Washington Wedding by La Vie Photography
Wow. Just wow. I guess this is what happens when the uber creative graphic designer of Hobson House Design plans her wedding to her handsome English beau. Not only did she design their stunning invitation suite, she also tackled the cake topper, all the printed items, and her reception headpiece. No big deal (aka, quite the big deal). Inspired by the Tim Burton Movie, Big Fish, their fortunate guests enjoyed a creative idea at every turn of this fanciful wedding, and were transported back to a land of childhood whimsy complete with scratch ticket escort cards. It’s all such a fun contrast to their dramatic candlelit wedding ceremony. And thanks to La Vie Photography, there is a full gallery of magnificent images so you don’t miss a single detail.
click here for more of this whimsical wedding!
I met Richard seven years ago by chance at a restaurant in New York City. He was visiting from England I was living in Seattle. After a short courtship, we decided to make Seattle our home, both loving the natural beauty of the Northwest. We knew we wanted to incorporate the greenery and summer lushness into our wedding celebration. I am a corporate graphic designer and was thrilled for the opportunity to design fun and frilly wedding ephemera. I wanted to design and create as much as I could for our event. I designed the invitation suite, cake topper, printed materials, and my reception headpiece. Steven Moore Designs created the floral elements, tent décor, desert table, and soft seating. My mom and bridesmaids helped me search throughout the year for interesting centerpiece items, bridesmaid dresses, and colored glass for our cocktail hour. The chandelier hung in the center of our tent, select furniture, and many of the table details once belonged to my grandmother. Our wedding design was modeled after my favorite Tim Burton movie: Big Fish. I used nostalgic colors and icons to evoke the feeling of childhood wonder and a community carnival.
Inspired by bands like Sigur Ros and Devotchka, I selected our wedding and reception music before any design and listened for inspiration while planning throughout the year. We hired a phenomenal band, Bakelite 78, who played in that genre of music. They serenaded my husband and I with my favorite Devotchka song, Last Beat of my Heart. We were able to borrow antique gramophones from a local museum to use throughout the reception space keeping music as a focal point.
Richard and I knew we wanted to have a lively extravaganza on our big day, something our guests traveling from near and far would remember forever. We planed a dramatic ceremony and a raucous reception. We asked our guests to light and hold candles as a blessing for the wedding processional. A close friend sang one of our favorite songs during the signing of the marriage certificate, and then we sped off to the reception in a vintage Rolls. We served Pimm’s Cup at our cocktail hour, a traditional English summer drink. Guests found their seats by scratching off tickets displaying their table assignment. Our reception was highlighted with some side-splitting speeches and a surprise firework show put on by Steven Moore and his crew. We danced and laughed the night away until we had to board the busses returning us from our outdoor reception to the city, where the party really started as my husband lead the busses in English football chants! Looking back, we are still amazed we pulled it all off! We had an amazing day with the help of our amazing vendors, friends and family members. We only wish we could do it all over again.
Photographer: LaVie Photography / Floral, Desert, Soft Seating and Tent Design: Steven Moore Designs / Music: Bakelite 78 and Good Times DJ Service / Invitations and Printed Materials: Hobson House Design (bride’s wedding invitation design business) / Dress: Marcella’s La Boutique / Transportation: British Motor Coach / Ceremony Venue: The Ruins / Reception Venue: Private Home
38 Comments about “Washington Wedding by La Vie Photography”
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February 10, 2011 at 9:14 am
The details are brilliant, so full of whimsy and style. A truly inspirational event. I particularly love the escort card display.
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February 10, 2011 at 9:26 am
WOW! I love this wedding with it's totally vintage eclectic feel. The draping into the tent is stunning. Gorgeous!
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February 10, 2011 at 9:33 am
I ADORE this wedding. The candlelit ceremony, the bridesmaid dresses, the whimsical flare. Love love love.
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February 10, 2011 at 9:40 am
I also say WOW! What a uniquely uber-stylish wedding!! Fabulous creativity!!
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February 10, 2011 at 10:36 am
Can I ask where the bridesmaids found their mismatched dresses? I have a wedding in the works now looking for those exact styles! Thanks!
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February 10, 2011 at 10:48 am
I love your printed materials! can you eamil me as to how you went about it?? I love the save the dates and the keep your hearts warm and your eyes dry bit! cupidswing97@yahoo.com
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February 10, 2011 at 10:51 am
What a fun wedding! I love everything about it - so romantic yet fun. I love all of the creativity!
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February 10, 2011 at 10:55 am
wow, I love those bridesmaids dresses!
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February 10, 2011 at 11:00 am
That's our SONG!!! Such Great Heights was the first song that I thought of and think of when I am with my fiance. We're getting married in April, and I cannot wait! Your wedding is inspiring! LOVELY!!!
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February 10, 2011 at 11:22 am
LOVE the bridesmaids dresses! Wish I knew where they were all from!
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February 10, 2011 at 11:50 am
Erin, gorgeous! Steve, gorgeous! I was waiting for this little gem to pop up somewhere. :)
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February 10, 2011 at 11:52 am
What a stunner!! So in love with those bridesmaid dresses :)
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February 10, 2011 at 11:57 am
The florals are just STUNNING. Gorgeous.
I adore the look of the fresh berries in the bride's bouquet, but do brides ever worry about them bleeding on to their beautiful dresses? Is there some special florist trick to prevent that?
My warm congratulations to the the lovely couple :)
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February 10, 2011 at 11:59 am
I can't stop looking that this wedding! It's my favorite one since the Bahamas one of the Texas couple, and that was a few months back.
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February 10, 2011 at 12:49 pm
congratulations to the the couple
This wedding is so beautiful! and its all in the detail!
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February 10, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Wow! Familiar elements but so well done and pretty. Love the dresses and the photography is so clean!
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February 10, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Hi everyone! Bride here... just wanted to answer the bridesmaid dress question: Anthropologie (2 styles), J.Crew, and Neiman Marcus.
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February 10, 2011 at 1:18 pm
I'm English and I love Pimms.
Strawberries, apple, oranges with pimms and the tennis on Murray Mound.
Nothing makes me feel more English!
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February 10, 2011 at 1:52 pm
wow! great details, great photography, Bravo!
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February 10, 2011 at 2:11 pm
The flowers and color coordinating of the fireworks is amazing!! Kudos to you!!
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February 10, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Whoa, before I even read any of the accompanying text, I looked at the pictures and thought "this looks like the Tim Burton/ southern gothic version of a whimsical carnival theme." Then I read the intro and saw that Tim Burton's Big Fish was the inspiration. I have to say, they nailed it. I absolutely love everything about it.
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February 10, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Gorgeous details!
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February 10, 2011 at 6:41 pm
The graphic design is just awesome. I also love the dresses.
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February 10, 2011 at 10:46 pm
This. is. beautiful. I've seen nothing like it. the stationery is so creative and so beautiful! the drapes upon entering the seating area are just gorgeous. the personalized newspaper... the candy buffet... the candlelit ceremony -- absolutely stunning!
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February 10, 2011 at 11:12 pm
I love love love this wedding..gorgeous! I am wanting to do the tent theme its been in my mind for while now and it took my breath away to see it ..i love the ribbons inside ..where did you find long enough ribbons for it..so pretty :)
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February 11, 2011 at 12:36 am
That is one of my very favorite movies! I'd say they nailed the look and feel of it. Gorgeous!
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February 27, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Erin,
Who is the designer of your wedding gown?? Its breathtaking! -
March 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm
simply stunning! I love the brides design style. Vintage and whimsical yet very current.
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March 9, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I absolutely love this post! My wedding is this August in Scotland, and we will be having our reception at The Ruins when we return. I love the venue and their food is amazing. Your floral is absolutely breath taking and one of our favorite movies is Big Fish. Thank you for your inspiring wedding.
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April 6, 2011 at 12:39 pm
so cute! love it
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December 27, 2011 at 8:47 am
Warm Hello from Brasil!
Yes BRAZIL! I am just in love with this pictures! So happy to see something so pretty and different!
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