Even though we had gone through many things in life, we always remained each other’s constant and knew that even in times when our communication wasn’t the best, we always had each other’s backs.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We just celebrated our 9th anniversary! We got married on our 8.5-year anniversary, and now we get to celebrate our love every 6 months! We both grew up in the Vancouver, WA area, but now live in Whitefish, MT. We started dating back in 2015, during our last year of high school, before going off to college together. We now have two dogs, whom our lives revolve around, named Bill and Sherman – a Jack Russell mix and a Bernese Mountain Dog. Chase being a wedding planner, is outgoing, adventurous and always hosting a party, while Jack is more reserved, thoughtful, the best cook and loves a cozy night at home. Together, they make the perfect pair and always keep each other grateful and grounded.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We believe we first met in 6th grade (middle school) while playing dark tag at a friend’s house – although Jack was hiding in a tree, and it was likely we didn’t speak much, it was probably our first encounter. It wasn’t until grade 11 (High School) that we became best friends. Chase would always make Jack drive to get ice cream late at night and their mutual friend group brought them closer together, as we would all hang out often. We always knew our friendship could be something more, but dating never felt like the “right time.” It took at least a year for us to decide we could date!
Chase: Jack had a very hard exterior to most people, but I knew he was a teddy bear at heart. He had a deep love for his family and friends, even if he didn’t always say it. He was the only guy I could go to for advice, and it was easy to talk about anything and everything with him. I knew I could be myself around him, and he would always accept me for me.
Jack: Chase was very easy and engaging to talk to. It seemed like we never had to make an effort to have a conversation. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and I always wanted to take her on a date, but never knew if she would let me.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Chase: I knew very early on, but thought it was maybe too good to be true – we were only 18, and Jack was my first boyfriend! After we had gone to college our first year together, done long distance, dealt with different job schedules, traveling, hardships and all around, just growing up together, I knew we could make it through anything. Even though we had gone through many things in life, we always remained each other’s constant and knew that even in times when our communication wasn’t the best, we always had each other’s backs.
Jack: Immediately!! I probably knew too soon, but we wanted to wait until we were done with school and more financially stable to get married.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
We got engaged in February 2022, just before we moved to Montana. Jack planned a romantic beach getaway (Chase’s favorite place), as a combined anniversary and valentine’s day present. Chase was suspicious, because she is usually the one planning things, but nevertheless, she let Jack take the lead and didn’t ask any questions. Jack proposed as soon as we arrived, on our hotel room balcony overlooking the ocean. It was just the two of us, and it was perfect! He was so nervous he could barely get any words out when he asked. We went to dinner right after and ate the most delicious seafood and peanut butter pie. When we got home from the weekend, our friends planned a little engagement party for us so we could celebrate together before we moved away.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.
Chase of course, had always dreamed of getting married on the beach, but could never find the perfect place. We looked for 100+ hours before we found the Salmonberry Inn and Beach House, which, ironically, was across the street from the beach where we celebrated our engagement. We wanted our wedding to be small and intimate, as most of our guests had known us for 10+ years. The Salmonberry was perfect for us because it is a Bed a Breakfast – we had most of the wedding party stay onsite and could also have our dogs there! We wanted to incorporate our loved ones as much as we could by having Chase’s brother officiate, having her Grandpa play live music during cocktail hour, having her Grandma make all of their taper candle holders, having her older sister do her hair and makeup (which she has been doing since High School prom days) and having her little sister take video during the day on a Sony camcorder.
The style for our wedding was beach garden party, as we incorporated a lot of pastels in our wedding colors and had all of the bridesmaids wear a different colored dress (inspiration Chase had pulled from other TJ wedding features). Chase’s stepmom thrifted vintage handkerchiefs for all of our guests and placed all of our desserts on vintage pink platters. Our signature drinks were named after our two dogs, and we even got drink stirrers with their faces on them! Our seating chart was full of bags of Swedish Fish, with a sign saying “I love you more than a million Swedish fish”, which is an ode to the movie “What a Girl Wants.” Chase used to watch that movie daily as a child and her and Jack started quoting that line very early in their relationship – it’s how they still sign all of their cards and letters today. Most importantly we wanted a day that truly felt like us – refined, but laid back, with the focus on having a good time. We even sealed our marriage, during the ceremony, with a shot of tequila!
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
We had a budget for “main” wedding vendors and items but ended up spending quite a bit on the little things – we had so many small details in our day that we planned, made, or brought onsite. Some guests may not have realized, but meant a lot to us as a couple.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
We had actually booked another venue before the Salmonberry, but their communication ended up being so horrible that we had to find a new venue. In hindsight, we are so thankful everything fell through at the first location because the Salmonberry was the perfect fit. We also didn’t realize that there was a sandcastle competition happening on the day of our wedding. Jack and I are a fairly private couple, but there were hundreds of people on the beach, who sat back, and ended up watching our ceremony!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
Chase worked at a&bé bridal shop in Portland, OR before getting engaged and moving to Montana. She always loved Prisma by Alexandra Grecco and it was actually the first dress she ever sold! She never tried it on while working there because she wanted to wait until her own wedding dress appointment. As soon as she put it on she knew it was the one – there was another close contender, but ultimately she saw herself standing next to Jack in Prisma. It was timeless, simple, and so comfortable! She ended up getting a layered, ruffled veil and tulle bow shoes to add a bit of fun to her look. Although Chase wanted Jack to wear brown, Jack really wanted to wear a green suit, so they spent hours on the internet trying to find one that was the right shade of green and wouldn’t be too hot in the summer sun!
CEREMONY Taft Waterfront Park, Lincoln City, OR (United States) RECEPTION Salmonberry Inn and Beach House, Lincoln City, OR (United States), @salmonberryinnandbeachhouse PHOTOGRAPHER Caitlin Wilson of Caitlin Wilson Photography, @caitlinwilsonphotography STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride – Juniper Event Designs, @junipereventdesigns FLORIST Chas Thompson Thomas – Wildflower Portland, @wildflower_portland OFFICIANT Bride’s Brother – Colin Preuss ENTERTAINMENT Bride’s Grandfather played live music during cocktail hour – Jay Seibert CATERING & CAKE Salmonberry Inn and Beach House, @salmonberryinnandbeachhouse SIGNAGE & STATIONERY By the bride – Juniper Event Designs, @junipereventdesigns ENGAGEMENT RING Heidi Gibson, @heidigibsondesigns BRIDE’S RING McGough & Co, @mcgoughandco GROOM’S RING Brilliant Earth, @brilliantearth BRIDAL DRESS Prisma by Alexandra Grecco, @alexandragrecco BRIDAL SHOP a&bé Bridal Shop, @aandbe_bridalshop BRIDE’S SHOE Badgley Mischka, @badgleymischka VEIL Savchenko Design, @savchenko_design HAIR & MAKEUP Bride’s Sister – Kyleigh Preuss GROOM’S SHOE Florsheim, @florsheimshoes GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Burberry, @burberry SUIT Nautica from Macy’s, @macys HIRE Tablecloths and Umbrellas – Arden Event Collective, @ardeneventcollective; Chairs – Great Jones, @greatjonesnw; Taper Candle Holders – Custom Made by Bride’s Grandma – Debbie Dean, owner of Clay Rabbit Pottery
