Forget wedding gifts: Costumed couple wants food bank goods

SNOHOMISH — The groom wore a black Edwardian jacket, red tentacle horns and white makeup.

The bride was a jellyfish, in a repurposed dress laced with rainbow tendrils. Sans makeup.

Guests were superheroes, monsters, sea creatures and steampunk characters.

For Peter Bakker and Kira Day, it was the dream wedding.

Snohomish Community Food Bank was the venue for Saturday’s nuptials. Under a makeshift arch, between a cooler and shelf of canned goods, amid laughter and tears, the couple became husband and wife.

Holding her hand, Bakker vowed to love and respect her through “apocalypse, plague and Lovecraftian horror.”

Her eyes glistened as she spilled her heart to him in front of a roomful of about 50 people.

“Every time I see your smile it makes my heart shine … and I’m going to freakin’ cry,” she said.

Rings were exchanged, his with an octopus and hers a jellyfish. The bridal party held bouquets of candy, not flowers. Music was provided by kazoos given to the gathering of family, friends and food bank volunteers. In place of a tiered cake were 100 Halloween cupcakes made by the bride in honor of their favorite holiday.

Guests with kazoos play bridal march at costumed wedding at Snohomish Community Food Bank. Bride is paying it back and forward. #weddings #journalism pic.twitter.com/OnVeuwviyc— Andrea Brown (@reporterbrown) October 28, 2018

“I knew I didn’t want to have a normal wedding,” said Day, 23.

Neither did Bakker, 27.

“I did not want to go through the process, having seen my sister go through it,” he said. “My parents were like, you’re not eloping unless you take us with you.”

A ceremony in the small white building near Ferguson Park won out.

“Our favorite place is helping out at the food bank,” he said.

She has been volunteering at the food bank since high school. He joined her after they started dating.

“I love the people here, I love being here,” Day said. “It’s the closest thing to a church I ever had. It didn’t feel right to get married anywhere else. This place makes me feel whole.”

In lieu of gifts, the couple asked for donations of non-perishable goods.

Day knew firsthand how much items are not only needed but also appreciated.

“My family used to come here when I was a little kid growing up. We’d get a box of food,” she said. “I wanted to give back.”

The bride explains why she chose Snohomish Community Food Bank as her wedding venue. Guests wore costumes and brought items for the food bank. #happiness pic.twitter.com/70x7UCELgZ— Andrea Brown (@reporterbrown) October 28, 2018

Elizabeth Grant, food bank director, was at first confused when Day approached her about getting married there.

“I thought she meant the park. I said, ‘You mean inside? This is not a pretty place.’ She said, ‘It is our happy place,’” Grant said.

“We’ve never had a wedding before.”

Turns out it was fairly easy to pull off. Grant even got out of her comfort zone and showed up in full pirate regalia.

The dress code was Halloween-chic, and everybody seemed happy to oblige.

Bakker’s dad, also named Peter, rocked a curly orange wig and top hat with peacock feather.

“I haven’t been dressed up for Halloween since I was a wee little lad, going door-to-door,” the father said.

The couple met at the Safeway store in Lake Stevens. He worked the produce closing shift and she was on the night crew.

“I started coming in earlier and earlier so I could hang out with him,” she said. “He was funny and sweet.”

She now works at a vitamin company in Monroe and he at a Woodinville warehouse.

The newlyweds aren’t taking a honeymoon, yet.

They’ll be back at the food bank, volunteering as usual.

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.