Two Countries, One Field: Veronica & Jamie's South Surrey Elopement
Photo by Janessa Alicia Studios.
An intimate, faith-filled oceanview elopement in South Surrey, BC — where a bride from Mexico and a groom from Wales married with their families meeting for the very first time, and their rescue pup carried the rings.
This love story is one that crossed oceans.
Veronica grew up in Mexico while Jamie grew up in Wales. They met in the middle at an Irish pub in Vancouver, where Veronica was working the front door on a bright summer day and Jamie, by his own admission a little too shy to say much, kept finding reasons to step outside and talk to her. He practiced the Spanish he'd picked up travelling through Latin America. She thought it was very cute. A few visits later, he asked if he could give her a hug, and Veronica says that hug is the moment she knew. She felt safe, and she wanted it to last.
There's a third main character in this story, too: Spike, their rescue dog and — in Veronica's words — the whole reason they chose to build their life, and their marriage, here in Canada.
Photo by Janessa Alicia Studios.
What Veronica & Jamie wanted from their elopement
When two people are this intentional about their relationship, they tend to be just as intentional about their wedding. Veronica & Jamie wanted something intimate, personal, and filled with the people they trust, creating a safe space with no judgment and all the love.
Their vision was clear. They wanted greenery and open field with an ocean nearby and mountains in the distance, somewhere secluded and calm. Minimalist and timeless and, non-negotiable, somewhere Spike could be part of the day without a crowd of other dogs around, since he's happiest with a little space.
I found a new spot for Sea to Sky Elopements in South Surrey that ticked all the boxes for them! A quiet bluff above the ocean, framed by forest, with a short and gentle walk that worked for every guest, including both of their moms.
Their two families, meeting for the very first time
September 8, 2026 wasn't only the day Veronica and Jamie got married. It was the day their families met — Veronica's from Mexico, Jamie's from Wales — for the first time ever, on a field overlooking the Pacific.
You could feel what that meant to them. The excitement in the lead-up wasn't about décor or logistics. It was about their people finally standing in the same place, on the same soil, watching two lives officially become one.
Photo by Janessa Alicia Studios.
A faith-filled ceremony
Veronica and Jamie's elopement was, at its centre, a spiritual one — and it was beautiful precisely because it was so centered on Christ.
They chose to have their first look at the altar, no earlier. The morning was quiet and grounded with Veronica praying with her sisters and the women closest to her, iced coffee and breakfast on the way; Jamie shared breakfast with his groomsmen and his mom, worship music playing and praying over the day ahead.
Their pastor, Jeremiah, led their ceremony with a prayer, a message, personal vows layered over traditional ones, and communion shared as a married-to-be couple. Veronica walked in on the arms of both her mom and dad to "Jesus Be The Name." while their best man and maid of honour carried Jamie and Veronica's vow books down and placed them in their hands. And when it came time for the rings, Jamie's brother walked Spike down the aisle with rings tied to a very good boy in a very good suit.
As our coordinator Jodie put it after the day: it was deeply faith-forward, in the sweetest, most loving way. The two of them were completely locked in, taking such good care of each other. A team, start to finish.
Their unique details
The best intimate weddings are stitched together from small, specific, personal things — and this day was full of them:
White roses and soft greenery were exactly the minimalist palette Veronica had imagined.
A recessional pulled straight from the couple's own taste: "Still Falling For You" by Ellie Goulding, from one of their favourite films, sending them back up the aisle as newlyweds.
Their rescue dog was their ring bearer, complete with his own little suit — and a handler on "Spike duty" all day so the couple never had to think about it.
Photos of the details that matter to Veronica: her shoes, the ring box, the vow books, the bouquet — the things she'll want to see again in five, ten, twenty years.
Photo by Janessa Alicia Studios.
Behind the scenes: the parts you're not supposed to notice
A day this calm is never an accident. It's a hundred quiet decisions the couple never has to feel.
Because the park has genuinely limited parking and a fire lane that has to stay clear, we mapped out guest arrivals and access ahead of time so nothing felt chaotic on the day. As a surprise, Jamie arranged a limousine to carry Veronica and her family to the park — and, at the same time, a dog-friendly ride so Spike and the rest of the family arrived just as smoothly. When their pastor visited the site beforehand, he sent through a video of exactly how he pictured the chairs and the flow, and we folded his vision straight into the plan so everyone was aligned before a single guest arrived. They even held a full rehearsal on-site two days prior, turning the one thing that makes a public location tricky — the unknowns — into something rehearsed and calm.
And a favourite moment only Jodie knew about as it happened: the entire processional the guests watched unfold so seamlessly was actually being cued by one person moving quietly between opposite corners of the field, working around Bluetooth range so each entrance had its own backdrop and its own song. Effortless to watch. Choreographed to the second behind the scenes.
Light play and a hidden beach!
The weather DELIVERED one of the best days of the year with perfect temperature, gorgeous light playing through the trees, and, on a public park in the middle of the week, near-total privacy. The few people who did pass by were lovely, keeping a respectful distance and offering quiet congratulations.
After the ceremony, cake cutting, and family portraits, the couple slipped away to a quiet nearby beach for a few just-the-two-of-them frames on grass, by the ocean, and with that soft coastal light our photographer used beautifully.
Photo by Janessa Alicia Studios.
Celebrating into the evening
From the bluff, everyone headed into the city to celebrate over dinner at Ancora, with non-alcoholic champagne and toasts from the people who know them best. Veronica and Jamie ended the night the way they'd dreamed it: a hotel room to themselves, room service, and time to simply reminisce on the day. The next morning, both families, the whole beautiful, cross-continental group, gathered again for brunch. The celebration didn't end with the ceremony. It rippled out for days.
Why a planner-led elopement makes days like this possible
Done with intention, eloping is the more focused choice — every hour pointed at what actually matters to you.
Veronica and Jamie wanted their families united, their faith at the centre, their dog by their side, and their own nervous systems calm enough to be fully present. None of that happens by accident at a public park with limited access on a Tuesday. It happens because someone is handling parking, transportation, timing, music, vendors, and a dozen quiet contingencies so the couple can keep their eyes on each other.
That's the whole promise. You stay in your day. We hold the rest.
FAQ: Eloping at Public Parks in South Surrey, BC
Can you get married at Public Parks in South Surrey?
Not all of them, but some of them Yes. Kwomais Point Park is an oceanview bluff with forest and a short, accessible walk, making it a lovely intimate ceremony spot. Access and parking are limited, so a planner coordinates the booking, guest arrivals, and setup ahead of time.
Can you have a faith-based or Christian elopement ceremony?
Absolutely. An elopement can hold as much meaning and tradition as you want — prayer, worship music, communion, a pastor, personal and traditional vows. Veronica and Jamie's ceremony was fully faith-centred, led by their own pastor, with just their closest people present.
Can your dog be part of your wedding ceremony?
Yes, with the right planning. A dedicated handler, leash rules, and a location without heavy dog traffic let a pet be part of the day safely. Spike wore a suit and carried the rings down the aisle, with a handler managing him start to finish.
Where can you elope near Vancouver with ocean and forest views?
South Surrey's Kwomais Point Park offers ocean, forest, and distant mountains within easy reach of the city — a strong choice for couples who want dramatic scenery without a long drive or a strenuous hike.
How many guests can you have at an elopement?
As many as feel right. Veronica and Jamie had 16 of their closest people. An elopement is defined by intention, not by being alone — the point is a guest list of only the people you truly want there.
Is there parking at Kwomais Point Park?
Parking is limited (roughly 20 spots), with a fire lane that must stay clear and some nearby street parking. It's exactly the kind of logistic a planner manages in advance so guests arrive smoothly.
