I’ve wanted to photograph a wedding at Gowlland Harbour Resort for quite some time now.

I’d seen snippets of it online from other friends and photographers and every time I thought, Yep. That’s exactly the kind of place I want to work. Quiet coastline, big open spaces, cabins tucked into the trees. An oceanfront lawn for ceremonies and a reception deck that looks out over the water. It felt like somewhere people could truly settle in for the weekend instead of rushing from one part of the day to the next.

Katrina and Austin rented out the entire property for their wedding weekend, so their closest friends and family all stayed together. Those kinds of celebrations are quickly becoming some of my favourites (do we see a theme happening here?)

Leading up to the wedding we watched the forecast OBSESSIVELY. Rain was in the forecast almost every day. I think everyone was refreshing the weather app every few hours, myself included. The ceremony was outside… reception tables were outside… there wasn’t really a Plan B anyone was excited about.

In the end we had a few tiny sprinkles and that was about it. The clouds drifted through, the ocean stayed calm, and somehow everything worked out exactly the way it was supposed to.

A Relaxed Morning Getting Ready by the Water

I started the morning with the guys. When I walked into the cabin they were exactly where I expected them to be… watching sports, hanging out, and not really dressed. We laughed, tidied up the living room a little, and headed outside onto the deck to get Austin suited up. It was relaxed. Easy. Lots of joking around. Pretty standard groom morning I’d say.

Then I wandered down to the girls’ cabin. Calling it busy would probably be an understatement. There were bridesmaids, moms, two makeup artists, dresses, flowers, coffee cups, and people trying to move around in what was actually a pretty tiny space. And somehow it all worked.

Katrina’s makeup artist had actually stepped in the day before after another artist had cancelled at the last minute. Talk about saving the day and coming in clutch. Everyone looked incredible and Katrina was finally able to breathe a little easier.

While everyone finished getting ready I photographed details outside on the rocks just as a few drops of rain started falling. The weather kept teasing throughout the morning, but the light sprinkle if rain truly just added to the magic of the day.

Katrina shared a quiet moment with her mom before getting dressed where they exchanged matching rings, her veil was pinned in place, and before long it was time for first looks with her bridesmaids and her dad and then eventually with Austin hmiself.

A First Look on the Coast and Private Vows

Austin waited on the rocks overlooking the bay while Katrina made her way up the dock to him. She tapped him on the shoulder and as soon as he turned around you could almost see the nerves disappear. There were lots of smiles, a few tears, and that feeling of finally getting to exhale after spending the whole morning apart.

Before anyone else joined us, they took a few minutes to read private vows to one another. And I wasn’t prepared for quite how emotional it would be.

Katrina barely made it through the first few lines before she started crying, and I quickly realized none of us had thought to bring tissues. So off I ran back to the cabin while the two of them laughed through the tears.

Afterwards we wandered through the forest together for portraits before meeting everyone at the ceremony lawn. At this point I kept checking the time, fully expecting us to be behind schedule, yet we were totally fine. In fact, we were somehow right on track.

Parasols, Portraits and an Oceanfront Ceremony

When Katrina and I first built her timeline, I remember thinking it was ambitious.

There were so many pieces she cared about. Flat lays. A first look. Private vows. Portraits. Wedding party photos with parasols. Family portraits. Sake shots. A champagne tower. Cocktail hour. All before the reception.

Usually a timeline like that leaves me quietly doing math in my head all day. Like, can I do this and get it all done in time? And somehow.. it just worked.

I think a lot of it came down to Katrina and Austin themselves. They had this calm, easy energy about them. Even with rain in the forecast and lots happening behind the scenes, they never seemed rushed. They trusted the process, stayed present, and because of that the whole day seemed to move at exactly the pace it needed to.

Before guests arrived we snuck over to the reception deck to admire the tablescape Lynette and her team had created. Katrina’s mom had done all of the decor and it was absolutely beautiful. Every little detail had been thought through and I could not get enough of it!

The ceremony itself overlooked the ocean on a big grassy lawn surrounded by beautiful florals. Their dog Gus proudly sat in the front row before deciding he’d rather be part of the ceremony itself and wandered over to join them. Nobody seemed to mind.

Katrina and Austin poured themselves a shot of sake before signing their marriage licence as a nod to getting engaged in Japan the year before. It was such a personal little touch and one that felt completely true to them. As they walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, everyone launched paper airplanes into the air around them.

I’ve seen confetti. I’ve photographed bubbles. There’s usually always flower petals. But paper airplanes? That’s a new one for me and might just be one of my favourites.

Champagne Towers and Time With the People Who Matter Most

Once the ceremony wrapped up, it was time for cocktail hour.

Before guests could grab a drink though, Katrina and Austin kicked things off with a champagne tower. It was my first time photographing one and honestly… I hope it’s not my last. It looked soooo so good.

Afterwards everyone settled into cocktail hour while we quickly worked through family portraits.

I’m a huge advocate for protecting cocktail hour whenever possible. It can be tempting to squeeze portraits into that window because the light is usually beautiful and everyone is already gathered together. But it’s also one of the only times during the day where couples actually get to hug their people, grab a drink, laugh, and soak in the fact that all of their favourite humans are in one place. Katrina and Austin got to do exactly that. And this is why I’m always a fan of first looks before the ceremony so that you get to spend that time with the people who matter most.

By the time we headed into the reception, it didn’t feel like they had missed a thing.

Documentary Moments During the Reception

Once everyone found their seats, I naturally slipped into my favourite part of the day. I love creating portraits. I love photographing details. I love getting artsy and finding interesting pockets of light. But reception is where I get to step back a little, and simply watch.

There is a photographer whose work I really admire, her name is Alexandria French, that describes her approach as documentary photography with a presence. That idea has stuck with me ever since I heard it. It feels like exactly the kind of photographer I’m aiming to be. Present enough that people know I’m there, interacting with my environment in a way that encourages moments while also creating space for ones to unfold.

Then came time for speeches and they were everything you could hope for.

Katrina’s dad had everyone laughing one minute and crying the next. Between calling both his wife and Katrina his “beauty queens” and sharing the story of how he was somehow the last person to realize Austin wasn’t just another friend she was sleeping over with, the whole crowd bounced between tears and laughter.

You could tell this family loved loudly.

There was constant cheering, stories being shouted across tables, people wiping away tears while laughing at the same time. It felt wonderfully chaotic in the best possible way.

Dinner was served family style, conversations stretched across tables, and before long it was time to crack into a crème brûlée instead of cutting a cake. It felt perfectly fitting for them.

Dancing, Polaroids and the Perfect Ending

Neither Katrina nor Austin loved the idea of having everyone’s eyes on them for their first dance. And I don’t think they’re alone in that. But once the music started, the nerves disappeared pretty quickly. Katrina shared a dance with her dad before everyone flooded onto the dance floor. From there the night completely shifted gears.

The dance floor filled almost immediately, shoes started coming off, drinks were forgotten on tables, and everyone settled into celebrating. And as always, I found myself right in the middle of it. There’s really no better place to be!

Before heading home I handed Katrina and Austin the Polaroids I caught throughout the day. Watching couples flip through those tiny little prints before they’ve even seen a single digital image is becoming one of my favourite traditions. It was just a small surprise for them but it always feels so special.

One of Those Weddings I’ll Never Forget

There are weddings you leave feeling creatively inspired. Others because the venue was incredible or the sunset showed off. This one will stay with me because of the people.

From the moment I arrived, Katrina and Austin, their families, and their friends welcomed me in like I was another guest spending the weekend with them. They checked in on me throughout the day, made sure I’d eaten, invited me into conversations, and somehow managed to make me feel like I belonged there rather than simply documenting it from the sidelines.

When I first looked at their timeline, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. There were so many thoughtful pieces they wanted to include throughout the day that I worried we’d feel rushed trying to fit everything in.

Instead, it became one of the calmest weddings I’ve photographed. They trusted me completely, stayed present with one another, and reminded me that weddings don’t have to feel hectic in order to be beautiful.

A few days after the wedding, Katrina sent me one of the kindest reviews. She wrote that I brought a “positive, calming energy” to the day, that I made them feel completely comfortable being themselves in front of the camera, and that they felt they were in “the very best hands.”

Reading those words honestly meant the world to me.

At the end of the day, I hope the photographs become family heirlooms. But if people leave feeling seen, comfortable, and genuinely cared for, then I know I’ve done my job.

Katrina and Austin, thank you for trusting me with such an important chapter of your lives. Thank you for welcoming me so wholeheartedly into your celebration, for making me laugh all weekend long, and for reminding me exactly why I love this work.

Vendor Love

One of my favourite parts about photographing weddings is getting to work alongside so many incredibly talented people. A wedding day like this doesn’t come together by accident, and Katrina and Austin had such a wonderful team behind them.

A huge thank you to Gowlland Harbour Resort, and especially Lynette and her team, for creating such an incredible experience from beginning to end. It was my first time photographing a wedding here and I was completely blown away. From the oceanfront ceremony lawn to the multi-level reception deck overlooking the water, every part of the property felt thoughtfully designed for weddings. More than anything though, it was the people who made the experience so memorable. Lynette and her team have everything running like a well oiled machine, and their calm presence made the entire day feel effortless for everyone involved.

The beautiful florals by Crescendo Floral Studio perfectly complemented the natural landscape of Quadra Island. Their designs added so much colour and softness while still allowing the coastal setting to take centre stage.

Hair by Taylor Bartel and makeup by the wonderful artist who stepped in at the last minute Paige Willet helped everything come together seamlessly. After Katrina’s original makeup artist had to cancel the day before, having someone step in and save the day was such a gift.

Katrina looked absolutely stunning in her gown from The White Peony, which felt timeless, elegant, and perfectly suited for the day.

The evening celebration was brought to life by Vancity DJ, who kept the dance floor packed all night long, while Margaret Johnson led a heartfelt ceremony filled with laughter, emotion, and so many personal touches that reflected Katrina and Austin’s relationship.

It was such a joy documenting this Quadra Island wedding alongside such a wonderful group of people, and I truly hope our paths cross again soon.

Venue: Gowlland Harbour Resort
Florals: Crescendo Floral Studio
Makeup: Paige Willet Makeup
Hair: Taylor Bartel
Wedding Dress: The White Peony
DJ: Vancity DJ
Officiant: Margaret Johnson
Photography: Rae Terrillon Photography

Planning a Wedding on Quadra Island?

If you’re dreaming of an intimate wedding weekend on Quadra Island, I’d love to help document it. From private vows on the rocks and quiet forest portraits to candid moments shared over dinner with your favourite people, these are exactly the kinds of celebrations I’m most drawn to.

Based on Vancouver Island, I photograph weddings throughout Quadra Island, the Gulf Islands, and the BC coast using a thoughtful blend of film photography, Super 8, and documentary storytelling. You can explore more of my wedding work here, and if it feels like we’d be a good fit, I’d love to hear about what you’re dreaming up!