Led Zeppelin, Craft Beer, And Tattoos At This Bad-Ass Rock Show-Themed Wedding
The visual story of this special day was beautifully captured by Lara Schneider Photography, with noted exceptions. The bride’s offbeat partner duo consisted of Shae, a neuroscientist, and Rye, a video game QA manager. On January 14, 2018, the celebration took place at the unique Axis Pioneer Square location in Seattle, Washington.
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
We brought the energy of a rock show to our special day, inspired by our engagement shoot at a San Francisco music venue. As huge fans of rock music, tattoos, and the unconventional, we knew that a rock show-themed wedding would be a perfect celebration of our passions. The theme allowed us to incorporate elements that reflected our unique style and personalities.
We encouraged our guests to let loose and express themselves by dressing up in their favorite rock-inspired outfits, which resulted in an amazing display of creativity and self-expression. From leather jackets and band tees to combat boots and vibrant hair colors, our guests truly brought the house down with their eclectic attire.
To further immerse ourselves in the theme, we set up a temporary tattoo station, which surprisingly even our more reserved guests couldn’t resist joining in on the fun. It was fantastic to see everyone embracing the spirit of rock and roll and having an absolute blast.
Tell us about the ceremony:
Rye’s family background in theatrical production design influenced our special day, with his mom crafting a Tim Burton-inspired wedding arbor featuring working red lights and his dad setting up a lighting scheme that evoked a music venue atmosphere. To get the party started, we opened the bar 30 minutes before the ceremony and had a classic rock cover band play to warm up the crowd. The plan was to get everyone seated for the ceremony, but it ended up being a bit of a challenge!
Our wedding party consisted only of our sisters, Rye’s two-year-old niece (who wore an impressive punk rock-inspired tutu), and one of my closest friends serving as the officiant. We co-wrote most of the ceremony together and had a friend perform a reading from Led Zeppelin’s ‘Thank You.’ A meaningful aspect of our ceremony was honoring loved ones who had passed away, as both Rye and I have experienced loss.
A friend delivered a memorial reading, while Rye and I lit candles on a table featuring pictures of those we’d lost. As fans of craft beer, we also incorporated a toast during the ceremony – a great excuse to enjoy some drinks while exchanging vows! The officiant wrapped up the ceremony by quoting Robert Plant, after which the band launched into Led Zeppelin’s ‘Rock and Roll’ and we walked back down the aisle, making for one of the most unforgettable moments of our day.
Tell us about your reception:
What was your most important lesson learned?
When planning an offbeat or nontraditional wedding, it’s essential to remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, seeking guidance from others can significantly reduce stress and make the process more enjoyable. I learned this lesson the hard way, trying to tackle most aspects of our wedding planning on my own before eventually realizing the value of enlisting the help of friends, family, and professionals.
A few weeks before the big day, I started to open up and accept assistance, which was a game-changer. If I could go back in time, I would encourage myself to ask for help earlier on. In hindsight, having a wedding planner or day-of coordinator like Rebecca Iverson of Sane Weddings, who not only coordinated our event but also offered valuable advice, vendor recommendations, and even lent us unique decor pieces (like skull decor!), would have been incredibly beneficial.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way – you never know how much stress and sanity it could save you!
Vendors
Behind every successful wedding, there’s a mastermind – the day-of coordinator. For this special occasion, Rebecca Iverson of Sane Weddings brought everything together seamlessly. The venue was none other than Axis Pioneer Square, providing a unique backdrop for the celebration. As the photographer captured the memories, Lara Schneider Photography ensured that each moment would be treasured forever.
To keep the party going, Red Classic Rock played lively tunes, while Foodz Catering treated the guests to delicious cuisine. The stunning floral arrangements were courtesy of Bear Creek Florist. And last but not least, Shyn Midili of Pacific Brides took care of the bride and wedding party’s hair and makeup, making sure they looked absolutely radiant throughout the day.
