Embracing Deaf Culture in an Intentional Wedding at Kiana Lodge

At Tapestry, we cherish all the time we get with our couples and the lifelong relationships we forge. For Christie and Jeff, we had the opportunity to officiate their intimate wedding back in 2021 and then plan their bigger event in 2023. We collaborated to weave a beautiful wedding and deaf culture into one community that showcased worlds and cultures coming together.

OUR TAPESTRY COUPLE.

In a testament to fate’s orchestration, Christie and Jeff met at a once-a-week summer program, Explore Your Future, at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. They mutually noticed each other because both moved fluidly between American Sign Language (ASL) and English with their hearing aids. Finding someone who communicated similarly was the serendipitous moment that brought them together.

For Christie, love grew gradually from the moments spent together during their formative years as high school and college students. Each memory woven into the fabric of their journey affirmed her growing affection for Jeffrey. On the other hand, he describes their love as a slow-motion masterpiece intricately crafted through countless shared adventures and cherished moments. Their life trajectories could have gone in so many different directions, but each takes time to remember that they built a strong foundation before becoming a couple. Through shared connections and many moments, they took time as individuals before coming together.

Christie and Jeff, both federal government employees, have stable careers that allow them to work diligently while cherishing the free time they spend with loved ones. They take great joy in nurturing relationships with their families and friends, actively engaging in their nieces’ hobbies, and regularly visiting their parents and Jeff’s younger brother. 

Whether connecting virtually through FaceTime or enjoying coffee dates and shared meals, Christie and Jeff prioritize quality time with their dear ones, relishing in emotional connections and creating new memories. Their love for the outdoors is palpable as they find solace in tending to their new home and exploring national and state parks through hiking, cycling, running, and boating. Traveling holds a special place in their hearts, allowing them to forge new connections and share their life stories while immersing themselves in the rich Tapestry of diverse cultures and experiences.

 At Tapestry, we spend a great deal of time getting to know our couples on this level so that we can incorporate who they are and what they value into their wedding day. Knowing how important their family and friends are to them was a central focus of crafting the day.

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Present. Grounded. Authentic.

Before Christie and Jeff even planned a wedding, Christie’s father approached Kate at their ceremony and started picking her brain on wedding planning. He’s the one who first told Kate he wanted her to plan his daughter’s wedding celebration when the time came. She was honored and flattered and deeply struck by his kindness and enthusiasm.

When the time came for Christie and Jeff to plan their wedding, their decision to work with Tapestry was natural. Drawing from their positive experience with Tapestry’s officiant services, they sought a planner who could seamlessly translate their vision into a reality while infusing the celebration with the authentic essence of the Pacific Northwest. Living in northern Virginia, the couple faced the challenge of planning from afar. Finding a planner who could alleviate the stress of scouting locations, coordinating vendors, and managing logistics on the big day was essential.

Above all, Christie and Jeff’s wedding vision centered around three core principles: being present and emotionally grounded, fostering a sense of health and wellness, and celebrating with genuine love and connection. They wanted a wedding experience that allowed them to savor each moment, creating lasting memories without feeling overwhelmed by the day's logistics. With Tapestry’s guidance and support, they hoped to achieve a celebration that reflected their values and embodied the PNW vibes they cherished, ensuring a day filled with joy, authenticity, and heartfelt connections.

The working relationship between the couple and Tapestry Event Co. was marked by careful attention to detail and a deep commitment to inclusivity. One of the primary challenges was finding the perfect outdoor setting that would cater to the couple’s desire for a day filled with physical and spiritual rejuvenation in nature while also accommodating the bride’s mother, who uses a wheelchair, and ensuring open sight lines for Deaf guests. With Tapestry’s guidance, the couple discovered Kiana Lodge, a venue that perfectly matched their criteria and provided a picturesque backdrop for their celebration.

In addition to venue selection, Tapestry played a crucial role in recruiting a vendor team sensitive to Deaf culture and willing to educate themselves on the nuances of creating an inclusive guest experience. This involved coordinating interpreters for every aspect of the event, from ceremony speeches to DJ announcements, ensuring that both hearing and Deaf guests could fully participate in the festivities. The level of coordination also extended to the media team, with Tapestry providing guidance on capturing meaningful Deaf interactions and integrating them into the event coverage.

At Tapestry, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. When tasked with orchestrating a 'bilingual' event, our team went above and beyond to set the stage for Deaf inclusion success. We meticulously crafted a detailed run of show specifically tailored to accommodate both spoken and sign language, ensuring seamless communication for all attendees. In addition, the couple invested considerable time in educating and training our media team on Deaf culture and communication nuances, enabling them to capture every moment with sensitivity and accuracy.

Perhaps most notably, Tapestry challenged traditional wedding norms by analyzing each aspect of the day through an inclusive lens. For example, when coordinating a group photo with smoke bombs, Tapestry ensured that Deaf guests were actively involved by volunteering and providing accessible instructions through sign language interpreters. This approach resulted in moments of unity and shared experience throughout the day, highlighting the power of inclusivity in creating meaningful wedding celebrations.

Every detail was thoughtfully choreographed to resonate visually and emotionally with both Deaf and hearing guests alike. Whether working with differently abled clients or bilingual families, we take pride in our ability to understand and include all individuals, creating unforgettable experiences that resonate with everyone.

Intentional Inclusivity.

Each moment of the day was intentionally created to reflect their love story and honor their unique backgrounds. The ceremony, led by a friend who is Deaf, was a poignant reflection of their journey, beginning with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the ancestral land on which they stood. Water, symbolizing their shared journey and connection to their ancestors, was central to the ceremony, set against the backdrop of the Suquamish Tribe’s territory. The officiant’s words, expressed in sign language, added an extra layer of beauty and depth to the ceremony, creating a truly memorable experience.

The celebration continued with a culinary journey inspired by Christie and Jeff’s Indonesian and Korean heritage and local Pacific Northwest flavors. The dishes were thoughtfully curated to represent their diverse backgrounds and showcase the abundance of the region. During cocktail hour, a heartwarming father-son game of catch underscored the importance of family connections and added a personal touch to the festivities. 

As the evening progressed, toasts alternated between spoken words and sign language interpretation, seamlessly weaving together different modes of communication. This inclusive approach extended to all aspects of the celebration, with equal emphasis placed on traditional elements for both hearing and Deaf guests. The extra effort required to ensure everyone felt included only made witnessing the joy and unity of the day all worthwhile. It was a testament to the couple’s commitment to honoring their differences and celebrating their mutual love of adventure, both on their wedding day and throughout their lives together.

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THE VENDOR TEAM.

Planner: Kate // Tapestry Event Co. // @tapestryeventco // Seattle, WA + Beyond

Florist: Helen // Helen Elisabeth Floral Design // Seattle, Wa

DJ: Matt Boyer // Emerald City Sound // @emeraldcitysound // Seattle, Wa

Photographer: Naba Zabih // Naba Zabih // Portland, Or

Videographer: Nolan // Captivate Films // @bycaptivatefilms // Seattle, WA

Hair + Makeup Artist: Nicole Gross // OffWhite Makeup & Beauty // Seattle, WA

Desserts: Blackbird Bakery // Bainbridge Island, Wa