a few months ago, i got the chance to work with the talented jaclyn helle from 6pence wedding & event design. she created the beautiful “softly rustic” styled shoot and all the details were impeccable. so impeccable, in fact, that it was featured on la belle bride! so fun. jaclyn would love to offer my blog readers a chance to win a $225 voucher towards any of her services. [which equals to about three free hours of her time!]

how i do i enter? “Like” 6Pence on Facebook & write “I want to win the 6pence giveaway & my wedding is on [your wedding date]!” on the 6pence facebook fan page wall.
then what? you’re entered for a chance to win a $225 voucher for 6pence services!
contest ends on january 31st & the winner will be announced through the 6pence facebook page.
* note: entries must be in the vancouver [lower mainland] area. 

From helping create DIY (do-it-yourself’s) to the technicalities of vendor & venue selection, 6Pence is your full service planner and designer. We will plan your wedding based on your personality and vision. 6Pence can create weddings of any size and style; from elegant church weddings to a rustic chic garden celebration. 6Pence prides itself on its “everything” and “anything” approach; from full wedding planning to design for your big day, 6Pence understands that each couple has specific needs and visions, and we love nothing more than to make all their wedding day dreams come true. Below are details of specific packages offered!

Ultimate Wedding Package
- The Principal wedding planner will work with you from start to finish to create a unique celebration formed around your personality and tastes; wedding style and decor concept design and creation; working with the great vendors and our artistic background.

Finishing Touch
Our Finishing touch co-ordination is for the organized couple who needs a helping hand on the day of. We will oversee the day and ensure the flawless execution of what the couple has planned. Includes a 90 minute meeting before the day of to discuss your plans, visions, needs, and a follow-up with all your selected vendors.
-  A personalized timeline for your wedding day.
- Assistance with decor, setup and tear down.
- Ability to make final payments to vendors on the day.
- Principal wedding planner for a Maximum of 15 hours on the day .

Wedding Exclusive
- a seminar geared towards brides who want to plan their weddings like a professional; it is the only one of its type in the Lower Mainland. just bring yourself, and the rest is supplied. it’s one day, five hours, and includes lunch, stationary, and notebook. we’ll discuss current wedding trends, DIY ideas, the do’s and don’ts of wedding planning and we’ll provide you with a list of our favourite vendors/venues.

Wedding Guide
some couples want to do it all by themselves, but need a helping hand pointing them in the right direction. This package includes:
- Meeting to organize your plans and visions.
- Planning checklist for all the big and small details.
- Personalized timeline for your wedding day.
- Brainstorming and professional advice.
(all on hourly basis)

Decor Guru
For the couples who want help turning the beautiful day of their dreams turned into a reality.
- Decor/theme creation.
- Vendor advice and selection.
- The little design details (stationary, car decoration, etc)
- Creating a cohesive appearance throughout the entire wedding (florals, gowns, etc)

best of luck! :)

i am a huge fan of destination weddings; including mini-destination weddings! who says “destination” require a flight? often it’s only a long road trip or a ferry that you need. vanessa and craig had one at spirit ridge in osoyoos, alison and ryan had one on the sunshine coast, erika and malcolm had one on vancouver island & joanna and alex had one in tofino at middle beach lodge. i love the “feel” of a destination wedding — as a guest, you have to head out of town, leaving behind work and other responsibilities and because of that, you get to celebrate a marriage AND have a mini-vacation. even when i’m there to work [not exactly a vacation] i still love enjoy them a ton when they are in between local weddings.

crazy excited to share my most feature in destination weddings & honeymoons magazine with you! joanna + alex’s middle beach lodge wedding in tofino was chosen for their real weddings “i do” section.

as a teenager, i was involved with an awesome youth group that was full of incredible leaders. one of these leaders was a girl named amanda — and after i graduated and became a leader myself, we co-lead a small group for girls every week together. i remember those times so well. honestly, with a group of fifteen-year-old girls the biggest topic of discussion seemed to be boys [oh how confusing they were!] and dreaming up our future weddings. bahaha. a guy’s worst nightmare. but, of course, the girls and i especially loved to dream about what amanda’s wedding would be like someday — this girl has always had an eye for style and details.

amanda moved to california a few years ago to attend bethel school of ministry; where she met this great guy named james. they didn’t talk much for the first year of school… really not until last summer, when they started hanging out as friends. good friends, best friends, and before they knew it, whoops! they fell in love with each other like nothing they’ve ever experienced before. james proposed over the christmas break when he and amanda were back in BC visiting family. here’s the real kicker, i shot their wedding four days later — and amanda had no idea she was getting married that day.

i got a call from amanda’s mother the day before: was i up for the challenge of shooting a surprise wedding of one of my old friends? mmm, yep! sure was. here’s how it all went down. james and amanda had talked in the past about eloping — so marriage quite quickly after engagement wasn’t something that intimidated them. james had this brilliant idea of getting married on christmas eve afternoon, with only amanda’s immediate family present — and keeping it a surprise from his bride the whole time. amanda and james were told by amanda’s mom that she had booked an engagement session with me on christmas eve day for a gift. amanda was thrilled & we talked on the phone on december 23rd to plan where to meet.

i suggested milner chapel as a great meeting point; easy to find and a few spots around there i wanted to walk to. amanda and james were thinking a formal-ish theme; amanda had bought a great new dress and heels for the season and wanted to wear them. perfect. we set up a time and the next day, i pulled into the parking lot. amanda’s mom was with her to help carry things for the shoot, etc. also, amanda’s mom had told the couple that amanda’s family would be coming for a few quick family photos [while everyone was dressed up] before their church christmas eve service following the session. so when amanda’s brother and sister-in-law and grandma arrived, she didn’t suspect anything. we spent a half hour taking photos, then we set up “family photos” on the church steps.

it was cold and windy outside, so the family went inside to warm up until i “needed” them for some more poses. next thing, amanda’s brother said he’d love one of just the two of them. james decides to go “check on the family” inside the chapel. amanda and her brother and i are the only ones standing outside of the chapel. we take a few photos and i say, we should go join the family and bring ‘em back out. we three walk into the church, and james is standing at the end of the aisle, with an officiant standing right beside him. amanda’s family is seated and her brother hands amanda a bouquet, and the music starts, and down the aisle they walk.

amanda was blown away; immediately tearing up and when james met her at the end of the aisle he asked, will you marry me? today? and she said, yes, of course i will. james had written out wedding vows for himself and then a copy for amanda [in case she was too flustered to speak!] — but the cutest part of the day, amanda started reading the pre-written vows and stopped. james, i don’t need these, and she grabbed both his hands and winged it. beautifully.

ah, it was such a fun day.