A Bright Handmade Wedding in the Woods at Sea Cider
Some weddings just radiate joy — and Nicole (she/her) and Laura’s (she/her) day at Sea Cider on Vancouver Island did exactly that. These two turned a forest clearing into their ceremony spot, leaned into a full Valentine disco theme (we’re talking pink and red everything, disco balls galore, and a choreographed Shania moment), and made sure every part of the day felt like them. From a pie table baked by their mums to rainbow flags tucked under ceremony chairs, the whole celebration was a blend of playful, personal, and queer as hell – in the best way.
They planned slowly, intentionally, and with a spreadsheet and cider in hand. And with the help of some incredible vendors, including Aly Sibley Photography, Truffles Catering, and Paloma Floral Studio, the day came together beautifully.
What inspired your wedding vibe and styling?
The two words we kept coming back to were Valentine disco. We wanted something playful, bold and fun, with lots of pinks, reds and glittery details. We’re both creative people and had a lot of ideas that we turned into DIY projects. Nicole designed all the paper goods, and we painted our own signage. The goal was for everything to feel personal and full of joy.
Why did you choose Sea Cider as your wedding venue?
We live just outside of Victoria, and Sea Cider is one of our favourite local spots. It has everything we wanted – a forested ceremony site, a light-filled indoor pavilion, and an orchard patio for cocktail hour.
We loved the idea of hosting everything in one place that already had so much natural beauty.
What was the ceremony like?
We kept it pretty simple. Our close friend officiated, and we both walked in together. Our guests sat in a clearing in the woods, and we stood in front of a disco-ball-inspired floral arrangement by Paloma Floral Studio. It felt relaxed and intimate.
At the end of the ceremony, everyone pulled out little rainbow flags we’d hidden under the chairs and waved them while Jill Cooper played live music.
It was such a perfect, celebratory moment.
Tell us about your outfits. You both looked incredible!
Thank you! Laura wore a square-neck silk wedding dress from Clover London with a high slit and white heels, and later changed into checkered Vans for dancing. Nicole wore a custom ivory suit and white top.
We both wanted to feel comfortable but still look sharp. No restrictive dresses or anything we’d be itching to take off after dinner.
What were some of your favourite DIY details?
Definitely the stationery. Nicole designed everything, including the menus, matchbooks, and printed timeline cards. We also made a giant seating chart and welcome sign by hand.
The pie table was another favourite – we labelled each one with heart-shaped signs, and they were all baked by Laura’s mum. It felt special to tie in that family touch.
What was on the menu?
We went for a family-style dinner with a mix of salads, mains and sides that catered to everyone, catered by Truffles Catering. There were gluten-free and vegan options, and we made sure dessert was pie, no cake!
Our matchbooks said “It’s a match”, and each table had a mini disco ball for guests to take home. It was just fun and very us.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
It’s hard to pick just one, but the sparkler send-off at the end of the night was a big one. Everyone lined up outside with sparklers, and we shared a final kiss surrounded by our favourite people. That moment really captured the energy of the day.
Also, dancing. So much dancing.
Any advice for other queer couples planning a wedding?
Do what feels good to you. Skip traditions that don’t make sense, and make your own rules. We kept our guest list small and focused on making the day feel like a big, love-filled dinner party.
Don’t worry about what a wedding should look like – just make it reflect who you are as a couple.
Photography by Aly Sibley Photography
Caterer Truffles Catering
Ceremony Venue Sea Cider Farm & Cider House
DJ Jill Cooper Music
Dress Designer Clover London
Engagement Rings Foe and Dear & Polly Wales
Florist Paloma Floral Studio
Wedding Rings Ali Munn & Kinn Studio
