Trent and Cameron’s Nature-Inspired Wedding at the Hillside Lodge and Chalets in Golden, British Columbia 

At the Hillside Lodge and Chalets in Golden, British Columbia, Trent Harris-McCoy married Cameron Harris-McCoy, one groom in a light pink Indochino suit, the other in an olive green Indochino suit. Their wedding party, mostly women in white dresses alongside Trent’s brother in gray, flanked the couple. The grooms opted to forgo a maid of honor, a best man and a first look. There was, however, a champagne pop involving all eight members of the wedding party at the end of the recessional, bottles raised in unison as the newlyweds walked out.

 

 

 

Two Proposals, Two Rivers

The engagement came in two parts, as some of the best ones do. Trent proposed first, in Canmore, Alberta, at a spot along the river where the couple had shared their first trip together. During that original visit, restaurants were closed due to Covid, so the two assembled a charcuterie board and had a picnic on the riverbank. Trent returned them to that same stretch of water, with views of Ha Ling Peak in the distance, and surprised Cameron with the proposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cameron’s turn came at the finish line of the Vancouver Marathon. The two ran the race together, and when it ended, Cameron proposed. Different cities, different rivers, different finishes, and one shared answer.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Ready Without a Script

The grooms prepared for the ceremony together, a choice that was deliberate. They specifically did not want a first look. “It felt too staged,” Trent says. Instead, the morning unfolded at its own pace, unhurried and without a formal reveal built into the schedule. Their wedding party wore Patagonia sweaters as they got ready, a practical gift that doubled as a quiet signal of what kind of day this would be.

 

 

 

 

A Florist Who Foraged

Forage To Flourish, the floral designer behind the arrangements, sourced every stem of greenery from the land around Golden and drew the florals from a local greenhouse and from what she foraged herself. The bouquets were hand-tied and left intentionally unrefined, thorns still intact on some stems. Trent and Cameron had not ordered bouquets for themselves, but during portraits, they picked up a couple from their bridesmaids. The florist had also taken note of the suits. “She paid special attention to the colors of our suits and wove them beautifully into the floral designs,” Cameron says, “which made everything feel so personal and cohesive.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ceremony, and After

Trent and Cameron walked down the aisle together. Following the ceremony, Trent’s grandmother delivered a speech that the couple describes as heartfelt and, by the room’s reception of it, something more. Then the wedding party raised their bottles. All eight of them, champagne in hand, marked the end of the recessional together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first dance was to “Lover” by Taylor Swift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Handmade Backdrop, a Natural Table

The reception aesthetic was intentional in its restraint. Natural textures, elevated without being overwrought, and at the center of it all, a wood backdrop the couple built themselves. The Hillside Lodge and Chalets provided the bones of the space. Trotters Catering handled the food, Good Libations ran the bar, and DJ Slick Mick kept the evening moving. Photographer Tara Hill, who also assisted with logistics throughout the planning process, documented everything. “She had such a natural ease working with an LGBTQ+ couple, and it showed,” Trent says. “She made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. That level of comfort translated into photos that truly captured our connection.”

 

 

 

 

On Finding Inclusive Vendors

Not every part of the planning process felt welcoming. “One challenge we didn’t expect was how many vendors still only used ‘bride and groom’ on their forms and contracts,” Cameron says. “It was disappointing that one of us often had to identify as the bride, just to make an initial inquiry. At times, it felt like we were coming out again and again during the vendor search process.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the end, the wedding vendors the two grooms chose were a different experience entirely. “Thankfully, we ultimately found incredible vendors who were inclusive, supportive and an absolute joy to work with.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

For couples navigating the same search, Trent and Cameron offer this: “Our best advice for LGBTQ+ couples planning their wedding is to stay true to what feels authentic and meaningful to you. Don’t feel pressured to follow traditional norms just because they’re expected. Rewrite the rules in a way that reflects your love and identity. At the same time, don’t shy away from including the things you genuinely want, even if they are traditional.” ❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEATURED LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE AND QUEER AFFIRMING WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer: Tara Hill Studios

Wedding Venue: The Hillside Lodge & Chalets

Florist: Forage To Flourish

DJ: DJ Slick Mick

Grooms Suits: Indochino

Catering: Trotters Catering

Bar Services: Good Libations