Flashback to 2004. It was a hot summer night on the last day in July and a blue moon (literally). It was also the night my amazing husband and I wed. Having only moved to Vernon a few short months before, we hosted our wedding in the back yard of what is still our home. With a 5 month old baby boy (we got the order a little wrong but it has turned out okay :) ) we didn't have either time or money for a lavish wedding and honeymoon so instead we spent our first night away from our little one at the Vernon Lodge. After a decadent room service breakfast and refreshing swim in the garden surrounded pool my hubby offered up his wedding present to me ... skydiving!! It was almost a short marriage indeed, but that is a different story.

Fast forward to July 2013, when we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary with a stay in one of the Lodge's amazing corporate rooms overlooking the pool and had likely the best meal we have had here in Vernon at the BX Creek Bar & Grill. It was great to get away from our now 4 kids (!!) for a night and reminisce about our first stay.

Thanks Vernon Lodge for the memories, looking forward to many more.

Since arriving here July of 2003, The Vernon Lodge is our hideaway from the world! My hubby and I have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and come for work dinner/dances here. We migrated here to Vernon from the Coast in 2003, to assist my husband's parents and when they moved to their apartment, Mom donated her very large plants to your Lodge. It is very sentimental for us, as Mom as now passed away, so every time we come to celebrate we often think of her and how she loved tending to her plants with such care, just like everyone else in her life.

The Best Western has helped my family to share many celebrations with lasting memories to this day- throughout my childhood into adulthood the hotel has been a convenient location with top notch service, delicious food and next to none for beautiful and vibrant atmosphere.

First would be the birthdays and anniversaries that I remember sharing with family during my childhood; the food was always amazing and the atrium was always my favorite for it's tropical feeling.

Next would have to be the year 2000 marking my high school graduation that went out with a bang thanks to a reception and dance that the Best Western hosted at its best. They made it magical and completely convenient being close to the grad ceremony.

Lastly would have to be the most precious of nights- August 27, 2005 when I married the love of my life Josh and we got to enjoy our first night as husband and wife in a wonderful suite. Despite a small mix up during prior reservations; all the staff still remained completely hospitable l and gave us the fasted service providing us with the means to relax from a full day of excitement, emotion and everything newlyweds could imagine bundled into one day. Thank you Vernon Lodge for giving us a beautiful sleep on the most important day of our lives....

11 years ago tomorrow I had a life altering experience at the Best Western (PLUS) Vernon Lodge. It was Saturday April 26, 2003. In Ballroom #3 there was a charity bachelor auction to benefit a camp for local hearing impaired children.

I owned a pet sitting business and had a 65 year old client who was a widow with an incredible sense of adventure and humour. Mrs. M thought this might be a good way to meet a new companion and I thought it would be a great source of entertainment. Together with two girlfriends who were vet assistants we headed out for the evening. And what an evening it was!

Mrs. M got the party started when she won the bid on one of the first bachelors on the block. For $50 spent she received a rose, a date for the rest of the evening and a gift certificate at a local restaurant to share with her bachelor, if they both chose to see each other a second time.

Mrs. M was then bound and determined that I also needed a companion especially as I was recently divorced. Having no desire to "go there" I was content to watch the action and share a lot of laughs with my friends. That was until the second last bachelor of the auction made his appearance on the cat walk and as cheesy as it sounds, it was love at first sight. After a heated bidding war for which I had to borrow the cash from my girlfriends to pay, I won bachelor #40!

We immediately hit if off and had our first date the very next morning for breakfast. During the last 11 years we cohabited, got engaged and then got married, and it still feels like love at first sight!

Thanks Best Western (PLUS) Vernon Lodge for my destiny!