8 Incredible Spots for Wedding Photos, According to Vancouver Photographers

Feature photo: Sara Rogers Photography

Planning a wedding is no easy feat—it takes time and effort to find a venue, select flowers, and decide on catering. The one thing couples don’t have to do? Scour the city for beautiful and unique photo locations. Once you’ve chosen a photographer, they take on the job of sourcing the perfect, light-filled spots for your portraits. And according to these four local photographers, Vancouver is full of stunning locations. Read on to get their take on the best beaches, parks and urban areas to shoot at.

1. Pacific Spirit Regional Park

“Nothing beats its majestic old-growth trees. We have a few spots that we love to visit, but honestly, one of our favourite things to do is take a walk and explore with our couples to find new and interesting places to take photos.” —Cat and Jeff, The Apartment Photography

2. Railtown

“I absolutely love shooting in the Railtown district. The area has so many interesting buildings and an industrial feel that looks beautifully minimalist in wedding photos. The way light and shadows interact in the city can make for some very unique images, proving you don’t need a complex or traditional background.” —Sara Rogers, Sara Rogers Photography 

3. Downtown Vancouver

“For urban photos, downtown Vancouver is a goldmine of opportunity. We really enjoy older architecture so we often gravitate to parkades in Gastown and some of the interesting spots around Jack Poole Plaza. For us, the goal is always to find an interesting vantage point with access to stunning light, which means we like to source rooftops and interesting corners.” —Sam Rose and Chris Grandy, Isle + Oak Photography

4. Jericho Beach Park

“We love locations that offer a lot of backdrops in one area—and Jericho does just that! It has romantic weeping willow trees, long grass, an old wooden bridge, beach area, and even views of the city. My favourite feature is that the sun sets in the perfect location to get beautiful light streaming through the trees, adding a little magic to each photo.” —Kristy, Blush Wedding Photography 

“This is a busy spot—but with so many quiet corners, it’s a great option for wedding photos. There’s a lot of variety, including the beach, a field with trees, a pond area, and a cute little wooden bridge. Also the sunset at this location is gorgeous, making it a go-to location for golden-hour photos!” —Sara Rogers, Sara Rogers Photography 

5. UBC

“The variety of buildings and architectural styles is so wonderful that it’s so easy to be creative. And it’s such a huge campus that we find new spots every time we visit!” —Cat and Jeff, The Apartment Photography 

“UBC is probably our favourite well-rounded area to explore for photos. In the same session, you can find forests, beautiful architecture, beaches, mountain views and so much more.” —Sam Rose and Chris Grandy, Isle + Oak Photography

“UBC has a great mixture of both natural beauty and interesting architecture. There’s a wide variety of different backdrops all within walking distance and it’s only a short drive to other popular spots like Pacific Spirit Regional Park. I like to shoot portraits around the Museum of Anthropology, Buchanan Courtyard, Rose Garden and Nitobe Garden.” —Sara Rogers, Sara Rogers Photography 

6. Vancouver Art Gallery

“We love shooting at the Art Gallery, as it has a timeless and classic feel—perfect for wedding photos. The concrete and urban area around it also gives photos a modern and chic feel, blending all the styles we like and offering something for every style of couple.” —Kristy, Blush Wedding Photography 

7. Lighthouse Park

“The combination of beautiful tall forest and rocks by the ocean is what makes Lighthouse Park one of our favourite places. After a short stroll through the trees, you end up at the oceanside with views of UBC and the wide open water. It’s the perfect spot if you want two different looks without having to go to two different places.” —Cat and Jeff, The Apartment Photography 

8. Mud Bay Park

“Tofino may be too far to visit on a whim for a session, but Mud Bay is the closest thing we have locally. When the tide is out the beach goes on for days—and when the water line is too high, there are a bunch of interesting grassy areas to explore. It’s a beautiful (and mostly unknown) slice of paradise that we love to visit.” —Sam Rose and Chris Grandy, Isle + Oak Photography

Planning your big day? Check out our wedding content for inspiration and advice on everything from venues and flowers to invitations.