What a wonderful night! This year’s Vancouver Island Wedding Awards Gala Evening was held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Point Resort. Their team, along with Freeman Audio Visual, made sure that the Awards were a perfect affair. The fifth annual Gala stepped it up with the newly formed Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Association Board and over sixty Sponsors! The evening began when dozens of volunteers worked together to create the vision that Decorate Victoria, Emma McCormick and Lynda of Fleurtacious had designed. They worked with decor rental businesses from all over Vancouver Island to bring together the Tropical Elegance theme. Tickle Tree Stationery + Events and Bon Macaron finished each table off with program and favour.
The evening began with a cocktail hour and appetizers by House of Boateng while everyone admired the cakes designed by each of the dessert sponsors. The actual Awards began with Eva, of Beauty Bride. serenading the crowd followed by Anne Pollock, of Party Mood, addressing the sold out ballroom. 34 Awards diamonds, provided by The Bride’s Closet, were handed out with the highlight being the Industry Excellence Award going to Erin Bradley. Special thanks to Black Rock Oceanfront Resort for sponsoring this Award. Door prizes, which included a grand prize provided by Victoria WOW. were hardly over when the host, Dale Olsen of Outlooks for Men, led the crowd to Lure Restaurant for the after party hosted by Laura of Schur 2 Please. The Eryn Sharpe Trio played while everyone partied away the rest of the night. Of course, guests took along their swag bag filled with goodies (that hangover helper was great)!
Special thanks to all the members of VIWIA Board who worked for months to make the evening special, the volunteers, judges, our ‘vanna girls’, all the sponsors and especially everyone who supported by submitting and/or attending the Awards Gala. See you at next year’s Awards Gala or at the upcoming Industry Education Days!
All photos by Spark and Whimsy Photography
VIWIA Board Members: Anne (Party Mood) | Fern (The Bride’s Closet), Sandy (Decorate Victoria), Beckie (Bridal Exhibition/Plan It Events), Lynda (Fleurtacious), Emma (Emma McCormick of The Good Party), Sharon (Victoria WOW), Laura (Schur to Please), Tara (Tiger Lily Events), Steve & Courtney (Julien Photography), Laura (West Coast Weddings Magazine), Tamara (Tamara Olson Consulting), Ron (Hiway Productions)
Diamond Sponsors: The Bride’s Closet | Freeman Audio Visual | Four Frames Photo Booth | Party Mood | Spark and Whimsy Photography | Decorate Victoria | Paper Heart Films | Painted Sky Films | Used Victoria | House of Boateng | Bon Macaron
Décor Sponsors: Decorate Victoria | Emma McCormick Creative Design | Fleurtacious by Lynda Marie | Scene About Town | Designer Weddings and Special Occasion Rentals | Black and White Party Rentals | Trend Décor | The Bride’s Closet | Décor by Nature | Party Mood | Tickle Tree Stationery + Design
Dessert Sponsors: Ooh La La Cupcakes | Cake by Taryn | Cobble Hill Cake Co | Marvellous Cakes | Allison Shelrud Cake Design | Schur to Please Boutique Cakery
Social Media + Website: Creations by Sonia | Snap and Twigs Media | Julien Photography | West Coast Weddings Mag
GRAND Door Prize: Victoria WOW with Spark and Whimsy Photography | Sharon Rai Hair and Makeup Artistry | Magical Moments Decorating | Villa Marco Polo Inn | Brown’s the Florist
Door Prizes: Party Mood | Tigh-Na-Mara Resort | Victoria WOW | Bridal Exhibition | West Coast Weddings Magazine | Victoria Distillers | Haven Spa with Tiger Lily Events | DeVine Vineyards | Church and State Vineyards | Sea Cider FarmHouse | Gardens at HCP & Charlotte and the Quail | Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea | VIWIA | Prestige Hotels & Resorts Oceanfront Sooke
Swag Bags: Party Mood | Marvellous Cakes | Schur to Please Boutique Cakery | Oh Sugar | Shell da Bee Cookies | The Bride’s Closet | Sharon Rai Hair and Makeup Artistry | Spark and Whimsy Photography | Gala Van Party Shop | West Coast Weddings Magazine | Milestones and Memories | Kernals Popcorn | Shimmer Body and Nail Spa
After Party: Lure Restaurant and Bar | Schur to Please Boutique Cakery | Party Mood | Eryn Sharpe Trio
See you next year!
