With Valentine’s Day past and outdoor wedding season on the horizon, many happy couples are sitting down to resolve the differences between their dreams and their budget.
A destination wedding or a fancy venue are popular choices, but what about a wedding in your backyard?
UBC campus has inspiration and a surprisingly large number of venues for couples to have an intimate ceremony, or to splash out on a celebration with hundreds of guests.
Are you planning a big celebration with your true love? The Campus Resident has you covered with a list of fun options right here on campus.
UBC Botanical Gardens www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
A hugely popular venue, and rightly so. Who would not want to get married in these carefully curated surroundings? Bonus: couples that book here get the gift of a yearlong garden membership, so you can get married and go to their famous apple festival. Bookings for 2027 start in early April and get taken up fast, especially Saturdays. If this is the venue you desire, planning in advance is key to avoid disappointment.
Sage | sage.ubc.ca
For those looking for a traditional wedding with a sit-down reception, Sage Catering on campus has a prime location at The University Centre, notable for the mid-century dining room and extensive patio with the spectacular views north over the water. The wedding ceremony can be held indoors, or if you prefer al fresco, in the Rose Garden. They also partner with a number of venues on campus, including Cecil Green Park House, The Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, Walter Gage, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Chan Centre.
If you met fighting over the last textbook in the bookstore and want to celebrate there, Sage can probably help you arrange it.
Wreck Beach (and adjacent beaches)
For those seeking an alternative location at the fraction of the cost of many other UBC venues, or perhaps a naked wedding, Wreck Beach is a unique venue with an awesome sunset (or sunrise).
Wreck and surrounding beaches are located within Pacific Spirit Regional Park and require a permit from Metro Vancouver, which can be applied for through their website.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park metrovancouver.org/services
If you prefer the embrace of the large trees in the forest rather than the open air on the beach, it is possible to rent an area in Pacific Spirit Regional Park for the special day.
While hiking in the park last summer, I heard violin and cello music playing prior to a small intimate wedding amongst the trees, where approximately twenty guests had gathered. It was a wonderful calm location, although I must admit the event did attract a small crowd of hikers out for a Saturday stroll.
UBC Farm | www.ubcfarm.ubc.ca
Another unorthodox venue, but one which brings a couple back to nature is this informal setting ideal for weddings with a smaller number of guests. For example, it’s possible to get married under three rows of poplar trees for a tranquil wedding with about 150 guests. Alternatively, there is also a yurt available to rent for 45 guests, definitely creating a day to remember.
More outdoor options
There are many more locations to choose from for those who imagine a unique outside location on campus or close by.
UBC Campus and Community Planning’s Outdoor Events Office has a location library of outdoor spaces that are available for short term rental. They have developed an online course to guide you through the steps, requirements and permits that would be required to hold a giant wedding on Main Mall, or a more intimate ceremony under the eye of the totem pole at Thunderbird Commons.
To get married on campus or anywhere in B.C., a couple must obtain a marriage license at a cost of $100, procure the services of a marriage commissioner, and plan the event. All you need to do now is convince your wedding planner.
WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TCR STAFF
JAYNE SEAGRAVE IS A B.C. RESIDENT AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF “CAMPING BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE ROCKIES AND THE YUKON”. SHE WRITES FICTION AND NON-FICTION, AND OCCASIONALLY TEACHES WRITING AND PUBLISHING COURSES.