Poplar Grove Winery, Penticton | Intimate Okanagan Destination Wedding

An Okanagan Mini Destination Wedding at Poplar Grove Winery

Set in Penticton in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, Jen and Jim’s wedding was definitely one for the books. This mini destination wedding could not have been pulled off without the extraordinary help of all the wonderful vendors involved. A special thank you goes out to the folks at Poplar Grove Winery for their exemplary service and providing not only a safe, but beautiful setting for Jen and Jim’s wedding. If you are an engaged couple hoping to have a destination wedding in Penticton or anywhere else in the Okanagan Valley, let this post serve as inspiration that it can be possible even in the midst of the current COVID-19 Pandemic as long as you follow your provincial health and safety guidelines.

The perfect start to any wedding day.

We arrived in Penticton the day before and gave ourselves plenty of time to settle in, do some location scouting and have a little dinner date night in town. We woke up to a beautiful sunny day and after a relaxing morning we were off to photograph this wedding!

Justina dropped me off at Jen’s Airbnb to photograph the girls getting ready. I made my quick introductions to Team Bride before blending in to capture all the details and giggly moments of the morning. Jen went with super comfy matching gold silk pyjamas for the bridesmaids while staying with traditional white silk for herself.

What a handsome boy!

We can’t do this wedding blog without mentioning this handsome boy! When I learned that Leo would be attending the wedding and walking down the aisle, I was so excited! Just look at that cute bow tie! After Jen’s hair and make up was finished, we got a few portraits with the girls (and Leo) before changing into her wedding dress.

After some finishing touches a few more portraits with Leo, Jen was ready for her first look with Jim.

Having way too much fun.

Jim and his groomsmen booked a private suite at Moraine Estate Winery just down the street to get ready for the big day. By the time Justina had arrived, they were pretty much dressed and ready to go. I love how Justina has no problem at all being “one of the guys” and how comfortable she makes them. She really does bring out each and every one of their personalities and makes them shine!

Justina took the guys out for a walk around the vineyard for some portraits and to take advantage of the stunning views of the Okanagan Lake and the rolling hills. The sun was blazing hot that day so after a few quick portraits, they headed back inside for a few drinks before setting off for the first look and more wedding party photos.

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Justina and I scouted this area out the day before during golden hour and immediately fell in love. We picked the perfect spot for Jen and Jim’s first look and could not wait to show it to them! We set Jen up on the chalk bluffs between the fragrant sage brush where she waited patiently for Jim to swoop her away. The two of them have been waiting so long for this day to come and you can definitely see the excitement in their faces.

After a quick moment to themselves, they were joined by the rest of the wedding party for more photos! (This wedding was not sponsored by White Claw, but they sure are dang refreshing! Hahaha)

You can’t tell from the photos, but at this point, the heat was becoming a bit too much (especially for the poor guys). As the wedding party retreated to cooler temperatures, Justina and I set off to Poplar Grove Winery to prepare for the wedding ceremony and reception.

It’s all in the details

With such a gorgeous venue to start with, not much was needed to elevate it into an elegant affair. A palette of blush, pale green, copper and hints of earthy tones complemented the west coast feel of this venue. Minimalistic labels and wedding programs did well to not take away attention from the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley.

It wasn’t long before guests began to arrive and were ushered to their distanced seats according to their social bubbles. Jen arrived shortly after in a family friend’s custom convertible, which was the cue for everyone to take their places.

Jen and Jim exchanged their vows with the sun setting over the hills across the lake – a picture perfect wedding ceremony and one to remember for years to come.

Guests tossed rose petals in the air to celebrate and congratulate the couple as they processed down the aisle before partaking in some bubbles and Frosé™. That’s right… Frosé (with the trademark!!!) because they legit brought a Frosé machine in from Cactus Club!!!

Love is sweet. Enjoy a treat!

While the guests were enjoying their Frosé and Poplar Grove’s fine selection of vino tinto’s and blanco’s, we took some time to photograph the stunning reception setup. The tables were draped with white linens, surrounded by harvest chairs and finished with white porcelain chargers and a selection of stemware for the 7 course supper (with wine pairings). If you couldn’t tell, food and wine are very important to Jen and Jim!

Light up them SPARKLERS!

We enjoyed an evening of tales and toasts to the couple before a first dance lit under the warm glow of gleaming globe lights and sizzling sparklers. The evening’s dances were concluded by the traditional father-bride and mother-groom dances.

Conclusion to the perfect evening.

Jen and Jim, we know that this evening didn’t go as you had originally planned, but everything fell in place as best as it could and the outcome truly was the best! We had such a wonderful time celebrating your union and meeting all your closest friends and family members. We wish the two of you the most successful marriage and we look forward to seeing how your beautiful lives whether it be next door in Alberta or back here in BC!