Backyard Wedding Venue (Private Residence)

Rehearsal Dinner

Backyard Wedding (Private Residence)

Wedding Ceremony & Reception Dinner

Ceremony

Reception

Heritage Park

Lakefair & Fireworks

Summer

Our Wedding

It was the early-mid-2010's. Cara and Erin were in their late-mid-20's. They met at a house party their friends Ash and Alyssa put together. We suspect this was a set up. Oh wait! Rewind to approximately 2005. Erin is a summer camp counselor and Cara is a parks maintenance worker, both for the City of Olympia. Cara and Ash and Ira are busy driving pickup trucks around to all the parks, wearing Carhartts and avoiding eye contact thanks to their baseball hats being pulled down low. Erin spots Cara from across the park at Garfield Elementary while setting up a very official government-sanctioned water balloon fight for children. Erin is beside herself and sure that Cara is too cool to even acknowledge her. Cara does not know this and has no memory of Erin diligently ignore-flirting with her for several years. Back to the 2010's. It's the first time they've ever actually talked. Cara asks to drive Erin home from the party. This works out because Erin doesn't drive. Cara played Heart on a cassette tape in the car. They bonded over loving Heart's cheesy 80's era. Fast forward a bit, and our characters dated for a month. The timing wasn't right. They decided to stay friends for the time being, but secretly pined over one another for the next 5-6 business years. Cara lived her life and was incredibly busy being cool and having a dog. She was also dealing with health challenges. Erin lived her life and continued to ignore-flirt with Cara whenever she saw her work truck parked at Ralph's grocery store. Cara claims not to have noticed. Five years pass. Erin returns to Olympia after a year of backpacking and being a general vagabond. She sees Cara on Facebook talking about getting a crossbow. Erin writes to her, "I'm surprised you don't already have one." Moments pass. Cara responds. They have not talked in years. Erin asks Cara out for coffee. Cara says yes. Erin wears a vintage Heart tour t-shirt. Thus begins a year of coffee dates at the old Batdorf cafe downtown. Every weekend, they spend hours and hours laughing over one single cup of coffee each. Erin insists on calling Cara dude. Cara insists that they remain just buddies as Erin is a drifter without a job, home, or car. Erin works hard to get a job, home, and car and put down roots again. The year passes and now they're such good friends they're afraid to share their feelings. Erin finally makes enough money to afford more than a cup of coffee on their not-date-dates. Erin confesses to Cara that she has a huge crush on her. Cara says "Me too! I had no idea! Then why do you keep calling me 'dude'?" And then they started officially dating. They were very brave and very scared and managed to be kind and patient as they figured out how to date again as more seasoned adults. They learned being vulnerable and honest and staying true to yourself is at first more scary, and then more safe with someone you want to be with forever. This summer will be 10 years since they started talking again, and 9 years since they started dating. Cara proposed to Erin on a lake in Moran State Park on Orcas Island. They were in a canoe and tried not to fall over when they saw a Bigfoot on a paddle board coming towards them. The Bigfoot waved and paddled past. Erin said yes. Cara told Erin recently "There's no one else I want to figure life out with forever. And it'll probably take us forever to figure it all out."

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

There is no true "theme" but we're going for the weirder the better. We want it to look and feel like Bilbo Baggins' birthday party in The Fellowship of the Ring. If you don't know what the heck that means, no problem! Wear what makes you most comfortable! It might be hot and we'll be outside, so dress to stay cool and wear comfortable shoes for walking on grass and uneven ground. Sneakers are encouraged. A sun hat and serious sunglasses will come in handy. Bring a warmer layer for when the sun goes down. Wear your most summer-camp-appropriate ensemble, your Lord of the Rings inspired outfit, or outlandish sparkles and gay attire. The vibe is "Summer, Casual, Fun" so don't stress and don't feel obligated to dress up. If you are so inclined, wear a costume. Wear jeans and a t-shirt. Wear head to toe sequins. Be gay about it.

Dress Code

Lakefair Week is the annual event held over the third weekend in July at Heritage Park along Capitol Lake. Opening day for the 2026 season is on Wednesday, July 15 and continues through Sunday, July 19. The festival opens daily at Noon and closes at 11p Wednesday-Saturday, closing later on Sunday at Midnight to accommodate the grand finale fireworks over Capitol Lake. Fun for kids (and adults) during the day. A truly strange experience at night. We used to call it LakeScare but the normies have quieted since the beer garden was banned.

Capital Lakefair

Walk around the market, grab brunch, listen to a band play, and avoid all of your exes convened in one central open air location just a block from the boardwalk.

The Olympia Farmers Market

Take a 2 minute drive from downtown to Tumwater Falls Park for an easy, accessible outdoor walk in a peaceful setting.&nbsp;It's waterfalls! It's where Olympia beer was originally brewed! It's a paved, even, and beautiful walk with tons of trees and honestly its too beautiful to be ignored. There's a kids' playground but it's from the 70's so it requires imagination and band-aids. Kid and knee-replacement friendly walking trails. Restrooms are nice and clean.

Tumwater Falls

The Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Washington is an interactive children’s museum with 150 exhibits, outdoor play areas, camps, and educational programs for kids. You will want to put your child on a leash but don't do it! You'll find them eventually. It's safe, they are contained.There is only one thing that you MUST do with toddlers and little kids in Olympia, and it's taking them to this place. Veer away from the gift shop when you enter. There is a kid and adult-friendly cafe right inside as well, affordable and full of pb&amp;j's and apple slices. There's a wading pool outside that looks like a creek.

Hands On Children's Museum

It's a 10 minute drive from downtown. A place you can dip your toes in the bay. A rose garden. A big playground and lots of picnic space and clean restrooms. At the heart of this 314-acre regional nature park is one mile of saltwater shoreline. For the intrepid hiker or someone who needs alone time, Ellis Cove is tucked away inside the park and the Ellis Cove Trail further enhances access to more parkland and the views of downtown Olympia and State Capitol buildings.

Squaxin Park

Get the best ice cream in town at Sweetlee's. Try out the burger place next door, or get the fancy pizza from the food truck. Taste a local beer, wine, or cider from one of several restaurants and pubs in this market. There's communal seating outside, too.

The Craft District

Things to Do

If there is one single thing that makes flying here better, it's flying into and out of Portland, Oregon rather than the SEATAC airport in Seattle. The airport is much smaller, more beautiful, more calm, more well organized, and less stressful. The drive from Portland to Olympia is also beautiful, uneventful, devoid of construction, and light on traffic. It's a straight shot up I-5. Driving from Seattle to Olympia is unpleasant at best, and may take you longer because of traffic and construction.

Portland International Airport

Travel

Olympia Places To Stay <a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/seaoc-courtyard-olympia/overview/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Courtyard by Marriott Olympia</a> - 2301 Henderson Park Ln SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Was recommended by friends and has decent Google reviews. Has a pool and cafe but breakfast isn’t free. One side faces freeway (if staying here may want to ask for non-freeway side room). <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/olmhpgi-hilton-garden-inn-olympia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hilton Garden Inn Olympia</a> - 2101 Henderson Park Ln SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Right next door to the above Courtyard by Marriott hotel, so same issue with freeway applies. Also has a pool and cafe but breakfast doesn’t appear to be free (may have some free kids’ breakfast items). Has decent Google reviews but we don’t know anyone who’s stayed there. <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lacolhx-hampton-suites-olympia-lacey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hampton Inn &amp; Suites Olympia Lacey</a> - 4301 Martin Way E, Olympia, WA 98516. Has pool and free breakfast. The back side of this one faces the freeway so if staying here may want to ask for non-freeway facing room. <a href="https://www.ihg.com/candlewood/hotels/us/en/lacey/lacwa/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-CW-_-US-_-LACWA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Candlewood Suites Olympia/Lacey by IHG</a> - 4440 3rd Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503. More of an extended stay place and doesn’t have quite as good reviews as the other above places but thought I’d throw it in as an option. Don’t know anyone who’s stayed here. One side also faces freeway. <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/tumwater-washington/la-quinta-tumwater-olympia/overview?CID=LC:6ysy27krtpcrqev:53371&amp;iata=00093796" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Quinta Inn &amp; Suites Tumwater Olympia</a> - 4600 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Don’t know anyone who’s stayed here but it has decent Google reviews and is nearby a great park and the Craft District which has some good restaurants, beer halls, ice cream, etc. Has a pool and looks like they have free breakfast. Front side faces the freeway and a busy road. <a href="https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-tumwater/best-western-tumwater-olympia-inn/propertyCode.48113.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Western Tumwater-Olympia Inn</a> - 5188 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Is nearby the above La Quinta and those same attractions and has a similar Google review rating. Front side faces a busy road but is further away from the freeway. No pool but does seem to have a free breakfast. <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/tumwater/seawt/hoteldetail" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Holiday Inn Express &amp; Suites Tumwater-Olympia</a> - 1620 74th Ave SW, Tumwater, WA 98501. A little further away but not too bad. Don’t know anyone who’s stayed here but has decent Google reviews. Has pool and free breakfast. One side faces freeway off-ramp but it’s a little further from actual freeway. Seems to have suites with more occupancy options. There are two cheaper, less well-reviewed hotels next door to it too, in kind of an industrial/office park area. <a href="https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.48173.html?iata=00171880&amp;ssob=BLBWI0004G&amp;cid=BLBWI0004G:google:gmb:48173" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Western Plus Lacey Inn and Suites</a> - 8326 Quinault Dr NE, Lacey, WA 98516. Also a little further away but not too bad. Don’t know anyone who’s stayed here but has decent Google reviews and is nearby a lot of chain restaurants, Costco, Cabela’s, etc. Has a pool and free breakfast. Other Options: <a href="https://swantowninn.com/accommodations/puget-suite/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Swantown Inn - Puget Suite</a> - 1431 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Bed &amp; Breakfast very near our house that has this two bedroom, two bathroom, kitchenette ground floor suite. They said it had a 6 person occupancy limit for this suite. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1205999104197888205?check_in=2026-07-16&amp;check_out=2026-07-22&amp;guests=2&amp;adults=2&amp;s=67&amp;unique_share_id=d94e24ba-89ed-4628-9017-74c4734034dd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">910 Frederick St SE, Olympia WA 98501</a> - This is the 3 bedroom/2 bath house that is literally behind our house. Has limited availability the week after our wedding though, and no air conditioning. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1363856088451212755?check_in=2026-07-16&amp;check_out=2026-07-23&amp;guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;s=67&amp;unique_share_id=a73f9d65-2169-4950-97f5-95e5e456dbe9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1923 Legion Way SE, Olympia WA 98501</a> - Also very near our house. 2 bedroom/1 bath. Also no air conditioning. <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/554595404763352154?check_in=2026-07-16&amp;check_out=2026-07-25&amp;guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;s=67&amp;unique_share_id=e54cc377-625a-463c-9197-b21a003d1222" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2026 16th Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501</a> - Also close to our house. 3 bedrooms/1.5 baths. There is another vacation rental/owners’ home attached.

Erin & Cara

Erin & Cara

E&C

Wedding Ceremony & Reception Dinner

4:00 PM–4:30 PM

Ceremony

4:30 PM–9:00 PM

Reception