For a self-proclaimed winter wedding lover, there is nothing better than opening an email to see pictures of hot chocolate, snowflake covered cake, and seemingly frost covered flowers. It was a win-win-win from the beginning – destined to be amazing. Floral design by Flora Nova Design. Food and locale by Sodo Park by Herban Feast. And winter in Washington – Seattle to be exact. Oh, and not to mention the over the top desserts from Tallant House. All beautifully photographed by The Popes | Photographers, this wedding is all a cold obsessed bride could hope for. Click here for more!
From Flora Nova Design … For their sophisticated winter wedding, Sarah and Steve wanted to create a streamlined yet elegant and warm atmosphere where their guests could relax and enjoy a great party.
The couple chose one of the most unique venues in town – Sodo Park by Herban Feast – a perfect location to pair the romantic-historic flair with contemporary-hip design details. The groom particularly liked the venue, originally built in 1907 as a factory to manufacture machinery, because of his background in construction and engineering. He appreciated the exposed beams and unique characteristics such as the original trolley tracks that run through the venue. While the bride loved that Herban Feast uses sustainable and eco-friendly practices in their catering. Both of them fell in love with the venue instantly and used it as inspiration for creating a unique wedding that infuses the past with the present, incorporating modern and vintage touches throughout the design.
Having been together for years, the couple desired to have an intimate ceremony for their family and friends followed by the best party their guests had ever been to. Planning and designing this winter wedding with the couple was super fun, and once the initial ideas where thrown on the table (we decided on the wintery color palette of silver, white, slate blue and black), the details all came together quickly.
For the ceremony, guests were surrounded by floor to ceiling white draping which helped to divide the large factory-style room into a warm and personal space. Winter white flowers lined the aisle illuminated by candle light and silver glass spheres, leading to an ultra-chic, illuminated arch adorned in orchids, roses, and hydrangea, and casting an ice blue glow over the ceremony space. Tall sparkly branches, large hurricane candles, and large silver spheres also decorated the ceremony area.
After the ceremony, the wedding guests were treated to a special cocktail hour: Food was important to Sarah and Steve as they both love to eat out and try different cuisines with their friends. Since they both love sushi, they decided to have a sushi chef hand-roll sushi rolls for guests during the cocktail hour. To pay homage to their family roots, a “his and her” food station was also setup during the cocktail hour featuring family recipes from both sides. For dinner, guests were served local Northwest faire in a three-course plated meal. The bride has a sweet tooth and wanted to make sure that there was wide variety of desserts available for guests. In addition to the wedding cake, petit desserts were served along with one of the most unique food items of the evening – dessert sushi. Sara also loves her daily espresso and wanted to pay tribute to the Northwest culture by including an espresso bar for guest to enjoy in the warm yet wintery lounge areas. As an added touch, their favorite espresso drinks were named after the couple and a raspberry hot chocolate was named after their little daughter.
For the reception, we created the perfect wintery atmosphere in a warm setting. We created long guest tables in a large U-shape, with the dance floor in the middle. The reception tables were decorated with great attention to detail: floral designs in varying heights featuring silver sparkly branches, flurry baby’s breath, fuzzy Dusty Miller foliage, and “cool” blooms like blue hydrangea, white roses, and orchids; hundreds of glassy baby votive candles in shades of blue and white added a warm glow to the tables; silver sparkly linens; a white orchid tucked into each napkin together with the menu card; silver rimmed charger plates; submersible lights inside the flower vases, and lots more.
Another beautiful focal point of the evening was the gorgeous wedding cake, which in a subtle nod to winter, featured handcrafted sugar snowflakes paired with a black satin ribbon. The cake was surrounded by a thick layer of flowers, forming the shape of a large snow flake.
Photography: The Popes | Photographers / Coordination and Planning: Perfectly Posh Events / Venue and Catering: Sodo Park by Herban Feast Catering / Floral and Event Design: Flora Nova Design / Draping, Escort Card Trees, Lighting and Lounge Furniture: Prop Gallery West / Chairs, Linens, Charger Plates: AA Party Rental / Cake and Desserts: Tallant House / Votive Candles: Glassy Baby / DJ and Lighting: Austin Beaver / Vintage Umbrellas: Bella Umbrella / Ice Bar: Luxco / Stationary: Chic Ink / Chocolate Truffle Wedding Favors: Intrigue Chocolates / Photo Booth: Photo Booth Services / Espresso Catering: Espresso Elegance / Officiant: Mary Calhoun