[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-weddings-alex-and-megan\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-weddings-alex-and-megan\/","headline":"Real Weddings: Alex and Megan","name":"Real Weddings: Alex and Megan","description":"Three-Ring CircusBrides Alex and Megan plan a wedding to rival \u201cThe Greatest Show on Earth\u201d By Deanna Duff       The courtship of Seattle residents...","datePublished":"2011-10-05","dateModified":"2021-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/real-gay-weddings_alex-and-megan.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/real-gay-weddings_alex-and-megan.jpg","height":382,"width":659},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-weddings-alex-and-megan\/","about":["Real LGBTQ+ Weddings"],"wordCount":1039,"articleBody":" Three-Ring CircusBrides Alex and Megan plan a wedding to rival \u201cThe Greatest Show on Earth\u201dBy Deanna Duff      The courtship of Seattle residents Alex Alexander and Megan Gonzales was the perfect storm of surprises, struggles and adventure\u2014sometimes literally. The two began dating after being coworkers and friends for five years and harboring secret, mutual crushes. It would take another two years and an act of nature to inspire their engagement. On a road trip through Kansas, they survived a tornado that left Gonzales praying for dear life on the floor of the car.\u201cI\u2019d already bought a ring, but I was too chicken to give it to her. After we survived the tornado, I thought that I\u2019d better pledge my undying love and commitment before the next thing blew us off the road!\u201d laughs Alexander.They envisioned their dream wedding as a celebration of their whirlwind lives that now include three children, four chickens, two cats and one very large Dalmatian. “We wanted our wedding to be a great, fun party that was also in line with the theme of our lives\u2014a circus!\u201d says Gonzales.Planner Alex Martin, Jubilee Event Engineers, describes the Aug. 6, 2011, wedding as a balance between fun and formal. Before guests let their hair down at the reception, which included aerialists, stilt walkers and palm readers, the couple exchanged personallywritten vows at a small, public park overlooking Seattle\u2019s Lake Washington. To honor religious tradition and Alexander\u2019s Southern Baptist background, a non-denominational minister officiated.{loadposition easysspalexandmegan}\u201cIt was always going to feel official to us, but we wanted to make sure that it did for the rest of the family,\u201d says Gonzales.Against the backdrop of a perfect, summer day, Gonzales, dressed in an off-white, strapless, tea-length gown with floral overlay, carried a bridal bouquet of sunflowers, foxglove and dahlias purchased from local farmers at the Pike Place Market. Alexander, in a three-piece, white suit, wore a matching boutonniere. \u201cThe ceremony ended up being really beautiful,\u201d says Gonzales.The party really got rolling as a little over 100 guests and 26 children assembled at Hale\u2019s Palladium, an event space owned by Hale\u2019s Brewery who also catered. Colorful tents, both inside and outside, housed the food and activities including the fortunetellers and a children\u2019s activity space with face painting, hula-hoops and arts and crafts. the The brides\u2019 mothers and family friends sewed vibrant flag banners emblazoned with \u201cOracle\u201d and \u201cDelicious\u201d advertised the booths\u2019 wares.\u201cThe brides were clear that they didn\u2019t want a glossy, Barnum and Bailey theme,\u201d says Martin. \u201cIt was very Americana, with an old-fashioned, gypsy carnival feel.\u201d There were no clowns, no elephants and only one lion\u2014an enthusiastic youngster dressed in costume.\u201cWe just wanted to have fun and celebrate our family, friends and love for each other,\u201d says Gonzales. Vendors: Wedding Planning, General Decor and Kid\u2019s Area Alex Martin, Jubilee Event Engineering 206.260.9095 jubilee-seattle.com Officiant MaryLee Lykes 425.678.8300 seattleweddingofficiant.com Reception Location Hale\u2019s Palladium\/Brewery 4301 Leary Way NW Seattle, Washington,  98107 206.706.1544 halesbrewery.com Rental Supplies (tents, etc.) ABC Special Events Rentals 4333 Harbour Pointe Blvd SW Suite B Mukilteo, Washington  98275 1.877.939.7368 abcrentals.com Petersen\u2019s Rentals Multiple locations seattle.pedersens.com Food and Drink Catering Hale\u2019s Ales 4301 Leary Way NW Seattle, Washington,  98107 206.706.1544 halesbrewery.com Ice Cream Molly Moon\u2019s Homemade Multiple locations mollymoonicecream.com Bluebird 1205 East Pike Street Seattle, Washington  98122 206.588.1079 bluebirdseattle.blogspot.com Reception Music The Blackbery Bushes Stringband theblackberrybushes.com Flowers Sourced from local farmers at Pike Place Market pikeplacemarket.org Wedding\/Engagement Photographer Libby Lewis Photography 206.465.2115 libbylewis.com Stilt Walkers, Juggler, Aerial Performers 786.280.6616 aopt.startlogic.com Palm Reading Jim Barker, The Divine Hand Palmistry 206.419.1794 thedivinehand.com Tarot Card Reading Xtina, Scarlet Foundry Tarot 206.786.3757 scarletfoundry.com Wedding Attire Megan Gonzales Gown  – I Do Bridal 2206 North 45th Street Seattle, Washington  98103 206.633.7926 idobridal.com Shoes – John Fleuvog Multiple locations fluevog.com Alex Alexander Pants – Nordstrom Multiple locations nordstrom.com Shirt and camisole – White House\/Black Market Multiple locations whitehouseblackmarket.com Vest – J. Crew Multiple locations jcrew.com Shoes – The Walking Company Multiple locations thewalkingcompany.com Hair and makeup for both brides Personal friends\/wedding attendantsThe food was served buffet style and everything was made for mobile munching\u2014fried chicken drumsticks, chicken and steak skewers, thick-cut French fries\u2014so that guests could eat, wander and mingle. A carnival-style popcorn machine provided freshly popped snacks.Brownies served as the wedding cake since the couple bonded over the sweet treat before dating. Seattle small businesses, Bluebird and Molly Moon\u2019s Homemade Ice Cream, provided gourmet ice cream.The reception\u2019s upbeat soundtrack was provided by The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, a bluegrass group from Olympia, Wash., that Alexander listened to while in college.\u201cI felt like a high school kid because I was so excited to have them there!\u201d says Alexander. The music also resonated with Alexander\u2019s 91-year-old grandmother who was once invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry as a child.\u201cIt was really special for her and she was loving it,\u201d says Alexander. \u201cThroughout the night, a lot of people were sharing stories with us about what the wedding meant to them.\u201dMost guests could summarize their experience with \u201cAmazing!\u201d An aerialist in a blazing red and gold costume performed jaw-dropping stunts while suspended from the ceiling. Stilt walkers in top hats and red and black striped costumes circulated and performed slow-motion choreographed routines.The tarot card and palm readers were particularly popular and a line snaked around the booth as guests waited to hear their fortunes. \u201cThere were a lot of guests bonding while in line,\u201d says Gonzales.The brides had their cards read, too, and fate was smiling. \u201cIt was pretty perfect because the first card she flipped up was the marriage card. She told us that as long as we remember to keep looking into the future, it will be great,\u201d says Gonzales.For a couple who has weathered many storms, their wedding was intentionally a chaotic, three-ring circus in the most enjoyable way. \u201cWe have beautiful children, wonderful families, great friends and support. It was the perfect keynote at the end of our wedding to begin looking towards our future,\u201d says Alexander. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Real Weddings: Alex and Megan","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-weddings-alex-and-megan\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]