Dream
_ Couples in the wedding industry have learned a thing or two about what and what not to include on someone’s big day. Katie and Brock Clements first met through Katie’s sister in 2011. “She didn’t even notice me the first time, but I noticed her,” Brock said. Around 2014 the couple started on a project turning an old barn turned metal shop into a wedding venue. While Brock said he knew at first sight that he wanted to spend his life with Katie, she said it came to her while working on the barn together. “As we were building the business together it was really like we were building a future together,” Katie said. Now Brock and Katie run The Saltbox Barn on Fir Island alongside Brock’s mom, Jan Johnson. “Being able to celebrate love is such a rewarding job,” Katie said. The first wedding held was their own in 2017. The couple started holding weddings and events in 2018 and since then has held between 150 and 200 weddings. While building their business the couple said they’ve learned a lot about each other. “It’s very rewarding seeing our efforts together turn into something beautiful,” Brock said. He said he realized how Katie excelled at communication with the families and vendors and her marketing skills. “I was very impressed with how good she was at that,” he said. Katie said that she was impressed with Brock’s customer service skills and his ability to take extra steps in order to make a couple’s day special. She said he notices things that many people may overlook like a handful of dandelions in the yard. Courtney and Ben Bourasaw are another couple involved in the wedding industry. Courtney is the chef behind Skagit Table and Ben helps out when needed. The couple met online and has been together for
seven years in November. “I only agreed to a date because he was 6’6” and I’m tall,” Courtney said. Not long after dating the couple was Facetiming while Courtney was visiting Leavenworth and Ben asked her to be his girlfriend. Within five months of meeting the couple was married. “She just had the right characteristics,” Ben said. “Our personalities are different, but her personality brought out the best in my personality and vice versa.” When it comes to working together Ben said the key is to know your role. If they are at a wedding, Courtney is in charge. Courtney said it is important to remember not to bring your relationship to work, whether that be arguing or kissing. Over the years the couples have have alcohol at the wedding everything. also learned some or to spend thousands of “Stuff like that you can’t do’s don’ts for dollars on flowers when recreate,” he said. wedding day. Some the party views the food as Courtney and Ben hiked lessons were learned more important. Oyster Dome in place of from their own One universal item a typical ceremony. Years wedding and others Courtney said is often a later for their reception, have been learned a friend or family member for a wedding. waste is party favors. Courtney said nearly a from others. may bail at the last moment Keeping things realistic “They get left behind third of the guest list was “We’ve learned so much or not provide the service also helps to keep couples most of the time,” she said. children, so they had s’mosince then,” Katie said of to the wanted standard. within their budget, as the res and a bouncy house. their own wedding. As far as services go, the Pinterest perfect wedding “Family is really importCourtney said her and Clements agreed that food likely costs more than Katie said her wedding ant to us,” Ben said. Ben hiked to the top of is usually one of the more $100,000, according to was very personalized with Katie said couples need Oyster Dome and got mar- important ones. Katie. things for the guests to do to think about what is ried there, then four years “People are spending one Courtney pointed out and view. The added expeimportant to them and later had a reception. of their two days off to be that everything is getting rience helped to share the the story they want to tell “I feel like we were pros there,” Katie said of the more expensive, so setting couple’s story, she said. during their wedding. by then,” Courtney said guests wanting to be served healthy boundaries are imBrock said Saltbox had “There’s no rules on how since by then she had cagood food. portant, as is deciding what a wedding with the ring your wedding day has to tered for many weddings. Courtney said when is important to the couple. girl driving a little motorbe,” she said. looking to hire professionShe said she has seen some ized toy car who ran into als, to hire off of more than couples feel pressured to Katie said her biggest just what is seen on their recommendation for cousocial media pages. Ben ples planning their wedding added that it is important is to hire professionals, to have a relationship with including a day-of coordithe vendors, too. nator. “You want them to be on “They will put out fires your team,” he said. you didn’t even know were happening,” she said. Hiring professionals Another major piece of allows the family that may advice the couple had was otherwise be helping with to be realistic with expectafood or music or set up to tions and to not sweat the enjoy the special day. small stuff. “They don’t get to enjoy Brock said sometimes the day and the day goes when things go off the so fast,” Brock said of the plan it can make the most family helping with the memorable moments. He wedding. cited instance of a harvest Katie said that when hiroccurring on the farmland ing a professional they have that borders the venue or a a stake in the matter, while thunderstorm that rolled in