You Have to See This Canadian Wedding — It's in a Cave!
Paige wasn't looking for love when she took a hostess job at a restaurant down the street from her house in Kelowna, British Columbia, but love found her anyway when she met and fell for the "cute bartender" Kelvin. "We clicked immediately, but I wasn't looking for a relationship and kept turning him down," Paige says. "He was persistent, though, and we couldn't seem to stay away from each other!" Only a year after dating, Kelvin proposed, and then they took nine months to plan the big day.
Since the wedding took place in the Spring, Paige pulled her decor inspiration from the natural surroundings for the "vintage rustic" theme. There were bright wildflowers galore, and the outdoors were brought indoors for the chandelier-lit tented reception that was decorated with antique furniture, mismatched teacups, old barn wood, and wrought iron tables. "We wanted it to be a big party with good food, drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere," Paige says. "We wanted everyone to have as much fun as we were going to!"
While the decor was elaborate at the reception, the ceremony required little more than candles and flowers with its breathtaking backdrop. Paige and Kelvin said their "I dos" in the middle of a forest in the mouth of an abandoned train tunnel. "It was like an enchanted forest, with a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air! And being so removed from any 'civilization,' it felt like our wedding was the only thing happening in the world at the moment," Paige recalls. Despite a rainy morning, the sun came out for the hour of the ceremony, even topping the festivities off with a rainbow!
See more gorgeous photos of this rustic wedding, and learn more about how it came together when you keep reading.
Cold Hands, Warm Hearts
The morning of the wedding was cold and rainy, so Paige and her bridesmaids had to stay close to keep warm while getting ready. She said, "We had to get ready in a cabin without heat, so we were all huddled around a small space heater!"
Guy Time
The groom and groomsmen got ready in their cabin.
Gorgeous Gown
Paige's dress, a Priscilla of Boston gown, hung in the log cabin.
Mirror Image
The bride and her bridesmaids admired the bridal look right after Paige put on her gown.
Rosy Red Boots
Paige paired red cowboy boots with her dress, perfect for the outdoorsy ceremony setting.
A Long Walk
Paige's dad walked her down the aisle, which was a very rustic path to the tunnel opening. She recalls, "It was a loooong aisle! And I tripped at one point, but I don't think anyone saw!"
Petal Pushers
Paige and Kelvin had seven flower girls in dresses of all different colors, like wildflowers in a field!
Tunnel Vision
The ceremony took place in Midway, British Columbia, a little town two hours from where both Paige and Kelvin grew up. "We spent a lot of time taking trips out there while we were dating and engaged, and it is incredibly beautiful," says Paige. "It felt like the perfect place, and I had known for a long time that I wanted to get married there."
The reception was back in Kelowna, so guests had to make the two-hour drive both ways. Paige recalls, "We were so grateful for their willingness to do it for us! It made for a truly unique and wonderful day!"
Bouquet Beauty
Paige adored her dress and her bright bouquet.
Intimate Gathering
The ceremony was stunning with the cave-like tunnel behind the couple.
Champagne Toast
Champagne and snacks followed the ceremony.
Pretty Ladies
The newlywed couple posed with the cute flower girls.
Look of Love
Paige and Kelvin shared a sweet moment after the ceremony. Paige offers advice for other brides-to-be: "Keep everything in perspective. Something is bound to go wrong, but it's not about all the details (even though they consume your life!); it's about you and your husband-to-be. Nothing can take that away from you."
Groom's Family
Paige and Kelvin posed with Kelvin's family.
Bride's Family
The happy couple posed with Paige's family.
Wedding Party Lineup
Paige and Kelvin posed with the wedding party, who the bride calls "our favorite people in the world."
Light My Fire
The tunnel behind the couple at the ceremony was all lit up with candles in mason jars.
Natural Setting
The abandoned railway tunnel made for a one-of-a-kind ceremony locale.
Rocky Road
Paige and Kelvin stood atop rocks to say their vows.
Drip Drop
It stopped raining just long enough for the guests to stay dry during the ceremony but came back during postceremony picture time. Paige says, "The rain returned, but there was no dampening our spirits! We just kept on taking pictures; the scenery was too good to pass up!"
It rained for several days leading up to the wedding, and the road to the ceremony sight was washed out just days before the big day. Luckily, Paige's parents came to the rescue. Paige recalls, "My amazing parents drove out to assess the damage and come up with a plan. We warned people to drive 4x4 vehicles if possible and to dress for the weather rather than the occasion. It was a very stressful couple of days!"
Bow-Tied
Even the favors kept with the wildflowers theme. "Our wedding favors were supposed to be like another bouquet of wildflowers, wrapped in bright ribbons with a small jar of wild flower honey, a packet of wildflower seeds, and a bee-shaped chocolate," Paige says.
Fresh Flowers
These little tins of vibrant flowers hung off the end of each bench at the ceremony.
Reception Tent
The reception tent was beautifully decorated with the help of many family and friends.
Vintage Flair
Here's a shot of the reception's vintage rustic look, with an antique sofa and old barn wood tables. Paige says, "As a couple we were involved in as many of the details as possible, and in the end, we felt like the day represented who we are, which was important to us."
Rainbow Salad
This reception dish was a take on a caprese salad, which Kelvin and Paige love.
App-y Hour
Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, one of the couple's favorite dishes, was served during the reception.
Slip and Slide
These pulled pork sliders were served during dinner.
Pretty Produce
Both the bride and groom grew up in the Okanagan, surrounded by orchards, so the fresh fruit at the reception fit perfectly.
Sweet Treat
The newlyweds cut the wedding cake together, which Paige says was more difficult than expected!
Playtime
To mix things up during the reception, Paige and Kelvin played the "shoe game" with flags, which Paige says was a major hit when they had their parents play it with them.
First Dance
Paige and Kelvin's first dance was to Lady Antebellum's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."
Happy Ending
Even with unpredictable weather, the day was enjoyed by all. Paige says, "Everyone had a great time dancing the night away. It couldn't have been a more perfect day!"
After the wedding, Paige and Kelvin flew off to St. Maarten in the Caribbean for their honeymoon. "Neither of us had ever been to any of the small Caribbean islands, and we thought it was a good opportunity," Paige explains. "It was a great adventure!"