Of Course, Dolphins Resort in Campbell River (images below). I’ve posted about it countless times, but it is truly warm, rustic and charming. Cozy little cabins, breathtaking views and delicious food… not to mention a staff that are excited to make your wedding dreams come true.
Shelter Point Whiskey Distillery has recently started catering to weddings and it is an amazing and unique venue for a Vancouver Island wedding.

How about a backyard of a historic Heritage house along the Campbell River? Haig Brown House might be more your style.

You may like another heritage site in the beautiful Comox Valley, The Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park where deer roam freely, and the quiet beauty of the park will immediately make you feel at home.

You may be looking for something more raw. More wild. More remote. Another favorite is The Black Rock Resort in Ucluelet. It’s beautiful setting overlooking the wild west coast waters makes this venue somewhere I always look forward to visiting and shooting. It’s cliff side hiking trails, beach access and beautiful rooms make me happy!

Maybe you want to go to Hornby Island? The Seabreeze Lodge might just steal your heart. Private and picturesque bring all of your favorite people here and celebrate all weekend long. Maybe you want your wedding photos at one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been?? Helliwell Park.

Another gem is Strathcona Park Lodge, just outside of Campbell River. I love the rustic setting, the countless outdoor adventures the beautiful light and the incredibly sweet old Barn that can be seen here set up for a reception.

Love the mountains? Get married at Mt.Washington. Getting married on what a mountain top has never been better.

I had never been here until this year, but then had the great fortune of photographing two weddings here. Hatley Castle is simply divine. Get married in a castle??? on in Victoria, Vancouver Island??? OK.

I loved her from the first email. Sweet, charismatic and outgoing. Awesome.
Jacquie and Pat are warm, fun, engaging and they just make you want to be around them, not to mention both totally gorgeous.
You two make my job so easy!
Being together twelve years has created an amazingly effortless connection between the two of them. You take one look at them and instantly think….of course they are together. They should be together. They are so natural, so comfortable. A beautiful thing.
Now you love them too, don’t you. I can’t wait to photograph their Pacific Shores wedding this summer. Admit it, you can’t wait either.

This time it started with a treasure hunt in a backyard garage. Old reels, old telephones, keys, an heirloom teacup, a first box for oil paints… a first camera. Treasures.
Possibly junk to some. Definitely treasures to a Runaway Soul.

At times it may seem that everywhere else in the world is the most beautiful place on earth. The different cultures, the amazing traditions of people from anywhere but here. Looking at photos from Venice, you see gondolas, beautiful stonework, a city built on water. You see old people walking along the street arm in arm. You see laundry hanging about the city, you see light pouring in from corners of archways. You see lovers passing over bridges. You see beautifully dressed women seemingly floating around the city. Barcelona, cafes, taxis, fashion, street performers, people reading on benches, or just enjoying a coffee watching people pass by. Marrakech … different again. Fragrant markets, smells of exotic spices, pastel buildings, blankets hanging from windows, old men sat in their window seat watching the taxis whirl by. Everywhere, distinctly different. However, I wonder… how many of the people of Italy, Spain or Morocco see their home as something that is so hauntingly beautiful and exotic, as it might be to a Canadian. Do they look at their surroundings and truly know that they are living in someone’s fantasy. They are in our dreams.

We are living in someone’s fantasy also. You are.
Do you see that we have culture, and traditions, and are covered in history. Do you see it?
It is hard to see it all around us, where we are. But, it is here. We are in it.

Campbell River is a city built on the sea. We grew up fishing, outdoors, we have fishing rods and hockey skates, and wear fashionable gumboots and hand knit touques. We don’t use umbrellas but it rains all of the time. We have the Tyee Club right here in our home town, dating as far back as 1896. Some of us grew up hunting for Elk and deer with fathers and uncles, know how to filet a salmon with no bones, and know our way around the woods by logging roads. Our highway is named the “Old Island Highway”, we are surrounded by lakes, and rivers and mountains and from most places in Campbell River the sea is only 5 minutes away. We have streets named after fish and a beach named “Miracle Beach”. Travelers from all over the world come here, to experience what is every day life for us. We are in a dream. Someone’s dream. We may not see ourselves as anything special at times, but I can assure you, having been all over the world. We are different. Unique. We wear rain jackets, and know about tides and storms and the sea. We have beach fires as often as possible, take our dogs for walks in beautifully constructed hiking trails. Wake up at 4:30 in the morning to take kids to hockey, and park at the beach to ‘storm watch’. We will pack up our world in a heartbeat to go camping, sometimes only 10 minutes from our homes. We also have an amazing first nation population in Campbell River. With stories, traditions and culture so heartbreakingly beautiful I never tire of hearing about the different masks, dances and songs. Some of us are lucky enough to have been a part of First Nations Potlatches and Feasts. Being witness to ancient stories and songs being sung by the cherished carriers of the traditions.

We are lucky.
While treasure hunting we see beauty in the things that may not feel special to some.
But to us, they are our stories. Our history.
We are so excited to share our Impressions of Home, with you.

I’m only going to share a very sneak peek few right now, as it will eventually be another series of “Runaway Soul” greeting cards and other wild creations.
But for now, here is what we feel, see and know to be home.
We have more to share. Always.


Runaway Soul in action.