A short ferry ride across the beautiful Puget Sound from Seattle, Washington lies Bainbridge Island. There are beaches. There are dense + beautiful forests. There are views of the Cascade Mountains.
This magical spot is where D + Sam chose to tie the knot. And the celebration they created was full of so much color, love, and vibrant self expression.
“As a queer and trans/nonbinary couple, we really felt freedom to express ourselves authentically,” D + Sam say. “For us, this meant we had a three day wedding weekend reminiscent of an adult summer camp, dressed in colorful custom outfits, created our heartfelt ceremony from scratch, had D’s brother officiate, had cake toppers of our two beloved dogs, featured fabulous Seattle drag queens as entertainment, and kept the vibe intimate.”
Environmental education nonprofit IslandWood is based on Bainbridge Island, and their deep-in-the-woods event spaces provided a backdrop for D + Sam’s day that was rich in natural beauty. And together with Hallea Events the couple put together a wedding weekend packed with unique + unforgettable details.
“At a time in which queer and trans rights continue to be threatened, we found it essential to say our thanks and blessings during our ceremony to all the queer ancestors who have come before us and queer youth who follow us,” say D + Sam. “We prioritized supporting wedding vendors who are LGBTQIA+ themselves or hold another marginalized identity (especially BIPOC folks).”
D + Sam’s thoughtful + colorful celebration has us totally inspired on so many levels. And Theo Nash’s pictures really do say it all, so we can’t wait to show you!
Bahtoh was behind the day’s bright + joyful florals, and D + Sam’s bouquets are just the beginning of the show-stopping things they made out of flowers.
Some wise words about wedding day style from the couple: “You and your body don’t need to change for the big day, so ignore any messaging that says you need to lose weight or change how you look before your wedding. With clothing that fits and feels like you, you’ll look incredible and feel fabulous in the body you have now on your wedding day.”
We cannot get enough of D’s hot pink sequin edge wedding veil from Madison Chamberlain!
Peep some more amazing Madison creations in this colorful New Orleans wedding, this 90’s inspired wedding shoot, and this nontraditional NYE wedding!
“We took elements of western masculine and feminine attire and sought to combine them in a way that felt outside of traditional gender norms,” says Sam of how he and S. E. Pattison created this one-of-a-kind look. “The result was a stunning gold to cream ombre ensemble, complete with cream platform Doc Martens, that embodied the wildest dreams of our queer masc elders.”
And Beau Degas!!
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Don't just do things because they are common, "normal", or "a wedding has to have xyz." Instead think about what would make you both happy and represent you as individuals, and as a couple, authentically. Focus on what excites you!
You definitely do not want to miss the wedding day video that Gold Hairpin created for D + Sam. Press play below!
Congratulations on your breathtaking, colorful Bainbridge Island day, D + Sam! GWS is so happy for you both!
photography: Theo Nash Photography // venue name: IslandWood, Bainbridge Island, WA, United States // planning: Hallea Events // florals: BAHTOH // wedding dress: Demetrios and Elizabeth Dye // wedding dress boutique: Alysia Cole Styling // wedding dress boutique: Brides by Young // hairpiece: Madison Chamberlain // bride’s shoes: Nike Air Force 1 // bride’s ring: Anar Bhansali, custom // getting ready robes: Peridot Robes // hair stylist: BAHTOH // makeup artist: Jordan Hafford // groom’s shoes: Dr Martens, Jadon III Boot Pisa Leather Platforms in Parchment Beige // groom’s ring: Automic Gold, Matte band // videography: Gold Hairpin Films // paper goods: The Fancy Cat Studio // catering: IslandWood // cake: Blue Box Bakery // desserts: Blue Box Bakery // tabletop rentals: CORT Party Rental // furniture rentals: Wander Event Rentals // linen rentals: BBJ La Tavola // specialty rentals: Backcountry Bohemians // music: Blue Wave Band // lighting: LightSmiths // photo booth: 321 Foto // drag performers: Betty Wetter // drag performers: Beau Degas // drag performers: Dion Dior Black // drag performers: Queen Andrew Scott // headband: Jennifer Behr