When James and Corinne LaFord were married in 1989 many things were different. George Bush senior was president, Gorillas in the Mist was top at the box office and the Woodmark Hotel at Carillon Point in Kirkland had just opened.

This year marked both the LaFords’ and the Woodmark Hotel’s 20th anniversary.

So when the LaFords decided to renew their wedding vows recently, there was only one place to go.

“It brought back a lot of memories,” said Corinne, who renewed her vows with her husband at the Woodmark Hotel. “It was tremendous. I can’t say enough.”

In 1989, the LaFords knew they would only have one night away for their honeymoon due to family obligations.

“I heard an ad on the radio so we went,” said Corinne, who still lives in Orting, Wash. with her husband.

That radio ad led the LaFords to Kirkland and back 20 years later.

The Woodmark is offering a 20th anniversary package for any couples who got married or spent their wedding night at the only hotel on Lake Washington. But the LaFords were a special case.

“They were one of the very first couples to stay here, so it was exciting,” said the Woodmark Hotel’s manager Brian Flaherty. “We were searching for ways to celebrate our anniversary and we thought the best way was to invite people back. It is really not that uncommon for people to come back.”

The LaFords renewed their vows at a church but spent their wedding night at the Woodmark. The hotel chef made the couple a six course dinner and the LaFords got to go out on Lake Washington on The Woodmark II – the hotel’s 1950s classic 28-foot Chris-Craft Sedan Express boat.

“It was very over the top and I can’t tell you how good that dinner was,” said Corinne. “I have eaten at a lot of fancy places but this was the best by far.”

The Woodmark even got the couple a movie request for their stay.

“They wanted Gorillas in the Mist,” said Flaherty. “They wanted to see it again.”

But a lot of things have changed in 20 years.

“It was very different,” said Corinne. “For one, the Marina wasn’t there before.”

Woodmark’s anniversary

The hotel has played host to between 750,000-800,000 guests during the past 20 years and is going through a $2 million “refresh” in honor of its anniversary.

“The building has an iconic quality,” said Flaherty. “It has a distinctive sense of the Northwest, which is reinforced by the ‘refresh.'”

That “sense of the Northwest” has led to some of the biggest stars staying at the Woodmark, including rock royalty Paul McCartney.

“That was two or three years ago and he wanted people to know he was here. But he is one of many,” said Flaherty, who would not disclose any more names to protect their identities. “We are a destination that works for many purposes.”

The Woodmark and Carillon Point hosts an average of 80 weddings a year. The hotel also hosts fundraisers, political events and the Kirkland Rotary and Chamber of Commerce meetings. Hotel staff estimate that the Woodmark has had between 2.5 and 3 million individual event visitors in its 20 years.

“We try to personalize what matters to an individual or group during their visit,” said Flaherty.

The Woodmark’s most significant event of the year is the annual Concours d’Elegance, which takes place in September. The event is a display of 12 historic classes of automobiles, sidecar motorcycles and vintage boats.

The Woodmark Hotel is also the only hotel on Lake Washington. The Woodmark II can take six passengers out onto the lake for scenic tours. The boat is offered to guests at a rate of $10 per person.

Aside from the first-rate amenities and services, Flaherty said that the hotel’s best feature is its staff.

“We have been blessed with an excellent and dedicated staff throughout its lifetime,” said Flaherty. “We are truly an oasis in the urban environment.”

The Woodmark Hotel has created a special Platinum Love package for those who got married or spent their wedding night at the hotel. The package includes a lake front guest room, a 16-carrot diamond pendant key chain, complimentary champaign, a “remember when” book for the year of the couple’s previous stay and a complimentary dinner for two.

“It is one of the many privileges to being an iconic destination,” said Flaherty. “We represent very significant memories for many people.”

For more information, visit The Woodmark Hotel or the Carillon Point special section