The marriage of
Danielle Malia Dougherty
and
Thomas Brian Michon
September 29, 2017
Seattle, Washington
By written invitation only
Attire
The dress code for the evening is Black Tie.
Please help us celebrate in grace and elegance by dressing your best and making this evening one to remember.
We have made some arrangements to help with attire for the evening:
See offer for Black Tie rental or purchase.
Below, see advice on constructing your ensemble.
Ladies
Dress
- Wear a floor-length evening gown in any color except white/ivory/off-white.
- There will be ballroom dancing.
Ensure your dress has enough clearance from the ground that your dance partner will not step on it: about 1–2 inches.
Trains are discouraged; choose a dress in which you can walk backwards easily.
- Risqué features should remain tasteful and sophisticated.
On one hand, the ceremony is in a church.
On the other hand, the décolletage is a classic focal point of an elegant gown.
Strive for balance.
- Two-piece gowns are discouraged.
Shoes
- Formal evening pumps or sandals
- Choose heels high enough to be elegant, and low enough to be danced in all night
- There will be ballroom dancing: shoes with ankle straps or other secure closure are encouraged
Accessories
- Bring an evening clutch if you require a bag
- Jewelry should be formal; wear your finest!
- This will be an evening in the fall.
If your gown has bare shoulders, consider wearing a fur, wrap, pashmina, etc. to the ceremony.
Hair
Gentlemen
Members of the armed services, police, and firefighting units may wear their formal dress uniforms in lieu of a tuxedo.
Tuxedo
- Tuxedo Jacket (called Dinner Jacket in UK)
- Black or midnight blue wool
- Single breasted (or double breasted if you miss the '80s)
- Peaked lapels or shawl collar with black silk facings in satin or grosgrain. Notched lapels are acceptable with a black silk facing.
- No rear vents is most formal, followed by side vents. A single rear vent is acceptable.
- One button for single-breasted jackets. (If there are two buttons, only button the top one, just like a suit.)
- Jetted (slit) pockets. Flap pockets are acceptable.
- Trousers
- Black or midnight blue wool matching the jacket
- Single braid along outside seams, ideally matching the lapel facings (satin/grosgrain)
- Cut for suspenders (called braces in UK)
More about tuxedo style
Waist Covering
- With single-breasted jackets, either:
- Black silk cummerbund, ideally matching jacket facings (satin/grosgrain)
- Black low-cut waistcoat, not visible with the jacket buttoned
More about waist covering style
Shirt
- White fabric, with a turndown or wing collar
- Front can be pleated or piqué (called marcella in UK)
- Eyelets for studs or fly-front
- French cuffs (called double cuffs in UK) worn with cuff links
More about dress shirt style
Neckwear
- Black silk self-tied bow tie, ideally matching lapel facings (satin/grosgrain)
- Please note the wait staff will be wearing long neckties
More about neckwear style
Footwear
- Black shoes:
- Patent leather or highly polished leather oxfords (more popular)
- Patent leather or highly polished opera pumps (more formal)
- Black socks are silk or fine fabric, over-the-calf length
More about footwear style
Accessories
- Matching black, gold, silver, or mother-of-pearl studs and cufflinks
- Optional suspenders (called braces in UK) in black or white silk
- Optional white handkerchief as pocket square, folded in a straight fold
More about accessory style
Questions
If you have concerns about the dress code, please ask Danielle: mrs@thomasmichon.com
Black Tie
A special offer for rental or purchase of tuxedos has been arranged with Men's Wearhouse.
Purchase Offer
Go to your local Men's Wearhouse and give them the following code: 2684.10077
Choose from a selection of eight tuxedos (jacket and pants) with up to 50% reduced price!
Browse a curated selection of dress shirts, bow ties, and waist coverings, also up to 50% reduced price.
Complete your ensemble with your choice of shoes.
Your purchase must be made by September 5.
Big & Tall sizes are available, but be sure to come in no later than August 22 due to the longer lead time for these sizes.
If you are in the Puget Sound area, please see Summer Davis at the Bellevue location:
550 106th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue, Washington 98004
(425) 453–6014
Rental Offer
Go to your local Men's Wearhouse and give them the following code: 7496808
The classically-styled tuxedos in the rental catalog have been identified for your convenience. Every sixth tuxedo rented under this code will be free.
Please note a rush fee of $50 will be applied to rentals arranged on September 14 and later.
Rentals of Big & Tall sizes should be arranged by August 31.
Rentals of children's tuxedos should be arranged by August 17.
For pickup of your rental tuxedo, consider the downtown Seattle Men's Wearhouse location:
1404 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 622–0570
If you have any questions at all, please ask Thomas: mr@thomasmichon.com
Accommodations
Arrangements with nearby hotels have been made for your convenience.
The Arctic Club Hotel
700 Third Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104
A courtesy room block is available for the nights of 9/28, 9/29, and 9/30. The room rates are $220 to $240 per night.
Make your reservation at the Arctic Club online.
Courtyard by Marriott Pioneer Square
612 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104
The room rate is $189 per night for Thursday and Friday nights.
Saturday night is also available at market rate.
Rooms at this rate must be booked by August 31.
Make your reservation at the Courtyard by Marriott online.
Getting to Your Hotel
Both hotels are one block from a light rail station.
Board the light rail at Sea-Tac Airport and take it to the Pioneer Square Station.
The Courtyard entrance is across Third Avenue on Cherry Street.
The Arctic Club entrance is across Cherry Street between Third and Fourth Avenue.
Taxis and car rentals are also available at the airport.
Parking is $47 per night at the Courtyard, and $46 per night at the Arctic Club.
Transportation
Guests are responsible for their own transportation to the Arctic Club by five o'clock and from the Arctic Club at the end of the evening.
Walking
From the Marriott Courtyard hotel, the Arctic Club is one block north on Cherry Street.
Driving
Please note that you will be driving toward the beginning of rush hour in downtown Seattle.
Allow plenty of time.
From Westbound I–90
Take exit 2C to I–5 North.
Stay in the rightmost lane to take the James Street exit.
Turn left on James Street, then turn right on Third Avenue.
See map below for parking options.
From Northbound I–5
Use the second lane from the right to take exit 164A toward James Street / Madison Street
Follow the signs for the James Street exit.
Turn left on James Street, then turn right on Third Avenue.
See map below for parking options.
From Southbound I–5
Take exit 165A toward James Street
This exit will place you on Sixth Avenue going south.
After a few blocks, turn right on James Street, then turn right on Third Avenue.
See map below for parking options.
Nearby Parking Garages
- Cherry Street Garage on Cherry between 2nd and 3rd Avenue
- Parking 4th & Cherry on the corner of 4th Avenue and Cherry Street
- 4th Street & Columbia parking on 4th Avenue between Cherry and Columbia
Light Rail
The Pioneer Square Station is half a block away from the Arctic Club on Third Avenue.
Please note that the last northbound train of the night will depart at ~12:40 AM and the last southbound train of the night will depart at ~12:45 AM.
Seattle
The bride and groom will not be able to take every one of you to see the sights around the Seattle area, but if we could, this is where we'd take you:
See this list on a map.
Dining
Food $
- Dick's Drive-In is no match for In-N-Out (says the groom!), but that doesn't stop the cult appeal.
- Ivar's Seafood Bars are all over the place. Get their salmon chowder or try their halibut & chips! Or salmon & chips... really anything & chips. Their tartar sauce is great.
- Pagliacci Pizza has crust just right to let you wolf down whole pizzas. More fluffy than the New York style, but not a tomato casserole either.
- Ezell's Chicken is the place for fried chicken in Puget Sound.
- Piroshky Piroshky is a favorite snack spot next to Pike Place Market. There is another location a block north on Cherry from the Arctic Club.
- Biscuit Bitch is a biscuits & gravy specialist. Try the location on Cherry between the Arctic Club and Courtyard hotels.
- Sunfish Fish & Chips is one of two dueling fish & chips shops on Alki. People who like fish & chips say Ivar's is the best. People who love fish & chips say the best is either Sunfish or Spud.
- Spud Fish & Chips is the other of the Alki fish & chips pair. If anyone tells you somewhere other than Ivar's, Sunfish, or Spud has the best fish & chips, you are talking to a real fish & chips hipster.
- Burien Fish House—because the bride is a fish & chips hipster.
- Skillet Diner is a great diner with locations in Ballard and Capitol Hill. Try the poutine!
- Italian Family Pizza is run by an Italian family from NYC. They make great New York–style pizza, and the lasagna is great, too!
- Taqueria Guadalajara is the place for authentic steet tacos. Thomas ate here nearly every work day for a couple years.
- 3-Pigs Bar B-Q is for pulled pork on texas toast.
Dining $$–$$$
- Wasabi is great for lots of creative sushi rolls, especially during happy hour or late at night.
- Heartwood Provisions somehow made beef jerky delicious, and has excellent marrow bones.
- The Stone House should have a Michelin star. Always order at least one appetizer and make sure someone gets the duck, if the kitchen hasn't run out yet.
- Dahlia Lounge is New American cuisine with a widely varied menu. Try the lamb tartare.
- Ivar's Salmon House has a great view of Seattle from across Lake Union. Order the salmon sampler to compare the species of wild Pacific salmon: Chinook (King), Coho, and Sockeye. Also, cornbread pudding.
- Ivar's Mukilteo Landing has a more creative culinary approach than Ivar's Salmon House. Fantastic.
- The Commons has a great breakfast burrito and banana bread pudding.
- Lot No. 3 is good for their slider trio, and they do very hearty mac 'n cheese.
- Purple Café and Wine Bar has a superb baked brie.
- Anthony's is the Legal Sea Foods of Seattle.
- Salty's is another casual-yet-upscale seafood restaurant similar to Legal Sea Foods.
- Matador has solid upscale Mexican food. Go for happy hour tacos, and their black bean queso (add carnitas).
- Gather Kitchen & Bar is by the creator of The Stone House.
- Tropea Ristorante Italiano is our favorite Italian place in Redmond. Always check the specials menu!
- Bistro Baffi presents you with a "visual menu" of the day's fresh meats and fish. Hard to resist the Ivory King, which is albino Chinook salmon. Try it when available!
Fine Dining $$$$+
- The Herbfarm is a dining marathon. Reserve this one weeks in advance if you intend to try for Saturday night!
- Canlis is the finest restaurant in Seattle proper.
- Palisade is fine dining with a beautiful view of Elliott Bay.
- Metropolitan Grill has great clam chowder. Oh, and steak.
- El Gaucho has some pretty exotic meats on their specials menu. Also, steak.
- Daniel's Broiler is the the third of the three Kings of Steak in the Seattle area.
- AQUA by El Gaucho is the seafood sibling of El Gaucho.
Bars $$–$$$$
- Rachel's Ginger Beer
- Zig Zag Café is the current place to find Danielle and Thomas's favorite bartender, Elias.
- Matador typically always has a tasty cocktail on their specials menu.
- Rob Roy is Thomas's favorite Seattle bar. Get "The Colonel" or the "Saffron Sandalwood Sour".
- Bathtub Gin & Co. is perfect for late-night when the unassuming door guard quietly lets you in.
- Smith Tower has a speakeasy inspired by the tower's own Prohibition history.
- No Anchor
- Navy Strength
- Lot No. 3 is great if you need a whiskey bar and don't want to drive into Seattle.
- Heartwood Provisions has off-the-wall cocktails to go with all their meal selections. Get the pairings.
- AQUA by El Gaucho has a glittering bar. We haven't tried it yet, but it's on our to-drink list.
- Canon has the largest whiskey selection on the West Coast, fantastically creative cocktails, and delicious food to go with it.
Wine and Cider Tasting
- Chateau Ste. Michelle is the giant of the Woodinville wineries, and the one you're most likely to see back home.
- Sky River Meadery will offer you a tasting of mead (a.k.a. honey wine) across the spectrum from sweet to dry. You'll start contemplating how many cases you can take home with you.
- Minea Farm is our local source of fresh-pressed cider using multiple apple varieties.
- Woodinville Cider Works is strictly hard ciders.
- Elemental Hard Cider is perfect if your definition of cider is liquid alcoholic candy.
Attractions
Museums
Parks
Tours
- Underground Tour is where you learn that Seattle was founded by lumberjacks and "seamstresses" and built on a pile of garbage after the previous city burnt down. Also, we all hate Tacoma because railroads.
- Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Everett Factory Tour is as close as you'll get to the factory floor unless you get the family tour.
- Kenmore Air seaplane tour is 20 minutes touring the Seattle area by seaplane.
- State Ferry pedestrian trip from Seattle to Bremerton (50 min each way) or Bainbridge (30 min each way) is the most cost-effective tour of the Puget Sound. (CHEAP)
Observation Decks
- Columbia Tower is the tallest building in the city.
- Space Needle is practically obligatory.
- Smith Tower was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River from 1914 until the construction of the Space Needle. Observation deck and speakeasy.
- Great Wheel suddenly appeared one day and instantly became iconic.
Movies
- Scarecrow Video has the largest private collection of films in the United States: the video store Netflix can't touch.
- Cinerama is a single-screen movie theater that shows film classics and new releases.
Other
- Seattle Aquarium: Come for the sea otters, stay for the river otters. And, the world's largest species of octopus.
- Pike Place Market is obligatory. Go for piroshkies, BBQ pork sticks, and fresh produce samples.
- The Fremont Troll is one of those good examples of how weird people in Seattle truly are.
- Seattle's municipal golf courses, especially Green Lake Pitch n' Putt
- Because we know someone is going to ask:
Photos
We had a wonderful time at our wedding, and we are grateful to both those who came and those who were with us in spirit!
Please enjoy browsing the photos from our glamorous evening.
View our Wedding Photo Gallery.