Clara Ganey
&
Joshua Lynch
Are Getting Married

The Story

Clara and Josh at the Broadway Grill, where they had their first date.

Clara and Josh were brought together by a psychoactive plant called Salvia.

The year was 2008, and Josh was a staff writer for the Seattle University Spectator. He pitched a story about the legal hallucinogen, and luckily Clara was the photographer assigned. The writer and photographer duo met for the first time, then spent a sunny January afternoon walking to smoke shops around campus reporting on salvia.

Clara and Josh had an instant connection. But a year later, despite flirting at the Photographic Center Northwest where they both took classes, Josh still hadn't made a move.

So Clara went after her boss (Josh was now editor of The Spectator) by asking him to a party at her apartment, and after talking well into the middle of the night on Katie Farden's mom's blue sectional couch, Josh finally had the courage to ask Clara out. A few days later, Jan. 31 2009, Clara and Josh went on their first date to Broadway Grill where they both had burgers.

It didn't take many dates for the two to fall in love (Clara knew Josh was a keeper when he took her to Vegas senior year), and in June 2010, Clara and Josh graduated from Seattle University and moved in together. They enjoy bicycling, motorcycling, hiking, Kindle reading and vegetarian cooking together. Clara works at the online jewelry retailer Blue Nile as a photo technician and is also a wedding photographer. Josh is product manager at LexBlog, where he develops web products and services for law firms and attorneys.

The Proposal

Clara and Josh's view from the Outlook Inn on Orcas Island.

It was 6:30 on a Saturday morning as they got in the car with luggage, and Josh still wouldn't tell Clara where they were headed.

Two weeks before Josh had mysteriously "reserved" the weekend for time together, and the only hint he gave Clara as they headed out the door Dec. 8 was him asking "Can you grab the passports?" (Classic misdirection.)

When they pulled up to the ferry terminal and Josh bought tickets to Orcas Island, Clara figured out they weren't headed to Canada yet again. Instead they enjoyed a sunny ferry ride through the San Juan Islands to Orcas, where Josh insisted on going for a walk in the area around the ferry landing.

At the end of a dock, Josh asked Clara if she wanted to see where they were going and handed her his phone.

At this point, Clara was skeptical that Josh even had a plan for the weekend but tapped the Maps app so he could show her.

Instead of Google Maps, Clara saw an app Josh had been building for weeks after she went to bed. She flipped through pages of photos and captions of their adventures, inside jokes and life together.

The last page of Josh's proposal app popped the question "Will you marry me?" as he asked it out loud. Clara looked up to find Josh on one knee with her great grandma Clara Sundmacher's engagement ring, which Clara's parents had graciously offered to Josh. Clara said yes (surprise!), and as they walked off the dock an unexpected audience from a boat that had arrived mid-proposal cheered for them.

Clara and Josh spent the rest of the day hiking to the observation tower on Mount Constitution, exploring Orcas Island, celebrating at Chimayo's Italian Restaurant and relaxing at the Outlook Inn.

Photos

The Wedding

Clara and Josh's wedding and reception is Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon at Fireseed Catering on Whidbey Island! Please dress to impress in semi-formal attire.

Fireseed Catering
6051 Coles Rd
Langley, WA 98260

Fireseed Catering

Fireseed Catering on Whidbey Island, WA.

Located on the south end of Whidbey Island, Fireseed Catering is nestled on 10 acres in the woods next to Miller Lake. Outdoor ceremonies are held among Fireseed's flower gardens, and receptions take place in its renovated barn. Food is prepared by the chef-owners and sourced from the venue's vegetable gardens and nearby farms.

Whidbey Island

Ebey's Landing on Whidbey Island, WA.

An hour drive and ferry ride north of Seattle, Whidbey Island is known for its state parks, bicycling and motorcycling roads, wineries, arts, bed and breakfasts, and views of the Puget Sound, Cascades and Olympics. With more days of sun and less rain than the mainland, the island is a popular getaway for Seattlites.

SeaTac to Whidbey

If you're flying in to Sea-Tac Airport, you can rent a car or make a shuttle reservation. Either way, the shortest route to the island is the 50-minute drive to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, where you'll enjoy a 15-minute ferry ride to the island. Or if you're driving with time to spare, you can take the scenic route over the Deception Pass bridge on the north end of the island.

On Whidbey Island

Once you're on Whidbey, you can catch a free lift on any Island Transit bus or a cab ride from All Island Express Taxi or South Whidbey Road Service Taxi. An adventure cycling haven, perhaps the best way around the south end of the island is with some rented wheels from Half Link Bicycle Shop.

Whidbey Island Bells Beach Vacation Rental

To experience the beauty of the Puget Sound in late summer, plan to stay at one of the dozens of bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels on Whidbey Island. Vacation rentals are also plentiful on VRBO, HomeAway, FlipKey and Airbnb. But don't delay—the island is a popular destination, and it's best to make reservations before summer 2014.

Whidbey is large enough that it is possible to stay on the island more than an hour from the wedding venue. This is a list of accommodations in the nearby island towns of Langley, Clinton and Freeland.

Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry & Lighthouse

Island life is not for everyone, and staying on the mainland has its perks, especially if you plan to explore Seattle during your trip. But be warned: Ferry wait times on summer weekend mornings can be as long as two hours! For the shortest trip to and from the wedding, check out these hotels near the Mukilteo ferry terminal.

Location   Nightly Rate   Minutes from Venue*  
Silver Cloud Inn Mukilteo $209 10
TownePlace Suites $119 15
Hilton Garden Inn $95 17
Staybridge Suites $117 17
Best Western Plus Navigator Inn $112 23
* Time without ferry wait and trip.

Registries

The best gift is your presence, love and support at our wedding,
but if you would like to spoil us, we've set up these registries.

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