Maddy and Caleb, college sweethearts, found themselves in Washington D.C. after graduation looking for a new adventure. An adventure that not only included ambitious career goals, but also included planning their Trinity Tree Farm wedding back in Washington state, cross country!
Maddy & I immediately connected over our love of dogs – they have an adorable golden retriever named Captain America – and our love of cozy, farm weddings. She put together an incredible team of vendors from afar including their venue, Trinity Tree Farm, florals from Bloom by Tara, cake from Honey Crumb Cake Studio, catering by Twelve Baskets, and a rockstar DJ, Daron Wolschleger, to name a few.
I arrived at the Trinity Tree Farm wedding venue with all of these amazing vendors bustling about. Tara was covering every inch of the reception hall with gorgeous greenery and luscious flowers. Carla was perched on the cake table ledge hand piping elegant white ruffles. Meanwhile, Caleb stood on the balcony above it all, smiling. He & Maddy played hide and seek checking in on vendors, delegating tasks and getting ready. Caleb & his boys were all jokes, most having been apart for some time since the big move east. That is something I love so much about weddings – getting all of your favorite people, family and friends in one place to celebrate. It is a true gift! Maddy & her girls nervously sipped champagne, steamed dresses and chatted away. They zipped Maddy into her dress and processed out into the beaming sunshine.
What brought me to tears…
Kevin & I chose a poem by James Kavanaugh called “To Love is Not to Possess”(I’ve included the full poem at the bottom of this post) to be read during our wedding ceremony. I don’t remember how I found it, but I just loved how it spoke about commitment not only to each other but to one’s self –
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
I’d never heard it at another wedding, so I literally stopped in my tracks when the officiant announced that as the reading. It brought tears to my eyes and gave me such an appreciation for the wonderful marriage I was witnessing. This poem speaks so beautifully to Maddy & Caleb as a couple – strong, independent people, yet fiercely loving and loyal. Congratulations Maddy & Caleb – heres to many years of love and adventure (and dog cuddles)! xo
Love is Not to Possess by James Kavanaugh
To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one’s self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another–and to one’s inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon’s own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child’s scars
Or an adult’s deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are–and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.
Venue: Trinity Tree Farm, Issaquah, WA // Florals: Bloom by Tara // Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio // Catering: Twelve Baskets Catering // DJ: Daron Wolschleger // Calligraphy: Whitlynn Design Shop // Invitation: Minted // Chairs: Pendersens // Linens: La Tavola // Hair & Makeup: Posh Styling // Gown: Vera Wang // Groom: Men’s Warehouse // Photography: Meredith McKee Photography
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