September was filled with rainy wedding days for us – especially when our weddings happened to be at The Lookout Lodge in Snohomish.
Despite the rain, everyone was in great spirits and the beautiful color scheme complimented the downpour perfectly. It even made the first dance feel so much more romantic.
Ready for the mushy stuff? Straight from our gorgeous bride:
How did the two of you meet?
We met on a dating website, Plenty of Fish. Brandon had been online for about a year, when I signed up for an account. I had been working a PT job 25+ hours a week retail, on top of my full time job, as the holiday season started. Since I had been working so much, I WANTED to sign up for a dating site, but was hesitant to do so when I knew I would be working through the holidays into the early part of the year. I was talking with some friends at work who suggested the site, as a way to start meeting people, so on a 15 minute break at work, I created my profile, with the username branmuffin416, my nickname and birthday. Brandon messaged me within about an hour of me creating my profile, saying that he liked by profile name, and that his family called him branflake growing up. From then, we started talking, and had our first date on 12/7/13 at the Rock Pizza in the Renton Landing.
Tell us the awesome proposal details.
After the busyness of the holiday season, we decided to plan a weekend get-away at the ocean (Moclips), with friends of ours, Jessica and Nate. I was honestly hoping for some great winter storm watching, as the house we rented had a beautiful view of the ocean. We got there early, visiting Ocean Shores on the way, drove my car on the beach, visited the casino, and had lunch at an Irish Pub in town, and finally got to the rental house around 4pm. Our friends got held up at home, and got a late start, and finally got there around 9pm in time for a late dinner, followed by board games until 2am, a late night! We woke up Saturday, to a grey, and foggy ocean view, without much promise of clear weather. I made breakfast, and started making mimosas but Brandon didnt want one, saying his stomach was upset, we were thinking from drinking the night before. As the morning passed, the fog started clearing, with breaks of sun, so we decided maybe it would be a good time to go take a walk on the beach. So out we went, bundled up in jeans, jackets, hats and rain boots, to walk the beach and try to find sand dollars for Jess and Nate to take home to their kids, Chloe and Gavin. As we didnt have much luck, we eventually split up, Jess and Nate, and Brandon and I to cover more ground. As we were walking, talking, and eventually Brandon got a little quiet which made me wonder if everything was ok, or what was going on. Next thing I knew, he got down on one knee in the sand, and asked me if I would marry him. I was so surprised! During the holiday season, followed by our 4 year anniversary on New Years Eve, where we went to the Seahawks game, I had been on edge wondering and hoping he would ask. I had been talking to my good friend Kristin the week before, and she mentioned it would be so romantic if he proposed at the ocean. I said yes, but that I didnt want to get my hopes up thinking it would happen, and if it didnt, have that ruin my mood, and I completely talked myself out of it, even to the point that I consciously chose not to paint my nails ahead of time, and brought my nail polish instead as a potential winter rainy day pampering activity for Jess and I. So I was completely caught off guard when Brandon DID get down on one knee and propose!
Is there a reason you chose your PNW venue for your wedding?
Actually, I found The Lookout Lodge through your blog! Trying to find a venue, with a Saturday availability, for this year, was discouraging. At 3am one morning, when I had woken up and couldnt fall back asleep one Sunday Morning, I did a google search for off the beaten path wedding venues in Washington, and your post about PNW Proud: Wedding & Elopement Venues off the Beaten Path came up on the search. As I clicked on a few, I had opened up the Lookout Lodges website, and loved the view of the ceremony area, with the log benches, the trellis, and the woods and mountain background. I toured the venue, with moms in tow, in a complete DOWNPOUR in late January, and LOVED it despite the gloomy weather (and it ended up being perfect for a rainy wedding!).
Do you have any DIY details planned for your wedding?
Brandon built the centerpiece boxes for the tables, we DIY stained and painted the card box, and all the yard games. Brandon’s aunt Denise is doing all the flowers for the wedding. My aunt Janice made the ring bearer pillow, decorated the flower girl pail, sewed the garters and table runners, as well as will be decorating the trellis for the ceremony. The wedding favors (peach jam, and blackberry jelly) were made by my mom and myself.
What inspired the clothing choices?
I love the wine/burgundy color, and wanted the girls to each be comfortable in the dresses, so they each chose the look of their dresses, as long as they were floor length. I liked the look of grey for the guys, as it wasnt as drastic or formal as black.
Tell us about the desserts!
We will be having a mini dessert bar: a smaller cutting cake for Brandon and I, dark chocolate LUVAcakes with Peanut Butter (Peanut Butter is Brandon’s favorite), Mini Cheescakes with marionberry topping, lemon tarts, apple pie pops (OMG these are the cutest ever and Flour & Girl outdid themselves!!), and carrot cupcakes.
If we bumped in to you on a relaxed weekend, what would you be doing?
Camping out in the woods, trail riding in our Polaris RZR.
PNW Rainy Wedding Vendor Team
Venue: The Lookout Lodge
Hair Stylist: Casey of R Salon
Makeup Artist: Yelena of Makeup You Beautiful
Coordinator: Jamie D of The Lookout Lodge
Photographer: GSquared Weddings
Officiant: Pam G, family friend
Invitations: Zazzle
Florist: Denise (aunt of the groom)
DJ/MC: EventSource Northwest
Baker/Desserts: Flour & Girl
Decor Rentals: Sweet Buffet Lady
Catering & Bartending: Alexa’s Cafe & Catering
Bride’s Apparel: BLHDN
Groom’s Apparel: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids Apparel: KF Bridal
Groomsmen Apparel (and ringbearer): Men’s Wearhouse
Flowergirl Apparel: Lisa Ann’s Creations
PNW Rainy Wedding Vendor Team
Venue: The Lookout Lodge
Hair Stylist: Casey of R Salon
Makeup Artist: Yelena of Makeup You Beautiful
Coordinator: Jamie D of The Lookout Lodge
Photographer: GSquared Weddings
Officiant: Pam G, family friend
Invitations: Zazzle
Florist: Denise (aunt of the groom)
DJ/MC: EventSource Northwest
Baker/Desserts: Flour & Girl
Decor Rentals: Sweet Buffet Lady
Catering & Bartending: Alexa’s Cafe & Catering
Bride’s Apparel: BLHDN
Groom’s Apparel: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids Apparel: KF Bridal
Groomsmen Apparel (and ringbearer): Men’s Wearhouse
Flowergirl Apparel: Lisa Ann’s Creations
