Epic PNW Weather for Summer Gig Harbor Micro Wedding

Taylor and Bilal’s intimate micro wedding was one of the best things to happen in 2020. Not only did it give me something fun and positive to look forward to, it was an absolute dream. They booked with us one month into a pandemic that we didn’t think would last beyond Spring but as the pandemic held on so did Taylor and Bilal. They were determined to get married in August 2020 and would find a way for their family and friends to attend safely. 

Taylor and I spent countless late-night hours emailing back and forth, mostly between 11 pm and 1 am. Ultimately, they formulated a plan with their family to book a gorgeous place in Gig Harbor and quarantine together for the entire stay leading up to their special day. No detail was spared but more importantly, Taylor and Bilal paid incredible attention to the details that would ensure everyone’s comfort — including ours! It was so fun working with them to create a bright and cheery day. 

They booked a stunning home on Gig Harbor that was almost completely surrounded by water, which meant everything had to be brought in. By everything I mean every little thing. It was a beast to move all of the chairs, glassware, forks, florals, candles, and so on, but we did it and it was so worth it. My husband joined me for the weekend and I put him to work. We strung lighting, set up the decor, and even assisted in getting the food picked up and staged for them before we left them to dine solo (thanks, COVID). It rained off and on the day of their wedding, but in true J29 Events fashion, the skies cleared and the sun came out just in time. We scurried to put everything back out and cruised along like it was nothing. Sure it was different, but this wedding screamed beauty and love. So much love. They had 15 guests in attendance with at least 70 more logged in from across the world to attend via Zoom (thank goodness for technology). 

In a year when life threw us a ton of lemons, Taylor and Bilal fell from the sky and graced us with their love. Despite it all, they prevailed. Two ethnicities, two religions, family members who flew internationally in the midst a global pandemic and political unrest. They did it and we couldn’t feel more honored to have witnessed their special day.

With all of the difficult things we have endured over the past year and a half, it is so nice to look back and see the light that shone through the darkness. Taylor and Bilal’s wedding was certainly one of those bright spots… despite the rain.

How did you two meet? 

We met in college at Central Washington University, which is where Bilal's parents also met. Bilal was president of the break club, and Taylor went with some friends, the rest is history! In our time at CWU, we started an activism club together, graduated with honors, and organized protests on campus in support of Ferguson.  

Tell us about your first date.

 Well, while it might not be a "date" one of our first deep connections was when Bilal was helping me move out of a bad roommate situation. It was late, we were stressed, and l picked up a box of honey nut cheerios upside down and they spilled everywhere. I was already kneeling and packing, and Bilal just put his hands on my shoulders and said "we've got this". Bilal remembers our first date with us going through all the CDs in his car and bonding over how much we love music. :)

Tell us your engagement story!

On the day of the proposal we went kayaking, Bilal proposed on the water, and we had a picnic with my family. He proposed with the fake ring from Amazon we had ordered when trying on different styles at home as our version of ring shopping during a pandemic. But, really, we were engaged over a month prior. We spent the last year after going to Nigeria for his sister's wedding intentionally working on our relationship to make damn sure we wanted to be married. After we felt sure, we also wanted to be in a place where we were feeling close to make the steps of engagement and wedding stuff.

When COVID hit we spent SO much time just the two of us at home, and we feel a little guilty about this, but we had the time of our lives. It was ridiculously fun and happy for us to just be holed up together. Then, the truth settled in that a large wedding wouldn't be possible for potentially two years, and that was just too long to wait. SO we realized that getting married this summer fit what we wanted, and now here we are two months out even though we never imagined having a small wedding or getting married so quickly, but we are loving it

Tell us about you two as a couple.

 We really value family, we are interfaith so Christian and Muslim, we are lowkey but love to have a good time. Basically, we will dance the night away with you, but are just as happy snuggled up watching a movie with either of our families. We value authenticity, kindness, playfulness, learning. and community.

 Hobbies?

 We like going on low-key outdoor adventures like playing games in the park, cooking together, spending time with our loved ones, dancing of course, and travel when we can. We both are heavily academically oriented, so Taylor graduated with her master’s then Bilal started his.

Vendors:

Photography: Henry Tieu⁣⁣ Photography
Florals: Leigh and Mitchell⁣⁣
Rentals: CORT Party Rental, Great Jones NW, & La Tavola Linen⁣⁣
Tux: The Black Tux⁣⁣
Cake: Petunia’s Pies & Pastries

How to Navigate Catering a Micro Wedding

The definition of a micro wedding can vary depending on who you talk to, but it typically includes anywhere from 5 to 50 guests. And with the Pandemic, 2020 saw a radical shift towards smaller events. Those who didn’t want to cancel or postpone their larger weddings leaned into the idea of a more intimate scaled-back event.

The wedding industry followed suit and started educating themselves about how to scale up a sized-down event. What resulted were some of the most amazing elopements and micro weddings we’ve helped plan to date!

Moving into the 2021 wedding season, we are anticipating being able to hold larger events, but want to make sure to follow safety protocols as well.

Splurge on your table decor

Quality wins over quantity and you can stretch your budget for the tabletop of your dreams. Unique china, monogrammed linens, personalized paper goods. Let your imagination run wild and get that Pinterest board started!

Reimagine Appetizers

Instead of hundreds of the same small bites, have your caterer, prepare more options for fewer guests. This can even be the main meal in some cases. In essence, turn your bites into a tapas-style meal.

Cocktails

Statistically, 50% of wedding guests will drink wine throughout the evening, and the remaining 50% is split between liquor beverages and beer. But the advantage of a smaller guest list means you will likely know what everyone prefers and can cater accordingly. Be sure to add a signature drink to the menu or hire a mixologist to create works of wonder for your guests.

Make the Meal the Main Event

For some couples, saving money isn’t the reason for opting for a smaller event and can be an opportunity to push for quality over quantity. In this instant embrace the idea of hiring a private chef to cater your wedding or reserve a private room at a favorite fancy restaurant. Consider having a themed dinner such as a Roman style dinner party or have fresh sushi prepared on-site. Let your imagination go wild and imaging the dinner of your dreams.

Dessert

A smaller guest list means fewer tiers on your cake right? Not necessarily. Work with your baker to make Individual mini 3-tiered wedding cakes or fill a tiered cake stand with gourmet desserts such as creme brulee, mini pies, baklava cups, and cupcakes.

Whatever you decide, It is of the utmost importance to talk to your catering vendors about the logistics of bringing food into a non-traditional venue setting. If you choose to get married on the edge of a cliff (a very popular idea on the Oregon Coast) make sure you are working with a caterer that is comfortable setting up and bringing in a portable kitchen that includes water, and electricity.