Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/185541
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Guests (of all ages) gathered in a mossy clearing for the ceremony; dinner was a feast of favourite comfort foods; a group cannonball jump was scheduled for the day after; for their wedding, Sandra and Dan both got to show off their rustic-vintage style. r, Naturally Campfires, doughnuts and good times are the order of the day in this sweet forest wedding Written by Noa Glouberman Photographed by Tristan Casey Sandra Lopuch must have poured dozens of drinks for Daniel Sioui over the three years that he sat at her bar. Still, the relationship never moved past friendship. "I thought Dan was sweet; he'd stay until closing and wait to walk me out," Sandra remembers. "But the timing was never right. I was always seeing someone." "My friend and I would stop in for a drink weekly — okay, maybe more than that," jokes Dan. "I was always disappointed when she wasn't working. Even the beer didn't taste as good." After quitting bartending, Sandra lost touch with Dan. Randomly reconnecting two years later, she asked what he would think if she told him she was finally single. Dan didn't hesitate. Unfortunately, their first date didn't go quite as expected. "It was horrible," says Dan, admitting he'd stood Sandra up several days earlier. "She was so standoffish. She sat with her arms crossed, staring me down. She claims I talked about myself the whole time, but that's only because she wasn't talking at all!" After dinner, as Dan started to put on his coat, Sandra ordered one last drink, attempting to test Dan's reaction and salvage the date at the same time. "He just said okay, ordered a beer and sat back down," she laughs. "He pretty much rolled with my punch, which proved he deserved a second chance." The pair soon became inseparable and, a year later, Dan was ready to propose. Playing to Sandra's outdoorsy nature, he arranged a hike in North Vancouver's Deep Cove, leading his lady to a stunning spot called Quarry Rock, overlooking the waters of Indian Arm. "I thought I'd know exactly when to do it, but the perfect moment didn't really present itself — so I just went for it," says Dan. "As soon as I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me, 30 Korean tourists came over the hill, snapping photos. There are probably pictures of us all over Seoul right now." He and Sandra began planning a September wedding with three months to spare. Searching for a breathtaking outdoor setting, the stars aligned when they stumbled across Evans Lake. Set by a clear mountain lake, surrounded by dense forest and boasting cabins, canoes, catering and even free firewood, the kids' camp could easily accommodate 88 guests. "Nature doesn't need a lot of extra embellishment," says Sandra, who made most of her decorations by hand using mason jars, vintage lace, burlap and other materials. Her dress, custom made by Manuel Mendoza, was based on a vintage-inspired BHLDN design. Even the favours — sweetly scented soaps realweddings.ca p34-37_Sandra & Dan wedding.indd 35 35 13-09-23 12:17 PM