An Intimate Seattle Micro-Wedding Centered Around Food And Family

The visual narrative of this offbeat partnership is brought to life through the captivating photos taken by Jenny GG. The dynamic duo behind this unconventional union consists of Kristin and Kip. The ceremony took place on a significant date – April 29th, 2022 – at the groom’s childhood home in Seattle, Washington.

Our intimate Seattle micro-wedding at a glance:

As we navigated the complexities of planning a wedding during the Covid era, we made the unconventional decision to have not one, but two celebrations. The first, an intimate gathering with our immediate families, served as a precursor to the larger event that would take place once the world was safer for large gatherings. To ensure our events were truly special, we prioritized local and sustainable elements in every aspect of the planning process.

Our vendors, all small businesses based in West Seattle or Seattle, played a crucial role in bringing our vision to life. We opted for rentals, items already in our possession, or goods that would serve us well beyond the wedding day. What made this experience truly unique was the level of family involvement. My mother was an integral part of the planning process, and all the parents worked together to coordinate the logistics of the big day.

My husband’s father, a skilled woodworker, crafted a stunning ceremony backdrop from reclaimed materials. His mother went above and beyond, hosting the event at her home and curating a beautiful garden for our celebration. The rest of my husband’s family was instrumental in setting up and contributing to the overall atmosphere. Their children even created adorable signs and participated in the ceremony, making it a true family affair.

The lack of traditional expectations allowed us to create a wedding that was genuinely reflective of who we are as a couple. We were able to incorporate our favorite foods, locally sourced flowers, and my stunning purple dress into the celebration, all on our own timeline. For us, this meant indulging in Moto Pizza and savoring every bite of our beloved nine-layer chocolate cake.

Tell us about the intimate Seattle micro-wedding ceremony:

We didn’t quite nail down our vows until the morning of the wedding, which wasn’t ideal given our hectic schedules leading up to the big day. Despite the rush, we both felt strongly about writing our own vows, and that personal touch ended up being a beautiful part of our ceremony. I took a more traditional approach, writing out my vows in full, while my husband opted for bullet points – it was a quirkily perfect reflection of our relationship.

The ceremony itself featured a special element: my husband’s mom had planted a stunning garden on her lawn, complete with stepping stones that formed two paths converging at the center. As we exchanged our vows, we walked down these pathways separately before meeting in the middle, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The morning of the wedding, I strolled down one path with my dad by my side, until we reached the stepping stones.

From there, we joined hands and made our way to the ceremony area, where my husband was beaming with Bandit, our adorable cat, in his arms. To make things even more unique, Bandit was sporting a dapper bowtie that matched our wedding colors – and, unfortunately, it seemed he got stage fright at the last minute, so we had to leave him behind.

We were fortunate to have my husband’s best friend serve as our officiant, with his wife handling cat wrangling duties (though poor Bandit didn’t quite cooperate). We used a sentimental ring pillow belonging to my mom and dad for our vows, while one of my husband’s nephew acted as ring bearer. Given the unconventional nature of our entrance, we had another niece join us, serving as flower girl and scattering petals in front of us as we made our way down the aisle.

Tell us about the intimate Seattle micro-wedding reception:

As we celebrated this special occasion, I was thrilled to indulge in a culinary experience that rivaled my love for Italian cuisine. The food was a highlight, with our favorite pizzeria delivering an array of pizzas, including some new varieties I had yet to try. To add a touch of elegance, the chef even created a beautiful edible flower salad and loaned us a 16th century bowl to display it in. My mom’s famous caesar salad was also a welcome addition.

As a connoisseur of Italian wines, I took great care in selecting the perfect pairings for our celebration. My personal philosophy is that as Italians at heart, we should only drink Italian wines – and I was thrilled to have my favorite prosecco on hand (although it did go out of stock briefly!). We savored every last drop of this special bottle, knowing it would be a while before we could replenish our supply.

The sweet treats were also a highlight, with a decadent chocolate cake from our local favorite and Kona Koka Rum’s creamy ice cream. The kids had a blast running around the lawn with bubble guns, creating a whimsical atmosphere that was perfect for our low-key celebration. We spent most of our time around the dinner table, sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company over delicious food and drink.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?

As I embarked on the journey of planning my wedding, I faced significant challenges. The added stress of a new job and a recent change within that role put a strain on my time and energy. Thankfully, my mom was more than willing to lend a helping hand. She played a vital role in ensuring everything ran smoothly, allowing me to focus on other aspects of the planning process. Dealing with grief also weighed heavily on my mind, as I had lost my grandfather just a year prior.

His absence left a void that I struggled to fill. Despite these obstacles, I prioritized delegating tasks and asking for help when needed. Having my mom’s support was instrumental in keeping me sane during the planning process. In the end, it was crucial to remember that my wedding was about celebrating our love, not about perfection. We should prioritize making each other happy on our special day, rather than getting bogged down in details.

Thinking of having a backyard microwedding? Here’s your inspo

With the right touches, even a backyard setting can be transformed into an idyllic wedding oasis. Take Caroline and Price’s special day as inspiration – they brought a touch of elegance to their outdoor celebration with clever styling.

Intimate Seattle micro-wedding vendors:

Behind the scenes of a memorable wedding celebration, it takes a village to bring every detail together. Meet the talented team that helped make this day truly special. Photographer Jenny GG captured the magic moments with precision and finesse. Chrissy Wai Ching’s dress and headband added a touch of elegance to the proceedings. The rings, courtesy of Menashe & Sons Jewelers, symbolized the couple’s love and commitment.

Pedersen’s Event Rentals took care of all the necessary logistics, from setup to teardown. Moto brought the fuel for the celebration with their delicious pizza and salad offerings. Metropolitan Grill provided the sweet treats, while Husky Deli kept the guests’ sweet tooths satisfied with their mouthwatering ice cream. For the groom’s stylish attire, Nordstrom was the go-to destination. And finally, Offwhite Makeup & Beauty took care of the hair and makeup for the happy couple.

Even the ceremony backdrop had a personal touch, courtesy of the groom’s dad. The entire family came together to plan and set up every detail, making this wedding truly one-of-a-kind.