunity to photograph LGBTQ+ couples, and those who may have varied gender identities and gender expressions, please remember that they have chosen YOU.

You are the person they are comfortable enough to let all their walls down in front of and have invited you to experience and capture their most intimate and vulnerable moments. This is SO special.”

John continues, “But remember, in this day and age (horribly still), it’s those intimate and vulnerable moments that can attract hate, and lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Get a feel for your couple’s comfort levels before you begin your shoot. Set the tone by creating a safe and comfortable space and vibe. Always make sure you ask your couples if they are comfortable with holding hands or showing PDA in public or in public spaces before suddenly taking them to busy locations to take photographs.

Double check before posting any photos of them online and onto social media. Even if in your contract, they’ve agreed to you using their photos in your portfolio, just ask again if you don’t remember talking about it with them specifically. It takes two seconds.

Again, it comes down to TRUST + SAFETY.”

Such an important reminder! Check out John’s post with more wisdom here.

Rad Occasions echoes John’s sentiment saying, “[When needed] we have also gone as far as to letting everyone know that we are a safe space at a wedding so someone feels uncomfortable they can come to us and hopefully we can help them.”

As John says, it comes down to trust and safety. More important than appearing inclusive or getting the most likes on social media is the trust and safety of your couples.

Celebrating & supporting LGBTQ+ couples, vendors and communities

As a team comprised of allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community, we want to create a welcoming, inclusive and safe space for our LGBTQ+ couples at Young Hip & Married. But more than that, we want to celebrate them! In choosing to get married, these couples are choosing to honour their love. We couldn’t be more proud or privileged to join them in that celebration!

Photographer John Bello continues that after safety and trust are established, it’s our duty to celebrate a couple. He says, “Most importantly, set an intention to celebrate their love, vulnerability and courage. Honour it well through your art and vision. Be sure to acknowledge and carry the awareness of the special TRUST they have in YOU, the trust to share in such a vulnerable, personal space.

This space you have been invited into is a gift. Appreciate it. Honour it. Celebrate it.”

Our friends at Cascata Films agree. They say, “For us as videographers, we live for the love story. We would love to see people focus more on the beautiful love stories and less on gender. Love is love, and it’s really all that matters! We feel absolutely privileged when any couple gives us the chance to tell the story of their wedding!”

And while not everyone has the privilege to not focus on gender, we want to do whatever we can to celebrate and support our couples’ love stories.

Young Hip & Married Officiant Chris-Ann shares how in celebrating LGBTQ+ love, she’s also honouring her own identity as a queer person. And what’s more, her couples love that bond and representation too.

Chris-Ann says, “As a member of the queer community, it means a lot to me to be able to offer my services to other 2SLGBTQIA+ folx. Folks who may not feel comfortable with the history or formality of the marriage process or other marriage commissioners who may or may not be affirming of their love.

This couple (pictured) were the sweetest couple I’ve had the chance to marry. And their thank you card, that expressed their gratitude for being married by another queer person, completely reminded me how much I love what I get to do!”

Officiant Chris-Ann also reminds us that Pride Month (and every month!) offers us opportunities to not just support LGBTQ+ couples but also to support, patronize and promote LGBTQ+ vendors, creators and communities.

She says, “Pride Month! A month to remember the history and struggle of 2SLGBTQIA+ folx. And (dare I say) not to support businesses or corporations who capitalize on these celebrations.

With that in mind, my challenge to all of you would be (as a customer) to support queer owned businesses and (as a vendor) to promote queer businesses before your own, even if you are an ally – especially if you are an ally!”

Thank you to our friends at Rad Occasions, Cascata Films, John Bello Photography, Jess McSweeney and Officiant Chris-Ann for all of your wisdom and thoughts on inclusive weddings and how we can better the wedding industry for everyone.

We’d love to hear how you are making the wedding industry more inclusive, in what ways the industry can do better and where the industry has improved. We would love to open up this conversation and invite you to comment below, send us a DM on Instagram or send us an email with your thoughts.

We’re also very open to any feedback you have for us here at Young Hip & Married. We’d love to learn how we can do better and make weddings more welcoming, inclusive and safe for all.

On April 8, 2022, Young Hip & Married officiated nine wedding ceremonies in a single day with Pop Up Chapel Co. and the incredible team of vendors and sponsors they assembled. From the words of welcome to the first kiss, our wedding officiants were on hand as so many couples celebrated their love and got married in one of the most unique ways possible!

All photos in this post were taken by the incredible Olive & Bean Photography! 

What is a pop up wedding ceremony?

The concept of a pop up wedding is a one day event, just like any other wedding. But unlike a typical wedding, a pop up wedding event usually marries a number of couples, one after another. All of the couples are able to save time, money and energy by going the pop up route where they share the same vendors and decor. But they can still put their own spin on their special day!

Pop up events also allow couples access to vendors they may have not been able to work with otherwise, due to budget or availability. It takes the stress out of planning a large event, as most of the planning is done for you. And it allows you to simply show up and get married! Of course, if you want to personalize or extend your celebration, you can always do that.

Bonus: Pop up weddings and elopements are also more eco-friendly! These smaller or shared events use fewer resources and help reduce any unnecessary waste.

What makes Pop Up Chapel Co. different?

We absolutely loved working with Pop Up Chapel! All of our wedding officiants and staff members were blown away by the professionalism, organization and mission of their team.

Not only does Pop Up Chapel put on an incredible and well-run event, they do so for a good cause. Each pop up event they hold raises money for a charity paired with the chapel. Young Hip & Married Customer Service Rockstar Jackie-Deane explains, “I love the priority of donating some of the proceeds to charity. Pop Up Chapel has donated almost $100,000 to various charities since they began. And they have married over 300 couples!”

The wedding ceremonies

While every couple shared the same venue and decor, our officiants truly felt that every wedding ceremony was a unique celebration of that couple. Some couples got married with just two witnesses in casual dress while others had 20+ guests and were dressed to the nines. But every couple, every guest and every vendor brought a huge level of energy and excitement to the day!

Wedding officiant Jane shares, “I liked being able to have a quick chat with each couple before their wedding ceremony started. I think that calmed everyone’s nerves and gave me a chance to talk through how they would stand, review their vows with them, and discuss who would have the rings.”

Pop Up couples could choose from a list of vows or personalize the experience further and write their own vows. They were also able to select ceremony music and hold a beautiful bouquet for their important walk down the aisle. Each ceremony began with a land acknowledgment and recognition of the partner charity we were raising money for, Trust Fund for Education.

Jackie-Deane, who witnessed the first wedding ceremony of the day, said, “Each couple is so unique – they can say their own vows or recite scripted ones, and some have guests and some don’t. It’s evident that Pop Up Chapel puts a lot of effort into each couple feeling special and celebrated for the time that they have at the venue.”

The pop up wedding experience

Not only did this pop up event feature a beautiful wedding ceremony officiated by yours truly, but it also included photos and a mini cocktail hour reception! Couples celebrated with portraits all around beautiful Hycroft Manor, snacked on cake and lemon squares, and toasted their union with specialty drinks.

We enjoyed working alongside such a kind and friendly vendor team, all working hard to create a beautiful wedding day for each one of our couples. The unique decor and lemon theme were a cute touch! And we loved that Hycroft Manor provided both indoor and outdoor options for photos and celebrating.

Wedding officiant Erika reflects, “I REALLY loved the decor and how well it reflected the sustainability theme of the event. I like thinking that we helped reduce the carbon footprint in the wedding world that day but still, each couple got the full experience they were dreaming of: beautiful wedding outfits, venue, decor and cake, amazing photographers, and more!”

Would you get married in a pop up wedding ceremony? Stay tuned for our next pop up wedding collaboration! 

Shout out to the best team of vendors and sponsors – we loved working with you! 

Hycroft Manor, Wednesday Wedding Co., The Pop Up Chapel Co., Olive & Bean Photography, Ecorce Flowers, Bespoke Decor, Farawayland Weddings, Alex Flock, Cadeaux Bakery, The Printing House, Courtneys Crafty Cabin, Backyard Vineyards & The Lemon Square.

“Love is patient, love is kind…” Even if you don’t know 1 Corinthians 13, there’s a good chance you’ve heard it before. This bible passage is often recited at weddings, both in real life and in the movies.

There’s a reason why 1st Corinthians chapter 13 is so popular – it defines love in a really beautiful way! But what if you’re not Christian, don’t want religion involved in your wedding ceremony or just don’t want to use the Corinthians passage on love? What alternatives are there to 1 Corinthians 13?

What is 1 Corinthians 13? 

First things first, let’s see what all of the hype is about. Below is the passage in its entirety from the NIV (New International Version) of the bible. Some couples will have the entire chapter read at the their wedding while others focus on just verses 4-7 (in bold below).

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Why is 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 so popular? 

While the entire 1st Corinthians chapter is well known, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is what we often hear at weddings. And it’s pretty easy to see why these four verses have become so popular for couples, both religious and non-religious.

Not only do these verses beautifully describe and define love, but they also speak to love being our driving motivation. It says that love is the purpose of being human. The love described in these bible verses isn’t just a romantic love shared between newlyweds, but could apply to all kinds of love. It’s an aspirational piece of wedding scripture and one that most people will be able to connect to.

What other wedding bible verses can we use at our wedding?

So if you want to include bible verses in your wedding but don’t want to go with the popular (if over-used) 1st Corinthians passage, there are lots of options for you. Many couples look to the books of Ruth and Song of Solomon for their wedding bible verses.

Ruth 1:16-17 speaks to a partner’s devotion to her spouse. This level of commitment is definitely on-theme for a wedding ceremony.

Ruth 1:16-17 

¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Song of Solomon 2 is another popular wedding bible passage where a maiden describes her feelings of love towards her beloved. It’s quite a romantic passage, ending with, “My beloved is mine and I am his.” Below are a few verses from Song of Solomon chapter 2; you can read the entire chapter here.

Song of Solomon 2:3-4

³ Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
    is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
    and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
⁴ Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love.

The Lord’s Prayer is another popular bible verse recited at weddings. It works well as an opening prayer or closing prayer for your wedding ceremony, especially if you’re getting married in a Christian church and community where your guests can join in.

Matthew 6:9-13

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

What wedding prayers can we use at our ceremony? 

Including a wedding prayer in your ceremony is a great way to connect to your faith and centre your ceremony on what’s most important to you. But you don’t have to be Christian or even religious to include a wedding prayer. Many wedding blessings are non-denominational or more spiritual in nature. You could even take a shot at writing your own wedding prayer or wedding blessing that best captures what you and your partner value most!

Short prayer or long prayer, religious or spiritual, light-hearted or serious, you can find (or write!) the perfect blessing for your wedding ceremony. Check out our list of wedding prayers here!

Not sure if a wedding blessing is right for you? Read our post on how to add a wedding prayer to your ceremony to see if it’s a good fit!

What if we don’t want scripture for our wedding? 

If you don’t want bible scripture or verses to be part of your wedding ceremony, you absolutely don’t have to include them! Remember, this is your wedding and every word should reflect your values and be meaningful to you. If wedding scripture is not of interest, don’t include it!

Of course, if you are getting married in a religious venue or under religious jurisdiction, it’s best to check with your wedding officiant about what will be included in your ceremony script. Some religious institutions will insist on scripture readings at your wedding. Chat with your officiant to see what options you have.

Note: At Young Hip & Married, our wedding officiants will never include scripture, bible verses or religious content in your wedding ceremony unless you specifically request it!

What non-religious readings can we include in our wedding ceremony?

Want to have a reading at your wedding ceremony but don’t want it to be 1 Corinthians 13, come from the bible or be religious at all? We’ve got you. There are lots of readings to choose from:

• Wedding Ceremony Readings from Songs
• Romantic Wedding Ceremony Readings 
• Wedding Ceremony Readings from TV & Movies
• Wedding Ceremony Readings from Literature
• Offbeat Wedding Ceremony Readings

You could also include quotes in your ceremony, including romantic quotes from the movies, or wedding blessings, because not all wedding prayers are religious.

If you love the meaning behind 1st Corinthians 13 but don’t want to use the actual scripture, why not write your own version? Let 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 inspire you to create your own definition of love and share that on your wedding day. We can’t think of a more meaningful addition to your wedding ceremony.

Of course, you can also opt to not include a reading, bible verse, scripture, quote or prayer in your wedding ceremony. All of these creative additions are optional and not at all required. If you’re stressing to find the perfect reading or not connecting with any of the options, consider leaving it our of your wedding ceremony entirely.

That way, you’ll have more time and energy to devote to the ceremony elements that mean the most to you!

Now that you have a better idea of what wedding readings and blessings you may want included in your ceremony, it’s time to find your perfect wedding officiant. Get to know our team and our packages, then get in touch to book!

We are so excited to announce that Vancouver photographer John Bello is joining our Intimate Elopement + Photography team here at Young Hip & Married! Not only is John an awesome human and photographer, but he brings his passion for representation and love of genuine emotion to his work in the most beautiful and meaningful ways.

You can learn more about John in our interview below: Check out his photography style, learn why representation in photography is so important to him, and help John celebrate his 10th wedding season!

All photos in this post are courtesy of John Bello. 

Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

Hi!! My name is John Bello!

I would like to acknowledge, I have the privilege and opportunity to document weddings and celebrations that primarily take place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations, also known as Vancouver. This is the land where my photography operates, benefits and flourishes. This is the place I call home. I live in the vibrant Davie Village in Vancouver’s West End, and am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.

2022 is the year of my 10th wedding season, a decade of pure love, growth, pride and trust from all of my couples. I like to say that a wedding day is not just about the couple, I believe it is truly about the people around you and the emotions the day carries. It’s super important to me to capture these emotions genuinely by both being a fly on the wall and immersing myself as a guest. It’s the ugly cries and the deep belly laughs that mean the most to me!

What first drew you to wedding photography?

When I first started taking photos, I noticed the style of wedding photography shifting from fashion and portraiture to a more documentary, candid and storytelling style of capturing celebrations. I was immediately drawn to the raw emotions of images and the impact they had on me as a viewer. At the time, I was at the beginning of my own new journey of self-love and learning to embrace vulnerability, and I resonated with that when I started seeing all these emotionally impactful wedding photos.

What is your favourite moment to capture on the big day?

My favourite moment to capture on the wedding day is just after the couple gets married. I love capturing the first hugs with loved ones, the elation, the tears, the giant sighs of relief. Love bursting from all directions.

We love your passion for highlighting diversity and valuing representation. Can you tell us more about that? Why is that important to you?

As a gay person of colour (Filipino to be exact!), I had a difficult time connecting to the world around me in my early years and then coming into my own as an adult. I felt a huge disconnect to the shows, movies, commercials and campaign ads that I grew up consuming. It always made me feel less than, or an afterthought.. I never saw ‘myself’ or people that looked like me portrayed in the spotlight. So it really had a negative impact on my self worth and confidence and how I saw myself fitting into this world.

This is why as a photographer, I am super passionate about the importance of representation, especially the representation of LGBTQ+ couples in my photos. I can’t even count how many times a couple has booked with me, saying it was because how amazing it felt to have found people that looked exactly like them in my work.

Representation truly helps people feel connected, important and seen. If a person can see themselves in a photographer’s work, that deep connection is powerful beyond measure.

I am well aware that it is a huge privilege for me to be able to share photos of LGBTQ+ couples when I am allowed to. I have photographed so many beautiful queer weddings over the years but have never been able to share them due to privacy reasons – fear of repercussion from couple’s families, workplaces, and overall safety of their well being.

This is why I’m passionate about representation. Representation helps normalize ideas of love and normalizes ideas of people. It is very unfortunate that there are those that don’t agree with me and what I stand for, but my hope is that the impact of representation is what changes people’s minds and their hearts.

How can couples ensure they’re working with someone who aligns with their values?

Finding a photographer or wedding vendor that aligns with your own values is one of the biggest things that make up the foundation of an overall amazing wedding experience.

For example, if you are looking for a photographer who is queer friendly and inclusive,
the first thing I suggest doing is taking the time to make a conscious effort to really dive into their website and Instagram. You can quickly get a clear sense of who a photographer is just by how they articulate their messages, what they post, and what they share.

Ask yourself: Does this photographer acknowledge the use of pronouns? Do they use gender neutral language when communicating their thoughts? What kind of causes do they normally support?

These are some of the first things you can look out for!

The other thing you want to be conscious of is the type of content they feature throughout their galleries and the intention behind each image.

Is there diversity in their portfolio?
Is there any tokenism in this body of work?

What advice do you have for couples planning an elopement?

Hire Young Hip and Married! (Author’s note: We didn’t even ask him to say that!)

Even small and intimate weddings have so many working parts. The last thing you want to do on your wedding day is to be constantly worrying about logistics. Hiring an elopement officiant company takes this stress away and allows you the opportunity to be fully present, within yourself, and each other as a couple!

And being present IS the secret to the best photos and the secret to having the most memorable day!

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

When I’m not busy with weddings and behind the computer, I appreciate both my down time, and being social! I love lazy days where I can paint or watercolor, sprinkle multiple naps in between and order some yummy takeout.

Most of my personal time is spent with my partner Andy and our loveable, fluffy goldendoodle Rufus!
@rufusdupaww on Instagram!

As a couple, we love the summer weather, lakeside camping, and spending days at Wreck Beach. Going to music festivals, house and techno shows, live concerts, and drag brunches are things we enjoy all year round.

Thank you so much, John! Check out more of John’s incredible work below. And if you want John to capture your special day, get in touch to book your Intimate Elopement + Photography! 

www.johnbello.ca
www.instagram.com/johnbello.ca

Over the last few years, more and more couples have chosen to elope, have intimate ceremonies or get legally married before their big weddings. And we all know why that’s been the case (thanks, COVID!).

Here at Young Hip & Married, we love an elopement! But we know they’re not for everyone (find out if an elopement is right for you!). But what if you could have the best of both worlds? What if you could get legally married in an elopement now and have your big wedding celebration later?

Of course, this option isn’t going to be right for everyone. If you really want to wait to legally tie the knot until you can have your big party, that’s awesome. But before you make that decision, here are 8 reasons why you may want to get legally married before your big wedding.

You’re having a destination wedding

A great reason to get legally married before your big wedding is if your big wedding is happening overseas. Often, it’s difficult to get legally married abroad as there are a lot of hoops you need to jump through: paperwork, translations, waiting periods and even blood tests! In some countries, only residents are able to get legally married. So keep things simple and take care of the legally ceremony at home.

It takes the pressure off your big day

As you can imagine, a wedding day is often a high-pressure, high-stress event. So why not take some of the burden off your shoulders by doing the legal ceremony ahead of time? That way, you can rest easy during your party knowing the serious stuff has already been taken care of.

You don’t have to wait

Of course, the big reason why we’ve been seeing more elopements, intimate and legal weddings lately is because couples don’t want to wait. Many couples have watched as their big wedding day gets postponed time and time again. So if you’re tired of waiting, why not elope now and party later? You can always have your legal ceremony now and save the reception for a safer time.

You can enjoy the benefits of marriage

Sometimes it’s the logistics of life that encourage couples to get married on paper while they wait to have a bigger celebration. You may need to be legally married in order to share insurance policies or benefits, before a big move or big purchase, if work is taking one of you out of the country, or to be aligned with your beliefs about cohabitation or starting a family.

You get to celebrate twice!

This world could always use more joy, so let’s make the most of celebrating your love! With two weddings you can have two anniversaries, two parties, two awesome outfits, and two excuses to enjoy wedding cake. A smaller legal wedding also gives you something to be excited about as you continue planning your big reception.

You can include people who can’t attend your big wedding

A great reason to get legally married ahead of time is the people you can include. For example, if you have older relatives who may not be able to travel to your big wedding, you could include them in a local elopement. Or, if your big wedding is going to be adults-only, you could invite the special kids in your life to your legal wedding beforehand.

You can focus on the ceremony

We truly believe your ceremony is the most important part of your wedding (of course, as officiants, we’re a little biased). Without a ceremony, you don’t have a reason for the rest of your party! By getting legally married first, you can put all of your focus on this important part of your wedding. Take your time writing your own vows and choosing readings without getting hung up on any of the reception details.

Time isn’t guaranteed

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that time is not guaranteed. No one knows how long they have on this earth and the last few years have shown us we need to take advantage of every second we get. Love is the most important thing and being able to marry your person while you can shouldn’t be taken for granted.

PS: Your legal wedding doesn’t have to be dry and boring!

Just because you’re choosing to get legally married before your big wedding celebration doesn’t mean your legal wedding needs to be impersonal or less important than your big party. You can still have a sweet and sentimental moment that perfectly reflects the two of you: whether that’s in a ballgown at the top of a mountain or in jeans and a t-shirt at city hall!

Your legal ceremony is likely going to be shorter and have less frills than your large wedding reception. But you can still dress up, invite a few guests, have your wedding in a cool space, and hire a photographer to document your day. Check out our Awesome Elopement + Photography package for the perfect legal ceremony celebration!

Back in the day, a couple only got legally married before their big wedding if they had something to hide. But it’s 2022, so go ahead and celebrate! Your loved ones will be so happy you got married and still down to party whenever you decide to hold your larger reception.

So, have our 10 reasons above convinced you? Are you planning to get legally married before your big wedding day? 

written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Erica Miller Photography

Welcome back to the latest in our series of vendor interviews! We are so excited to feature Kim Jay Weddings, a photographer based on Vancouver Island. Not only is Kim an incredible photographer who has had the pleasure of working alongside our island officiants, but she was also married by one! 

Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Kim Jay and I am an elopement and wedding photographer based on Vancouver Island. 

And fill us in our your history with YHM Officiant Chris-Ann!

Chris-Ann was our elopement officiant and we couldn’t have been happier to have her marry us. We had a very non-traditional wedding –  splitting up the vow ceremony, legal ceremony and party into three different events. This allowed us to have our wedding the way we wanted, and not have to sacrifice various aspects. We wanted to throw a big party for our friends, but still wanted to have the intimacy of a small family gathering, so this allowed us to incorporate our families and our friends into the celebration in a way that made the most sense.

Chris-Ann was so accommodating and relaxed for our legal ceremony, and that was exactly the vibe we were going for. We got married in the park with our immediate family as witnesses. It was perfect!

How long have you been in the wedding industry?

I started photographing weddings about 5 years ago. I’ve been full time for 3 years now.

What first attracted you to the wedding industry? 

I’ve always had a love for photography. I got my journalism degree so I could shoot for publications. At the time I was big into concert photography and worked for a number of festivals on their photos teams. I love documenting what is happening, and telling a story through the images. It’s addicting! I got started in weddings like I think a lot of photographers do – a friend asked me to shoot their wedding and I did. 

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time? 

Camping, road trips and going to festivals are how I spend my free time. Hanging out with my fur babies and my hubby when we are not exploring.

What does Kim Jay Weddings do? 

Kim Jay Weddings is a photography company that provides documentary coverage of weddings and elopements, with a modern, fine-art flare.

What makes your business stand out from other photographers?

The connection I make with my clients is so important to me. In order to capture people as who they really are, they have to let you in; building a relationship of trust is essential. I go out of my way to help people with their planning, and try and go the extra mile to keep them relaxed on their wedding day. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for a photographer, what would it be? 

My one piece of advice for couples looking for their wedding photographer would be to make sure you LOVE the photographer’s images and how they edit – because what you see is what you will get. It’s also really important to make sure you connect with them on a personal level. I work with my clients for over a year, or even two years sometimes. So having a good connection is key, and will make sure you have fun along the way. 

What are the current trends in weddings and photography? What’s on its way out? 

Elopements are definitely on the rise, which I love! I was an eloping bride myself. In fact, one of your officiants, Chris-Anne, was the one who married us! I love the intimate nature of elopements. There are less moving parts (and other’s opinions to worry about) so the day feels more stress free and more relaxed.

I think trying to fit couples in a mould and poses that don’t match who they are is on the way out – thankfully!

What are the biggest mistakes couples make with photography?

Not printing their photos! It’s such a digital world now, but images are enjoyed best when they are in your hands, not on a screen. I encourage people to make prints or an album so they can leaf through the memories for years to come!

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge? 

Personally, I think that couples should splurge on photography because these are your memories! I’ve spoken with couples that wish they had hired a professional photographer rather than opting for their friend, and they echo that sentiment. I also think good food is key! A happy belly and good conversation are the pillars of a good party, so I’m all about splurging on quality food and drink.

Couples can save money by keeping things intimate! Cutting down that guest list to your closest people will cut the bill, and allow you and your partner to have more quality time with the guests you do invite. 

Thanks so much to Kim for teaching us the value of photography and sharing so many awesome tips. You can learn more about Kim Jay Weddings via: 

Website: https://www.kimjayweddings.com/

Email: kimjayphotography@gmail.com

Instagram: @kimjayweddings