Meg + Alex’s Galiano Island Wedding at the Galiano Island Inn

Some weddings feel especially full-circle — Meg and Alex’s Galiano Island wedding was one of those days.

We first met Meg a few years ago when she stood as a witness for her sister Molly and brother-in-law Aidan’s helicopter elopement in Whistler. Their family has long ties to the mountains, with a cabin that’s hosted countless memories over the years. That day was intimate, adventurous, and deeply personal — and Meg was right there, supporting her sister as she stepped into marriage.

So when Meg got engaged and began planning her own wedding to Alex, we were genuinely honoured when she reached out to have us involved. There’s something incredibly comforting about working with vendors you already trust — familiar faces who understand your values, your energy, and the importance of showing up fully on such a meaningful day.

A couple dressed in wedding attire embrace on a rocky shore with a forested hillside and calm water in the background.
A bride and groom stand holding hands under a wooden arch during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests and a bridal party, with large trees in the background.
A wedding party poses outdoors in front of the ocean, with bridesmaids in green dresses and groomsmen in gray suits raising their arms in celebration.
A bride and groom sit together on a metal bridge, smiling at each other, with the bride leaning back against the groom.
A bride and groom dance together on a wooden floor, surrounded by wedding guests in semi-formal attire, with warm lighting and a slight motion blur effect.

A Weekend Wedding on Galiano Island

Meg and Alex chose to host a full weekend wedding at the Galiano Island Inn, inviting friends and family from across the Lower Mainland to slow down, disconnect, and celebrate together. Galiano Island is the kind of place that naturally encourages presence — ferry rides, ocean air, and forested paths set the tone long before the wedding day even begins.

Being close to the water was especially important to Meg and Alex, and the Inn’s sweeping views over the Strait of Georgia couldn’t have been a better match.

First Look & Portraits by the Sea

The day began with a quiet, emotional first look overlooking the water. With the ocean stretching out behind them and soft coastal light wrapping everything in a calm glow, it felt like time slowed down — just the two of them, fully taking in the moment.

Portraits followed along the coastline, with salty air, west coast textures, and endless blue horizons playing a starring role. It was clear how grounded and at ease Meg and Alex felt here — connected to nature, to each other, and to the place they’d chosen to say their vows.

A Ceremony Full of Meaning

The afternoon light was absolutely perfect for their ceremony — warm, directional, and flattering in all the best ways. Friends and family gathered outdoors as Meg and Alex exchanged vows, officiated by a close friend who, in a beautiful twist of fate, was actually the person who introduced them years ago.

There was laughter, there were tears, and there was that unmistakable feeling of everyone knowing they were witnessing something deeply real.

Al Fresco Dining & A Night to Remember

Cocktail hour and dinner were enjoyed al fresco, with long tables, glowing string lights, and the kind of ambiance that only island evenings can create. The energy was high, the drinks were cold, and the speeches — wow. Heartfelt, funny, emotional, and full of stories that painted a picture of Meg and Alex’s life together.

As the sun dipped lower, the celebration moved inside the Inn, where the party carried on late into the night. With most guests staying on site, there was no rush — just dancing, laughter, and that magical feeling that comes when everyone you love is exactly where they’re meant to be.

A True West Coast Wedding

Meg and Alex’s wedding was the perfect reflection of who they are — intentional, joyful, and deeply connected to place and people. Their Galiano Island wedding at the Galiano Island Inn wasn’t just a single day, but a shared experience — one that brought everyone together in a way that felt relaxed, meaningful, and unforgettable.

If you’re dreaming of a Gulf Islands wedding that blends natural beauty, heartfelt moments, and an incredible weekend with your favourite people, this is exactly what it can look like.

A simple white sleeveless dress hangs on a wooden lattice gate outdoors, with trees visible in the background.
A light gray suit jacket hangs on a wooden wall under greenery and branches, displayed on a hanger labeled "Blair Shapera.
A man in a white dress shirt and grey pants adjusts his black suspenders, smiling in one image and fastening the suspenders in the other.
Split image: On the left, a man in a gray suit poses playfully outdoors. On the right, he stands adjusting his suit jacket, looking down.
A man in a suit and bow tie poses for two formal portraits; in one, he adjusts his jacket, while in the other, he stands with his hands in his pockets.
A woman in a white dress stands smiling in a doorway between a living area and a covered patio with stone walls and a fireplace.
A bride in a white dress stands with her back to the camera as bridesmaids in matching dresses react; a close-up on the right shows the smiling bride facing forward.
A person stands on a grassy shore facing a large body of water under a partly cloudy sky with distant land visible on the horizon.
A man in a suit and a woman in a white dress stand facing each other on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean under a cloudy sky.
A couple dressed in wedding attire stands facing each other on a grassy cliff by the ocean, with cloudy skies above.
A close-up of two people holding hands, one wearing a gray suit and the other in a white dress, outdoors.
A bride and groom stand together on a grassy area facing a large body of water, both dressed in formal wedding attire.
A wedding party poses outdoors on grass in front of a large body of water, with bridesmaids in green dresses and groomsmen in grey suits.
A wedding party poses outdoors in front of the ocean, with bridesmaids in green dresses and groomsmen in gray suits raising their arms in celebration.
A bride in a white dress stands with six bridesmaids in matching olive green dresses, all holding bouquets, with a lake and forested hills in the background.
A bride in a white dress stands by a lakeside, surrounded by six bridesmaids in green dresses holding colorful bouquets.
A wedding party poses outdoors, with the bride in white, groom in gray, bridesmaids in green dresses, and groomsmen in gray suits, all holding flowers and smiling in front of trees.
Five men in suits and one woman in a black dress stand outdoors by a body of water with forested hills in the background.
Six people stand together outdoors by a lake, dressed in formal attire, with a forested hillside visible across the water in the background.
A couple dressed in wedding attire stands outdoors, facing each other and smiling, with greenery and dry grass in the background.
A man in a grey suit embraces a woman in a white dress outdoors. Both are smiling, and the background features grass and trees.
A man in a suit embraces a woman in a dress outdoors. Both are smiling and appear happy in the two side-by-side black and white photos.
A couple stands together on a grassy coastline under a cloudy sky, with the ocean stretching out behind them.
A couple in wedding attire embraces on a forest path surrounded by tall trees and greenery.
A wedding sign reads "Welcome to the wedding of Meghan and Alex, 08.16.2023, We're so glad you're here" next to an outdoor ceremony setup with white chairs and trees.
A wooden wedding arch decorated with flowers stands at the end of an aisle lined with white chairs on grass, set outdoors among trees.
Close-up view of assorted colorful flowers, including orange dahlias, pink blooms, and greenery arranged in a natural bouquet.
A man in a gray suit walks down the aisle outdoors between seated guests at a wedding ceremony, with a stone building in the background.
A bride in a white dress walks down the aisle with a man, while a groom in a gray suit waits with a boutonniere, during an outdoor wedding ceremony.
A bride in a white dress walks down the aisle with a man in a suit, holding a bouquet, as guests stand and watch at an outdoor wedding ceremony.
A bride and groom stand at an outdoor altar under a large tree during their wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests seated in white chairs.
A couple exchanges vows outdoors before seated guests on the left; on the right, a close-up shows the bride smiling at the groom during the ceremony.
A bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with an officiant standing behind them under a flower-adorned arch.
A wedding ceremony takes place outdoors under a large tree, with guests seated on white chairs facing the couple and officiant.
A man and woman stand facing each other, holding hands and smiling, while an officiant stands behind them with a book, outdoors.
A bride and groom stand facing each other under a floral arch during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with the bridal party and guests seated nearby.
A bride and groom stand outdoors during their wedding ceremony, facing each other and exchanging vows. The groom is holding a ring.
A bride and groom hold hands and smile at each other during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with an officiant standing behind them, also smiling.
A person in a grey suit places a ring on the finger of a person in a white dress during a wedding ceremony, with an officiant standing in the background.
A bride and groom kiss under a floral arch during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests and their wedding party.
A bride and groom kiss under a wooden arch decorated with flowers during an outdoor wedding ceremony.
A bride and groom stand holding hands under a wooden arch during an outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by guests and a bridal party, with large trees in the background.
A bride and groom walk down an outdoor aisle lined with seated and standing guests applauding under large trees.
A bride and groom walk out of a stone building, followed by their wedding party. All are smiling and holding drinks, with greenery in the background.
A bride and groom kiss while their wedding party in green dresses and grey suits stands around them, raising glasses for a toast outside a stone building.
Long tables with white tablecloths and chairs are set outdoors for an event, with floral centerpieces, near a wooden gazebo and greenery in the background.
A long outdoor table with white chairs and floral centerpieces; nearby, a display table holds framed photos, a guestbook, and more flowers.
A long outdoor dining table with white chairs, set with white plates, glassware, green napkins, and small vases of pink and white flowers.
A man holding a microphone and singing.
A man in a gray suit and a woman in a white dress stand outdoors, holding hands and smiling, appearing to celebrate at an event.
A woman in a green dress speaks into a microphone outdoors while a man in a suit and a woman in a white dress sit at a decorated table, smiling and clapping.
Split image: On the left, a man in a suit and sunglasses gives a toast outdoors by the water. On the right, a smiling couple sits at a decorated table, likely at a wedding reception.
A couple dressed in wedding attire embrace on a rocky shore with a forested hillside and calm water in the background.
A bride and groom stand embracing on rocky shore near a calm body of water, with a bridge to the left and forested land in the background under a cloudy sky.
A couple dressed in wedding attire stands by the water, smiling and embracing, with a close-up showing their hands and wedding rings.
A bride and groom sit together on a metal bridge, smiling at each other, with the bride leaning back against the groom.
A bride and groom stand and walk together on a dock with water and forested hills in the background.
Close-up of a person in a white dress and open-toed shoe walking beside another person in dark pants and brown dress shoes on a weathered wooden surface.
Two groups of people stand outdoors, each holding and drinking from a long wooden shot ski together. Shrubs and string lights are visible in the background.
A bride and groom kiss outdoors at their wedding reception while guests, including a man holding a child, are visible in the background.
A man in a shirt and tie raises his arms and drinks from a bottle in front of a seated couple at an outdoor event near a gazebo.
A man in a gray suit and a woman in a white dress stand at a round table outdoors, speaking into microphones during an evening event.
A bride and groom dance together indoors while guests watch in the background.
A man and woman dancing in a room with people watching.
Two photos side by side: left shows two men dancing and laughing at a party; right shows a man and woman smiling at the camera, holding drinks, with a crowd in the background.
On the left, a man in formal attire lies on a wooden floor indoors; on the right, a group of people pose and smile at a lively indoor party with colorful lights.
Split image: On the left, a shirtless boy dances energetically at a party. On the right, two women in dresses walk between rows of chairs at night, holding drinks and smiling.
A woman holding a drink and a man in a white shirt with suspenders are talking and smiling at a lively indoor event, with other people and blurred lights in the background.
A bride and groom dance together on a wooden floor, surrounded by wedding guests in semi-formal attire, with warm lighting and a slight motion blur effect.

Galiano Island Wedding Vendors

Photography | Whistler Steve + Tara Lilly Photography
Planner | Across the Watters
Florals | Gossip Floral
Music | Beauty and the Beat
Hair | Faye Smith Agency
Make-up | True Beauty Makeup Agency
Venue | Galiano Island Inn