Rehearsal & Dinner

Windy Hills Winery

Wedding Day

Summer

Our Wedding

One of our favorite stories to share is how we met. It seemed unlikely, to both of us, that in this day and age we would have a real, true "meet-cute". It seems like the only way to meet people these days is online. But we have the best story to share, how we met through random chance, how Donald became Ruby's knight in shining armor, the stranger that drove her to safety that fateful night. Accepting her fate that the only way she was going to meet somebody was online, Ruby (now admitting to all her friends and family), created a dating profile on Bumble. All her friends had done it, and some had found real love! After a few weeks swiping left and right, she found a guy who she seemed to have a lot in common with - politics, religion, sports teams all aligned! He had grown up not far from where she did, and somehow they found themselves nearby years later. This guy was named Donovan. Donovan and Ruby made their plans to share a first date (Trust me, we'll get to Donald, just ride it out with me). He picked her up and took her to a nice restaurant where they shared a meal. The chemistry wasn't great, Ruby knew there likely wasn't going to be a second date, but she was giving him a fair shot. As the date seemed to be winding down, Donovan said he knew of this great party just up the street. Against her better judgment (sorry mom), she agreed. YOLO and all, right? So off they went. Just as they pulled into the driveway, Donovan told Ruby, "Don't tell anyone here that we met on Bumble, just say we went to school together." Weird, but okay. Ruby agreed and they entered the party. It quickly became apparent that this wasn't a party at all, it was a very intimate family barbecue. Ruby was introduced to Donovan's entire family as a girl from school. Ruby even met his sister, let's call her Tammy, and the two of them got along well! As she mingled, Donovan approached Ruby letting her know that his sister, Tammy, wasn't feeling well and she was going to drive her home but he'd be back in 20 minutes. Again, weird but okay. An hour passed, and Ruby was totally alone, without a car or way to get home, at this random, very intimate, family barbecue. After waiting way too long, she mentioned to someone that Donovan was taking ages to return from taking his sister home, they replied, "Tammy's not his sister, that's his girlfriend. He's not coming back." Great, she didn't think this terrible date would get any worse. She went around begging someone to please give her a ride home. And finally, after asking everyone else at the party, she asked Donald. Who was one of the only other people at this party that wasn't a family member of Donovan, he had been dragged there by his friend - and was also having a terrible time. Like a perfect gentleman, Donald kindly drove her home. A perfect stranger, but the only one willing to make sure Ruby made it home safely. The pair quickly fell in love, Donald was regularly making the drive across state lines to visit Ruby, who was just finishing her bachelor's degree. He'd make the trip in rush hour traffic just to take her to dinner, and return home that night just to get a few hours sleep before going to work at 5am the next day. Tragically Donald's work was relocating him to New York, completely across the country. So against their desires, they stifled their relationship. This was so painful for them, because they knew they were meant to be together, but Ruby loved him enough to encourage him to go and pursue his goals. She would have gone with him, but she was just starting her own life, now fresh out of college with two high-needs dogs. Merely weeks before he was set to leave, after Donald had ended his lease in Washington state and packed up his life in preparation for his move, he couldn't do it. They couldn't be apart. He stayed for Ruby, and the two have been deliriously happy ever since. His career has taken off, even after declining the position in New York. Now, Donald and Ruby live in Vancouver together with their two dogs, Pippy and Caesar. They sent a wedding invitation to Donovan, who RSVP'd "NO".

Our love story

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

The future Walkinshaws recommend the Ilani Hotel, located in Ridgefield off exit 16. Just an 11 minute drive to the Walkinshaw Wedding at Windy Hills Winery, Ilani offers kid friendly spaces such as a seasonal pool and Kids Adventure Zone, wonderful dining options (we love Bella Vista Italian) and, of course, all the fun a casino can have to offer. There is unfortunately an event the same weekend as the wedding so room rates are higher than average. Enquire with the hotel ASAP for rates and reservations.

ilani

Portland International Airport is located just 25 minutes from Vancouver. The happy couple and their family is available to arrange pickup and transportation, just let us know how we can help!

Portland International Airport

If you’d like to bring your own camper, the RV INN STYLE park is a great option. Just 7 miles to the wedding venue, this is a great alternative option for those wanting to stay nearby. Current rates are $98/night. Enquire directly with the park.

Clark County Fairgrounds RV Park & Storage

There are limited hotel options in Ridgefield. We recommend additional lodging found in the Salmon Creek area of Vancouver for alternative options. Salmon Creek is the neighborhood where the happy couple lives and is 10 minutes from the venue. Off exit 7, Salmon Creek hotel options include: - Holiday Inn - La Quinta - Red Lion - Quality Inn Airbnb is also another wonderful option and we recommend renting anywhere nearby I-5 or west of I-5. Anywhere between exit 1 and exit 16 of I-5. If you don’t mind a bit more of a drive, we recommend staying near the Vancouver Waterfront for a more upscale, metropolitan experience. Just across the border from Portland, the waterfront offers the best options for food, drinks and entertainment. Just an additional 5-10 minutes from the venue. Waterfront hotels off exit 1-4 include: - Hilton Vancouver - AC Hotel Waterfront - Hotel Indigo Vancouver

Ruby & Donald

Ruby & Donald

Photos