Some wedding days are a little more personal than others, and this one was pretty special. These two chose to celebrate their marriage in Aldergrove, British Columbia, with a sunset elopement and one very important guest: their horse. Instead of a traditional wedding venue or a big celebration, they wanted something that felt like them. A beautiful evening, a quiet setting, and the chance to include a part of their everyday life in their wedding photos. And honestly, I love when couples bring their own ideas to the table. Your wedding doesn't have to look like anyone else's. It should be about the two of you, the things you love, and the people (or animals!) who are part of your story.
As a Fraser Valley wedding photographer, I love discovering little pockets of beauty like this around Aldergrove. There's something about the open landscapes, countryside feel and warm evening light that makes this part of British Columbia such a beautiful place for an intimate wedding.
An Intimate Aldergrove Elopement
Aldergrove is such a lovely setting for couples who want a little more breathing room and a countryside feel without travelling hours away from Vancouver. Located in the Fraser Valley, it offers a different atmosphere from the busy city and the more popular mountain and beach elopement locations. It's a wonderful option for couples who want their wedding to feel relaxed, personal and connected to the things they love. For these two, having their horse included wasn't just about getting a few pretty photos. It was about bringing an important part of their lives into their wedding day. I think that's one of the best things about elopements. You have so much more freedom to make the day your own. Whether that means getting married on a favourite property, including your dog, bringing your horse along for portraits or choosing a location that has sentimental meaning, you get to decide what matters.
Sunset Wedding Photos with Their Horse
There is something pretty hard to beat about photographing a couple at sunset. The light gets softer, the atmosphere becomes a little quieter, and everything takes on that warm golden glow that photographers spend a ridiculous amount of time chasing. Adding a horse into the mix made this elopement even more personal. I love wedding photos that tell a story beyond the wedding dress and the flowers. These are the kinds of details that make a gallery feel like it belongs to a particular couple rather than just another wedding day. Including your horse in your wedding photos is also a lovely way to document the life you're building together. Years from now, these photographs will be about more than what you wore or how the sunset looked. They'll be a reminder of the things that made this season of your life yours. And as far as wedding portraits go, I will never complain about having a beautiful horse join us.
Why Aldergrove Is a Beautiful Place for an Elopement
If you're looking for somewhere outside the city to get married, Aldergrove is worth considering. The countryside setting gives couples a different option from the typical Vancouver wedding locations. It's especially appealing if you love open spaces, a more rural atmosphere and the idea of having your wedding somewhere that feels personal.
Aldergrove and the surrounding Fraser Valley are great areas to consider for:
Intimate weddings with just a few guests
Sunset elopements and golden-hour portraits
Couples who want to include their horses or other animals
Countryside and farm-inspired wedding photography
Relaxed wedding days that don't revolve around a traditional venue
If you're planning a small wedding in the area, you can also explore my Vancouver and Fraser Valley elopement location guide for more inspiration.
Planning an Elopement in the Fraser Valley
One of my favourite things about photographing elopements is that there really isn't one way to do them. You can keep things simple with a ceremony and a few portraits, or plan a little more around the experience. You could include your favourite people, bring along your animals, have beautiful florals, or save the evening for sunset portraits once the light starts getting good. If you're thinking about including a horse in your wedding, I'd recommend planning the photography around their comfort and routine. Choose a safe, familiar setting, allow plenty of time, and work with someone who knows the horse. You don't want the experience to feel rushed or stressful. For sunset portraits, it's also worth giving yourself some flexibility. The best light changes throughout the year, and the timing of sunset will affect when we plan your photographs.The most important thing? Don't feel like you need to follow a wedding checklist just because that's what everyone else is doing. Make room for the things that actually mean something to you.
Looking for an Aldergrove or Fraser Valley Wedding Photographer?
I'm Amanda, a wedding and elopement photographer based just outside Vancouver. I've been photographing weddings and elopements for more than 14 years, and I still get excited about the couples who come to me with ideas that are a little outside the box. I photograph weddings throughout Aldergrove, Langley, Maple Ridge, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Mission, Pitt Meadows and the greater Fraser Valley. My approach is relaxed and candid. I'll help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, give you some direction when you need it, and leave room for the real moments to happen. Because the best wedding photos aren't always the perfectly posed ones. They're the ones that bring you right back to how it all felt. If you're planning an intimate wedding or elopement in Aldergrove or anywhere in the Fraser Valley, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.
