Melissa Stella Wilcox and Aaron Graham Cahoon were set up on a blind date. “I was in the same sorority in college as his cousin, and she mentioned several years after we’d graduated that she thought Aaron and I would get along well,” Melissa says. After dating for three-and-a-half years, he proposed at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, overlooking the water.
The two chose Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island to host their ceremony and reception because it was one of the only places they had consistently visited as a couple. “We liked the idea of getting married somewhere where we had every intention of returning for our anniversary for years to come,” Melissa says. The property also provided a Pacific-Northwest-meets-Nantucket-vibe that guests enjoyed for the activity-filled days. To help plan everything, they hired Kaleb Willis of Kaleb Norman James Design, who also took care of all the floral design.
Festivities started on Wednesday night with a party on the groom’s family yacht docked in the harbor. The next night, they welcomed more guests to a champagne hour on the resort’s bocce ball court, and then everyone took a white, wedding-themed trolley to Westcott Bay Shellfish Co., where they were greeted by a bagpiper before sitting down to an all-white, farm-to-table rehearsal dinner. “In the middle of all these events, we could find our wedding guests grabbing a coffee, walking the docks, or enjoying a cocktail on the resort patio, and it was lovely to have so much time to say hello and catch up with all our guests,” the bride says.
After spending a lot of time in Seattle bridal boutiques, Melissa learned that she gravitated toward flattering Ines Di Santo designs. It was no surprise then that she chose a floral gown by the designer. “I’m petite and knew I wanted a form-fitting gown that I would not drown in. I also knew I wanted it to be sleeveless due to a summer wedding date,” she says. The wedding day look was completed with a cathedral-length veil by Toni Federici, blush Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps, and custom pearl and diamond floral stud earrings by Kathryn Elyse Jewelry.
For her beauty look, the bride took inspiration from Kate Bosworth and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley with shimmers of pink and purple on the eyes and long lashes by L.A.-based makeup artist Erin Skipley. Leonardo and Erich of White Lodge Studios created partially-pinned back, simple waves and a side part for Melissa’s hair.
To match the buildings of Roche Harbor, the groom and groomsmen wore light grey Indochino suits— the groom’s had a faint checker pattern to distinguish him from the group— and light blue ties from Tie Bar. And from the start, Melissa knew she wanted her bridesmaids to also wear white alongside her.
On a Friday in July in the resort’s private “Sunken Garden” overlooking the harbor, the bride walked down the aisle to “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United to meet Aaron under the low, floral arch. The groom’s uncle, Kevin, officiated the ceremony, and Christian and personal vows were shared. After being announced as husband and wife, a cocktail hour began in a pavilion across from the garden.
The reception was to be the ultimate garden party. During the planning process, the original all-white and green look evolved into a color palette with pops of whimsical and romantic shades of blue and pink that translated through the florals and linens.
The bride and groom handed plates to each guest at the front of their buffet dinner, as a way to get to thank each and every person for coming to celebrate. And after the meal, a friend’s brother deejayed the party.
Since the couple both attended the University of Washington, they hired the football Husky mascot to get the dancing started. And during a calm moment, the newlyweds had their first dance to John Legend’s “You and I (Nobody in the World).” After dancing the night away, guests walked across the street to a local bar for live music and more cocktails.
