What we loved most about working with Catie + Ray for their Fourth of July wedding was all the care in the details and the love and thought that was put into everything. Catie, the natural planner in life and in her career really started getting to work after Ray her college sweetheart from the University of Montana proposed 10 months before.

This wedding held at the Historic Crockett Barn in Coupeville was truly a family and friends affair, from the vendors, decor construction to the crew who help set up the venue just perfectly.

There were so many highlights from this beautiful day but the one undeniable thing was the amount of love and laughter that resonated.

We are so thankful to Catie + Ray for allowing Elegant Affairs to be part of their spectacular day.

From the Bride: Our dream Fourth of July wedding was celebrated in Coupeville, Washington – on an unseasonably perfect summer day. My husband’s family has resided on the island for three-generations, making it a place deeply special to him and also a locale where our relationship has grown over the years. It was the perfect distinct getaway we desired to provide our guests!

Wanting to put our own spin on the red, white, and blue holiday we opted for a navy, grey, gold, and magenta color pallet. Each bridesmaid had the choice of their own navy dress, some are purchased from Adrianna Papell, J.Crew, Nordstrom, etc. It all came together so perfectly, with a mix of short, long, simple, and elegant touches. We wanted the guys to be comfortable too, so we paired together gingham shirts, grey slacks, bow ties, and a hidden touch of patriotism with their socks.

We settled on the Historic Crockett Barn for the venue because of its rustic nautical charm and the views, oh the views. Keeping things local and curated was important to me – down to every last detail. Many of the décor elements were created by friends and family over the course of the year leading up to the big day. This included my brother-in-law, a forester, locating the perfect wood rounds for our centerpieces and guest “log” from his tree farm at the base Mt. Rainer – to carefully crafting 100’s of yards of white pennant flag bunting to string through the barn’s rafters, offering an intimate environment. To bring Ray’s outdoorsman style into the décor we collected antler sheds from local antique shops on the island and named each table after a fly fishing tie pattern. Our florist, Ray’s uncle Martin, took my breath away. I had a vision to bring the natural elements of the island (local grasses, berries, coastal hydrangeas) together with more staple elements. The flower crowns and centerpieces were the focal point! The florals that adorned the arbor incorporated branches from a cousins wedding years prior, it was such a special touch.

And the food! Oh, what can I say it’s still talked about and recreated often. Ray an avid fisherman caught all the King salmon served with his groomsman the week prior as part of a fishing bachelor party. The food was prepared by Serendipity Catering on the island and included locally sourced ingredients. The pies came from Ray’s family restaurant and were probably one of the first vendor decision we made! It’s something we indulge in every trip.

In the end, all we wanted was to gather the people we love most to celebrate in a place we cherish – all 200 of them! It was the perfect way to celebrate. At the end of the night seeing everyone, laughing, singing, dancing, and reminiscing under the stars and fireworks was just what we envisioned.