CAMO COUNTRY EVENTS

LUMBY, BC

MARIE AND DUSTY

At this point in my career, I thought I'd seen it all—helicopters, boats, wild moments, you name it. But I never imagined I'd witness a fully operational tank being used for a wedding couple's grand entrance.

When I first met Dusty and Marie, they told me their venue was operated by a tank aficionado who collects them and looks for any excuse to drive them. I couldn't quite believe it until I arrived at Camel Country Events in Lumby, Ontario. They have close to thirty tanks—some showpieces, some operational—and they let couples ride in on top of one for their entrance. It was completely insane and truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Marie and Dusty chose this location because they wanted a wedding that felt like a destination without anyone having to fly somewhere. Their friends and family pulled up with campers and tents and hung out for the entire weekend. Bonfires, barbecues, games, drinks—it was a stay-at-home destination wedding, and I absolutely loved the concept.

The first day kicked off with a big barbecue where everyone could get to know each other and just relax. The wedding day itself was incredible. The guys all shaved their faces and rocked mustaches to show their support for Dusty, which was hilarious. Dusty isn't big on photos, so we kept things short and fun.

The ceremony was perfect. We were surrounded by beautiful mountains and massive trees from the interior of BC, not a cloud in the sky. The drinks were flowing, the music was great, and everyone was just enjoying the moment. The whole vibe felt like a giant group hangout at a campsite, which was so fitting for Marie and Dusty. They're grounded, down-to-earth people, and their wedding reflected that completely.

We adapted our approach to match their energy—getting people to drink, laugh, joke around, and come up with wild ideas. The girls Smirnoff Iced the guys, the boys threw the groom in the air, bottles were popped, and pants came off on the dance floor. It was pure, unfiltered fun.

The wedding wrapped at 2am, but people stayed around the campfire until 4 in the morning. Where else can you do that? The scenery was stunning, the drive was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and the whole day was exactly what Marie and Dusty wanted.