Modern & Edgy – Melissa & James’s Kiana Lodge Wedding

Melissa & James had one of the chillest wedding days at the gorgeous wedding venue, Kiana Lodge. From the unique, personalized details woven into their day, to their stunning venue, and every magical moment in between. Their day, was undeniably one for the books!

Melissa and Jame’s were a pandemic couple, but through it all they stayed strong, and focused on what mattered most. That they were getting freaking married!

I would shoot this wedding a million times over, which is why I decided to turn their day into a permanent blog post. I’ll be sharing some of the best moments from their day, as well as offer some sound advice now how to have a beautiful, stressfree wedding just like theirs.

Melissa & Jame’s snagged this gorgeous AirBnb that was spacious and comfortable to get ready in. They had their crew with them to help them start their day.

The two shared their first look right outside their AirBnB before walking down the aisle.

Wedding Venue | Kiana Lodge

As I mentioned above, Melissa and Jame’s said their “I dos” at the Kiana Lodge. Everything about this venue is beautiful. Especially the meticulously kept gardens and spectacular views of the crystal clear waters of Puget Sound. If you’re looking for a stunning space with those quintinessal Pacific Northwest Vibes, this place is for you. It can accommodate large and small parties, making it an excellent choice for any sized wedding.

Another thing that really elevated Melissa and Jame’s day was their killer crew. It’s always so refreshing to see rad couples being supported by the ones who love them most.

Melissa and Jame’s had a very heartfelt ceremony, which included many beautiful, and personal details. One of them being the hand-fasting unity ceremony they included. In this popular ritual, the couple’s hands are tied together to represent the binding of two lives. I love when my couples include a unity ceremony into their day, because they are always unique to their story.

What is a Unity Ceremony?

A unity ceremony is kind of imersservie experience for a couple (and their guests) that signifies their union. There are a number of traditional unity ceremonies to choose from. Some of the more popular ones include tree planting, tree watering, sand pouring, and knot tying. If you aren’t a fan of the ancient rituals, consider adding your own modern twist on unity ceremonies, like taking a shot of tequila, or sharing a spaghetti noodle. The options are limitless!

Looking for other unity ceremony ideas? Check out this RattleSnake Lake elopement, where Emily & Ariel incorporate a time capsule ritual into their unity ceremony.

The rest of their day only continued to get better. At their reception, they had their closest friends and siblings give speeches, and they were incredibly heartfelt.

Tips for having a successful wedding

Think about your dream day; the vibes, the venue, the guest list, the food, the scene —your vision, and the experience you want to have. 

Write out a detailed plan of how to make it all happen.

You deserve the kind of day you see in your mind’s eye; believe it, and it will come true.

Remember, you get to marry your best friend. At the end of the day, if you’ve done that, you’ve succeeded beyond measure. 

Your wedding day will go exactly how you want it to, as long as you keep your vision in mind. 

Who is ready to make their wedding day vision board come to life?

Why you should hire a day of coordinator 

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don’t have to plan, orchestrate and execute your own wedding day, or ask someone in your family to step in as your “wedding coordinator.”

Trust me on this one – hire a professional. 

Having a day-of-coordinator will help a TON with all of these things. They seamlessly connect all vendors of your day and provide them with all the information they need to ensure a successful event. 

I love working with a coordinator. Together we make sure everything runs smoothly and on track, and you don’t have to worry about a thing. 

Seriously – I can’t emphasize enough how much stress relief a day-of-coordinator will provide. They’re like your magical fairy god, who handles all the unnecessary stress or unforeseen events; they keep track of everything and are committed to making sure that you two enjoy every second of your big day without worrying. 

Which, in my opinion, is HUGE! 

It’s your freaking wedding day; you deserve to be present and enjoy all of the moments of your day. Not worrying about finding an extra place setting because Aunt Cindy invited her new love interest last minute. 

Leave it to the ones who love, love as much as you do, and trust that they will do everything necessary to ensure your day unfolds as flawlessly as you imagined.

Still not sold on a wedding coordinator or interested in a recommendation? Drop your questions below or shoot me a message, and we can chat more! 

Assembling your Kiana Lodge Wedding Vendor Dream Team

The best weddings result in the best of friendships. Melissa and James are case in point! Consider this your friendly reminder to hire vendors with whom you get along well – especially your photographer! 

Trust me on this one; it matters that we click (pun intended) because I’ll be spending more time with you two than anybody else on your wedding day. It’s vital that we can vibe together all day long. 

Don’t worry; I’m kinda cool, sometimes funny, and always real. Always. The best part is, I’m not just there to take your photos; I’ll be there to support you, hype you up, and serve as your guide to ensure you have the most important day of your lives! 

Today’s take-home message: Assemble your dream team with care and good intentions. If you have any questions, I’m here to help!

Interested in planning your big day at Kiana Lodge? Learn more about all their accomadtions on their wedding events page.