Micro & Small Wedding Ideas on Vancouver Island

Copy updated February, 2026

The really great thing about the microweddings I’ve created with my couples on Vancouver Island is they can be pulled together easily in a fairly short time. What matters most is that you are together with the people you love the most, celebrating the love you have for each other and the love among you. And the magical things that unfold when everyone is right there with you and for you in a moment that will not pass by again.

While you can have a mini-version of your big event complete with all the fixin’s, you can also do something that is adventurous (but safe) and budget-friendly (words that are refreshingly welcome during pandemics, inflationary times, and recessions…:)

Check out some of these stories for inspiration.

Make a Day of It – Micro Weddings on Vancouver Island

C&D came from Ontario and made their wedding a family fun day. Starting in the morning with a little hike in to our version of Niagara Falls near Victoria (!) where as well as getting married, their sons got to officially “adopt” each other. It was relaxed and real and awesomely captured by Laura at Coastline Living Photography. Then out for lunch and off for an afternoon of whale watching. All wearing “just married” shirts. ALL of them. They had a blast of a day.

The forest doesn’t cancel your wedding out on you…:)

After their wedding venue cancelled a few months before their wedding, M&F decided to do something totally different. They pared down the guest list and invited their closest people to run away to the Island with them. At a sunset ceremony in Cathedral Grove, amid trees with much history, they added one more layer…everyone helped to marry them: moms, dads and grandmas in partnership. After: a private dinner at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville, BC

So much love in that space. Image by Rick and Cheryl from Love You Me Pictures.

Go to Your Happy Place

J+V were supposed to have the big Indian wedding, but Co-vid stepped in, and so did a baby! They could’t take 350 people to their happy place, J’s grandmother’s cabin on the water, but they sure could take the people who mattered the most for a little Island getaway.

beautifully captured by Meghan Hemstra Photography

Short Notice Weddings with Kids

So much can happen in 60 days (as we’ve seen in the past few years). But it’s quite amazing what you can pull together on short notice, once you get clear on what matters most. P&P, after a long-term long-distance relationship, were ready to marry. And the chance when they and their kids would all be together was coming up shortly. So we gathered in the forest at Lazo Marsh in Comox and with a handful of the people they love, cemented their commitment to one another, their children and each other’s. Just as they are, it was open-hearted, genuine, caring and inclusive. An honour for everyone there to be part of. image by McKinnon Photography

Weekend Wedding Getaway on Vancouver Island (+18)

C&N’s West Coast getaway every September is their most special-est weekend. When we were brainstorming, we asked “Why not invite the folks (and dogs) they love the most along on their favourite weekend? Share all their fav west coast rituals? Make it a relaxed getaway for everyone? And have a nice casual wedding ceremony in the middle of it all?” After the ceremony, an early dinner at Wolf in the Fog in Tofino. Finally, bonfire on the beach as the sun went down. With s’mores and plaid shirts..:)

Tofino Wee Wedding with brides, guests and dogs on the beach

Image(and more images) by Kaitlin Shea Photography.

Surprise! Surprise Weddings!

I LOVE surprise weddings! They are so much fun to plan, and you don’t have to worry about seating arrangements, charger plates, invitations, and all the stuff that can cost a bundle. And the bonus is that everyone will remember your day, that being hoodwinked was actually pretty cool. Very cool, in fact.

Upon discovering that they are not here to attend the groom’s 30th birthday event…:)

The Nickersons

Head to the Vow Cabin

Kyle Joinson Photography

The Vow Cabin is the choice of adventurous couples who want to get married in a relaxed and comfortable way…in nature. Packages include extra options, but the venue, on the south coast of Vancouver Island in Jordan River, won’t disappoint. Nor will all the other goodies included. If you don’t have time to plan, check out the options here.

Adventure Wedding

V+C wanted to get married at a waterfall. So they travelled all over the Island, searching for the perfect place…an adventure in itself. They found it at Sombrio Beach near Port Renfrew. We created their ceremony to be an adventure too…starting at the base and marrying them in steps as we climbed (or scrambled) toward the top. And it turned out to be one of the most remarkable experiences ever for all of us (pretty sure I can say that for everyone.) Afterward: a picnic celebration on the beach.

Wonderful images by the ever nimble Chelsea Dawn Photography.

“Barbara supported us in creating the ceremony we weren’t able to find anywhere else. We spent a couple of years looking for what we wanted until we found Barbara. Her amazing open-mindedness, acceptance, and support really helped us along this whole process of figuring out what we truly wanted for each other and those included. She got our small group of people involved and made sure everyone felt important and that they weren’t just watching our marriage happen, they were truly a part of it.” —- Viennamay and Caleb

If you’re dreaming about your own small or micro wedding on Vancouver Island and would like some help bringing it to life, feel free to get in touch here.

Modern Metaphysical Minister, Celebrant and Wedding Officiant, Vancouver Island. Including Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Courtenay, Comox Valley, and Campbell River.

Barbara Densmore Celebrant

121 Google reviews

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Alyssa Balmer

2026-09-02

Barbara is absolutely amazing! She truly understood the vision for our wedding ceremony and set the tone for the rest of the evening. We felt grounded and in the moment during our ceremony and her words captured all our emotions. Barbara was so professional with great communication and understanding throughout the whole process. Thank you for everything 🤍

Karen Calvan

2026-09-02

Barbara came highly recommended to us, and from the moment we met her, my husband and I knew she was exactly who we were looking for. She has a wonderful way of making you feel comfortable, understood, and genuinely cared for. One of my favorite parts of the process was the questionnaire she sent to each of us separately. It not only helped her get to know us as individuals and as a couple, but it also became a meaningful keepsake that we can revisit from time to time. Barbara's approach is thoughtful, intentional, grounded, and engaging. She brought such warmth, lightness, and fun to the entire experience, making every interaction enjoyable. We are so grateful to have had her as our celebrant and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone truly special!

Gheorghita Lung

2026-08-31

Amazing work, the attention to detail was flawless and the delivery was amazing

Robert Nugent

2026-08-28

Barbara knocked it out of the park for us. We had a rough vibe we were going for our ceremony and she ran with it perfectly. It was light, fun, meaningful. She put in the effort to incorporate specific details with family and friends which made everyone part of the ceremony. We had many comments from our guest mentioning how wonderful the ceremony was. Barbara was easy to work with and it was obvious that she loves her job. The whole process was a pleasure.

Rebecca Ruiter

2026-08-22

Barbara captured not only the essence of our relationship perfectly, but also celebrated the absolute chaos of our ceremony with our one and two year old’s interruptions and need of the spotlight ;) Thank you Barbara!

Charlene & Justis

2026-04-16

We were extremely lucky to have Barbara as our celebrant at our wedding this past March and the ceremony could not have been more perfect! She was so well organized, professional, warm, and friendly. She fit into our ceremony like she had known us for years, you would have never known that we had only just officially met her shortly before our ceremony that day. She worked hard to put together a detailed questionnaire for each of us to fill out so that she could get an idea of our relationship and then put together the most touching customized ceremony that even included vows to our son and community vows to all of our family and friends that were present. I would recommend Barbara over and over again without hesitation!!

Paula Baker

2026-01-13

We were lucky enough to have Barbara orchestrate our wedding ceremony in December. We couldn't have asked for a more heartfelt, sincere and personal experience. It was an honour to work with Barbara. Her thoughtful questions and wonderful insights helped us create the best day of our lives. Our wedding guests could not stop raving about how amazing the ceremony was! Truly one of a kind. Thank you, thank you, thank you Barbara for the most magical day!

georgia lundy

2025-12-01

Words cannot describe the gift Barbara has when it comes to bringing people together to celebrate love! From the moment we met Barbara, she was absolutely wonderful to work with. She is SO genuine and thoughtful in her approach and we felt so connected and comfortable standing up there with her on our special day. Her work extends beyond the big day itself however, as her process encourages reflection and intention about a partnership and the authenticity of each couple's love story. We are forever grateful for Barbara and could not recommend her enough. Thank you so much, Barbara, you are truly outstanding.

Nicollo Abe

2025-11-27

If you didn't have Barbara officiate your wedding, you should get divorced and re-do it with her 💯!! All jokes aside, we're grateful and fortunate to discover Barbara in one of Paper Heart Film's feature videos. She really stood out among the others for her kind-hearted and warm nature who is always at the ready to provide support and guidance every step of the way. Her thoughtful and compassionate approach to a wedding celebration really helped solidify our unity as a couple and highlighted aspects of our lives that helped define who we are now. She takes note of how deep-rooted connections shaped our lives as well, and has a talent for making everyone feel seen and engaged in the moment. There were definitely tons of teary-eyed moments and laughter during our ceremony! We're blessed to have her officiate our wedding and wholeheartedly recommend her. Thank you Barbara for your love, generosity, flexibility, and great humour!

Hayley Zumkeller

2025-11-03

As a wedding photographer and filmmaker, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing many ceremonies, and few are as heartfelt and memorable as those led by Barbara Densmore. Barbara is one of those rare celebrants who doesn’t just officiate a wedding, she creates an experience. For S & J’s intimate elopement, she crafted a ceremony that was deeply personal, meaningful, and perfectly suited to them. She met with each partner individually beforehand, collecting stories and reflections that she later wove into the ceremony. Hearing those words for the first time, words they hadn’t even shared with each other, brought such genuine emotion to the moment. It was beautiful to photograph and even more powerful to witness. One thing I love is that she is always moving around during a ceremony. As a photographer, it makes the ceremony feel more about the couple, and I can capture even more intimate moments too. Barbara has an incredible gift for connection. Whether she’s leading a ceremony for two people on a mountain or a crowd of 200 guests, she makes everyone feel seen, engaged, and present. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and storytelling ability set her apart. If you’re looking for a celebrant who will make your ceremony feel truly yours, intentional, emotional, and unforgettable I couldn’t recommend Barbara Densmore more highly.