Private Property Wedding: Love Legacy with Tenderness, Tacos, and Tequila

From a chance meeting to so many intentional and tender moments that lead them together, Dawn and Allison worked with us to create the wedding of their dreams. On private property and catered by Allison’s company, these two brought all of their opposites together to form something truly touching and meaningful.

OUR TAPESTRY COUPLE.

Allison and Dawn's love story began at a Pride women's event, an evening neither of them had eagerly anticipated. Fate, however, had its way as they crossed paths in the dimly lit room, sharing a fleeting smile that ignited a connection. While Allison recognized Dawn, the reverse wasn't true. Their introduction was casual, mentioning a mutual friend, Jamie, which immediately impressed Dawn. A tipsy conversation about their dogs ensued, leading Allison to take a bold step, leaving her business card and an invitation to connect.

As their interactions grew, sparks flew. They spent an unplanned weekend discovering unexpected connections and bold confessions. Allison realized her feelings when Dawn unexpectedly texted her, declaring her love while perched on Allison's house deck on Vashon. It was a daring move, one that captured Allison's heart entirely.

Dawn recalls feeling the depth of their connection on their second date, a night of tacos, tequila, and serenades that culminated in slow dancing in an empty house. Allison's gestures of understanding and thoughtfulness, like arranging a horse ride for Dawn, signaled her commitment to fulfilling Dawn's dreams.

Their relationship burgeoned with enchanting moments—harmonizing in the car, impromptu airline ticket purchases to meet families, and shared leaps of faith, each instance deepening their bond. Despite initial reservations about marriage, their story took an unexpected turn when Allison proposed in an ordinary yet profoundly magical moment on their Vashon deck, to the tune of their song, "Dog Years" by Maggie Rogers. The simplicity of the proposal amidst chaos, with just their cherished sunset and little family, encapsulated their perfect union.

Their mantra—Not a moment sooner. Be here now. Now or never—reflects their commitment to living each moment fully. Allison's heartfelt proposal marked the beginning of their journey towards forever, a beautiful testament to the power of love, understanding, and a shared promise for a future filled with cherished memories.

In their own words: A quintessential, metaphorical difference between the two of us is that Allison is an incredible cook, and Dawn a baker. She is a creative rule breaker, and I am an organized, precise rule follower (not always, but I like guardrails and then can make intentional decisions to blow through them.) Allison is a very social extrovert that likes to stay home. Dawn is an introvert that can turn extrovert for work and the occasional social event. Allison is loud, Dawn is not. Allison is an interpretive dance, and Dawn is a slow walk. Dawn is strategic with her brain and her energy, and Allison is a hurricane. Allison provides Dawn with invitations to leap, and Dawn provides Allison a refuge.

Are you ready to launch your marriage legacy with us?

PRIVATE PROPERTY WEDDING.

Private property weddings bring their own kind of magic! It allows us to truly have creative freedom to bring all your dreams to life. From helping to shape the garden and landscape to figuring out exactly what vendors you want. The year before the wedding, I walked the grounds with the couple and their friends whose property it is. We chatted through all the details of what it was going to take to put on an event in private space. From changes that would need to be made to utilities we’d have to set up.

Allison, a creative soul with a deep passion for cooking, has a history as a chef and even launched her catering business in 2022. Her boundless creativity led her to propose catering her wedding, showcasing her culinary skills. As a planner, I mapped out the meticulous details required for self-catering: meticulous dish prep, detailed documentation, hiring a professional staff for execution, property inspections, and numerous preparatory meetings. Undeterred, Allison embraced the challenge, putting in extensive effort to infuse their celebration with her handcrafted, passion-fueled touch, ensuring their special day was a culinary delight.

Initially set for an August 2022 affair, Allison and Dawn's wedding journey took an unexpected turn, leading them to reschedule the celebration for 2023. During this time, Allison navigated the responsibilities of their Vashon home, coping with the loss of a beloved pet, and grappling with mental health challenges amid the world's tumultuous post-pandemic phase. Meanwhile, Dawn soared in her career, swiftly ascending to the Chief Executive Officer position at Treehouse for Kids, necessitating a relocation from West Seattle to Washington, D.C.

Their once joyful planning process began to lose its sparkle amidst these whirlwinds of change. Sensing the strain, both mutually and wholeheartedly agreed to postpone the celebration for a year, granting themselves the space to navigate life's demands. Stepping back from wedding preparations allowed Allison and Dawn to realign their priorities and rekindle their enthusiasm, enabling them to re-engage with the planning process with the fervor they had initially envisioned.

My goal as a wedding planner is always to stay attuned to my couple’s needs and help them create the best wedding experience possible!

A DAY TO REMEMBER.

Allison and Dawn's wedding was a celebration woven with personalized touches reflecting their unique love story. As a tribute to their cherished Friday night tradition of tacos, tequila, and churros, guests were welcomed with a shot of tequila upon arrival, followed by a delectable taco dinner crafted by Allison herself. The festivity continued with a delightful churro station, offering freshly-cooked morsels during the lively dancing.

Honoring the essence of their first three dates, the wedding incorporated the taco and tequila theme throughout, embracing the Typewriter Rodeo's presence to hand-type poems during guest arrival and cocktail hour. Echoing their tradition of exchanging weekly cards, a heartfelt touch that symbolized their enduring connection, the event brimmed with sentimental significance.

Their canine companions, integral parts of their lives, took center stage as cutouts of their dogs accompanied by their siblings, forming an endearing wedding party. The meticulous attention to detail showcased Allison's dedication and love for Dawn. From a monogrammed shirt bearing their initials to personally creating all the event signage and paper products, every element was infused with care and sentiment.

In a beautiful surprise, Allison arranged projector pens, allowing them to project selfies capturing their cherished moments together onto the barn walls during their first dance—an enchanting gesture revealing Allison's thoughtful desire to make Dawn feel immensely cherished and loved. As Dawn conquers the world with her endeavors, Allison's meticulous attention to detail served as a mirror to how deeply she desires Dawn to feel reciprocated love and care in every aspect of their life together.

Photos courtesy of Saskia Potter Photography.

A QUICK REFLECTION.

Planning a wedding on private property can come with a lot of details and moving parts, but it also allows for so much involvement and creativity! Allison and Dawn truly took that to heart by incorporation so many of their personal moments and stories. Not to mention, Allison totally rocking the catering, even as a bride! I loved being a part of these two story, and can’t wait to see how they continue to flourish.

Looking for an hour of support from these brilliant brains?

THE VENDOR TEAM.

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

Officiant: Tommy Hoffman

Photographer: Saskia // Saskia Potter Photography // Seattle, WA

Hair + Makeup Artist: Lauren // Seattle Beauty Boss // Seattle, WA

Rentals: Kiersten Hathaway // CORT Party Rental // Seattle, WA

Matthew + Kacy // Pacheco’s Weddings and Events // @pachecosweddingsandevents // Redmond, WA

Seattle Farm Tables // Redmond, WA

Videographer: Nolan // Captivate Films // PNW

Live Entertainment: Sean + Lily // Typewriter Rodeo

Catering: Allison // Forks in the Road Catering // @forks_in_the_road_ // Vashon Island, WA

Desserts: Jess // Pixie Sweets | The Bitter Pixie // Seattle, WA