These cuties were in preschool together, even having their photo taken side-by-side on a field trip to Craven Farm. Fast forward 20+ years and they’re in the same exact spot, reciting vows to one another, becoming husband and wife. Do you feel those chills on your arms too? Stories like this are what makes me love my job. Elizabeth Lauren, with assistance by Sierra Loomer, and Bello Pictures, captured it all, from these perfect portraits to one delicious cake courtesy of The Sweet Side. Our VAULT has every pretty pic – and follow along with #SMPShareYourStory for more happy tear inducing tales.
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From the Bride…Chase and I met in preschool. We are both from the same small town, and we grew up only a few miles apart from each other. We don’t remember if we were in love or not, but I still have a valentine that he gave me from preschool. We became good friends in high school and for years timing was never on our side. Chase and I started off as good friends, hanging out in groups on the weekends. We had a strong foundation in our friendship, and he made me laugh and spent time with me well before our first date. I got to graduate with my best friend, and we were inseparable. After high school I moved to Hawaii, and we became a long distance couple. Three months later he surprised me and flew to Hawaii and planned a whirlwind proposal with my roommates and family hiding behind a surf shack. Three days later I got on a plane and went to Uganda for mission work. Our first three months as an engaged couple was spent with an eleven hour time difference, and it wasn’t easy. But coming home to plan my dream wedding with my dream man was the most amazing thing I could’ve asked for.
One of the first things we did was look for venues. We knew we wanted an outdoor bohemian whimsical look, but nothing really caught our eye. My mom and I went on the Snohomish Wedding Tour, where we went to several venues that were each filled with different vendors. We saw Craven Farm on the list, and we didn’t feel much of a need to go there. We didn’t think of Craven as a wedding venue, because it also serves as a pumpkin patch that is near our home. Growing up my family an I went there for pumpkins every year. We decided to go there just to look at vendors, and as soon as we walked onto the grounds, my mom started to cry. It was so much more beautiful than we could’ve imagined. The corn surrounded fields, open air barns and beautiful landscaping were everything that we had been looking for. As I called Chase to meet us to see the venue, it dawned on me that Chase and I had already been there. Craven is a popular pumpkin patch, and they host many field trips in October. Chase and I went on a field trip together in preschool to Craven Farm, and we stood and played in the exact spot where I was envisioning our wedding day. We ended up signing the contract that day. Not only was Craven absolutely beautiful and everything we could’ve wanted. Chase and I had a sentimental attachment to it. And after searching through thousands of photos (my mom is a photographer), I finally came across proof that we were there. I found a photo of Chase and I standing next to each other at Craven Farm, almost two decades ago.
Since we had such a beautiful venue to build off of, my mom and I who are naturally very artistic people got to work planning the decor. We wanted the wedding to be very DIY, but look chic at the same time. The bohemian theme was a no-brainer, and Chase’s family has been hunting for generations, so we decided to go with an antler filled, natural and free spirited look. I told my florist “no roses”, and wanted to have a masculine spin on the bohemian style. We also decided to go with gold, black and purple to make things more edgy to match mine and Chase’s style. My mom and I spent our weekends going to vintage stores and every World Market location in the Seattle Area. All of the decorations were bought or made by my family. All of the antlers we used came from Chase’s family, including the mounted stag. My dad built the backdrop for the buck, and he used vinegar and tea to darken it up. My sister did all of the calligraphy, her friend provided beautiful harp music during the ceremony, a friend of ours (who was at the Hawaiian proposal) DJed the reception, my uncle Len officiated the ceremony and our photographer Elizabeth was also a good friend. We wanted to be surrounded by family and friends, and the people closest to us knew exactly what we wanted. My grandfather built the arbor we got married under out of the trees in his backyard. He also restored some old pews for the first row. We both come from religious backgrounds that we wanted to honor, but we still wanted to get married outside. We had the ceremony in a field that was surrounded by corn, there was a cross on the arbor and the pews made the space our own outdoor church. Our caterer used to own a Hawaiian barbecue restaurant, so we decided to have a luau style roast pig to pay homage to our engagement in Hawaii. We also had a late night cereal bar, honoring Chase’s favorite meal.
Living in Seattle poses the threat of rain on an outdoor wedding, but we took the risk. We had the most beautiful sunny day, and everything turned out so perfect. There were lots of tears, laughter and almost too much dancing. Our families did so much for us, and we had so many amazing people that helped our day to be more than we could’ve asked for. The two blonde curly headed kids playing at the pumpkin patch never would’ve guessed that almost twenty years later they would be saying “I do” in that very same place.
Photography: Elizabeth Lauren Photography | Cinematography: Bello Pictures | Coordination: The Invisible Hostess | Floral Design: Vintage Lilli By Debi Bock | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake: The SweetSide | Catering: Debauchaery Catering | Hair + Makeup: Yessie Libby | Venue: Craven Farms | Bridal Boutique: The Dress Theory | Calligraphy + Signage: &HaileyAnn | Photography - Assistance: Sierra Loomer
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