How did you two meet, and how long have you been together?
We met online, totally by chance — neither of us was really “looking” for anything at the time. It just happened. That was back in December 2022, and we’ve been together ever since.
Tell us about the proposal — it sounds like it was epic?
It definitely was! We were in New Zealand with some friends — all of us are photographers — so we’d been trading off taking photos of each other during the trip. The morning of the proposal, we were supposed to be doing another one of those “photo swaps” but it was actually a setup for Malachi to propose. It was super cold and windy, but the moment was perfect. Kaleb said yes, the sun came out, and we even got a rainbow. Later that night we celebrated with a three-course dinner and a private Onsen hot pool in Queenstown. It was one of those magic days.
What made you choose Port Angeles and Olympic National Park for your wedding?
We actually found the venue during a location-scouting trip in the winter. Malachi was doing some research and stumbled across a spot with private coastline and beach access — we couldn’t resist. We even used a sun tracker app to line up the sunset perfectly. And it delivered. We also love that the park has so much variety — we got mountains and coast all in one day.
What was the vibe or theme you were going for?
We wanted to merge outdoor elopement energy with elegant, stylish wedding details. Olympic National Park gave us the best of both worlds. We started our wedding weekend with just the two of us up in the mountains at sunrise. Then the actual ceremony and celebration happened at Agate Beach Lodge on a private section of the coast with friends and family. It felt like two weddings in one, honestly.
Okay but… you really DIY’d the whole thing?
We did, with lots of help from our friends and family. Malachi baked the cake from scratch and designed all the florals — including Kaleb’s floral pocket square. Kaleb pulled together the color palette and managed the signage designs. His dad built the dance floor and lighting layout, and a family friend created a custom wrap for the floor. Even the tables were named after national parks instead of numbers. We poured a lot of ourselves into every detail.
What did you wear, and how did you choose?
We were really set on wearing lighter suits so we’d stand out against the landscape. But we didn’t want to match completely — we still wanted to feel like us. So we went with similar-but-different tones and coordinated florals. SuitShop had amazing, high-quality options that were also affordable, so that helped a lot.
What did your wedding weekend actually look like?
We stretched the celebration over a couple of days. The first morning was all about us — just the two of us and our photographers in the mountains at Hurricane Ridge. We exchanged personal vows during sunrise and danced to “Lover” by Taylor Swift. That night, we hosted a welcome dinner for everyone in downtown Port Angeles at The Roosevelt. The next day, we got ready together at Agate Beach Lodge, wrote our vows, had the ceremony, and then partied through dinner, sunset portraits, dancing, and a sparkler exit.
Any favorite moments that really stand out?
So many! Kaleb sang “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles during his vows, which was extra meaningful since his dad also sang at his own wedding years ago. Malachi’s vows had pretty much everyone in tears. And the dancing? Total highlight — we really let loose.
Were there any vendors you especially loved?
Our photographers from Adventure & Vow are some of our closest friends and made the entire experience so comfortable. Kaleb actually found our DJ on TikTok and flew him in from LA — the mixes were amazing. Gravestone Flower Farm also came through with the most incredible dahlias. Supporting queer-owned small businesses was really important to us throughout the process.
Any advice you’d give to other couples planning their day?
Don’t feel pressured to include things that don’t feel right for you. We were clear on what we didn’t want, and that made such a difference. Also, make time for just the two of you. That sunrise part of our day gave us a chance to be present together — and the photos were chef’s kiss. And don’t invite people just because of blood or history. If they don’t support your relationship, they don’t need to be there.
Photography by Adventure and Vow
Catering 48 Degrees North
Desserts Costco
Engagement Rings Ouray
Entertainment Adamusic
Florist Flowers from Cherry Hill & Gray Stone Farm
Shirt Express
Stationery The Knot
Suit Designer SuitShop
Venue Agate Beach Lodge
