“Love is old, Love is new, Love is all, Love is you”

Why "Across the Universe"? Anyone who knows us, knows that Nick and I love anything artistic, theatric, creative and unique ...and we of course want our wedding celebration to be all of these things and more! Across the Universe is a beautifully vibrant over the top love story that combines all of the artistic aesthetics and mediums that we love into one conglomerate Beatles Musical Extravaganza Masterpiece!….(rated 53 percent on Rotten Tomatoes ;) )...But we couldn't care less about that because we absolutely LOVE THIS FILM. This avant garde art house film combines all of the things that both a Production Design and a Theater Major could love in one. Set against the backdrop of the late 1960's and early 1970s amid turbulent years filled with love, art, activism, mind exploration, and music. With Brye’s passion in art direction for film, Nick’s love for music and both of our love for art, activism, musicals and of course The Beatles…This film was a personal favorite to us both before we met - and became not only our first movie date together but we ended up saying I love you for the first time when we did! (see short story of that night written by Nick below) Three years, two degrees, two cities, and one baby cat later - we have built the life of our dreams together and cannot wait to be married (and celebrate with you!) Amid our flight to NYC we discussed themes and couldn't resist the uncanny parallels of our life plot and that of the film: the move to New York, the passion for art, for music and activism- and of course love for one another... Add some Beatles music, some 60's-70's attire and a wonderful true bohemian celebration with our favorite people and the vision is complete! We can't wait to have you join us for our "Across the Universe" wedding celebration.

I said I love you. On that night we got dressed up for our first "fancy" date. Roberto's at the market. Dress. Suit. The works. But the world was against us. We went outside and took the bus. Mistake #1. The bus was full of misfits out for mischief! We were both insulted within minutes of riding the bus of misfortune. But alas! We leaned into one another and banded together against the assailants and with a few funny faces we were laughing all the way there. We got to the restaurant and...was it closed? Were we late? Nobody was there. We entered and the host seemed surprised to see us. We checked the hours - we were well within operating hours. So we were seated. The owner came and greeted us and was plenty friendly! Good sign! So we stayed and ordered our pasta and coffee. The coffee was scrumptious, the pasta was fantastic, and just as we were about to order dessert-RAT. There was a rat. A rat. Ratatat. Just...hangin. Just...ya know. At home. Unbothered by our stares. The owner came by and just as we were going to complain we shared a look and this calm came over us. Somehow, all was still right with the world. All was perfect, even. So we paid our check and tipped well. We went outside and walked around Pike's Place Market and made our way down the street. This time, we would game the system. This time we would avoid the chaos - it was time for a Lyft. A Lyft that got lost on the way... but we still didn't care. Lost in the bliss of one another. We arrived back at the apartment to a wonderfully terrible surprise. I had arranged with my roommates, now my best men, that we would have the apartment to ourselves that night to watch the film. So when we walked in, the apartment had been strategically transformed for us by my friends. Music playing, incense burning, lights down low, lava lamp on...the works! We couldn't help but to burst into laughter. We watched Across the Universe that night. And I said I love you. They said it back. And the rest-