NATURAL BEAUTY
Stephanie and Clark were married on July 30, 2011 at POET'S COVE RESORT on Pender Island, BC. They first met at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC when Stephanie was a student at the University of Victoria completing her work term in the I.T. department of the hospital. Clark was a medical student at the University of British Columbia, finishing a three month rotation. “I was asked by my manager to sit in on the morning rounds to determine whether a software solution would be appropriate for the physicians. After getting lost, en-route to the meeting, in the old corridors of St. Paul’s Hospital, I ran into Clark who, ever the gentleman, showed me the way to the conference room.

Clark took the seat beside me in the morning rounds and right away we clicked,” Stephanie explains. “We did not start dating right away. After my work term wrapped up, I returned to Victoria and Clark and I stayed in contact through long phone calls and hilarious emails (he has an amazing sense of humour).” After many months of getting to know each other as friends, they began dating. Shortly after, the couple moved to Halifax where Clark completed his ENT residency at Dalhousie University.

PERFECT PROPOSAL
The proposal took place in the south of Spain in 2009. Clark flew there to join Stephanie and her family who were there celebrating the holidays. They agreed that the trip would be their single Christmas gift to each other. However, Clark decided to bend the rules! He told Stephanie that he had three gifts for her to open. “The first gift was a pair of pyjamas that I wore on Christmas Eve. The second gift: a beautiful package of soaps, lotions and bubble bath, which I enjoyed on Christmas Day and finally, the third gift was a surprise, as I was told by Clark, for Boxing Day,” recalls Stephanie.

Boxing Day morning, Clark hinted that Stephanie may want to pack an overnight bag with a fancy dress and a bathing suit. “Before I knew it, we were in our rental vehicle on route to the beautiful and historic city of Seville, Spain. After a short drive, we checked into CARRAL DEL RAY, a luxury boutique hotel in the old quarter of Seville. To my surprise, Clark had organized a full day of activities...from browsing for shoes in the beautiful shopping district, to tapas at a sidewalk cafe and finally to a relaxing soak in the Arabic baths in Seville. We ended the perfect day with a late night dinner.”

Back at their hotel, as they climbed the stairs to their room, Clark mentioned that he still had one more gift to open and that Stephanie should follow him to the terrace of the hotel. After a few more flights of stairs, Clark opened the door to the hotel’s rooftop terrace. The whole terrace was illuminated with hundreds of candles, and in the center of the terrace sat a table with two chairs, boasting a perfect bouquet of roses and a bottle of chilled champagne. Placed at one end of the table was a big fancy box. Inside the box, a diamond engagement ring was hiding and the rest is history!

SUMMER NUPTIALS
JENNIFER BERGMAN WEDDINGS provided full-service planning and decor for their July wedding (with rentals by UPRIGHT DECOR and floral design by Vanessa Watters of VERBENA FLORAL DESIGN).

Stephanie wore a Vera Wang gown, the “Dorothy” from BLUSH BRIDAL in Vancouver. She paired the gown with a pair of nude Christian Louboutin pumps. Vancouver designer, Elsa Corsi designed her jewellery.

Her hair and makeup were styled by Sharon Rai of SHARON RAI HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTRY (Victoria, BC). Clark wore a Tom Ford tuxedo from HOLT RENFREW. The bridesmaids wore knee-length gowns by Melissa Sweet, tied with a black sash.

With the Pacific Ocean as a magnificent natural backdrop, the ceremony decor was kept simple. Guests sat on walnut Chiavari chairs with satin ivory cushions. Rose petals and driftwood lined the aisle and large hydrangea floral arrangements in rustic birch bark containers were placed throughout the ceremony site. Guests were provided with a ceremony program in the shape of a fan to help keep cool during the hot afternoon ceremony. After the couple said the “I Do’s,” guests enjoyed champagne and bite-sized hors d’oeuvres created from locally sourced ingredients.

Stephanie carried a bouquet finished with a brooch that had belonged to her late great-grandmother.

ENCHANTED EVENING
While Stephanie and Clark were off taking photographs, their guests enjoyed a few hours of free time to unwind in their hotel rooms or take a stroll along the beach. Everyone reconvened outside the Seaglass Ballroom for a pre-dinner cocktail party where guests enjoyed a feast of oysters, hand-shucked by Poet's Cove Executive Chef Steve Boudreau.

Once inside, the evening program continued. Table centrepieces were a lush combination of hydrangeas, roses, dahlias, spray roses, lisianthus, stock, and freesia. Each one was finished with a cuff of fern fronds and dusty miller and displayed in a rustic birch bark container.

In keeping with a “west coast chic” theme, all of the tables were dressed with ivory Wilshire Stripe linens. Placecards were wrapped around individual menu cards with striped ivory and cappuccino twine. The same walnut Chiavari chairs that were used at the ceremony were brought indoors for the dinner. Pink L.E.D. up-lighting provided the perfect ambiance and mood for an after-dinner dance party.

After the toasts were made, and the slideshow had played, guests joined the newlyweds on the terrace while holding sparklers for light while Stephanie and Clark performed their first dance. The ballroom doors were left open throughout the evening and guests were able to mingle, take photographs and enjoy a martini on the resort’s terrace. The party continued late into the evening with fun highlights such as a surprise flash mob (organized by the wedding party via YouTube instructional dance video sent to the guests in advance), a custom martini bar with signature drinks and a flair bartender. A late-night cookie and milk bar was also served as a parting snack.

The pair honeymooned in Paris for five nights before travelling via train to Cap D’Antibes in the south of France for the rest of the trip. They now reside in Nanaimo where Stephanie continues her career as a healthcare IT consultant and Clark is a surgeon.

Re:SOURCE IT

Location:
British Columbia, Vancouver

Ceremony Venue:
The Terrace at Poets Cove Resort, Pender Island, BC

Reception Venue:
The Seaglass Ballroom, Poets Cove Resort, Pender Island, BC

Photographer:
C.J. Scott Photography

Planning Company/Event Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings

Gown Boutique:
Blush Bridal

Gown Designer:
Vera Wang

Fine Jewelry:
Elsa Corsi

Shoes:
Christian Louboutin

Bridesmaids:
Melissa Sweet

Groom Formal Wear:
Tom Ford

Invitations/Stationery:
Jenelle Gartner, Pink Polka Wedding Design

Cake:
Nora Broulotte, Pender Island Bakery

Decor:
Upright Decor

Floral: 
Vanessa Watters, Verbena Floral Design

Catering:
Poets Cove Resort

Entertainment:
Jody & Naoki of Harbour Strings and DJ Clinton of Capital City DJ

Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist:
Sharon Rai of Sharon Rai Hair & Makeup Artistry