A Tofino Beach Elopement on Vancouver Island
Sweeping sand beaches, rugged rocky headlands and a hot-pink sunset were all on offer the evening Nina and Femke eloped on Vancouver Island's west coast beaches of Tofino.
Nina and Femke chose to make Tonquin Park Trail and the adjoining beaches the backdrop for their dream Vancouver Island Elopement.
Nina and Femke contacted me from The Netherlands and asked "Do you want to join us on our wedding day and take pictures of us as we say our vows to each other on the beach in Tofino?"
The answer was an obvious "YESSSS!"
Tofino was the final stop on a longer Western Canada tour for the couple. They had rented a camper van and made stops in Vancouver and Whistler and up into the northern regions of Vancouver Island. Saying their vows on the western-most reaches of Canada was the grand finale of their trip.
HERE IS HOW THEY CHOSE TO STRUCTURE THEIR DAY:
- Get dressed and ready in their rental camper van
- Walk the trail with stops at each beach and look-out point
- Exchange vows at Middle Beach at sunset
- Celebrate by running and playing in the surf and sand while the sky turned a blazing pink
- Camp in the nearby town of Ucluelet
Why They Chose Middle Beach for Their Tofino Beach Elopement
Nina had been to Tofino before and fell in love with Tonquin Trail and the quiet and remote feeling of Middle Beach. She wanted to share that same experience again with Femke, who was traveling there for the first time. They chose to make this beach a place full of memories.
How Nina and Femke's Tofino Beach Elopement Came to Life
Tonquin Trail is 3km of walking trail that combines a crushed gravel path, wooden boardwalks, look-out viewing platforms and steep stairs down to sandy beaches. There are 3 beaches along the trail separated by rocky headlands and old growth forest.
We timed our walk to start about 1.5 hours before sunset to give us ample time to explore and enjoy the trail and beaches along the way.
Nina and Femke were so happy and relaxed and full of wide-eyed wonder at the stunning west coast beauty of the park. They weren't afraid to run on the sand and chase the waves as they explored the beaches and shorelines.
The sky had clouded over during the afternoon and we were worried that we wouldn't see it's golden light along the beach, but Femke loved the grey coastal vibes just as much.
Just before sunset, we arrived at the final beach, Middle Beach. Nina and Femke had prepared their own personal vows to each other. They walked hand and hand to the shoreline, faced each other and exchanged their vows of love and commitment as well as their rings. As their private commitment ceremony ended and they took their first kiss, the sky began to turn first a soft pastel pink and then a blazing and molten hot-pink. The newlyweds embraced this gift from nature and danced, ran, laughed and loved on each other drinking in every last drop of pink.
Think you might want to plan a Vancouver Island Elopement? Check out my blog How to Elope on Vancouver Island and start planning your dream elopement today!
