A bride and groom kissing in a forest at Twin Willow Gardens

A&P’s gorgeous Twin Willow Gardens wedding was a day to remember! This couple is an opposites attract kind of couple. P is the cool, calming presence and A brings the party. Both are fun-loving and easy going and together they are attentive and supportive of each other. A works in healthcare and P is a bartender with the Mariners.

A+P wanted to get married in the forest, but preferred a venue closer to the city. They wanted a place that could shelter them in the off-chance of rain but that looked beautiful when the sun was out. Twin Willow Gardens is a versatile venue that showcases the PNW forest vibe while also being convenient to get to. The ceremony area is under a canopy of trees with a large wooden arch as a focal point. The name Twin Willows comes from the willow trees flanking the arch (there is only one willow tree now as it’s twin fell, but the ceremony area is still beautiful!) The venue has two tiny houses to get ready in, a large tent on the lawn, a small barn that can be used for a rain plan and a DJ and bar hut. They have a large grass parking area and the venue is a few minutes off of Highway 2 between Snohomish and Monroe.

A&P had many design ideas for their wedding celebration fueled by Pinterest. We worked with them to bring focus to their design and wrap it into a cohesive plan. They wanted to rent and buy second-hand as much as possible for each of their decor elements. We sourced vendors, checked availability and attended vendor design meetings to provide them guidance and support.

The wedding day forecast was a chance of rain, so we watched and hoped for the clouds to clear and they did! We had a plan b in our back pocket in case the rain came, but luckily it was not needed. The guests were jovial and in a celebratory mood. They were greeted by a glass of champagne as they walked to the ceremony. The trees shaded the guests from the sun as the wedding party walked down the aisle. The Bride walked down a secret forest path to the aisle flanked by her relatives. The officiant was a cousin of the bride (we worked with him beforehand to make sure he was comfortable and prepared). After a short ceremony, the couple celebrated with a kiss and a cocktail.

A&P wanted to add a few personalized elements to make their day unique. P worked for the Mariners and he wanted to incorporate baseballs into the reception. They decided on giving away baseballs previously used by the Mariners as favors to their guests.

A had lost her mother, so we set-up a memory table with pictures as well as reserved a seat at the ceremony in her remembrance.

With A&P’s closeknit family, many people wanted to help and lend their talents. I worked with the couple to decide what the family members could help with and what should be left to the professionals. The family made strawberry shortcake and small treats for the dessert table. They also made the charcuterie boards and helped fold napkins before the event started.

My favorite part of this Twin Willow Gardens wedding was the golden hour photos. The couple was filled with joy and love and it shows! I always suggest trying to fit golden hour photos into your timeline if you can (golden hour is the last hour before sunset or the first hour after sunrise). Its a great way to take a break from guests and reconnect with each other.

This Twin Willow Gardens wedding was one for the books and it was a delight to work with this couple to bring their vision to life. Their personalities and love story shown through in the details and choices they made. They were mindful of their environmental footprint while still throwing a great party!

Eco-friendly actions that the couple took:

Guests were invited by email and a wedding website was used for RSVPs.

The decor was rented, borrowed or second-hand.

A bus was rented to drive guests from Seattle to Snohomish. One -third of the guests opted for this option. This is a great idea if many guests are traveling from the same area.

The favors were used game baseballs from the Mariners baseball team.

A+P decided to have a sparkler send-off. They wavered on this decision as they really wanted the sparklers, but were aware of the environmental impact. I always tell my couples that their footprint is a spectrum and if something is not as environmentally friendly, but it’s important to them, then they should do it (within reason). I’m not here to guilt or shame anyone and I love to provide education and guidance.