Vancouver Wedding Photographer || Ophelia Photography

Even though it was suppose to rain and snow on May 16th, the weather and day was perfect.  After all Alease and Chris were getting married and the sun shone down happily.    Alease and Chris make anyone around them smile with their infectious personalities, making my job as their photographer pure joy.    Also happy people are surrounded by other positive souls and their wedding party was fabulous!   My brother and I had an amazing time capturing your wedding.  We wish you love, joy and happiness for years to come.  

Name: Chris Arcus
Hometown: Sechelt, B.C.
Job: owner/operater retail store
Favorite Past Time: golf/ watching or playing football
Favorite Memory of your wedding day? talking with peple after all the speaches were done.
Favorite thing about your your wife Alease? personality
Dreams for the Future retire younger than most so i can kick back and enjoy life!

Flowers were done by friend of the bride:  Kristi Wolff

Veil:  Ebay (honestly a great resource)

Hairpiece at Reception worn by Alease:   Adorn Atelier 

Name: Alease Arcus

Hometown: Port Alberni

Job: Realtor
Favorite Past Time: Red wine with the ladies, entertaining, cooking, and hanging hard at the lake!
Favorite Memory of your wedding day? The whole day was truly amazing, it was pretty awesome that the flower girls actually performed their duty, and that the JP called Chris my wife! The party was unreal, all my friends and family seemed to have just as great of a time as we did! It was truly amazing to have all the most important people in your life all together in one place to celebrate with you the love of your life! So sad it’s over:(
Favorite thing about your your husband Chris? He is the most caring person in the world. From the moment I met him he has such a great understanding of people, and really cares about their feelings and happiness. To watch him as a father is the most amazing thing to me… His love for his children melts my heart. He is so helpful and always a great leader. He is the most passionate sports fan alive! You can’t help but care when he is around!!! 
Dreams for the Future?
Most importantly a long healthy life together. Then a few kids, and hopefully some wealth along the way! I can’t wait for the future and all the wonderful successes we will create together!

Two weeks before the wedding Alease and I headed out to scout something cool and different for her wedding.    We ended up and the local airport in Port Alberni where the building looked abandoned and signs warning us of fines if we walked on the tarmac were looming.   However, with wild abandon and the fearless nature I so adore in this couple the day of the wedding we winged it and headed towards the airport.  Upon arrival we noticed that a pilot with 2 fabulous assistance were flying their plane.  The pilot was more then helpful and turned his plane around for us facing the glorious mountains and wide open sky.    I am a strong believer that things are meant to happen and this location was intended for Chris and Alease.  I have to say a HUGH thank you to the Vancouver Island Soaring Centre.

I was in love with Alease’s Viel and had the help of  Dallas Dalziel we made a magical photo. 

How gorgeous is Alease!!! I was so excited when I saw this blue wall as I knew it would make her blue eyes pop and red (ginger) hair stand out.  She is absolutely a stunner.  

I love fearless bridal parties.  This was quite the climb for all of them and they rocked it.   Here I have to thank Amanda Welsh for getting some weeds and cans out of the shot.   You rock girl!  

HOW THEY DID IT! 

Wedding date and venue: May 16th, 2009, Private residence on Stamp River in Port Alberni, reception to follow at the Italian Center
Honeymoon location: Sooke… We went to Point no Point for 3 night… BEAUTIFUL! Great food, gotta love the private hot tub, and tonnes of relaxing…

Proposal story: We actually had never really spoke of getting married before the proposal… Chris had only joked that he would give me a twist tie, and I said that would be good enough for me! It was xmas time 2007. We had gone shopping in Nanaimo seperately. Chris called me on my cell and said “maybe you better use the visa, I have been buying some presents with our bank card!” I didn’t think much of it because he always goes over board. I got home from Nanaimo that night and he went on to tell me he bought me a big gift and not to ask any questions when someone comes by to deliver it. So then it got my mind going that it was something BIG, like a treadmill or something, because I had just quit smoking and was starting a little gym in our garage. Funny enough the next day, the bus depot called and said a parcel had arrived for Chris. So off he went, when he got back I expected to see a huge box, but he just had some gift’s that were sent to our son from his aunts on the sunshine coast. When he got home I was upstairs putting away laundry. He came up to our room with a bouquet of red roses and gave them to me, and said “I love you”, I was like I love you too! He was sitting on the bed and pulled out a twist tie that was shaped like a ring with a diamond, and asked me to marry him. I thought he was totally kidding!!! I joked to him yes…. Then he had to pull out the real ring he had bought, cause I just wasn’t getting it! 

Favorite wedding detail: … don’t really know. The whole day was perfect for both of us. Probably having the big wedding after all. It is such an amazing feeling having all your most favorite people all in one place for one day! Really happy we bucked up and paid a decorator too, the hall looked beautiful!

Anything you wish you’d known when you started planning your wedding, or anything you didn’t do that you wish you had done: Wish we would have had less involvement from our family. Our parents catered, and made the 2 weeks before the wedding a little stressful. Would have hired a caterer if we were doing it all over. Also, would keep the seating arrangement to myself. Not telling anyone. We found people gave too many opinions, and it wasn’t their decision. The dance floor was too bright for the first 1.5 hours of the party. I really wish I would have tracked down the hall guy earlier and got the lights dimmed. 

What resources did you use to help you plan your wedding? Friends were the biggest resource. We had ladies nights and talked about what needed to be planned first and what could wait. It also helps that my best friend is getting married two months after us, so we got to bounce ideas off each other. The internet is also a magical place. I love EBAY!!!

Why did you choose Ophelia Photography?
Well… I graduated high school with Lisa, and would also consider her a friend. I also am an independant contractor myself, and have very strong values when it comes to supporting those in my social circle/ age group. I really believe we need to take responsibility for each other’s success. Not to mention Lisa does an absolutely beautiful job, and has such passion for her work!

The bouquet toss was serious business….I love this shot. 

I call this photo……”THE SHOT”