A Look Back On Our Whidbey Island Wedding, 1 Year Later…

June 22nd, 2019.

The day (and week) Sam and I will reminisce on for the rest of our lives. It’s the day our families connected wholly. The day where I nearly froze in June that morning. And the day we became husband and wife and never looked back.. As we’re approaching June 22nd, 2020, I’m amazed that it’s already been a year, yet at the same time feel as though it’s been twenty..

Scrolling through endless photos, sifting through the ‘wedding box’ filled with extra invitations, menu cards, and a giant roll of unused ribbon reminds me of where we were this time last year. Through all the hustle and bustle to make the day perfect, I remember the week before as if it was yesterday. Filling our small apartment to the brim with boxes to take, suitcases, and food for the Airbnb. The week before was hectic, but filled with more excitement than ever.

When I look back now, there were little ‘details’ that slipped my mind not long after the day had passed.. It wasn’t the perfectly set table or the ‘tight parking’ (if you were there, you know) that I remember most. The strong details, the ones that will live with me forever include the time our family spent together the week leading up, when our small crowd of people intertwined, and the calmness that overcame me as I stood next to my partner in crime.

These are what I remember most that day. When I reached the aisle and felt at peace, wanting to take in every moment of the ceremony and never forget. Because our families live so far apart, I knew this would most likely be the one and only time everyone would be all together at once. The week prior, everyone pitched in to stay at an Airbnb- The Quintessa. A huge estate with 9 bedrooms and space to accommodate everyone. The nights leading up to the wedding were incredible. Staying up late and watching our two families commingle happily made our “big day” even more special than we thought possible.

I wanted to document as much as I could fit to share the little, and the big, details that made this day ours. There’s so much that goes in to a wedding, but the people you surround yourself with are truly the most important. So, as I begin to share our flowers, menu, and other decorative details, know that what makes your day special is the time you stop thinking about those things, and start embracing the moments. It’s an indescribable state of mind. Here’s a look back on our wedding day, from the dress I wore, to the games we played, and the homemade desserts, 1 year later…

Photography

Tara Ward Photography

First thing’s first, our amazing photographer who captured everything and more.. my beautiful cousin Tara (Tara Ward Photography). She did our engagement photos, my bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day. She is oh-so talented and I couldn’t have asked for a more kind-hearted person to capture these special moments. We will always be grateful for her!

Rehearsal Dinner

We held our rehearsal dinner at The Quintessa with all of our family and close friends. The night included BBQ, cocktails, and football!

The Dress

Katie May Poipu Wedding Gown

I picked out my dress almost a year in advance alongside my family, and without a doubt fell in love with it the moment I slipped it on. Although if I’m being honest, getting that dress to fit like a glove took some serious struggles leading up to our day. Nordstrom was having a trunk sale, and I *luckily found it half off there, the only problem being it was 3x my normal size. I went for it, hoping some alterations could do the trick. Several alterations later, it still didn’t fit quite as I hoped, and although I was bummed, I was going to make it work no matter what. I still loved the dress itself of course!

Thanks to my mom and MOH sister, we loaded up on fashion tape and created makeshift ways for it to stay up. Looking back now, it was stressful, but there was no way that I was going to let it take away from anything that day. The dress turned out beautifully (stayed up) and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.

Hair + Makeup

‘Chic’ Slicked Back Bun: Hair By Kassi. By my best of friend, and bridesmaid, Kassi Gagnon. She always nails it (and she did almost everyone’s hair that day!)

Makeup: Marqui Artistry, Located on Whidbey. She came to us and ended up doing almost the entire bridal party! Very customizable and knew exactly what we all wanted.

Location

Whidbey Island, WA.

Ceremony: St. Hubert Catholic Church

Reception: The Wayfarer

Activities

Our venue had Giant Jenga and Cornhole for everyone to play throughout the night. I didn’t get the chance to play but it’s suffice to say everyone had a blast.. (lol!)

Menu Details

This was my favorite part of the wedding planning because it was completely customized and every piece added a special, fun touch to our day.

Catering: Blue Dog Catering located on the island.

Dessert: All by my sweet mama.

Happy Hour Drinks: Vodka Lemonade with Fresh Mint

Drinks Throughout the Night: Beer and Wine

Toasts: Champagne

Appetizers:

Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Mini BLT’s

Crostini with Fig Jam, Goat Cheese, and Prosciutto

Main Course:

Seared Salmon with Mustard Dill Aioli

Grilled Chicken with Braised Leeks and Mushrooms

Sides:

Spinach Salad with Red Onion, Tomatoes, Feta, and Shallot Vinaigrette

Roasted Red Potatoes with Sea Salt

Broiled Asparagus with Pecorino and Balsamic

Dessert:

Assorted Homemade Pies (made all by my mom!)

DIY S’mores

Sam and I of course had our cake also…. 🙂

The Farm Table

We had a very special touch on our day that many of our guests raved about when it was over.. the farm table. Instead of multiple tables spread out across the venue, we had everyone sit at one large connected farm table. It was set beautifully with mismatched floral dinnerware, and a table runner of eucalyptus as well as (small) accents of baby’s breath. Everyone connected so well this way and it made for a unique touch to the night.

Guest Accommodations

The Quintessa– Where mine and Sam’s family (including us) stayed.

Saratoga Inn

Airbnb

Color Palette & Florals

I wanted our colors to represent our personalities/ styles as well as the venue. I also wanted it to look very earthy, elegant, and timeless. So, the bridesmaids wore ivory dresses and the groomsmen wore black pants, brown shoes, black tie, and white shirts.. It was a nice clean look and highlighted the natural beauty of the landscape.

Our families also wore the same colors. 🙂