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Chris + Emily's shared passion of the great outdoors meant embarking on a beautiful hike on their wedding day. This savvy couple embraced simplicity and sustainability by wearing attire they either already had or found on sale!
The quick facts

At a glance

Couple
Emily + Chris
Where
Whidbey Island, Washington
When
February 4, 2023
Season
Spring
Budget
$400
Guests
6
The numbers

How they spent $400

Below is an estimated wedding budget breakdown provided by the couple.

  • Photography 50% $200
  • Flowers 25% $100
  • Partner 1 Attire 13% $50
  • Alcohol/Bar 13% $50
  • Total wedding budget $400

How did you two meet?

We met in high school! We dated for two years in high school and then briefly broke up to go to separate colleges. After a semester or so, we decided to try again and proceeded to be in a long distance relationship for the next four years!

We stuck with each other through everything that comes your way in college, cross country internships, and career changes. Finally, everything aligned and Chris got into law school in the same city that I got a job!

What is your proposal story?

Chris proposed while we were hiking along Lake Pend Oreille. After, we drank champagne out of red solo cups and made hot dogs over the campfire. The best part was that we had just arrived for a long weekend of camping with no cell service, so it got to be just between us for three days.

Tell us about your attire choices.

I got my dress on sale from Nordstrom Rack, and Chris already owned the suit he wore. We knew our location would be a little muddy and sandy with lots of walking, so we both opted to wear our hiking boots. This felt very fitting for us as we have been on so many adventures in those boots. They feel like a part of our story!

What were your favorite parts of the day?

The whole day was very calm. We hiked quite a bit, and it was nice just enjoying each others company in those quiet moments in between everything else!

What was your biggest splurge?

Our biggest splurge was after the wedding; our trip to Hawaii. We spent around $950 for round trip airfare tickets each, and our hotel was around $3k – but since it was our honeymoon, it was totally worth it!

What were your favorite details?

Our favorite detail was having our ceremony being held on the beach. It was so beautiful!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

You can have your dream wedding day without breaking the bank, I promise!

The dream team

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