Allie and Blake's Cleveland Dam and Lynn Canyon Elopement: A Lush Green Vancouver Day
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Allie and Blake wanted a lush green forest, the people they love most, and a day they felt excited about. So on August 2, 2026, they married in secret at Cleveland Dam and Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver with just their closest family, and they planned to surprise the rest of their family and friends later. It was calm, it was full of laughter, and it was one of my favourite days of the whole season.
Here is how their day came together, and why having a planner leading it made all the difference.
Two people who do things their own way
Allie and Blake went to middle school and high school together, and they ran in totally different circles back then. They found each other again years later on Tinder in university, and their first date was an escape room. An hour locked in a room together, and they came out knowing they had found their person. CUTE!
Blake designed Allie's engagement ring himself, starting with a drawing he made in Microsoft Paint, and he planned the moment carefully across a few days of near misses in Toronto. When he finally got down on one knee in a beautiful ballroom, Allie was so surprised that she grabbed her backpack straps, smiled, nodded, and said “thanks buddy.” They still laugh about it, and it tells you everything about who they are. They keep things light, they roll with whatever happens, and they find the joy in it every time.
If their love story were a song, they would tell you it is “Marry Your Best Friend” by Spencer Crandall. On this day, that is exactly what they did.
The vision: lush, green, and unhurried
From our very first conversation, Allie and Blake knew the feeling they wanted. Big mossy old growth forest, water, soft pastel florals, and a day with no rushing. Stress free, fun, and special were the three words Allie used, and I kept those three words in front of me the whole time.
I put together a personalized location guide for them and we talked through a few beautiful options together. In the end, they chose Cleveland Dam for their ceremony, with its wide green field looking out over Capilano Lake, and Lynn Canyon for portraits, with its suspension bridge, mossy forest, and river. Two of the most classic lush green spots the North Shore has to offer, and both easy enough for their guests to reach, including the kids who came along.
I secured the ceremony permit for Cleveland Dam and handled all the park rules ahead of time, so the couple never had to think about the fine print.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
A soft, slow morning
Allie is the first to tell you she is not a morning person, so we built her morning to feel gentle. A light breakfast, coffee, mimosas, her mom and sisters around her, and music playing. Hanna and Simone arrived to do hair and makeup, and Allie got ready in a big suite with her people close.
Blake started his morning his own way, with breakfast with his brother and dad, then back to the hotel to get ready with the guys. Two very different mornings, both exactly what each of them wanted.
While they got ready, I picked up their florals from Floralista in Langley, which included two large arch pieces, Allie's bouquet, and Blake's boutonniere. I stopped in at the hotel to drop off the bouquet and boutonniere, grabbed a few behind the scenes videos, and collected all their day-of pieces. Then I headed out to Cleveland Dam to get everything set.
Setting the scene at Cleveland Dam
The decor arrived early and the rain was still coming down, so I made sure every piece stayed protected and dry until I could get it set. By the time guests started to arrive, the arch was up, the florals were secured, and you would never have known it had rained at all.
With help from Angela, our officiant, I secured the pastel florals to their arch. I tied the soft pink bows onto the aisle chairs, hung the blue ribbon welcome sign, and set out their water bucket, snack basket, and fans. I always take the champagne fully out of its packaging ahead of time and line up the glasses, so the moment is ready to go and no one is fumbling with foil. This is the quiet part of planning that most people never see, and it is the part that lets a couple simply walk in and be present.
One of my favourite pieces to set up was their memory chair. Allie and Blake wanted a special spot to honour their grandparents, so I placed a front row chair with an apron their grandma used to cook in, some heirloom jewelry, and a small sign. Beka, our videographer, caught Blake's parents seeing it for the first time and tearing up. Blake’s mom said “she would have loved this.” Those are the moments that stay with you.
I also want to say something about having a real team on your day. On the way in, I asked Sarah to grab clear umbrellas for everyone, a little extra touch I was glad to add so no one would get caught in the rain. When small things came up, everyone pitched in and worked as one unit. That is what a wedding day should feel like.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The ceremony
Blake walked in first with his mom, gave her a hug, and took his place looking out over the lake. Then Allie came down the aisle with her dad, and their first look happened right there in the ceremony, which was such a sweet way to do it. Before that, we gave Allie a private first look with her dad in the parking lot, and I tucked her floor length veil in under her twisted updo where it sat beautifully.
I cued the music, and just as Allie was ready to walk, I noticed the speaker had dropped its connection, likely from the rain. I brought the phone in closer and kept the song going without missing a beat, and Allie walked down the aisle with her dad looking picture perfect. Little catches like that are exactly what you want handled quietly in the background, so the couple only ever feels the magic of the moment.
They kept the ceremony short and warm, about ten minutes, with simple vows and a ring exchange. Right as they were saying their vows, the rain came back, so I whipped out those clear umbrellas and passed them down the aisle. Wet weather and all, they were married.
Then they popped their champagne, and Blake got a fair bit of it straight down his shirt. Everyone laughed. It was exactly the laid-back, joyful moment they had hoped for.
While Sarah and Beka led the family photos, I packed up all the decor and loaded every piece back into their vehicles, so Allie and Blake never had to think about a single thing. As I finished, the next group was already arriving to set up, and because everything was handled, the whole handoff was smooth and easy for everyone. We wrapped with a few couple portraits right at the dam
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Lynn Canyon, private vows, and the shots of the day
Lynn Canyon on a long weekend is a busy, happy place, and it was buzzing even in the rain. Allie was actually finishing transcribing her private vows from her notebook to her vow book in the car on the drive over, so we did not rush her. We let her take her time, and when she was ready, we headed in.
Both Allie and Blake did a fun footwear change into sneakers, hers labeled Mrs. (last name removed for privacy) and Blake’s labelled as well. Knowing these parks inside and out means I can keep a couple moving with confidence, so any questions that come up on a busy day get handled calmly and they get to stay in their moment. We crossed the suspension bridge, found a quiet spot in the forest, and they read their private vows to each other with no one else around - Allie even threw in a “Thank’s buddy” at the end of her vows!
Then we made our way down toward the thirty foot pool. We stopped for photos in the mossy forest along the way, and when we reached the river, Allie and Blake climbed onto the rocks and hopped across to a gorgeous spot just as the sun broke through. I think those are the best photos of their entire day. By then Allie's dress was heavy and a little muddy from the rain, so she looked at me and said she was just going to dip it in the river. She did, it rinsed cleaner, and it turned into a fun and freeing moment of the day.
They really wanted a photo on the suspension bridge, so I walked ahead and held space, and the crowd could not have been kinder. People called out congratulations the whole way through the park. A group even paused to hold the bridge for them so they could have their moment. When you are surrounded by strangers cheering you on in the rain, you know it is a good day.
Since we were having so much fun, they asked to add a little coverage time so they could get every shot on their list, and we made it happen easily. The day ended the way it should, with fries from the park cafe, and then back to the Sheraton for a reception with their family. Allie's sister had repurposed the arch florals, the welcome sign, and the bows for the reception, so their flowers lived on all day long.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Why a planner-led elopement was right for them
Allie and Blake did not want the spotlight or a giant traditional wedding. They wanted to focus on each other and their closest people in a place that felt wild and beautiful. The reason it all felt so easy for them is that someone was handling everything they could not see. The permits, the rain, the setup and teardown, the little catches along the way. That is what planner-led means. You get to be fully present and soak up your day, while the logistics stay quietly in good hands. Cleveland Dam and Lynn Canyon gave them exactly that, a green forest ceremony their guests could reach, a private moment for just the two of them, and a whole day of laughing in the rain.
If you have been picturing a smaller, greener, more personal way to get married in BC, this kind of day might be exactly what you are looking for. When you are ready, I would love to help you plan it.
Vancouver Forest Elopement FAQ
Can you get married at Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver?
Yes. Cleveland Dam sits in Capilano River Regional Park, and you can hold a ceremony there with the proper permit. There is a lovely open field overlooking Capilano Lake that can seat guests, which makes it a great pick for couples who want a forest feel with room for family. We handle the permit and all the park rules for our couples so nothing gets missed.
Do you need a permit to have a wedding ceremony in a Metro Vancouver park?
Yes. Ceremonies in regional parks like Capilano River Regional Park require a booked permit, and there are rules about setup, decor, and timing. Portrait sessions are treated differently from ceremonies. This is one of the big reasons to work with a planner who knows the parks and carries the right insurance, so the legal and logistical side is handled for you.
Can you elope at Lynn Canyon?
Lynn Canyon is a beautiful spot for wedding portraits, with a suspension bridge, mossy forest, a river, and the thirty foot pool. It is very popular, so it gets busy, especially on weekends and holidays. We plan around the crowds and know the quieter corners, which is how we still get private, gorgeous photos even on a packed long weekend.
Can out-of-province or American couples get married in BC?
Yes. BC has no residency or citizenship requirement, so couples from Alberta, elsewhere in Canada, or the United States are all welcome to marry here. You simply need valid photo ID for both partners and a BC marriage licence.
Where do you get a marriage licence near Vancouver?
You can buy a BC marriage licence from many licence agents around Metro Vancouver, including insurance offices in Surrey and the surrounding area. Allie and Blake picked theirs up at an agent just a short walk from their hotel. A BC licence costs about 100 dollars, is valid for three months, and has no waiting period, so you can marry as soon as you have it. We point our couples to the closest and easiest spot.
What happens if it rains at an outdoor elopement in Vancouver?
We plan for it. On Allie and Blake's day it poured, and we had clear umbrellas ready for everyone, a flexible timeline, and a calm plan. Coastal rain can actually make the forest greener and the photos richer, so a little weather is nothing to fear when your team is ready for it.
Is Cleveland Dam good for a wedding with kids and older guests?
Yes. The ceremony field at Cleveland Dam is easy to reach with a short, flat walk from the parking area, which makes it very friendly for young children and grandparents. It was a great fit for Allie and Blake's group of nearly 30, including 13 kids.
When is the best time of year for a lush green forest elopement in BC?
Late spring through early fall gives you warm days and full green forests. Summer is especially beautiful for couples who want that deep mossy North Shore look with comfortable weather for guests.
