Our magical little hotel was originally dreamed up as a one-of-a-kind romantic getaway. For years, we’ve watched couples step through our gates to celebrate milestones like anniversaries, marriage proposals, and romantic birthdays. But this month, we celebrated a major milestone of our own: hosting our very first wedding.

Intimate, Intentional, and Entirely Magical

We have always prioritized a quiet, private experience for our guests, which is why parties and other events are generally not permitted on our property. However, by special permission, couples can reserve the entire hotel to host a storybook micro-wedding.

For our inaugural ceremony, the couple did exactly that. Accompanied by just a handful of their closest friends, they transformed our grounds into their own private fairytale kingdom for the day.

Under Hill, In Love

They chose the secluded garden courtyard of our Under Hill Suite for their ceremony. To mark the occasion, the iconic garden gate was draped in flowing red fabric and woven with delicate bunches of baby’s breath — a striking contrast against our handcrafted ironwork.

It was a day defined not by the size of the crowd, but by the depth of the love filling the space. We are deeply honoured to have played a small part in their love story.

Three years ago, we welcomed our very first guests. Six years before that, the Hazelnut Inn was just a crazy dream. Hailey and I sold our home, leveraged everything we owned, and poured almost a decade of our lives into building our magical little hotel.

There were endless exhausting days and plenty of sleepless nights — wondering if we were completely foolish for risking so much. (Though Hailey, the heart of my heart, never doubted.)

A Year In Advance

These days, those fears have grown quiet. And this week, the Hazelnut Inn reached an incredible new milestone: we took our very first booking exactly one year in advance.

Seeing that “year-out” reservation pop up on the screen felt like a profound release. While we expect this will eventually become our regular rhythm, this very first one is a beautiful validation of every sacrifice we made.

More Than Just A Booking

What truly overwhelms me, though, isn’t the calendar filling up; it’s our guests’ stories.

I read every single note left in our guestbooks. Guests continually comment on the level of detail and how “real” the experience feels. Hearing that they felt like they were “stepping into another world,” or that they teared up as they crossed the threshold, is profoundly humbling.

Our magic is a team effort and a massive part belongs to my sister Becke, who pours meticulous thought and care into every single stay as our innkeeper.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To every guest who has stayed with us, to everyone who has shed a tear in our suites, and to the folks who just booked their getaway for next July: thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Our journey is just beginning, and we cannot wait to welcome you — whether you’re visiting next week, or a year from now.

At the Hazelnut Inn, we poured years of love and craft into building an escape from the ordinary world. But when we opened our doors, we didn’t realize the true magic would be the footprints our guests would leave on our hearts.

Opening our guestbooks feels like uncovering buried treasure. Every week, we find heartfelt stories, poetry, and hand-drawn sketches. Our visitors aren’t just signing their names; they are leaving pieces of their hearts with us.

A Beautiful Surprise Under the Hill

Recently, a couple celebrating a massive milestone — 34 years of marriage — left behind a delicate watercolour painting of two rabbits holding hands with a poem that perfectly captures why we do what we do.

With their permission, we are honoured to share their beautiful words:

We came back to Chilliwack
hand in hand still,
and found the most magical
burrow, Under Hill.

With whimsy and wonder
tucked under each beam,
it felt as though we'd stepped
right into a dream.

34 years married & still
full of cheer,
how lovely to celebrate
such memories here.

For places made with kindness,
imagination and skill,
leave footprints on the heart —
and so will Under Hill.

The Ultimate Reward

We tucked whimsy into every corner of our suites, but seeing it become a page in a 34 year long, real-world love story is simply magical.

To all our past and future guests: thank you for sharing your stories, your art, and your poems. You are just as much a part of the Hazelnut Inn as the walls themselves.