My daughter got married last Saturday (Aug. 6) to the love of her life.
The wedding was held on Boundary Bay beach across from Beach Grove in front of 85 enthusiastic guests, some neighbours and a few birds.
We drank, ate and danced under a big white tent in our front yard until 1 a.m.
The day had been a year in the planning, and there was no professional wedding planner, so we had to rely on the community for help.
My daughter’s first step was to ask for recommendations on the Tsawwassen and Ladner social media pages.
Who knows a good photographer, who knows a good caterer, who knows a good DJ?
She requested names for a hair dresser, a makeup artist, and officiant. The list goes on.
Recommendations came pouring in. Who needs Yelp or Google reviews when you have your neighbours who can attest to the talents of those nearby?
The result, a delicious dinner by Adrian from Buenos Dias Cafe, fabulous hair and make-up by talented locals Amelia and Nikki. Tunes by DJ Big Blizz.
The beautiful flowers picked from the fields of River and Sea Flower farm on Westham Island and forged from local trails. Photos in the secret garden and the tall grass beside the 12th Avenue dike.
With so many out of town guests we filled the Coast Tsawwassen Hotel and the rooms were amazing. The hotel is even dog friendly.
My husband and I were in charge of choosing the wine and champagne. Shout out to the staff at Save on Foods and the LCB who were all knowledgeable and patient.
I’m sure I could hear them muttering, “Here comes that crazy mother of the bride again buying more wine to sample.”
Carroll Lefebvre officiated and her extensive community theatre experience came in handy organizing us all for the ceremony.
Along with the hot August sun, the brightest light was the love that surrounded the bride and groom. Weddings are where you get to marry your best friend with all your favourite people together, in one place, for one day.
As Khalil Gibran wrote, “Marriage is like a golden ring in a chain, whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is eternity.”
The hidden star of the day was our community, who showed up with their best game on. We live in an amazing place with so much talent and resources, we don’t have to go far to get perfection.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who is exhausted, but is a very happy Mum.
