Spring Wedding in the Takata Garden – by Megan Stacey

A couple weekends ago, we were pleased to host a wedding in the Takata Japanese Garden—a favourite location for many who wish to be married in an intimate garden setting. This wedding in particular was a bit more special to us too, as it was a family wedding for Larry Phillips, HCP Board President and lead steward of the HCP’s bonsai volunteer group.
With our unpredictable spring weather, all it took was a sea of bright smiles and a blanket of love’s warmth to overpower some drizzly, cool weather on the afternoon of April 29th for the wedding of Christine Phillips and Bruce Thomas.
Christine and her father Larry entered through the Japanese Gate to join Bruce and the wedding party at the middle of the arched bridge in the Takata Japanese Garden. Friends and family members watched from throughout the garden as Dave Peck, a licensed marriage commissioner and also an HCP volunteer, officiated the ceremony with his signature wit and charm.
The bride wore an ivory gown paired with her grandmother’s vintage mink stole and her mixed bouquet featured blush pink peonies to complement the flowers in her hair and the green hellebore in the groom’s boutonniere.
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed music and photography in the Gardens before departing for a reception at the nearby Fireside Grill.
Special thanks are owed to the staff, volunteers, and students who had the garden looking its absolute best.
Congratulations to the Thomas and Phillips families and best wishes for a lifetime of warmth and happiness!