Today's rustic wedding of Janae and WIll does a great job in showcasing what is so beautiful about the Pacific Northwest. The lush green surroundings and easy natural beauty of Fort Warden State Park, on the water in Port Townsend, was perfectly paired with Janae and Will's organic, and slightly vintage wedding look. From Janae's baby's breath bouquet to their relaxed portrait session out on the beach, this wedding has got me aching to head to the coast!

The Couple: Janae and Will

The Wedding: 6.2.12 - Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA

What were the top three priorities for you in planning your wedding? Decorations - for our ceremony, reception and rehearsal night party. Food and Beverage. And putting together our "rehearsal night". We had a big beach party at Fort Worden in a beautiful, rustic beach hut for all who were staying at the Park.

What wedding traditions or cultural traditions did you incorporated into your wedding and what did they mean to you? We had a Scottish bag piper during the wedding precession (for Janae’s Dad who is Scottish) and a traditional Chinese song during the recession (for Will's Family). We felt like it would be a good way to blend both family heritages together. We also did a candle ceremony to signify those with us in spirit, the blending of heritages, and for unity. At the reception we set up what we called the ‘family tree’ where we hung family photos from both of our families from tree branches.

Were there any places where you “broke the rules” in your wedding planning? Why and how did you do that? I don’t know if we ‘broke the rules’ but we didn’t incorporate all the traditions. We picked out a few traditions that we liked (confetti toss, cake cutting, first dances, etc.) because we wanted to have some formality but didn’t want to feel like “wedding puppets”.

What was your biggest wedding planning success? Our photographer was the best money we spent. Never skimp when it comes to the photographer, and do your research! It’s what you’re left with from the wedding and something that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

What was the most important thing that you learned through the wedding planning process and what would you tell other brides-to-be? One thing I kept telling myself over and over was to not get stuck on making a vision or idea work. If I kept running into a wall with an idea, I would shift my energy elsewhere and think ‘it wasn’t meant to be’. You can drive yourself crazy and run out of time if you try to force it. Roll with the punches... it always works out for the better.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Lindsay Borden
Ceremony Venue: Fort Worden State Park Chapel
Reception Venue: Fort Worden St. Park, USO Hall (Where An Officer and a Gentleman was filmed)
Officiant: Steve Oyler
Catering: Bon Appetite
Cake: Eileen France of Sweet and Savories
Wedding dress: Renate Gerhig Design
Bridal accessories: Earrings - Rhinestone Rosie
Bridesmaid’s apparel and accessories: David's Bridal
Groom and groomsmen apparel and accessories: Men’s Warehouse
Hair and make-up: Tiffany Waldrop
Live music: Two Buck Chuck
Dance instruction: Darren at Century Ball Room
Favors: Music CD’s and potted plants in up-cycled tin cans
Rings: Zora

Thank you Janae and Will! I love the warm, natural and romantic atmosphere you created with your wedding planning!

Readers, see more gorgeous weddings like this in our Real Weddings Library!