SGN April 19, 2013 - Section 3

OneLove Seattle Gay News

Issue 16, Volume 41, April 19, 2013

WEDDING SPECIAL

Seattle’s LGBT-themed wedding showcase is a smashing success

Creative ideas and excitement abounded at the 2013 One Love Wedding Showcase on March 2, where over 700 people were in attendance at the Hyatt at Olive 8 to celebrate love!

Following a highly successful inaugural event last fall, the second installment of the showcase, produced by Jenny Harding, owner of New Chapter Weddings, was an unforgettable celebration of marriage equality. More than 100 fabulous vendors, exciting emcees such as Lily Armani, and unique new features including

a style lounge contributed to the elevation of the 2013 show.

Launched last year in Seattle, One Love provides couples with every aspect of creating a life together, from planning a wedding to legal and financial support, real estate, and more. Talented photographers, first-rate caterers and florists, edgy designers, and representatives from posh venues were all present to share information about their services. Attendees learned about hot trends, classic touches, and fresh ideas to make their wedding extraordinary and individualized. see ONE LOVE page 4

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY DANA PLEASANT PHOTOGRAPHY

by One Love Staff Special to the SGN

CLOSE TO HOME Cedarbrook Lodge is a natural retreat for weddings or honeymoons

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer

ebrate all your wedding festivities. Three separate meeting spaces in the Big Cedar, or main lodge, can be combined for up to 3,300 square feet with an approximate capacity of 180 people for a sit-down dinner.

These rooms are found on the upper tier of the Big Cedar overlooking outdoor scenery.

nation, Cedarbrook Lodge has 104 guest rooms in two separate lodges, Dogwood and Spruce. Each room is furnished with king- or queen-size beds and modern amenities ranging from flatscreen TVs to iPod alarm clocks, plus granite-top work desks and all-natural bath products. Guests can

The foyer immediately next to these rooms offers a lovely atrium-style setting for a ceremony as well. Just below is Tamarack Hall, routinely used for continental breakfasts, which also can be utilized for a reception with buffet or plated dinners for up to 220 persons, with small areas for dancing or other entertainment set-up. But the space I feel is most ideal for a wedding and/or reception is the Brightwood Boardroom, on the lower level of the Big Cedar, which has a private terrace that can be used as an altar, outdoor buffet, or additional seating.

Intimate dens in the Big Cedar can serve as WEDDING FACILITIES There are several banquet and con- dressing rooms for the wedding party. And, ference rooms, and even a manicured of course, the grass lawn is an exceptional grass lawn with photo-op views, to cel- spot to exchange vows and celebrate your new life together with invited guests in the environment of manmade creeks, patios, cherry blossom trees, and distinct flora.

also enjoy fresh coffee with Keurig brewing systems and Starbucks K-cups provided in each room. Accommodations on the west side include wonderful views of the natural landscape and of the airport, thanks to large windows. I stayed in one of two corner suites, the Dreaming Dogwood, that was decked out with a fireplace and mounted giant flatscreen TV, leather couch and loveseat, coffee table, in-room slippers, plenty of cabinets and drawers, work desk, and window-side banquette. It was a room that I became quickly attached to.

If you prefer trees and sweet chirping birds to traffic noise and ambulance sirens on your wedding day, I have just the place. Cedarbrook Lodge, a brisk five- to seven-minute drive from SeaTac Airport, is nestled in a tranquil residential area amidst an arboretum-like setting with only the sound of airplanes departing and landing. Even then, this charming retreat is padded with a thin sheet of forestry and lush garden surrounding that numbs the light roar of jet engines. The property has already hosted two samesex weddings, and it’s equipped with several multi-purpose rooms and event planners to assist with the joyous occasion. The lodge is also perfect as a convenient, affordable honeymoon destination, or for a reception-only gathering. Here’s more information on Cedarbrook Lodge, and for further details go to www.cedarbrooklodge.com or inquire with Terra Johnson, the lodge’s catering and events planner who specializes in weddings, at (206) 901-9268.

LOCATION Barely three years old, Cedarbrook Lodge (18525 36th Ave. S.) purchased and revamped what used to be a training facility for WaMu. The property is located southeast of the airport in a quiet neighborhood that partly overlooks nearby hotels and the SeaTac control tower.

Interstate 5 and Westfield Southcenter Mall are about five minutes away. The main entrance to the lodge is at the back end of a driveway that one enters from a public street.

DINING & AMENITIES Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar is the onsite premiere dining option, and an excellent one at that. Executive Chef Mark Bodinet is a 2013 National James Beard Award semi-finalist, a high accolade in the world

of cuisine. His farm-to-table concept marries regionally sourced meats, seafood, and produce with imaginative, innovative ideas that result in such memorable dishes as Snake River Farms Wagyu brisket, Anderson Ranch lamb saddle, Nash Valley young farm chicken, and an interestingly delicious Ozette potato soup from the starters list. Though the menu is renewed seasonally, Copperleaf has consistently received praise from food critics, local diners, and guests, so whatever is being served is likely to leave an impression. On the night I visited, everyone was treated to a complimentary amuse-bouche and a mini-trio of sweets, which added a nice touch. The restaurant is located in the Big Cedar’s lower level in an open ambiance with high ceilings and a sophisticated, cozy setting with warm service. A separate lounge menu in the adjacent bar is available for those simply wanting to nibble on something along with a bottle of wine from a roster of mostly Northwest reds and whites. Inroom dining is also available. Copperleaf Restaurant is worth the drive to Cedarbrook Lodge all by itself.

As for other amenities, WiFi service is complimentary throughout Cedarbrook Lodge for overnight guests, as are roundthe-clock snacks – potato chips, HaagenDazs ice cream, milk chocolate malt balls, yogurt, string cheese, and chilled bottled water. Continental breakfasts (bagels, pastries, toast, sliced meats, granola, coffee, tea, juice) is provided at no charge each morning from 7 to 9:30 on weekdays and 7 to 10:30 on weekends. A spacious fitness center with treadmills, weight machines, and other exercise equipment is available for guests needing to stay in shape, and a multi-computer station business center with free Internet access can be used by those not traveling with laptops.

ACCOMMODATIONS As an overnight or honeymoon desti-

COURTESY CEDERBROOK LODGE

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PHIL WALTER

Equality down under

New Zealand legalizes same-sex marriage

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer New Zealand became the 13th country in the world to recognize same-sex marriages on April 17, as its parliament passed a new marriage law by a lopsided 77-to-44 margin.

Although the bill was sponsored by Lesbian member Louisa Wall of the opposition Labor Party, it was also supported by center-right Prime Minister John Key. All parties allowed their members to vote their conscience on the measure.

When the result was announced, people watching from the public gallery joined lawmakers in singing the New Zealand love song “Pokarekare Ana” in the indigenous Maori language.

Wall told Parliament the new law was “our road toward healing.”

“In our society, the meaning of marriage is universal – it’s a declaration of love and commitment to a special person,” she said.

She added that “nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill.”

“In my view, marriage is a very personal thing between two individuals,” Prime Minister Key said. “And, in the end, this is part of equality in modern-day New Zealand.”

member Tau Henare extended congratulations to people of all sexual identities, and concluded with a traditional greeting in Maori.

“My message to you all is, welcome to the mainstream,” Henare said. “Do well. Kia ora.”

“For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else,” Tania Penafiel Bermudez, a bank teller, told the Associated Press. Bermudez said she already considers herself married to her partner, Sonja Fry, but now can get a certificate to prove it.

“This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife,” she added.

“This is really, really huge,” said Jills Angus Burney, a lawyer who drove about 90 minutes to Parliament to watch the vote with her partner, Deborah Hambly. “It’s really important to me. It’s just unbelievable.”

Burney, a Presbyterian, said she and Hambly want to celebrate with a big, traditional wedding as soon as possible.

AUSTRALIANS CHEER Rodney Croome, the national director for the lobbying group Australian Marriage Equality, said that since Friday, 1,000 people had signed an online survey saying they would travel to New Zealand to get married, though same-sex marriages are not recognized under current Australian law.

“There’s this really big, pent-up demand ‘KIA ORA’ In his speech before the vote, parliament for this in Australia,” Croome said. “New

ONE LOVE

continued from cover A CELEBRATION OF LOVE One Love is and will continue to be a safe place where all types of couples can access superior resources for both their weddings and lifestyles. The 2013 event featured a party atmosphere that celebrated all couples in love! A signature bar, decadent catering and dessert selections, contemporary music, and sophisticated design made the cuttingedge event stand out as a prime, upscale showcase.

The Greater Seattle Business Association, presenting partner of the showcase, was involved in the collection of high-caliber vendors and sponsors known for their quality of service or product – and their commitment to equality.

“We are proud to produce a one-of-a-kind show that is sponsored by and for our local LGBTQ and Allied business community,” said Harding. “It is important for couples to feel equally celebrated and respected

Celebrations begin after the bill that makes same-sex marriage legal in New Zealand passed the parliamentary vote.

Zealand is just a three-hour plane ride away, and many couples are going to go to New Zealand to marry. They are just so sick and tired of waiting for the [Australian] government to act. I think it’s going to spark this big tourism boom.”

Opponents of marriage equality had demanded a national referendum on the is-

sue, instead of a parliamentary vote, even though polling showed that two-thirds of New Zealand voters favored equality.

When President Obama declared his support for same-sex marriage last May, Prime Minister Key commented that he was “not personally opposed” to the idea. That remark prompted Wall to introduce her bill.

lon treatments and style consultations in a boutique setting.

Currently existing domestic partnerships in the state of Washington will be automatically converted into marriages in June 2014.

With this in mind, Harding commented on the importance and immediacy of One Love’s services, and encouraged all couples to take the opportunity to have a celebration of their relationship.

Since launching New Chapter Weddings in 2004, Harding has planned stylish and memorable occasions for couples across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. She is thrilled to announce that the One Love Wedding Showcase will continue as an an-

nual event in future years, and she has a few more surprises coming down the line: the online One Love Wedding Resource Guide and the One Love Signature Series of boutique events are both set to launch later this year.

“One Love is a celebration of your love and the plans you will make for your perfect wedding day,” said Harding. “Cheers to you, your commitment, and your drive to make things better for our community!”

To stay connected and up-to-date with all of One Love’s exciting offerings, visit www. oneloveseattle.com or www.facebook.com/ oneloveseattle.

while they make plans to spend their lives together. The vendors and sponsors in this showcase are hand-selected.”

Washington state made history in November 2012 by passing Referendum 74, extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. It is estimated that Washingtonians will spend $88.5 million on same-sex weddings over the next three years.

Sponsors and vendors at the show connected with enthusiastic couples planning their celebrations and future lives together.

Showcase sponsors included Brooklyn Dicent Entertainment, Eagle Home Mortgage, Jenny GG Photography, the Space Needle/ Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes.

SWEET SURPRISE The showcase also featured a surprise proposal. Renee Rodak knelt down on the center stage to ask her sweetheart, Vanessa Bryant, to marry her. (She said yes!)

This year’s Style Lounge added special flair to the showcase, as attendees were invited to sip champagne and experience saDANA PLEASANT PHOTOGRAPHY

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by Albert Rodriguez SGN Travel Writer Not only is Hawaii one of the most accessible destinations for Seattleites and Northwesterners, but it also has everything a newlywed couple needs to enjoy quality time together – sunshine, photo-op scenery, sandy beaches, openair shopping malls, amazing restaurants, landmark attractions, and year-round shorts-wearing weather. Waikiki Beach is the best place to mark your maiden voyage to the Aloha State. Located on the island of Oahu, it is the undisputed top tourist attraction in Hawaii and the one pictured on nearly every postcard you’ve ever seen from there. A friendly and safe vacation spot for LGBT visitors, Waikiki Beach is a memorable destination for Gay honeymooners. Allow me to provide you with a tutorial on Waikiki Beach, and for more information log onto www.gohawaii.com/oahu. see WAIKIKI page 14

FILE PHOTO

Cuts & Styles 6

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Envies de Vie

When you know a relationship is over, it’s time to let it go

by Beau Burriola SGN Contributing Writer

Sean told me, “when that oxygen mask falls you’ve got to put your own mask on before you help someone else with theirs.”

My guitar, my harp, my music collection, my baking, my happiness, my social life … all paused, floating somewhere in the cloud with our energy put into our little fights and makeups, of near-stops and breakups, and all the slow, dull space in between.

“The most important thing is the peace,” my dad said, “and you’ve got to be willing to keep the peace.” Is there ever peace at the end?

“You’re not in a relationship until someone sees your ugly,” the cabana boy said.

“You used to be happy, always happy,” Jamie said. “In those pictures you don’t look happy.”

“You’re still in that relationship?” Izzy asked. “Get out of that shit.”

“Messieur?” the lady at the bakery said.

I knew it would hit me. I didn’t expect it would take so long, but it did. Three years and four months exactly, it just snapped into place while I was standing in line at the bakery.

“Messieur?”

I woke up.

I stepped out of the bakery today having decided.

Three years ago I packed up everything I owned and moved to Belgium to follow my heart. That’s what they tell you to do, right?

I sold off my things, said goodbye to my friends, and flew off. If it had been a movie, the plane in the clouds would have been where they rolled the credits.

In fact, the three years afterward were something of a cloud until one day, three JUST DO SOMETHING years and four days into it, I just woke up It was a good relationship – sometimes it while I was standing in line at a bakery. was even great – but we lost our way. We ran out of glue. Years later, older, all this MOMENT OF TRUTH waiting, all this time lost – all the hoping When the Longest Relationship I’ve Ever for a brighter day and wishing it would all Had finally began its last long, sad swan get better and realizing it never would, resong, I called my best friends around me alizing my dreams and yours were increassomewhere familiar to heal, develop a plan, ingly different. Realizing that I had my path and take my next step. After years of uncer- to follow and didn’t want to compromise it tainty, of living in a sort of purgatory where anymore, realizing you shouldn’t comproboth of us were too polite to say “It’s over,” I mise yours for me … all this was beautiful needed the kick in the pants to find a direc- for what it was, but it wasn’t enough. It was tion. Everybody had something to say. dull. Why did we take so long? Were we “I want to tell you this because you’ll see both really just too polite to say “It’s over”? it a couple more times on the way home,” Did neither of us want to look back with re-

Beau Burriola

gret on having pulled that trigger?

Sometimes just making a decision is more important than the decision you eventually make. One day you just have to make the decision or you wake up too late, years later and without the benefit of your youth to correct any mistakes. And get back to the guitar, and the harp, the music collection, and the writing ... and the writing.

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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WAIKIKI

continued from page 6 FLYING TO OAHU You’ll be flying into Honolulu International Airport (HNL), a 5.5-hour trip from Seattle or anywhere on the West Coast.

Several airlines offer non-stop flights from SeaTac, including Alaska, Delta, and Hawaiian. I’ve flown all three to Honolulu, and only because of award miles I choose the former, yet I prefer the latter two because they use larger aircraft. Hawaiian Airlines is currently running a promotion called “Wedding Wings” for lovebirds wanting to tie the knot on the islands, thus allowing for couples to load guest lists and send out customized e-invites with the incentive of possible upgrades, flower lei greetings upon arrival, and various discounts. Log onto www.hawaiianairlines.com/programs/wedding-wings for additional information. You might find less-expensive flights to Hawaii

from Bellingham or Spokane, which now direct shuttle service to their properties, but has nonstop service to HNL on Allegiant otherwise there are numerous independent Air (www.allegiantair.com). shuttle companies that can transport you to the front entrance of your hotel. I par-

Waikiki Beach is the best place to mark your maiden voyage to the Aloha State. It is the undisputed top tourist attraction in Hawaii.

GETTING TO WAIKIKI Waikiki is a district within the city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, and ideally it should take just 20 minutes to reach it from HNL. However, traffic congestion at most hours of the day usually extends the journey to 30 or 45 minutes. Some hotels offer

ticularly like SpeediShuttle (www.speedishuttle.com) with one-way prices starting at $12.95. If you’re on a tight budget, the city bus, aptly called “The Bus,” can run you to Waikiki for less than $3 with a brief stop at Ala Moana Center (look for bus route 19 at the air terminal).

WHERE TO STAY Among the more Gay-friendly hotels in this resort area is the Sheraton Waikiki (www.sheraton-waikiki.com), and it can certainly back up its support. Situated right on the beach, this iconic hotel hosts monthly Gay nights called “Phoenix” in its popular chic lounge RumFire, which incidentally drew Cyndi Lauper for its grand opening festivities. The Sheraton will also host its second annual Gay Prom in the coming weeks, specifically aimed at LGBT youth who would feel more comfortable partying with their own community. A very Gay-friendly Hawaiian hotel brand is Aqua Resorts (www.aquaresorts.com), with 16 properties on Oahu alone, including the nostalgic Ilikai Hotel & Suites (seen regularly on Hawaii Five-O), the Waikiki Joy Hotel, and the Maile Sky Court. I’ve stayed at each of these and have no complaints, but for its location and smaller size I’d go with the Waikiki Joy. Aqua Resorts offers LGBT packages throughout the calendar year, like “Out and Proud in Waikiki” that comes with 15% off at one of eight Waikiki properties, plus a free mai tai at Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand (Oahu’s premier Gay bar) and a copy of eXpression! magazine. I can also recommend Outrigger Hotels and Resorts (www.outrigger.com), which also has multiple properties around the island, including a few that line Waikiki Beach. For a boutique option, try Hotel Renew (www.hotelrenew. com), putting you within one block of the beach and Hula’s. Hotel Renew is offering a civil union-themed package called “Say ‘I Do’ at Renew.”

COUPLES’ THINGS TO DO When in Hawaii, you must partake of a luau. I suggest “Aha ’Aina” at The Royal Hawaiian (www.royal-hawaiian.com), recently featured on Mad Men. The live entertainment is even better than the food, and the setting is impeccable. With communal seating, it presents an opportunity to meet other couples and families. Newlyweds might enjoy a hike to Diamond Head, especially for the panoramic view at the top that would make for colorful holiday ecards. Bus transportation is easy and cheap, but remember to wear athletic sneakers and pack bottled water. A free fireworks display happens every Friday evening in Waikiki and can be viewed anywhere along the beach strip, or for an elevated view I recommend dinner or drinks at Sarento’s (www. sarentoswaikiki.com), atop the Ilikai Hotel & Suites. First Friday (www.firstfridayhawaii.com), Honolulu’s monthly art walk taking place in the Chinatown district, is a chance to mingle with local artsy types while browsing local galleries. A dinner cruise is a romantic way for newlyweds to get dressed up and take in the scenery at night, and the Star of Honolulu’s FiveStar Dinner Cruise (www.starofhonolulu.com) is an incredible experience that includes a seven-course dinner and live jazz music. For couples wanting exercise, Hawaii’s warm weather lends itself to bike rides, jogs along the boardwalk, afternoon tennis, ocean swims, kayak expeditions, canoe adventures, snorkeling, surfing, and paddleboarding. Massages are always a great splurge to add to your itinerary, and from the spas I’ve been to I’d recommend the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (www.marriott.com) and the Moana Lani Spa at the Moana Surfrider (www. moana-surfrider.com). For stargazers, “The Sky Tonight” at the Bishop Museum’s J. Watumull Planetarium offers couples the chance to experience the current evening sky up close. For more on this, go to www. bishopmuseum.org.

SHOPPING Ala Moana Center (www.alamoanacenter.com) is the world’s largest open-air mall with hundreds of retail stores, from the biggies (Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s) to brand-name boutiques (7 for All Mankind, Hollister, American Eagle Out-

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fitters, Tommy Bahama) to locally owned shops (Tori Richard, Town & Country Surf Design, Blue Hawaii Surf). Public buses run frequently from Waikiki to Ala Moana Center. The Royal Hawaiian Center (www.royalhawaiiancenter.com), a smaller open-air mall in Waikiki that extends several blocks, has many shops, including Hermes, Zumiez, Kate Spade, and an Apple Store. And for a quick excursion, Kahala Mall (www.kahalamallcenter. com) has dozens of stores and movie theaters to pass the time – and you just might bump into a Hollywood star, because the upscale area of Kahala is a celebrity magnet.

Weddings By the Sea

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