Colette and Bill's Dreamy Backyard Wedding!

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Colette and Bill met online a little over 3 years ago and they were thrilled when their paths crossed.  They hit it off right away and it's been a wonderfully unfolding adventure ever since!

Bill proposed in June of 2019 on stage at The Triple Door, a fun restaurant that has live music in downtown Seattle.  Colette's vocal jazz group, BlueStreet Voices, was performing.  Bill coordinated secretly with members of the group to come up on stage during intermission, got down on one knee, and popped the question in front of friends, family and musical guests.  Colette was surprised, yet thrilled and immediately exclaimed "yes!" into the mic.

Wedding plans ensued and all was on track for a big celebration weekend at a favorite eastern Washington venue;  complete with golfing, pizza party, games, ceremony, and reception!  Things couldn't be more perfect...  Then, COVID-19 hit and the world changed and within weeks a close family member succumbed and passed away from the virus.  The timing just wasn't right for a wedding, so out of an abundance of caution and to allow time to grieve, the couple moved the entire weekend's events to the fall later that same year. A few months later, the state cancelled all receptions followed immediately by the venue cancelling the entire wedding.   

After much soul searching, the couple decided to move the celebration to 2021 and still tie the knot this year, as planned.  Being married and letting love win was the most important thing. The couple consulted their families and found the perfect date for their small ceremony this year and a date for their big reception next year! September 26th would be the wedding date in 2020 and would be the date in 2021 for the celebration, on their 1 year wedding anniversary.

Colette and Bill decided that the perfect place to have the ceremony would be Colette's parents' backyard! A large grassy space surrounded by gorgeous greenery and huge whimsical trees; the perfect area for a tent large enough to host twenty guests, along with tables set up to be socially distanced. The couple booked a florist, dessert vendor, a gown for the bride, a suit for the groom, a hair and makeup artist, a photographer, an officiant, and a marriage license.  Safety precautions were put into place, color schemes were developed, designs were discussed, and slowly but surely within weeks a wedding was forming.  It was happening!

The bride watched the weather report daily;  rain continued to be in the forecast.  It just seemed like everything was conspiring against them.  What should have been so easy was no longer, not in 2020.

And then the day came, the clouds parted and a bit of sun shone down.  Rain made an on and off appearance, but the couple had planned for it and was ready with the tent, the umbrellas, good humor, love and laughter.  Rain on your wedding day is good luck, after all! Joy was all around, close friends and family were present, everyone was safe, and most importantly, Bill and Colette were finally getting married!  Love wins!  The day couldn't have been more perfect.

Congratulations to Colette and Bill on their gorgeous backyard wedding! We are so excited for you and we wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness! Thank you for letting us be apart of your perfect day.

Vendors:

Photographer - Arlene Chambers Photography

Gown - I Do Bridal, Maggie Sottero

Suit - Bonobos at University Villiage

Flowers - From the Ground Up

Rentals - Cort Party Rentals

HMUA - Elizabeth White Artistry

Offiiant - Reverend Pat Callahan

Dessert - Pinkabella

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