Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Alberta
        • Yukon
      • U.S.A.
        • Alaska
        • Washington
        • Oregon
        • California
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
  • Share Your Experience
    • Join Our Team
    • Contests
      • Holiday with Hilton
      • Okanagan Summer Getaway
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
  • About
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Alberta
        • Yukon
      • U.S.A.
        • Alaska
        • Washington
        • Oregon
        • California
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
  • Share Your Experience
    • Join Our Team
    • Contests
      • Holiday with Hilton
      • Okanagan Summer Getaway
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
  • About
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / COVID cancelled their wedding plans, so they married on a BC mountaintop

Brayden Boyd and Michelle Fonseca had plans for a big wedding with family in Mexico, when COVID made that impossible. Nanaimo’s West Coast Helicopter stepped in and offered to marry them on a Vancouver Island mountaintop.

COVID cancelled their wedding plans, so they married on a BC mountaintop

May 28, 2020 //  by Amy Attas

Share this:

Brayden Boyd and Michelle Fonseca had plans for a big wedding with both their families in Mexico this summer. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and they knew there was no way for their dream wedding to take off.

That’s when Nanaimo’s West Coast Helicopter stepped in and offered to marry them on a mountaintop.

“We were planning on eloping,” Fonseca says. But when Boyd suggested a different idea, “I was like WHAT? I could never imagine!”

Helicopter pilot and licensed wedding officiant Terry Eissfedlt, CEO of West Coast Helicopter, was uniquely suited to the task.

“Aviation was always in my blood, inherited from my father, grandad and uncles,” he says. Eissfedlt is also very involved with the Full Gospel Church in Port McNeill, and trained to be a wedding officiant for his sister’s marriage over a decade ago.

“I didn’t think it would land here, but I’ve done 30 or 40 weddings. On mountaintops, backyards, giant churches – covert areas as well, and that’s all I can say about that!”

Live streaming their Mt. Cokely wedding to friends and family added to the couple’s special day: “You could feel the love of everybody who was watching on the video call. It was amazing.”

For Boyd and Fonseca, the nuptials were a spectacular solution. Fonseca grew up in Mexico and has explored Vancouver Island hotspots like Victoria and Ucluelet since moving to Canada, but a helicopter ride to the summit of Mt. Cokely tops her west coast travel list.

Mt. Cokely offers spectacular views of the UNESCO Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region on Central Vancouver Island. The biosphere stretches from Port Alberni to the Salish Sea on the Island’s east coast, conserving biological and cultural diversity while promoting economic and social development.

READ MORE: For treasure hunters, Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is a true find

Family memories, from mountaintop to Mexico

Fonseca had been taking care of most of the planning for their Mexican wedding, but the roles switched for the West Coast Helicopter ceremony – and Boyd organized an extra surprise for his bride-to-be.

WCH collaborated with Box 221 Digital Studios to live stream the wedding ceremony and surprise Fonseca with friends and family from all over the world.

“You could feel the love of everybody who was watching on the video call. It was amazing,” Fonseca says.

“Mt. Cokely was an ideal location for the live stream as there was wifi coverage,” says Box 221 CEO Scott Cooper.

Once it’s safe to travel, the newlyweds hope to bring their families together in celebration in Mexico. And as for the helicopter ride, Fonseca joked to her husband that they might have to make the once-in-a-lifetime experience an annual tradition.

“We’re going to have to do this now on our anniversary,” she says with a laugh.

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Nanaimo, Things to Do in Vancouver, Travel, WCT Intro, Weddings, West Coast Adventures

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

U.S.-based theme park company buys Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium has been bought by a U.S.-based theme park company, the organization announced…

U.S.-based theme park company buys Vancouver AquariumRead More

WATCH: Abbotsford’s Lakeland Flowers opens for spring

The Fraser Valley’s largest U-pick flower farm has officially opened for the spring. Lakeland Flowers…

WATCH: Abbotsford’s Lakeland Flowers opens for springRead More

Chainsaw and friends near the beach thrill orca watchers in Lantzville

A unique orca named Chainsaw came to the mid Island and brought a lot of…

Chainsaw and friends near the beach thrill orca watchers in LantzvilleRead More

Ambitious all-season mountain resort proposed near Chilliwack

A massive all-season mountain resort with gondolas, skiing, snowboarding and approximately 11,500 acres of mountain…

Ambitious all-season mountain resort proposed near ChilliwackRead More

From the U.K. with love: Okanagan wine, scenery receives international praise

The secret’s getting out. The Okanagan, renowned for its wine scene and natural beauty, made…

From the U.K. with love: Okanagan wine, scenery receives international praiseRead More

Walking the Dempster

Patrick Jackson isn’t letting the late, cold Yukon winter get in his way of taking…

Walking the DempsterRead More

Battle in the sky erupts above South Okanagan lake

When you are out for a walk in the Okanagan, it’s a good idea to…

Battle in the sky erupts above South Okanagan lakeRead More

5 Must-see tourist attractions in Northern British Columbia

1. Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark In the summer of 2000, two Tumbler Ridge kids were…

5 Must-see tourist attractions in Northern British ColumbiaRead More

Rare bird spotted at Vancouver Island backyard feeder

You never know what kind of flying friend you might draw in, just by adding…

Rare bird spotted at Vancouver Island backyard feederRead More

Previous Post: « Hope for ‘Cascadia’ tourism amid COVID-19 border restrictions
Next Post: VIDEO: A young Vancouver Island black bear takes weekend nap in eagle tree »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

U.S.-based theme park company buys Vancouver Aquarium

April 16, 2021

WATCH: Abbotsford’s Lakeland Flowers opens for spring

April 16, 2021

Chainsaw and friends near the beach thrill orca watchers in Lantzville

April 16, 2021

Ambitious all-season mountain resort proposed near Chilliwack

April 13, 2021

Recent Posts

U.S.-based theme park company buys Vancouver Aquarium

April 16, 2021

WATCH: Abbotsford’s Lakeland Flowers opens for spring

April 16, 2021

Chainsaw and friends near the beach thrill orca watchers in Lantzville

April 16, 2021

Ambitious all-season mountain resort proposed near Chilliwack

April 13, 2021

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and 100,000+ Facebook followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved