They Met at Salsa. They Got Married in Whistler. And They Were So in Love We Barely Felt Like We Were There — Sarah & Kaan's Nita Lake Lodge Elopement
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
A Vancouver couple who planned their elopement for over a year, pivoted when FIFA came to town, and ended up with the most perfectly unhurried wedding day I have ever been part of.
There are elopement days where you are managing a hundred moving pieces.
And then there are days like Sarah and Kaan's where everything is calm, everything is on time, and the two people getting married are so completely wrapped up in each other that you almost forget you are working.
I was there. I watched it happen. And I can tell you: it was one of those days that stays with you.
How They Got Here
Sarah and Kaan met at a salsa studio in Vancouver. She was the dedicated, studious one in the class with a big smile, supportive energy, always keeping up. He was the mischievous one who followed along when he felt like it and made everyone laugh the rest of the time.
Their hands met. The rest was history!
They dated for years, built a life together, got engaged at Cheakamus River in Whistler on a private tour that Kaan planned in obsessive detail including stress-eating chips in the guide's car on the way to the spot because he was so nervous, and eventually they came to me to plan their elopement.
That was March 2025. Their original plan was a city elopement in Vancouver, hotel-hopping through some of the most beautiful spaces the city has to offer.
Then FIFA came to Vancouver.
Hotel prices went through the roof and our whole plan changed. We pivoted to Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler — which, as it turns out, was the best thing that could have happened to them.
Because Whistler is where Kaan proposed. And it is where they got married. And that is not a coincidence. That is a love story that keeps coming back to the same mountain town.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The Elopement Morning
Sarah and Kaan woke up in their two-bedroom suite at Nita Lake Lodge and had a no-rush morning. Breakfast together. A walk. Time just to be with each other before everything started.
This is something I always try to build into a timeline when I can — and it matters more than people think. By the time hair and makeup arrives, you want to already feel settled. You want the day to feel like it started gently, not like you were sprinting from the moment your alarm went off.
Hanna arrived at 10:15am and spent almost three hours with Sarah. The result was exactly what Sarah asked for — a polished, beautiful, all-day look that needed zero touch-ups from ceremony through dinner. Sarah described herself as a "low maintenance girlie" and Hanna heard that, respected it, and delivered something that felt elevated and completely like Sarah at the same time.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The Library Room
We rented the Library Room at Nita Lake Lodge from 2pm to 10pm; four hours of ceremony and photos followed by a private dinner. That space became the heart of their entire day.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with warm light and complete privacy. No tourists, no strangers wandering through, no one watching them say their vows but us.
That was important to Sarah and Kaan. They had been very clear from the beginning that they wanted seclusion. They wanted to be able to be fully themselves without an audience. The Library Room gave them exactly that.
And because they booked four hours of photo and video coverage, we had real room to breathe. We were not rushing from shot to shot. We had time to lean into the creative moments, to let things unfold naturally and capture the small details that make a day so uniquely them.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The Details (They Were So Good)
I want to talk about the details for a second because Sarah and Kaan thought of things I had never seen before.
They had custom newspapers printed — actual newspaper format, printed on real newsprint — announcing that they had eloped. We used them in photos and they were one of the most unique props I have seen on an elopement day!
Sarah had custom cufflinks made for Kaan as a gift.
Their cake knife and forks were engraved. The cake itself was a vegan and gluten-free caramel sponge, just for the two of them, with "Just Married" written across the top.
Kaan brought his classical guitar. He plays flamenco, and he sat down and played a song for Sarah right there in the Library Room after their ceremony. Just the two of them, and us quietly in the corner. It was one of the most intimate moments I have seen on a wedding day.
They also brought a Polaroid camera. I grabbed a few shots on it throughout the day — there is something about a Polaroid that feels a little extra special from anything else, and those little prints are going to live on a fridge or a bulletin board somewhere for years.
And then there were the Starbucks cups. They had written "Just Married" on them in marker and we worked those into photos too. Playful, funny, completely on-brand for who they are.
Sarah and Kaan are not a serious, stiff couple. They are silly. They are warm. They are the kind of people who laugh easily and make everyone around them feel comfortable. Every detail they chose reflected that.
The First Look
Just before the ceremony, we organized a first look in the Library Room.
Kaan was in his custom Maxwell's Clothiers suit, made to measure in Hong Kong. Sarah came in wearing her gown from Lisa's Bridal and the cufflinks she had made for him were already on his wrists.
The first look was SO GENUINE. When Kaan turned around and saw Sarah, his reaction was priceless — I am going to leave that for the photos to show. Some moments are better experienced than described.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The Ceremony
Officiant Jude arrived at 2pm, right on schedule. We were mic'd up, camera was set, and at 2:30pm the ceremony began. It was quite dark in the library room, so we set up our big light which made their photos turn out perfectly!
They read handwritten vows to each other. I always recommend this, not because it is a tradition but because there is nothing on a wedding day that creates emotional connection the way reading your own words out loud does. You cannot fake it. You cannot rush it. It lands differently than anything else.
They exchanged rings. They signed the registry. And then they were married!
Right after the ceremony, before anything else, they had their first dance. They had chosen two songs — At Last by Etta James, then Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.
Who says you have to be limited to just 1 first dance!
Jude said her goodbyes, then we popped the non-alcoholic champagne and cut the cake. And then Beka, our videographer, had an idea.
She suggested they sit on the floor and eat directly from their wedding cake.
Just the two of them, on the floor of the Library Room, eating their own wedding cake and laughing. It was one of those moments that would never have happened without the extra time to lean into our creative side! That is what having a talented, creative video team does for your day — they see moments you would never think to make yourself.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Photos Around Nita Lake
After the ceremony and cake, Kaan serenaded Sarah with his classical guitar, we took some more photos with their props inside, then we went around to some of the outdoor arch structures, and around the lake for couple portraits.
The weather was perfect. June in Whistler had the lake that looking like something out of a painting. Sarah and Kaan were so genuinely in love and so at ease with our team that the whole session felt effortless. They barely needed any direction. They just needed to be together.
We wrapped photography at 5pm. They had some downtime before changing for dinner, and at 6pm they were seated in the Library Room for a private plated dinner with Nita Lake Lodge staff taking care of everything.
Our team said goodbye. The rest of the evening was theirs.
The Next Morning
The day after their wedding, I got an email from Sarah.
She said the day was a dream. That it could not have gone any better. That she came into it as a self-described "major control freak who panics over all the details" — and that she did not spend a single moment of her wedding day on logistics. Not one.
She said it felt like hanging out with friends. That she could just be present. That she and Kaan were so, so happy with how every single moment played out.
They checked out the next morning, stopped at Pure Bread, drove to YVR, and boarded a flight to Italy for their honeymoon.
They really leaned in to what an elopement is meant to feel like.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
What Made This Day What It Was
Sarah and Kaan did not want a big wedding. They were very honest about why — complex family dynamics, not wanting to spend their wedding day performing for other people, wanting to be present for each other instead of hosting a room full of guests.
What they got was a private room in one of the most beautiful lodges in Whistler, a team of four people who genuinely loved being there, a song played on a classical guitar by the person they love, and a flight to Italy the very next day.
The FIFA World Cup coming to Vancouver and destroying their original plan is the reason they ended up back in Whistler — the same town where Kaan proposed. The same mountain. A different room. The same two people who have been choosing each other since their hands first met on a dance floor.
Everything happens for a reason.
FAQ: Eloping at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, BC
Can you elope at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler?
Yes, and it is a beautiful choice. Nita Lake Lodge has private rentable spaces — like the Library Room — that can be used for ceremonies, photos, and private dinners. The venue sits right on the lake with stunning mountain views, outdoor arch structures, and a dock for photos. It is intimate, private, and completely removed from the noise of a big wedding venue.
Is Whistler a good place to elope in BC?
Whistler is one of the best elopement destinations in British Columbia. You get mountain scenery, a world-class lodge experience, incredible vendors, and easy access from Vancouver. It works for couples who want a luxury elopement without necessarily wanting a rugged outdoor adventure — though you can absolutely add hiking if that is your thing.
What is the Library Room at Nita Lake Lodge?
The Library Room is one of the private event spaces at Nita Lake Lodge. It is warm, intimate, and lined with bookshelves — which makes it feel like a completely different kind of ceremony space than a typical ballroom or outdoor clearing. For Sarah and Kaan, it was perfect: private, beautiful, and completely theirs for the day.
Can you elope in Whistler if you are from Vancouver?
Absolutely. Many of the couples I work with are Vancouver-based and choose Whistler for their elopement. It is about a 90-minute drive from Vancouver, has a wide range of accommodation and venue options, and gives you that mountain feeling without flying anywhere. It is also a great choice for couples who want to bring a small group — the drive is easy and the area has plenty of things for guests to do.
How long should I book for an elopement day?
It depends on what you want to include, and this is something a good planner will help you figure out. Sarah and Kaan booked four hours of photo and video coverage, which gave them room to breathe — to have a first dance, a guitar performance, a cake moment on the floor, portraits around the lake, and all the small in-between moments without feeling rushed. Two hours is doable for a simple ceremony and portraits. Four to six hours is what I usually recommend if you want to include multiple meaningful elements.
What should we do the morning of our elopement?
Slow down. Have breakfast together. Go for a walk. Let the morning be gentle. The ceremony and photos will have their own energy, and the best thing you can do is arrive already feeling calm and connected. I always build a slow morning into my timelines because couples who start their day that way arrive at the ceremony in a completely different headspace than couples who have been rushing since 7am.
Do you need a planner for a Whistler elopement?
Here is what a planner actually does for you: they hold all the logistics so you do not have to. Sarah described herself as a control freak who panics over details — and she said she did not spend one single moment of her wedding day on logistics. She was just present. She was just with Kaan. That is not something that happens by accident. It happens because someone else is watching the timeline, coordinating the vendors, making sure the cake is right and the mic is on and the champagne is cold and the room is set up exactly the way it should be. That someone is your planner.
What if my original elopement plan falls through?
It happens more than you would think. Sarah and Kaan had to completely pivot their Vancouver city elopement when FIFA sent hotel prices to levels that made no sense for their budget. We moved to Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler and it turned out to be a better fit for who they are — and it brought them back to the exact town where Kaan had proposed. A good planner does not panic when a plan changes. They find the better plan that was waiting on the other side.
Is Nita Lake Lodge good for a private elopement dinner?
Yes. The Library Room was available to Sarah and Kaan from 6 to 10pm for a private plated dinner after their ceremony and photos. Nita Lake Lodge staff handled everything, the room was already set up and beautiful, and they did not have to go anywhere or organize anything. They just sat down and had dinner as husband and wife. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
What are some unique elopement ideas for Whistler, BC?
Beyond the ceremony itself, Whistler has a lot to offer — float plane tours, gondola experiences (though not for everyone), lakeside photography, mountain backdrops for portraits, beautiful lodge spaces for dinners, and easy honeymoon extensions to places like Pemberton and Squamish. For something more personal, think about what makes you two you: Kaan plays flamenco guitar, so we built that into the ceremony. You met doing something, you love something, you have an inside joke that could become a photo prop. The most memorable elopement details are always the ones that could only belong to that specific couple.
