A Vancouver Club Wedding: Michael and Catherine's Dream Day

2 days ago
6 min read

San Francisco couple Catherine and Michael decided to celebrate their dream wedding at the Vancouver Club in the most stunning and iconic wedding of the year. Michael proposed to Catherine in Brussels surrounded by cultural scenery.

A Vancouver Club Wedding photo by Hannah Marich — Catherine & Michael Vancouver Club Polaroid Style Ceremony Photo by Hannah Marich Photography

The Rehearsal (The evening before the iconic Vancouver Club Wedding)

The couple chose to have their rehearsal dinner with Pacific Yacht Charters the night before their big day. The yacht boasts three levels of entertainment, 2 full service bars, and a stunning view. The couple brought their very talented photographer Hannah Marich all the way from Nevada onboard to ensure they captured every single magical moment

The boat was held back for a few moments due to a V.I.P guest being delayed in the very well known Vancouver traffic. This gave the onboard event liason and the wedding planner a moment to discuss the best route for the passengers. As they were almost all guests from the United States it was agreed the most lit up city view was the best option (especially after dark where nature can't be seen as clearly). As soon as the yacht departed, hors d'oeuvres and drinks were passed around.

The dinner onboard was perfect, followed by speeches and a wicked evening of fun and dancing. The music was provided by the yacht but we were able to send in selections and notes prior so that the taste was according to the couple's and their guests. The guests were just buzzing with excitement for the next day!

Getting Ready: The Georgian Room

Catherine used the Georgian Room to get ready for the wedding. It is truly one of the most stunning rooms in the Vancouver Club, perfect lightning for your 'must have' Getting Ready photos. They ordered all of the morning bridal room essentials; fruit platters, mimosas, coffee, tea and of course some assorted pastries.

For some brides, the hair is an afterthought. For Catherine it was an important aspect to her and she really wanted someone good. Of course we called the most sought after hair expert in Vancouver: Clara Leung Hair Designs. Her styles are worth working this cost into your budget and you won't regret it! She really outdid herself, because there wasn't a hair out of place.

Getting Ready: The Reading Room

The Groom and Groomsmen had their own room to prepare themselves for the day. An exciting morning of exchanging stories, gifts and enjoying some beer and charcuterie (and maybe a little pool in the billiards room). The Reading Room at the Vancouver Club was recently renovated and is now the ideal room for the guys to occupy pre-ceremony.

It is conveniently located right outside the ceremony space so you can plan for some immediate privacy following your processional exit. Catherine and Michael took a few moments following their ceremony to catch their breath after the excitement.

The Ceremony: The University Room

Flowers really do bring a space to life. Petalino Flower Bar met with the couple for some in-depth consultations during the planning stages. The bride wanted some small hints of burgundy red on top of the fire place and incorporated into the reception floral. They were added in subtle perfection.

The couple opted for a string quartet which contributed such an elegance to the ceremony. If this is within your budget - absolutely add this to your list. Catherine & Michael's music choices were those that only someone with an ear for classical music would choose. This created a formal atmosphere for them to exchange such important words to each other.

The vows of course, made us (and everyone) cry. After planning with a couple for a certain amount of time you do tend to become personally invested. The ceremony was symbolic as they legally got married in their home country of the United States prior to their trip. We strongly recommend this for any destination wedding!

The ceremony space is always a mad dash, but with all ceremonies there is always a "Final Check". Keep these things in mind for your wedding day:

Wipe and dry the chairs, measure the spaces between each chair (some things had to be adjusted last minute)
Water bottles, glasses, or anything that you don't want in your photos (a lone water bottle was found right before the guests came in)
Vacuum the space (floral debris everywhere)
Light the candles: (only just before the guests are allowed in, you don't want melted candles)
Fresh water for the guests
Review with the officiant
Review with the quartet
Review with the officiant and quartet signals, nods and any other cues you might want during the ceremony
Check the lightning for the photographer (we had to play with the lights and curtains for this one)

The Cocktail Hour: The Atrium

The couple held their cocktail hour in the Atrium. This allowed them some time to take photos in and outside of the stunning venue before joining in the fun!

The cocktail hour vibe is completely what a couple decides and this couple's cocktail hour was giving classy. They opted to have a pianist play, while passed custom drinks were circulated. The couple also had two bars in their cocktail hour as they did not want any lineups with their larger party. A custom LED sign really personalised the space. The sign was a play on the Cocktails & Dreams sign from the 1988 movie "Cocktail" only they had it say "Cosgraves & Dreams to include their newly shared last name. The sign was created by Steveston LED - a company that makes true neon signs (nothing like the Etsy ones you usually find at weddings in this era).

The added custom round white bar was brought in by the decor company, it was so large that each of the 6 pieces had to be brought up the elevator one at a time. It was completely worth it because it tied in with the couple's aesthetic so smoothly and really brought the space together.

The Reception: The Grand Ballroom

Last but not least, the couple hosted their guests for the reception in the breathtaking Grand Ballroom of the Vancouver Club. When the guests entered, the were greeted by a seating chart with indiudal cards, each pinned with a monopoly playing piece and some dried flowers. The seating chart was only just setting the tone. The DJ played as guests entered, they took their seats and were speechless looking at the decor.

The couple entered the ballroom to a chorus of music, whistles, cheers, and excited napkin twirling. It was indeed, a grand entrance.

The flowers lined the tables, the walls, and yes, even the cielings. The brave floral team climbed to the highest corners of the Vancouver Club in order to hang greenery from the chandeliers, leaving no part of this venue bare. The bride wanted a black and white marble decor dance floor to tie the room together. The twinkle light curtains hanging behind the stage for the main attraction later on gave a magical ambiance.

Once the couple entered, they went straight into their First Dance and speeches (no dancing time to waste!). After the meals were served, the speeches were spoken, the couple cut into the cake and invited the guests onto the dance floor for a really good time. While they were dancing, the guests were accutely aware of the 12 piece band in matching jackets confidently walking onto the large stage. This is when the party really got started! If that wasn't enough excitement, out came the saxophone player. She played in unison with the DJ and they absolutely killed it. The guests couldn't get enough.

While the guests were distracted by all of the excitement, the bride ran up to do a quick outfit change! She looked stunning in her little white dress. The twist? She opted for pumps, not sneakers.

When the party really got going, we converted the Georgian Room (where the bride had gotten ready) to a quiet space for the younger children. They had books, crayons and (courtesy of The Bridal Bar) some bubbles.

The bride also had very thoughtful gift bags of Rescue Flats on the wall for girls to grab when their feet began to hurt. We first snagged some for the V.I.P bridesmaids of course! These kits came complete with a shoe bag for your heels, a pair of comfortable and stylish flats, along with a scrunchy to tie your hair back.

Catherine and Michael had exciting surprises for their guests at every turn, keeping everyone entertained and definitely making this the wedding of the year. The venue was full service which means, if and when guests needed something there were a lot of staff around to ensure that they were taken care of. This allowed the couple to enjoy their elegant evening without a hitch!