Living only a few hours away from beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, Kristen and Connor knew it was the perfect setting for their destination wedding. Even though it didn’t feel like a destination wedding because of it’s proximity to their hometown of Vancouver, the couple felt the destination was a great chance for a weekend getaway with friends and family. “My husband calls it my “happy place” because I can’t help but look around and smile the whole time I am there,” says the bride. “It is just so beautiful and there is something very peaceful about the setting that is a wonderful break from our busy city lives.”

Because the destination was easily accessible for the couple’s guests, the reaction to the wedding location was very positive. The only issue that the newlyweds ran across was a weather incident on the weekend of the wedding. “There was a crazy rainstorm that made driving up the Sea to Sky Highway a bit treacherous and long and a number of guests coming from Vancouver Island nearly didn’t make it because the ferries stopped running due to high winds,” says the bride.

Besides the weather incident, the couple says planning their destination wedding was relatively stress-free. “It was a bit challenging planning without being able to easily see the space, but our day-of wedding planner was very familiar with the venue and the area and was very helpful and we were able to get up there once before the wedding to see everything for ourselves,” says the bride. “The hardest part was organizing everything into various cars for the trip up.”

One of the couple’s DIY details got ruined the day before the trip up, but everything else went smoothly. “We had a few DIY wooden signs directing guests into the building and setting out the tables,” says the couple. The signs fit in perfectly with the venue’s rustic feel.

The couple had a group rate at the Four Seasons and many of their guests had their own contacts or personal timeshares in Whistler, so the newlyweds didn’t run into many logistical issues. “We rented a large suite at the Four Seasons, which was wonderful for our wedding night, but also great for having lots of people over to spend some time the next day, which probably only happens when everyone is away from home and staying close by,” say the newlyweds.

“We loved having our friends and family there with us in Whistler Village the night before the wedding and had a great time the morning after the wedding seeing everyone and sharing stories,” says the happy couple. 

We asked the happy couple what advice they have for others planning a destination wedding. Here’s what they said: Try to be as organized as possible. In the end things will not go as planned, so do your best to roll with it, relax and enjoy yourself!

Photographer: Jamie Delaine; Wedding Planner: Linda Marshall (Whistler Wedding Planners); Ceremony/Reception Site: Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre; Florist: Linda Marshall (Whistler Wedding Planners); Stationery: minted; Cake: Tricia Fields (Whistler Wedding Planners); Hair and Makeup: Farfalla Hair and Esthetics; Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero; Other Vendors: Whistler Cooks Catering