A TRUE “FERRY-TALE” WEDDING
When Leah first told me about their wild idea of getting married on the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry, I admired her enthusiasm, but wasn’t quite sure how they would pull this off. After all, it is a means of public transportation, you can’t reserve it, you can’t guarantee how many tickets will be available, and there would be a lot of uncontrollable variables and moving parts. BOY, WAS I WRONG! They totally pulled it off, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic that I got to capture all of the beautiful chaos that actually, much to my surprise, turned out to be more organized than most weddings!
Joe and Leah’s relationship required them to go back and forth on this exact ferry to see each other, so it was only fitting that they made it official on the same ferry! We began the day getting ready in Seattle, and then all “ubered” to the ferry terminal and hopped aboard the afternoon ferry to Bainbridge. At the layover in Bainbridge, Joe, Leah, and their 120+ person train of bridal party, family, and guests walked over to one of their favorites breweries, Bainbridge Brewery, for a little afternoon cocktail hour. Up to that point, even though it wasn’t a Sunday, the day had felt like a “Sunday Funday.” There was over 100 of us that walked in a brewery and started drinking beer mid afternoon, the sun started peaking out of the clouds, and everyone was so relaxed.
All 100+ of us made it back to the terminal in time, ticket in hand, and boarded the ferry that was about to be the wedding ceremony of Joe and Leah Couillard. Somehow, and I seriously do not know how, all of their family and friends efficiently gathered into one central area of the ferry and made a wedding ceremony happen! With strangers peering in from the sides and sailboats floating by, Joe and Leah exchanged rings, said their vows, and became husband and wife! Maybe this wasn’t the first time a wedding had been successfully accomplished on a ferry, but it certainly was the first time that a wedding was pulled off on a public ferry, with THAT many guests, that we all had no prior reservations for. I could go on and on about their wedding day, because I was so impressed with the flow of it all and truly how epic it was.
Their reception was held at 415 Westlake, an event space in Seattle. When everyone finally made It there by uber, by foot, or by carriage - the celebration only continued to get more epic! Joe and Leah, what a special and wild idea you guys pulled off for your wedding, I am so honored and grateful to have been a part of it. I adore your love: the way you laugh together, your subtle but sweet affection for each other, your respect for each other, and the way that you look at each other. I know this “ferrytale” wedding you pulled off is just an opening chapter of the ferrytale that will be the rest of your lives. xox
