Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1439376
Oen, sequel weddings offer a chance to throw a bigger party following a more intimate ceremony. During 2020, smaller "first" weddings oen resulted from pan- demic restrictions. Ashley and Justin, for example, cut their initial guest list from 230 to 40. "ose were probably some of the hardest decisions we had to make," Justin says. With their ideal plans on hold, the couple exchanged vows during a small waterfront ceremony. But they didn't wait long to get back to the party planning. "We still wanted a big, fancy wedding with plated dinner service," Ashley says. e couple first toured the WAC in 2018 and immediately saw the Crystal Ballroom as the place their dream party could become reality. "ere was no way we were going to get married without that vision coming to life," Ashley says. And come to life it did! Ashley and Justin held their sequel wedding in August 2021, fulfilling their dreams. "It was perfect—exactly what we imagined," Justin says. e couple worked closely with Katie Takahashi, WAC Director of Catering Sales. She helped them plan their ideal sequel wedding every step of the way. "She made us feel like royalty," Ashley says. "You talk about a Seattle venue— a gorgeous Crystal Ballroom and amaz- ing staff that just make you instantly feel welcome. It had this touch of fancy more than a typical wedding." e party included their original guest list—no cuts this time—and went well past midnight. "When COVID impacted our original wedding day, it wasn't even a second guess to stick with the WAC," Ashley says. To top off their experience, the couple added a few new aspects to their sequel wedding that weren't initially planned, including lunch for the groomsmen in Hagerty's and an extra night in the Elliott Bay Suite. "e WAC was the perfect venue," Ashley says. wac.net/weddings