A Barefoot Beach Wedding in Tofino, British Columbia: Couple ties knot on beach, then celebrates at famous Wickaninnish Inn

     Emma, 28, and Kevin, 29, could feel the sand beneath their feet during their July vows.
     The couple, who live in Calgary, Alberta, had a barefoot beach wedding in Tofino, Vancouver Island.
     Emma had never been to Tofino before, but Kevin had traveled to the region a couple of times. They both liked the idea of a destination wedding, but wanted to stay within Canada.
    “We love our country and found that for the same price as an exotic wedding outside of Canada, we could have a beautiful wedding in our own country and it would be even more special because of it,” says Emma.
     She points out that it was important for them to get married in a place that they could revisit in the future, and also that the location was outdoors.
     “The Pacific Rim National Park is one of the last few places that you can go in Canada where you feel and see raw beauty at its finest,” says Emma, adding that it was the perfect spot for a barefoot beach wedding.
     Aside from the beauty of Tofino, one of the reasons Emma chose a casual beach wedding is that she and Kevin had been together for more than six years and didn’t feel a large wedding was necessary.
     Emma’s profession also had an impact on their wedding style.
     “I work with brides on a daily basis at a hotel coordinating their "standard" wedding receptions. Perhaps that is why I chose to run away to do it up!” she says.
     The couple, who invited 13 family members, had a simple beach ceremony which was performed by a justice of the peace. The couple chose to have no attendants.
     To kick off the ceremony, Emma had both her parents walk with her along the beach, to where the groom and guests were waiting.
     “My brother had mapped out a heart in the sand. We stood in the heart and said our vows,” says Emma. “It was so quiet, beautiful and peaceful.”
     Later that evening the couple celebrated with their families at the Wickaninnish Inn, which is located on Long Beach inside the Pacific Rim National Park.
     “The chef put a special menu together for us with four different entrée selections,” says Emma.
     According to Emma, she and her husband couldn’t have picked a better spot for their intimate celebration.
     “The Wickaninnish Inn is amazing,” she says. “It’s right on the beach and we were set up facing the ocean. Everyone had a great view! We felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant.”
     Although she did not use the services of a wedding coordinator, she said her photographer helped her with many of the details. She adds that it took about 8 months to plan the casual beach wedding, and that it cost $4,000, including the honeymoon in Tofino.
     What’s her advice to couples planning a destination wedding?
     “I found the best advice and suggestions I received were from locals in Tofino and area,” she says. “If in doubt ask a local. They always know the best places to go.”