Brittany & Ben

Real Weddings

Brittany & Ben

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When 17-year-old Brittany Zurn went to visit her sister at Washington State University in 2002 and met Ben Belur, a freshly pledged Alpha Tau Omega, there was an instant attraction. So she did what any self-respecting high school girl would do and blew him off. “Here I am thinking I’m some hot freshman in college, and she didn’t even give me the time of day,” Ben laments. Little did he know that Brittany came back from the visit with a picture of him and her sister adorning her binder (a fact she revealed to Ben just recently). The rest is history. While repaving their home patio last June, Ben had a stone engraved with a proposal message, and now, nine years since their first meeting, Brittany, 26, and Ben, 27, have a new anniversary to celebrate.

Growing up in Port Orchard, Brittany had wedding fantasies that always included the water, so she set her sights on Puget Sound. As soon as the Renton couple stepped onto the Seattle Aquarium’s private pier, they knew they had found their spot. “I loved the ‘Oh, that seems weird’ look that I’d get when I told people,” Brittany confesses. A visual stylist for Nordstrom, the bride put her design skills to use to transform the aquarium into an underwater garden; bright chartreuse flower arrangements of lilies and roses shared space with centerpieces of mossy succulents surrounded by glowing tea lights.

On July 9, 2011, guests gathered during a warm Seattle sunset. The personalized ceremony featured Brittany’s and Ben’s parents as ring bearers, and traditional blessings were peppered with new twists read aloud by family members. Two stones engraved with the couple’s names were passed through the crowd before Brittany and Ben tossed them over the edge of the pier and let their ripples collide. “It wasn’t a drawn-out, traditional wedding; it was very much about Brittany and I,” Ben says, elaborating on one of his favorite aspects of the ceremony: the officiant’s personalized introduction, crafted from questions the couple answered about how they met and why they love each other.

After seaside toasts, guests enjoyed dinner featuring Spanish olive salmon, miso-glazed tofu and chicken piccata, a special request by the couple. “It’s the only thing I can cook!” says Ben, who is the vice president of sales at Capital Benefit Services. The couple took time to boogie between courses and stay refreshed with drinks from the sleek, modern bar accented with coral and live fish. Frosty Cold Stone Creamery ice cream sandwiches made for the perfect post-dancing treat, with guests agreeing that it was nearly impossible to eat just one. The newlyweds made their exit amidst sparklers to an awaiting vintage Rolls-Royce.

To unwind after the excitement, the couple honeymooned on St. John, where they sunbathed, explored the Virgin Islands, and, of course, paid their respects to some fish friends under the sea.

Bridal gown: Divine Designs Bridal in Portland | Bridal jewelry and shoes: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids’ attire: Dresses, J.Crew; necklaces, Bloomingdale’s | Caterer: Seattle Aquarium | Desserts: Cold Stone Creamery | DJ: Chris Graves with Your Song Entertainment | Favors: Matchboxes, For Your Party; votives, Crate & Barrel; polka dot boxes, Paper Source | Florals: Rented Elegance | Groom’s attire: Nordstrom and Men’s Wearhouse | Groomsmen’s attire: Suits, Men’s Wearhouse; ties, socks and shirts, Nordstrom | Hair and makeup: Rosaline Hampton Salon | Invitations: Julie Green with Up Up Creative | Rentals/décor: Chairs, linens, plate settings and flatware, Pedersen’s; vases, Rented Elegance; decorative screen for ceremony, Aria Style | Rings: Joseph Jewelry | Venue: Seattle Aquarium | Videographer: Dan Deschenes with Medici Studios | Wedding planner: Merry Beth Turpin, Aisle of View | Officiant: Pat Stimac, A Heavenly Ceremony

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