DH and I ran away from small town BC to get married on the steps of the art gallery in Vancouver (it used to be the courthouse), at noon on a Friday which happened to be our 5th anniversary. We each had one person stand up for us, and had a friend take pictures (which disappeared before we could get any prints, good thing the "best man" took a few!).

My dress was a gift from a friend and my maid of honour - MoH bought the fabric, friend made it for me. We bought the flowers locally and I just wrapped a small bouquet with the same netting my veil was made from.

About 3 weeks later we had a party back at home. I think there were around 75 people. It was semi-potluck - not everyone brought food, but we didn't do it all ourselves, either. It was BYOB. One friend ran a DJ service at the time and his wedding gift to us was the DJ service for the night. heh Neither of us can remember if we had a cake! heehee. The only tradition I wanted was the first dance with DH, then the second dance where both his parents and my parents would dance also.....his parents refused to dance, so that was that.

What I realized was - a wedding, even though it's your day, even if you are somewhat untraditional, will not be a great chance to catch up with all those wonderful people who travel to be at your wedding. I felt like I barely got to visit with anyone!

As for the rings - DH was training to be a cabinet maker so he made me the engagement ring out of wood. He had to make several because, no matter how careful you are with a laminated wood ring, it will eventually break. Our wedding bands are matching European yellow gold bands that were his grandparent's. I've simply never really liked diamonds...

Do your wedding your way. Include any traditions that are meaningful to you and to your DH to Be. Keep it simple. After all, the wedding is the ritual to memorialize the beginning of your married life together. While the ritual is important, the marriage itself is far more important.

There are many many many beautiful places in Vancouver that you could be married, especially if there is not a large crowd. And there are many many ways you could ritualize this celebration.

Hike up the Grouse grind and be married at the top (people who don't want to hike can still get there). Or kayak along false creek and be married on the water. Bike through the endowment lands and be married at a view point. As a fairly frequent visitor to Vancouver, my favourite spot is the Granville Island Hotel. I can see a beautiful wedding on the grassy knoll there.........there are so many ways to do this I hope you can find a way that will be *fun*!!

Keep us posted!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~