Simply Engaged: Reby and Chase!

I'd love to introduce another LOVELY

Simply by Tamara Nicole couple . . .

as part of our series

Simply Engaged

Here's a glimpse into the sweet couple that is

{Reby & Chase}

Wedding Date: October 14th 2016

Wedding Location: Axis Pioneer Square Seattle, WA

Photographer: Jordan Quinn Photography

. . . 

How did you two love birds meet?

In the beginning, Chase and Reby were an unlikely couple.  

They met at their local teacher’s union building, both serving as building representatives for their respective schools.  At the time, relationship prospects for the pair were slim: Reby was teaching 5^th grade highly capable students at Lake Youngs Elementary, and Chase was teaching Social Studies at Kentlake High School, both differed in their political beliefs, and Reby was married while Chase was still “playing the field”.  

The first time Chase and Reby hung out was at a political gathering in September 2012.  Reby was only slightly interested in the political guest, but both Reby and Chase recall being interested in each other!  Chase even jotted down “Reh-bee” (the bee being a sketch of a bumblebee) in order to remember how to say Reby’s sometimes confusingly pronounced name. 

Then, in July of 2013, Chase and Reby both attended a political organizing training and had the opportunity to stay at the Tulalip Casino.  On the first night, they ran into each other on the casino floor and the sparks really flew!  For nearly three hours Reby and Chase sat at the bar.  They became immediate friends, laughed constantly, and talked about everything under the sun.  When it was time to go they shared an elevator ride, which was recalled by the future couple as filled with an awkward, chemistry-filled tension.  After the conference, their friendship grew and they began chatting at future union meetings.

The next big step for Chase and Reby was at another conference – this time in Spokane at the 2014 Washington Education Association Representative Assembly. After the first day of business, the Kent delegation met at their hotel lounge, and the sparks flew even hotter this time!  All of the Kent educators had a wonderful time and Chase and Reby were the last ones to leave in the early hours of the morning.  Again, they had a chemistry-filled moment in an elevator and 

began to take note of all these moments in elevators!

Despite the chemistry, Reby and Chase at the time were mutually unavailable.  Nevertheless they stayed friends and had fun sitting next to each other at union meetings.  They occasionally met up for a drink or a bite to eat just to have a laugh and talk about life.

Eventually, things came to a head in Spring of 2015.  

Reby and Chase were at the annual WEA Representative Assembly, this time in Bellevue.  They sat next to each other and, although they voted and paid enough attention, 

they probably also deserved the “most flirtatious” award 

out of the 1,000 representatives present. As the first day of business wrapped up, a fellow teacher gave Chase a quick pep talk, convincing Chase into asking Reby to hang out that evening.  It was excellent advice as Chase called Reby on his drive home.  The two excited delegates set up a meeting at Joey’s in Bellevue and Chase whipped his car around halfway home on the freeway.  Chase and Reby hung out that night and the next, and, since both were now single, the two decided to spend more time together. Eventually, their relationship became solidified when Chase suggested that they be an official couple in early July.

How did he pop the big question?

In December 2015, 

Chase decided to make his bold move. 

One evening, Chase coaxed an unsuspecting Reby into their apartment building’s freight elevator...a continuation of the reoccurring elevator theme in their relationship.  Chase dropped down on one knee after the elevator started towards the basement, and proposed. Reby said YES and shook with excitement. And, in a faux pas, Chase did not put the ring on Reby’s finger! Luckily, the ring fit perfectly and the couple became engaged on February 3, 2016.  

What is your fave date spot/activity?

Chase and Reby have fun anywhere they go, but one thing they love to do is to attend Seattle Mariners games! 

(Go M's!) 

Chase, a sports enthusiast but more of a bandwagon Mariners fan, was not sufficiently prepared to go to the first Mariners game with Reby. In contrast to the bandwagon approach, Reby is a committed Mariners fan. She keeps score at every game,  tracks of every pitch, and is a card-carrying season ticket holder in the "All Star Club" section of the ballpark.  Reby's love for the Mariners and all things baseball is slowly transforming Chase into a real fan.:)

What is your fave part about the wedding planning process?

Our favorite part of wedding planning was hiring Tamara!  Tamara has taken so much stress and pressure off with all things wedding related. Without her, Chase and Reby agree they would be lost in the process!

(I legit did NOT expect this while reading through the answers, SO so sweet!!! I adore working with you guys too Reby!!!)

What first caught your eye?

{Her}

 The first thing that caught my eye about Chase was his wonderful smile and his confidence. A few years ago I was able to go into his classroom and see him teach a history lesson. His passion of teaching and the subject of history definitely stole my heart!

{Him}

 I remember Reby's confidence, the way she carried herself, and her intelligence. She always dresses well, is fit, and is extremely sharp. She is a beautiful woman inside and out!

{Her faves}

Mariners

playing piano

traveling

running

cooking

eating & sampling wine at new fun restaurants!

{His faves} 

weightlifting

reading history books

travel

 talking politics

watching movies

sports

bars

On my wedding day I am most excited about . . .

Chase and Reby are both most excited about seeing all of their friends and family. 

Fave meal your fiance makes for you?

Chase cooks a mean can of sardines.  

Chase's other specialties include dried seaweed and raw eggs.

(teee heee love this!)

Reby is great cook and Chase does the dishes more than cooking! Reby makes amazing dinners, Brussels sprouts, egg breakfasts, and lots more.  She loves hosting dinner parties at their home!

If we could travel anywhere for our honeymoon we would  . . .

Chase and Reby LOVE to travel.  For their honeymoon they hope to spend time in Punta del Este, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina.  

(jealous!)

Punta del Este is a famous, world class beach resort area.  Playing in the ocean, speaking some Spanish, dancing the tango, eating gaucho steak and sipping on Argentinian wine sound fun!!!

. . .

I know this wedding is going to be SO gorgeous, and we have an AMAZING team lined up, not to mention some fabulous details :)

Thanks for sharing with me R & C!

SO happy for you both!

(and how cute is their rainy Seattle engagement, AND her shoes?!)

{Simply by Tamara Nicole}

Simply Engaged: Mariel and Brian!

I'd love to introduce another fabulous (and adorable)

Simply by Tamara Nicole couple . . .

Simply Engaged

Here's a glimpse into the sweet couple that is

{Mariel & Brian}

Wedding Date: July 9th 2016

Wedding Location: Four Seasons Seattle, WA

Photographer: Clane Gessel Photography

. . . 

How did you two love birds meet

Here's our story:

Mariel and Brian met on a cold, rainy February evening in Seattle, WA. They were at King's Hardware, Brian's favorite bar back then, and bumped into each other in front of the jukebox. Mariel had stopped there to send her sister a text message. Brian walked up and said, "you should probably get off your phone!" 

(I told you it was sassy!) 

Before Mariel had a chance to retort back, Brian introduced himself, 

charmed the heck out of her, 

and they talked until two o'clock in the morning when the bar finally closed.

The couple's first date was weeks later, after hours of phone calls and texts with each other. Brian picked Mariel up, took her to dinner, and surprised her with a ride on the Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel holds a special place in the couple's hearts... it will be in prominent view at the Four Seasons, where they will get married.

How did he pop the big question?

Brian and I took a cruise to Alaska with my parents back in August, and 

every moment of the trip was magical.  

There was an energy and a sparkle surrounding everything, starting with even just packing for the trip.  I didn't suspect anything at the time, but I felt so very happy and loved.  Our Juneau excursion was going to be a helicopter tour that would land us on the Mendenhall Glacier, where Brian was planning to propose.  However, we woke up on the ship that morning to heavy thunderstorms, rain, and huge waves.  We had a feeling the helicopter tour might not happen -- for me, that meant more fun on the ship, which I was excited for!  But for Brian, who was planning to propose, it was a disaster!  

We had a quick breakfast -- eggs for my parents and me, mimosas and scotch for Brian, in his desperate nervousness.  Despite the weather, we disembarked and Brian ran from tour booth to tour booth trying to find a helicopter guide who would fly.  His persistence paid off -- while (thank goodness) no pilot would fly in that weather, he found a tour bus that took us to the glacier.  In the warm rain, in the presence of my parents, on the most beautiful glacier in one of our now-favorite places in the world, Brian got on one knee and proposed through tears and my screams of happiness.  

It's a day we'll never forget!

What is your fave date spot/activity?

We have many favorite traditions we hold dear to our hearts.  Sunday breakfast at Queen Anne cafe, outings with the dogs at Marymoor park, spring and summer camping in the mountains, and, once in a blue moon, a night out at the casino.  Hard to beat the thrill of hitting it big at a Mega Meltdown machine :)  

(side note: Mariel and Brian have a WESTIE! If you know me, you know I have FOUR of them.  Instant bonding! :)

What is your fave part about the wedding planning process?

We've absolutely loved having the opportunity to make every element of our wedding meaningful.  From my grandmother's box our rings will be carried in, to a piece of my mom's dress that will be wrapped around my bouquet, to the (surprise) groom's gift -- nearly everything will have a story to tell.  

This wedding will be the culmination of not only our love story, but also of our childhood, our family stories, and our friendships.  

That's what has been most fun and exceptional about this process for us.

Advice for planning a wedding to other couples? 

No matter HOW much time you think you have, the time flies by!  

Do everything as early as you can.  

You should aim to spend the last month(s) before the wedding just dating your fiancee, enjoying long talks with your parents, and reflecting on how blessed you are.

{Him}

Brian is a Marine Corps veteran

a graduate of Seattle Pacific University

a lover of all things 80s

a mountain climber

a field scientist with King County

& a scotch aficionado

{Her}

Mariel graduated from Harvard University 

has her MBA from Wharton

hails originally from Brooklyn, NY

loves yoga

reading

wine

camping

and spending time with her family (four- and two-legged!)

What first caught your eye?  

{Her}
He was a tall, muscular, gorgeous Marine. 

 He didn't just catch my eye, he nearly made me faint!  

;)

{Him}
She caught my eye because of her beauty initially, and after talking to her, because of her intelligence and laid back nature.

On my wedding day I am most excited about . . .

Seeing one another's faces for the first time that day.  Also, being surrounded by all of our loved ones at the same time... we know it'll make us weep.

Fave meal your fiance makes for you?

Brian makes me this incredible roasted tomato, feta, and shrimp dish.  It's my favorite because it's delicious, but also because the first time he made it, he was secretly celebrating having bought "the" ring :)

Mariel makes a mean stir fry.  She somehow finds a way to add flavor to something that is usually so dull!

If we could travel anywhere for our honeymoon we would  . . .

Scotland and Ireland, which we're planning to go to as we speak!!

(jealous, LOVE those places!)

. . .

I know this wedding is going to be SO amazing, and well we have the best team ever for it!

Thanks for sharing with me M&B!

SO happy for you both!

{Simply by Tamara Nicole}

{Simply Engaged: Jacqueline & Matt by Blue Rose Photography}

This here is another post in SBTN's series: 

Simply Engaged

Yet another sweet and adorable couple of mine . . . who are so in love!

Here's a little more about the lovely

{Jacqueline & Matt}

. . . 

Wedding Date: June 28th 2014

Wedding Location: Golden Gardens

Photographer: Blue Rose Photography

Hair and Makeup: Yessie Libby Makeup and Hair

{How did you two love birds meet?}

"The two of us met at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, WA. 

We knew each other from middle school and high school orchestra, but it wasn’t until my senior year and Matt’s junior year that we started really getting to know each other (Matt: She was waaaaaay better than me)

I still remember the fateful day when we were both attending one of our high school’s football games and our eyes met from across a crowd of people 

(we are both rather tall). My best friend looked at me and said, “That Matt is kind of cute”. I agreed, and that evening I “friended” him on MySpace. He struck up a conversation with me, and from then on we wrote back and forth to each other every evening after school. I remember eagerly awaiting his responses in between homework and practicing violin 

(Matt: I always responded eagerly between homework and deciding if I was going to practice violin or not that night or just read a book instead. She was way better at violin).  

After a few weeks of this, and meeting with groups of friends at football games, 

he asked me on a date. Two days before we even had that date, he asked me to “go steady” with him. He utilized the help of my best friend to arrange a locker scavenger hunt, where the final locker held a tape recording of my favorite classical piece and him speaking over it, complete with a rose and chocolates. Two days later we went on our first date 

(Matt: Fifteen points to anyone who can guess which classic 2005 Nicolas Cage film we went to go see.  Hint – it was The Weather Man)

and have never been apart since."

{How did he pop the big question}

"In December 2012, Matt arranged for the two of us to take a trip to Victoria, B.C. to celebrate my 25^th birthday. Victoria is where we took our first trip together, so we have fond memories of being there for the holidays. Having already been together for 7 years and having been living together for a few years, it was very difficult for him to be secretive 

(Matt: It was the challenge of a lifetime). 

The holidays are such a busy time for us, when we’re traveling across the country trying to catch up with family and friends, and I had my doubts that we could find time amidst all of that. But he insisted (which was the first red flag). The day of my birthday we took the Victoria Clipper up from Seattle, and spent the day exploring. We’re photographers when we’re not doing graduate school work, so we enjoy seeing the sites and finding ways to creatively document our explorations 

(Matt: And keep in mind, I had a big ring box in my pocket through all of this.  So it was more than a little awkward, trying to hide an engagement ring sized lump in my coat pocket). 

As we went about our day, I could tell something was up since he was being a little bit quiet. He clearly was thinking hard about something, and I just had that feeling that this was the day! So all day long I kept trying to find ways where the two of us could be secluded from other people –trying to find any opportunity to help make it happen (Matt: Including one awkward moment where we walked into an alcove after I’d temporarily transferred it to a zipped pocket in my camera bag.  There’s no way I was going to wait that long and not be at least a little smoother than fumbling with a zipper). 

It wasn’t until the end of the day that we were walking around Buchart Gardens for their holiday lights festival. We stumbled across a cabin that overlooked the main display of lights and when I turned toward him, he was down on one knee."

{What is your fave date spot/activity?}

"Our favorite activity, by far, is photography. It’s just so fun for the both of us to go out and explore new areas. We could go for a hike and not make it very far because we both just start snapping away. I love that we both appreciate the beauty in nature and share a common passion in finding ways to share with others the way we see this beauty. When we’re not out shooting, we enjoy watching movies and shows and snuggling up with our two cats, Lorne and Cosmo. We try to find balance in all things we do, so we’re never bored and always loving life (Matt: Ditto)."

{What is your fave part about the wedding planning process?}

"My favorite part about the wedding planning process has been the inspiration and planning of small details that set the mood and feel of the wedding day, and make the whole day unique to us. I love daydreaming about the way things will all look when they come together, and I have trouble with having too many ideas (Matt: Fortunately I’m always there to offer a non-committal shrug, cause they all sound fine to me). 

Additionally, I have really enjoyed making connections with our vendors. We have such an awesome line-up of talented people!"

{Advice for planning a wedding to other couples?}

"I would say to start as early as possible. 

There are lots of things to do, and it’s really important if you want to find the right vendors and make sure they’re available for your day, to book them way in advance. And it’s never too early to look at all the vendor options that are out there and start getting an idea of ones that would work in your style/preference and budget. First up, is the venue. Once you have that and a date set, then everything else can fall into place. So research venues asap, especially if considering a popular time such as during the summer months (particularly August)."

{Her Faves} 

Loves photography

nature

lavender

cloudy days

tall pine trees

our two cats

a good pair of skinny jeans

vanilla lattes

rustic modern décor

{His Faves} 

Loves photography

chocolate chip cookies

role-playing games

fantasy novels and comics

warm summer nights

the cats

trying new things

Jackie ;)

I mean really could they be any cuter?! 

I am SO honored to be chosen as their wedding coordinator, and CAN'T WAIT to help with their big wedding day.  Oh and to work with an AMAZING team!

XOXO congrats again Jacqueline & Matt!!!

{Simply by Tamara Nicole}