Some weddings are planned for years. Kasha and Justin's Aylard Farm Sooke elopement was planned quietly, made by hand and kept almost entirely to themselves, right up until the moment they stood together at Aylard Farm in Sooke and promised each other forever. It rained all morning. Then, as the ceremony began, it stopped.
A story that took the long way round
Kasha and Justin met through a mutual friend in Calgary. They made plans for a first dinner, but Justin's work travel kept pushing it back. Life moved on: Kasha moved to Vancouver, and later across the water to Victoria. Somewhere in all that moving, the timing finally lined up, and the two of them started dating.
Their first date was at the BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria. So when Justin proposed on January 18, 2019, he went back to the same spot. There is something lovely about a proposal that returns to the beginning, with the Inner Harbour lights and the old stone that had already seen them once.
A secret, hand-made elopement
They chose to elope and kept the plan a secret. No big guest list, no months of vendor meetings. Instead, they made their decorations and florals themselves, which shows in every frame: the slightly wild stems, the textures that only come from something put together at a kitchen table by two people who care.
For us, this is the heart of elopement photography. When a day is this personal, our job is to stay light on our feet, notice the small things, and let the couple forget there is a camera there at all.
Rain, then a break in the sky
West Coast weather does what it wants. It rained steadily through the morning, the kind of soft, grey rain that makes the cedars glow and the trails go dark and glossy. We kept the plan flexible and kept an eye on the sky.
Then, just as the ceremony began, the rain stopped. The clouds stayed low and silver, the air smelled of salt and wet moss, and the light went soft and even, the most flattering light there is. Rainy days on Vancouver Island are not something to fear; they are often where the most atmospheric photos come from. (We wrote more about this in our rainy day wedding photo tips.)
Forest, ocean and sand
East Sooke Regional Park gave us everything in one afternoon. We wandered from the meadow at Aylard Farm into the trees, then down toward the water, so the gallery moves from deep green forest to grey ocean to pale sand. Kasha wore a beaded mermaid lace gown from Moonlight Bridal, and it took the rain, mud and sand in stride. She later said it looked brand new after a soak that same night, which is the best kind of review a dress can get.
Kasha summed up the day better than we ever could:
"Nothing fancy, just love."
That line has stayed with us. It is a good reminder of what we are really photographing.
Planning an Aylard Farm elopement?
If Kasha and Justin's day has you dreaming of East Sooke, here are a few practical notes from our time there:
- Check permits first. East Sooke Regional Park is run by CRD Regional Parks. Confirm current requirements for ceremonies or gatherings with the CRD before you lock in a date.
- Plan for the weather, not against it. Bring a clear umbrella, a warm layer and a towel for the car. Rain gear can look great in photos.
- Wear shoes you can walk in. Trails to the shoreline are uneven, rooty and slick when wet. Change into your nicer shoes at the spot.
- Time it with the light. Our golden hour calculator shows sunset and golden hour times for Sooke on any date.
- Go midweek if you can. The park is popular on sunny weekends; weekdays give you more room to breathe.
Our full Aylard Farm wedding photo guide goes deeper on light, trails and seasons. And if you are planning your own quiet day, we would love to hear about it. Get in touch or email us at info@evergrey-photography.com.
