Dragon's Lodge

Stay at Dragon's Lodge

Dumpling (餃子) Dinner BYOB

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner and Speeches

Cake Cutting!

Fire Pit + Late Night Snacks

Brunch

Our Wedding

We met at Dalhousie University in our second year. As engineering course schedules go, that meant a lot of time spent together in lecture halls, labs, and studying (figuring out the lowest grade you can get on your exam and still pass the course). We got to know each other during this time, first as friends and then eventually to my luck, a bit more than that. I couldn’t decide on one story to tell about how Tessa and I met. Instead, here are a few favourites from our first year of knowing each other. ELE2020 LabsI snagged a sweet lab spot beside Tessa and Krista (our lovely friend and officiant!). My lab partner and I had no idea what we were doing and we were always one faulty wire away from electrocuting ourselves. Unfortunately for us, we could not get much attention from the TA’s as every time they came over they decided to help the dynamic duo to our left. I complained about it once and Tessa leaned over and said “What are you going to do about it?”. I think they took pity on us as Tessa and Krista were kind enough to sometimes let us copy their circuit boards. Pho After DarkHalifax being a cozy university town offered limited options of diverse cuisine during our 5 years there. There was this pho place that I found - it wasn’t great but it did the job. One evening after the last few people left the campus study lounge, I worked up the courage to ask Tessa if she wanted to get dinner. I thought it was a pretty clear invitation for a date, but Tessa will deny it to this day. I was nervous and after we got our bowls of pho, I got to work. I was working up a sweat but the delicious salty broth was begging to be consumed. Meanwhile Tessa didn’t get through much of her’s (I think she was nervous, but she claims that it was the fact that the pho wasn’t good), so I had her half as well. The date just turned into Tessa watching me devour my pho and half of hers all while sweating profusely. I think the date went pretty well. BandaidI was playing pool with some friends at the lounge of our university residence. Tessa was talking to some friends, off to the side near the couches. I caught the edge of the pool table with my finger after a play. I might have lost a good chunk off my finger. I made a big fuss and Tessa insisted on going to the front desk and getting me a bandaid. She placed the bandaid onto my finger making sure I was all patched up. Looking back now, it was probably no more than a big paper cut. BadmintonO'Brien meal halls was where great and terrible ideas were formed. A mutual friend of ours asked if we played badminton and if we wanted to join him after dinner. Tessa, with the utmost confidence, said yes and that she will crush me. I stood my ground, knowing that the true extent of my badminton abilities was a 1 week camp where I ate nothing but grilled cheese for lunch. We played doubles and mixed and matched the games all night, but the moment of truth came when I played a game of singles with Tessa. I am confident that almost everyone reading this knew the outcome of the game. Despite all that, the walk home was what I remembered the most fondly. Her hair, in a tight pony, was still wet from showering, and there was light snow falling - the ones that doesn't seem to ever land. She said she was cold and wrapped her arms around mine, her hands tucked in the sleeves of her green jacket. You can say that I was a winner at the moment, but to this day I have not emotionally recovered from that badminton game.

Our First Year

Our Story

The First 8 Years

Krista Tuerk

Bev Gillis

Larissa Dorrestijn

Jill Ragan

Blake Odland

Shannon Chang

Justin Glenn

Curran Wearmouth

Elise Walsh

Wedding Party

Q + A

Page's Inn on Silva Bay

Surf Lodge and Pub

Accommodations

Malaspina Galleries

Drumbeg Provincial Park

Ravenskill Orchards & Gabbies Premium Cider

The golf course opens early April. Please check their website for availability.

Gabriola Golf & Country Club

Things to Do

Registry

For those traveling from out of province (and even those living in the lower mainland), please consider booking your ferry tickets ahead of time. The BC Ferries website will guide you through the booking process. If you're planning on flying directly to Nanaimo, please let us know. We can help organize car pooling.There is also Seaplane from YVR Richmond South terminal to Silva Bay Southside of Gabriola Island.

Vancouver to Nanaimo

BC Ferries offer two routes; one through Horseshoe Bay and another through Tsawwassen. Please book your sailings to Nanaimo and back ahead of time! <a href="https://www.bcferries.com/travel-boarding/terminal-directions-parking-food/vancouver-horseshoe-bay/HSB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Horseshoe Bay Terminal</a>A scenic option, though it can be more busy. Takes you directly to downtown Nanaimo. From there, it is a short 5 minute drive to the Nanimo-Gabriola ferry. <a href="https://www.bcferries.com/travel-boarding/terminal-directions-parking-food/vancouver-tsawwassen/TSA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tsawwassen Terminal</a>Great sunsets. Takes you to Duke Point. From there, it s a 15 minute drive to the Nanaimo-Gabriola ferry. <a href="https://gulfislandseaplanes.com/fares/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gulf Island Seaplanes</a>Gabriola island has a Seaplane airport that lands in Silva Bay. Silva Bay is on the south side of the island near Pages Inn and Dragons Lodge.

Nanaimo to Gabriola

This is a short 30 minute ferry ride from Nanaimo Harbour to Descanso Bay on Gabriola. <a href="https://www.bcferries.com/current-conditions/NAH-GAB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nanaimo Harbour</a>No booking required. Usually timed up to match the other ferry schedule, so if you head straight here you will be able to get on the next sailing. Ticket will get you to Gabriola and back.

Descanso Bay Terminal to Dragon's Lodge

The ferry terminal on Gabriola is on the North side of the island. Dragon's Lodge is on the South side. There are two major roads on Gabriola that creates a loop. Both roads take about the same time to go North-South (and vice versa). Watch out for deer! North RoadRuns along the East side of the island. Great views of the forest, farms, and llamas. South RoadRuns along the West side of the island. Great views of the ocean, cute houses, and a giant cow/bull/buffalo!

Getting Around Gabriola

<a href="https://www.gabriolataxi.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gabriola Taxi</a>Pick-up at the ferry for float plane, professional drivers and hybrid/electric vehicles to help you explore during your stay! <a href="https://gertie.ca/current-schedule/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gertie Gabriola Shuttle</a>Get around Gabriola Island with Gertie shuttle bus service, you would able to experience the convenience and witness the scenic and memorable view of nature during the ride. They are offering several routes taking you to different destinations around the island.