Pinnacle Pier Hotel North Vancouver Wedding

Pinnacle at the Pier Hotel in North Vancouver is well-known and popular wedding venue in North Shore. The Vancouver downtown views from the rooftop penthouse terrace are simply spectacular. That is exactly where this blog post will finish but before we get there here is a short story of young Persian couple who had their big day celebration here couple weeks back.

I have to tell you at the beginning that I admire this couple because of what they had to get through before they could celebrate their marriage. The wedding was originally planned for a different date. Unfortunately brides parents did not get tourist visa to Canada and couple decided to change the date at a very last minute just couple days prior to it. Luckily for them, the venue was not booked for the next week Sunday so they risked it and moved the date a week later in hope Shadi’s parents could try one more time to receive entry visa from Iran. I remember when Bardia called me and explained me the situation on the phone. We met and discussed the options what could be done. Luckily because it was a Sunday event I was able to move around my Saturday session at Vancouver Island, and took the last ferry from there so I could be ready for them the next day.

Before we got to the Pinnacle hotel, we managed to gain 3 hour delay right at the beginning, which gave us almost no time for couples and family portrait sessions at Art Gallery and Stanley park as we planned before. Well, expect unexpected is my motto at the wedding adrenalin rush, so even completely stack Lions gate bridge could not surprise me anymore … 🙂 From a downtown hair saloon we simply skipped the formals and went straight to the venue, and after a short logistic chat with groom we planned portraits session in between the events when we had couple minutes available… talk about pressure 🙂

Bardia was a groom on fire. This man is a well known musician and artist not just for North Shore Persian community. Down to earth guy who was trying to manage and help anywhere he could so we could be back on track with the time. Honestly, he must had been sweating more than I was, and I am an workaholic type of photographer so trust me he was working really hard to accomplish his mission to the perfection. Finishing last decorations, dealing with logistics of catering and video setups for slideshows. Thanks to his hardworking attitude, as soon as Shadi arrived we managed to sneak out for couple minutes before the ceremony started. Their penthouse was ideal place for the shoot. This summer was one of the hottest I remember in Vancouver yet imagine they got cloudy overcast day and just as we got on the roof the rain showed up in 5 minutes. Can you imagine? The videographer Majid from Parvaz film studio and I just looked at each other, and we simply rolled with it for couple minutes to  create their future memories for them….

Sometimes less is more, so once we had finally images of both of them together we could start the late afternoon traditional Persian wedding ceremony. I simply love variety of  Vancouver cultural events such this one. The lights were dimmed down, nice atmosphere and family and close friends taking part in it. Oh Did I mentioned that only Shadi’s father got his entry visa so he could come to his only daughter wedding but unfortunately mom did not. You could see how happy he was to be around his daughter on this big day.

And once the ceremony and indoor family formals were finished, the party time could start. And what kind of wedding would it be if the tables were not filled with some amazing traditional dishes and cakes… Delicious just to look at it and smell it.

Those who had a chance to see me photograph a wedding know that once the DJ start to play you will not see me sit down for a minute. I love to shoot candid, priceless moments of the couple and their friends having blast and fun time. This was a crazy cool party time. Everyone was dancing. What can be better then that at a wedding night? And when the energy levels were going down, the couple has announced a cake cutting to calm it down. But before the cake can be cut at Persian wedding there is a dance with the knife taking place. So people can have more fun and ladies and gents can entertain the couple with their skills 🙂

The dusk took over, the sun was gone and the party went on and on till midnight. And as I promised the last images of this post are from the night portraits of the couple at the Penthouse terrace overlooking Vancouver night skyline of Shangri La, port tower, Canada Place and you name it. Scenic and unforgettable at the same time. And a light rain would not stop us to enjoy it.

Thank you Bardia and Shadi. You managed to celebrate your big day in a circle of your closest people and enjoyed it so well. Congratulations to you one more time and I am looking forward to work on your wedding album soon.

All the best in your lifes.

Jozef – Povazan Photography Vancouver wedding photographers