Sunset ceremony
THE ALLISON TIGARD AND MIKE MAGYAR WEDDING
STORY BY DWIGHT CASWELL
A
llison Tigard and Mike
Magyar are rock climbers,
which explains why the proposal
took place on a mountain in the
north Cascades. They made their
official
announcement
on
Thanksgiving with Mike on bended
knee in front of the whole family.
That Thanksgiving was the first at their new home in
Astoria, after moving from Portland. The couple considered
having their wedding in Portland but, as Allison said, “Our
life is here, in Astoria.” Allison did not want a summer
wedding, “I remembered the sunsets in the fall, how
beautiful the sky was. The spectacular sunsets were a magic
8
RIVER & SEA WEDDINGS 2017
PHOTOS BY DON FRANK
show. I said, ‘I want that.’”
Allison thought a full moon would be nice, and the first
fall full moon that their friends could all make the wedding
was Oct. 15, so the date was set. They needed an indoor
location because of the chance of rain. “I loved the warm
and rustic feel of the Loft at the Red Building,” Allison
says, “and it has a great view of the Columbia.” They would
have pictures under the bridge, with a flaming fall sunset.
They also reserved the trolley.
As the date approached they discovered their wedding
weekend was also the weekend of the Great Columbia
Crossing. There would be thousands of runners and walkers
in town. They warned their guests that they should reserve
rooms early. >>
A week before the wedding,
the weather predictions were
dire ... the first major storm
of the season was heading
right for their wedding.