{"id":24045,"date":"2018-02-14T00:12:43","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T08:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=24045"},"modified":"2020-05-13T09:13:46","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T16:13:46","slug":"meet-the-couple-who-got-married-at-the-rei-dc-flagship-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/meet-the-couple-who-got-married-at-the-rei-dc-flagship-store","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Couple who got Married at the REI DC Flagship Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

For our 82nd anniversary, we\u2019re highlighting 82 of your outdoor stories. Share your favorite story on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with a photo or video and tag #REImember.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Thousands of marriages<\/span><\/a> happen every day in the United States. But only one wedding took place at an REI store on a December day in 2017. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nicole Armstead-Williams and Caleb Williams first met in 2010 at an open mic night at a bar in Washington, D.C.\u2014Nicole was working and Caleb was performing with his band. But they didn\u2019t go on their first date until a few years later, after Nicole saw Caleb\u2019s band play again and reintroduced herself. \u201cIt sounds clich\u00e9, and he never believes me, but I absolutely knew after the first date: This person is going to significantly change my life. I knew that I wanted to be with him every day after that first day,\u201d Nicole said. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Love<\/p>\n

They both believe one of the things that keeps them together is their love of the outdoors, which is why their honeymoon took place in Colorado\u2014backpacking, snowshoeing and enjoying the great outdoors. \u201cIt has played a role into positively shaping our relationship, our mental health\u2014especially depression and anxiety\u2014and our growth as individuals,\u201d Nicole said.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, when they decided to get married, they wanted an outdoor venue. They thought if their love could weather all the elements (and it had), their ceremony should reflect that. Nicole and Caleb were setting up their gift registry at the REI DC Flagship store when they stumbled upon the outdoor courtyard. They had looked at many venues, but nothing stood out. It was the nature murals on the walls that solidified it: the outdoor space at this REI store was the perfect place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"REI<\/p>\n

When many of the guests found out Nicole and Caleb were getting married at REI, they didn\u2019t know what to think or what they were supposed to wear. Would they be married in the retail store? If so, what department? But when the wedding day came and they entered the REI courtyard lit with candles and glowing fire pits, it made sense. It was the first wedding ceremony REI has ever held. \u201cIt was such an honor to be able to see the ceremony come together,\u201d said Stephanie Piperno, outdoor programs manager for the DC Flagship store. \u201cOn the big day, the winter solstice, the courtyard was decorated with candles and people gathered around the warmth of the fire to celebrate the special couple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For Nicole and Caleb, the ceremony was about more than their journey as a couple. \u201cIt\u2019s important to show your love for each other and for being outside and being able to appreciate life,\u201d Caleb said. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the things that brings us together\u2014being able to appreciate the small natural things.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cREI gave us a way to narrate a different type of love story. As a Black person, I don\u2019t often get to see Black love stories modeled in our community and I don\u2019t often get to see minority groups or other marginalized communities given access to the outdoors\u2014but our love stories and our adventures exist and they are beautiful. When I think about the outdoors, there\u2019s so much room,\u201d Nicole said.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For our 82nd anniversary, we\u2019re highlighting 82 of your outdoor stories. Share your favorite story on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with a photo or video and tag #REImember. Thousands of marriages happen every day in the United States. But only one wedding took place at an REI store on a December day in 2017. \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":24050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[685],"tags":[727,109,552],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-24045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-latest-posts","tag-member-stories","tag-rei-members"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/news\/meet-the-couple-who-got-married-at-the-rei-dc-flagship-store","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Meet the Couple who got Married at the REI DC Flagship Store","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/meet-the-couple-who-got-married-at-the-rei-dc-flagship-store","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/meet-the-couple-who-got-married-at-the-rei-dc-flagship-store"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/02\/2017-12-21-REI-LOVE-IS-ADVENTURE-7.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/02\/2017-12-21-REI-LOVE-IS-ADVENTURE-7.jpg?fit=6000%2C4000"},"articleSection":"News","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Aer Parris-Hoshour"}],"creator":["Aer Parris-Hoshour"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["latest posts","rei co-op member stories","rei members"],"dateCreated":"2018-02-14T08:12:43Z","datePublished":"2018-02-14T08:12:43Z","dateModified":"2020-05-13T16:13:46Z"},"rendered":"