Vintage-Inspired Washington Camp Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Today we’re headed to one gorgeous PNW campsite wedding — in Port Angeles, Washington, to be exact! Photographer Phil Chester captured all the camping-inspired details, from the cute cabins, to the handmade seating chart target, to the Pendleton blankets and more! The inspiration for the day came from a camping trip that today’s couple, Jess + Weston, took a few years back. They got one look at Lake Crescent, gasped and pulled over (we don’t blame them!). Weston told Jess, “When we get engaged, we should remember this place.” Weston proposed a year later (in Iceland!) and Lake Crescent immediately came up.

Jess, the bride, shares Wes and I love camping, the PNW and mid-century anything! So to make sure our wedding reflected us, we took a lot of things from our home to include in the decor. We collect vintage thermoses from thrift stores, so those were the centerpieces and added to the overall camp theme. We already had the vintage pennants and I had a new one made for our wedding day. We also brought our mid-century record player, cameras, Pendleton blankets, old luggage and a ton of photo booth strips of us from over the years. We had people sign one of our vintage globes for our guest book. This also meant we weren’t left with a bunch of wedding decor afterwards that we had to sell or throw away — because it was already apart of our home and now everything has more meaning!

Let’s head to the woods, shall we?

Washington Campsite Wedding

Isn’t that the coolest Save the Date?! Jess designed all of the paper goods — invites, programs + wedding booklets.

first look

Washington Campsite Wedding

Jess shares We wrote our own vows and decided that we wanted to get up at sunrise and read them, for the first time, just to each other. We just thought that these vows were the most intimate words we have ever written, and wanted to make sure we heard every word — so at the ceremony later, when we say them in front of a 100 person audience, we could really absorb everything else that was happening. 

Washington Campsite Wedding

That stunning floral + fringe shall is from Free People.

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

What a stylin’ groom… I mean look at that suit + tie combo!!

dahlia bouquet

Hi pretty bouquet!! Annie’s Flower Farm provided all the florals for the day.

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Jess scored her gorgeous Claire Pettibone gown from eBay!

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Jess shares During the beginning of the ceremony, take a moment and look out at all the amazing people that traveled to be here for this moment! It’s overwhelming and will fill you with such joy… And that feeling, plus marrying your best friend, is what will make it all worth it! Things will go wrong that are out of your control, guaranteed. Our day of coordinator + officiant’s flights got cancelled, it went from 0% to 100% rain in a matter of two days, I got a bad cold 5 days before the wedding. It’s great to have a vision and a plan, but give yourself room to be flexible because solutions can be found in any situation… And take Vitamin C!

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Astral Weeks by Van Morrison

Recessional: I Really Need Love by The Bees

First Dance: Coming Home by Leon Bridges

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Weston was given his father’s wedding band as his ring which was not only emotional, since his father passed shortly after we were engaged, but meant the world for him to wear something of his father’s that held so much importance and meaning. That moment in our ceremony felt like a way to honor him in a very personal way.

Washington Campsite Wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

There was sun and rain throughout the day, but 30 minutes before our ceremony, a gorgeous rainbow appeared right over the lake!! Everyone was so excited! Wes and I stood at the lake's edge and took a few minutes to take it in, together. At that moment, holding his hand, everything was pure magic. And if a rainbow on your wedding day isn't a good omen, I don't know what is!

Weston's favorite moment was when we came back from an adventure of photos with Phil Chester to everyone cheering us on as a married couple! We were married and we had everyone we loved under one tent laughing and enjoying each other. The love and joy was overwhelming!

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

These two!!

arrow seating chart

arrow seating chart

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

I'm a reality TV Producer, so I can't help but plan ahead + be detailed oriented. I got a weekly planner and even though it was on my mind everyday in some form, we tried to set aside one day a week, as a couple, to go over what needed to be done the next week and discuss the budget together.

DIY stuff is my favorite, but be careful what you sign yourself up for. We made over 100 of these arrows for the vision I had for our seating chart and it took us months to complete. They were lovely, but I realized that people were going to look at these for 5 seconds, say, "Oh cool!" and then never think about them again! The amount of hours we spent on them over how much they actually mattered did not quite line up!

Also, don't underestimate people's willingness to help! Since we had a DIY wedding, we needed a village to make our wedding happen. We had such an amazing group of our family and friends helping us... To ease confusion of what needed to be where, we made a break down that was handed out on Friday, which detailed how each area should be set up, so everyone could help us check things off our list.

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

The ‘Field Notes – Adventure Guide’ wedding program is such a brilliant idea!

flag table numbers

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

Washington Campsite Wedding

wedding pies

The couple LOVES pie, way more than any cake, so they opted for a variety of pies from their favorite place in Seattle — A la Mode Pies.

Washington Campsite Wedding

The SWEETEST!! Congrats Jess + Weston!

photography: Phil Chester // venue name: Nature Bridge Olympic, Port Angeles, Washington, USA // florals: Annie's Flower Farm // wedding dress: Claire Pettiebone's Kristene found on Ebay // wedding dress boutique: Bride's Penny Lane Coat is vintage // hairpiece: Shawl from Free People // bride's shoes: Free People // bride's ring: Point No Point Studio // bridesmaid dresses: Reformation , Lulu's and Anthropologie // hair stylist: Lauren Blumenthal // makeup artist: Lauren Blumenthal // groom attire: Suit Supply and tie from Lemoncliff // groom's shoes: Ted Baker // groom's ring: His Fathers // paper goods: Graphic Designed by the Bride, Printed by her father Ecographics Printing // calligraphy: Notebooks from Field Notes // handmade details: Seating Chart and Arrows made by bride and groom // desserts: A la Mode Pies // tabletop rentals: Centerpiece thermoses + rugs were Thrifted // specialty rentals: Custom Wedding Day Pennant

Explore: