wedding section
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2012 Wedding SectionTRANSCRIPT
The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com WEDDINGS Wednesday, February 15, 2012 — 11
Special
Pull Out Section•
WeddingsIn the San Juan Islands
2012
Say ‘I do’ in a place you’ll never forget.Photo courtesy of Columbia Hospitality
12 — Wednesday, February 15, 2012 WEDDINGS The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
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San Juan Island: the start of a lifelong romance
Lar g e . S m a l l . Traditional. A bit off-beat.
You’ll find a perfect setting on San Juan Island for whatever type of wedding you might have in mind.
The island is also home to numerous businesses and sea-soned professionals — florists, photographers, caterers, musi-cians, inns and lodges — that specialize in making every aspect of your special occasion complete.
Whether you prefer an out-door location, or a charming, historic church or chapel for your wedding ceremony, San Juan Island offers a long list of ideal venues as well.
Then again, you might con-sider exchanging vows out on the water, in a kayak with glorious sunset as a romantic backdrop.
Situated closer to Canada than mainland U.S.A., San Juan Island is the last stop in the San Juans for the numerous ferri-ers that leave the terminal in Anacortes. It’s home to Friday Harbor, the only incorporated town in San Juan county and one of the last remaining 19th-century wooden fishing villages in Puget Sound. The town boasts a year-round population of just over 2,000 residents that seemingly quadruples with a steady stream of visitors and part-time
residents on any given summer day. Stunning scenery is one reason why San
Juan Island is such a sought after place for a summer vacation, or for a wedding. In fact, the San Juans were named one of the top 10 best summer vacations spots by National Geographic Traveler magazine in 2011.
And there’s no shortage of activities to keep your guests occupied and entertained during your special occasion. Hiking, bicy-cling, horseback riding, golfing, wine tasting and kayaking are just a few of San Juan Island’s celebrat-ed pastimes.
Friday Harbor is home to numerous art galleries, an assortment of outdoor parks, a movie theater, an art museum, a historical museum, a military muse-um, a whale museum and a popular farmers’ mar-ket as well. Whether it’s a quick bite or an evening of fine-dinning, there’s an abundance of quality restaurants and first-class cafes that can satisfy the palate and the pocketbook of just about anyone.
The town is also home to the Port of Friday Harbor, caretaker of one of the most charming and liveliest marinas in all of north Puget Sound.
Here you can soak up the sunshine while strolling the docks or kick back in the shade
for a change of pace and enjoy live music and a view of the harbor at the port’s Jack Fairweather Park.
Speaking of sunshine, San Juan Island lies directly in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and that phenomenon (basically it forces a rain-swollen weather system to dump its load) produces 247 days of sunshine a year, on average. So, don’t forget the sun-screen.
The coveted westside of San Juan Island is no more than a 15-min-ute drive from Friday Harbor. It’s there you’ll find the dazzling sunsets, sweeping vistas and stun-ning views of snow-capped peaks and waterways that the island is famous for. Here you’ll find a state park, a historic lighthouse, a picnic area, a park devoted to land-based whale watching, a campground with mooring and a boat ramp, a national park and mile after mile after mile of hiking trails.
Roche Harbor Resort lies at the tip of the island’s northwest side. From its roots as a blue-collar com-pany town, founded on the pro-duction of lime, Roche Harbor has evolved into a full-fledged resort and seaside village, and one of the
Northwest’s premier vacation and wedding destinations. It boasts a thriving marina, an airstrip, a 19-acre sculpture park, numerous
hiking trails, a disc-golf course and an outdoor amphitheater, where a local production company performs Shakespearean and other classic theater. And its picturesque and charming wedding chapel is a magnet for soon-to-be newlyweds.
With its natural beauty and romantic ambience, San Juan Island is the per-fect place to create special memories that will last a
lifetime. For more information and maps of
San Juan Island, visit the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, 135 Spring St., downtown Friday Harbor; 360-378-5240, www.sanjuanisland.org.; or, visit the website of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau at, www.visitsanjuans.com.
Newlyweds Bill and Joy Dubay of Vashon Island were married at San Juan Island’s Lime Kiln State Park in the afternoon and then kicked off their wedding night with a visit to the San Juan County Fair. Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
There’s no shortage of activities to keep
your wedding guests occupied and entertained over the course of your special
occasion
The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com WEDDINGS Wednesday, February15, 2012 — 13
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Portrait: Charming, romantic wedding venues
Above photos / Contributed
San Juan Island offers a variety of romantic places to commemorate that special occasion. Above, left, Roche Harbor Resort, located on the waterfront at the northwest end of the island, remains one of the island’s more popular wedding venues. Above right, San Juan Vineyards, its chapel, winery and vineyards are an ideal wedding location. Below, left, a bride and groom share a rowboat and a kiss on a scenic island lake.
Left photo / Steve Horn
14 — Wednesday, February 15, 2012 WEDDINGS The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
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By Scott Rasmussen
September 11 is remem-bered in different ways by different people.
For Mark and Toni Desdier, it’s now a joyous occa-sion, a day of love and celebra-tion, the day that the two were wed.
The Desdiers exchange vows onboard Washington State Ferries’ Hyak, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in a ceremony presided over by Bart Christie, who, like Mark, works for state ferry system. Christie also happens to be an ordained minister.
The ceremony took many of the Hayak’s passengers by sur-prise, and then by delight, as what began as a small but festive occa-sion quickly turned into a full-blown community event.
“It just grew and grew until we had around 800 guests,” Christie said. “They were standing all around us and filled up both sides of the walls.”
Two violin players, bound for Friday Harbor for a wedding per-formance later that day, provided impromp-tu musical accompaniment as well.
Toni Desdier, who works in the boat’s gal-ley, said the couple chose Sept. 11 for their wedding date by design.
“Because of all the 9/11 sorrow and stuff, we wanted to have a celebration of happi-
ness,” she said. Mark added, “It’s time to move on.”But there’s more.Earlier in the day, the Hyak and its crew
also participated in a pre-planned memo-rial service, in which a woman said farewell to her deceased husband, a life-long diving enthusiast, as part of a brief ceremony con-
ducted in Peavine Pass, near Orcas Island.The couple were married 58 years.
While the events of Sept. 11, 2011, may sound like extraordinary for the Hyak and its crew, according to Mark Desdier, it’s pretty much just another day at the office.
“All in a day’s work,” he said
Portrait: A ‘ferry tale’ wedding
Accompanied by members of their wedding party, groom Mark Desdier, second from right, and bride Toni Desdier, next to Mark, pose for a photo on the deck of the Hyak after exchanging vows on Sept. 11, 2011. Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
SAN JUAN ISLAND FULL WEDDING VENUE:Friday Harbor House130 West Street, 360-378-8455www.fridayharborhouse.comRoche Harbor248 Reuben Memorial Drive360-378-2155rocheharborweddings.com
WEDDING CEREMONY & RECEPTION FACILITIES:Lakedale Resorts at Three Lakes4313 Roche Harbor Road, 360-378-2350www.lakedale.comSan Juan Island Grange152 First Street, [email protected] Juan Yacht Club273 Front Street, [email protected]: Kings Market160 Spring Street, 360-378-4522 www.kings-market.com EVENT PLANNING & CATERING:Coho Caters120 Nichols Street, 360-378-6330www.CohoRestaurant.comVinny’s/San Juan Events165 West Street, [email protected] WEDDING OFFICIANT:Reverend Dorothy Stonewww.chooselove.com360-378-6663www.weddingcommitmentceremonies.com WEDDING, BIRTHDAY & SPECIAL OCCASION CAKES:CAKE by Daniel Van [email protected], www.cakeandco.netTRANSPORTATION:Classic Cab Co.Drive in Style1950 Mercury Sport Sedan360-378-7519MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT:Composer and Concert HarpistMary WillAllen, [email protected] Jimmy Moe ShowSongs & Music of Frank Sinatra/Dean [email protected]: James Krall360-378-0949 www.sanjuanphotoarts.com
Nancy Treder Photography & The Seattle Wedding Bureau1403 N. 42nd Street, 206-380-4000www.nancytreader.comWEDDING REGISTRY:Dominique’s Houseat Roche Harbor, 360-378-2605www.dominiqueshouse.com
The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com WEDDINGS Wednesday, February 15, 2012 — 15
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Orcas Island offers a wide expanse of pastoral beauty, its rocky shorelines sloping up to loamy farmland, rising upwards again
to form rocky peaks. The island’s 56.9 square miles are dotted with small hamlets offering world-class restaurants, boutique shopping, activity tours and sundries. Scattered among the trees and along the shores are a variety of quaint and lovely bed and breakfasts and hotels. Your guests might enjoy browsing the artisan pottery, jewelry or art at the island’s many galleries.
Professional Orcas Island wedding plan-ners are at your service to guide you as you select a venue; experienced wedding pho-tographers; talented local musicians; wed-ding officiant; or salons offering personal-ized hair, skin and makeup services.
Activities for guestsThe Orcas ferry landing hosts a gourmet
grocery and deli, post office, a few small shops, a public dock, boat rentals, whale
watching, water taxi, car and moped rent-als, and a taxi and shuttle service. To the east lies a woodsy residential area along Killebrew Lake Road; to the northwest, Orcas Road winds through grassy meadows toward the island’s center, Eastsound.
Eastsound is home to an array of charm-ing shops, restaurants and specialty bou-tiques. You’ll find a public library, a his-torical museum, grocery stores, a pharmacy, restaurants and more. Along its north and south shorelines are three public parks, and Buck Park has a playground and soccer fields. Orcas Center hosts a lively variety of musical, theatre and artistic offerings.
On the southwestern prong of Orcas Island, West Sound features a cafe, a pub-lic dock and a marina, while sunny Deer Harbor offers lodging, a restaurant, and two marinas where kayak, boat and whale watching tours embark.
Southeast of Eastsound, Olga Road leads to 5,200-acre Moran State Park. Drive, hike or cycle to the top of 2,400-foot Mount Constitution, where you can take in breath-taking 360-degree views of the outlying islands and the Cascade Mountain range. Trails provide easy walks or rigorous, hilly climbs. Afterward, you might enjoy picnick-ing at Cascade Lake’s sun-warmed swim-ming area, with a playground, barbecues
and picnic tables.Beyond the park lies Olga, with its eclec-
tic art co-op and restaurant; past it you’ll find secluded Obstruction Pass state park, with hike-in campgrounds along a lovely pebbled beach. Point Lawrence Road leads to the hamlet of Doe Bay, with a historic resort, sundries shop and hot tub.
Orcas Island: A special place to start forever
Top photo: A joyful wedding walk along the island hills. Photo / Steve Horn
Left photo: Jenny and Cory Foote during their wedding on Orcas.
Photo / Chris Gill, WestBoundary Photography
16 — Wednesday, February 15, 2012 WEDDINGS The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
360.376.3737 [email protected]
Congratulations on your engagement!Now that you have chosen one of the most beautiful places in America
to have your wedding, let Patina create unique ways to blend thiswondrous landscape with your personal style.
Contact us for a free consultation.
PatinaFloral, Design
& Planning
Portrait: Unique twists with traditonal bliss
ORCAS ISLAND CATERERS:Angels’ Food Catering [email protected], 360-376-7420www.angelsfoodcatering.com
Deer Harbor Inn Restaurantcarp@rockisland.com360-376-1040www.deerharborinnrestaurant.com
EVENT PLANNING:Cloud 9 [email protected]
FLORAL DESIGN:Patina Floral Design & [email protected]
WEDDING OFFICIANT:Orcas WeddingsSandra Wilson, 360-376-4524www.orcasweddings.com
EVENT RENTALS:Orcas Weddings & Events434 Prune Alley360-376-8376www.orcasevents.com
Left photo:Poised and ready for her special day.
Photo / Steve Horn
Right photo: Jenny and Cory Foote during their wedding on Orcas.
Photo / Chris Gill/WestBoundary
Photography
•
The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com WEDDINGS Wednesday, February 15, 2012 — 17
With its gently rolling hills, bucolic farmlands, and easily accessible parks and seashores, Lopez Island is
the perfect wedding venue … if you like peaceful, beautiful settings and a place known for being the “Friendly Isle.”
Lopez is a top destination for visitors to the San Juans. Don’t be surprised if fellow motorists wave — it’s the island way. Lopez is also the closest of the ferry-served islands to Anacortes, making it a quick and convenient trip.
Most of the island’s businesses are located in Lopez Village. On Saturday mornings in the summer, you’ll find shoppers perusing fresh vegetables at the Farmers Market, and children playing in Lopez Village Park.
Although Lopez Island’s population is small, around 2,400 people, it has a wide variety of music concerts, art shows, cul-tural events. You’ll find talented wedding photographers and an eclectic group of musicians for your ceremony.
Wedding venues:The island offers a selection of poten-
tial ceremony venues like the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts with its wood floors, large windows and out-door performance pavilion; Lopez Island Vineyards offers beautifully landscaped winery gardens for an intimate outdoor wedding location; Lopez Islander Resort is located on charming Fisherman Bay and includes waterfront hotel rooms and
restaurant; The Galley truly offers a fam-ily-friendly environment on Fisherman Bay, the Edenwild Inn with premium accommodations nestled in the heart of Lopez Village, of Woodman Hall. There are also several churches for tying the knot including, Center Church and Grace Episcopal Church.
Activities for guests:What makes Lopez such a romantic
setting is its vast expanses of spectacular beaches, vistas and stunning wildlife. It’s common to see eagles, great blue herons, and osprey fly into the distance behind you. Take a trip to Odlin County Park and Spencer Spit State Park and your wedding guests may also catch a killer whale sighting.
The Lopez Village, which has a gro-cery stores, two coffee shops, several boutiques, restaurants, a bookstore, and a bakery, provides the essentials and any last minute items during for your time on the island.
If you’re guests need a place to stay there are plenty of accommodations on the island including a motel, bed and breakfasts, vacation home rentals and three campgrounds.
A wedding on Lopez not only gives you breathtaking scenery, but a place of rustic charm and friendly people. For more info, contact the Lopez Chamber of Commerce at 468-4664 or visit http://www.lopezisland.com.
Lopez Island: Tie the knot on the “Friendly Isle”
Of all the historic structures on Lopez Island, not many build-ings are more beautiful or beloved than Center Church.
Photo / Steve Horn
Stephanie Daigle dances with her father, Bruce Williams, at her wedding reception on the Williams’ Lopez Island property. Photo / Steve Horn
Th e perfect venue for your wedding reception.Beautiful, warm inviting space, all the amenities you need for that special day: stage, new sound and lighting systems, table settings,
professional kitchen, all add to the Hall’s charms.
Contact Gordon Eustis, 468-3537 orLopez Senior Services, 468-2421
Ad sponsored by � e Friends of Woodmen Halland Lopez Senior Advisory Board
Woodmen HallBe part of the Lopez tradition
LOPEZ ISLAND
WEDDING RECEPTION FACILITY:Woodmen Hall360-468-3537360-468-2421
PHOTOGRAPHY:Steve Horn Photography360-468-2100www.stevehorn.net
18 — Wednesday, February 15, 2012 WEDDINGS The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com