Our 20 Year Wedding Anniversary Party – A year end reflection

2025 is coming to a close, but before we bid farewell, I’m reflecting on one of the very best moments of the year, our 20 year wedding anniversary party! A celebration highlighting the unwavering love that my husband Phil and I share, the life we’ve worked hard to build together, and our commitment to each other along the way. From meeting as young teens in high school and marrying young, to a tragic accident 16 years ago, and being blessed enough to start a family and have two beautiful daughters. This 20 year milestone was incredibly significant to us. And what a gift it was to join with our loved ones, in a celebration that aligned with all that we’ve accomplished and overcome thus far. 

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Our 20 Year Wedding Anniversary Party

A milestone wedding anniversary celebration, held at the Lightcatcher Museum, in Bellingham Washington, highlighting our significant journey and twenty years of marriage.

Our Journey

Phil and I met when I was a freshman in high school, and he was a rising senior. He had just moved down from Canada shortly before. We had an instant connection that bonded us instantaneously, spending more time together than apart. We were best friends and that bond carried us through many good moments and some heartbreaking moments too, such as the loss of my dad and brother during my teens. Those experiences only strengthened our bond and we were engaged 7 years after dating.

Neither of us had much experience with weddings but we saved up for a year and a half to have the wedding we envisioned, thus igniting the design and entertaining passion in me. Four years into marriage, while planning to start a family, Phil was tragically injured in a work accident, falling 30 feet, with injuries to most of his body. Only 9 days prior, we found out that we were pregnant with our first baby. This was right before Christmas and our world turned upside down. Phil’s injuries were so severe that we were told he would never walk again.

We spent the rest of December and the holidays in Harborview ICU, and I traveled back and forth in heavy winter snow. I was not only afraid of losing Phil but also losing our baby. Miraculously after two months in Harborview, 20+ surgeries, and 6 weeks in a nursing home, Phil was released for home in March. I became his caregiver at home, while growing our baby. As Phil grew stronger, our daughter became our strength and reason to keep pushing forward, even during some of the most grueling and challenging moments of our lives.

After Amaia was born, our focus shifted to mom and dad, something we both craved and flourished in. And although we were told we would not be able to have more children, our daughter Mila was born 2.5 years later. Mila completed our family and has been pure joy and sunshine from the moment she was born. 

And here we are years later, celebrating this 20 year wedding milestone. How fortunate I am that my husband is still right by my side, after all that he’s faced. That he’s defied all odds and is a walking miracle.

Together we stand proudly as a beautiful and powerful family of four!

Anniversary Party Inspiration

Phil and I dreamt up this anniversary party a few years ago. Getting married so young, we realized how much we wanted a do over some day. We thought about renewing our vows, or doing something significant at the twenty year mark. Together we’ve come so far!

Six months before our twenty year anniversary we began the planning process.

The anniversary party theme was black and white elegance, and the inspiration for theme was our timeless love, to match our timeless color scheme. We kept the event affordable by setting up, and DIYing all of the decor and details, and making the desserts homemade. A special shoutout to our family, including my mom, girls, niece, nephew, sister and brother in law for all of their assistance in helping our vision come to life.

The Venue

10 years ago while eating lunch hath the Lightcatcher Building café I discovered the space. I knew how stunning it could be for a celebration and kept the idea it in the back of my mind as a potential venue in the event that Phil and I ever renewed our vows. Seeing that vision come to fruition so many years later was such a dream come true.

The space is incredibly stunning and magical, featuring a translucent modern curved glass wall in the courtyard, that not only reflects the sunlight, but illuminates at night, for a beautiful light display.

When we saw the space in person earlier this year, we instantly fell in love and knew it would be the perfect space for our summer anniversary party.

The Lightcatcher with all of its beauty was all that we envisioned. The interior museum space was also light and airy with good energy. In our opinion one of Bellingham’s best kept secrets and venue locations. 

Anniversary Party Decor and Details

Since the celebration was set up in the already stunning courtyard, we kept the decor simple, yet elevated. We created one long family style table, with clusters of ribbed vases, white roses and plenty of candlelight, from tapers and tea lights.

Although we were not able to use open flames, the faux candles worked beautifully, further illuminating the space at dusk.

 We also created black and white welcome signage, table settings and dessert signage on large painting easels, to direct our guests.

Each setting included a 20 year anniversary program, highlighting many of the important milestones we’ve experienced together and each table setting represented a place we had traveled to and loved.

The Anniversary Ambiance

On each table was a disposable camera for guests to take photos with, just like on our wedding day.

We also had a polaroid camera guest book for guests to take photos with and leave us special notes during the evening.

Lastly were fortunate that the DJ we hired from our wedding twenty years ago was available to spin the best soul, jazz, r&B and hiphop, running it back and playing some of our favorite music to dance the night away. A special shoutout to our brother in law Steve for an effortless job emceeing the event and making our evening so much more special!

Photography

After losing most of our original wedding photos, our goal was to take new Wedding-like photos at this celebration to include our daughters. Unfortunately our plans for a photographer fell through, but we were lucky to find Lillian Jean Photography fairly last minute! Lillian was such a joy to work from beginning to end. From her direction to her professionalism, and photography style, we are grateful to have connected with her and to cherish the beautiful photos she captured of our family, and our special day. If you are in the Bellingham area, we highly recommend Lillian and her work!

 Food & Beverage

Our plated dinner we catered by the restaurant on site, Bar Cicotti, featuring delicious and authentic Italian dishes, which were romantic, just like our love.

The Menu

Lemon Rosted Chicken, Eggplant Parm with a vegan and gf alternative, two pasta styles with a vegan and gf alternative, kale caesar salad and house made focaccia.

Beverages

Beverages consisted of a house made aperitif, beer, white, red and rosé wine and prosecco.

Dessert & Party Favors

Dessert

As a baker at heart, I was excited to make the desserts from scratch for our 20 year anniversary party. I made a black and white couples cake with vanilla bean frosting and blackberry thyme filling to match the theme.

We also served Lemon and blackberry thyme cupcakes, and tiramisu macarons, made by yours truly.

We also served Truffle & Spiced Cheddar Popcorn in premade bags for a late evening snack.

Party Favors

We wanted to bring back some of the special moments from our wedding day, so we included crystal box favors filled with jelly bellys, homemade chex mix from my mom, and chocolate covered espresso beans as a token of our appreciation.

Fashion

Our fashion for the event matched our black and white timeless theme. Phil wore a classic black suit and tie with a sleek black studded loafer.

I wore a white open back gown from Jluxelable, white butterfly heels from Sophia Webster and an ivory handbag from Loeffler Randal. 

Amaia wore an ivory dress from Beginning Boutique and heels from Forever 21

Mila wore an ivory and gold floral embroiled dress from Lulus and wedge heels from Altar’d State.

Party Guests

Although missing many, we are incredibly grateful to those who made the trip down from Canada and the Seattle area to be such an important part of our evening. Our celebration would not have been complete without them and those who’ve known our journey from the very beginning, were there in attendance with us that night.

Anniversary Itinerary

The evening started at 6:30 pm, with welcome drinks, and music, followed by dinner, speeches, dancing, dessert hour and couples cake cutting, our first dance with our wedding song by Kenny Lattimore, more dancing and a final sendoff with favors and snacks. 

There were many noteworthy moments from the evening, but a few that stood out to me were my husband’s speech which brought me and others to tears, my nieces speech, it was so thoughtful and heartfelt.

The family style table, the speeches by the kids, the cousins all matching and dancing to “Love Come Down” on the rooftop,” running back our first dance and the vibes and music by DJ Clint Westwood from the evening. 

At the end of the night our DJ mentioned that he had done many weddings over the years, and the two couples that were still together were both in attendance that night. What a lovely way to cap off such a special celebration.

Our 20 year anniversary milestone is a testament to our love for each other. What we’ve been through has shaped us to be the team and unit that we are today and I could not feel more blessed or fortunate to continue writing our love story!

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