Please join us in celebrating our wedding on the Olympic Peninsula at NatureBridge on Lake Crescent.
Below you’ll find a schedule for the weekend as well as information about the location, travel, and accommodations.
All guests are invited to all activities and meals from Friday afternoon through Sunday.
Rosemary Inn was built in 1914 without power tools. It was constructed using cedar and fir from the dense forest on the lake shore. The first guests, who checked in more than 100 years ago, reached the camp by ferry.
During President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s visit to the Olympic Peninsula in 1937, the inn hosted him for breakfast. The following year, FDR signed the act establishing Olympic National Park. Rosemary Inn became part of the park in 1944.
The historic resort was restored in the 1990s and re-purposed as the home of NatureBridge, a non-profit that provides field science and environmental education programs for students.
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Our relationship began seven miles north of Lake Crescent at Crescent Beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca (find it on the map below), when Shannon's office-mate Christine invited her on a surf trip with her soccer buddy Derek in February 2011.
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In the years since that first fateful surf trip, we've had countless adventures on the Olympic Peninsula. Our camping, hiking, fishing, surfing, and backpacking expeditions have taught us a lot about each other and our relationship.
At the end of March 2015, we returned to Crescent Beach for what Shannon thought was one of our usual spring surf trips. Despite the small waves, this trip was as memorable as our first— we got engaged!
Given the history of the site and the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, we hope you're up for the adventure of getting out there! Depending on where you're coming from, the journey could require an airplane, a car, and a ferry. On the map below, we've outlined the three different potential routes you can take. The map also includes recommendations of activities, food, and sights to help break up the trip.
Parking is limited at NatureBridge, so we encourage you to carpool with other friends or family members. If you would like to offer or request a ride, please leave your information in the ride share tracking sheet and we'll help you fill up a car for a fuel efficient trip.
For those coming from out of town, you will fly into Seattle/Tacoma International Airport. When booking your tickets, note that you can get a 5% discount on Alaska flights by using our discount code: ECMX128. If you're flying in on Friday, you can rent a car and drive directly to NatureBridge via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge route. Depending on traffic in Tacoma, this drive takes about 3 hours.
From the Seattle area, you can either take the driving-only route as described above, or you can cut off some of the drive by taking one of two ferries across Puget Sound. The ferries are large commuter boats that allow you to drive on in your car ($14 for car and driver, plus $8 per additional passenger) and offer great views of the mountains and water. On Friday afternoons in the summer, the ferries are busy, so we recommend checking the ferry schedule and wait times before you depart. Both of these routes take just over 3 hours if there is no ferry wait.
Seattle/Bainbridge ferry route. This route goes from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge island in approximately 35 minutes. When you check the Seattle terminal wait times, make sure you're looking at the boats that go to Bainbridge, not Bremerton.
Edmonds/Kingston ferry route. This route goes from a town north of Seattle (close to the Donegan house) to the Kitsap Peninsula. While waiting for the ferry in Edmonds, you can explore the beach just north of the ferry terminal.
As for where to stay once you've made it to Lake Crescent, read on below.
One of the reasons we chose to have our wedding at NatureBridge is that there are more than 200 beds to allow all of our guests to stay with us on site— for free!
Read on below for more information about the cabins and pictures so you know what you're getting into.
For those who prefer a bit more comfort and privacy, Lake Crescent Lodge is only a 5 minute walk away from NatureBridge. UPDATE: this option is fully booked. If you have a room reserved here and would like to stay at NatureBridge instead, please contact Shannon or Derek so another wedding guest can take your reservation. For guests who would like to stay at a hotel, the closest options would be in Port Angeles.
A third option is to rent a house 5 miles down the road on Lake Sutherland, which is a 10 minute drive from NatureBridge. Some of our guests may remember spending Derek’s 30th birthday at this house; you can find other options on VRBO. Many of these rentals require a 3 night minimum stay in the summer (a great option if you'd like to spend time in the area before or after the wedding).
To maximize the time we get to spend together, we would love it if you would stay on site with us in NatureBridge's rustic cabins.
There are four historic cabins that feature either one or two rooms per cabin and seven or four bunk beds per room. These cabins have small 1/2 or full bathrooms attached.
There are seven modern standard cabins, which house either two, four, or six rooms per cabin and six bunks per room. Three of the air-conditioned, heated standard cabins have shared bathrooms inside the cabin; the other four have access to a separate bathhouse.
Just like summer camp, upon arrival, you'll get sheets, blankets, and a pillow to make up your own bunk. Depending on how many of our guests take advantage of this housing option, you may be sharing a room, but don't worry; we will only assign you a room with your own family or friends. If you have any questions or concerns about this option, please feel free to contact Shannon or Derek directly.
Check out the FAQs page or email Shannon or Derek.
Need recommendations or ideas for visiting Seattle and the Pacific Northwest? We've compiled a list of our favorite things here.
