Two weeks. It's a pay period for some, a long vacation for others.

For Tracey Ward, it was the time between when her boyfriend, Michael Ward, proposed and their July 16, 2011, wedding.

"He gave me two weeks to get ready for the wedding," she says.

And though some brides-to-be might have stressed about the condensed timeline, Tracey was thrilled.

"It was really fun," she says. "It was less time to fret about it. It was easy."

Michael popped the question as they were flying over a small private island in the San Juans, called Towhead Island. That was where they would get married, in a small ceremony in front of their closest friends and family.

Because they had both been married before, the Bellingham couple didn't need a big, traditional ceremony. What they wanted was something intimate.

"For me, it was just enjoyable that everybody came together," Michael says, "that the people I really cared about and loved were there."

To get to the island, the couple donned wetsuits and hopped on their jet skis. Their guests went by boat, and once they were on the island, the couple used a boat to change into their wedding attire. They eschewed the predictable tux and white gown. Instead, Tracey found a perfect Jackie O-style dress at T.J. Maxx, while Michael wore a simple white shirt and khakis. For the ride back, the jet skis were decorated with just married signs made by the kids at Blossom Learning Center, where Tracey is a support teacher.

"It was just a scream," Tracey said. "We had a beautiful wedding that was everything I wanted it to be."

When the couple found out that one of their favorite bands, The Atlantics, was playing that evening at Boulevard Park, they turned the concert into their reception and had friends bring food to the park.

"We had this great band on the water and we danced and we had a great time, and it didn't cost a thing," Tracey says. "It couldn't have been more perfect."

Well, maybe it could have. On the way back from Towhead Island, one of the boats broke down and Michael had to tow it with his jet ski. But after a little quick thinking and pulling, everyone got to the park for a night of fun.

"It just went really well," Michael says, "broken down boat and all."

Reach ZOE FRALEY at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803. Visit her School Days blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/schools or get updates on Twitter at twitter.com/BhamSchools.