Throughout the wedding planning process we had an absolute blast getting to know Niko and Drew. Their love for each other was palpable and they were all about having a good time on their wedding day. That much is pretty clear from the photos. Instead of the traditional ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing flow to the night, Niko and Drew hosted a 2 hour long cocktail hour to kick off the festivities. Because many of their guests were planning to travel via ferry to their wedding venue in Kingston, Washington they wanted to ensure everyone would make it on time - particularly those not used to ferries and ferry schedules (which can be very troublesome!). During their cocktail hour guests enjoyed a plethora of drinks including welcome champagne lining the driveway of the venue for guests to scoop on their way down to the festivities, an interactive guest book - a canvas on which each guest was invited to draw a heart, and a plethora of oversized lawn games - jenga, dice, horse shoes, etc.
The pair chose to be married in the round in a wooded area on a lavender farm. In lieu of a traditional bridal party Niko and Drew opted to walk each other town the aisle with their three sweet pups leading the pack! To end their super intimate candle filled ceremony they "jumped the broom" which is oftentimes associated with African American weddings as its history can be traced back to married in times of slavery. However, more recently same sex couples have began to incorporate it into their wedding traditions as well. Niko and Drew's broom was handmade by a friend.
Following the ceremony dinner was held by the main house and centerpieces mimicked the ceremony space. With lush greenery, floating candles, and moss, we truly brought the forest setting up to the reception space. Instead of a traditional first dance Niko and Drew opted for a "first song" much to the delight of the guests. The pair belted it out karaoke style. They ended the night with more drinks, dancing, and s'mores around a campfire. Don't miss their feature on Love Inc.
Photographer: Lemonade Photography | Planning & Design: Willow & Ivy Events | Venue: Kingston House | Rentals: CORT Party Rental | Catering: Crescent Moon Catering | DJ: Triple J Music