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I want to acknowledge the simple, understated elegance that was Carlie and Freddy’s Manning Park wedding. It was classy and absolute perfection. I cannot say enough about this venue and this beautiful couple. 

But I’m going to try anyway. 

For anyone who likes being outdoors, I’m sure you’ve been to Manning Park. Now, Manning is only a few hour’s drive away from Vancouver. Yet, it offers so many awesome adventure possibilities – beautiful lakes, camping, hiking, and cute little cottages that make the perfect weekend wedding getaway. 

Carlie and Freddy’s wedding was exactly that. A perfect getaway. 

What to expect from a Manning Park Wedding? 

Good questions, I’m glad I asked. 

As I mentioned, there are so many visual aspects to take advantage of in Manning Park, that I tried to get as many in as I possibly could with Carlie and Freddy.

Let’s start with the getting ready part of the day. Carlie and Freddy were staying at the resort. The cottages are simple and a little rustic, which actually makes them a wonderful blank canvas to be elevated by the moment. 

The decor is simple and clean, which meant that Carlie’s dress, her shoes, the tender moments with your mother, and her bridesmaids were given this unobstructed presence. You can see it so clearly in the image, that the background of the cottage doesn’t distract from what’s happening. 

If anything, it adds a natural vibe to the whole album. That, and the amazing light that filtered in the morning on the balcony, made for such spectacular photos. 

What I loved about Carlie was her smile. I don’t know that there was a moment when she wasn’t beaming with joy. It was infectious to be around. Everyone around her couldn’t help but smile too. 

At the Manning Park Resort

Now, back to what you get at a Manning Park wedding: 

Cute cabins and plenty of room to stay → check! 

Up next, we have lush, mature, forested trails. 

Alright, the photographer in me loves forest photography. I can’t help it. The lighting can be utterly magical, especially with the added drama & warm glow from the wildfire smoke (welcome to BC!). And who doesn’t want a magical feeling to their already magical day? 

Manning Park has this simple network of trails that are suitable for any skill level. If you’re thinking your wedding needs to be at the top of a mountain – we can do that hike. Or, like Carlie and Freddy, we can take advantage of the secluded wonder of the trails, and the breathtaking streams of light that elevated their first look moment. 

It’s a good thing that I got these pictures out of the way before the wedding. It was such a sweet moment that I teared up! 

And we don’t want that! 

In any case, the look on Freddy’s face when he saw Carlie. The moment their fingers touched before he turned around. I get chills just thinking about the love shining in his eyes. 

I was really happy to be able to take these precious pictures in the forest. It gave a more intimate feeling to the moment, which was exactly the feeling that I was going for. 

We did end up taking advantage of the other views, with some beautiful lakeside photos for the ceremony and the family portraits. 

What I loved most about shooting at Manning Park was that Manning Park is busy in the summer. Yet, you would never know that. Given its size, you wouldn’t expect how well set up Manning Park is. Or that hosting your wedding here makes it feel like it’s just for you. A piece of wild paradise just waiting for your big day. 

Photo gallery time! 

Well, with that, I think it’s time that you get to see that happy couple in action. I had an amazing time photographing Carlie and Freddy and being part of their Manning Park wedding adventure. 

Enjoy the pictures of this great day!

First things first, Amanda & John’s wedding was amazing. It was truly a beautiful winter wedding at Golden Eagle Golf Club. Which, if I’m being honest, is a fantastic local wedding venue in Pitt Meadows. You get a little bit of everything greenery, skies, water. And of course the add-on of helicopter portraits. Their wedding coordinator Lamica is always fantastic to deal with. They offer full-service packages which is so convenient when planning your day. We were so fortunate to have had such a mild winter this year. And sure enough, these two lucked out with a beautiful sunshine-filled day for their winter wedding. Considering the end of November in the Lower Mainland typically brings unending rain & weather systems, it was such a stunning bright clear day for these two, especially on the mountain-top for their portraits! 

These guys were an absolute delight and a complete blast to hang out with at their wedding! They kept me energized and on my toes the entire time. I loved working with them and had so much fun capturing their winter wedding at Golden Eagle Golf Club. 

About the Venue: Golden Eagle Golf Club

Weddings Ceremonies at Golden Eagle can take place on their outdoor 2,200 sqft terrace that overlooks the course & the Thompson Mountains. The open air design allows the natural beauty of the surrounding area to serve as a stunning back drop for your ceremony. Another option especially for winter weddings at Golden Eagle Golf Club like this one, is in their indoor space. The Banquet Room has white chiffon draping around the whole room with fairy lights and crystal chandeliers and also functions as your reception room. 

As previously mentioned, you also have the epic option to add on a post-ceremony helicopter flight up to the local mountain-tops for photos & memories. In addition, the catering options at Golden Eagle are top tier and I often see guests sneaking back in line for a second portion which isn’t always the case at weddings!

The location itself is very convenient, located just north of Pitt Meadows and tucked right against the mountains. For photos, the golf course grounds are beautiful, including a nearby natural rock wall with moss & natural markings from water over the years. Nearby Pitt Lake also make for popular portrait & first look locations without needing to stray too far from the venue.  

Winter Golden Eagle Golf Club Wedding Photos:

Oh my goodness you guys, I can’t believe how many weddings from the last few years that have yet to hit The Blog. I didn’t realize this is only the SECOND of my 2023 weddings that I’ve actually blogged and I am appalled!! So many good photos & moments frozen in time that need to be shared. This spring is going to be filled with blogging & updating some of our content, along with shooting sweet spring engagement & mini sessions! I can’t wait!!

In the meantime, here’s a few of my favourite photos from this winter wedding at Golden Eagle Golf Club…

Getting Ready:

First Look:

Ceremony:

Bridal Portraits (Helicopter Bride & Groom Photos, + Bridal Party):

Reception:

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography 

Vendor Love:

Venue, Coordinator & Catering: Golden Eagle Golf Club

Helicopter: Sky Helicopters

HMUA: Brittani Floros | MakeupMafiaXX

Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal

Groom’s Suit: Moore’s

DJ: Steel Productions

Cake: Sugar High Cakes

authentic joyful adventurous ✨

www.megkristina.com

Books are NOW Open for 2025 Wedding Dates

Check out this wedding day at our favourite Vancouver/UBC wedding venue Cecil Green Park House.

Take a flight to Cabo with me for this destination beach wedding at Sandos Finisterra.

I’ve shot quite a few Cecil Green Park House wedding days throughout the years, and it’s still one of my favourite venues in that area. It offers countless options for portraits, both indoor & out and I could spend your entire wedding day just taking your photos there in different settings.

I absolutely love this sunny summer Cecil Green Park House wedding day. These two are naturals both in love and in front of the camera and I have loved working with them, from our first consult at a local coffee shop, adventuring Golden Ears Park for their engagement session, right up to the sunset portraits at the end of their wedding day taking in the golden hour together.

Meagan & David just work so well together. I loved watching them interact and banter back & forth with each other, while their adoration for one another was crystal clear. After their first date at a Mexican restaurant, they knew they had found something special with each other and within 6 months found themselves moving in together. After getting engaged during a romantic horseback ride in Jasper, Alberta, they quickly started planning their dream wedding.

Their wedding day had a vintage & classic feel to it, but they kept it grounded and fun with some beautiful pops of colour throughout their day – from the florals to their cake, I loved the beautiful but still elegant details Meagan carefully incorporated.

The Photo Gallery at Cecil Green Park House

I’m so excited to share some of my favourites from their wedding gallery here with you, just wait till you see their gorgeous sunset photos we snuck out for during golden hour – they were some of my absolute favs from the day.

Scroll through the below photos to see more from this Cecil Green Park House wedding.

Getting Ready, First Look & Bridal Portraits

Ceremony & Bridal Party Portraits

Reception

Bride & Groom Sunset Portraits

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography 

Vendor Love:

Venue: Cecil Green Park House, UBC

Planner/Coordinator: Amanda Marie Events

HMUA: All Dolled Up Makeup & Hair Studio

Bride’s Dress: Everything But The Groom Bridal Boutique

Groom’s Suit: INDOCHINO

Decor: Ellssi Design & Rentals

Florist: Misty Blue Flower Shop

Caterer: Sage Catering

DJ: Chess Entertainment | Wade Chess

Cake: Cakes in a Box

authentic joyful adventurous ✨

www.megkristina.com

Now Booking 2024 Weddings

Loved this venue? You’ll love this wedding at the Secret Garden at Ripples Winery.

Take a flight to Cabo with me for this destination beach wedding at Sandos Finisterra.

Not me blogging about this sweet family’s portrait session before I blog their WEDDING day 😂🤷🏼‍♀️. Honestly, I had every intention of promptly sharing their intimate spring elopement. But you have to wait because its in the blogging queue. However, once I shot this session I knew it would have to take priority.

So what’s the deal with this session? Let’s take a step back to a spring Saturday back in April. It was the wedding day for J & S. They had decided on an intimate elopement-style wedding day to tie the knot. Surrounded by their tribe of close friends & the sweet little family they are building, they made their day their own. It was beautiful celebrating their love & union together. Let’s face it: I fell in love with these two back at their initial consult last fall. And we continued to find common ground with each other since then.

Wedding day tidbits

Cut back to their wedding day, the instant I got these two in front of my camera, I knew I was IN LOVE. They are magnetic together, their connection undeniable, and okay they may be just a smidge photogenic. The only caveat was it was raining… POURING, unfaltering, soaking rain. You know what they say about rain on your wedding day being good luck? Well, first of all, we definitely made the most of it for their portraits (and just wait until you see them on The Blog 😘).

But honestly, after everything these two had overcome together, naturally they deserved portraits as radiant as their love. It was filled with the same glowing warmth that defines their relationship. Anyways, we quickly made plans to meet again in the summer. Consequently, these two got what they deserve: a sweet portrait session, with no rain & no rush. And of course, that is exactly what we got.

Speaking of which, when I told you these guys got the most beautiful sunny golden hour/sunset this time around, I am absolutely not lying. In fact, I walked away from their session even more in love with them all, and as a result, promptly stayed up till the early morning hours editing away. I can’t wait to share these images with you!

Surrey Lifestyle Family Session Gallery:

Now, Mud Bay Park is one of my favourite spots in the Lower Mainland for sessions. Especially when the mosquitos aren’t going crazy. Here are some favourite images from this recent Surrey lifestyle family session from this summer…

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

Check out our Family & Lifestyle Page here: http://lifestyle.megkristina.com

Click here to view this sweet summer sunset maternity session at Mud Bay Park.

Loved this summer session? Catch up on this family fall session here. 

authentic joyful adventurous 

www.megkristina.com

Books Open for 2024, limited 2023 dates available.