Surrounded by community
THE KRISTIN TSCHANNEN AND IAN KABANUK WEDDING
STORY BY HEATHER DOUGLAS
A
n estimated 200 people
attended Ian and Kristin
Kabanuk’s Seaside beach
wedding on September
23, 2017. “Ian grew up
here and I’m active in the
community so between the
two of us it feels like we know
everyone in town,” laughed
Kristin; “we knew our venue would have to accommodate
everyone who wanted to come, so we spread the word and
kept it casual.”
When the couple discovered that the weather was calling
for pouring rain the entire week of their wedding, they began
to get a little nervous. Yet to their surprise, what Kristin called
10
COASTAL WEDDINGS 2018
PHOTOS BY DON FRANK
“the prettiest week of fall,” landed unexpectedly on their
wedding day with a bright blue sky, sunshine and
temperatures that were just right. “Thankfully, Mother Nature
cooperated with us,” noted Ian.
The couple aimed for a casual vibe. While the guests
waited on the beach for the bride, one of Ian’s groomsmen
gifted fresh halibut from Alaska and Ian brought down a keg
of beer. Kristin remembers it fondly: “Everyone was down
there having a good time, drinking beer and eating fish tacos.
By the time I came over the dune, they were circled around
and smiling up at me.”
Ian recalled the moment he saw Kristin making her way
through the dune grass and onto the beach—a vivid snapshot
in time. “My anxiety melted away when she came walking
over the dunes looking so beautiful,” said Ian. Kristin wore
a dress she picked out in Portland, and she knew it was ‘the
one’ even before exiting the dressing room. “It just felt so
good—simple with a low back and buttons and sparkly belt.
It had a pretty big train for the beach.” An especially
meaningful part of Kristin’s bridal ensemble was a vintage
ivory satin gown that had belonged to her late grandmother
that a family member tailored into a long sleeve robe. The
leftover fabric was later turned into a keepsake for Kristin’s
mother.
One small happy accident punctuated the ceremony. “We
couldn’t figure out the music,” said Kristin. Yet once again
the casual vibe won out and the couple took it in stride.
“Actually it ended up being lovely—just the sound of the
ocean in the background—it was romantic. It was enough,”
said Kristin. >>