10 Unique Wedding Ideas in and Around Vancouver

Vancouver and the surrounding areas offer so many meaningful wedding ideas, as unique as the city itself! Whether you’re imagining a chic waterfront reception or a remote sunrise hike into the mountains, I have lots of unique Vancouver wedding ideas that you can incorporate into your celebrations.

If you don’t mind venturing outside the city to areas like Whistler or Squamish, you can enjoy the best of British Columbia’s epic outdoor landscapes too — the choice is yours. Whether you’re all about whale watching, eco-friendly garden elopements, or secluded mountain weddings, here are my top tips for creating a custom wedding experience in Vancouver!

1. Go All Out With Architecturally Unique Luxury Wedding Experiences In Vancouver

I love that Vancouver does architecture so well! If you’re seeking a standout venue with a contemporary aesthetic, there’s nowhere like The Polygon Gallery. A non-profit public art gallery, this location is ideal for creative couples who want a city venue that stands out, in the best possible way. 

Located on the city’s North Shore, this gorgeous venue can cater to both micro and traditional weddings. Smaller parties are ideal for the Seaspan Pavilion, on the gallery’s upper floor, which can host up to 50, or other spaces in the gallery can seat up to 180 for a formal dinner. 

With a minimalist style, bold, clean lines, and spacious decks, offering sweeping city views, your Polygon Gallery wedding photography is going to be both modern and timeless! 

Looking for other similar options? Visit the Contemporary Art Gallery in Downtown Vancouver, which is dedicated to showcasing local, national, and international artists. After something even bigger? At 15,300 square metres, The Vancouver Art Gallery is well worth the trip.

2. Dance The Night Away In A Chic Restaurant Venue

For couples after unique Vancouver wedding venues for small gatherings, Gastown has quite a few options. One of my favourites is L’Abattoir, a chic and sophisticated restaurant offering a private dining room for receptions and parties. 

With exposed brick walls, exposed beam ceilings, and lots of natural light, you and your guests will love it here — plus, the seasonal menus here are always so delicious. The private dining room can seat up to 50 or can be split in half to accommodate smaller weddings of 24 guests. 

Gastown, known for its iconic Steam Clock and Victorian architecture, also provides opportunities for some urban wedding photography that includes some of the city’s unique elements. 

Looking for reception options specifically? Kissa Tanto, Sai Woo, Six Acres, Shaughnessy, and Cafe Medina are some of my favorites!

3. Plan An Eco-Friendly (And Budget Friendly!) Outdoor Wedding

I know sustainability is front of mind for so many couples, so one of my top ideas for eco-friendly weddings in Vancouver is to look into the Earthwise Society.

Located in Harrison Lake, not many people know about this venue, but it’s such a gorgeous space for weddings — and due to its location, it’s also cheaper than a lot of downtown venues! 

This sustainable farm and garden is gorgeous for spring and summer weddings, showcasing some of the native flora of our region and offering beautiful landscapes, if you’re looking for ways to incorporate Vancouver’s natural scenery into a wedding. 

With an inviting grove of cedar trees as your ceremony space, you can then plan your reception here too. You’ll just need to bring your own decor, but that makes it perfect for an eco-friendly wedding in Vancouver. 

4. Get Married In Gorgeous Gardens, Bringing Your Outdoor Wedding Ideas In Vancouver To Life

For a romantic spring wedding, Van Deusen Botanic Garden is the ideal choice for celebrating in a lush outdoor setting. Managed by the City of Vancouver, this spacious park offers three outdoor ceremony locations, available from May to early October. 

If you’re after some other similar garden options, Vancouver has a lot to offer. You’ve got Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park (Vancouver City’s highest point!), the classical Chinese Garden ‘Sun Yat-Sen’, and the ‘UBC Botanical Garden’, all of which can host your garden-style ceremony!

For intimate weddings, consider the Meadow Pond ceremony space, a gorgeous garden space for up to 30 guests where you can exchange vows under a stone and ivy-covered pergola. It almost feels European and is so serene and relaxing.

Your Van Deusen wedding photos will be so bright and airy, capturing the gorgeous spring and summer sunlight and all those beautiful candid moments. Covering 55 acres, we’ll also have plenty of variety for shooting unique images throughout the gardens. 

5. Soak Up The Scenery With An Epic Lakefront Ceremony 

For a uniquely beautiful lakeside wedding, Whistler’s Nita Lake Lodge is a boutique resort and spa that’s gorgeous year-round. A Nita Lake Lodge wedding is also well suited to small groups, with various package options available for intimate weddings, including parties with less than 20 guests. 

A highlight is the Porte-Cochère, a stunning outdoor ceremony location that perfectly frames the mountains in the background. With soaring Douglas-fir columns and red cedar accents, this space feels so beautifully Canadian, and also photographs so nicely. 

6. Indulge In Whistler’s Iconic Luxury 

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so live it up in one of Whistler’s most iconic venues, Fairmont Chateau Whistler! This elegant, luxurious venue still has plenty of character and charm, paired with a convenient ski-in, ski-out location if you’re visiting in winter. 

Nestled in the Whistler mountains, the location is perfect even if you’re not getting married in winter, with gorgeous outdoor settings for your vows, such as the romantic Woodlands Terrace.

This venue is ideal for large weddings, but you could also plan a low-key elopement in the mountains and then book a suite at the Fairmont for an early start on your honeymoon. Spend your days at the spa, lounging by the pool, or hiking through the epic forested landscapes in the area. 

As your Vancouver wedding photographer, I’ll be by your side to capture all the sunrise strolls, hand in hand, and the candid moments of your adventure wedding in Whistler. 

7. Travel On Horseback To Say Your Vows In Romantic Seclusion

For something completely unique, check out Cheekye Ranch, in Squamish, an awesome location for adventure elopements and weddings. Positioned along the Cheakamus River, this inviting venue is also home to Second Chance Cheekye Ranch (SCCR), a non-profit that rehabilitates horses in need, which is such an important cause.

You can add riding into your celebrations, with horseback riding adding such a dreamy and cinematic element to your Cheekye Ranch wedding photos! 

This locale is amazing for a mountain destination wedding, with Cheekye offering 60 acres of natural forest and coastal land for you and your guests to enjoy, along with five yurts, where you and your wedding party could stay. The venue offers a beautiful rustic vibe, perfect for a casual outdoor celebration. 

However, you can also find other ranches near Vancouver that offer riding, if you want to incorporate that into your wedding.

8. Touch The Clouds With A Stunning Mountaintop Ceremony In Squamish 

Just outside the city, you can find so many epic mountaintops where you can say your vows, surrounded by the unbelievable natural beauty of British Columbia. One of the best is the Sea to Sky Gondola, a short drive from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish. 

You can host both your ceremony and reception here, with the unique element of the Sea to Sky gondola, soaring into the air from ground level and taking you and your guests high into the mountains, with epic views of Howe Sound below. 

There are several outdoor ceremony locations, including the stunning Octagon, with space for up to 100. For your Sea to Sky wedding photography, the gorgeous Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is such a unique place for your photos, allowing us to create dramatic shots that also capture the grandeur and scale of the mountains. 

9. Connect And Unwind On The Serene Bowen Island

Bowen Island is just a short drive and ferry ride away from the city. I’ve always loved capturing weddings and elopements in this cozy town as it offers so many unique beach wedding ideas for Vancouver couples!

Located on Howe Sound, the island is a paradise for nature lovers, with mountain views and plenty of fun activities to enjoy, such as paddleboarding, kayaking, biking, and cute boutique art galleries and restaurants. 

There are some adorable farm venues here for weddings or cool Airbnbs like Nectar Yoga. Nectar offers intimate and bespoke forest wedding packages — perfect for that couple looking to get away from it all. They also offer yoga retreats — combining your wedding with a yoga retreat is such a unique way for fitness enthusiasts to kick off the next chapter of their life together! 

10. Say Your Vows In A Historic Mansion For A Unique Vancouver Wedding

Built in 1909-12, Hycroft Manor is a timeless and elegant venue that feels like stepping into a grand European estate. Nestled in a picturesque residential neighborhood, this heritage mansion offers an unparalleled setting for intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions in Vancouver.

Exchange vows in the elegant drawing room or the equally breathtaking Green Solarium, all the while surrounded by the old-world charm of the mansion. The Terrace, Rose Garden, and Juliet Balcony make for some stunning outdoor spaces for your celebration and give us practically endless possibilities for wedding photography.

Your Hycroft Manor wedding photography will feel like a fairy tale come to life, and I’ll be there every step of the way to make that dream into a reality. Your photos here will feel refreshing, bright, and romantic!

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If you’re ready to start planning your Vancouver wedding photography, I can’t wait to hear from you! Please reach out and we can get started — whether you’re cooking up your life-long dream of a romantic Vancouver wedding with mountain views or a timeless occasion in the city, I’ve got you covered!