THE ESSENTIALS
The wedding is on Friday, August 7th, 2026
at Twin Willow Garden in Snohomish, WA.
See THE VENUE tab for more details, or click below for a link to the wedding venue website.
We recommend that guests arrive Thursday, August 6th and depart Sunday, August 9th.
For our out of town guests, SeaTac has the most commercial offerings and is the easiest airport.
Paine Field (in Everett, WA) is a viable alternative.
In addition to Friday's ceremony/reception, we are plotting other social events for Thursday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning.
Click below for more details of the weekend activities.
We recommend that guests stay at Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, WA.
All weekend activities will be coordinated from this location.
See THE LODGE tab for more details, as well as a list of alternative accommodations. Or, click the button below to access the Salish Lodge website and book your room.
Transportation
Salish Lodge:
Shuttle transport will be provided to and from the wedding from Salish Lodge.
As Salish Lodge will serve as our "hub" and jumping-off point for all weekend activities, we highly recommend staying here for the most convenient experience.
Snoqualmie Inn and Snoqualmie Hotel and Casino:
Shuttle transportation will be provided to and from Snoqualmie inn and Snoqualmie Hotel and Casino for the wedding on Friday. However, because rideshares are unreliable in this area, you will need a rental car to get to and from the other weekend festivities.
Any other location(s):
If you choose to stay at a location other than Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Inn, or Snoqualmie Hotel and Casino, a rental car is essential for getting to and from the wedding shuttles or wedding venue and the other weekend festivities.
WEDDING WEEKEND
We're planning a weekend of celebration in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We recommend that our guests and loved ones plan to arrive by Thursday evening. We've elected to have a Friday wedding, in the hopes that our family and friends will be available to celebrate in the days that follow.
THURSDAY
Welcome Cocktails
Wedding party and immediate family have a rehearsal dinner, followed by non-hosted welcome cocktails for all guests at the Salish Lodge Terrace as sunset hits the mist of the beautiful Snoqualmie Falls.
Note: If you are part of the wedding party or immediate family, there is a mandatory rehearsal Thursday afternoon. Please be at Salish Lodge by 3pm on Thursday, August 6th. All other guests are welcome to join us on the Salish Lodge patio at/after 6:30pm.
FRIDAY
The "I dos" and bad dance moves
The wedding ceremony and reception will take place at Twin Willow Gardens in Snohomish WA. We're planning an afternoon ceremony, with cocktails, dinner, and a dance floor to carry us through the evening.
Note: The venue (Twin Willow Gardens) is approximately 40 minutes from the recommended/host hotel (Salish Lodge) and alternative hotels (Snoqualmie Inn and Snoqualmie Hotel and Casino). We are coordinating a shuttle service to/from these hotels and venue for our guests.
SATURDAY
River Float
We're soaking up the beauty of the Pacific NW with a relaxing float along the Snoqualmie River the day after the wedding. The river is calm and slow during the summer months, so this is more of a celebratory mimosa float atop flamigo-shaped floaties rather than an exhilarating river rafting excursion thru rapids.
SUNDAY
Farewell Brunch
A mellow non-hosted farewell brunch to cap off the weekend.
TWIN WILLOW GARDENS
Forty minutes from where Cal grew up, Twin Willow Gardens is a lush forest wedding venue with colorful summer gardens and enchanting walking paths. Think romantic string lights, rustic wooden benches, hand-hewn wooden arbors, a gorgeous reception tent, and a ceremony space nestled under a canopy of towering trees so lush it's capable of fully scratching Sarah's itch for a "Twilight" wedding,
SALISH LODGE & SPA
SALISH LODGE: PURE NORTHWEST MAGIC
The Salish Lodge & Spa provides the perfect escape from the everyday, with soothing services, refined accommodations, and a magnificent backdrop atop Washington's iconic Snoqualmie Falls.
Located about 40 minutes from our wedding venue, shuttle transport will be provided to and from the wedding. As the Lodge will serve as our "hub" and jumping-off point for all weekend activities, we highly recommend staying here for the most convenient experience.
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMODATIONS
Snoqualmie Inn
Are you immune to FOMO or looking for more budget-friendly rates? That's chill. Snoqualmie Inn is our recommended alternative accommodation. It's approximately 10 minutes from Salish Lodge and has wonderful rooms at exceptional rates.
Shuttle transportation will be provided to/from the wedding on Friday. However, because rideshares are unreliable in this area, you will need a rental car to get to and from the other weekend festivities.
Snoqualmie Resort & Casino
Do you want to trade water fall views for neon lights? Are you a degenerate gambler (cheers, Gilkenson boys!), or hoping to hit the roulette table to bet it all on 8, 7, and 26? Love this journey for you. The Snoqualmie Resort is the areas newest hotel and part of Seattle's biggest/only casino. Stay here, but don't expect us to come find you in the casino, and make sure you "win" enough to cover your rental car to and from activities.
Shuttle transportation will be provided to/from the wedding on Friday. However, because rideshares are unreliable in this area, you will need a rental car to get to and from the other weekend festivities.
THE COUPLE QUIZ
GET TO KNOW OUR RELATIONSHIP (IN THE FORM OF A MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONNAIRE)
Cal and Sarah met because...?
a) Cal was a juror on a court case that Sarah had been subpoenaed to testify at as an expert witness
b) Sarah was doing a drunken scavenger hunt with friends and she knocked on Cal's door to ask for an apple
c) Cal's english bulldog (Mr. Bubbles) pulled him into a nail salon for dog treats while Sarah was getting a pedicure
The first date was to a pub on Main Street because...?
a) They discovered during their first text exchange that they both had an odd obsession with the shepard's pie from the pub
b) There was a big game on and Cal wanted to watch it
c) Sarah's friends were already out and she wanted an excuse to bail if Cal sucked
Who made the first move?
a) A ketchup bottle.... during trivia night a stranger at our table jokingly made reference to spin the bottle when ketchup spilled and told us to kiss. We obliged.
b) Cal: on our second date he insisted that they re-enact the make out scene from the Notebook since there was a torrential downpour
c) Sarah: in the middle of a conversation, she interrupted Cal with "can i kiss you?", and then with no pause for a response just kissed him
Cal planned a getaway to Colorado for the proposal, but the proposal surprise was nearly ruined because...?
a) While going thru airport security, TSA did a bag search on Cal and dumped the engagement ring and proposal decorations out on a table less than two feet away from Sarah
b) Our shuttle driver on the way to the proposal site asked us "Are you married...? No!? When are you getting engaged?"
c) Both of the above, plus: the night before the planned proposal Sarah kept insisting on having a heart-to-heart about relationship/life timelines and was relentlessly pressuring Cal into disclosing his thoughts on when they'd get engaged.
Hint: the answer to every question is "c"
OUR STORY
HOW WE MET (as told by Cal)
Creatures of habit, my loveable bulldog (Mr. Bubbles) and I walk Old Towne Seal Beach daily. Over time, Bubbles has successfully petitioned many of the quaint Main Street shops to carry dog treats (mostly by strategic refusal to walk past any shop's open doorway until they feed him) . Bubs' favorite supplier of treats is Select Nail House, as the owner (Kim) often greets him enthusiastically, maintains a special supply of Bubs' favorite snacks, and occasionally even offers up her lunch and leftovers. Like we do on most days, we strolled in one Sunday afternoon (November 19) to collect our usual bounty. Always welcoming, Kim announced our arrival and directed "everyone say hello to Bubbles!". Cal broke from shoveling treats into Bubs' mouth to look up to the greeting committee of patrons, and he made eyes with Sarah as she tilted her head sideways, smiled and softly yet enthusiastically said "hiiiii bubbbblessss" from her pedicure chair. Sarah claims that she was there with two friends, but she was honestly the only person I saw. Like a bashful elementary-aged kid overwhelmed by my first crush, I diverted my eyes, grabbed another treat, and bent over to feed Bubs while I mumbled under my breath "holy sh*t, don't look over there Bubbles, you'll fall in love" (yes, actually). And then we left. Zero words exchanged. What can I say, shooters shoot, right? lol.
Fast forward about a week, and several Select Nail treat stops later, when Kim suddenly remembers something and excitedly proclaims "I have something for you!" She passes me a note. It's Sarah's name, phone number, and instagram handle. Turns out, the owner Kim is quite the hype woman, and had encouraged Sarah to leave it behind after I left.
Happy with my solo-life, I resist initially, before curiosity takes over and I stalk her instagram. Wait.... no way, its THAT girl.
THE FIRST DATE (as told by Sarah)
I was at my friend Amy’s house for a Holiday party in Seal Beach when I received a text message from Cal. He complimented my crafty move of leaving my number at the nail salon and expressed interest in taking me out to dinner soon. I thought "why wait?" and invited him to meet me out on main street with a group of friends right then. I greeted Cal with a margarita, a hug, and invited him to join the table. Ice breaker conversation (or should I say glass breaker conversation) took place. We grabbed barstools of our own and got to know one another over the next few hours. I was intrigued by Cal's intelligence, depth, and attunement. A couple hours into our discussion and mid-conversation, I kissed him (shooters do shoot).
THE FIRST "REAL" DATE (as told by Cal)
A few days later, I snagged tickets to the Los Angeles Kings hockey game for our first proper date. The kings lost to the Capitals 2-1. I don't think either of us cared that much. The evening still felt like a win.
WHEN SHE KNEW
When you know you know. In this case, Cal knew that I knew before I was willing to admit it. Vulnerability isn’t always my strong suit. Over the next week, I could feel myself falling in love with Cal. Despite my no filter, weirdness, TMI, and busy schedule, Cal still seemed to like me. So, one night I mustered the courage to tell Cal how I was feeling. On my drive home, I teared up to a Chelsea Cutler song, fully surrendering to the realization that I was in love.
WHEN HE KNEW
Sunday, January 7, 2024, 11:25pm... a text message: "you have all of my heart".
That's when he knew.
This is the one.
THE PROPOSAL
Under the guise of his annual Colorado fix, Cal planned a trip for us. I assumed we were going to Denver, like a few previous trips. To my surprise (but without suspicion) we arrived in Telluride with car service to drive us another 2 hours to Dunton Hot Springs. This was one of the coolest places we had ever been. We enjoyed a slow romantic weekend with hot springs in the snow, feeding the local horses, nice dinners, and a cozy cabin with a fireplace. I thought we were going on a ride through the snow and I wanted to dress the part in Cal’s comfy oversized flannel. Luckily, Cal steered me toward date night aesthetic knowing he would be proposing just a few minutes later. He guided me to a gazebo where his hand drawn memories of the year were hung up. Still, I wasn’t aware that I was being proposed to. Cal has a way of making ordinary days thoughtful, exciting, and romantic so I thought this was another special way of it. We looked through all the drawn memories and the last one was a drawing of Cal on a knee. I turned around filled with surprise, excitement, and love and bent down with a big hug and “yes” before Cal could finish his thoughtful words. It was the most heartfelt, thoughtful proposal I had ever seen and I felt wonderfully overwhelmed with love.
