hurricane ridge & port angeles intimate wedding

Weddings

Apr 1

hurricane ridge & port angeles intimate wedding

Date 07.24.20

Location Hurricane Ridge & Port Angeles

I can’t imagine how confusing and challenging it would be to be a couple who planned to get married in 2020. For Brooke and Josh, the wedding they had been planning for two years wasn’t able to happen. I feel like I’ve truly been in the trenches with my couples - talking, brainstorming, problem-solving, researching, pivoting, and these two were no different. I saw them go through plans A-D and maybe even more before this came together. They handled all the changes so beautifully and were able to celebrate with their closest people 2020 style, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them for their big party next year!

Kate from Tapestry Event Co. helped B+J plan an epic, gorgeous, and SAFE celebration. Kate has been a huge inspiration to me as she has been pioneering and advocating for safe celebrations so couples can still get married while keeping their loved ones safe and healthy. Check out her website for a wealth of info if you are planning a wedding during ‘these times.’

I asked Brooke some questions about her planning process and what this has been like for a 2020 couple, and anything I could say about all this pales in comparison to her own words about being a 2020 bride.

Q: What did you love most about your wedding locations/venues?
Our original plan was a big wedding on Orcas Island – a celebration filled with magic San Juan Island vibes. We wanted to preserve this experience for next summer when we can party island style with all of our friends and family. However, when it was time to pivot, we realized we still wanted to get married this summer. We decided to create a small wedding celebration with 12 of our family and chosen family members and that we would take real advantage of having TWO weddings and tie the knot somewhere completely different, yet still epic! We ended up on the Olympic Peninsula – we reserved a magical barn Airbnb overlooking the Juan de Fuca, where we had our little reception. We went into the Olympic National Park on Hurricane Ridge for our ceremony. I LOVE the mountains so it made me so happy to be surrounded by mountain magic while we said our vows.

Q: Is there a memory that stands out from the day you remember most strongly?
The weather on our wedding day was not terrible, but not great. It was a cloudy day, and driving up to Hurricane Ridge we were in the middle of a rain cloud for the entire 11 mile-or so journey. BUT, right as we turned the corner into the parking lot at the top, there were perfectly blue skies. I had never seen anything like it. It was like the clouds cleared just for us.

Q - Favorite moment from the day?
While our ceremony felt like pure magic and was definitely by favorite moment of the day – my heart also just fills to the brim when I think about the evening of our reception, even before the mini breakout dance party, when all 14 of us were surrounded by the fire, cozied up in blankets, as the sun was going down over the water. Every. Single. Person. gave a toast – all of our people said that most beautiful meaningful words to us and we felt so loved. It was so special and intimate.

Q - Explain how you pivoted so well! What did your planning process look like the months leading up?
I’m not sure I can claim that the pivot was seamless. It was a journey filled with a whole lot of tears and anxiety. The plan we ended up with was Plan D! Luckily, I really enjoy the planning part of it all – I love working with different vendors to create a beautiful experience that feels special to everyone involved. So while the planning and re-planning was a LOT, it was not unmanageable for me. The hardest part was the uncertainty of it all. At the time, rules were changing every day, it was so unclear what the next week or month was going to look like – so it was impossible to know with confidence that the current plan was ACTUALLY going to happen. It was also hard to come to terms with the fact that the experience looks not only very different from the original dream, but also very different from how the ideal Plan B, C, D, or E would look. You may wish so hard that an exception could be made for your ONE day, so that ONE day could be filled with tight hugs and long dinner tables seating different friends and family, but in reality, you have to create an experience where people feel safe and comfortable. Certain loved ones may not feel comfortable being there at all, despite whatever safety precautions you put in place, and that doesn’t mean they don’t love you.

Q - Any advice for couples facing the same situation?
Aside from what I mentioned above, I would say, GET MARRIED. Postpone the party (or not), but create an experience that you know will feel special. We postponed our big party and while I want this experience to happen with all my heart and soul, I feel a GIGANTIC weight off after having married my person and having wonderful memories surrounding that day. I feel so much better equipped (emotionally) to handle any potential ups and downs of wedding/party planning in 2021.

Q - How do you feel about having a second celebration? Does it feel like too much work, or are you excited to do it again?!
I am EXCITED! I feel SO lucky to be able to have a SECOND wedding. The first one was so much fun! We were engaged in May of 2018 and spent the next TWO years planning the wedding of our absolute dreams. All the pieces are in place – so it doesn’t feel like there is much planning to do. I am so hopeful this dream will come true.

Q - Did you go on a honeymoon and did you end up having to change your honeymoon plans?
We had planned a three week trip to Portugal and Southern Spain – leaving the Monday after our wedding weekend. We postponed that trip to next summer (we CAN’T WAIT). And this year we rented a Sprinter camper van for a week and road tripped from Seattle through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. It was perfect!