The Backyard Wedding Zone

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

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

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. 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. Prepare for field games, a bonfire, karaoke, and a walk through the woods if you're up for it.

Dress Code

Q + A

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

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. Get the only French dining in town at Bar C’est L’eau (also it's incredibly good and has good vibes in the bar and patio seating). Try out a local beer, wine, or cider from one of several restaurants and pubs in this market. There's communal seating outside, too.

Erin & Cara

Erin & Cara

Travel

Portland International Airport