This iconic wedding at Seattle’s Chihuly Garden and Glass venue was transformed for Nathan & Robert’s incredible day. Featuring the ceiling centerpiece of artist’s Dale Chihuly’s significant works as the focal point of their ceremony, and a walk-through of eight different glass floral bloom galleries for their cocktail hour, this event was highly anticipated by all friends and families. Nathan & Robert’s guests came from around the world to celebrate the two with dinner, dancing and a live band flown in all the way from Memphis Tennessee.
Chihuly Glass and Garden Wedding Video | Alesia Films
Sit back and watch the day turn to night in the twinkling glass house of Chihuly and watch Nate & Robert’s day unfold in downtown Seattle, Washington.
Seattle Wedding Vendor Team
Video @alesiafilms
Plan & Design @nweventsuccess
Photo @andrialindquist
Cake & Desserts @sweetalchemy
Invitations/Programs/Signage @stovallcollection + @perfectpressprinting
Florals @kevin.bradford.designs
Live Band @alparisandtheheartbreakers
Rentals @fancifulrentals
Groom rings @sholdtjewelers
Groom Suit Store @stylemarios
Suit Designer @BrunelloCucinelli
Wedding Favors @lanternpresscoasters
Get to know the Grooms | Nathan & Robert
How did you two meet?
“We met on Tinder! Robert was living in Denver at the time, and Nate was passing through town for a bachelor party in the mountains. We matched and started chatting, and when Nate returned to Denver for the wedding, we had our first Denver date.”
What were your weekend events with family and friends?
“We’re really personalizing everything about the wedding weekend to share our lives in Seattle while making our 210 guests, 90% of whom are traveling from out-of-state, comfortable. Our Friday rehearsal dinner and welcome party is at Ray’s Boathouse, an iconic waterfront Seattle restaurant with stunning views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. On Saturday morning, we’ve reserved boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and even a hot tub boat and are meeting our guests at Lake Union for a morning on the water. Saturday night, our ceremony is at Chihuly Glass and Garden, where guests will dine on a fully vegan menu to reflect our decade-plus of following plant-based diets. After dinner, there will be plenty of ice cream cake (locally made to be dairy-free and again all vegan), a 360-degree photo booth, and incredible live band flown in from Robert’s hometown of Memphis, Al Paris and the Heartbreakers.
How did your significant other propose?
“Nate proposed to Robert during a trip back to Denver. He conspired with one of Robert’s friends, who was persuaded to bring him to the same local landmark and ice cream shop where Nate and Robert had gone for dessert after dinner during their first Denver date. Once Robert arrived, his friend pretended to go for a walk while Nate and Robert ate their vegan ice cream. Nate suddenly got down on one knee and proposed. Robert, in total shock and disbelief, thought it was a joke until he saw the photographer capturing the moment. He instantly began crying and said yes, and strangers began cheering.”
Chihuly Garden and Glass Wedding Photos | Andria Lindquist
All photos in this blog were captured by Andria Lindquist.
Getting Ready | Downtown Seattle, WA
Chihuly Garden and Glass Ceremony
Chihuly Garden and Glass Cocktail Hour
Nathan and Robert loved Chihuly Garden and Glass for it’s beautiful art museum they frequented as they dated. They wanted all of their friends and families to grab their drinks and celebrate their love as they walked among the beautiful glass art in Chihuly.
Immediately after cocktail hour, guests were invited back into the main glasshouse to enjoy a brand new freshly flipped space by @nweventsuccess to accommodate dinner.
Why get married at Chihuly Garden and Glass?
We asked our couple why they chose their venue and this is what they said!
“Our first Seattle date began at Chihuly Garden and Glass, and once Robert moved to Seattle in 2020, the museum became a mandatory stop for all guests coming to visit us, so it became special to us as we became frequent visitors. The venue is also in the same neighborhood as our new home, so we spend lots of time walking nearby and enjoying the Seattle Center. Chihuly’s art is also significant within each of our individual families, and the exhibits provide a stunning backdrop for any ceremony, so there were more than enough reasons for us to marry at Chihuly Garden and Glass without even seriously considering other venues.”
What was the initial inspiration for your wedding?
Our ceremony is all about being easy on our guests, which is a key reason we decided to hold it in the major city we call home, introducing our guests yo the Pacific Northwest via s group outing to Lake Union on the morning of our ceremony, and sharing our passions for animals, which is why our gift registry contains an option to donate to the Seattle Humane Society.
Since this is a two-groom wedding, we’ve leaned into the non-traditional while preserving the elements of a wedding that resonate with us. Our processional and recessional will feature the music of the Seattle String Quartet, and we’ve each selected a favorite movie theme to be played during the ceremony. Robert’s love of cooking informed the dinner menu, and his profession as a designer meant that he was able to exercise complete creative freedom over the save-the-date, name cards, invitations, thank-you notes, wedding website, and all other design collateral. Nate’s lifelong love of ice cream and the fond memories he has of sharing it with his late mom dictated the choice of a vegan ice cream cake. And since both of us are from the South, we always knew we’d book an incredible band to play the oldies and soul songs that we grew up hearing.
The two of us are passionate about exercise, health, and the outdoors, which is one reason we’re offering the water sports adventure on Saturday morning. We’re also big walkers and love living in a neighborhood that allows us both to walk to our offices, grocery stores, movie theaters, gyms, and local stores, so in keeping with our appreciation for the area, we’re keeping all activities in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle and secured hotel blocks that offer guests the ability to get out, see the city, and walk to all our events.
Nate is in his 40s and Robert is in his 30s, so it won’t be a first wedding for any of our friends or guests of our generation. So we wanted to make sure we didn’t drag things out. The evening will begin at 7:30 and end at midnight, and while we have plenty of optional events all weekend long to spend more time with our loved ones, we’re also cognizant of people’s wishes to explore Seattle on their own, so our wedding will be quick, efficient, and memorable. It won’t take all night, but we hope it leaves an impression!”
Are there any special decor or details that are unique to the two of you?
“Nate has loved Africa since he studied abroad there in college, and he collects antique maps of Africa, so our honeymoon will be his fourth and Robert’s first there. The trip will take us to Kenya, Rwanda, and Madagascar and will include a tour of the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Dian Fossey Center, so another donation option in our registry allows guests to contribute directly to the gorilla foundation we’ll be visiting. While our centerpieces and floral arrangements meant to express the natural beauty and unique environments of Africa, the rest of our decor choices will features element inspired by Chihuly’s work and the architecture of the museum.”
Chihuly Garden and Glass Wedding Videographer | Alesia Films
Filming Nathan & Robert’s wedding was extra special to me because I met Robert when he was officiating his friend Mary’s wedding in 2021. Since it was in Colorado and I had multiple out of state weddings in that time frame, I road tripped out there and crashed the pull-out couch in the same house Nathan & Robert stayed at. The weekend was spent lounging and watching tv together in-between the events of Mary & Michael’s wedding weekend so I felt like we became friends long before they asked me to film their wedding day!
When they told me it was a Chihuly Garden and Glass wedding, it made me even happier that it was a lot closer to me than Colorado was. Even though I’m based in Portland, I film just as much in Seattle as I do in my home city. I can never get enough of the waterfront businesses and Seattle’s downtown art mixed with nature and stone brick alleys.
In conclusion, if you’re engaged, and you’re looking for a wedding filmmaker in the Seattle area ready to capture your memories, you can inquire with me here!
