Snohomish Backyard Ceremony | Taylor + Dustin’s Elopement
Usually, I’d write this blog post all about the day of Taylor and Dustin’s gorgeous wedding and tell you the details of the what, where and when. I promise I’ll get to that in a minute. Before I do, I want to tell you a little story of where this Snohomish Backyard Ceremony fell into my lap.
The Seattle Wedding Show
Back in 2005, I had big dreams of being a wedding planner. At a whopping 18 years old, I enrolled into an online course (they were big things back then) for a certificate in Bridal Consulting. My mom saw an ad for the Seattle Wedding Show and suggested we go check it out. Upon walking in the doors, I made a decision: One day I would have my own booth at the show. Fifteen (yes 15!!) years later, I had my first Seattle Wedding Show booth, slightly different that I imagined.
A Slightly Different Dream
In January, after 10 years in business, I finally made that dream come true and excitedly awaited all the couples who would visit me. One couple (this one!) strolled up with their little girl, and I’m sure half the draw was Evan in the Moby wrap. Maybe it’s that unspoken mom-connection, but I knew Taylor and Dustin were a perfect fit and had high hopes they’d choose me. Lucky me, they did.
Just like my business at the Seattle Wedding Show taking a different form, Taylor and Dustin’s Snohomish Backyard Ceremony had originally been planned much bigger. With all the wrenches and curve balls of 2020, they rolled with the punches and came out on top. Taylor mentioned she’d wanted to elope anyway, so a backyard ceremony was perfect for her.
The DIY Details
Their ceremony moved from his parents house to their own backyard; where I felt right at home as the chickens called to me from the neighbor’s yard. (Don’t ask me how I manage to find chickens at 90% of my weddings. It’s a skill I didn’t realize I possessed.) Taylor and her best friend, Ally, tied the last ribbon on her bouquet; a beautiful hand-dyed linen ribbon from Poland that perfectly matched what Taylor had been searching for. Nana carefully wrapped the boutonniere for Dustin, using the perfect rose that Taylor had saved the night before.
Snohomish Backyard Ceremony
Joined by 11 of their closest friends and family, with the others streamed in through the internet, Taylor and Dustin walked together down the aisle and into forever as Mr. & Mrs. Their short and sweet ceremony, performed by Dustin’s Uncle Klass (I apologize if I spelled that wrong!) was everything they wanted. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more perfect, Taylor insisted on taking a walk down the trail next to their house.
For the Love of Willows
Maybe she’s psychic, or she’s just a soul-client, but Taylor suggested we walk to the end of the trail nearby. She and Dustin walk this trail almost daily with their daughter, and at the very end was a giant willow tree. I internally squealed when I saw it, even though from one side it didn’t look super amazing. However, once Taylor and Dustin were snuggled under it, the sun streamed through the trees and gave us a dreamy spot for their couples portraits. It was everything I could have imagined.
Even though things didn’t quite go as planned, Taylor and Dustin made the best of everything. In the end, the only thing that matters is they are married now. That in itself is perfect.
P.S. Taylor, there’s no such thing as too much extra. 😉
