Wedding Photographer in Brentwood Bay
Still water, forested hills and arbutus trees: a peaceful setting for a romantic wedding day.
Brentwood Bay has a way of slowing everything down. The village sits on Saanich Inlet, where the water is usually calm and the hills on the far shore fold into each other in shades of green and blue. For a wedding, that stillness is a beautiful thing.
I’m Alyssa, a wedding and couples photographer based in neighbouring North Saanich. I’m drawn to quiet, tender moments: a forehead kiss, a shared laugh, the way you lean into each other when you think nobody’s watching. Brentwood Bay is full of places that invite those moments.
Below, I’ve shared what I’d keep in mind for a Brentwood Bay wedding and a few spots I love suggesting for portraits. For the bigger picture of how I work, visit my wedding photography page.
Brentwood Bay wedding portrait spots
Verdier Park, at the foot of Verdier Avenue beside the ferry dock, has a gently sloping lawn shaded by Douglas fir and arbutus, a paved path, benches and washrooms. The arbutus, with their curving trunks and peeling red bark, are some of the most romantic trees on the Island, and the inlet behind them adds soft blue tones. Stairs lead down to a beach whose access depends on the tide.
The Tod Inlet entrance to Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, reached from Wallace Drive, leads onto trails that BC Parks describes as gentle, past remnants of the cement company settlement that operated here from 1904 into the 1920s. The trail ends at calm, sheltered water. It’s ideal for couples who want a forest walk with a touch of history and don’t mind a little dust on the hem.
Gowlland Tod is a provincial park, and BC Parks has a park-use permit process. If you’re thinking of holding a ceremony or larger gathering there, check what applies with BC Parks before you plan. For portraits with just the two of us, a quiet walk usually works well, but always check the current rules before you go.
- Verdier Park: arbutus, fir and a lawn above the inlet
- Tod Inlet trail: gentle forest walk to sheltered water
- Plan beach time at Verdier around the tide
Things I’d plan for in Brentwood Bay
Light first. Saanich Inlet lies to the west of the village, so in the evening the sun drops over the water and the hills beyond. Portraits in the hour or so before sunset can be wonderfully warm. Earlier in the day, the forest at Tod Inlet gives soft, even shade that’s kind to everyone.
Guests second. If some of your family is coming from up-Island, the Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay ferry crosses the inlet, so it’s worth building ferry times into your schedule. I always like to know when key people are arriving so family photos happen while everyone’s present.
Your chosen venue third. Wherever your ceremony and celebration take place, I’ll work with your timeline to fit portraits in naturally. Often that means a short, unhurried break for the two of you, followed by family groupings, and then a few minutes at golden hour if the evening allows.
Questions families ask
Do you photograph engagement sessions in Brentwood Bay too?
Yes. An engagement session is a great way to get comfortable with me before the wedding, and Verdier Park is lovely for it. See my couples and engagement page.
Is Brentwood Bay a good fit for a small wedding or elopement?
Very much so. The calm water and quiet trails suit intimate celebrations, and smaller groups leave more time for relaxed portraits. Read more on my elopements and small weddings page.
How do we receive our wedding photos?
Your edited photos arrive in a private online gallery with black and white versions included. Prints, albums and canvases can be ordered through me.
What should we wear for portraits by the inlet?
Whatever makes you feel like yourselves on your wedding day. Bring a warm layer for the evening breeze and comfortable shoes for the trail, and swap into your dress shoes for photos.
Do you work elsewhere in Brentwood Bay?
I do. My Brentwood Bay photographer page lists the family, maternity and newborn sessions I offer here.
Let’s connect
Tell me a little about your family and the session you have in mind, and I’ll get back to you with dates and ideas.