Rachel and Austin, who met their junior year at the University of Washington, tied the knot at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish, Washington. The naturally gorgeous venue with its serene atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for their easy-going celebration. A few hot air balloons even made an appearance in the distant sky for a picturesque moment at the end of the day. Rachel carried a bouquet of soft white, purple and coral pink blooms sourced from a local farm – the coral picking up on the beautiful bridesmaid dresses. This sweet couple has one of those engagement stories that sounds like it might be a passage from a Nicholas Sparks book – it certainly made me tear up a bit – take a look below.
From the Bride…
Proposal Story:
Austin proposed to me on December 23rd, 2012. Christmas was approaching and (before getting married) we traveled to be with our families, so we would always do our own celebration a few days ahead of time. When Austin asked me to hang out with him on his day off and exchange Christmas presents I didn’t think twice. We went down to a restaurant on the waterfront and had a beautiful dinner watching the ferryboats come in and out. He handed me a very touching letter (I thought it was my Christmas card) which showered me with compliments and many thoughtful commitments. After dinner I asked if we could ride the ferry for fun and he agreed so we set out to the terminal. As we were walking I realized we had passed the terminal and were heading for the beach. It was a cold wintery night so I did not like this and tried to turn us around many times. We then got to where the lighthouse entrance was and he opened the gate to let me in. I was beyond confused. I asked if we were going inside and he said yes. He then took my hand and led me up the tower. The stairs were covered with roses and pictures of us through the years. At the top I looked out over the water and saw the ferries and fireworks started going off (yes, fireworks!) He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was the happiest girl on earth. Then he rushed me down the tower. I was confused as to why we weren’t hangout out at the top longer. We reached the bottom of the stairs where I was surprised with a room full of our families and friends waiting to celebrate with us. It was a magical night.
Wedding Day Inspiration:
I searched for a lot of inspiration on Pinterest but ultimately decided to let my venue influence the day the most. I think people can get too lost with all the cutesy Pinterest ideas. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pinterest but I think it’s easy to go too far with too many crafts and it can become a hodge podge of ideas. We got married at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish, WA. It was a beautiful farm with so much natural beauty. I didn’t want my decor to take away from it so I went the simple route. Nothing was overdone. I did the decor myself or bought it locally. For example, all of my flowers were from a farm down the road. Even my wedding dress was from a local dress shop in Seattle. It was lace with a single flower on the side. I was on a farm, It was inappropriate to show up in a giant ball gown. I wanted my guests to come and enjoy the beauty of the northwest that I grew up in. Simple and natural were the motto of the day!
Most memorable moment?
That is a tough one. The whole day was filled with moments I will treasure forever. Can I have two? Aside from the first look that was filled with so much anticipation and excitement, there was a quieter moment later in the day. Right when the party at the reception was at full blast, we snuck off to a field for sunset pictures. We were out there with our photographers and videographer but it felt like it was just us. Just walking in the field “alone” was so special. We were taking in the breathtaking sunset for the first time as a married couple in the still quiet valley. We held hands and just had fun literally frolicking in the field. What could be better!?
I know I’m cheating but I have to give one more. It was just as we were all about to walk down the aisle. Austin was at the front of the line and two butterflies flew up to him. He put his hand out and they danced right on top. They stayed with the bridal party until just before I was about to walk down the aisle. They flew down the aisle and stayed by the alter (I like to think they were waiting for me). They stayed there the entire ceremony. Both my father and Austin’s father have passed away. I took it as a sign. One being, butterflies symbolize new beginnings. And secondly I know our dads were watching us that day.
Photographer: Genesa Richards Photography / Venue: Hidden Meadows / Flowers: Loi and Chen’s Flower Farm in Snohomish, WA (often at Pike Place Market) / Dress + Veil: Cicada Bridal / Hair: Gene Juarez / Jewelry: Som’s Studio (etsy) / Garter Set: Lucy Bridal Boutique (etsy) / Skeleton Keys: Favor Warehouse / Toasting Flutes: Things Remembered / Cake: Megan Christenson / Catering: Trails End Catering / Videographer: Eric Miller Video / DJ: Levi Harshmann of Remarkable Production