Olivia and Ted’s wedding at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse was the perfect reminder that some of the most meaningful wedding days are the ones that unfold a little differently than originally planned. Set amongst the orchards and cedar trees of one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Saanich, their day was filled with emotional vows, unexpected rainstorms, and the kind of chilled out energy that allowed everyone to simply stay present with one another throughout it all.

Captured with a blend of documentary style photography, Polaroids, and candid film moments throughout the day, the entire Sea Cider wedding day felt grounded, relaxed, and full of genuine connection from beginning to end.

A Relaxed Morning Getting Ready in Saanich

The morning began in two separate suites at a hotel near the airport in Saanich, where both Olivia and Ted spent the early part of the day getting ready alongside their closest friends and family. The atmosphere throughout the morning felt super calm and relaxed, with music playing in the background and easeful energy shared amongst friends.

Olivia spent the morning with a small group of bridesmaids, listening to Taylor Swift (her absolute fave) and helping each other with their make-up. There was no rush or frantic energy, which allowed for a lot of space and preparation for the day ahead. Her mom helped her into her dress while the girls gathered around helping with shoes, jewellery, and final little details before heading out to Sea Cider.

The entire morning was spent with in the people who mattered most to them, and I loved that.

A First Look in the Orchard at Sea Cider

Before the rain arrived, we made our way into the orchard at Sea Cider for Olivia and Ted’s first look together. Ted waited in the rows of apple trees while Olivia slowly walked toward him through the orchard before tapping him gently on the shoulder.

The moment he turned around and saw her for the first time, he immediately burst into cute nervous laughter and the biggest smile. It was such a genuine reaction filled with nervous excitement and complete disbelief at how beautiful she looked standing there in front of him.

Later, we joked that he had apparently been expecting a giant princess style gown, and instead Olivia stepped into the orchard wearing the most elegant silk dress that completely caught him off guard in the best possible way.

Rainy Wedding Day Plans and Pivoting with the Weather

Just as Olivia and Ted finished their first look together, we started feeling the first few raindrops.. Within minutes, we were sprinting toward the gazebo as the skies completely opened up around us.

Originally, we had planned to spend the afternoon outdoors photographing couples portraits, wedding party photographs, and family portraits before the ceremony began later in the day. Instead, the weather forced us to completely rethink the timeline as rainstorms rolled through continuously for most of the afternoon.

One of the things I admired most throughout the entire day was how grounded and flexible Olivia and Ted remained despite everything changing around them. They never allowed the rain to shift the energy of the day or distract from what mattered most to them, which was simply getting married surrounded by the people they love.

While we waited for the rain to pass, we spent some time upstairs in the bridal suite taking quiet portraits indoors, and just fully leaning into the slower pace of the afternoon that the rain unexpectedly brought.

And as if by some greater source of power, somehow, just before the ceremony began, the clouds finally started to part.

An Emotional Ceremony Beneath the Cedars

As guests gathered beneath the cedar trees for the ceremony, the rain slowly disappeared and the sunshine peeked her head through the clouds just as Olivia walked down the aisle alongside her dad.

The ceremony itself felt incredibly emotional from beginning to end. Olivia’s mom officiated the ceremony, and together they incorporated meaningful Indigenous practices throughout the experience that made everything feel deeply personal and intentional.

There were tears almost constantly throughout the vows from both Olivia and Ted as well as many of the guests surrounding them. One of my favourite details from the ceremony was Olivia secretly weaving eight (yes, eight!!!) Taylor Swift lyrics throughout her vows. Some references were obvious while others were hidden more subtly throughout her words, which felt like such a personal little reflection of her personality and relationship with Ted.

The entire ceremony carried this beautiful balance between emotion, laughter, tenderness, and authenticity that made it incredibly moving to witness.

Documentary Style Wedding Photography During Cocktail Hour

Because of the rain, cocktail hour ended up moving indoors rather than onto the patio overlooking the orchard. Guests gathered together inside the tasting room sharing cider, conversations, hugs, and stories while finally getting a chance to fully relax.

This part of the day is honestly one of my favourite things to document during weddings. Once formalities begin fading into the background, people naturally settle into themselves more fully and the candid interactions become incredibly meaningful to photograph.

I focused heavily on documenting those smaller in between moments… the emotional reactions during speeches, guests embracing each other, hands reaching across dinner plates, and all the tiny interactions that make a wedding day actually feel alive years later when couples look back on it.

Sea Cider created such a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone to gather together throughout the evening.

Golden Hour Orchard Portraits at Sea Cider

Although the rain completely shifted our original photography plans earlier in the day, I’m honestly so grateful we decided to move Olivia and Ted’s couples portraits to golden hour instead.

As the evening sunlight began setting through the orchard behind Sea Cider, we wandered back outside together while the rest of the reception slowly continued inside. The light could not have been more perfect!!! It was just glowing after the rain, creating the most beautiful atmosphere throughout the orchard.

The pressure of the day had completely faded away, the ceremony was over, everyone was relaxed, and Olivia and Ted finally had space to simply slow down together for a few quiet moments.

Polaroids and the Final Moments of the Evening

Throughout the wedding day, we captured a handful of Polaroids alongside the digital photographs as little tangible pieces of the day for Olivia and Ted to hold onto immediately afterward.

At the very end of the evening, just before I left, the two of them sat together flipping through their Polaroids while the band started setting up for the night ahead. Watching them laugh together while looking through those small physical memories from earlier in the day felt like the perfect way to end the story of their wedding.

By the time I left later that evening, they were surrounded by their closest people, the rain had long passed, music was beginning to fill the reception space, and the rest of the night was still waiting ahead of them.

It felt like the perfect ending to a wedding day rooted entirely in connection and the people who matter most.

Planning Your Sea Cider Wedding on Film

if you’re planning a wedding at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse or dreaming of an intimate wedding somewhere on Vancouver Island, I’d love to document it for you. My approach to weddings is rooted in documentary storytelling on film, emotional honesty, artful expression, and preserving the atmosphere of the day in a way that feels true to your experience. Whether your wedding day unfolds beneath orchard trees in the rain or during golden hour sunshine along the coast, I’m always drawn to documenting the moments that feel genuine and deeply human. You can explore more of my wedding work here, and if it feels like we’d be a good fit, I’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you.