Ashley + Shanon’s McMillan Grange Wedding
While we have a special connection to this McMillan Grange Wedding, I still have to say some weddings feel like showing up to do a job, and others feel like walking into your cousin’s backyard, grabbing a plate of nachos, and laughing with your favorite people while snapping memories all day long. Ashley + Shanon’s wedding was 100% the second kind.
Set at the cozy and historic McMillan Grange Hall in Puyallup, their May wedding was an honest-to-goodness reflection of who they are as a couple: a little spooky, a lot sophisticated, and filled with deep love, hearty laughter, and enough buffalo chicken dip to feed a small country. And we wouldn’t have had it any other way.
From a Dating App to their McMillan Grange Wedding
Though it’s a great joke, Ashley and Shanon’s story didn’t start with an app. It actually started when they met through mutual friends. But like any great rom-com, life got in the way for a while before fate nudged them back together via the magic of online dating. (Further proof that swiping right can lead to wedding bells!)
Now, here’s where it gets extra sweet for us. Jake, my husband and second half of our photo + video duo, has known Ashley’s family for years. Between farming adventures, work connections, and the kind of small-town community ties that make everyone feel like family, this day felt personal. Being a part of Ashley + Shanon’s wedding wasn’t just business, it was like coming home.
From Spooky Aesthetic to Sophisticated I Do’s
When Ashley told us she wanted Nightmare Before Christmas vibes for her wedding, my spooky-loving heart did a happy dance. But Shanon? She wanted something a little more upscale and elegant. With a little compromise and some family DIY magic, they combined the two styles for a beautiful McMillan Grange wedding day!
Ashley got her deep purples and dramatic blacks, and Shanon got the elevated wedding she envisioned. The result? A moody, romantic color palette that gave the day serious “Tim Burton goes glam” energy without a single skeleton in sight. (Okay, technically there was a Jack-meets-Mad Hatter because it’s part of Ashley’s amazing spooky tattoo!)
Oh, and let’s talk about Shanon’s bling. She showed up rocking a brand-new watch just for the wedding day, and boy did it sparkled. This wasn’t just any accessory; it was her version of a bridal crown, and she wore it with pride. Because weddings aren’t about fitting a mold, they’re about celebrating you.
The Reception Spread My Dreams Are Made Of
While the ceremony was touching and emotional (yes, I teared up, and yes, I hid it behind my camera like a pro), the real party kicked off the moment the buffet table opened.
Now, I’ve seen a lot of wedding food spreads in my day: Catered three-course meals, taco trucks, even some bougie grazing tables before they were cool. There’s always something special about a DIY Family Created Buffet though, and Ashley + Shanon’s family brought their A game for this spread. They went all out, bringing their favorite comfort food dishes to share. We’re talking:
- Nachos with cheese sauce and fresh, zesty pico
- Hotdogs with every topping imaginable (mustard, relish, chili, you name it)
- An entire buffet of various macaroni salads
- And the pièce de résistance: The buffalo chicken dip. Two versions (one with ranch and one with blue cheese) and now I’m scouring pinterest for recipes.
It was a McMillan Grange wedding that felt like a warm summer night on your grandma’s back porch… if your grandma also had a great Spotify playlist and knew how to throw a party.
Why This Day Will Always Stick With Us
As a Puyallup wedding photographer and videographer who’s been doing this for years, I’ve been to hundreds of weddings. But the ones that stay with me? They’re not always the biggest or fanciest. They’re the ones filled with heart. The ones where the flower girl sneaks cupcakes before the cake is cut, where cousins are dancing barefoot, and where the couple is unapologetically themselves.
That was Ashley + Shanon’s day to a tee. They didn’t follow a cookie-cutter mold. They didn’t worry about trends or traditions that didn’t fit. Instead, they built a wedding that felt like home. Uniquely them with touches of whimsy, a whole lot of heart, and just the right amount of sparkle. And we’re so dang honored to have been at their McMillan Grange wedding to capture it all.
Planning your own perfectly-you wedding in Puyallup? Whether you’re blending spooky aesthetics with sophisticated elegance or hosting a backyard-style BBQ at a historic hall like McMillan Grange, we’re here for it.
We’re Markie + Jake: your documentary-style photography + videography team, and your newest ride-or-die wedding besties. We believe in capturing your day as it really happened (yes, even the part where Uncle Steve tries to steal the mic).
📍Serving the Pacific Northwest
📸 More weddings + info at www.markiejonesweddings.com
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Let’s make some magic (and maybe sneak a bite of that buffalo dip while we’re at it).
