Corinne & Ian McLaughlin
This backyard wedding wasn’t the original plan, or even the backup plan, but this couple turned their property into an unbelievable event space. And the theme? Disco Rosé! Corinne, the bride, shares all the details below!
Tell me a bit about your love story: Ian and I met when we were living in Whistler, BC. We met at Cornucopia – a wine event. We went on a date a few weeks later and had so much in common. Everything just clicked. I was planning a move to West Van at the time, and Ian was also looking to move on from Whistler. We started dating and a year later we were both living on the North Shore.
Ian proposed to me on December 24th 2019 – a year and a few months after we first met. We moved in together in March 2020 and started wedding planning.
What were your original plans for your wedding day? Something bigger? We were planned and booked for Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club in Muskoka for October 2020. We had invited 150 guests to attend and had everything planned and booked down to a babysitter and 5-piece band!
When you had to change your plans, how did you feel before and after? We initially just wanted to wait it out, as we were still 8 months out when COVID-19 hit us. All of our vendors were very accommodating. As the summer progressed, we decided that we didn’t want to make our guests wait any longer (we had sent out updates over the prior few months) and we also didn’t want to put our lives on hold with so much unknown.
We thought about doing a small wedding (just our parents and us) and doing a larger party at a later date. But after much deliberation, decided we didn’t want to plan two weddings – and still had so much uncertainty as to when we would be able to gather a large group again.
We officially changed our plans mid-July and booked The Beachhouse Restaurant in West Van for August 29th 2020. We were meeting with the on site planner every week to stay informed on the restrictions in place, but soon decided that being in a restaurant still had many guidelines that we would be limited with. Including not having a first dance, or a live guitarist.
August 2nd, we officially changed our plan again! We kept the same date and under 50 guest list (as per COVID-19 guidelines). However, as we were doing it outside, we were able to have our first dance, live solo guitarist and serve our wedding cake!
In the end, we only had 35 guests (not including caterers, the musician our photographers and the videographer) and it was perfect! Our neighbours were all commenting on how nice it was to have some live music in the neighbourhood and some even sat out on their decks listening and enjoying wine in their own yards.
We took all necessary COVID-19 precautions. We had custom masks made and handed them out to guests, we had sanitizer and limited people in the house at a time. Lysol wipes at the ready in the bathroom for people to wipe down the sink, post use. Everyone was responsible and as a result, no one was sick following the wedding. We had a Zoom link set up for guests who weren’t in attendance.
Will you be having a larger celebration next year? We hope to go to Muskoka this summer for a family holiday, but are expecting a baby boy in July. So if we do make it, we will plan to see the friends and family that we had originally invited to the Muskoka wedding.
What was your favourite part of the day? My favourite part was getting ready with my best girlfriends at the Fairmont with my bridal party. And the dancing after the ceremony and reception! I also wasn’t around when the florist was setting up and was blown away by how beautiful the garden looked when I first saw it! We have a pool and hired a stage company to build an engineered deck over it. The last time I saw the yard, it was not looking very pretty!
It all came together in just three short weeks!
What will guests remember most? Most people have commented on the live guitarist! He was great! And at how beautiful the flowers were. Calida is so talented!
What advice can you give to couples planning a wedding? Small weddings can be lovely. I have been to some large ones, and although beautiful and fun, the bride and groom are so exhausted and often don’t get to even speak to everyone – or have a moment to themselves. Ian and I took 25 minutes right after we said I do and just had a glass of Champagne alone at the beach down the street. Our photographer came with us, but is was just so nice to have that time and then be ready to celebrate with everyone.
Also, people understand if you can’t invite them. Zoom is a great option!
Most importantly – just have fun! We went from a plan of 150 guests, a 5-piece band, groomsmen in tuxedos, bridesmaids in floor length gowns to 35 people in our “disco Rosé” backyard wedding – and it was perfect!
Ceremony/reception location: our backyard in Eagle Harbour, West Vancouver
Dress designer: Morilee by Madeline Gardner
Suit designer: Hugo Boss
Photographer: Vivian Ng Photography
Décor: The bride
Flowers: Calida Coral
Cake: Denise Bedford, Flour Bake Shop
Caterers: Louis Gervais
Hair/makeup: Sara Rose and Team
Pre-wedding venue: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Musician: Colin Bullock
Officiant: Patrick Tracy, All Seasons Weddings
Car hire: Time Limousine Service
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