“Brian and I have known each other since high school. We were both born and raised in Cranbrook. Our paths diverted after high school, but a piece of an N64 that I needed in order for the game consul to work, borrowed by Brian and his cousin years before, brought my phone number into Brian’s hands. We began chatting regularly after that, and the rest is history. Although Brian and I had been dating for 5-6 years when he proposed to me, the day that he chose to do it was probably the most surprising one that he could have chosen. After one of his best friends (and my best friends partner) broke his femur dirt biking, it was the last thing I expected. But once he was safely transported to the hospital, and we could not go visit him due to COVID, Brian decided to keep his plans in motion. We drove out to Whitetail Lake, where we camp and fish every May. Brian had left the trailer out there, coming back to town to go dirt biking, and we were planning to head back out and stay the night. So we did! Not before Brian took me for an evening boat ride, on one of the clearest days we’d had that month, over water that didn’t have a single ripple or wave. He proposed to me in the sunshine on the calm lake, champagne hidden in his cooler on the boat. I was very excited to plan this wedding! Brian was pretty hands off, but the only thing he wouldn’t budge on was the venue. To be fair, The Bull River Guest Ranch is one of the best wedding venues in our area, hands down, so I didn’t need much convincing. But Brian has a soft spot for the mountains there, has he had grown up across the Kootenay River in Wardner, staring at the same range through his young life. We had also spent a lot of days up the Bull River fishing and floating while we dated, so it held a lot of sentimental value for us. I love the 70’s vibe that’s made its way into wedding styles over these past few years, and I wanted to run with it in a more ethereal, flower festival kind of way. Rather than force the venue to change into a more modern, mid-century 70’s style, I wanted to lean into it and go a little more western vintage, so it might fit in better at the ranch. Hence the vintage flower print dresses, bolo ties, and even my wedding dress reminds me of curtains and doilies your grandma maybe had in her living room. There was a lot more that I wanted to do, but it was such a gorgeous day with all of our favourite people that it didn’t matter. The people who were with us really made it special, not the decor or vibes I tried to orchestrate. I’m positive the venue had something to do with it as well. A little weekend wedding village for you and all your favourite people. It was truly the best weekend ever. We did a first look via helicopter on a near by glacier mountain: Dibble Glacier. Our best man is a pilot, so he dropped off the photographer, my maid of honour and myself first, then he flew back to the ranch and picked up Brian. I hid behind a rock until he was in place, and snuck up behind him. That was very special. I know there are pros and cons to doing a first look but I loved it! I thought it made the day so much easier, and I love the opportunity it brings to mingle with your guests before dinner, instead of using that time to take pictures.”
– Maraih, the bride
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