A Summer Garden Wedding at Washington Park Arboretum With Touches From Down Under

Imee Tribo and Steven Bierer wanted their wedding venues to have meaning for them‭. ‬For their ceremony‭, ‬they chose the Pacific Connections Garden at Washington Park Arboretum‭, ‬where New Zealand native Imee has volunteered for years in its 2.5-acre New Zealand forest‭. ‬The couple also saw this locale as an homage to their Kiwi family and friends who couldn’t attend the wedding due to travel restrictions‭. ‬Imee and Steven’s ceremony brought in a plethora of traditions that were rich with significance‭: ‬An acoustic guitarist gave a live performance‭, ‬a children’s parade came through‭ ‬and acknowledgment was given to the Duwamish Tribe for the land‭. ‬Rings were carried by Imee and Steven’s dog and then,‭ ‬with the help of Steven’s son‭, were ‬passed around to be blessed by the guests‭. ‬The ceremony also highlighted photos of the couple’s parents‭, ‬who couldn’t attend‭, ‬and all enjoyed a special surprise of Japanese taiko drumming from the nearby Japanese Garden‭. ‬A picnic was then held‭ ‬in a meadow‭, ‬where guests feasted on pastries and sparkling cider‭. ‬For the reception‭, ‬Imee and Steven chose the Mountaineering Club‭ ‬atop the Graduate Seattle hotel‭ ‬for its views of both the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges‭, ‬as well as Lake Washington‭,‬‭ ‬Lake Union, and downtown Seattle‭. ‬That building was also where the two had their first date‭, ‬in the District Lounge‭, ‬which once‭ ‬was housed in its basement‭. ‬