Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/430877
realweddings.ca 23 F or Vancouver's Angie Dilawri and Adam Mitche planning a wedding proved to be the perfect lesson in trusting their instincts — and one another. e couple, who met almost 10 years ago while studying at UBC, were just two months out from their scheduled Sunshine Coast celebration when they decided the location wasn't quite right. "We weren't going to have everyone we wanted at our wedding because of the logistics involved in getting to the Sunshine Coast," Adam explains. "At that point we took a step back and went with our gut." Describing themselves as "urban, city people" (Angie works in telecom- munications, Adam in investment management), the couple felt a strong connection to Vancouver and realized it had been calling them all along. "Adam and I are pretty modern and like things that are simple and different," says Angie. "We'd always had the Vancouver Art Gallery as a venue in the back of our mind, and when we decided to change things to the city, they had our date available. Everything was meant to be." Despite their late change of heart, the couple always knew what they wanted for their wedding. It all began on Christmas Eve 2012 with Adam's proposal. Having told Angie he thought a "quiet" Christmas was in order, Adam fooled his soon-to-be fiancée into believing there were no big presents under the tree for her. at is, until almost all the gifts had been opened. "Right at the end, Adam pulled the ring out of the Christmas tree!" recalls Angie. Having dated for seven years before becoming engaged, the couple knew they wanted their day to be a true reflection of their lives and loves. eir French bulldog became the first dog given permission to attend an event at the art gallery, performing the role of flower girl, while Adam's brother's dog acted as ring bearer during the ceremony in the gallery's dramatic rotunda. In other personal touches, the couple's favourite Lucky's Doughnuts took the place of a traditional wedding cake, and a "kissing game" wheel was spun throughout the evening to help spread the love during the reception in the gallery's rooftop pavilion. Bringing together all the details of their special day was a task entrusted to Jessica Minnie of Vancouver's Petite Pearl Events. From vendor recom- mendations to executing their wedding in a new location with only weeks' notice, the investment in a professional planner made all the difference to their experience, Adam notes. While the day was filled with memorable moments, both bride and groom single out their "first look" in Stanley Park as one of the most special. "We hadn't really thought about a first look until our photographer brought it up," says Adam. "It was a really great way to start off the day because Angie and Adam decided at the last minute that a Sunshine Coast wedding wasn't their style after all and moved their celebration to downtown Vancouver. As it turned out, the Douglas Coupland exhibition on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery provided the perfect backdrop for their modern, geometric-themed wedding.