Washington Weddings

I love love stories.  I love hearing how two sweethearts met, courted and fell head over heels – and I could listen to adorable “how it began” tales all.day.long.  So, when I first read this darling duo’s sweet, sweet romance, well… my heart literally burst with joy.  A friendship turned Parisian crush, a first date in Venice, a gondola proposal and a devastatingly gorgeous wedding on an 18-acre organic farm.  This, my friends, is a fairytale brought to life in picture perfect details, heartwarming moments and the amazing images of Yvonne Wong.  Click here for more.

From the Bride… Sam and I met during my sophomore year in high school near Seattle when he tutored me in math after I missed a few weeks of school with a particularly nasty case of whooping cough. For several years, our friendship remained platonic. In the summer of 2004, we decided to take a backpacking trip through Europe with a mutual friend. One night in Paris we left our friend and went out for a walk together around the city … and got extremely lost. While trying to find our way back to our hotel in the wee hours of the morning, the city worked its magic, and I realized I was smitten. We had our first real date on a gondola in Venice, Italy just over a week later and have been together ever since. In 2008, we moved from Seattle to Los Angeles, where we both started grad school at UCLA (law school for Sam and a PhD in sociology for me). My research often takes me abroad for extended periods of time. In 2009, immediately after I returned from a grueling stint of fieldwork in Rwanda, Sam whisked me off to a romantic hotel in Santa Monica for a weekend escape. That night (as I struggled to keep my jetlagged eyes open), he proposed on a gondola in Venice, California — paying homage to our first real date.

Right away, we knew that we wanted to get married near our hometown of Bainbridge Island, Washington, since most of our family and friends still lived up in the Pacific Northwest. Planning a wedding from another state (and on grad student budgets!) was a challenge. We choose the Farm Kitchen, an 18-acre organic farm located in Poulsbo, Washington, for our venue because of its simplicity, natural beauty and active farming mission. All of our decorations were made by people in our families. My father built our huppah from bamboo that grew in the yard of my childhood home, and he assembled it with Sam’s dad on our wedding day. My sister made our chalkboard menus from vintage mirrors and worked wooden branches into the heart that hung from the huppah, and my sister-in-law wrapped dozens of bud vases in antique sheet music from the 19th century, which she filled with flowers from her yard. My grandmother made hundreds of WindWishes, a tradition in our family, which we hung above the ceremony site and slipped into each place setting. Each WindWish is calligraphed with a blessing on it (love, family, happiness, success and so on), and each guest was encouraged to take a few WindWishes home and hang them in a place where the wind would blow the wish into their lives.

While getting married was certainly our foremost goal of the day, throwing a fun party was a very close second. Our fabulous group of vendors — led by the incomparable Alison Lum — made sure the day itself went incredibly smoothly. Perhaps the most stressful moment was when I put on my dress and realized that my “something blue” Hanky Panky underwear showed through (note to other brides: try your underwear and dress on before!). In a panic, my bridesmaids found the nearest pair of (thankfully clean) tan underwear around – a pair of large beige booty shorts. It definitely wasn’t the underwear I imagined wearing on my wedding day, but in retrospect, the story is hilarious.

After the ceremony, our bridal party was introduced, sport-announcer style, by our fabulous MC, who is one of my best friends. Sam and I entered immediately after attempting to “dougie,” which got the party started and resulted in arguably my favorite photo of the day. Later in the night, as we sat down for the horah, we were shocked as a random song came on and one by one our guests donned masks of our faces (totally creepy but hysterical) and began moving around us in a choreographed dance. It took me a few minutes before I realized that there was a flash mob happening at my wedding. It was, quite simply, awesome. All in all, Sam and I had an absolute blast at our wedding. We’ll always look back on it as truly the best day of our lives to date.

Wedding Photography: Yvonne Wong Photography / Wedding Venue: Farm Kitchen in Poulsbo, Washington / Event Planning: Alison Lum Events / Floral Design: Melanie Benson Floral Design / Officiant: Annemarie Juhlian / Catering: Essence of the Thymes Catering / Wedding Cake + Pies: Blackbird Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Hello! Lucky / Decorations: WindWishes / Ceremony Music: The Bottom Line Duo / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone “Chrysanthemum” / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Nadri / Bride’s Necklace: A Family Heirloom / Hair + Makeup: Shanelle of Pacific Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Stella & Dot / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

Seattle: land of great coffee, a world famous fish market, one season of The Real World and this. A cool as can be Sodo Park wedding captured by Laurel McConnell Photography. The eclectic vibe of the venue mixed with romantic florals by Bella Signature Design and vintage details whipped up by Holly-Kate and Company makes for a head-turner to say the least. And the full gallery is a total must.

And make sure you check out the video from Cabfare Productions!

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Laurel of Laurel McConnell Photography… Tiffany and Jon’s spectacular details started well before their plum and gray winter wedding, when Jon, a product designer, proposed with a children’s book he created featuring turtles in love. The personal tradition touches carried on throughout their Victorian-esque nuptials, from wedding bands imprinted with each other’s finger prints, to a wedding dress hanger featuring their names, to coffee favors for their guests (all from Etsy). Their caffeine love was further embraced with a reception espresso cart from Espresso Elegance. The bride’s breathtaking necklace and veil were found at BHLDN, and the groom and groomsmen’s ties and belts were from the couple’s favorite spot: Costco. Family and friends were at the forefront of the day with a friend acting as officiant, the groom’s sister singing during the ceremony, all the guests extending hands over their rings (in an adorable ring bowl by Paloma’s Nest) in blessing, and a guestbook quilt made up of their loved ones’ signatures. The pair, who met at a swing dance class, started the rockin’ party (quite appropriately) with a waltz. Tiffany and Jon’s whole day exuded their love for each other and the people closest to them, totally the perfect start to their marriage.

Wedding Photography: Laurel McConnell Photography / Wedding Venue: Sodo Park in Seattle, Washington / Floral Design: Bella Signature Design / Wedding Coordination: Holly-Kate and Company / Officiant: Stacy Sprando, A Friend of the Bride & Groom / Wedding Cinematography: Cabfare Productions / Catering: Herban Feast / Wedding Cake: The People’s Cake / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Nicole Mae Paper Design / DJ: Seattle Parties / Coffee Favors: Etsy / Transportation: British Motor Coach / Espresso Cart: Espresso Elegance / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Marcella’s La Boutique / Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Bride’s Necklace: BHLDN / Hanger: Lila Frances / Hair + Makeup: Erin Skipley / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Hickey Freeman via Nordstrom / Men’s Ties + Belts: Costco / Engagement Ring: Kwiat via Nordstrom / Wedding Bands: Fabuluster

Modern + Glamour are two things we can soooo get behind, especially when they are captured by Laurel McConnell Photography. Pops of color meet the Palace Ballroom. Ghost chairs intermingle with a candle lit ceremony where the aisle is lined with spider mums. It’s a MAJ moment all crafted by Married & More with Michelle along with florals and decor by Bella Rugosa that set the tone for a beautiful day. See so much more in the full gallery.

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From Laurel of Laurel McConnell Photography… We were so excited for Kristen and James’s downtown urban wedding in Seattle this October. They love and live in the city, so they wanted their celebration to feel like a Saturday night out downtown instead of a wedding, and the Palace Ballroom was the perfect choice. The affair was peppered with their love of art, music, and fashion. Kristen couldn’t wait to wear her fashionable Chie Miharas under her dress (they were a secret just for her and those who shared her affinity for amazing footwear, then she donned TOMS for the reception), the cake topper was a sweet touch of handmade whimsy, and their save-the-dates resembled concert tickets.

Mercury votive holders, translucent shell chandelier, chic pottery vases and long white fabric curtains brought her love of Anthropologie to the wintery and cozy ballroom. Modern acrylic ghost chairs were chosen for a touch of glam for the guests during the ceremony. For their “fabulous cocktail party” (direct quote!), Kristen and James chose food stations boasting the delicious food of famous chef and restauranteur Tom Douglas. James was most looking forward to the artisan grilled cheese with ingredients such as chanterelle mushrooms and Mt. Townsend Cirrus cheese. They each had a signature drink that was so very them: James chose a delicious microbrew, and Kristen chose a swanky cherry blossom martini with cranberry garnish.

And finally, the cake. This cake NEEDS an introduction. White, smooth, and modern on the outside, it was everything beautiful and classy a wedding cake should be. Surrounded by little bite-sized deserts, it made for a beautiful arrangement, topped with a whimsical piece of art — a love tree (they LOVE handcrafted local art!). But inside? It’s a party! Kristen loves rainbows, so she couldn’t WAIT to unveil this little piece of happiness to her guests. She actually compared her cake to a mullet: business on the outside and party on the inside. The celebration was beautiful and fun at the same time, and it was so VERY them!

Wedding Photography: Laurel McConnell Photography / Wedding Venue: Palace Ballroom in Seattle, Washington / Wedding Planning + Design: Married & More with Michelle / Floral Design + Decor: Bella Rugosa / Officiant: Rich Sclafani / Catering: Tom Douglas / Wedding Cake: Divine Confections / Wedding Invitations: Brittany Troxler / Save-the-Dates: MaeMae Paperie / DJ: Injoy Entertainment / Ghost Chairs + Linens: Pedersens Rentals / Accommodations: Hotel 1000 / Wedding Dress: Enzoani via Luly Yang / Bride’s Shoes: Chie Mihara / Hair + Makeup: Erin Skipley / Groom’s Suit: Nordstrom / Custom Rings: Green Lake Jewelry Works + Fremont Jewelry Design

Well, lovelies, it’s time to bid adieu to another wonderful week of inspiration here on SMP – and because we know so many of you have grand weekend plans that include sunshine and yummy holiday treats, we couldn’t think of a better way to wrap it all up than with this sweet, sweet photo shoot by Jessica May Photography.  Filled to the brim with lovely pink hues and some delectable desserts that are (almost) too pretty to eat, this darling ode to Spring will leave you smiling ’till we meet again on Monday.  So, join us in the gallery for all of the happy and then have a safe and fabulous holiday weekend! xoxo

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Jessica May Photography… I wanted to create a shoot to get everyone excited about spring! I hope you guys enjoy it!

Photography + Styling: Jessica May Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Chalk Studios in Seattle, Washington / Dessert Table: Dianne’s Delights / Vintage Luggage + Props: Scout Vintage Rentals / Paper Peony Bouquet: Dragonfly Expression / Bunny Cake Toppers: Indigo Twin Weddings / Vintage Cake Stands: Isabella Designs / Bow Tie: Tux & Tulle / Suspenders: French Knot Weddings / Porcelain Bunnies: Eco Elements / Paper Medallion Backdrop: Fleur de Lis Events & Catering Co. / Plastic Rabbit Masks: Costume Craze / Bride’s Headpiece: Erica Elizabeth Designs / Hair + Makeup: Kimberly of GlamourEyes Makeup Artistry International

In case you missed any, here are all of the pretty posts from the week…

a gorgeous Miami Beach affair
a pretty, pretty Tucson soiree
a fabulous Kona rehearsal dinner
a breathtaking Laguna Beach affair
a sweet desert inspiration shoot
a lovely Kenwood soiree
a day filled with eight gorgeous weddings
a beautiful Stonington affair
a breathtaking St. Helena wedding + film

Some fabulous links from around the web…

fabulous glittered wire name signs via Oh Happy Day
colorful Easter egg poppers via Camille Styles
fun DIY polka dot rug via A Beautiful Mess
yummy raspberry coconut macaroons via Smitten Kitchen

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Sugar Bowl Resort
The Carolina Inn
Devic Fotos
blueGuava Design Group
Smitten on Paper
Federal City Caterers
Liz Daley Events
Frocks

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here. We’d love to hear from you!

And, last, but certainly not least… we have a winner to announce!

The lucky winner of a $450 gift certificate to Your Dream Dress is Amanda! Congratulations!

Have a happy, happy weekend, lovelies!  We’ll see you back here Monday morning! xoxo

Wanting to throw a fabulous 400-person affair, but still maintain a more intimate feel, these stunning lovebirds turned to some of Seattle’s finest vendors to create the ballroom affair of their dreams.  The result?  A spectacular mix of traditional and vintage elements combined with the gorgeous stylings of Steven Moore Designs and the breathtaking images of Kate Price Photography.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Joe and I started to plan our wedding, we knew from the very beginning that we wanted the wedding to be as fun and relaxed as possible. There is an advantage to knowing your own shortcomings, and we knew that throwing a wedding for over 400 people in Seattle in February was going to be too big of an order for us on our own. We had just witnessed my brother and sister-in-law throw a gorgeous DIY wedding that summer, and we knew there was no way we could pull it off the way they did without having panic attacks. Joe and I decided to get married at University Presbyterian Church where my family had been going for years and my parents had also been married. We then settled on a reception at the Fairmont hotel because my mom had always loved it, it would fit all of our guests, and the Spanish ballroom was gorgeous. Then we turned to Steven Moore Designs for some serious help. Steven was able to listen to all of our opinions, likes, and dislikes about things for the wedding and was able to figure out an idea that would work for my parents as well as Joe and me. His arrangements were breathtaking, and each was just a little different, making you feel that this wasn’t a cookie cutter wedding, which is hard to do with 400 guests. I loved the special touch of old books scattered over the tables at the reception. Steven also did my bouquet, which turned out absolutely beautiful, and all I had told him was that I wanted white flowers! The man’s a wizard.

One of the things I was a little skittish about was having my picture taken all day long. There is something very nerve-wracking about being the center of attention, but Kate Price of Kate Price photography was not only able to make me relax in front of the camera, but have fun while we ran all over Seattle getting some amazing shots. It was a beautiful sunny day, but it was also February, and somehow Kate managed to get some great pictures with us smiling instead of just shivering in the cold. This is a particularly amazing because my bridesmaids were on the brink of getting frostbite in the dresses I’d forced them to wear. The pictures she took of the wedding are absolutely breathtaking and she was able to capture the feel of the entire day for us.

Somehow we made it through the ceremony without any major flubs and then we were off to the reception, where we gorged ourselves and listened to some hilarious, but touching, speeches from my dad, sister, and new brother-in-law. They even composed a special poem for Joe and me. A personal touch we added: Joe and I met with Cortney Anderson-Sanford from Bar Seattle and worked with her on designing dessert bars that fit our specific tastes. Each guest got a little box with a bar in it that was labeled either “Joe’s Bar” or “Hayley’s Bar.” After dinner, we went straight for the dance floor, and that’s were we stayed for the rest of the night. We had a ton of younger people at the wedding, and the dance party definitely reflected that. I seem to remember a couple of the guys losing their shirts as the night went on. I loved that there was an air of celebration the entire day, and there was never a lull in energy. My mom had to actually make Joe and me leave the dance party so people could send us off before we ran out of time at the Fairmont. We just didn’t want it to end! It meant so much to Joe and me to get married surrounded by all of our friends and family in a beautiful setting. We didn’t have to worry about details and only had to think about each other, and I think that’s extremely important in any wedding.  It would never have been so perfect without all the wonderful people we had helping us along the way and for that I am eternally thankful.

Wedding Photography: Kate Price Photography / Ceremony: University Presbyterian Church Seattle in Seattle, Washington / Reception: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Steven Moore Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Mew Films / Wedding Invitations: Dolce Designs Studio / Wedding Dress: Jenny Lee Bridal / Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender

A weekend-long celebration is ALWAYS a fabulous way to start a marriage and these Seattle nuptials hit the ball right out of the park.  Vibrant colors, fantastic food and the blending of two cultures and families… it just doesn’t get any better than that.  Thankfully, Ryan Flynn Photography captured every last loving moment and the gallery is overflowing with pretty, pretty details for us to peruse.  Join me there, won’t you?

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our family and friends were really the inspiration for our wedding. It was our hope to throw a wedding that was a celebration of thanks to those who had gotten us this far. Almost every guest at the wedding was someone one of us had known for 10 years or longer. Blending our two cultures and families was fun and seamless. We had two days of celebration that started Friday night with an Indian Mehndi night and ended with Italian cannoli and a dance party at our reception, where our two families really became one. Friday events started early as I began my Mehndi at 9 a.m. My husband and his groomsman did all the cooking for the evening’s event and worked up until the last minute frying samosas and cooking other Indian treats. When the evening arrived, everything was perfect. Friends and family mingled and had henna applied to their hands and feet. We gave bangles to all the female guests, and my bridesmaids each wore a sari fitting to their personalities. My mother-in-law gave me a beautiful set of jewelry that she had bought years ago in Pakistan. Coincidentally, I picked a sari that almost matched the sari she wore when she first met my father-in-law. We also served Coke in glass bottles at the event to recognize my in-laws’ wedding anniversary, as they had served Coke as a treat for their guests 37 years before. As a surprise, our wedding party choreographed an Indian dance for our Mehndi night.

Food is very important to us both, which is why we choose Palace Ballroom as our Saturday civil ceremony and reception site. The venue is owned and catered by Tom Douglas, a well-known chef here in Seattle. He also owns many of the restaurants where we went on some of our first dates. Having food at our wedding that reminded us of the early stages of our relationship was really a treat for us. We both wanted to keep with tradition and not see each other till the ceremony, but we did have a chance to talk between walls before the start. I am so happy our photographer caught the moment. The day was filled with love and emotion. We had filled the venue with candles, as well as fresh flowers from Pike Place Market. The judge who married us was the same one who married my husband’s brother a few years back.

At the reception, our family and friends gave the most thoughtful toasts, and our fathers signed the marriage license as our witnesses. Dancing was hugely important to our wedding. Since I was little, I had dreamed of dancing with my father to the song “Hey There” from the musical Pajama Game. My father was a single parent who raised me always surrounded by the love of our family and friends — Hey There has always been our song. My oldest friend’s father and brother are both talented musicians so while they sang and played the piano, my father and I finally had our father-daughter dance. It was such a moment of gratitude and thanks between the two of us, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. Additionally, my 89-year-old grandma had gotten married six months earlier in a private ceremony, and so we asked her and her new husband (who is 91!) to come up after our first dance for a first dance of their own. It was amazing to see them dance and their love was an inspiration for us all. Last but not least, my maid of honor caught the bouquet and two months later, got engaged! Our wedding was more then we could have asked for. Our real wish now is to have a marriage as beautiful as our wedding day!

Mehndi Night + Wedding Photography: Ryan Flynn Photography / Mehndi Preparation Photography: Kylie Springman / Friday Night Mehndi Venue: Mercer Island Community & Event Center on Mercer Island, Seattle, Washington / Saturday Night Wedding Venue: Palace Ballroom in Seattle, Washington / Flowers: Pike Place Market / Event Design + Planning: DIY / Day-Of Coordinator: Megan Clark of Clutch Events / Wedding Invitations: Merchants Design + Amyn Hakam / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Veil: Jennifer Leigh / Shoes: Badgley Mischka “Kiwi” / Mehndi: Sha Beauty

If there is one definite detail that sets my wedding-loving heart all a pitter patter, it would be a long, gorgeous, family style table. And if you place this long, gorgeous, family style table out in a pretty field somewhere and sit all your loved ones around to eat, drink and toast to your newly crowned marriage all whilst being captured by Joann Arruda Photography; then I’m a total goner. Off to the land that wedding dreams are made of. Lucky you, there’s a passport to this fabulous land. It’s called the FULL gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Patrick and I were set up on a blind date six years ago. I guess you could say his Irish accent was charming because a year later we were happily together and had traveled to both Ireland and Sweden to meet both of our families. Shortly after our travels, we discovered Winthrop, Washington, in the Methow Valley. We instantly fell in love with the natural beauty of the North Cascade mountains, the incredible river, and most of all the unique and relaxing lifestyle. Long story short, it was a dream come true when we bought what we now call our “Ranch on the River.” When deciding where to have our wedding this year, Patrick and I were torn about the location. Would it be Sweden? Would it be Ireland? Then we realized that we wanted our families to experience our wild West, mountain lifestyle.  

The first thing I did after that was to hire Joann Arruda of Joann Arruda Photography. Having known and worked with Joann for over ten years, she was obviously the perfect fit for our intimate destination wedding in Winthrop. I wanted the feeling of the wedding to be rustic and elegant, but I wanted the night before to be a down-home “Round-Up” at the Twisp River Pub. Barbecue salmon, chicken, organic greens and local beer were served, and of course, there lots of dancing.  

On the wedding day, guests arrived at 5 p.m. for river-side cocktails, hor d’oeuvres and live jazz music. The ceremony  took place at our favorite spot, a clearing in the woods at the bend in the river, where our guests gathered around us for a pre-sunset, natural exchange of vows. The amazing Jillian Speer, a childhood friend, sang “An Angel Among Us”  and left not a dry eye in the crowd. The dinner table was a big part of the night. I knew I wanted one incredibly long table set for a hundred guests in the middle of the field. It was filled with homemade wood cut plate chargers from Roger, a local craftsman, and fresh-cut flowers by Fawn Meadow Design. We procured rusty horse shoes from the local horse ranch and tied guests’ name cards with straw to the bamboo chairs for guests seating arrangements. The dinner was brought to life by Christine Pottle of the Wandering Cafe, whose staff served a fresh beet salad, hanger steak, grilled prawns and huge platters of fingerling potatoes and local veggies.  The Swedish and Irish wedding traditions were added with singing songs and lots of toasting with Irish whiskey and Swedish aquavit. We did not have a wedding cake, and instead served fresh-baked summer fruit cobblers served with vanilla ice cream. The Irish and the Swedes are all about dancing, so little did we know, the night had only just begun when The Nines, Seattle’s best cover band, hit the stage. It was a mid-summer night’s dream. 

Wedding Photography: Joann Arruda Photography / Flowers: Fawn Meadow Design / Catering: Kristine Pottle of The Wandering Cafe / Jazz Band: Gravity / Ceremony Music: Jillian Speer / Reception Band: The Nines / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via La Belle Elaine’s / Earrings: Hammerman Brothers / Chairs + Table Rentals: AA Party Rentals / Sawed Log Chargers: Roger Rowatt of Homestead Custom Sawmilling (509-996-2778)

As a fellow detail-obsessed DIYer, I am positively falling down in adoration for this handcrafted Seattle wedding.  Each pretty little detail you see below was made with lots of love by the adorable bride from the fabric rosettes and paper flower centerpieces to the home-baked cookies!  Of course, as amazing as she is, she couldn’t do everything by herself.  All of her hard work and months of crafting were captured so delightfully by Abbey Hepner Photography.  Click here to see all the images in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Please excuse me for being cliché, but my favorite memory of the day was the ceremony. The entire room disappeared and it was just the three of us. I knew my friends and family were there, but all my attention was focused on Chris and his daughter. The comment that I hear the most often is how great it was that we were able to incorporate Chris’ daughter into the ceremony. It’s her family, too, and we wanted to make sure she was a part of our vows and our commitment to each other. It was lovely.

The details — oh, the details! Yes, I was obsessed with them. I’ve loved milk glass for years, so I knew that my centerpieces had to be in milk glass. I really found lots of my ideas for details from searching wedding blogs. It was a fun time, and I almost miss having an excuse to read through the blogs all the time. (Though maybe I still do. Don’t tell!) I made fabric flowers for the tables, tissue paper flowers for the centerpieces, and hanging fabric poms for the ceiling. I also baked the cookies and made the Rice Krispie treats and rock candy. (I could not have done all this without the help from my family and friends!) However, I think the most important thing to know about the details is how little they really mattered on my wedding day. Don’t get me wrong — I noticed them and I was happy my little crafty things were there, but I was at my wedding with the man I love, all my family and friends, and an amazing band! The food was great, and there were donuts — really, what more do you need!?

My advice to brides isn’t necessarily to start early and DIY everything, unless you love that kind of thing (which I do, and if you are going to DIY a lot of your wedding, do start early). My advice is to make your day your own. Of course, take into account the comfort and enjoyment of your guests, but don’t sweat the small stuff. They’ll like vegan donuts if that’s what you serve. In fact, they’ll eat them even before you and your groom have your “donut cutting” and rave about them for weeks to come. Don’t overdo it either. I had planned to do all my own flowers (the dahlias were grown by my uncle!), but a few days before the wedding, I realized that I was overwhelmed. I was lucky enough to hire Finch and Thistle to do my flowers and it was the best last-minute decision I made. Also, make sure you have a detailed schedule for the day. Provide copies to your photographer,  your venue and anyone else you think might need one, and then let the day unfold. I did not worry about time at all on that day. It was the best way to let go and enjoy my guests and my wedding day! My last bit of advice: choose all your vendors well, especially your photographer. The photos will live on forever! (Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Abbey!) It was such a fun, love-filled day. And you know what? If something went wrong, no one told me about it, which was brilliant. Enjoy it — it will be over in a flash!

Wedding Photography: Abbey Hepner Photography / Photo Assistant: Heather Dow / Wedding Venue + Catering: Alexis Hotel in Seattle, Washington / Florist: Finch And Thistle Event Design / Groom’s Attire: Canali via Nordstrom / Wedding Gown: Demetrios “Ilissa” via Blue Sky Bridal / Girl’s Attire: Dimples via Zulily / Hair: Shaina Marx / Makeup: Nikki Reign / Wedding Invitations: Agnes Gomez, A Friend of the Bride / Paper Flowers, Cloth Adornments, Candy Buffet + Details: DIY by the Bride / Donuts: Mighty-O Donut / Officiant: Heidi Calhoun, A Friend of the Groom / Musicians: Dara Sanchez and Band

A sure fire recipe for an amazing fête is to take a classic style and approach it in a a whole new, modern way and this Seattle wedding is doing just that. Soft, romantic colors and gorgeous, organic florals by Lilies and Lemondrops are blended with a sleek, modern venue for a knock our socks off affair. Photographed by Jennifer Tai Photo Artistry with second shooter Courtney Bowlden, this ode to pretty is resting in a sweet little spot in the gallery just for you. And a P.S. is in order for that scrumptious sleeved dress. We’re literally dying over that number. Ok now carry on with the perusing.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The primary inspiration behind the design of our wedding was the early-1930’s Art Modern style of the Seattle Asian Art Museum. One might describe it as sleek, chic, and streamlined. The smooth, white, stone blocks create a horizon that echoes the cascades across the way, while the aluminum and steel accents glisten like the sound. It is simply gorgeous, in the most literal way.  Given the minimalist nature of the venue, our aim was to achieve a harmonious balance between the clean lines of the building and the organic shapes of the flora that surrounded it.  The result was a natural, dreamy, soft, yet bold, summer-garden-party.  No specific colors or types of flowers were chosen for the wedding but the palette ended up consisting mostly of champagne-like shades with pink and green undertones. We wanted to marry the indoors with the outdoors so we set up luxurious white cabanas on each side of the entrance to the museum, which added a whole new dimension to the party.

Ironically, my dress choice had nothing to do with the wedding.  To my misfortune (fortune?), the bridal salon that I bought my dress from mistakenly ordered an entirely different dress, leaving me with no dress three weeks before the wedding.  After exhausting every store that sold dresses in Seattle, I turned to the Internet where I surprisingly ended up finding the most perfect dress.  I still can’t believe how lucky I was!

I’m not that girl that’s been dreaming of her wedding since she was five but I knew that if I ever got married that I would have Professor Takemoto from Whitman College officiate the ceremony.  He has taught me so much about Japanese language, history, and culture. More importantly, he has taught and continues to teach me how to think about life from a Buddhist perspective.  David and I didn’t want a religious ceremony but given the venue it seemed appropriate.  Professor Takemoto spoke of love, life, and nature and the interconnectedness of the universe. It was absolutely beautiful.

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Seattle Asian Art Museum / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Tai Photo Artistry / Second Photographer: Courtney Bowlden / Wedding Planner: Chambers & Co. / Florals: Lilies and Lemondrops / Catering: Taste Catering & Event Planning / Ceremony Music: SuperSones / Reception Music: Emerald City Productions / Lounge + Cabana Furnishings: Rented Elegance / Tents: AA Party / Linens: BBJ Linen / Hair + Make-up: Swink Style Bar / Bridal Gown: Elizabeth Fillmore via Preownedweddingdresses.com / Menswear: La Belle Elaine’s

We are keeping this Justin & Mary pretty train a rollin’ with a stop in Seattle and a Water for Elephants inspiration shoot.  Yep, I know… I am excited, too.  And just wait until you take in the vibrant pink hues, uber-romantic florals by Bella Signature Design and circus-themed sweets table, complete with cotton candy.  Believe me, you won’t be able to contain your glee.  All set against the urban backdrop of SoDo Park, this shoot gives a whole new meaning to the word fabulous.  Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Justin & Mary… As we were preparing the west coast stops on our tour, the movie, Water For Elephants, had just come out in theaters.  We decided to use the movie as inspiration for our Seattle stop, but we didn’t just want to do a circus theme, we wanted to do something a little darker, a little grittier so we used dark red, cream, and dusty pink for our colors.  We decorated with popcorn, lollipops, cotton candy and striped table cloths.  We created a kissing booth for our bridal party and served five different signature drinks named after different circus performers.  We served sno-cones for dessert and used mini galvanized buckets as our place cards. 

Photography: Justin & Mary / Venue: SoDo Park / Florals + Styling: Bella Signature Design / Paper Suite: Lifework Media / Hair + Make-up: Kathy Evans Beauty Studio / Hair Accessories: Lo Boheme / Bridal Gown: La Belle Elaine’s / Linens: Linens by Alice / Place Settings: Totally Tabletops / Models: Chelsea & Trevor / Style Interns: Bunn Salarzon + Dianne Dotter / Other: Laura Marchbanks (Huge thank you!! She is just about the sweetest girl we know!!)

Call me crazy, but never once has it passed my little wedding-loving mind that a penthouse suite would be THE perfect setting for an intimate and unforgettable wedding day. That is, until today when I spotted this perfectly elegant, perfectly cozy, and perfectly stunning affair. If I ever renew my vows, this my friends, would be the way. I love how the suite was essentially kept as is, complete with comfy furniture and one amazing fireplace and I have to admit, I’m slightly jealous of each and every one of their forty guests. Kip Beelman Photography captured all the gorgeous elements and if you’re like me and loving every inch, meet me in the gallery for a good, old fashioned swoon fest and check out what Kip had to say here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kip Beelman Photography…The couple celebrated their small, intimate affair at the iconic Sorrento Hotel in Seattle, Washington with its warm and welcoming Italianate architecture and legacy as the city’s longest running boutique hotel. The ceremony was held atop the Sorrento rooftop terrace with the Seattle skyline and waterfront playing 2nd fiddle as they said their vows and committed their love in front of 40 guests on a perfect August evening.

Passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served in the richly appointed Sorrento Room after the ceremony whilst the Penthouse Suite was transformed into an elegant environment bar none to host their 3-course reception dinner provided by the hotel’s own celebrated Hunt Club amidst the glow of Glassybaby votives and tables named after the desirable Seattle neighborhoods.

The bride and groom wanted a soft, vintage look with lots of texture and unexpected floral elements such as succulents and nigella pods.  Rachel of Finch and Thistle used her collection of vintage milk glasses for vased and then decorated with vintage books and mason jars in the fireplace and on the cocktail tables.  The Penthouse was left “as-is” with it’s cozy furniture and fireplace to welcome guests before being “turned” into the reception location.

Wedding Photography: Kip Beelman Photography / Floral Design: Finch and Thistle / Wedding Cakes: B&O Espresso / Decor: Glassybaby / Favors: Fran’s Chocolates / Hair + Make-up: Intermezzo Salon / Jewelry: E.E. Robbins / Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Location + Event Planning: Sorrento Hotel / Officiant: Len Smolen of Your Wedding – Your Way / Pianist: Jerry Frank / Dress Boutique: La Belle Elaine’s

Today is a very special day and we want to do our part to honor and remember on this Veterans Day by celebrating some beautiful military weddings.  We’ll start the morning off with one of the sweetest DIY military weddings we’ve ever seen.  This Seattle beauty by Andria Lindquist is full of romance and precious hand-crafted details created by the talented bride.  These high school sweethearts spent their engagement miles apart and the joy on their faces on their special day is just the most darling thing ever!  Click here to see all the details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Andria Lindquist…Katie and Tanner are high school sweethearts and that rare case that it actually meant and turned into something. These two are more like best friends than anything and have been patient for this day. Tanner is an exceptional leader and protector, has the temperament of a mid-west gentleman and treats Katie like gold. They have spent the past years of their relationship across the country from each other – she, here in WA and he in Virginia at the Citadel Military College. They were apart for the entire wedding planning process and Katie took on the task of planning every detail and DIY aspect of their wedding.

The day was sunny and hot, both the bridal party and groomsmen got ready in this beautiful country estate with the most wonderful light peeking into each room. The guys played foosball and the girls ate M&M’s and drank champagne. When Katie and Tanner finally got to see each other it was so sweet…that is the only word. They are pure giggles and smiles with each other, they are so wonderful to shoot. The entire day, she was so relaxed (almost too much!….they had to tell her to brush her hair, ha) The ceremony was sweet and the pastor shared a lot about their relationship and how long they’ve waited for this day. The guests played lawn games and enjoyed drinks after the ceremony and after toasts from elementary and lifelong friends, the biggest and best dance party went down. It was an incredible celebration to attend and shoot.

From the Bride…Tanner proposed to me in December. Because he wouldn’t receive his orders from the US Marine Corps to report to OCS until May, we had to play it safe and set out date for June 12th. That gave us just less than 6 months to plan the wedding. Added to that, Tanner was still in South Carolina until May, so I was in Seattle planning our wedding. Until I got engaged I had never thought about what I wanted my wedding to be like and had no idea how much goes into it. Luckily I had a few friends who could teach me how to make decisions and plan a wedding. I was also working with a budget of $15,000 which was enough to have an awesome wedding, but I had to get a little creative.

When I started planning our wedding, Tanner and I had a conversation about what we each wanted out of our wedding. We decided that we wanted a short, meaningful ceremony, and then a dance party. Because of that I focused most of the budget on food, drinks, and entertainment so I frequented DIY blogs to make up for it in other areas. I had a great time with the more creative projects of the wedding. My family helped me to make our centerpieces which were wine bottle candles with corks, rocks and mirrors. It was all beautiful and very cost effective (I bought most of it from IKEA). My favorite projects that I took on however, were my bouquet, hairpiece and bridesmaid gifts. My bouquet which was made out of brooches from my family and friends was just a meaningful project which turned out beautifully. I really wanted all of my accessories to be unique and special and with a necklace from my mom, my bouquet, the hairpiece I made, and a sash made by a good friend, it was all perfect.

If I were to give advice to any bride without a planner and doing a lot of DIY projects I would say definitely do no procrastinate. That caused me a lot of unneeded stress. Also, don’t sweat the little stuff. You could go on and on making more little signs and detailed decorations but that will only get expensive and stressful. Lastly, just have a great time. On my wedding day I decided that I just wasn’t going to care about anything except Tanner and the people I love that came to celebrate with us. Because of that I had probably the best day of my life and everything was wonderful!

Venue + Catering: Lord Hill Farms / Wedding Prep: French Creek Estates / Flowers: Janelle’s Flowers and Gifts / Wedding Cupcakes/Cake: Bride’s Aunt, Darlene / Linens: BBJ Linens / DJ: DJ RT, Ryan Tilton / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Wedding Dress: Sally Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Naughty Monkey / Hair + Make-up: Friends / Bouquet: DIY / Wedding Photography: Andria Lindquist

 

You’re going to laugh at me. Well no, first you’ll gasp, then you’ll laugh. I don’t have a big sweet tooth. I know, I know.  As a wedding blogger, who oohs and aahs over beautiful cakes and cupcakes daily (I really do love looking at them), I should love sweets. But I just don’t. And that leads me to – I was very naive about the options out there for cupcake wrappers. Bake them in a white paper wrapper, and call it a day. Well, a few weeks ago, we featured some awesome tablescape inspiration. And my eye went straight to the fantastic cupcake wrappers. Designed by one of our fabulous LBB members, Bella Cupcake Couture, they were SO not white paper wrappers. I fell in love, and maybe even had a rare cupcake that night. So I asked Carrie of Bella Cupcake to sit down with me so I could share my epiphany with all my favorite LBBers.

1. Who is Bella Cupcake Couture? And what is it exactly that you do?

Bella Cupcake Couture offers “Fashion for cupcakes”. We created chic and stylish textile-inspired cupcake wrappers for all special occasions. Our boutique-style designs add a touch of sophistication and elegance for any event. Each cupcake wrapper is printed with soy inks on recycled paper. So we’re not just a pretty face, we’re also eco-friendly. We are frequently complimented on our quality and great service. We are very proud as it is at our core to provide the best styles, service and products! Our hope is that our Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers bring smiles to our clients and the ones they care about.

2. Why cupcake wrapper design?

I have always enjoyed having friends & family over for special parties. It’s fun to think of all the little details that will make them feel extra special. One evening a friend complimented me on my party planning and décor skills and she wanted to know “how to do it?” I started thinking how could I make it easier for her and others who want to have parties but aren’t really baker/party planner types. Then I somehow became obsessed with wanting something fashionable for the bottom portion of my cupcakes. I always said “Why should the frosting have all the limelight?”

Now it’s easy for someone who does or even a person who doesn’t enjoy baking. They can simply bake or buy a cupcake and set inside to add that instant decoration every party planner is looking for.

3. What is your favorite kind of project to do?

We enjoy being a part of our client’s special events. We work frequently with brides and party planners who put together the best table displays for their clients. It’s important to us that they receive a “Wow” response from their guests and we make it so easy for them to create a beautiful table top display or incorporate into a candy buffet. We enjoy helping our clients to plan different color combinations and designs which will work together. We also enjoy hearing what new designs our clients would like us to add to our collection. We received so many requests for zebra print and cheetah that we knew we had to add it to our line. And now they are one of our best sellers.

4. What is your absolute favorite part of a wedding?

The cake of course! Every cake display is so different, we enjoying seeing how creative couples become when having their cupcake/cake display designed. From soft subtle elegance to bright & cheery. I also enjoy when they have a special song playing while cutting their cake. You also get a glimpse into the couple on how they “share” the cake; will they be kind and not smush the cake in each others face or will their playful side come out? It is definitely one of my favorite moments (aside from then eating the cake, of course).

5. What advice do you have for the newly engaged?

Plan a wedding that is perfectly “you” together. Tell a story on the day that speaks to how you met and what your life together is and will be like. It’s easy to add little details that mean something to you both together and that your guests who know you both well will adore. Then just relax and enjoy!

Cupcake Wrappers: Bella Cupcake Couture / Photography: Wenmei Hill Photography

Wenmei Hill Photography

This Seattle wedding is probably one of my favorite ballroom celebrations ever.  I just adore the creamy palette, shimmery, metallic details and classic feel with a modern twist.  Gone are the days of frumpy bridesmaids dresses at least that is the case with the spectacular all-white, glam-tastic, chic attire these lovely ladies donned for the big event.  And these images by Andria Lindquist are just delicious!  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

Of course, you can’t possibly leave without seeing this fantastic fete come to life in Alec Cattarin’s lovely film…

 

From the Bride…Luckily I married John cause otherwise the wedding would have never gotten planned.  I am a medical student at the UW and was in the midst of my third year spending 80 hours a week in the hospital which did not leave a lot of time to plan a wedding.  John really stepped up to the plate.  He researched everything and then together we made the final decisions.  We hired our dream photographer out of a list of 40+ photographers in our area and Andria was amazing to work with, in addition the day was captured on video by the very talented Alec Cattarin.

It was important to me that our spaces be beautiful stand alone, not needing much added decor on the day. John stumbled upon the Women’s University Club and the second we stepped foot in the door we knew this was our venue, the staff was incredible to work with. The formality and the elegance reminded me of my childhood in Boston, and was exactly my style. We got married at the City Church in the University district which is a beautiful historical building. We had two receptions; a Korean buffet following the church for 250+ guests and then a private smaller sit down dinner at the Women’s University Club for 85.  John is the eldest son of a Korean family, we surprised and honored them by wearing traditional Korean wedding attire to the Korean food reception.

I really wanted my bridesmaids and mom to feel elegant and pampered on the day which the team of three sisters, the owners of Sorella’s Salon and Spa completely accomplished.  The whole day was absolutely the best day of my life, there is nothing I would have changed.

Wedding Photography: Andria Lindquist / Second Shooter: Jeramie Shoda / Wedding Videography: Alec Cattarin / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier via Marcella’s / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Korean Hanbok: Handmade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Eliza J via Nordstrom / Bridesmaid Necklaces: Ann Taylor / Hair + Make-up: Sorella Salon & Spa / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Ceremony: City Church University District / Donuts: Mighty O / Private Reception: Women’s University Club / Catering + Strawberry Shortcake: Chef Tino / Music: Vic Peters One Man Band / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: A Flower Shop / Alter Flowers + Reception Centerpieces: DIY / Invitations: Jay Sudarma / Rings: Sholdt Design / Honeymoon: Kauai

We’ve got just the wedding to cure any Monday morning blues you may be experiencing at this very moment and it is fun with a capital F and totally swoon worthy with shades of pink around each and every pretty corner. And this, my friends is what it looks like when a talented wedding planner gets married. With gorgeous images from Riso Studio and beyond beautiful design and planning by Clutch Events, this modern and playful fete is sure to get your morning started on the right foot. See each and every last detail here in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…As a wedding planner I always ask my brides to describe to me the ‘vibe & style’ they want to experience on the day of their wedding for themselves and their guests. I receive responses such as ‘elegant & sophisticated’, ‘care free & relaxed’, ‘romantic & classic’…but hands down, no matter what, the one word I always here is ‘fun’. I was not of original thought when I began to plan my own wedding. I wanted this to be the most FUN wedding anyone had been to! I wanted it to be a PARTY! So with that in mind my eager fiancé and I began to plan the fun on our engagement night!

My boyfriend of 4 ½ years and I had planned a party at our apartment on Friday the 15th for no reason at all other than to have a party. It wasn’t until that afternoon when I was cleaning the apartment when Sean came home with food and drinks for the party. To my surprise he also came home with the engagement ring that now sits on my finger!!  The ‘its Friday night, so why not have a party’ became our official engagement celebration and that’s where the planning began. The 1st item that made our wedding special was that after a few hours of drinking two of our best friends said ‘we should be the flower girl and ring bearer!!’…that would be Jake and Pat, both over 6’ tall and quickly reaching 30 years old. Done and done! Having those two arm in arm skipping down the aisle was a highlight for many guests!

We started the event by having guests get a signature drink, sitting down at their tables that they would sit later for dinner and enjoying a drink while they watched us get married! I LOVED the ceremony! It was short and sweet, about 10 minutes, but we packed it full of greatness. The best part was that we had this whole thing planned of doing a “shout out to the gays” about how we feel humbled to be able to get married and we hope to live in a country where everyone can have the same opportunity, etc. Well, NY passed same sex marriage the day before and our officiant (through the power of the internet) held up the NY Times and the crowd went wild! It was perfect! I only welled up once when my 8 year godson, Hudson read an EE Cummings poem, “I Carry Your Heart”…he can’t pronounce his ‘r’s quite yet and to hear him read it was the most adorable thing on the planet! Oh, and we excited down the aisle to James Brown, “I Feel Good” and had an impromptu mini dance off down the aisle, too fun!!

In close, I LOVED my wedding! I simply loved it! It was the best time ever! I don’t think I stopped smiling once. It was SO fun! We had in a single room all of the people we loved and they were there to celebrate us. It was amazing!

Wedding Photography: Shannon Rice of Riso Studio / Flowers: AnnaMay Dutton / Event Design + Planning: Clutch Events / Day of Coordination: Parker Events + Sublime Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: 415 Westlake / Invitations: Red Sparrow /Reception Paper Product + Detail Goodness: Heather Driscoll of Heathoriginal / Bride’s Shoes: Betsy Johnson / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel at Belltown Bride / Hair + Belt: Jen Carrigan of Violet Magpie / Rings: Seattle Diamonds / Colored Votive Holders: Glassybaby / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Desserts: Top Pot Doughnuts, The Confectional + Tallant House / Band: Rewind / Caterer: Green Apple Events & Catering / Hair: Jamie O’Neil Salon / Make-up: Sequoia Leopold of My Flawless Tan & Makeup /Photobooth: Atomic Photobooth

When a bride and groom zip-line into their wedding day festivities, you know it’s going to be a really good time. And all of the yummy DIY details, gorgeous custom dress and donuts from this Washington wedding are just added bonuses. Stephanie Haller Photography sent this bash our way and I don’t know if I’ve ever been so smitten with a wedding. It is rather unhealthy, I think, to fall so hard but all of the bright colors and the cool couple just do it for me. See more of the day here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Stephanie Haller Photography..Since the age of eight, Cydney has had a passion for sewing and it was only natural that fabric and paper played a large part of their wedding. Elegant, simple, and comfortable, the wedding was on a five acre private farm that featured chickens, a giant tree house with a zipline, a hammock, and acres of lawn perfect for croquet, bocce and horseshoes.

Cydney made the vast majority of the decorations and details herself, with help from family and friends. The handmade burlap tablecloths were covered with small, square vintage floral tablecloths that were borrowed from friends or bought at antique stores. The invitations were hand-sewn, napkins made from thrift store bed sheets and had appliquéd beautiful flowers cut from fabric scraps from her fabric bin. All banners and signs were printed on a yellow polka-dot sheet . Thrift store ottomans, too. Favors were 150 paper pinwheels Cydney and her sisters made out of vintage-inspired double sided paper. These also served as part of the table centerpieces. Like the rest of the decorations, the backdrop for the photobooth was made by Cydney, as well.

Dessert bar featured gourmet hot chocolate (complete with toppings), mini-cupcakes, homemade chocolate truffle cookies, key lime tartlets, shortbread cookies, and plenty of candy for the little ones.  Almost everything was gluten-free.

Wedding Photography: Stephanie Haller Photography / Music: $4 Shoe / Caterer: Dish It Out Catering / Flowers: Sister of the Bride / Event Design, Planning, Invitations, Shoes, Wedding Dress: The Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence / Jewelry: Green Lake Jewelry / Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth

Right off the bat I’m in love with this wedding when I see its rainbow of blush colored bridesmaid dresses. And then I see the pink and white flowers, the beyond beautiful dress, the gorgeous church, and yes, the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and I’m officially in full on wedding crush mode this afternoon. Captured to perfection by Riso Studio, this Seattle nuptial has single-handedly resurrected my love of all things traditional. See even more here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…For me, the vision for our wedding day came together as soon as I saw our reception venue. We wanted to have a classic wedding but with modern influences and the spectacular stained-glass ceiling in the Northern Lights Dome Room of the Arctic Club Hotel was the perfect compliment to our classic but modern wedding.  The colors incorporated into the ceiling of the dome became my palette and inspired details in the table decor, flowers, bridesmaids dresses, invitations and ceremony programs.

Some of my favorite memories of the wedding-experience are those leading up to the day.  Weddings are a reflection of love between the couple as well as the family and friends who surround them. The love and attention by our family and friends was overwhelmingly evident by the effort and hours my Mom and I spent making runners for our tables, the planning my sister put into organizing our engagement and bachelorette parties, the time my Fiancé and Dad took off work to attend vendor meetings, the bridesmaids assembly line putting together welcome boxes, the multiple car-trips to and from Spokane by my future in-laws, and the distance traveled by our wedding guests over a holiday weekend. They are all contributors to the success and beauty of our wedding day.

Wedding Photography: Riso Studio, Shannon Rice / Wedding Cinematography: Bogle Productions / Flowers: Anna’s Flowers / Event Design + Planning: VOWS Wedding & Event Planning, Katy Griffiths / Robes: Pretty Plum Sugar / Ceremony Location: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church / Reception Location: The Arctic Club Hotel, Northern Lights Dome Room / Wedding Invitations: Self Designed, Printed via Crane / Bride’s Shoes: Isola / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Hair: Johana Storz / Make-up: Kathy Evans Beauty Studio

Seattle is fabulous. It’s moody, it’s lovely, and any place that can boast houses the original Starbucks is good in my book. But this wedding, captured by the talented Keri Doolittle Photography, was just what that gorgeous Pacific Northwest city needed. A little pop of color to break through the clouds, a bit bit of whimsy to compliment the city by the sea. Who knew Seattle could get even better? Make sure to save loads of time to check out the full affair in the gallery!

Nick proposed on our one year anniversary, amongst the waves, warm breeze, and sunset of Puerto Vallarta.  It was truly magical – and the start of an incredible engagement for both of us.  I lucked out by having a groom who was with me the entire planning process: from vendor meetings to detailed decisions, we both had input on our amazing day.

We decided not only did we want to include our entire family and friends in the celebration, but we wanted them to have fun.  I still leaned towards tradition, however – which resulted in our theme of “Classic Fun.”  Our colors were the first decision we made.  While researching photographers, we were inspired by photos our photographer took at a wedding in Arizona … the bright mix of colors just screamed fun.  As soon as we saw those colors, we realized that this was the look we were going for.  With wedding colors of teal, orange and fuchsia, we were on our way to having a vision!

Having a large wedding of nearly 250 guests limited our locations for the wedding.  I was still partial to a church wedding, and as soon as we pulled up to the Hall at Fauntleroy, I realized it was right across the street from a church I had visited before, where my beloved aunt attended.  A butterfly flew right in front of me, from the hall to the church: it was a sign, as I was very close to my aunt Katherine, who passed away from cancer just 34 days after I met Nick.  We visited the Hall, and instantly knew it would be the perfect location for our wedding reception: located in Seattle, large enough to hold 250 guests, and walking distance from a family church; it was destined to be our spot.

Quite a few of our vendor decisions happened under similar circumstances – as soon as we met with the vendor, we knew instantly they were “the one.”  We lucked out across the board, and the wedding was just how we envisioned it, thanks to the hard work of many people.  Two of our bridesmaids even pitched in to make a bunch of decorations for us: bunting for the reception hall, a sign for programs, and ribbon sticks for our getaway.

Two of the biggest surprises of the evening were our cake and photo booth.  What started out as a groom’s cake joke, ended up being a fun twist for our cake: we served Ding Dongs instead of traditional wedding cake.  For as long as he can remember, Nick has received a box of Ding Dongs from his family on his birthday.  Neither of us are cake aficionados, so it was a perfect way for us to save money and it was fun.

The photo booth was another fun addition: we decided instead of a guest book and favor, it would work perfectly… it also gave our guests an activity while dinner was being served.   Half of the photo booth strip was put in an album, where guests signed and left messages for us.  We couldn’t have asked for anything more on the biggest day of our lives, than to be surrounded by friends and family whom we loved and admired.  It was just how we imagined the day: classic, fun … and perfect.

Wedding Coordinators: Happily Ever After / Church: Fauntleroy UCC / Reception: The Hall at Fauntleroy / Catering: Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes / Flowers: Raul at Admiral Metropolitan Market / DJ: Jeff Koenigs / Cake: Sugar Rush / Videographer: Linear Urban Kings Art / Photobooth: 321 Foto / Photography:  Keri Doolittle Photography

Alas, another week of gorgeous eye candy for you LBB-loving wedding-aholics has come to a close. And though we enjoy the weekend just as much as the next wedding junky (after all, so many of your fabulous fêtes take place during the two day break from the work week) we’re just as excited for Monday morning when we get to start all over again. But we could never just bid you adieu with no sweet farewell – so today we are giving you a little sneak at this adorable couple’s engagement sesh via Carol Harrold Photography. How much do you want to jump into these sweet pictures and snuggle up with your sweetie in that awesome field? I know I do! See you Monday loves. xoxo

Photography Courtesy of Carol Harrold Photography, click here for even more!

The whole week of wedding bliss, in case you missed it:

a prewedding film from Sydney that is bound to take you to new heights
a bit of Parisian inspiration in our very own nation’s capital
a sweet bit of soiree inspiration in Portland
a totally chic New York affair with a touch of Gatsby
a beyond beautiful Lake Tahoe Inspiration to Reality shoot
a gorgeously eclectic Massachusetts autumnal beauty
a classy + timeless beach wedding on Kaiwah Island
a Savannah military charmer with mom’s own wedding dress
a super gorgeous, champagne hued Scottsdale affair
a pretty in polka dots Temecula wedding with style

Some links we’re loving from around the web:

a Brooklyn boathouse wedding so chic we can’t stop staring via Once Wed
a potato stamp that could totally translate to some fab DIY invites via Young House Love
a huge contest from DIOR on the SMP main page, don’t forget to enter!

With style bursting from its seams and a whole slew of cute details, this Seattle wedding is sure to inspire many a bride-to-be. Heck , it’s even inspiring this old married lady with the choice of reception dress. I would wear that puppy every day if I could. All the lovely images, snapped by Angela & Evan Photography, are sitting pretty in the gallery and just waiting for you to peruse so hop to it!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Walter proposed on Valentine’s Day at the Santa Monica Pier. We started to plan not only our wedding, but also our move from Los Angeles to Seattle. As we started to search for wedding venues in Seattle, we both knew we wanted a rustic venue merged with distinct elements of the Pacific Northwest. Having grown up most of my life in North Carolina, I always grew up around country music and sweet tea, and I wanted to integrate that into our wedding. Once we visited Sodo Park for the first time, we automatically fell in love with the wide open space, the high ceilings and the exposed wood beams. We also loved the fact that Herban Feast would be catering the event with a menu that includes locally grown organic produce.

Wedding Photography: Angela & Evan Photography / Wedding Gown: Pronovias / Reception Dress: Sarah Seven / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender (flats) + Christian Louboutin (pumps) / Bride’s Accessories: J.Crew / Flowers for Reception Dress: The Bride / Bride’s Hair Accessory: Anna Panik / Bride’s Hair and Makeup: Swink Style Bar / Groom’s Suit: Zara / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Groom’s Tie Bar: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Ring: Green Lake Jewelry Works / Bride’s Ring: Custom / Wedding Party Attire: Various Designers / Wedding Invitations: Swash Press + Bride’s Brother / Cupcakes and Groom’s Cake: Cakes by Look / Wedding Videographer: Endless Love Productions / Wedding Flowers:  The Bridal Party / Escort Cards: Moo Cards / Favors: Popcorn Pavilion / Ribbon Streamers, Cupcake Flags, Kid’s Activity Book: DIY / Catering: Herban Feast / Venue Location: Sodo Park