Welcome Party

JM Cellars

Wedding

Goodbye Brunch

Our Wedding

Johnny and Ellen's love story began in March 2024 with a single photo — Johnny on the Angels Landing trail in Zion National Park....For anyone who knows Ellen, the slot canyons and mesas of Southern Utah are some of her favorite places. So when she saw that photo on Johnny's dating profile, she had a feeling this was someone she wanted to learn more about. She worked up the courage to send him a message and, to her delight, it sparked the first of countless fun, thoughtful conversations....Their first date was a drink at The Ballard Cut. Johnny parked a mile away and walked the rest (classic Johnny), and Ellen arrived in emerald green corduroy pants (classic Ellen). One drink easily became two as they connected over their shared love of the outdoors and the similarities in their careers as an Architecture Professor and an Art Director. (Even if they do use competing software!) It was a wonderful first date....Ellen then left for a week-long vacation to Colombia, but they continued their conversation through text. During her trip, Ellen realized that not only was Johnny extremely handsome, but he was a genuinely kind and caring guy. While she didn't know it at the time, he felt the same about her....Shortly after her return, they met for a second date and that's where their connection really blossomed. After a delicious dinner at The Woodblock in Redmond, they played a round of mini golf at Flatstick Pub (the location of our Welcome Party!). While there's no official record of who won that round (Ellen did), the grand prize was their first kiss, so they both walked away as winners....It quickly became clear that Johnny and Ellen were a perfect match — committed, thoughtful, loving, and hardworking. She had the loyalty, sweetness, and adventurous spirit he'd been searching for. He had the emotional intelligence, kindness, maturity, and "cat dad" qualities she'd always hoped for....After six weeks, they were officially a couple. At two months, he flew to Los Angeles to visit her while she was working on The Voice. At four months, she brought him to Denver to meet her sister (Catherine) and brother-in-law (Ben). By six months, they were dreaming about moving to Denver together and finding a house on a piece of land where they wouldn't have to see their neighbors....Then, on Christmas Day 2024 — less than ten months after their first date — Johnny surprised Ellen by popping the question. Her answer was an extremely easy and enthusiastic "YES!"...Now they're looking forward to celebrating their love and commitment to each other with their closest family and friends at their wedding....From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for joining us to celebrate this incredibly special day!

It's a Love Story

Our Story

Photos

WEDNESDAY May 20, 2026

WELCOME PARTY!5:00 - 8:00 PMFlatstick Pub | Downtown Kirkland, WA We've got the food covered!Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.Kids are welcome.

THURSDAY MAY 21, 2026

THE WEDDING!Ceremony Begins at 5:30 PMJM Cellars | Woodinville, WA Transportation to be provided to/from the venue for out-of-town guests.Limited parking is available for local guests.This will be an adults-only celebration.

FRIDAY MAY 22, 2026

GOODBYE BRUNCH!9:30 AM - 12:00 PMJohnny &amp; Ellen's House | 11028 108TH PL NE, Kirkland, WA We've got the food and coffee covered!Kids are welcome.Driveway and street parking are available.

Schedule

We are truly grateful to everyone who is traveling to celebrate with us and we want to help keep lodging costs as reasonable as possible. When exploring various options, we learned that reserving a traditional hotel block wouldn't actually offer meaningful savings. The upside is you now have the freedom to choose accommodations that best fit your preferences. There are plenty of wonderful options in the area, and we've listed a few below to help you get you started. If those don't meet your needs, please feel free to book any hotel, Airbnb, Vrbo, or other lodging that works best for you. We want you to stay wherever you'll feel most comfortable.

This is our primary recommendation. Not only are discounts available, but it is in the heart of downtown Kirkland which is full of things to do and it is within walking distance of the Welcome Party. Distance to the Welcome Party:- 1-minute drive- 7-minute walk Distance to Ellen &amp; Johnny's house:- 10-minute drive To find a discount, perform the following:- Go to the hotel website and click on Offers.- Find an offer that benefits you. (Plan Ahead and Save or 4th Night Free)- If you find an offer you like, click its BOOK NOW button.- Choose your Check-in and Check-out dates.- Click on SEARCH .- Select a room type by clicking on its BOOK NOW button.- Optional: Select any add ons.- Click on CHECKOUT.- Complete the checkout process.

The Heathman Hotel

Distance to the Welcome Party:- 10-minute drive- 35-minute walk Distance to Ellen &amp; Johnny's house:- 13-minute drive

The Woodmark Hotel

Distance to the Welcome Party:- 25-minute drive Distance to Ellen &amp; Johnny's house:- 18-minute drive

Hilton Garden Inn

Lodging

FAQs

KIRKLAND RECOMMENDATIONS If you're joining us from out of town, you're likely staying in Kirkland, WA. Here are some recommendations within walking distance of The Heathman Hotel. Activity Recommendations:- Stroll Park Lane for boutique shopping, restaurants, and coffee shops- Visit the waterfront at Marina Park Public Beach- Grab a cocktail at The Bottle &amp; Bull- Enjoy a beer at Side Hustle Taproom or Moss Bay Hall Food Recommendations:- The Hearth (restaurant in the Heathman Hotel)- The Bottle &amp; Bull (upscale bar food)- Ristorante Paradiso (delicious Italian food)- Moss Bay Hall (low-key beer hall fare)- Isarn Thai (affordable Thai food in a nice setting)- RockCreek Seafood (upscale seafood)... and so many more!

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE RECOMMENDATIONS For those who are visiting Seattle and looking for the quintessential sites to see, this blog post is a great place to start: <a href="https://uprootedtraveler.com/weekend-in-seattle/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://uprootedtraveler.com/weekend-in-seattle/</a> Downtown Seattle is approximately 30 minutes via car (depending on traffic) from Kirkland, WA, but it's definitely worth a visit if you have an extra day or two! Highlights include:- Pike Place Market &amp; the Seattle Waterfront- The Space Needle- The Chihuly Glass Museum Please let us know if you have any questions or are looking for more specific recommendations! We're here to help :)

Ellen & Johnny

Ellen & Johnny

Photos