Brianna + Ryan

How did you meet?

We met in high school when we were 14 and 15 years old. Ryan was a grade above me and known as one of the “hot, older guys.” He got my number from a mutual friend and texted me “heyyy” and the rest is history!

When did you know they were the one?

Within the first six months of dating. I had never known what it was like to have butterflies in my stomach until I met Ryan! Even at the age of 15 he had the ability to make me feel seen, protected, and valued.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

Sense of humour: I often refer to Ryan as the funniest person I know and it’s the truth! He is insanely clever and always keeps me on my toes.

Kindness: People are drawn to Ryan because you can instantly feel his kindness and sincerity. It doesn’t take long to realize how big his heart is and how much he cares for his loved ones.

Motivated: When Ryan sets out to accomplish something, he doesn’t quit until he achieves it. He is extremely hard-working and that is something I admire about him.

Who proposed and how?

Ryan took me on a helicopter ride through the glaciers of Whistler, Canada. We landed on a secluded sandbar in the middle of a river and that’s when he popped the question! My best friend was waiting there to take pictures and of course had champagne ready for us!

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I had Remi saved on my Pinterest board for months before I got engaged. I knew I had to try this stunning dress on and found the only bridal store in Vancouver that carried it, Everly Bridal. I was dress shopping with three of my bridesmaids and when I came out wearing Remi, we all said “This is the one!” I fell in love with the intricate details of the lace, the stunning train, and how beautiful I felt in that moment.

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

So many amazing moments but I’ve narrowed it down to 3:

1. Seeing Ryan for the first time while walking down the aisle. We chose not to do a first look and locking eyes with him in that moment will forever be one of my favourite memories.
2. The last part of my vows was “it was always you” and I secretly had this engraved on Ryan’s ring. Seeing him read the engraving for the first time was definitely a special moment.
3. Doing the lift from the Dirty Dancing movie on the dance floor! We didn’t know if we could pull it off but after some liquid courage we executed it perfectly and the crowd went wild!

What were your favourite details?

My family is Italian and my Nonna insisted on baking hundreds of Italian desserts for our wedding. I have grown up being spoiled by her baking and it was special to get to share them with all of our guests.

My “something old” was a family ring passed down to me by my late grandmother and my “something borrowed” was my cousin’s veil that she wore on her wedding day. It was truly heartwarming to be able to include sentimental items on the day of my wedding.

My mother hand-crafted all of our flower arrangements! She spent months going to all of the flower shops in town to ensure our vision came to life. Her and her friends put the arrangements together in her living room the day before the wedding. It was chaotic, but they did am amazing job and my mother received endless compliments about how beautiful the flower arrangements looked.

What advice would you tell other brides?

Everything is not going to go according to plan and that’s okay! The most important thing is that you are marrying the love of your life so don’t fret over the small details. Take time to relish in the little moments throughout the day with your partner, after all, the day is about the two of you!

Any standout vendors?

Our photographers! They are a husband and wife duo named Rachel and Ethan from Lewko Photography. They were so much fun to work with and did an incredible job capturing our special day.

Salt and Brick Catering! Their staff and chefs were a pleasure to work with and their food was outstanding. We had so many people tell us it was the best meal they have ever had.