Black Tie Elegance in Rose-Filled Wedding Day at Rock Creek Gardens

It started with what some might call fate. In late 2019, Bryce was arriving at the gym at the exact moment Zach, who was there on a trial membership, was heading out the door. It was a brief crossing of paths just before the world shut down. During the pandemic, the pair found themselves building something real together. 

For their wedding, they chose Rock Creek Gardens, a 20-acre private estate in Puyallup, where towering trees, a large pond and unobstructed views of Mount Rainier set the scene for an elegant, black-tie affair. The celebration featured a palette of white with sage green and gold accents, as well as a plethora of personal details, such as lavish floral arrangements featuring white roses (Bryce’s favorite) and white lilies to honor Zach’s late mother. Bryce reserved a place in his wedding party for his late best friend, represented by a single white rose tied with a piece of his favorite shirt. Ring boxes were hidden under two random guests’ chairs as a surprise, and their aunts served as flower queens. 

After a wardrobe change into sleek, ivory dinner jackets, the Dom Pérignon was popped and the newlyweds enjoyed dinner seated at their king’s table, which was adorned with 100 single-stem roses and pillar candles of varying heights. As for late-night festivities, snacks included pizza, chocolate chip cookies honoring Bryce’s grandmother and scotcharoos dessert bars in a nod to Zach’s Midwest roots. 

Their favorite moments from the day were the quiet ones: the first look, private vows, watching guests arrive from the top floor of the wedding party house and a rowboat ride across the pond together at golden hour.