Evergreen Meadows

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Summer

Our Wedding

Sarah and I met while working for Amazon, in San Marcos, TX. Sarah started as a college hire in 2016 from the University of Arizona, while Zach started in 2015 as a college hire from Miami University, and was originally slotted for Kenosha, WI. When Bill Hicks asked me to go to Texas, there was zero decision to be made, I hated Wisconsin, and Texas sounded so much better (based on my one spring break visit to Coleman's in college). 

Sarah "allegedly" knew the recruiter (from Kappa, of course) and got all her sorority (Jade) and intern friends (Shane) to also be assigned to San Marcos as well.&nbsp;



Our building launched, with a short term assignment in Tampa for 2 months. There were almost 100, new to Amazon hires, then a core group of us from Wisconsin. The year prior, I got to be the college hire that knew nothing, for this launch I was the experience manager (who still knew nothing). If you had&nbsp;asked me day 1, who wouldn't make it, I would have bet every paycheck that the hyper, excitable, sorority girl Sarah wouldn't make it a week.&nbsp;



Sarah was on my shift, I think it was 12 or so people. Sarah was one of the few women, but for everyone who is attending this wedding&nbsp;that knows Sarah, they all know she is the butt of every joke. Jared and I were ruthless to her, then she would resort to personal insults like my ship sorter holding back her work performance (which, I was definitely a downstream barrier for her department).&nbsp;



Fast forward a year or two, I don't know how many, Amazon can be a drag. Sarah and I were stationed in the same department, she still treated me like the idiot that couldn't run a dock, we still roasted her in every daily meeting, lunch, and anytime the team sat down together. It was during this time that I realized, somewhere down the road that Sarah was an incredibly talented leader, way stronger in her Amazon knowledge than&nbsp;I had ever&nbsp;expected. She might have even taught me a few things (I won't ever admit it).&nbsp;



By 2018, as more people moved shifts, moved buildings, the core group of our work friends eroded. This is when Sarah and I transitioned to the weird friendship part of our relationship. I am pretty sure we ate dinner 2-3x a week together, just the two of us. I know my mom is reading this, thinking to herself, you went out to dinner alone with this cute girl and never started dating her. And You are right Lisa, I may have missed some signals.



6 months later, October 2017, Sarah and I were ditched by Michelle, this was the first time that we had hung out outside of work/ after work meals). That was were we officially started, drinking alcoholic punch out of ceramic animals from TJ maxx at Whisler's, waiting for Michelle. Sarah and I have been inseparable ever since.&nbsp;



Around Thanksgiving 2017,&nbsp;Lisa Simon found out about Sarah. I would not shut up about how great of a cook Sarah was as she prepared our team dinner. Though my mother found out immediately (I do follow food), we tried to hide our relationship through that peak and utterly failed in a few instances. The best one was the rain storm, Sarah and I were waiting in my car outside the building (hers had broken down, important detail later). It was the worst rain I have ever seen, a rain storm that would have had Noah loading the Ark.&nbsp;We sat there, for 10-15 minutes, waiting for it to pass and decided to bolt.&nbsp;



 We arrived at the morning meeting together (which was bad enough because Sarah is super punctual, and I at this point was late for every meeting, sorry Facca). Sarah and I were drenched and absolutely soaked through, my shoes were leaking water. Everyone else, somehow missed this rain storm, and were dry as can be.&nbsp;



 The second time, Renzi, my boss and work out partner at the time asked me for a ride home. Had a flat, didn't want to deal with it. I think he asked me at 10 am, Sarah and I worked until like 3pm, coming up with a cover story, as to why she needed a ride home (her aforementioned car was dead in my apartment complex). Renzi would have figured this right out, so we decided that I would drop her off at her apartment (15 minutes away), then drive Renzi home, go back and get Sarah. We hashed out every detail, then right before the end of the day, Renzi balked on needing a ride.



 After that first peak, Sarah moved to Dallas in 2018. Sarah and I got Joe (the greatest dog ever, please follow her instagram). Sarah and I spent a full year, between Austin and Dallas on weekends (by weekends, we mean Mon-Thurs to work the BHN night shift). In 2019, I took a virtual role to be able to work from Dallas. From there in 2020, we moved to Tucson, where Sarah was promoted a few times. Later,&nbsp;we added Goose to the family, started skiing, backpacking, and biking.



In 2021, we moved to Seattle (well Snoqualmie), to buy a house together, lay down roots, and have the opportunity to progress our careers in a corporate setting. We bought the only house we could find, that worked for us, worked for the dogs, and the mountain of hobby equipment we have acquired.&nbsp;



In 2022, we will get married just a few thousand feet down the road from our first home (so that the dogs can attend, obviously). We understand that for everyone of our family and friends, this will be a long trip. But Sarah and I are so excited to share the town and area that we have quickly fallen in love with.

How We Met - Zach's Side of The Story

Simon and I officially met in Tampa, Florida during my first assignment with Amazon and my first real “big girl” job. Originally, I viewed Simon as a loud, obnoxious frat boy. This&nbsp;is probably why I teased him endlessly plus, he was the only person in the room who was louder than I was. I knew Simon was special when he showed me how many cupcakes he could eat in one bite in a row&hellip; I think it was around eight. 

 



For about two years, Simon and I spent many (mandatory) work hours together and ate practically every meal together. I viewed Simon as nothing more than a&nbsp;buddy, who I spent all my time with. During this time, if someone had&nbsp;told me that I would own a house, two puppies and 9 chickens with Simon,&nbsp;I would have told them they were absolutely insane. 

 















As Simon and I spent more time together, I started to think of him as slightly more than a friend. I thought he felt the same until one day when Simon and I were stuck in his apartment because of Hurricane Harvey and my apartment’s parking lot was flooded. During a forced viewing of&nbsp;&nbsp;some hockey movie, he *almost* kissed me, but &nbsp;chickened out at the last minute. If I am being honest, I was a little crushed, but we continued on as best friends. 

 















Fast forward to October(ish) 2017 on one night out, our friend Michelle thought it would be hilarious to ditch us, and we went out to the bars, just the two of us. Somewhere on 6th street and a few vodka redbulls (stay tuned for our signature drinks) later, he finally pulled the trigger and kissed me on the dance floor. From that point on, we were pretty much glued at the hip. I 10/10 recommend kissing your best friend.















A few months into our relationship, we grew tired of attempting to keep our relationship a secret while working on the same shift. Especially the one time that he "accidentally" squirted hand sanitizer in my eye at at team sync meeting and ran after me when I started crying. (For context, this was about a month into all of the area managers participating in "hand sanitizer wars" where we would all squirt&nbsp;hand sanitizer across the room at each other.)&nbsp;I decided to take a role in Dallas, TX and Zach would stay in Austin.&nbsp; Now that were were finally on a first name basis, both of us spent the next few months driving back and forth from Austin to Dallas. Eventually Zach moved to Dallas with me,&nbsp;and I surprised him by bringing &nbsp;home a puppy. 

 















Jolene has entered the chat. End of story. Jolene did, in fact, take my man. 

 















After yet, another move (our third as a couple) to Tucson, Arizona, Jolene was lonely and I once again brought home another puppy. Now, we have Jolene and Goose who are truly the two best friends that anyone could have. Nothing makes us happier as a couple than getting outside, exploring and hanging out with our little family. 

 















One move later and Zach and I have bought our first house on our own little acre of paradise in Snoqualmie, WA. When we are not renovating our house, we love to spend time hiking, camping and biking and working as part time ski/snowboard&nbsp;instructors.















For our wedding, we have chosen&nbsp;to keep the day as local as possible, so we can show off our beautiful town to all of our family and friends. Our venue is about a minute away from our house, and we hear June in Seattle is pretty incredible. We cannot wait to see you all!

How We Met- Sarah's Side of the Story

Welcome Reception

Since Sarah and Zach's guest are primarily from out of town, we wanted to do something a little less traditional, and invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner and welcome party. We booked Orenda Winery in nearby Fall City, WA from 5-9pm on Friday, June 24th. Drinks, food and appetizers will be provided from a local foodtruck.

32305 NE 8th St, CARNATION, WA 

 Stop by to&nbsp;say hi to the happy couple if your travel permits. If not, we can't wait to see you on our&nbsp;wedding day.



 Attire is casual.

Our Story

Details

Photos

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

Option 1 for lodging: This is where we have room blocks reserved, and this is within 3-4 miles of the venue. This is definitely the more affordable stay option in Snoqualmie, and it is in a great location. Room block prices can only be guaranteed until May 25th, and rooms are limited so book soon! We will also have shuttle busses provided on the day of the wedding from the Snoqualmie Inn to the venue and back. Rooms blocked per day 06/24/22 &amp; 06/25/22 - 2 nights at the negotiated contract rate per night. Group able to book at discounted rate on 2-day cushion, before and after block dates based on availability in case you want to extend your in the area!Go to: <a href="http://www.thehotelamerica.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thehotelamerica.com</a>Click: Book NowEnter : HESMON15 to the offer code banner.Click: SearchHester/Simon - HESMON15 offer will formulateClick: Select&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choose your block and shoulder datesClick: Show Rooms (small bottom popup window)Select your room type. 1 King or 2 Queen&nbsp;

The Hotel America

Option 2 for lodging: Salish is roughly 2 miles from our venue and sits on top of Snoqualmie Falls. Salish is famous and very historic. It would be a great option to stay for a night or two! Full disclosure, Salish is the more expensive option, but the views do not disappoint! Unfortunately, Salish does not allow room blocks, so if you are considering a stay here, book ASAP! It is a small resort and space is limited, especially in the summer time. Near Snoqualmie Falls, Make yourself at home in one of the 86 air-conditioned rooms featuring fireplaces and flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Cable programming and iPod docking stations are provided for your entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include safes and desks, as well as phones with free local calls. When you stay at Salish Lodge &amp; Spa in Snoqualmie, you'll be next to a golf course, a 1-minute drive from Snoqualmie Falls and 7 minutes from Snoqualmie Casino. This 4-star hotel is 20.5 mi (33.1 km) from Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Cascade Range. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometer. Cascade Range - 0.1 km / 0.1 mi Snoqualmie Falls - 0.3 km / 0.2 mi Northwest Railway Museum - 1.8 km / 1.1 mi Mount Si Golf Course - 4.3 km / 2.7 mi Snoqualmie Casino - 4.3 km / 2.7 mi Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course - 5.7 km / 3.5 mi Snoqualmie Valley Hospital - 6.6 km / 4.1 mi North Bend Premium Outlets - 7.6 km / 4.7 mi Mount Si - 7.6 km / 4.7 mi Duthie Hill Park - 14.1 km / 8.8 mi Olallie State Park - 14.4 km / 8.9 mi Tolt MacDonald Park - 16 km / 10 mi Carnation Golf Course - 18 km / 11.2 mi Downtown Issaquah - 19.7 km / 12.3 mi Village Theater First Stage Theatre - 20.1 km / 12.5 mi The nearest airports are:Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) - 54.7 km / 34 mi Seattle, WA (BFI-Boeing Field) - 50.6 km / 31.5 mi Seattle, WA (LKE-Lake Union Seaplane Base) - 48.2 km / 29.9 mi Kenmore, WA (KEH-Kenmore Air Harbor) - 50.8 km / 31.6 mi Treat yourself with massages, body treatments, and facials. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.Featured amenities include limo/town car service, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Free valet parking is available onsite.Grab a bite at The Attic, one of the hotel's 2 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Snacks are also available at the coffee shop/café. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a fee.

Salish Lodge & Spa

Travel

Some of your favorite hikes around the area are:&nbsp;

Rattlesnake Lake : This is also a great spot for paddle boarding! This is a bit crowded during the summer so it is best to go early!&nbsp;



Middle Fork: Set your GPS to "Middle Fork Campground" you will come to a large parking lot near the end of the road. This hike can be as long or short as you&nbsp;want but if you turn round at the second bridge it is only about a mile. The drive here is well worth it!&nbsp;



Mailbox Peak&nbsp;



Snoqualmie Falls Trail:&nbsp;Pretty easy hike with great views (1.4 miles)&nbsp;



Little Si Trail: (4.4 miles)&nbsp;



Snoqualmie Valley Trail: This is more of a path rather than a hike but it is a great spot and accessible from several points in Snoqualmie. This is also a great place to ride bikes if you want to rent one! A lot of these exist around here, they are rails to trails projects, where old lumber railroads were repurposed as multi-use paths.

Hiking

A great way to see the Snoqualmie River is by floating it! This local company does rentals and provides transportation. Great way to cool off!

Fall City Floating

Check out the beautiful casino that is located within 5 miles of both hotels!&nbsp;

Snoqualmie Casino

Great local wine tasting room! Try to grab a spot on the back deck!

Sigillo Cellars, Railroad Avenue, Snoqualmie, WA, USA

No Boat Brewing Company

This is a fun mountain bike park, with a lot of progression opportunities for new and experienced riders. There are a ton of places that rent MTN bikes up here as well. Super fun way to experience the PNW mountain bike scene. Zach will go with you, but Sarah is adamant he doesn't get hurt before the wedding.&nbsp;

Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park

Tiger Mountain is another big MTB area (with some hiking) that is just of US-18 outside of Snoqualmie. There are also hiking options here, just watch out for bikers!

Tiger Mountain Trail, Issaquah, WA, USA

Snoqualmie Valley Trail is a 20 ish mile Rail Trail. These types of trails are all over Washington and are remnants of the old forestry industry. They are great, beautiful rides and always flat (less than 2% grade). These are great for, you guessed it, bikes and just relaxing on a walk around.

One of the entrances (Tokul Tunnel) is just down the street from the venue, there is another entrance at Rattlesnake lake.

Snoqualmie Valley Trail

Behind our house and behind the wedding venue is a large lumber companies area, if you have any interest in Gravel biking (think road bike with wider tires), this place can't be topped.&nbsp;

You will need to rent a bike and have a $10 Campbell Global day pass.&nbsp; 

And yes, there are a lot of bike activities. Zach also found this venue on his bike and does all his exploring by bike.

Campbell Global 

Adding it because its local and something people go see it. its 2.5 miles long and completely dark (its a slight angle so can't see the light at the end of either side of the tunnel). I don't know why anyone would go here, but adding it to the list. If you want to hike 5 miles rountrip, in a damp cold tunnel, and ignore everything in the PNW, boy have I got the activity for you.&nbsp;

Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie Pass, WA, USA

Things to Do

FAQ's & FYI's

FAQ’s: 

How far is Snoqualmie from the airport? 

 













We are located about 40 minutes from the airport 

 











How far is Snoqualmie from the Seattle? 

 













We are located about 30 minutes (depending on traffic) 

 













Is everyone invited to the Welcome Reception? 

 













YES! Everyone is invited, and this will be a casual event. Please see the Welcome Party tab for more information. 

 













How soon should I book my hotel? 







ASAP! The hotel block is filling up quickly and there are multiple weddings the same weekend at the hotel. 







Are kids allowed at the wedding? 

 













We love your little ones! However, to allow all of out guests, including parents, the chance to have an evening of relaxation, we request that the ceremony and reception will be for adults only. If your kids are in town please feel free to have&nbsp;them come to the Welcome Reception!

Is transportation provided to the wedding?

Yes! The last thing we want our guests to worried about is how to get home safe! The shuttle will pick up at the Snoqualmie Inn. 

 













Where should we eat? 

 













Snoqualmie Brewery, North Bend Bar & Grill, Gianfranco Italiano, Buckshot Honey, Thai Eatery, Tweeds 

 













I want to stay in an AirBNB, which town should I stay in ? 







Snoqualmie (2 minutes) , North Bend&nbsp; (5-10 min) , Fall City (5-10 min)&nbsp;, Carnation (15-20 min)&nbsp;, Snoqualmie Pass (20-15 min)&nbsp;,&nbsp;or Issaquah (15-20 min)&nbsp;







What activities should we do while we are in town? 

 













1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snoqualmie Falls- This is a must see and no hiking required! We suggest parking at the top lot and walking across the bridge (its free.) &nbsp;

 













2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; See the local town! Both the town of Snoqualmie and North Bend are adorable and have lots of shops and restaurants to visit. 

 













3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snoqualmie Casino is a must see, this a five-minute drive from the hotel and a great late-night spot.

 













4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Go see the Elk in North Bend&mdash;you will see them on the drive from Snoqualmie to North Bend. 

 













5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rattlesnake Lake&mdash;This is a great spot for paddle boarding or a place for a quick swim! 

 













6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Middle Fork&mdash;Beautiful drive and short hike. 

 













7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Issaquah Farmers Market&mdash;great spot for breakfast and it is open Saturday morning! About 20 minutes from the hotel and worth it!

 













8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Salish Lodge: This sits over Snoqualmie Falls and has rich history. This is a great spot for a cocktail at the Attic&mdash;just be sure to make a reservation! 

 













**These are a few of our favorites but see the “things to go” section for even more!** 

 













If we are spending the day in Seattle what do you recommend? 

 













1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pike Place Market: Be prepared for crowds and to pay $$ for parking but its iconic. 

 













2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Starbucks Reserve: This is different than then the first Starbucks and honestly way cooler. 

 













3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Go see a Mariners game!

 













4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seward Park and Gasworks Park&mdash;Both great for a long walk and beautiful 

 













5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Matts on the Market is a great dinner spot 

 













6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor Shellfish for the best seafood 

 













7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M Bar in South Lake Union, Flagstick Pub for minigolf, Terra Plata, and The Pink Door 

 













8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There are bars everywhere but we love the Cap Hill area!

 













&nbsp;What is the dress code? 

 













Black- Tie Optional 

 













Check out a guide here: <a href="https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-guest-attire-cheat-sheet#black-tie-optional-attire">https://www.theknot.com/conten...</a>

 













What will the weather be like? 

 













The average temps are around 75 degrees. However, it is humid in this area so it may feel warmer. We are expecting the temperature to be on the warmer side since last summer there were several heat waves in Seattle. The wedding is outdoor and the reception is in a covered tent. Remember, the sun does not go down until 9pm and the weather here does not cool down that much at night! &nbsp;

 













Is there parking at the venue? 

 













Yes, there is a ton of parking at the welcome party venue and the wedding venue. 

 













How the H*LL do you say "Snoqualmie?" 








We get this a lot -- SNOW- QUAL- ME 













&nbsp;













FYI’s: 

 













1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Uber situation is not the greatest. We suggest that you rent a car to get around town or use the schedule feature of Uber to schedule rides in advance. 

 













2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you are staying at the Snoqualmie Inn there is a shuttle at the hotel that you can call and book to take you around town! FYI, unfortunately the welcome party is too far for the shuttle. 

 













3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you are planning to hike at all in the area during your stay you will need some sort of pass wherever you go! Most hikes around this area use the Discover pass (about $5 a day) but make sure to google before you go! 

 













4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because it doesn’t get dark until 9pm you probably will forget all about dinner until then and by that time it is possible that restaurants will be closed! This happened to us all the time when we moved! 

 













5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you are staying in the city public transportation is fantastic and affordable! Its easy and much cheaper than parking in the city. There is also a light rail stop at the airport (Tukwila Station.)

Sarah & Zach

Sarah & Zach

Photos