What’s better than a Monday wedding?

For Shea + Tyler, they always knew they wanted to get married on the day of their anniversary and it just so happened to land on a Monday, which is the perfect way to kick off your week.

We first met Shea and Tyler back in November 2018 at Tyler’s cousin’s wedding we were planning down in Cabo, Mexico. I instantly fell in love with these two the moment we met. Besides just them being super adorable, they were so much fun and truly the life of any party! I had the best time dancing with them at the reception, they sure know how to get down on the dance floor.

Flash forward 15 months later, we met up for the first time to talk about their wedding celebration.

Originally planned for August 2020, we got to work immediately finding them the perfect venue that would fit their vision, and that’s when we came up upon Columbia Winery in Woodinville. It was the perfect spot for these two to say I Do.

When it came to the design of their wedding, Shea’s inspiration stemmed from the thistle flower, which also happens to be the national flower of Scotland. It has become so well-known and is so easily recognized that it is probably one of the first things to pop into the minds of most when thinking of Scotland- well of course alongside the Scottish kilt, that Shea decided to wear on the wedding day to celebrate his heritage. (Fun Fact, Shea wore a kilt for that 2018 Cabo wedding!)

We incorporated the thistle into so many details. From the signage, wedding cake to floral centerpieces, we used the color palette of the thistle as our reference when it came to our color palette which turned out so beautiful.

Sadly, as the pandemic took a foothold into our lives, the decision was made to postpone their wedding so they could have the day they truly wanted and deserved. With the wedding pushed back a year, that didn’t stop these two from their honeymoon which was a countrywide road trip before returning a few weeks before their wedding.

Luckily, we had everything all planned from the year before so it really came down to the last-minute details. Plus Shea and Tyler put all their faith into us knowing they were in good hands when it came to decisions that needed to be made. I had the most fun working with these two and always looked forward to our Zoom chats.

I was over the moon when these two finally made their way back to Washington and our first and probably most important, dare I say critical agenda item left to tackle, wine tasting for the incredible menu they had planned. After deciding they had to have more than a few selections, Shea + Tyler decided to do a wine bearing with each dinner course, which was one of the best decisions they could have made.

But these two had a surprise for me when they asked me to be their officiant for their ceremony. It was such an honor to play this role on their big day. I loved crafting their script and the best part was incorporating a letter that was supposed to have been read by Grandma Kelly. Sadly, she passed away shortly before the wedding so I had the honor of reading her words that spoke volumes to anyone sealing their love to one another.

Now in the words of Grandma Kelly:

Marriage is serious. Too many people put it on like a hat they can take off again. I say you try it on at the store. You like it? Leave it and come back the next day. And the next. Don’t buy the hat unless you are certain. Have you had enough shopping? Now I’ll tell you what to do. Remember these words because marriage is not easy. Admit when you are wrong. And if you are right do not gloat. Never demand forgiveness nor hold it back. Always give it freely and learn to wait for it too. Do you understand? Spend time apart every year. That way you see what life is like alone. Then you will remember how good it is to be with your husband. Always take a step back so you can see your own luck and find new ways to make your partner happy. Stay healthy for you and for him. Have sex one time every week, maybe more if you want. This will help you to stay connected. Let your partner have bad moods and good moods. Don’t let anger make you act hastily. Walk away until your anger gets bored and leaves. Then you can talk again. The only rules in marriage are those that you both agree to. None of them are permanent. Reassess and renegotiate as the years go by. You will change. So will he. The marriage must change with you, or it will no longer fit as it once did. Keep love at the center of it all. That is the one constant. As long as you nurture that love and allow it to grow, you will be fine. Also, remember to visit your great-grandma that’s very important, or just come live with me that’s fine too. Ok bye bye.

Speaking of their ceremony, you really couldn’t get any more romantic as the barrel room was transformed into a beautiful candlelight romantic backdrop for Shea and Tyler to declare their love and commitment to one another.

After the ceremony and a delicious meal, the dance party commenced outside under the lights on the patio and everyone danced the night away under the stars and not even a few raindrops stopped anyone from one of the best nights of their lives. The night ended with the couple being whisked away in a gorgeous white Rolls Royce back to Willows Lodge.

Shea + Tyler, I love you two so much and wish you all the love and happiness in the world!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 16 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.