Urban Spring Wedding

Carey and Gary were married in late March (I know I am very behind on my blog posts!) on a beautiful day at Bethany Community Church, a new church with a sleek modern design in Greenlake, followed by a stylish reception at Palace Ballroom, known for their award winning cuisine by acclaimed chef Tom Douglas. Fabulous soft hydrangea and luminary decor from Bella Rugosa, a cake design worth drooling over by Divine Confections and Montana beef sliders to honor Carey's midwest upbringing were just a few of the highlights of their celebration.

My good friend and talented photographer Laura Totten captured their day starting off at one of my favorite hip boutique hotels in the heart of Belltown, Hotel Andra, and then to Queen Anne Parks in the neighborhod that Carey and Gary call home...

































vendors

reception venue and caterer Palace Ballroom and Tom Douglas Catering
ceremony Bethany Community Church
photographer Totten Photography
floral and decor Bella Rugosa
cake Divine Confections
dj Christel Weddings
invitations and stationary All About Weddings
vintage photobooth Photobooth Services
air brush makeup Sequoia Leopold
hair stylist Desiree Ward
bridal gown - custom made
bridesmaids dresses La Belle Elaine's
tuxes Tuxedo Club
rehearsal dinner The Drawing Room at Volterra
getting ready hotel Hotel Andra
wedding night hotel Inn at the Market Hotel
transportation British Motor Coach and Angel Limo

Feature on Style Me Pretty!

Today, Style Me Pretty, my FAVORITE blog for wedding design inspirations, featured Darcy and Matt's dinner party wedding on their fabulous blog. Check it out here!

New Digs

Recently I moved my business from a loft in Ballard to a new studio in Greenlake, a favorite neighborhood with lots to do and explore. I share the space with fellow planner and friend Lisa Chambers. The studio is located at 7303 Woodlawn Avenue NE, Seattle WA 98115. Just a block from the lake, restaurants and shopping. My goal is to walk around the lake every day - just need the weather to cooperate!

Joey Bowles, the outgoing and ultra artistic photographer behind Cosa Bella Foto stopped by the other day to chat and snap some great shots of the space. Hope you like it! From installing the floors ourselves (okay so our husbands did most of the work!) to many coats of paint it is a labor of love!

Dinner Party Wedding

Darcy and Matt were married on a cool and peaceful November day at the quaint and intimate Farm Kitchen, nestled in Poulsbo on an organic garden. Their vision of an intimate country chic dinner party came to life. I had the pleasure of working with my friend Laurel McConnell again and her colorful photos tell the story of their day. Props that came in handy were vintage parasoles from Bella Umbrella and an unexpected little frog that made an appearance. It was priceless!






I first wrote about Darcy and Matt last May featuring their engagement shoot with Laurel. They reside in New York City and Matt is a chef at a restaurant owned by Food Networks acclaimed chef, Bobby Flay. Cuisine played an instrumental part of their wedding as did thinking environmentally sound featuring a local organic menu and eco-friendly decor. Blending their love of the city with their love of the country. Farm Kitchen was the perfect setting and I truly adore owners Anne and Hollis who take great pride in their venue.









When it came to choosing floral and decor I instantly thought of Bella Signature Design. Not only does owner Daniela create stunning designs, she also lives on Bainbridge Island and loves the surrounding area and utilizes organic gardens and resources for her decor. Elements used included soy candles, manzanita branches, mini cymbidium orchids, plants, pears, lots and lots of dried peas and gorgeous green raw silk table runners and entry way panels! To compliment her designs Michelle Loretta of Mmm Paper designed modern stationary for the invites, programs, escort card tree and personalized menus. Black linens and chivari chairs enhanced the green decor and added to the urban side of the design.

Their intimate ceremony was lead by Reverend Mary Calhoun who I just adore! She created such a touching and heartfelt ceremony for them.







When it was time for dinner, the dining room was revealed to guests and they were invited to find their names on a beautiful tree of manzanita branches. Each name card was tied to a leaf favor from Still Life Gifts to take home and enjoy. Darcy found these unique favors that are made from real leaves dipped in copper.








Once again Herban Feast Catering outdid themselves and created a decadent fall menu for guests that Matt raved about, a compliment well given! Vegan gazpacho shooters and signature sweet potato crabcakes were passed during cocktail hour along with fresh pomegranate bellinis. Later guests dined on salad of organic greens with harvest crisp pears and hazelnuts and a choice of sundried tomato & olive crusted halibut drizzled with a roasted cherry tomato coulis or peppercorn crusted NY striploin bourguignon with thyme, mushrooms, pearl onions & pancetta.





For dessert local Bainbridge Island favorite, Blackbird Bakery, made a mouth watering almond butter cake with amaretto cream filling and a mascarpone finish with almonds. Delish!

After dinner guests mingled and enjoyed tunes by DJ Darrell Christel. Coldplay was a favorite!



Congratulations Darcy and Matt!



vendors

ceremony and reception venue Farm Kitchen
caterer Herban Feast Catering
photographer Laurel McConnell Photography
dj Christel Weddings
floral and decor Bella Signature Design
officiant Reverend Mary Calhoun
invitations Mmm Paper
linens BBJ Linen
cake Blackbird Bakery
favors Still Life Gifts
black chivari chairs Pedersens Rentals
wine Seattle Wine Outlet
on-site air brush makeup Sequoia Leopold
bridal gown Princess Bride
vintage umbrellas Bella Umbrella
rehearsal dinner Metro Market Catering at Farm Kitchen Guest House
accommodations Best Western Bainbride Island Suites

Fall Wedding

Mina and Mark were married on a gorgeous fall day in late October at The Rainier Club, one of my favorite regal venues in Seattle. With its four stories of brick, tall paned windows, intricately designed rooms and unparallelled service it is a special venue indeed. Mina and Mark's vision was an intimate and romantic candle light ceremony and reception with exquisite food and entertainment.

Photos compliments of Kim and Adam Bamberg of La Vie Photography who are amazing and so much FUN to be around!



WOW! That is how I sum up the gorgeous bouquet that Julie Borrud of Bella Rugosa designed custom for Mina with delicate fuscia gloriosa lilies and ostrich feathers. Julie complimented the bridesmaids bouquets with gold cymbidium orchids and full deep red roses that went with the pashmina shawls Mina gifted to them. These rich colors were used throughout the wedding design.




Prior to the ceremony the happy couple and their wedding party took photos at Pike Place Market and Post Alley. The weather could not have been nicer for them!




Tiered votives and faux ice covered the many windows in the ceremony and reception rooms to create a warm glow as guests arrived.






After the ceremony signature red Italian Appletinis were passed. In case anyone would like to try the delicious recipe...shot Sour Apple Schnapps, 1/2 shot Amaretto, 1/2 shot Stoli Vanilla, splash cranberry juice, splash lime juice.




In the ballroom large hurricanes with floating candles and amber beads and clusters of orchids and roses topped beige bengaline linens.




Bonnie Lyons, owner of New Renaissance Cakes is simply a genius when it comes to cake design! She made the one of a kind off kilter cake which had four alternating tiers of bananas foster and chocolate cappuccino mousse.



Music was an important element and their DJ Darrell Christel had a gobo light of their initials made to shine on the dance floor during the festivities.



Late in the evening staff passed spicy slider burgers that hit the spot and before each guest parted they had their choice of peanut butter or red velvet cupcakes to satisfy their sweet tooth from Wink Cupcakes.



Congratulations Mina and Mark!



vendors

ceremony and reception venue The Rainier Club
photographer La Vie Photography
videographer Millstream Video Productions
floral and decor Bella Rugosa
linens BBJ Linen
cake New Renaissance Cakes
favors Wink Cupcakes
dj Christel Weddings
string quartet Sylan String Quartet
officiant Reverend Dave Hess
invitations Wedding Paper Divas
on-site hair and makeup Erin Skipley with Bellatrix Studio
bridal gown Belltown Bride
tuxes Men's Wearhouse
rehearsal dinner Wild Ginger
accommodations Hotel Vintage Park
transportation - Seattle Limo, 206.763.5466

Tabletop Design in Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom Magazine

I am delighted to write that the Winter issue of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom Magazine includes a tabletop design that I created along with the wonderful help of Julie Borrud with Bella Rugosa and Whitney Speir with Brown Sugar Design.



The inspiration was vintage meets modern with a sweet farmers market design. Yellow is one of my favorite colors and I love the combination with black and white for a crisp and bright palette. A bold canary yellow lamour table linen with accented butterfly napkins Julie sewed and sleek yet classic black chivari chairs set the tone. Vintage milk glass and bud vases were scattered on the table nestled in between a contemporary candleabra. Organic vibrant crimson and fuscia dahlias and green hydrangea from the farmers market and Julie's home garden filled the jars.

Whitney designed the perfect accenting menu cards to compliment the black and white china and place card favor tags that I tied around clusters of organic honey sticks from Pike Place Market. The menu featured a late summer feast of heirloom tomato gazpacho, grilled king salmon and for dessert wild blackberry cobbler with honey ice cream.

Deep Blue Wedding

BreAnna and Jesse were married atop the hills of Newcastle Golf Club with sweeping views and on this particular summer night a heat lightening storm! Not something we are used to in Seattle but the mysterious weather added an air of excitement. Although the chance of rain loomed it didn't worry BreAnna and Jesse one bit. Nothing could have upset the beautiful and intimate wedding they had.



BreAnna's favorite color is blue and we used it throughout the decor such as the lush centerpieces and bridal bouquet crafted by Bella Rugosa, personalized menus embellished with crystal by Invite Designer and the vibrant cobalt blue bridesmaids dresses. The crisp white of the tent and ivory table linens allowed the blue to really pop. Susan Boggie of That Take's the Cake designed a square tiered cake with details of BreAnna's gown and mini cupcake favors of the same flavor for guests to bring a 'slice' home.

As evening fell the sky turned a gorgeous dark shade of blue only to compliment the wedding even more. Despite some sprinkles, by the time the ceremony started guests were safely under the warm and inviting tent. The wonderful Reverend Ray married the sweet couple while guests sat comfortably at their dinner tables instead of a traditional ceremony setup. This made for a smooth and relaxing transition into the four course dinner they enjoyed. My good friend and DJ of my own wedding years ago, Darrell Christel, spinned their favorite tunes until guests wished them off with sparklers late in the night.

Their fabulous photographer, Laurel McConnell captured the mood of their wedding to a T.
















Congratulations BreAnna and Jesse!




vendors

ceremony and reception venue Newcastle Golf Club
photographer Laurel McConnell Photography
floral and decor Bella Rugosa
cake and mini cupcake favors That Take's the Cake
officiant Reverend Ray
dj Christel Weddings
menus and table numbers Invite Designer
on-site hair and makeup Salon Maison
bridal gown Princess Bride
tuxes Men's Wearhouse
groomsmen golfing event Newcastle Golf Club