Well this wedding is just darling. Darling I tell you! It’s so delightful and comfy, it’s hard not to smile looking at all the beautiful images from Cheri Pearl Photography. With the gorgeous Orcas Island as the setting, and all the completely adorable DIY projects (including one of our SMP downloads!), it’s easy to see why we are loving this wedding. Everyone needs a little darling on a Monday, so why not get a little lost in the gallery this afternoon?
click here for the full wedding gallery!
Chris and I met in Washington, DC in 2004 and continue to live here now, so it almost seemed automatic that we would get married somewhere in the District. We scouted and talked about a formal event at a historic venue, but just couldn’t shake the excitement of staging something more unique and personal out off the coast of Washington state in the beautiful San Juan islands. I had spent a lot of summers at a wilderness camp on Orcas Island, Chris and I had vacationed there a few years ago, and it is simply the most beautiful place to be in August. I had always dreamed of getting married out in the islands, and even though it would make planning and traveling more difficult, once we got a few things in place, it definitely felt like the right decision.
Chris and I both wanted our wedding to be a small, low-key, and casual celebration of our marriage. We wanted to keep the theme and style simple and classy, and spend time on getting the details right for the most important things. We chose Odd Fellows Hall as our venue for its location along on the water, and its amazing two-story deck and expansive view. The ceremony took place on the bottom tier of the deck, and we hired a local musician to play guitar while the guests arrived and during the ceremony.
In keeping with the casual and comfortable theme, our reception was decorated with an amazing collection of do-it-yourself projects. We scattered a collection of a Seattle-based favorite of mine, Glassybaby votive holders, on the tables and window sills. Friends and family pitched in to hand-make a variety of tissue paper and coffee filter pom-poms and flowers, which we hung from the ceiling, around the window frames, and chairs. For our flowers, I knew that I wanted local “farmer’s market” bouquets for the tables, and simple arrangements for the ceremony, which a dear friend created for us. Finally, we added a few more personal touches and details like a gummy-candy bar, monogrammed beer cups & napkins, and little blanket bundles for after the sun went down. Our friends even surprised us with pieces of driftwood that they had picked up during the weekend and carved our names into, which added just the right amount of island-y touch!
Our wedding weekend could not have been more perfect! The weather was better than I ever imagined – blue skies, sunny, and warm! We had a chance to go whale watching, swim and relax by a nearby lake, and enjoy the small town food and hospitality. It was a weekend neither of us will ever forget, and I’m so glad we followed our instincts to pick the perfect place and setting to celebrate.
Photography: Cheri Pearl Photography / Caterer: Fire Smokehouse and Grill / Flowers: Once in a Blue Moon Farm / Cakes: Lone Cow Farm / Cake toppers: Goose Grease Undone on Etsy / Votives: Glassybaby / Dress: J Crew / Shoes: Anne Klein / Ceremony & Reception: Odd Fellows / Hair & Makeup: Salon Mir’toi