I am hoping to feature a few of Michele Waite’s weddings in the not to distant future, starting with this one. I asked the Bride Danielle if she could help me with some details about their day and boy, what a response..this will make you happy!
Danielle explains:
I had my dress made – Chrissy Wai-Ching made it. She is a custom clothing designer and maker in Seattle – and was kind enough to allow me to collaborate with her on the design. (I am an architect, by training, and life-long hobby-seamstress) So she kindly tolerated my need to participate, but, is extremely talented all by herself.
My sister was my ‘bridesmaid’ – (also had dress made by Chrissy) and mostly helped me get through it all – But, wasn’t a traditional bridemaid… Those duties were shared amongst my friends and her.
Our wedding was special because we decided to buy a house for it. (HA) Literally, we spent months trying to decide where to have it… all around the Puget Sound region. But, ultimately decided the most important thing was the ‘place,’ the most symbolic part was that we wanted to cement our partnership on our own land, our own terms. Deepen our commitment through the experimentation of building a home together and ‘christen’ that place with the celebration of our marriage. (we are both architects) So, the house became our focal point for months after we closed. The date was set 6 months after we got the keys – and we worked our tails off with tons of help from our family and friends.
Eventually it evolved from being about us and our land, house and experimenting to the tremendous community effort to prepare for the event. We had a constant stream of visitors ready to jackhammer, cut boards, roll sod, install railings, build decks, tents and paint decorations. It was a machine of enginuity and REALLY fun.
What makes me a rocknroll bride? I don’t really know the answer to that. I did it my own way? I threw away the guide books and said there is something more than this? We made virtually every piece? We chose local artists and craftspeople to help us? Our caterer is an eccentric italian who happens to make the best food many of us had ever eaten at a wedding? We danced to good ole R and B hits on top of the tattoo heart with swallows saying LOVE, painted on to our deck? I didn’t have to put myself on a diet because I was too busy building my ass off for 6 months?
Hurrah to that I say!
Credit: Michele M. Waite Photography