A Multicultural Wedding At The UBC Botanical Garden in Vancouver

Sanaz and Vince wanted a natural, greenery-inspired wedding to match their venue, the stunning UBC Botanical Gardens. "We incorporated green, white and gold with an emphasis on greenery," Sanaz explains. "We went with white for the bridesmaid dresses and white ties for the groom and groomsmen to keep the theme consistent and clean—we also kept the bouquets simple with eucalyptus and white roses."

The couple made sure to incorporate cultural influences from their respective backgrounds into their big day. "We had a sofreh aghd, which is a traditional Persian tablescape displaying symbolic items for the couple's union and new life together to honour my Iranian roots," Sanaz says. "We also had a Chinese tea ceremony to celebrate Vince's Chinese roots—this really personalized our special day and gave our guests an insight into both of our cultures."

A memorable moment for the couple was having their puppy, Peanut, walk down the aisle with one of the bridesmaids. "He wore a black-and-white bowtie and looked adorable," Sanaz remarks. "Incorporating our dog into our special day was very important for us, and we are grateful he was able to be a part of our wedding."

String lights, candles and the chandelier above the couple's sweetheart table at the reception created a warm ambiance for the reception, with long wood tables and gold chivari chairs. "Just walking into the al-fresco inspired reception and seeing the gorgeous decor was surreal," the bride says.

Rain wasn't part of the couple's plans, but they made the most of it on their wedding day. "During dinner, the rain showed up abruptly and everyone had to evacuate from the arbour and congregate under the tent on the dance floor," Sanaz shares. "We ended up with the best possible outcome with all our guests embracing it and enjoying themselves, with our DJ playing some of our favourite tunes and everyone taking advantage of the open bar!"

Sanaz Safari and Vincent Wai Kwan Chan, August 11, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Photography courtesy of Hennygraphy.

Vendors Venue: UBC Botanical Garden
Ceremony bridal gown: Tiffanys Vancouver Bridal
Reception bridal gown: Hudson's Bay
Decor and rentals: Bespoke Decor
Day-of coordinator: Melanie Leung of Keepsake Events
Sofreh aghd: Sunflower Florist
Cake: Le Gateau Bakeshop
Stationery: Minted
Favours and flowers: Proline Trading
Groom's tux and groomsmen's attire: The Tux Store
Hair and makeup: Tracey Le of Mink Makeup and Hair
Caterer: Grub Gourmet
Music: DJ Trizzak
Chair rentals: Vancouver Chiavari Chairs