Wedding Spotlight: A Childhood Dream Wedding, Realized

Is there anything better than a late-summer backyard wedding? Celebrating with your nearest and dearest, dancing to live music under the stars as the sun sets, with a cocktail in hand?

Alison and Chris met in 2019, but the wedding planning started years earlier, when Ali’s family purchased their home and it became Ali’s childhood dream to one day be married on the property.

Ali’s dream became a reality when late in the afternoon on an August day in 2021, she walked into her parent’s backyard, down the garden steps, and down the aisle, accompanied by her father and a string quartet. Ali and Chris exchanged their vows under an arch of greenery and white roses, with 73 of their loved ones looking on in an intimate ceremony, and we were so pleased to be a part of their special day.

Guests were welcomed to their wedding with glasses of champagne and mineral water, which they were encouraged to keep on hand and enjoy during the ceremony. After the ‘I dos’, cocktail hour kicked off with a trio of featured beverages, including Empress gin & tonics topped with grapefruit slices, mojitos, and cosmos - we love a fully-stocked bar, and so do Ali and Chris!

Savoury City serving staff passed five different canapés during cocktail hour, including jumbo scallops served with bacon and tomato vinaigrette; fresh Dungeness crab with a mango salad, served in a crisp cucumber cup; Italian beef carpaccio; seared tuna on wonton crisps and a vegetarian option of beet wedges stacked with Salt Spring Island goat cheese and arugula. Freshly-shucked Big Shucker oysters were served from an ice bar, where guests could chase their oyster with iced vodka shots.

Iconic Vancouver photographer The Collective You was on-site during the cocktail hour to capture their signature black and white portraits - the perfect take-home souvenir for guests to forever remember Chris and Ali’s wedding day!

When it came time for dinner, guests were seated under a beautiful clear tent, decked out with greenery and chandeliers. Lush white florals and gold accents, including gold flatware and chairs set a sophisticated feel, while plenty of table-top votive candles and lanterns lining the footpaths upped the romance factor.

Dinner kicked off with welcome speeches from the couple’s families, and champagne flutes were topped up before every toast to ensure all guests were raising a full glass. At 7:00 p.m. the first of the dinner’s three courses was served: a summer-inspired grilled peach and heirloom tomato salad, with house-made focaccia and individual ramekins of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Then followed the guests’ choice of main: almond parmesan panko-crusted Haida Gwaii halibut with zucchini-tomato gratin and confit fingerling potatoes, a 48-hour braised beef short rib or a grilled cauliflower steak with lemon-herb risotto, salsa verde and blistered cherry tomatoes.

After the plates were cleared, the newlyweds cut the cake, and it was served, paired with a surprise round of espresso martinis for all the guests. Dancing kicked off after dinner, with the Famous Players Band taking the stage to get the party going. Fuelled by the fully-loaded candy bar and the late night mac and cheese bar, guests celebrated and danced the night away in the moonlight until the early hours.

Whether you’re hosting a small al-fresco dinner party or a large-scale feast for a crowd, Savoury City Catering can work closely to help you design the perfect personalized menu for your big day. Click here to learn more about our bespoke wedding catering services.

All photos courtesy of Christine Pienaar Photography. Wedding planning by Spread Love Events. Decor by Living Design Decor. Oysters supplied by Big Shucker.