From Cabo Dreams to Seattle Serendipity: Our Intimate Pandemic Wedding Journey

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes, those unexpected turns lead to the most beautiful destinations. Just three weeks ago, in the midst of a global pandemic, my incredible partner Bridger and I became husband and wife! It still feels surreal to say “I’m a married woman.” Our journey to this intimate Seattle wedding was a whirlwind, marked by changing plans, unexpected challenges, and ultimately, an abundance of love. To truly appreciate where we are, let’s rewind to where it all began: a magical engagement in Cabo, Mexico.

The Cabo Dream: An Engagement to Cherish

Bridger and I got engaged in October, celebrating our nine-year anniversary in the stunning paradise of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was, without a doubt, the BEST weekend imaginable. The sun-drenched beaches, the vibrant culture, and the sheer joy of that moment are memories I revisit often, especially now when travel feels like a distant dream. Cabo holds a profoundly special place in our hearts; it was the destination of our very first trip together when we were just 19 and 20 years old. Returning there for our engagement felt like a beautiful full-circle moment, solidifying its significance in our love story.

Following our engagement, we knew instantly that an intimate destination wedding in Mexico was the perfect fit for us. It resonated with our shared history and our vision for a celebration that felt uniquely “us.” We quickly secured our dream date, found an breathtaking venue, and were incredibly fortunate to connect with the most amazing wedding planner, Bonnie from Events by Bliss. With Bonnie’s expertise, the planning process felt incredibly seamless. I found my dream wedding dress, and every detail seemed to fall into place effortlessly. We were eagerly counting down the days to our grand celebration in Cabo.

To finalize our plans and soak in the atmosphere, we even flew back to Cabo in February. This trip served a dual purpose: part work, part pleasure. We scouted potential rehearsal dinner and ceremony venues, held essential meetings with Bonnie, and indulged in taste tests for our wedding menu. The excitement was palpable, and we shared more about those preparations in a previous post: Our 2-Month Wedding Planning Update.

The Unforeseen Challenge: A Pandemic Changes Everything

Then, as March arrived, the world abruptly shifted. The COVID-19 pandemic began its rapid spread, leading to widespread shutdowns and unprecedented uncertainty. Despite the escalating situation, Bridger and I held onto hope, convinced we could still make our Cabo wedding happen on April 26th. We clung to the belief that things would improve, but as Mexico closed its borders and we found ourselves in mandatory quarantine, the harsh reality set in. The following weeks were incredibly tough, filled with raw emotion and a profound sense of disappointment. Who could have ever predicted that during the most exciting time of our lives, planning our wedding, a global pandemic would emerge and force us to cancel our carefully laid plans? I know countless brides experienced, and are still experiencing, this exact heartbreak, and I want to express my deepest empathy. The solidarity among #coronabride2020 brides is real, and I’ll be sharing some tips I learned from this experience in an upcoming blog post.

The emotional toll of canceling our destination wedding was immense. We grieved the loss of our original vision, the celebration we had dreamt of for so long, and the gathering of our loved ones in a place so meaningful to us. Yet, amidst the disappointment, we resolved to find a silver lining. We decided to turn this negative into a positive, embracing a last-minute decision to keep our original wedding date and still get married. This choice came after learning that our venues in Mexico had only a handful of available dates later in the year, mostly around the busy holiday season, making rescheduling difficult. Moreover, with no clear end in sight for the global shutdown, we realized waiting indefinitely wasn’t an option for us. We decided to make it official right here in Seattle on April 26th of this year, with plans to host our grand one-year anniversary celebration in April 2021, complete with our original wedding dress, family, friends, and all the festivities we had initially envisioned in Cabo.

The Significance of a Date: Embracing Our Chosen Day

I honestly never fully grasped the profound importance of “your wedding date” until last month. It’s a bittersweet realization. You and your partner choose that date for a reason, you look forward to it for months, it’s marked on all your invites, and there’s something undeniably special about an aesthetically pleasing sequence like 04/26/2020. For us, keeping that date held immense sentimental value. After nearly nine and a half years together, the thought of waiting any longer to officially become husband and wife felt unnecessary. We wanted to move forward, to celebrate our commitment, and to begin our next chapter as soon as possible, despite the world’s chaos.

While the process for obtaining a marriage license varies by state, our experience in Seattle during the quarantine involved a few key steps. I printed our marriage application directly from the county’s website. Thankfully, a family friend who is a notary was able to sign it, allowing us to complete this crucial step safely. We then mailed the signed application, along with a check, to the recorder’s office downtown. Within four business days, they Fed-Ex’d our official marriage packet back to us. The process itself wasn’t overly complicated; it was more about navigating the specific regulations and procedures put in place due to the quarantine, figuring out what was required and how to complete it remotely.

The Wedding Day: An Intimate Backyard Celebration

The morning of our wedding was, to put it mildly, delightfully casual. In fact, our entire backyard wedding exuded a relaxed, joyful atmosphere. The day before, I had busied myself preparing a feast: twenty-four homemade flautas, fresh pico de gallo, and a delicious Simple Mills vanilla cake. These culinary creations were destined for our family’s house, where the celebration would take place. (Though, I must clarify, this homemade cake isn’t the one beautifully photographed below; my mother-in-law graciously ordered a separate gluten-free and dairy-free cake for us as well!). We absolutely had to infuse our day with that beloved Mexican flair, right? Never in a million years did I imagine I’d be baking my own wedding cake, but hey, there’s a first for everything! Bridger, Ellie (our beloved dog), and I drove down to his parents’ house, where both our parents and his grandpa were eagerly waiting. We were incredibly lucky to have our amazing photographer, a true gem, willing to capture every precious moment of our super intimate day. It was important for us to ensure everyone’s safety; we had self-isolated and quarantined for at least four weeks leading up to our wedding, allowing us to celebrate with our immediate family without any concerns about spreading COVID-19.

Our vows were *both* written the day before – a testament to our spontaneous, last-minute spirit! Bridger’s vows were truly perfect: incredibly sweet, deeply heartfelt, and beautifully summarized our entire decade-long journey together. I still find myself asking him if we can re-read them to each other, just to let the words sink in even deeper, but he playfully refuses, claiming he’ll become emotional all over again. Perhaps I’ll try again in a few months when the memories have settled a bit!

Although our guest list dwindled from approximately forty to a mere four physically present in our ‘audience,’ which felt wild and wonderful at the same time, we wouldn’t have changed a single thing. Both our siblings joined us via a Zoom video call, set up on my computer right next to our ceremony spot in the backyard. It was a beautiful way to include them in our special moment, even from afar. Bridger and I were continuously amazed by how perfectly everything unfolded. Of course, it bore little resemblance to our original, elaborate Cabo plans, but there’s a unique, profound beauty in sharing such a significant moment solely with your immediate family. The intimacy and genuine connection of that small gathering created an atmosphere that was truly magical and unforgettable.

Yes, you read that right: I wore jeans on my wedding day, and it was an absolute vibe! To be completely honest, I’m not just excited, but genuinely grateful for the unique opportunity to have two distinct wedding celebrations. Our first was this incredibly casual, heartfelt ceremony with just four cherished people witnessing our union. And then, next year, we’ll have our more lavish celebration, complete with my actual wedding dress, full glam, and bridesmaids to share the excitement with. If you ask me, it’s truly the best of both worlds – a beautiful balance between intimate and grand. For those curious about my wedding day look, my comfortable and stylish jeans are from Good American (click here for the exact pair I wore), and my chic top is from Petal and Pup, one of my absolute favorite Australian brands known for their effortlessly elegant pieces.

No celebration with a hint of our Cabo dreams would be complete without a shot of tequila – Casamigos, obviously! We spent the rest of the day simply enjoying each other’s company. Gathered around a large outdoor table, we savored copious amounts of chips and guacamole, indulging in the flavors we love. We shared nostalgic stories from our high school days, reminiscing about how Bridger and I first met and fell in love. We devoured the flautas I had prepared, joyfully cut into the delicious cake, and captured candid memories with a Polaroid camera, creating instant keepsakes of our special day. If I were asked to describe a perfect day, this would undoubtedly be it. It was filled with laughter, warmth, and the genuine joy of starting our married life surrounded by the dearest people in our lives.

And can we please take a moment to truly appreciate the fact that our sweet Ellie got to be an integral part of our wedding day?! Having her there, wagging her tail and adding her unique charm to our celebration, was a huge, huge win for us. It made the day even more personal and unforgettable. We absolutely adored having her by our side as we embarked on this new chapter.

Looking Ahead: A Future Full of Celebrations

Honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding day, despite it being drastically different from our initial plans. We feel incredibly fortunate that we get to have not one, but two wedding celebrations: this intimate, unforgettable backyard ceremony, and another grand event next year to mark our first anniversary of marriage. On April 26, 2020, I had the immense joy of marrying my best friend, and without exaggeration, it was truly the best day of my life. Even though it’s been just over two weeks since we officially tied the knot, and while not much has fundamentally changed in our daily lives, there’s an undeniable excitement building as we fully step into our next chapter as husband and wife. We are looking forward to every moment, every adventure, and every shared dream that our future holds.

Thank you all so much for your unwavering support, your kind words, and for following along on our journey. Your encouragement means the world to us!

A special shout-out and heartfelt gratitude to our incredible photographer, my dear friend Marci. Her talent is truly unparalleled, and she captured the essence of our day so beautifully. Please check out her stunning work on Instagram and her website. She is INCREDIBLE! And the custom bouquet that added such a lovely touch to our intimate celebration was crafted by the wonderfully talented team at Petals By Piper.

With love and gratitude,

xx Rachael and Bridger