Chelsea & Matt

We can't wait to share our special day with you.

Saturday September 10, 2022

Bainbridge Island, WA, USA

1033 days 9 hrs 14 mins ago

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Story

It was Thanksgiving weekend of 2015 when her friend Arlin texted Chelsea: "Killington tomorrow? I'm skiing with my buddy Matt." Thinking nothing of it, Chelsea said "Sure, I'll be there." Chelsea was living in Boston and Matt in Seattle, but both were in New Hampshire for the holiday.

When she arrived at the mountain, Chelsea was greeted by the most absurd human she had ever met. Matt was dressed in a tall-tee and a completely unzipped oversized coat on the ski slopes, which Chelsea found alarming yet oddly endearing. Chelsea dazzled him with her control on the icy slopes and by the end of the day Matt was swooning and eager to spend more time with her.

Christmas break brought another opportunity to ski together, and this time they decided to carpool. Legend has it that on the ride home, Chelsea was subliminally hypnotized into a love stupor when Matt played the album "Parachutes" by Coldplay cover to cover in the background. As the winter continued, Chelsea found convenient and inconvenient excuses to make her way across the country to Seattle to visit Matt. Finally in the fall, she took the plunge and moved across the country to start anew in Seattle.

Since that move, Matt and Chelsea have been building their life together in the Pacific Northwest. Along the way they took up mountain biking and gardening, skied deep powder (and occasional "liquid pow"), traveled near and far, and bought a home. They survived building out a camper van together, home renovations, one broken bone, and a global pandemic.

A little more than five years after that first ski date, on a ski tour up East Peak, opposite Crystal Mountain, WA, Matt asked Chelsea to marry him, with his best friend Phil standing by to capture the moment. Even though (for some reason) she thought it was a joke at first, she eventually came to her senses and said yes.

Schedule

Travel

Hotel Product

Lodging is On Site at IslandWood!

We would love for everyone to spend the whole weekend with us, and our venue is setup to do just that. We invite everyone to stay on site at IslandWood so we can spend as much time together as possible.

Rooms are cozy but comfortable with en suite bathrooms for each room and a large lodge area for common space. It has a slight summer camp vibe, but definitely elevated in terms of comfort and amenities.

Some time in July, after we receive RSVPs, we will email you a link to book your onsite accommodations.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel or rental house on the island, you may do that as well but you will be responsible for your own transit to and from wedding events.

Phone
206-855-4300
Map Marker
4450 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Plane

Getting In

Book your flights into Seattle-Tacoma International airport. If you want to make it for the Welcome dinner, we recommend arriving by around 2pm on Friday.

Note

Important Travel Notes

Our wedding is on Bainbridge Island, which is most commonly accessed via a ferry. PLEASE plan accordingly and read travel instructions carefully!

Additionally, summer is high season in Seattle. Please book your flights ahead of time so secure the best possible rates.

Car

Getting Downtown

Before the ferry ride, you need to get to downtown Seattle. There are several car rental options, and Lyft and Uber are pretty reasonable. If you are feeling ambitious, the the Link Light Rail is quite nice and only costs a few bucks (tip: get off at University Street station and walk to the ferry terminal.)

Map Marker
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Ferry

Ferry to Bainbridge Island

Sorry for the complexity, but you have to take a ferry to get to the venue. But there's good news: it departs conveniently from downtown Seattle with hourly sailings.

The ferry runs on a first-come first serve basis. It does not accept advance bookings. Try to arrive early if you are traveling during rush hour; otherwise, the vessel may fill up and you'll have to wait for the next one.

If you want to make it in time for the beginning of the Welcome Dinner on Friday, please aim to catch a ferry by 4pm.

Map Marker
Seattle Ferry Terminal, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Car

Getting to IslandWood

The final leg of the trip involves getting from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal to the venue. But it's only 15 minutes away! Uber, Lyft, and Taxis on Bainbridge can be...tricky, so the best bet if you don't have a car is to find a friend going to the wedding who does, and is travelling on the same ferry that you are walking on. If you need help finding a friend with a free seat, let us know and we can hook you up. Of course, if you have a rental car, you'll just drive yourself and find ample parking when you arrive at IslandWood.

If this all sounds too complicated, reach out and we will help guide you or figure out some carpool / shuttling options.

Map Marker
4450 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
Car

Alternative Option: Take the Scenic Route

If the ferry sounds stressful and you plan to rent a car anyway, you can take a slightly longer route to the venue, no ferry required. Head south on I-5, through Tacoma and Gig Harbor. Use your preferred navigation app for specifics, but the bottom line is: go south toward Tacoma, (do not go north toward Seattle.)

Map Marker
SEA-TAC Airport
Sign

Things to do in Seattle

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Our favorite places to eat and drink in Seattle

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Registry

We know many of you are traveling far to celebrate with us—your presence is the real gift, and is all that we ask for. If you would still like to make a gift, please see our registry on Zola for our honeymoon fund and some items we would love.

FAQ

For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our FAQ

I am coming from out of town. Where should I stay?

Islandwood is set up for all guests to stay on site, which we strongly encourage! This means you don't need to book accommodations on the island in advance. When we send out formal invitations, there will be instructions for booking your on-site accommodations. The guest rooms each have a rustic style, sleep 2-6 people, and have a private bathroom.

If you prefer to book a traditional hotel off-site you may choose that route as well but will be responsible for your own transportation to wedding events.

What's the general vibe going to be like?

Islandwood is a magically forested campus on Bainbridge Island. During the school year, it is an outdoor education facility for children and teens, so it has a bit of a summer camp vibe, with beautiful trail and ample outdoor space. We are so excited to share this kind of place with you. We feel it is very representative of our life in the PNW, while still providing enough amenities for everyone to be comfortable.

Can I bring a date?

We are doing our best to accommodate plus ones. Formal invitations will clarify all invited guests.

Are kids welcome?

Little ones are welcome! Islandwood is a great spot for kids. We will clarify more about special accommodations for children as the day approaches, but rest assured that Islandwood will be great for children.

What will the weather be like?

Prepare for comfortable days and cool evenings. The venue is heavily forested, so even on a warm day it might be cooler in the shade. Ladies should consider bringing a cardigan or a shawl for the wedding day. In your luggage, pack a raincoat and a light jacket just in case.

Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?

Weather permitting, our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour will be outdoors, and our reception will be indoors. Over the course of the weekend, there will be a fair amount of outdoor time so plan accordingly.

What should I wear?

Wedding events will be semi-formal. Ladies, consider a midi dress and comfortable flats or wedges, and bring a shawl, cardigan, or a light jacket if the weather is cool. Guys, consider a relaxed suit with or without a tie. Remember that the ceremony is outdoors on grass, so be careful with your footwear choices. Overall everyone should feel dressy yet comfortable!

I'm coming from out of town. Should I rent a car?

Whether or not to rent a car is really up to you. A car is not necessary, but it would certainly be convenient. A rental car will allow you the flexibility to explore the island on Saturday morning, and will make life easy getting to and from Islandwood (Lyfts / Ubers / taxis will be available, but not abundant, on Bainbridge Island.)

If you decide to rent a car, you get the option to take the "scenic route" to Bainbridge by driving south around Puget Sound. This would be a ~2 hour trip from SEA-TAC, and would allow you to avoid the ferry if that's what you prefer. If you rent a car and DO take the ferry, it will cost more, and there is a (slight) risk that the ferry will be full and you'll have to take the next one.

If you don't rent a car, you can cab/uber/lyft/light rail to downtown, and simply walk on to the ferry. It will be a little more tricky to get around on Bainbridge Island, but this isn't necessarily a big deal since all wedding events, meals, and lodging are all on site.

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