Slow, Steady, and Eternal: A Tortoise Witness at The Vancouver Club (and how to include pet in weddings)

Quick Summary: For Jady and Chris, their lunch wedding at the historic Vancouver Club was a beautiful study in contrasts. While the grand architecture of this Downtown Vancouver landmark typically hosts formal galas, on this day it welcomed a truly one-of-a-kind guest, Kam Kam, the couple's beloved pet tortoise. Through Vancity Officiant's Pawfect Witness program, Kam Kam took part in a symbolic paw stamp ceremony on a keepsake unity certificate. At Somethink Studio, we documented the moment in the soft window light of the Vancouver Club's heritage interior, capturing both the formality of the venue and the warmth of a family that includes more than just two people.

For Jady and Chris, their lunch wedding at the historic Vancouver Club was a beautiful study in contrasts. While the grand architecture of this Downtown Vancouver landmark typically hosts formal galas, on this day it welcomed a truly one-of-a-kind guest: Kam Kam, the couple's beloved pet tortoise.

In 2022, Jady and Chris moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver to begin a new chapter together. The following year, in May 2023, they found Kam Kam at a local PetSmart. He was a Hermann's tortoise, only three to five months old, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. They knew right away he was coming home with them. From that day on, they were no longer just a couple. They were a family of three. Kam Kam travelled with them too, along on trips to Tofino, Kelowna, and Calgary, becoming part of the rhythm of their life together long before the wedding was ever planned.

So when it came time to plan their ceremony, including Kam Kam was never really a question. It was simply who their family already was.

Redefining Tradition with Vancity Officiant

Collaborating with our frequent partner, Vancity Officiant, allowed us to move beyond a standard legal signing. Jady and Chris participated in the Pawfect Witness program, a heartwarming initiative that officially involves non-human family members in the union. Pets cannot serve as legal witnesses in British Columbia, but they can absolutely share in the emotional and symbolic parts of your ceremony.

We have documented pets at intimate weddings before, but watching a tortoise step up to the keepsake unity certificate was a first for our team.

How to Include Pets in Weddings: The Pawfect Witness Ceremony

Through the Pawfect Witness program by Vancity Officiant, involving your pet in your wedding is simple and heartfelt. Here is how it works.

A symbolic signing happens first. While pets cannot sign legal government documents, they can sign a custom keepsake unity certificate with a paw, or in Kam Kam's case, a claw stamp. Instead of an additional officiant fee, couples make a small donation to an animal-related charity. Jady and Chris chose to donate to Critter Care Wildlife Society, a Greater Vancouver organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. Throughout the process, the team ensures everything stays seamless and respectful of your pet's comfort, whether they are a dog, cat, or tortoise.

Jady and Chris practiced the paw stamp at home several times before the wedding, just to be sure Kam Kam would feel comfortable on the day. Through that practice, they discovered something unexpected: it was actually Kam Kam's small wrist, not his foot, that left the clearest and most beautiful print.

Kam Kam: The World's Most Unique Witness

Kam Kam undeniably stole the show. On the day, Jady and Chris signed the marriage certificate together with both of their mothers first. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. We brought Kam Kam forward, and the couple guided him gently as he left his own claw print stamp on the certificate, officially marking his place in the family record.

Capturing the macro detail of a tortoise's foot leaving its mark inside the elegant halls of The Vancouver Club was a highlight of 2025. It perfectly embodies our philosophy: your wedding should reflect your authentic family, no matter how many legs, or shells, they have.

Mastering the Light in Heritage Spaces

The Vancouver Club is a masterpiece of Western historic architecture, but its dim, moody interiors present a technical challenge: the risk of underexposure.

To preserve the rich textures without losing shadow detail, we used directional window light. By positioning the couple near the expansive heritage windows, we wrapped them in a soft, natural glow. This approach maintained the old-world soul of the room while still giving us the clarity we needed.

The Shell-Level Challenge

Documenting a tortoise witness requires a genuine change in perspective. To capture the precise moment Kam Kam's foot met the paper, we shot at a relatively lower level. In a low-light environment, this meant carefully managing a shallow depth of field, keeping the stamp tack-sharp while letting the historic backdrop blur beautifully behind it. It is the perfect balance of technical precision and raw emotion.

A Different Kind of Forever

There is something we kept thinking about long after we left The Vancouver Club that day. Most couples who include a dog or a cat in their wedding are celebrating a companion who will likely be with them for a decade, maybe a little more. Kam Kam is different. Hermann's tortoises can live for several decades, often outlasting the humans who raise them.

That changes what this moment actually means. Jady and Chris are not just marking a milestone with a beloved pet. They are starting a marriage alongside a family member who may genuinely be there for all of it: anniversaries, a move to a new home, maybe even grandchildren one day. Kam Kam is not a guest passing through their story. He may be a constant throughout the whole thing.

That is what made this wedding stay with us. Not just the novelty of a tortoise at a heritage venue, but the quiet reminder that family takes whatever shape it needs to take, and sometimes it has a shell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can my pet legally witness my wedding in BC?

A: A pet cannot sign the legal government marriage license, but you can include them in a symbolic capacity through programs like the Pawfect Witness by Vancity Officiant. They can sign a commemorative certificate with a paw print, making them a central part of your ceremony memory.

Q: How can we ensure our pet stays calm and cooperative during the signing moment?

A: Preparation is key. We recommend having a designated pet handler, someone who is not in the wedding party, to manage their needs and breaks. For the paw stamp itself, we suggest acclimating your pet to having their paws touched a few weeks before the wedding. During the ceremony, keep high-value treats, or favourite leafy greens for tortoises, ready to reward them for their signature.

Vendor Team

A huge thank you to the incredible team that made Jady and Chris's vision a reality:

Venue: The Vancouver Club

Makeup Artist: Roberta S. Makeup

Officiant: Vancity Officiant

Pet Witness Program: Pawfect Witness

Photography: Somethink Studio

Ready to capture your pawfect day? Whether your vision includes a historic venue or a unique pet witness, let us document your one-of-a-kind story with the artistry it deserves. Send us a message to discuss how we can capture your wedding day with your furry or scaley family member.