Al Fresco Wedding: From Elegant Plated Dinner to Late Night Ramen

A Wedding as Unique as the Couple

By Kathy J Craig | Castle Event Catering

Set on the expansive grounds of Oakshire Estate in Yakima, this al fresco wedding was a study in thoughtful hospitality and personal storytelling. With multiple outdoor spaces for cocktails, dinner, dancing, and late-night moments, Oakshire enables wedding couples the ability to design celebrations that feel entirely their own.

On their wedding day, Luke and Lisa arrived looking forward to what they had planned with Leeann Hall, our event designer from Castle Events and Jessica Young wedding planner from Hallea Events. “The aesthetic they wanted was an elegant, artsy and fun wedding in a garden setting,” says Hallea Tse, owner and designer of Hallea Events, in Seattle.

The reception dinner was structured as a celebration that was elegant, intentional, and deeply personal. While many weddings might lean away from formal dining, their celebration embraced a renewed appreciation for elevated guest experiences such as a sit-down dinner.

The refined plated dinner set the tone, reflecting a deliberate focus on care and hospitality.

Personal details were woven throughout the day. For instance, the bride’s bachelorette weekend spent berry picking with close friends inspired a signature bar element, grounding the celebration in memory and joy.

Dessert followed suit with an abundant spread rather than a traditional tiered cake, inviting guests to sample, linger, and indulge.

Later in the evening, a nostalgic ramen bar became an unexpected highlight. Inspired by the bride’s favorite college snack—simple Shin ramen—it offered warmth and comfort as temperatures dropped, drawing guests together in a relaxed, joyful moment.

Throughout the event, table designs balanced organic beauty with refined elegance, featuring wildflower-inspired florals in vibrant blues, pinks, and oranges. Oakshire provided the foundational rentals, while catering and floral teams layered in linens, glassware, and finishing details.

The wedding planning was led by Jessica Young from Hallea Events, whose seamless execution accounted for every contingency. With multiple backup plans in place, the team adjusted the dinner location to maximize shade and comfort — an often-overlooked detail in outdoor celebrations. Earlier rain cleared just in time, rewarding careful preparation.

In the end, this wedding was a reminder that the most memorable celebrations are built on intention. By prioritizing guest comfort, flexibility, and meaningful storytelling, the couple created an experience that felt both elegant and uniquely theirs. Guests, and the couple, will remember the experience long after the last bowl of ramen was served.

Follow the team on Instagram

Catering: @castleeventcatering | Planning & Design: @halleaevents | Photography: @nataliefongmalis | Venue: @oakshireestate | Florals: @cfranklindesign | Rentals: @bear.event.services @maximilianoevents | DJ: @the_ringers_dj | Transportation: @starlineluxurycoaches

Photos by Natalie Fong Malis