A Simple, Rustic Wedding at Ford Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington

The tall evergreens, nearby waterfront and rich history of Ford Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington, created a simplistic ambience that was perfect for this rustic, DIY wedding!  Khara Schmal (37 and an interior designer) and Brad Padgett (28 and a youth pastor) got engaged at Ford Worden State Park, and after weeks of searching for a wedding venue, realized it was the unique and unconventional location they wanted. “We both love the outdoors, and wanted to bring the rustic feel to our wedding while maintaining a clean, simple vibe,” the couple says. The ceremony took place inside Wheeler Theater that was built in the 1920s, where the couple got married on the wooden stage decorated with a mismatched linen backdrop, created by Khara and her mother with design fabric. Guests moved to the Fort Worden Chapel for the reception that was decked out in blues, grays and whites, along with being entirely decorated in details created by the couple and loved ones, captured on camera by Jen Lee Light. Dining tables were draped with burlap runners, and decorated with centerpieces of dried flowers, dusty miller and white candles on top of wooden slabs that Brad cut himself. Out of all the DIY elements, our favorite had to be the candle wedding favors placed in wood holders that were carved out of juniper branches. “The setting of our wedding completely captured us as a couple,” the couple says. “It was a simple, fun, adventurous getaway for the both of us and our guests.”