Washington Weddings

We fawn over gorgeous weddings day in and day out on SMP, but it’s meaningful features like this one that will forever be my favorite. Because even though this vow renewal planned by Vows Wedding And Event Planning couldn’t be more beautiful, it’s the journey that brought this couple down the aisle that truly steals the show. It’s their love. Their strength. Their commitment to each other. And there is nothing prettier than that. See more from Kimberly Kay Photography here.

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From Kimberly Kay Photography…After meeting in 1998, Jake and Nancy, who currently live in Seattle, became inseparable and their love and devotion to one another has only grown. What started as a first date that ended at a Cincinnati Waffle House has turned into a lasting relationship filled with love, despite the many obstacles thrown in their way.

While the couple planned on following up their intimate and romantic 2001 Italian wedding with a stateside reception, Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer later that year, hampering those plans.

By 2009, Nancy’s breast cancer spread to her liver, bones and brain, further complicating her condition. In addition to living with cancer, Nancy endured a miscarriage and waited five years for a baby girl from China.

Nancy and Jake received some good news last year upon learning that her sister-in-law, Molly, submitted their touching story to Fab-U-Wish, a breast cancer foundation that grants wishes to women with breast cancer. Bright Pink supporter and E! News personality Giuliana Rancic’s Fab-U-Wish in partnership with Bright Pink, Brides for a Cause and Wish Upon a Wedding gave this deserving couple a dream vow renewal along with the reception they never had on April 24th.

Despite the unimaginable difficulties she has been faced with, Nancy, along with Jake by her side, has handled everything life has thrown at her with grace and she continues to remain strong and positive throughout her fight.

Nancy and Jake’s wedding vow renewal was one of the very first hosted by the Wish Upon a Wedding Foundation for the Northwest. We felt incredibly honored and humbled to take part in providing the photography services. We were so impressed with how amazing each staff member with Wish Upon A Wedding was with regards to the sensitive, loving touch and hard work they put into the planning and the execution of Nancy’s and Jake’s special day…from the first correspondence down to every single little detail! Wish Upon a Wedding took phenomenal care of Nancy and Jake as well as all wedding vendors involved with this event. The day couldn’t have been any more magical! Wish Upon A Wedding is a top notch foundation and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone seeking to have a wedding wish fulfilled!

Lastly… we were so honored to capture such a beautiful love story! Nancy and Jake you are a true inspiration of what marriage should be. We feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet you both and capture some ever lasting memories for you!

Wedding Photography: Kimberly Kay Photography | Event Planner: VOWS Wedding & Event Planning | Floral Design: Jen's Blossoms | Wedding Cake: Decadence Fine Cakes & Confections | Wedding Invitations: Kerri Efendi Design | Catering: Willows Lodge | DJ: Wave Link Music Inc | Officiant: Reverend Marshall Huey Of Old St Andrews Parish Church | Bridal Jewelry: Haute Bride | Hair + Makeup Stylist: Salon Maison | Rentals: American Party Place | Wedding Provided By: Wish Upon A Wedding | Wedding Videography: Marius Photo | Willows Lodge Seattle, WA: Willows Lodge

How much fun a wedding is doesn’t directly correlate with how much money you spend, but it does directly correlate to how awesome the couple is. Which is why we’re completely taken with this wedding submitted to us by Matthew Land Studios — sunny, lighthearted and as bold as the bride’s market-fresh flowers. Scroll through to see more, or bask in the full summertime picnic glory here.

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I love art projects and spent the months leading up to the wedding creating fun accents to the wedding. We cut down a small tree in the backyard to use as centerpieces, crafted DIY string balloon balls, used fabric scraps for pennants and were the lucky recipients of reams of burlap that had been used in 3 weddings previous to ours! It was fun to see how people stepped up to help and to have people craft beautiful things for us. My bridesmaids even made a burlap welcome sign with our names sewn on it that still hangs in our living room.

Our friend Matthew Land was one of the first people we called after the engagement. We knew there was no one else we wanted to photograph our wedding. Both Joe and I love photography and admire Matt’s work so much. He pulled out all the stops: he came down first thing in the morning, helped to set up the bar and spent the day with us- capturing the feeling and emotions of the day perfectly. We love his relaxed approach to the wedding and it was so fun to not only see him in his element but get to be the subjects of it! 

Putting together a wedding is not an easy task, but I thrived on finding unique ways to portray the day and focused on how we could make the backyard into a unique and inviting atmosphere for all our family and friends. I loved the idea of using market flowers for our day. We had previously arranged to buy from the wonderful women at a few of the market stalls and some girlfriends went down to Pike Place Market the day before the wedding to pick them up. They were beautiful. They drove down to Gig Harbor and gave the responsibility to one of the groomsmen to put the flowers in the fridge we had cleared out beforehand. It was all perfect. Several friends were making the bouquets and table flowers day of the wedding, I was so glad to pass that job off to those talented women.  The morning of the wedding, I saw two of my bridesmaids jump into a car, race down the hill and return a hour later with a fresh bunch of flowers. As it turned out, the groomsman who cooled the flowers took it to the extreme: those flowers were black, shriveled and completely dead. They had been loaded into the freezer instead of the refrigerator, which killed them all! Luckily, the Gig Harbor farmers market was that Saturday so my wonderful bridesmaids saved the day with their quick thinking. The bouquets turned out beautiful.

Joe and I are of the mentality that the wedding is made by the community, not by the commodities and worked hard to remember that in our preparation. We were okay using chairs from the elementary school to save money and were thrilled by the idea of using quilts for our picnic themed reception that were lent from both our mother’s friends. It added a very special touch to the night. For dinner, we bought baguettes and rolls from the local bakery and then loaded up picnic baskets that I had collected from friends with the bread, different cheeses, sliced pastrami, turkey and pepperoni, strawberries, grapes and cups full of sliced vegetables. We had two condiment bars where people could load up on pickles, olives, spicy mustard or oils. It was a simple meal, but with more than enough food to go around!  The best part was that everyone had their food already at their blankets! That was the best part: no one had to stand in line.

Photography: Matthew Land Studios

Let me just preface this by saying that I would frame every single one of these stunning images from Kali Lu Photo. Pure gorgeousness. When you pair that with wildly pretty accessories from Serephine and painstakingly beautiful florals and styling from Kae And Ales, it’s all so pretty that you want to reach in and touch every moment. And that’s not all… the lovelies at Serephine are sharing their DIY for a set of those lovely floral feather pins at the end!

From Serephine… We chose an amazing venue: a little Seattle secret called The Corson Building. It was built in 1906 by an Italian stone mason; originally as his family’s home. Now, it’s an intimate restaurant dedicated to ‘food and its direct connection to celebration, community, and culture,’ and it’s gorgeous. (We all wanted to move in!) Our shoot was very natural, clean, sophisticated, and romantic, with a focus on texture. It was shot entirely with film, during the magical crisp weather days that happen in the Pacific Northwest, right as Winter ends and Spring begins.

(You can get all of these at craft supply stores or online in places like Etsy)
4 silk flower petals of any color, I chose a light pink blush. You can either buy a silk flower and take it apart, or cut your own petals from silk (if cutting your own as I did, just starch the silk first so it doesn’t fray)
A few ostrich feathers in a complimentary color (I used blush)
2 silver-tone bobby pins with flat pads
2 rhinestone buttons
Scissors
E6000 glue
Wood skewer or toothpick
Needle and thread

If cutting your own petals, press them and set them aside. If you are unfamiliar with pressing petals using millinery irons/ don’t have any millinery irons, you can use a warmed-up metal spoon and a bag of sand. Place the starched petals on the bag of sand one at a time, heat the spoon over a flame, and press into the center of the petal, creating an indent. (It’s important to only use natural fabrics if doing this, such as silk, so they don’t burn/ melt.)

Using your skewer or toothpick, take a dab of E6000 glue and place it on the pad of your hair pins. (I find it’s easiest to squeeze a little bit of glue onto a piece of paper, and dip my skewer into it.) Then take a small clump of ostrich feathers and glue them to the pins, with the tails of the feathers covering the long part of the pins.

Sew 2 sets of 2 petals together with a couple of stitches, overlapping them so they make a heart shape.

Then, glue the petal pairs onto the pads of the pins, over the feathers, with the rounded heart ends extending out over the tails of the ostrich feathers.

If the rhinestone button has a hole on the back that sticks out, cut if off with wire-cutters, or bend it off with a few wiggles using needle-nose pliers.

Use a small dab of glue to adhere the rhinestones to the pin pads, over the feathers and petals. (A little E6000 goes a long way!)

Let them set for at least 24 hours and they are ready to wear!

Photography: Kali Lu Photo | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Accessories: Serephine | Gowns By Sara Seven: The Dress Theory | Hair And Makeup Artist: Shannon Guerin Artistry | Paper Goods: Lovely Paper Things | Rentals: Classic Vintage Rentals | Restaurant: The Corson Building | Styling And Florals: Kae & Ales

I always wanted a tree house.  It’s a dream that disappeared when I was 10-years-old, right when we moved from our home on Preston Drive with the large oak tree in the front yard.  But now, after soaking in this gorgeous shoot from Matthew Ree, I’m thinking a tree house isn’t such a bad idea.  Because this, loves, is the epitome of pretty and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

From Matthew Ree… The couple, Kate and Josh, live in Seattle Washington and wanted incorporate their love of nature and outdoor activities with beautiful surrounding of Seattle area. They picked fantastic location near Issaquah WA, Tree House Point that has cabins right by Raging River. Also, we did some shots at Matthew Ree’s, photographer, back yard that has amazing lights shining down through woodsy area that create amazing romance with tranquility.

Photographer: MATTHEW REE PHOTOGRAPHY | Location: MATTHEW REE PHOTOGRAPHY | Location: Treehouse Point

Y’all, if there were EVER a love story to swoon, this would be it. We’re talking love-at-first-sight material in where else but the aisle of Safeway grocery?! It’s a sweet-as-pie story with an equally fabulous ” I do” all captured by Your Day Films. Brace yourself for six minutes of pure wedding bliss..

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From Your Day Films… True love begins in so many ways. Casey found herself in the right aisle of Safeway, only to come across Steele, busy at work. She says so herself that she doesn’t necessarily believe in love at first sight, but that in this case it’s like someone highlighted Steele and said, “Casey, he’s special”.

Both Casey + Steele began their wedding day in West Seattle, a quiet hilly suburb just minutes from downtown. Casey and her girls prepared for her day at Forsythe Salon. While the girls were busy with hair and makeup, Steele and his groomsmen lounged at his parents’ house, swapping stories as they enjoyed some homemade tortilla soup.

Soon it was time for their first look, and both sides of the bridal party converged on Within Sodo, their chic venue nestled in the heart of the industrial district. As she had done many times over the course of their relationship, Casey had prepared a limerick for Steele to read in a journal they both shared. With tears in his eyes, Steele read through it page by page, as Casey quietly approached him in the background. As he finished, she placed her hand on his shoulder and their eyes met. From that point on, it was all over; the fun and merriment officially began.

Trading vows in front of their closest friends and family, Casey + Steele’s ceremony was one of the most heartfelt we have ever been a part of. Their reception included a custom-made photo booth crafted by their friends, and hilarious stories and toasts, set against a backdrop of market lights, paper lanterns and other personalized touches. One of the highlights of the night were the custom coloring books given to each guest to fill out. Rain finally began to fall, and everyone gathered outside for an enthusiastic sparkler exit as Casey + Steele joyously hopped into their classic get-away car and off to their honeymoon.

Photography: Felts Photography | Cinematography: Your Day Films | Hair: The Forsythe Studio | Wedding Venue: Within Sodo | Floral Design + Styling: Paper Hearts + Co

Timeless and drenched in elegance, every image of this black-tie affair from onelove photography has a hold on me. The father-daughter first look that had me tearing up, a bouquet of creamy white peonies, and a sparkler exit kiss to swoon over for days. And there’s a whole gallery full of even more sweet moments right here in the gallery!

From the beautiful Bride… We dated for 12 years before saying “I do.” Over the course of our relationship we made so many wonderful friends in high school, during our college years (in Boston and San Diego) and our professional lives (in New York and Los Angeles) that we wanted to be sure and include our friends from every phase, since they all played a special part in our journey to the alter. With that said, we had a huge bridal party, 21 people to be exact! Being surrounded by all our best friends on our wedding day was so special and truly made the day unforgettable.

Getting married in Seattle was another important aspect of our wedding. Although Erik and I currently live in Los Angeles, we both grew up in Seattle. We’re high school sweethearts and met at Seattle Prep High School. Seattle is where our love story began and is where both of our families live. Having both families a part of the planning process made every part of preparing for our wedding so special.

We both grew up Catholic and knew we wanted to have a Catholic ceremony. Our faith has always played an important part in our relationship. We both think of each other as God’s greatest gift. The president of our high school, Father Paul Fitterer married us, which was another very special detail since he too witnessed Erik and I fall in love at such an early age.

My stylistic goal was to have a classic, elegant, black-tie affair filled with love, loads of flowers and a twist of southern hospitality. My favorite décor detail of the day was all our gorgeous flowers—a mix of vanilla rose, pink peonies and a touch of greenery. Michael Peterson at Rented Elegance completely understood my vision and made our wedding day more beautiful than I even imagined possible. He went above and beyond on every little detail… the ivory drapery that framed the entrance of the church and all the beautiful signage that he accented with floral arrangements. I’m pretty sure my bridal bouquet of all creamy white peonies weighed 5lbs! It was more perfect than I even dreamed it would be and definitely one of my favorite details.

I loved my wedding dress. On our wedding day, I wore a Monique L’hullier gown from her spring 2013 collection, called the Infinity Dress. I wanted to wear a “wow” dress that made a statement and set the tone for our formal affair. My wedding dress served as inspiration for several of our wedding details, including our invitations, linens and wedding cake. I really wanted to find a dress that was very “bridal”, sophisticated, elegant and a little sexy. It was a strapless sweetheart tulle-gown covered in monochromatic white beading (made up of mostly different size pearls) and a drop waist. I’m obsessed with tulle and anything with pearls so it seemed like the perfect combination.

Our elegant gold-foiled invitations were presented to our guests in a pearly enclosure envelope that was tied up with a large tulle bow. We had ivory sequin table clothes from La Travola and gold chavarie chairs. Our cake was draped with pearls, vanilla roses and our new “TLE” monogram.

The graphic designer we hired to create our Save-the-Dates, wedding website and invitations did a fabulous job. She created an elegant T&E monogram surrounded by a ring of roses. We incorporated our “wedding monogram” everywhere on and leading up to our day. Having a wedding monogram just seemed like a classic and very southern touch that also made our wedding very unique to us.

I was really torn about whether or not we should have a live band or DJ. I wanted the sophistication and presence of a live band, but also wanted our guests to let loose on the dance floor. Our wedding planner suggested both, which was the perfect solution! Jake Bergevin & the Javatown Swing Orchestra entertained our guests during cocktails and all through dinner. They had a lovely, classic Big-Band setup and all the band members wore white dinner jackets with black bow ties. Their presence gave our wedding a timeless feel and helped to create the elegant ambiance that I was hoping to create. After dinner and cake cutting we invited our guests upstairs, where our guests kicked off their shoes, indulged in additional cocktails and danced the night away.

Both venues fit perfectly with our vision. I grew up down the street from Villa Chapel and always pictured myself getting married in a white chapel. Villa is a beautiful church filled with character and gold detail, which also matched our wedding color palette (ivory and gold with a touch of pink). Villa is a beautiful sacred space that we knew would be the perfect place to have our catholic ceremony. Our reception was held at the Seattle Golf Club, where I had grown up celebrating special occasions with my family. My grandfather and father are all members. I loved the idea of having our reception somewhere that was full of so many wonderful family traditions. Not to mention, the Seattle Golf Club is a beautiful venue that also happened to be big enough to accommodate 200 plus guests. The club was built in the 1920’s, which also fell in line with the classic, elegant vision for our wedding.

Another special moment was when my dad delivered my amazing bridal bouquet (of creamy white peonies). He walked up the stairs where all my bridesmaids and I were getting ready, with a huge smile on his face and immediately began crying when he saw me, handed me my bouquet and gave me a big hug. It was such a special moment, especially because my dad isn’t the overly emotional type (he played in the NFL for 6 years). Seeing how much my wedding day also meant to him was truly touching, especially because I wasn’t expecting such an emotional reaction from him. I’m just glad we have that special moment perfectly documented.

Seattle doesn’t always have the most predictable weather, but we had our fingers crossed for sunshine and blue skies. The weather was picture-perfect on our wedding day, which made being outside for photos so fun and even more beautiful. After our ceremony our guests traveled to the Seattle Golf Club for an hour or so of cocktails on the deck. While sipping our signature “His” (Dark and Stormy) & “Her” (The Bubbly Bride) cocktails, they mingled and enjoyed the panoramic views of the Puget Sound. It was truly picturesque (and I think it made several of our guests want to move to Seattle)!”

Photography: onelove photography | Videography: Bogle Productions | Coordinator: Solomon Events | Event Design: Rented Elegance & Design | Floral Design: Rented Elegance & Design | Wedding Dress: Devine Design Bridal | Cake: Bonnie At New Renaissance Cakes | Ceremony: Villa Academy | Reception: Seattle Golf Club | Jewelry: J. Lewis Jewelry | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Caterer: Seattle Golf Club | Makeup: Shannon Mercil | Grooms Attire: Dale Dunning Wall Street Clothiers | Ceremony Music: Silverwood Strings | Live Band: Jake Bergevin And Javatown Swing Orchestra | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka | Veil: Vera Wang

As soon as winter ends each year (or maybe even a little before) I find myself longing for the fresh, crisp flavors of spring. I couldn’t be more excited that Megan Doherty is sharing her recipe for a tangy, savory flatbread that’s perfect lazy outdoor dinners or toting along on a picnic lunch! I know exactly what’s going in my grocery cart tonight…

Jess BlazejewskiMeyer Lemon Flatbread

prep time 10 Minute/s

cook time 5 Minute/s

total time 15 Minute/s

Serves 4Ingredients

• 1 large flat bread (naan, pita or a pre baked pizza dough would also work well)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 6 oz. Fresh mozzarella
• 10 very thin slices Meyer lemon, cut into quarters
• 4 oz. Parmesan, shaved
• 1 cup Arugula
• 1/2 cup Castelvetrano (or your favorite) olives, sliced
• Two thin slices prosciutto, sliced into half inch ribbons
• Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place flat bread in the oven directly on the rack for five minutes, or until it becomes crisp.
3. Remove from oven and drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil.
4. Allow to cool slightly, and pile on all of the other ingredients, arranging them however you find most beautiful.
5. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper to your taste and enjoy.

Photography: Katie Parra Photography | Chef: Megan Doherty

I think that I’m officially being swayed from my go-to roll recipe. Because the cute duo at Sinclair & Moore has left me vowing to my kids that barring my impending labor, I am 100% making these this weekend for Easter Sunday. I might even make them the night before and bake them the morning of. I know, I’m a rebel like that. Click here to see more photos of the brunch that inspired these beauties from Matthew Land.

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Photography: Matthew Land Studios | Event Design: Sinclair & Moore | Calligraphy: La Happy

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Sinclair & Moore

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One of the showstoppers from Sinclair & Moore’s Easter Brunch that we featured was the perfect macarons that helped grace the table’s centerpiece. Because when placed on a pretty white cake stand, well, they sort of steal the show. Plus placing them on the table means that your guests can access them easier and are more inclined to devour every last inch. And make sure to check out the whole gallery with steps & photographs by Matthew Land.

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Photography: Matthew Land Studios | Event Design: Sinclair & Moore | Calligraphy: La Happy

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Event Design

Sinclair & Moore

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Seeing a bride and groom who march to the beat of their own design drum is a MAJOR breath of fresh air in wedding blog world. And when that couple just so happens to have Finch & Thistle by their side? Boy, is it going to be good! From the urban rooftop venue to the rich, textured florals and every eclectic detail in between, trust me when I say the gallery from Chantal Andrea is not to be missed.

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From Finch & Thistle Event Design… This was a far from traditional wedding – no sit down dinner, no bouquet toss, no cake cutting and a fullly professional stage setup for the band (with musical cameos by the Groom, Groomsmen, both Fathers, and the Groom’s grandfather)! Half the guests had flown in from the UK and Kristin and Gary really wanted to ensure that everyone had a wonderful time and got to experience a real Pacific Northwest atmosphere.

They wanted the wedding to reflect their cultural differences – Gary is British and Kristin is a Washington native – and show off the beautiful city where they had made a home together. They picked a very urban, warehouse style venue with a rooftop deck, their favorite local tapas bar to cater, Macrina Bakery (a Seattle institution) to provide the desserts and Kristin’s dad’s pub in Anacortes provided the beverages, Rainier beer included.

Kristin and Gary’s wedding was a dream to design because the couple was so open to pushing the envelope design-wise. We wanted to highlight the urban feel of the venue, Within Sodo, but also bring an air of glamour and elegance to the space. We picked a color scheme of navy, cream, red and burgundy so we could use the beautiful local fall flowers and foliage that Kristin loves. The ceremony backdrop we created out of a Magnolia leaf garland hung with industrial bulb lights and decorated with garden roses was a design highlight.

We also decorated the buffet tables and dessert buffet with the same magnolia garlands and large, overflowing gold urns filled with garden roses, crabapple branches and dahlias. The centerpieces alternated with gold urns on the larger tables and a smokey grey glass vase on the bistro style seating near the stage. We hung giant greenery chandeliers in the main room and Polish glass lanterns twinkled above the dessert table.

From the Bride… I’d have to say one of my most favorite moments was when Gary’s grandfather played Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” solo/acoustic on stage. Such a touching moment. I also loved the ceremony – both for design reasons and otherwise. My uncle performed the ceremony which was special. It was a quick ceremony, very simple and non-religious as he is a judge, but I thought it was perfect. That room was amazing too – perfectly lit, the lights at the altar gave off the most gorgeous glow and the magnolia garland was wonderfully simple and elegant. I also LOVED the dessert table decorations – the lanterns, the garland and the bouquets on the table were gorgeous.

The overall feeling of the event was very romantic and elegant thanks to the candle lighting, the floral arrangements, the vintage furniture, and really even the style of the food that we served. It felt very classy and luxurious but the starkness of the venue and the music and bar vibe all kept it feeling casual and lively. One of Gary’s friends told us he felt like he should be paying a cover charge to get in. Other friends of ours have told us it felt like an awesome party that a wedding crashed. I think people just had FUN and that was the point!

Photography: Chantal Andrea Photography | Floral And Event Design: Finch & Thistle Event Design | Catering: Pintxo | Makeup: Kristen Nicole Lawson Project Makeup | Hair:  Lisamarie Hardan | Bar: H2O Anacortes | Desserts: Macrina Bakery | Event Venue: Within Sodo | Linen Rental: BBJ La Tavola | Other Rentals: Pedersen's rentals | Vintage Furniture: Vintage Ambiance

Remember when having a “themed” wedding was so taboo? Like themed was a bad word or something? Well, long gone are those days because couples have figured out that a theme done right can bring instant whimsy and cohesion to a celebration. Especially when you layer on flowers as pretty as this next couple’s! Click here for more photos from Laurel McConnell.

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Emily and Kent are too cute for words. Their ‘Better Together’ travel-themed wedding day was one of the sweetest, love-filled, crazy good times we’ve ever had the honor of photographing. Emily and her mom designed the whole event and handmade many of the details, from the programs to the matchbooks. Everywhere you looked was evidence of the care and creation that went into making E&K’s day one-of-a-kind: matching getting ready robes for the bridesmaids, Kent’s hand stamped cufflinks, their globe ‘guestbook’, and the continental wedding cake to name a few. All of the dreaming, planning, and décor-making paid off big time, but the real treat was photographing the palpable joy that permeated their entire day.

Photography: Laurel McConnell Photography | Videographer: A Guy And A Girl | Cake: The People's Cake | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Herban Feast | Hair And Makeup: Salon Maison | DJ: Integral DJs | Suit: Vera Wang | Officiant: A Heavenly Ceremony | Transportation: Big Woody Limos | Wedding Venue: Sodo Park | Bridal Gown: JLM Couture, Inc | Bridal Shoes: Kate Spade | Cufflinks: The Silver Diva | Day-of Coordinator: Jen Leslie Events | Dress Boutique: Dimitra's Bridal Couture | Floral: Finch & Thistle Event Design | Invites: Steracle Press | Music: Kitt Bender | Pie: High Five Pie | Rings (Bands): Ethan Lord | Rings (Hers): Rogers And Hollands | Sunglasses: Logo Lenses

If I could, I would get lost in these gorgeous images from O’Malley Photographers all.day.long. This couple must spend their day flipping through this gallery of images treasuring the priceless moments captured over and over, because that’s totally what I would do – and you can see why here.

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From O’Malley Photographers…We whole-heartedly believe Fall is the most romantic time of year and it doesn’t get much better than in the Pacific Northwest! When Mike & Sarah wanted a fall inspired engagement session we were just ecstatic! We decided to head into the gorgeous Washington Arboretum with our row boats and magic happened under the warm setting sun and turning trees. The light and colors were just amazing, making us long for fall to hurry up and get here again!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Location: Washington Park Arboretum

When these two chance Facebook-friends-turned-fiances tied the knot, they knew it had to be special. Vintage yet modern, elegant yet effortless…and thanks to Plume Wedding Concepts that’s exactly what they got. She crafted them a wedding that spoke to their story – including beautiful homage to the bride’s late mother – and Chantal Andrea captured every second. See it all in the gallery right here.

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From the Bride… Luke had always joked about having a Star Wars wedding – well, he was definitely serious – I on the other hand cringe every time I hear the sound of a light saber! Despite my lack of interest for the Sci-Fi classic, or maybe Luke was sending me subliminal messages, I had the idea of naming our tables after Star Wars characters to surprise Luke on our wedding day. The Star Wars joke continued, though, and my father thought it would be funny to surprise us with a Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker cake topper (despite the fact that they are brother and sister). Coincidentally, I also forgot my garter at our reception and, out of nowhere, Luke pulled a toy R2D2 out from under my dress for the garter toss. I think he planned that one…

Technically, Luke and I met on Facebook. We attended different universities, and my best friend knew Luke’s best friend. I never would have guessed that when I clicked “add friend” on Facebook that I was about to meet my soul mate (thank you, Mark Zuckerberg). We had an instant connection, and talked for over a month before meting in person. Six years later he proposed, and we were married exactly seven years from the first day we met. Luke and I were in a long distance relationship for 5 of the now 7 years we’ve been together, and despite the difficulties of a long distance relationship, every tearful goodbye made us realize how much we loved each other and helped us grow stronger as a couple.

Even before we were married Luke was there for me in “good times and in bad”. Two years before Luke proposed, my mother was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. After 6 short months of fighting, she took a turn for the worse. On that tragic day, Luke knelt beside my mother and promised her he would always take care of me. It is a moment I will never forget.

Planning my wedding without my mom was something I struggled with. I held back tears during my first dress appointment, and couldn’t hold them back when I found the one. I wanted my mom to be remembered on this day – and when I first met with Barb Whipple, owner of Plume Wedding Concepts, she suggested mini loafs of banana bread as our wedding favors. It was in that moment I knew I had found the perfect person to plan my wedding. My mother loved to bake – and a family favorite was her banana bread. We baked over 175 mini banana bread loafs and packaged them with my mother’s recipe attached. My mother was also remembered with the lace flowers in my bouquet, which were from my mother’s wedding veil, a poem read at the beginning of the ceremony by my mother’s best friend, and the first dance with my dad was my parent’s first dance together over 35 years ago.

Luke and I gave Barb 3 words: vintage, modern, and rustic. Barb took our three little words and turned them into a dream come true. The dinnerware, silverware, wine & champagne glasses, and bread plates (teacup saucers) were all found at Goodwill or garage sales or Barb’s personal collection. Old wooden planks with vintage artifacts & knick knacks acted as centerpieces, including: a milk carton, old books, a spool of thread, a tin with old buttons, and an antique camera Barb found for $1, to name a few. We served our favorite comfort foods by candlelight, because what better way to eat southern fried chicken & Beecher’s mac n’ cheese? For dessert, servers passed Molly Moon ice cream sandwiches, a local favorite of ours. On our wedding day, we simply wanted to express our personalities, share our “favorite things” and the love we have for one another. We are a very down to earth, casual, “no frills” couple and it was important to us that our wedding day illustrated this.

We are incredibly thankful for loving and supportive families who blend so easily as one. I feel blessed to have found the person I’m meant to be with for the rest of my life, and I am looking forward to spending the next 50+ years with my Facebook friend turned soul mate.

Photographer: Chantal Andrea Photography | Wedding Planner: Barb Whipple - Plume Wedding Concepts | Floral Design: Shades Of Green By Llyodine | Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone | Ceremony: Christ Our Hope Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Within Sodo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom, Anthropologie | Catering: City Catering Company | Hair And Makeup: Erin Skipley | Dessert: Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Indochino | Headpiece: Twigs & Honey

This wedding dances the line between garden and rustic; taking the natural beauty of an outdoor ceremony and pairing it with the industrial beauty of Sodo Park where family style dining reigns Queen. And folded into the pretty details is the design prowess of McKenzie Powell, beautiful imagery by Bryce Covey Photography and a wedding video by Super Frog Saves Tokyo that went viral for good reason. Have a look here for even more.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/75259949 600 338]

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From the Bride… So many of our friends and family travelled incredibly far to be at our wedding in Seattle, so we really wanted the whole day not only to be a party, but feel like a huge family-style dinner. We pulled a lot of inspiration from the earthy, community dinners we had always fawned over in Kinfolk, so we put an emphasis on having long communal farm tables, a neutral/warm color palette, and lots of greenery and florals. We also lucked out with a truly beautiful reception space with high ceilings and exposed beams that didn’t require any extra fluff.

It was amazing to watch the pieces come together on the day-of, but honestly, our friends and family played the biggest role in making the whole day above and beyond what we ever would have imagined. We had so much involvement from everyone – from the DIY projects and printed material, to having a close friend marry us, and my whole family singing at our reception Von Trapp-style – everyone left their own imprint on our day, (my cousin is a baker and actually flew our cake all the way from Toronto!) which made it incredibly memorable for us. The icing on the cake had to be the dance party that followed. We really had an amazing crew of friends and family to celebrate with, bar none, and exceptionally talented vendors that helped us pull the whole day off!

Our slow motion booth was the by-product of tasking a creative agency to make a wedding video. SFST are not wedding videographers, but my husband, Quang, is a master at convincing people to do things they normal would never do. (And it probably helped that he is a co-owner of SFST.)

The idea for the booth came about after realizing a couple of things: It would take a long time for them to edit the full wedding video, but more importantly, we wanted to try and leverage some of the things that SFST is actually good at – like making beautiful things go viral. In truth, it was almost an after thought. From realization to idea was maybe ten seconds.

They suggested putting a RED camera in a section of the reception hall and shooting everything at a high frame rate. But the success of the video is in how it was executed, and the friends and family that participated. The man behind the camera, Blaine Lundy, had the perfect personality for directing people and did an incredible job editing the piece. Even the shyest of guest were coaxed into cutting loose in front of the camera. Re-watching the footage for the first time, and seeing all the shenanigans that went on during our reception was a really fun moment for both of us.

Photography: Bryce Covey Photography | Videography: Super Frog Saves Tokyo | Event Design: McKenzie Powell Floral & Event Design | Floral Design: McKenzie Powell Designs | Gown: Jenny Packham | Cake: The Cocoa Cakery | Ceremony Venue: University Of Washington | Reception Venue: Herban Feast | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Herban Feast | Makeup And Hair: Erin Skipley | Calligraphy: Esque Script | Day Of Coordination: Get Stuff Done Group | Dress Boutique: The Dress Theory | Photo Booth: Usnaps | Printed Materials: Katrina Mendoza | Veil: Sara Gabriel

In wedding world, Valentine’s Day is a bit like Christmas morning. We look forward to this Day o’ Love all year long, and pull out all the stops to celebrate. First up on today’s swooning agenda? A red-on-red love notes shoot from Katie Parra, En Fleur Event Design, The Sweet Side, and so many more. Grab a handful of sweethearts and join me in the gallery for pretty galore.

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From Katie Parra… Sending letters in the mail is now quite the novelty. I don’t know about you but I love receiving cards and little notes in the mail. It makes one feel extra special and very loved when someone takes the effort to hand write a sentiment and pay the postage to have you receive it via the postal service.

What better time of year to send someone a little love note than on Valentines Day. Krista of Prive Events and I thought the romantic notion of the handwritten mailed valentine would be the perfect inspiration for our sweet Valentines Day inspired love shoot. Meg and Ben, a real life newlywed couple, were the best models anyone could ask for. Sweet as can be, comfortable in front of the camera and very much in love. I hope this photoshoot inspires all of you to write and mail a little love note to someone special. Happy Valentines Day!

Photography: Katie Parra Photography | Coordination: Krista & Megan With Prive Events | Cake: The SweetSide | Hair & Makeup: Flawless Beauty Bar | Flower Design: En Fleur Event Design | Models: Krista & Megan With Prive Events | Park: Discovery Park | Stationery & Calligraphy: La Happy

Inspired by the words “I am my beloveds’ and my beloved is mine,” this Valentine’s inspiration shoot is unlike anything you’ve swooned before. Think a fresh, well-edited approach to the V-day classics, with a few unexpected moments (hello, giant pink balloons) mixed in. Sinclair & Moore dreamt up every gorgeous detail and the O’Malley Photographers captured it all to pin-worthy perfection.

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From Steve Moore… As a kid I always looked forward to Valentine’s Day. I was so excited to give out cards and the homemade treats my mom had lovingly baked. I would anxiously await the moment my dad would come home with a huge heart shaped box of chocolates and flowers for my mom. I loved seeing their love for each other. It made me feel safe and secure, but it also made me dream about finding my own love someday.

It took 30 years, but I found my true Valentine. I am my beloveds’ and my beloved is mine. That is a love worth celebrating every day of the year, but why not go big on a playful day specifically set aside to show your one just how much you love them. Huge balloons…. oversized bakery boxes filled with treats…. an enormous bouquet… why not? It’s a visual way to communicate what I believe are the fundamental pillars of our relationship: Love abundantly, dream big and live lightheartedly.

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Calligraphy: La Happy | Design & Florals: Sinclair & Moore | Discovery Park: Discovery Park

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I’m pretty sure that Steve and Jamie Moore are the cutest, most talented two people on the planet. Remember their insanely lovely studio tour? Well the goodness continues as O’Malley Photographers captured the pair doing what they do best…loving each other and being entirely adorable. Plus they are sharing a fab cocktail and a printable card from la Happy to celebrate!

“Every Valentine’s Day while we were dating, engaged and now in our marriage, it’s become a little tradition for me to create some sort of heart-shaped treat for my husband Steve. I love taking some of our favorite things and giving them a special Valentine’s Day twist.

In the past I’ve make heart-shaped personal pizzas, cheesecakes, fruit salads, and of course classic frosted sugar cookies. Pink frosted sugar cookies evoke a nostalgic feeling of childhood and simply make us happy this time of year. What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than cozied up with a fresh strawberry Champagne cocktail, homemade treats and the one you love?”

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Sally Balt of la Happy graciously illustrated Sinclair & Moore’s Strawberry Champagne Cocktail recipe into a beautiful printable recipe card. Enjoy! We promise it tastes as good as it looks!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Design & Florals: Sinclair & Moore | Illustration & Lettering: La Happy | Private Residence: Sinclair & Moore | Recipe: Sinclair & Moore

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Proposal stories get me every.single.time. To say I am a sucker for them would be the understatement of the year. So when Katie Parra sent over this surprise prosoal, I knew I was a goner. A “family portrait” turned into a moment this couple will never forget, and you can see it all unfold right here.

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From Katie Parra Photography…My friend Melanie Duerkopp (who is a photographer in San Francisco) comes home to Seattle for the holidays to see her family and her Grandmother who flies in every year from Germany. Melanie and I are longtime friends from college and we have made it a tradition that I take a big family portrait of her entire family every December. The last few years she has brought along her boyfriend Chris to join in the fun. This year we shot at the Sculpture Garden on the waterfront of downtown Seattle. I always pull each couple aside to get a few shots of just them during our session. So while waiting for Grandma to make it up the hill I pulled Melanie and Chris aside for a few quick photos. Well, what was a quick sweet moment all of a sudden became very serious when Chris got down on one knee and pulled out a ring!!! I had no idea he was going to propose, and either did Melanie!!! The whole family erupted in cheers and her parents, who knew this was going to happen, had champagne waiting back at the car for a toast. Needless to say it was an incredible morning and the pure joy on Melanie and Chris’s face is just contagious! I couldn’t be happier for my dear friend, congratulations Chris and Melanie!

Photography: Katie Parra Photography

Seattle is my favorite city in the world.  It’s seriously fun, seriously stunning and those romantic rainy days make it THE perfect place to throw a wedding.  It’s basically a trifecta of city goodness, and when it’s hosting a wedding like this glamorous affair from Carol Harrold, well… I love Seattle even more.  See every breathtaking moment right here.  It’s awesome.

From Carol Harrold… A truly modern wedding, with lots of glamour and lots of hipster, Tricia’s vision was Ostrich feathers everywhere and a sunset view. Her groom, Chris, chose the location, because The Edgewater is famed for housing several musicians in the late 60’s and 70’s, including the Beatles.

In their photography plan, the Pike Place Market was a must-have. As weather can OFTEN be here in Seattle – it was a heck of a storm that day. REALLY blowing and really raining. By the time we got to the hotel to shoot, it has quieted a bit… like… a little bit. I had lots of hotel locations planned, but when I checked in, the Bride said GO and so we did!

I’m sure my clients just have good karma, because no one would have believed they could actually had cocktail hour on the deck that day! The dinner was yum, the toasts were funny. They had a sing along for their first dance – Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” doughnuts instead of cake, and ostrich feather fans for every guests – fun for the dance floor.

The overall feeling of this event was very chic and very Seattle. Thankfully, they put priority on having a good time over everything else.

From the Bride & Groom… One of the most meaningful things we did while planning the wedding was choosing donuts.  The donut shop is called Donut Star (Auburn). Since Chris and I worked together, a woman from our office would bring these donuts every Thursday and we always liked them. We both knew we didn’t want a cake, and Chris loves donuts, so it was an easy decision. Let’s be honest, everyone likes donuts! We called the shop and asked if they would do it, and we went down there one Saturday to “taste” them. The woman was so excited and nice. And they have lots of local customers. She knew all the kids coming in from soccer games with their parents. My favorite though was an elderly couple, they come in every Saturday and the owner sets aside their favorite donut. A chocolate one for her and a cinnamon roll for him (they close when they are sold out, so she makes sure they are set aside). We talked to them, and they had been married for 70 years!!!! He gave Chris a lucky penny, wished us luck and gave some advice. It was really touching to me. And it seemed like a sign that we were making the right decision.

We also loved our DJ, Austin.  He is definitely the best in his business. A lot of people have asked about our music, it did not go unnoticed. He knew that we both like music and it meant a lot to us. He did such a great job of setting the timing for our intro song, “Swept Away” by the Avett Brothers. He had never heard that song and you would have thought otherwise with the timing of it. Loved that when I walked down the aisle, he turned it up and had the woman’s voice during that part. It was a great way to have all the same song playing, but sounding a bit different when the spotlight was on me. Also, he loved our idea of having our guests sing “Maybe I’m Amazed” and was helpful in getting the guests excited about singing. I loved that – Chris was a little unsure of the idea, but he trusted me and needed up loving it. It was not a boring first dance where the guests just watch you!

Photography: Carol Harrold Photography | Flowers: Fena Flowers | Gown: I Do Bridal | Invitations: Minted | Venue: The Edgewater Hotel | DJ - MC: Austin Beaver | Desert: Donut Star | Hair And Make-up: Megan Bingham - Off White

If you frequent Living, you’ll have already come across this sweet (literally) behind the scenes with The Sweet Side and this amazing meringue cookie recipe, so we figured it was only fitting to share a little behind the scenes of Kara’s latest cakes a la Katie Parra Photography. I don’t know about you, but my mouth will. not. stop. watering.

From the photographer… I had the great pleasure of photographing The Sweet Side’s 2014 cake collection last month and when I finished the shoot I was so darn excited I couldn’t contain it! Kara the owner is so talented and I happen to know from experience that her cakes taste just as good as they look! Her collection will speak to so many types of brides. She covers the traditional, glamorous, and classic esthetic beautifully all while pushing the boundaries and introducing new and inspiring designs. Seattle Brides-Kara should be your go to gal for all things cakes and sweet bars!

Photography: Katie Parra Photography | Cake: The SweetSide | Food Styling: Katie Parra Photography