Intentional Love at Riverway
For DreamGroup Planner Jessie Kumagai, working with Claudia and Jason in support of their beautifully intentional Riverway Clubhouse wedding was an absolute joy! “They were such a fun and thoughtful couple, putting a unique twist on traditional elements to truly make the day their own.” Immerse yourself in this beautiful story of “Intentional Love at Riverway”.
~ As captured by Ariel Wong Photography.
Hair + Makeup by The Love Team Collective
The overall theme and aesthetic of Claudia and Jason’s wedding was modern, fun, and whimsical. The day perfectly capturing the essence of who they are as a couple. Every design choice, from the colour palette to the smallest personalized details, reflected their playful personalities and deep attention to detail.
The colour scheme featured a clean and elegant base of white and abundant greenery. Accents included subtle touches of blush and pale yellow, and grounded with sleek black elements for contrast. This combination created a fresh, romantic, yet sophisticated feel throughout the day.
Bouquet by Hummingbird Floral
One of the highlights was how intentionally Claudia and Jason approached their ceremony. Instead of following a conventional structure, they chose first to sign the legal documents during a private moment with their immediate family before guests arrived.
They then had a close friend officiate a symbolic ceremony that was lighthearted, personal, and reflective of their personalities, which in turn set the tone for the rest of the celebration.
The ceremony took place outdoors under large white umbrellas, with a gorgeous floral altar featuring arrangements of varying heights. Later on, they were repurposed and arranged around the sweetheart table at the reception. The Sweetheart table, set with soft floral filled bud vases and candlelight, was a true highlight! It sat nestled under a magical canopy tree wrapped in fairy lights.
The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and full of personal charm. From the moment guests arrived, they were welcomed into a thoughtfully designed space. The Riverway foyer set the tone beautifully with a tall centerpiece on a round table adorned with candles, lanterns, and sweet photos of the couple — flanked by two lush smilax trees marking the entrance into the reception space.
A particularly unique touch was the guestbook experience, where guests selected from fun prompts like “What Jason & Claudia will be doing in 10 years…” or “A Date Night Idea for Jason & Claudia…” and pinned their notes or drawings to a beautifully designed green wall, under a sign that read “Drawn Together.” It was playful, interactive, and deeply personal—just like the couple.
Stunning + Impactful Trees, Greenery, Florals, & String Lights from Greenscape Design and Decor
Linens, Cocktail Tables & Candle Holders from Bespoke Decor.
Chic black chairs from Element Event Solutions elevated the look.
Another element I loved was how involved Claudia and Jason both were in the design and aesthetic of the wedding. They had a clear vision and were meticulous (in the best way) about details like the candle combinations and floral choices. Jason even designed all of the stationery himself, which brought a modern, whimsical vibe that perfectly captured their style. Their reception was full of creativity and genuine moments. While the reception included the expected speeches and games, they reimagined each one in such a fun and personal way. One of my favorite parts was their inventive twist on a scavenger hunt-meets-musical chairs game — it had everyone laughing and fully engaged.
At the reception, the tables beautifully showcased a perfect blend of elevated floral design and personal storytelling. They featured a mix of tall, tree-like centerpieces and low floral arrangements, along with candles in varying heights and tones. To top it off, one of the most charming details was the inclusion of childhood photos of Claudia and Jason that corresponded to the table numbers (i.e. photos of them at age 5 on Table 5).
Each place setting featured black-rimmed clear charger plates, black pocket-fold napkins with custom menus, and personalized name cards that greeted each guest with a warm “Welcome, [Name]!” Claudia and Jason truly poured their hearts into the design and vibe of their day. Every element, big or small, was intentional and a reflection of who they are as individuals and as a couple.
Instead of the typical shoe game, they played a seated Q&A where they tested how well they knew each other. The questions were quirky and customized — it was so heartfelt and entertaining. They ended the formal dinner part of the night with a hilarious and sweet “kiss cam” activity, using their phones to roam the room capturing couples kissing.
As a fun finale, the moment culminated in a final selfie kiss of their own before they launched into their thank-you speech. It was, overall, such a playful and memorable way to close out the night.
Of course, the fun didn’t stop there! Guests danced the night away, enjoyed AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza (a personal favorite of the couple), and enthusiastically sang their hearts out during a surprise round of karaoke. From start to finish, the entire day felt like a true celebration of Claudia and Jason’s relationship. Intentional, lighthearted, and full of love!
Jessie’s Thoughts
This wedding was such a great opportunity to collaborate with a few new vendors. As a planner, I’m always excited to work with fresh talent—especially when it means discovering professionals I can confidently recommend to future couples.
To start, I had the pleasure of working with Mary Flagg, a Burnaby-based marriage commissioner, for Claudia and Jason’s private legal signing. She was professional, responsive, and incredibly easy to coordinate with. Because of that, she’s absolutely someone I’d be happy to work with again.
Equally important, Ariel Wong, the photographer, was another new face for me, and she was a joy to work with throughout the day. Not only was she calm and organized, but she also brought such a warm, collaborative energy that made everything feel effortless.
In addition, one of the biggest highlights was working with Hannah from Greenscape, who provided the beautiful trees, greenery installations, floral arrangements (aside from the body florals provided by Hummingbird Floral), and string lighting. Although it was their first time working at Riverway, they absolutely nailed the couple’s vision. As a result, the overall look and feel they created was exactly what Claudia and Jason had hoped for. Even better, Hannah was fantastic throughout both the planning process and the day-of execution—so I’d love to work with her again.
Ultimately, every wedding teaches you something new, and this one, in particular, reinforced the value of great vendor collaboration. When everyone is aligned, communicates well, and stays committed to the shared vision, the results truly speak for themselves.
Claudia and Jason’s wedding day felt like a total success from start to finish. From the smooth setup and efficient teardown to the way we stayed right on schedule, everything flowed seamlessly. As a result, the day never felt rushed—just beautifully paced and easy to enjoy.
Meanwhile, the décor looked absolutely stunning and the overall vibe was joyful, relaxed, and full of genuine connection. Most importantly, Claudia and Jason were thrilled. Although it was a long day with plenty of moving parts behind the scenes, every detail came together exactly as planned. In the end, the energy stayed positive all the way through, which made the celebration feel even more meaningful.
Even better, Claudia and Jason were not only fun to work with, but also incredibly appreciative. Because of that, all the effort—from the timelines to the tiny finishing touches—felt truly worthwhile.
For me, this wedding was a powerful reminder of why I love what I do. It was creatively fulfilling, logistically smooth, and emotionally rewarding all at once. In other words, it was the kind of refreshing, energizing day that stays with you. Ultimately, it’s weddings like this that remind you just how special this work can be.
The Vendor Team that brought Intentional Love at Riverway to life…
- Officiant: BC Marriage Commissioner Mary Flagg
- Ceremony & Reception Venue: Riverway Clubhouse
- Photographer: Ariel Wong Photography
- Flowers: Greenscape Design & Decor – trees, greenery, floral arrangements, string lights
- Decor: Bespoke Decor – linens, cocktail tables, candles
- Body Flowers: Hummingbird Floral Design Studio
- Makeup & Hair: The Love Team — Alison
- DJ: AC Events
- Transportation: Boss Limousines
- Rentals: Element Event Solutions – black chairs
- Late Night Snacks: AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint
A lovenote for Jessie…
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help make our wedding a reality. You are the reason it all came together so smoothly. We’re so grateful for your work ethic and for your ability to always be three steps ahead of us in your thought process! We worried that finding a wedding planner on our wavelength wouldn’t be easy, but once we met you, we knew right away that we’d found one who was! (Sorry if this is starting to sound like a vow LOL!) Now that we’ve gone through the experience together, we can say that you’ve been everything we hoped you’d be, and more. We will strongly recommend you to everyone we know!
All the best, Jason & Claudia
