Photos by Dangerpants Photography. Hire him for your next event! He’s really great.
Last week, I married the most beautiful and inspiring woman on the planet.
Over the past seven years, Kelli has transformed my life in so many wonderful and powerful ways. Among them: She introduced me to biking for transportation. But more specifically, she gave me the confidence to let go of my car, which I had worked hard to buy during high school.
Like so many Americans, I grew up in a driving-dominated community where your car keys are your freedom. But Kelli called bullshit on that car dependence. She taught me that all I really need is the confidence in myself to make my life work using only my legs and the occasional transit ride.
I don’t know if there was one exact moment where I fell in love with Kelli, but I’m sure it happened while we were on a bike adventure together.
I’m sharing all this with you, dear Seattle Bike Blog readers, because you all have been such a big part of my life since I started writing in 2010. In fact, many of the guests at the wedding were friends I made through writing this blog. Our officiant was Davey Oil, co-owner of G&O Family Cyclery. I met Davey while reporting one of the first ever Seattle Bike Blog stories, and he inspired me to go all-in on this site.
And my relationship with Kelli has been vital for this blog continuing through some tough financial times. She has always supported me and inspired me to keep working as an independent source for safe streets news and opinion.
Kelli works on the advocacy team at Cascade Bicycle Club. So of course we had to bike to and from our wedding on the Skansonia, conveniently docked on Lake Union just off the Burke-Gilman Trail. Here are a few photos from the ride:
Thanks, everyone, for reading and supporting Seattle Bike Blog. I’m the luckiest guy on earth.
Congrats, Tom and Kelli! How fun to read about your wedding and to see the photos from your special day. I wish you the best as you cycle through your years together. :)
Thanks for a fabulous party, Tom and Kelli, and for all you do for our community. I’m honored to be one small link in that bike chain of love.
This is BEAUTIFUL. So happy for you two!!
Tom, that sounds like an awsome wedding. What a great idea and how appropriate !
Fabulous. Congrats; best wishes; and thanks for sharing.
Congrats to you both, one of Seattle’s biking power couples. Looks like a beautiful and amazing day!!
AHA! I caught a glimpse of the bridal party on the Burke that day… Congratulations!
That is so adorable! Congratulations!
Congrats you two! My kind of wedding!
How great! Congratulations!
My husband and I were married on the Skansonia last year – it is a great place for a party! I wish we had biked though!
Tom – This is just awesome. I love it when people make life what they want it to be, rather than what is expected.
Sincere, genuine, honest, earnest, wholesome… I can’t quite find the right word to describe this. Definitely the most appealing wedding I’ve ever seen (pictures of). Congratulations!
Congrats Kelli and Tom! Thank you for sharing your story and photos. Love it!
Happy Wedding! Thanks for being everything that you are and believing in bicycling for transportation!
Congratulations to you both! May you always feel the longing for another moment together the way a cyclist wishes for another mile in the sun.
Congrats! We are so happy to have you guys happy together and bringing out the best in our communities!
“Last week, I married the most beautiful and inspiring woman on the planet.”
You are indeed a lucky fellow. May you two have all the best!
Congrats Tom! You and Kelli and all your awesome friends look beautiful, all dressed up, helmetless, and free.
D’aww…
Still, I can’t help but think there was a missed opportunity here…
Even if you insist on handmade British bikes, there is a pretty Mercian hanging from the ceiling at Recycled Cycles (though I suppose it might be a museum piece just for looking at)
Congratulations to you both! Kelli is a lucky woman and you are a lucky man. Enjoy life together today and always! Live life like you’re in BonusTime together! :)
This is awesome, Congrats! My husband and I did a very similar thing down here in Portland. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/308698191.html
:)
Congratulations Tom and Kelli!