COZY COUPLING

FOUR LOCAL SPOTS FOR ROMANTIC WINTER NUPTIALS

by Josh Murray

Whether you choose to bring the outside in with fresh winter greens or want to showcase a stunning vista as a backdrop for the ceremony, these warm, inviting spots around British Columbia provide for your perfect winter wedding.

1 The Brew Creek Centre

Imagine the most sky-scraping of conference hotels, ominous and sprawling-- and you'd be completely off the mark. The Brew Creek Centre, located in the pastoral woods surrounding Whistler, is a quiet and reflective escape ruled by romanticism.

"We are nestled in a forest, with a wonderful creek flowing through. A lovely winter wonderland, connected by bridges," explains Pamela Wright, the venue's director of sales. "There are vignettes throughout... there's a true quaintness to it."

The antithesis of local chain hotels, the centre offers exclusive access for the couple and invited family and friends over a wedding weekend. “They eat together, stay together... they are in that family and friend strata for the weekend,” says Wright.

That focus on relationships lends a special brand of intimacy. “When people leave the Brew Creek Centre, they talk about the food, the location and the people. There’s a very heartfelt feeling about the property.”

PREVIOUS WEDDINGS

Approximately 20 each year

CAPACITY

30 to 65 in winter, with more in summer

MINIMUM SPEND

Site fees and accommodation costs vary by date

LEAD TIME

Six months to one year

PLANNERS

Day-of organizers or wedding planners are required

A/V On-site, and costs are included in site fees

OUTSIDE CATERING/LIQUOR

No outside alcohol permitted, but Brew Creek will allow for special requests, working with couples to create menus and tend to dietary choices

2 Nita Lake Lodge

Whistler’s only lakeside hotel, the cozy, boutique charm of the Nita Lake Lodge extends to its service. Heralding a commitment to a “truly Canadian experience,” thanks to a dedication to personalized service, the locale offers visitors a fashionable blend of sophistication and rustic charm. “It’s truly romantic and unique,” says meetings and event manager Kathryn Birrell. “With two outdoor ceremony spaces—even when it’s snowing— it’s perfect for anyone who is in love.”

Just steps to the Creekside gondola and boasting an award-winning spa on-site, Nita Lake offers a luxurious, all-encompassing retreat for wedding parties but retains a sense of intimacy, hosting just one wedding per day.

PREVIOUS WEDDINGS

More than 70 weddings in 2019 alone

CAPACITY

From 30 to 140, depending on venue selection on-site

MINIMUM SPEND

Rental rates for specific locations on-site begin at $500

LEAD TIME

From three weeks to 18 months

PLANNERS

Outside planners welcome

A/V

Screen, projector and microphone rentals are available; other A/V requires an outside supplier

OUTSIDE CATERING/LIQUOR

No

3 Terminal City Club

Tastes change, but tradition stands strong... and Vancouver’s Terminal City Club has long been a regal landmark in the city’s financial core. For more than 80 years, the same

Hastings Street location has been home to a series of festive events and receptions. “We pride ourselves on delivering a highly personalized experience,” says Brittany Whalen, the catering sales manager on-site. “We work directly with our talented and versatile culinary team to craft a tailored menu... or let us take the extra decision-making off your hands with some of our tried-and-true favourites.”

The space—showcasing two ballrooms and a number of wellmaintained garden patios—is perfect for both elaborate affairs and intimate gatherings. “We’ve done small dinners in our elegant dining room, tea ceremonies in our pretty Gibson Suite, beautiful outdoor ceremonies on our terrace, and dance parties to remember with a live band in our ballroom; we even had a couple build a sublime flower wall,” explains Whalen. “It’s really great to work with couples to bring their vision to reality.”

PREVIOUS WEDDINGS

More than 200 in the past six years alone

CAPACITY

300 in the larger of the ballrooms on-site

MINIMUM SPEND

For Saturdays in peak season Metropolitan Ballroom is $15,000; the Terrace Ballroom is $7,500

LEAD TIME

Flexible

PLANNERS

Outside planners welcome

A/V

Offers some in-house A/V services, but additional needs require rental

OUTSIDE CATERING/LIQUOR

No

4 Audain Art Museum

Showcasing some of British Columbia’s most impressive and engaging artworks from the late 18th century to the present, Whistler’s Audain Art Museum may seem like an unlikely spot to tie the knot at first glance. But the space has seen an influx of receptions and blissfully happy wedding parties over the past three years. “Couples with a passion for British Columbia, an eye for design and a sentimentality toward the West Coast will find themselves immediately falling in love with the museum inside and out,” explains Justine Nichol, marketing and communications manager. With a number of rooms available for weddings and other events, the museum offers stunning backdrops, thanks to ingenious design and a location tucked away near Whistler Village in what is proudly describe as a forested enclave. “The museum’s breathtaking event spaces have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the snow-covered forest surroundings, while remaining warm and cozy, thanks to the West Coast wood interior elements that are iconic of British Columbia,” says Nichol.

PREVIOUS WEDDINGS

Tallies are confidential

CAPACITY

From 150 to 200

MINIMUM SPEND

$2,500

LEAD TIME

Flexible, depending on calendar

PLANNERS

A wedding planner is required

A/V

Microphone available, with all other A/V needs requiring rental

OUTSIDE CATERING/LIQUOR

Required; preferred catering options available