FAQs

Question

What ferry should I be on? (PART 1)

Answer

The following information is for the Fauntleroy - Vashon ferry route. Fauntleroy is located in West Seattle and the ferry drops off on the northern end of Vashon Island. This is the route we anticipate the majority of guests taking. Schedule for the Fauntleroy-Vashon route: https://wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/scheduledetailbyroute.aspx?route=f-v-s Recommended: Walk across and plan on taking our wedding shuttle, it will pick up guests on island at 3:40. Please ensure you are on the 3:15 boat or earlier to make this time. To do this, you should arrive at the Fauntleroy dock no later than 3:05. Once you deboard the boat on Vashon, walk to the end of the dock and board the yellow school bus that is marked with a “Zimmermann-Carter Wedding” sign in the window. Alternative Option: If you have your own transportation once you reach the island or plan to bring a car we recommend you catch the 3:15 boat or earlier. However, we strongly caution against planning to drive on the ferry. Walk-ons will not have to wait in line and will be loaded onto any boat if they arrive in time, cars however have to queue and these lines can be upwards of 2+ hours long. There is no reservation system to plan ahead for. We recommend the Rule of Three: plan to be on a ferry that is 3 boats earlier than the latest one you need. For this wedding 3:15 is the latest you can catch to arrive on time, so we recommend you get in line for the 1:20 boat. If you arrive on Vashon Island early, please enjoy Strawberry Festival happening downtown! SEE BELOW FOR PART 2

Question

What ferry should I be on? (PART 2)

Answer

The following information is regarding the Point Defiance - Tahlequah route. Point Defiance is located in Tacoma and the ferry drops off on the southern end of Vashon Island. Schedule for Point Defiance - Tahlequah route: https://wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetailbyroute.aspx?route=pd-tal If you are driving on to the ferry on the Point Defiance - Tahlequah route, please ensure you arrive at the Point Defiance dock early to catch your ferry. We also recommend the Rule of Three for this dock. The latest ferry on this route that you can catch to arrive at the wedding on time is the 3:40, so we recommend you get in line for the 1:40 boat. Important note for those who are walking on to the ferry: We do not currently have a walk-on shuttle scheduled to pick up at the Tahlequah dock. If you are walking on to a ferry, please ensure you are taking the Fauntleroy - Vashon ferry route. If you must walk-on to the Tahlequah ferry, please message us right away and we may be able to help arrange a ride.

Question

How does the shuttle work?

Answer

Seth and Katelyn have coordinated a free shuttle service to ensure all our guests have safe and easy travel to and from the main event! Ok... they are school busses, but they do the job! We will have busses that will be picking guests up on Saturday at the ferry dock located on the northern end of Vashon Island at 3:40. This shuttle will also return guests to 2 separate departing ferries in the evening. Once at the conclusion of the event (departing the venue at 10:30PM) and one leaving the wedding at about 9:30 for those who can't stay for the duration of the celebration. These shuttles will not leave the island, please plan your transportation to/from the ferry docks on the other side! There will also be a separate shuttle that will pick up and drop off guests from any on island locations they may be staying. As of this update (7/14) a list of guests who are using this shuttle has been submitted to the vendor and we are waiting on a route to provide pick-up times. If you are on this list, we will be in contact with you soon. If you have your Vashon accommodations booked and would like to be added to the shuttle route for pick up and/or drop off, please email us at sethandkatelynz@gmail.com!

Question

What is the dress code?

Answer

Backyard garden semi-formal. Men: chinos and a button down, a summer suit, khaki's and a jacket - any of these are great options! Please avoid jeans. Woman: Sundresses, skirts, general wedding attire. Please be aware that this is a grass lawn so stilettos and other narrow heels may be challenging and sink. The bridal party will bee in shades of blue, you are still welcome to wear blue if you want though!

Question

I'm coming from out of state - How do I get to Vashon Island?

Answer

Vashon Island is located about 20 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and is accessible only by ferry boat. Ferries can be inconsistent, so it is best to plan on being early for your desired ferry. Vashon Island is accessible from the Fauntleroy ferry dock in West Seattle or the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route starting in Tacoma. We will have more information on specific ferries and shuttles as we get closer to the wedding date. See here for the Washington State Ferry website: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries. If you have any questions, please reach out to Seth and Katelyn!

Question

I am coming from out of state - Should I rent a car?

Answer

Renting a car is the best option if you plan on exploring Vashon Island outside of wedding activities due to the lack of Uber/Lyft access on island. There is one public bus route, the 118, but it is limited to the main road on Vashon and only runs a few times per day. If you are planning to stay in the city and only coming on island to attend wedding festivities, we recommend using our shuttle! If you plan to stay on Vashon, you will likely need a rental car to reach your Airbnb prior to the wedding.

Question

Should I Plan to Stay on Vashon or in Seattle?

Answer

Up to you! Vashon is near and dear to our hearts but we know that the limited lodging, pets, costs, and other factors can make an overnight trip challenging. We will post the ferry schedules as soon as they are published for the season to help guests plan their travel to and from the island. For those who don't want to drive onto the ferry, our wedding shuttle will pick up guests at the Vashon dock prior to the wedding and return guests to the ferry at two times. Fauntleroy (where the ferry departs from) is easily accessible by bus, uber, or car.

Question

I can't find a place to stay on Vashon - Are there any other options?

Answer

We know that lodging is a challenge, especially for those who are just looking for a place to stay Saturday night! We highly encourage sharing rental houses with other guests you know and frequently checking rental sites as houses are added throughout the season. Alternatively, there will be a designated spot for free camping on the adjacent property to the venue Saturday night. Guests are welcome to bring their camping supplies and spend the night! We would encourage you to arrive early to set up your campsite. There will be bathroom facilities on site and a large "getting ready" tent with power and furnishings so that you don't have to get wedding ready in a cramped camping tent. If you do not have camping supplies Vashon Adventures is a great way to rent them and easily pick up on island! https://www.vashonadventures.com/camping

Question

We got the Save the Date - Who is invited?

Answer

We can't wait to celebrate with our friends and family and are honored to have each of you in our life! Due to the party we are planning, we have decided to make this an adult-only (21+) wedding and reception. If you have children who will be traveling with you and need help arranging childcare for the hours of the wedding, please reach out and we will be happy to connect you with a few on island who come recommended! We have addressed invites to all guest by name as best we can. For some, if you have been given a plus one that was not named on the invite, you will see a place to add this person when you RSVP.