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Here’s How You Bring A Light And Airy Aesthetic To An Indoor Wedding

This Seattle celebration is one for the books! The romantic day was inspired by the two cities that make up the couple’s love story, New York City where they met and Seattle the bride’s hometown. You’ll love all the thoughtful and personal touches curated by the bride’s own cousin Molly Corr of Bridal Bliss! Just take one look at the light and airy ceremony complete with an acrylic backdrop covered in white, cream, and blush blooms created by Gather Design Company. Anna Peters Photography artfully captured all love the and special moments. We cannot wait for you to see all the details in the full gallery.



From Molly Corr of Bridal BlissErin and Jon reside in New York City, and while Jon is a native, Erin is a more recent transplant (the bride is also my cousin!). I loved getting to work with them to bring elements of the city they met and fell in love in (NYC) to Erin’s hometown (Seattle). Together we planned a weekend of events, allowing both their West Coast and East Coast families and friends time to celebrate.



For their celebration Jon & Erin chose the historic Rainier Club. They loved the Classic Downtown Seattle feel the space had – a nod to some similar establishments in Manhattan, as well as the intimacy it presented, as the entire club was rented for our party. Gather Design Company, brought in slightly more modern elements to add light with her acrylic ceremony backdrop, and airiness with a soft palette of pale peach, blush, and white.



Guests spent the evening celebrating with heartfelt toasts, dinner, and dancing. It was an amazing weekend, one I will not soon forget – and made even more special as I watched my cousin marry the man of her dreams and welcomed a new family member!



Photography: Anna Peters | Videography: Devon Lerop Media | Floral Design: Gather Design Company | Wedding Gown: Pronovias | Shoes: Tribut Ives Saint Laurent | Hair and Makeup: Jen Lagers | DJ: Ben Meadow | String Quartet: Puget Sound Strings | Catering & Cake: Rainier Club | Ceremony & Reception: Rainier Club | Planning & Design: Bridal Bliss | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals | Stationery & Signage: Robinson Creative House

This Pink Garden Wedding at Snoqualmie Falls Will Have You Craving All Things Summer

We know, we know it’s only January… but it’s about this time of year that we can’t help but dream of warmer days ahead. Luckily, we have today’s gorgeous summer wedding at Snoqualmie Fall to live vicariously through! It’s filled with bright pops of pink, garden roses galore and the sweetest bride and groom of all time. Valley & Company Events made their dream intimate outdoor wedding day a reality, leaving no detail left unturned. Don’t miss out on the full gallery of images – all captured by O’Malley Photographers!

From Valley & Company EventsChao-Ching and John, a busy attorney and doctor, envisioned a romantic and intimate outdoor wedding to kick off their nuptials and summer, and were so delighted when we suggested Salish Lodge & Spa nestled atop Snoqualmie Falls. 

The wedding was filled with summery elements like lupine, berry and cherry cocktails, garden roses, and touches of honey (nodding to the apiary on the property). Guests were whisked across the property through the different scenes: from the outdoor ceremony on the lawn with the roaring falls in the background to the terrace cocktails and dancing, each moment reflected their love and also the amazing backdrop.

Blush early summer blooms like pink and cream garden roses and peonies, blueberry branches, flowering oregano, colorful lupine, and rosemary painted the decadent garden scene, and guests were treated to artful cocktails that played off of the flower theme. Our ceremony altar was a triple garden arch that our team created out of countless roses and Southern greenery, and it was accented with big garden boxes filled with alpine lupine in poppy colors. ​

The petite sculpted cake from the Salish Lodge pastry team was filled with lemon cream and was nestled in green foliage in front of a floral-print backdrop we created from Grey & Cake’s motif. ​We used that botanical artwork throughout, on the handmade menus from Kelsey to the custom bar front panels, cheerful flowers were ever-present through this happy and bright celebration!​

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: Salish Lodge & Spa | Rings: Joseph's Jewelers | Hair and makeup: Salon Maison | Lighting: Crimson Haze | Tux: The Black Tux | Bar rental: Happy Hour Bar Rentals | Draping: Prop Gallery West | Dress shop: Blue Sky Bridal | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning/design/floral: Valley & Co. | Stationery and bar/cake floral motif: Grey and Cake | Venue and catering: Salish Lodge & Spa

For These Seattle Natives, Home Is Where The I Do’s Are!

These Seattle natives wanted to show off everything there is about their hometown to all of their friends and family, so tying the knot at The Seattle Tennis Club was an easy yes when it came to venue choice! With beautiful water and mountain views, the couple had a dreamy first look photographed by Blue Rose Photography and a classic yet fun party afterward with blooming centerpieces by Flora Nova Designs and even a champagne tower! Take a look below to see all that Occasions Wedding and Event Planning got to put together for a romantic, sunny Seattle day!

An Interview with the Bride…

When and where did you meet?

Charlie and I met in high school, and both grew up in Seattle. One of the things that we prioritized from the outset of our planning was having the wedding in the city – we wanted to show our friends and family from out of town (most of Charlie’s family is in the midwest and most of mine is in California) the city that we grew up in and all the places that are meaningful to us and our relationship.

You both went to UW correct?

Charlie is a UW graduate! I went to UCLA for undergrad, and am currently in law school at UW (so we both became Huskies eventually!).

Where did you get your dress and bridesmaids dresses from?

My dress was by Anny Lin (it was originally a one-shoulder gown that I had customized to be strapless). The bridesmaid dresses were by Jenny Yoo – I went to visit my bridesmaids in Los Angeles to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and they completely fell in love with the embroidery on these dresses.

Inspiration for the style and feel for your wedding?

Family is incredibly important to both of us, so it was a big priority to involve our family members – we had a total of 7 flower girls and ring bearers because all our little cousins wanted to be involved (which was pretty overwhelming at the rehearsal, but went perfectly during the actual ceremony). We also wanted to make sure to showcase the location – we had our welcome dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Pioneer Square, a historic neighborhood in Seattle, but then our ceremony took place on the shore of Lake Washington with Mount Rainier in the background, highlighting the natural beauty of the city! We also wanted the party to feel fun and authentic to us – we had oysters and Aperol Spritzes as a specialty drink during cocktail hour (two of our favorite treats) and my siblings pulled out “money guns” which shot out fake dollar bills on the dance floor to get the party started.

What advice do you have for other brides planning their weddings?

The thing that most helped me in planning my wedding was having a solid team helping me, and clear roles for each person. It can get overwhelming when there are so many details to work out, vendors to call, decisions to make, etc., so Charle, our moms, our wonderful wedding planner and I would work to divvy up the project (and I made sure to take on the things that were most important to me!). This made the planning process a lot more manageable and fun, and brought our families even closer ahead of the wedding – by the time the big day came around, it really felt like a joint effort that we were all personally proud of.

I would also recommend creative thinking in terms of making your dreams a reality – with the internet, it’s easier than ever to take inspiration from wedding magazines or Pinterest and figure out how to make it happen. For instance, I really wanted a vintage convertible as our “getaway car” and was able to find someone in our area on Vinty.com with a red, vintage VW Beetle convertible who was willing to chauffeur us away, which was absolutely perfect. I also really wanted a custom watercolor monogram for our invitation suite, so was able to find an artist in Croatia on Etsy who had the exact style I was looking for.

Photography: Blue Rose Photography | Event Planning: Occasions, LLC Wedding and Event Planning | Floral Design: Flora Nova Design | Cake: The Sweet Side | Invitations: Perfect Press | Reception Venue: Seattle Tennis Club | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Taylor Shellfish | Hair & Makeup: Yessie Libby | dress designer : Annylin | dress shop: MeaMarie Bridal Atelier

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
If You Want an Intimate Ceremony but Your Guest List Is Too Big – Here’s What You Should Do.

Dreaming of tying the knot in an intimate ceremony in front of just a small group of your closest people but your guest list just won’t allow it – this couple just thought of a genius way to fix that! They decided to exchange vows with just a few friends and family in their parent’s backyard, then celebrated their newlywed status at a huge reception under a gorgeous tent… yup, genius. They truly got the best of both worlds! Simply By Tamara Nicole made their timeless wedding dreams a reality while Blue Rose Photography captured every moment they would never want to forget. See it all at the full gallery!

From the Bride… Ash and I met 5 years ago in Seattle, where he was living and I grew up. I was finishing law school when Ash proposed at my parent’s beach house, so we decided we would until the end of the following summer to be married. Because we had about a year and a half to plan our wedding, I felt like we were able to take our time and pick the best vendors to work with. Choosing Tamara of Simply Tamara Nicole as our wedding planner was definitely the easiest and best decision of our entire planning process! She knew so many amazing vendors for us to work with, was so easy to communicate with, and totally understood the style we were going for. Ash and I really wanted the entire wedding to feel timeless and classic – I wanted to be able to look back at our photos in 10, 20, and 50 years without feeling like our wedding had been too ’trendy’ at any one point in time. Tamara helped us nail down the style that we wanted and even did all our florals for us including ceremony and reception decor, as well as the bouquets and boutonnieres. We chose neutral colors – greens and whites for the florals with pops of blue everywhere. Tamara did such an incredible job of helping all our visions come to life! 

The morning of our wedding, I got ready with my bridesmaids, my mom, and my mother-in-law. While we were getting ready, Ash had little surprise gifts that he had instructed my bridesmaids to give me throughout the morning. He gave me a pair of slippers that said Bride on them, a book filled with photos of our dog Nala, a pair of white sandals to change into if my feet started hurting that night, and we each wrote each other a letter that we read before the ceremony. He also gave me a pair of white Ray-Bans with Jen Higgins and 8.24.19 written on them – he gave a matching pair of black Ray Bans to each of his groomsmen with their names on them. 

Ash and I had our wedding ceremony in the side yard of my parent’s house where I grew up. We decided to do a smaller more intimate ceremony and a larger reception. We had a close family friend and artist John Grade create our wedding altar that now lives permanently in my parent’s yard. The wood from our altar, old-growth Alaskan Yellow Cedar, was the same wood used in another art piece by John Grade that is installed in Ash’s home town of Sun Valley, Idaho. Ash and I chose not to do a first look, so the first time we saw each other that day was when I walked down the aisle. Because we decided to do a smaller more intimate ceremony, neither of us was very nervous and we felt completely at ease standing in my parent’s yard saying the traditional vows we had chosen. We also loved that we were able to have our dog, Nala, there with us during the ceremony.
Ash and I both grew up boating and it is one of our favorite activities to do together in Seattle so we decided to arrive with our wedding party to our reception, which was on Lake Washington, on an old wooden boat, Gallant Lady. It was so much fun to be with our closest friends and have a moment to enjoy each other’s company between the ceremony and reception.

Our reception was at the Seattle Tennis Club, which is on Lake Washington and near my parent’s house. I have spent many summer days at that club so it was a very special place to have our reception. We had dinner on the tented lawn by the water, followed by dessert and dancing inside the ballroom. For dinner we served classic Pacific Northwest food – salmon, steak, or veggies with pesto. We also served special wine with dinner that my dad had been saving for over 20 years for this occasion. After dinner and speeches we moved inside. Our band, Michael Benson Band, kept the dance floor packed all night. We also had a photo booth by Hello There You that was very popular. We served late night food and had an espresso cart by Espresso Elegance to keep everyone energized throughout the night. At the end of the night Ash and I did a special sparkler send-off into a vintage Rolls Royce.
Our vendors were all amazing and I’m so glad that we booked them as early as we did! Libby Tipton, our calligrapher, was able to customize and make everything for us including our invitations, ceremony programs, signage, napkins, escort board, and place settings with Fran’s chocolate! We worked with Carla at Honey Crumb to design our delicious and beautiful cake that matched our theme perfectly. Our wedding rings and my engagement ring were custom made for us by Madison Park Jewelers. Bridal Beauty Agency did an amazing job with all the bridesmaids and my hair and makeup that lasted perfectly through the whole night.

My wedding dress was Tara LaTour and I found it at A & Be Bridal Shop in Seattle. I loved how simple and timeless my dress felt on its own because it allowed me to play around with different accessories throughout the day and night. I wore a tulle veil with horsehair trim by Sara Gabriel for the ceremony. After the ceremony I changed into a fun short cape by Made with Love that I wore when we arrived at our reception. Because we did a smaller ceremony I wanted to wear something reminiscent of a veil to the larger reception. The cape also felt like my chance to wear something a little more modern and different. For dancing a put on a thin silver and white belt by Sara Gabriel. Finally, when we did our sparkler send-off I wore an antique fur scarf that belonged to my Great-Grandmother. My jewelry was also all connected to my family – I borrowed my mother’s earrings, wore a necklace given to me by my grandmother, and a diamond tennis bracelet given to me by my dad. 
I could not recommend Brittany and Joe of Blue Rose Photography enough. We did engagement and other photo shoots with them before the wedding so we felt very comfortable around them! From the first time we me they were always so easy to work with and so talented. They captured our perfect wedding day for us so well and I can’t wait to look back on all the photos for years to come.

Https://bluerosephotography. Pixieset. Com/jenandashsubmissiongallery/

Photography: Blue Rose Photography | planner: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Flowers : Simply By Tamara Nicole | Wedding Dress: a&be bridal shop | Wedding Dress: Tara LaTour | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Rings: Madison Park Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Brideside | Catering: Ravishing Radish Catering | Hair and Makeup: Bridal Beauty Agency | Calligraphy : Libby Tipton | band: Michael Benson Band | favors: Frans Chocolates | tux: Brooks Brothers | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | transportation: beeline tours | venue: Seattle Tennis Club | Photo Booth: Hello There You | Rentals: Cort | Veil: Sara Gabriel | bar: Party on the Rocks | beverages: BevMo! | boat: barefoot yacht tours | car: British Motor Coach | coffee: Espresso Elegance | cookies: hello robin | rentals : BBJ La Tavola

The Floral Adorned Garden Wedding of Our Dreams!

Garden wedding lovers – this one’s for you! Blush and mauve hues decorated their day from the bridesmaids dresses to the floral ceremony arch created by Gather Design Company. The bride stunned in a V-neck Jusere gown and a delicate princess tiara (total royal wedding vibes). Later, FNMS Inc. Planning and Design brought the garden inside at their reception complete with a living staircase and lush pink blooms. See all the magic unfold at the full gallery – taken by The Ganeys!

From The GaneysDaisy and Jixiong had a beautiful Thornewood Castle wedding! The weather could not have been more beautiful and this couple couldn’t have been sweeter. Daisy and Jixiong opted for an intimate wedding with only 60 guests, allowing them to spend time with everyone that made the trip to celebrate with them! Daisy has impeccable taste – I could have photographed her all day! 

Her bridal shoes were absolutely stunning with the lace detailing and the jeweled accent. Her hair was pulled up neatly in a high bun, and around it, she wore a crown. She wore a ballgown that flattered her figure with ascending floral accents on the bodice. Her bridesmaids wore mauve gowns and carried garden bouquets filled with roses, dahlias and sweet peas. 

Jixiong and Daisy decided to do a first look up on the balcony of Thornewood Castle. They were so excited to see each other for the first time – all of the nerves melted away with that first embrace! The wedding ceremony was held in the garden. A harpist played classical love songs as guests found their seats – the aisles flanked by floral arrangements. 

The lush floral arch from Gather Design Company was the most romantic centerpiece to the ceremony. Daisy and Jixiong shared personal vows during the ceremony, and friends and family cheered as they were announced as husband and wife! The reception was held indoors in the main dining room. Each table was set with organic florals and each guest sat with a gold rimmed charger, gold flatware and a menu card. Daisy and Jixong’s family shared toasts and the couple made their way to every table to greet their guests. At the end of the evening, we walked down to the dock for some sunset portraits. As the sun set behind the mountains, Daisy and Jixiong had the opportunity to soak it in – this was their wedding day. Shortly after, they exited through a row of sparklers!

Photography: The Ganeys | Floral Design: Gather Design Company | Wedding Dress: Jusere | Shoes: Dolce & Gabbana | Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang | Catering: Foodz Catering | Hair & Makeup: Tianyao Su | Harpist: The Solo Harp | Venue: Thornewood Castle | Crown: Qianse Bride | Dining Dress: Tadashi Shoji | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | MC: Lucy Meng Wedding MC | Planning: FNMS Inc. Planning and Design | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals | Rentals: Sweet Buffet Lady | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

Jackie O Would 100% Approve of This Chic & Timeless Ballroom Wedding

This stunning former NFL cheerleader and her handsome hub tied the knot in true Jackie O style at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in front of their closest family and friends. The bride was the epitome of elegance in her classic strapless gown while rocking a pair of matching opera-length gloves (#goals)! Callista & Company planned the entire day to perfection while O’Malley Photographers captured every chic detail. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the modern blooms from Sinclair & Moore and so much more… the arbor is truly EVERYTHING.

From the planner, Callista & Company, and the Bride, Brittany… As a newly engaged couple going into wedding planning, we already had a vision of our perfect wedding, which included a traditional base with modern twists sprinkled in. Luckily, Reid and I had the industry’s best of the best help bring our wedding dreams to fruition.

Our wedding was traditional with a Kennedy-esque flare to the evening – I wore a clean high bun, a full gown with delicate buttons down the back, accompanied with silk opera length gloves. Reid wore a classic black tuxedo with a white button-down shirt and black bow tie.

Our modern twists included all white bridesmaid’s gowns, an energetic little Flower Boy and all white floral arrangements. The all white ensemble was complemented with shades of grey and black accents and different textures to truly bring the room to life.

Being a former Seattle Seahawk’s Cheerleader (Go Hawks!), it’s tradition to perform a dance called ‘Turbulence’ at all former / current cheerleaders’ weddings. What made this tradition even more exciting was having Reid, an honorary Squad 5 member, show off his dance moves in front of friends and family and join in as the shared point of the triangle!

Guests roared and applauded and could not believe Reid was up dancing with former NFL cheerleaders – he fit right in! Another special moment happened just minutes before walking down the aisle. My bridesmaids and I had a “My Best Friend’s Wedding” moment and played the song “Wishin’ and Hopin’ as we danced around with the Flower Boy, sipped champagne and giggled as we prepared to walk down the aisle. It was the most perfect, unplanned moment of the entire day!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Cinematography: Green Attic Films | Event Planning: Callista & Company | Floral Design: Sinclair & Moore | Wedding Dress: Sareh Nouri | Stationery: Grey and Cake | Ceremony: Olympic Fairmont Hotel | Reception: Olympic Fairmont Hotel | Hair & Make-up: Geraldine Legaspi | Veil: Sareh Nouri

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
A Naval Submarine Officer and a Kindergarten Teacher Elope on the Rooftop at Seattle City Hall!

In just a few short weeks, the lovely team at Callista and Co. and this adorable couple planned the most romantic and unique courthouse elopement we have ever seen. The bride couldn’t have looked more beautiful in her sleek, modern BLHDN gown. Gather Design Company created clean arrangements that perfectly matched the blush and cream color scheme of the day. Just WAIT until you see the sun-soaked photos captured by Anna Peters of their ceremony on the rooftop (yup, the rooftop!!) of Seattle City Hall…. everything about this day is intimate, romantic and everything a wedding should be about. Prepare to fall in love at the full gallery.

From the bride… With an upcoming move to Hawaii, it was very important to us, to bring a strong sense of place to our marriage celebration, since we met and fell in love in the Pacific Northwest. We knew from the start that we wanted an intimate, family only wedding, which allowed us to select meaningful and personal venues for the day.

Geoff is a naval submarine officer, and I am a kindergarten teacher. We began dating when we lived a ferry ride apart from each other. Despite the distance and countless ferry rides, we fell in love. When it came to planning our wedding, we both knew that we wanted to incorporate both the Seattle side, the peninsula side, and the ferry into our day. We got ready separately at The Pleasant Beach Inn on Bainbridge Island, and took an afternoon ferry for our first look in a hidden, peaceful corner of downtown Seattle. 

From there, we met our families at the Seattle Courthouse where we said our vows on the sunny rooftop overlooking Seattle, with the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in the background. We hosted a cocktail hour at Drygoods Design before enjoying a sunset ferry back to Bainbridge Island for our reception dinner.

We wanted to combine classic elegance with simplicity and restraint, to create a timeless ambiance. Coming from South Carolina, Geoff wanted to wear a tuxedo to capture the formality of the occasion. With my west coast roots, I was drawn towards soft and simple design elements. Using our backgrounds as inspiration, Gather Design Company and Callista & Company conceptualized a formal yet contemporary design, featuring blush and cream spring flowers, textured linens from, decorative chargers and flatware from, clean stemware, and modern paper goods with organic touches.

When I was thinking about my dress, I wanted something that felt both simple and elegant. I fell in love with a sleek, graceful gown from BHLDN and black Bella Belle heels that complemented the formality of Geoff’s tuxedo. I had planned to wear a simple set of pearl earrings, but Geoff gifted me a beautiful pair of modern pearl Celine earrings on our wedding day, so of course I wore those!

Photography: Anna Peters | Event Planning: Callista & Company | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Stationery: Grey and Cake | Ceremony Venue: Seattle City Hall | Reception Venue: Manor House Catering | Shoes: Bella Belle | Rings: Sholdt Design | Hair and Makeup: Makeup Artist Angela | Suit: Indochino | Transportation: Artist Point At Mt Baker | Cocktail Hour Venue: Drygoods Design | Earrings: Celine | Floral Design & Event Design: Gather Design Company | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Classic Vintage Rentals | Rentals: St James Specialty Rentals

Japan, Greece, and France Wedding Inspiration at the Sinclair & Moore Event Design Workshop

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a crush on Sinclair & Moore—Steve and Jamie (and their entire team) are not only incredibly talented at what they do, their passion for crafting truly meaningful events is contagious. As a business owner myself, they’ve been a huge inspiration to me. Atop that, they host THE most gorgeous workshops in all the wedding land and today we get to see the results from their most recent gathering of creative entrepreneurs. Here, they’ve created three dreamy looks inspired by Japan, Greece and France. Plus, a real behind the scenes look at the workshop itself, all thanks to Kerry Jeanne Photography for capturing it.

Japan-inspired shoot… Event design is all about finding some form of inspiration, adding your own twist and then creating something fresh, unique and distinctive. The clean lines, simple movement, modern edges, distinctive textures, gentle blossoms and soft femininity of this shoot were loosely inspired by the aesthetic of Japanese culture.

A group of attendees from our annual Event Design Workshop ran with the vision we set and then worked together to bring our design board to life as they arranged the flowers and then completely installed all of the details. I couldn’t be happier with how this came together. From the custom gown that my friend Nina created for this shoot, to the Midori Bakery cake with incredibly life-like sugar blossoms, to the inspired stationery of Libby Tipton, everything came together beautifully and Kerry Jeanne Photography captured the magic that was created perfectly. Special thanks to Cozbi, the Associate Creative Director for Sinclair and Moore, for this really special collaboration!

France-inspired shoot… For as long as I can remember, I have always been a bit obsessed with France. The language, the culture, the people, the style the ambiance… it is all so inspiring to me. My first trip to France was on my honeymoon. We started in the south of France and made our way to Provence and then to Paris. Paris… I’ll never forget stepping outside of the train station and seeing the city for the first time in all its glory. It was ornate and refined yet effortlessly chic. It was beautiful but still felt approachable to me. The city felt historical while simultaneously feeling fresh and updated.

Grecian-inspired shoot… What comes to mind when you think of Grecian style? For me, it is the worn edges of ancient ruins mixed with light and ethereal touches. I think of marble, ornate columns, effortlessly draped fabric, Roman numerals, laurel wreath crowns and a color palette of the most beautiful neutral shades accented with metallic gold.


Behind the Scenes: Sinclair & Moore Workshop

From Sinclair & MooreWhen I first started our business sixteen years ago, I had a self-made logo that read “Steven Moore… wedding designer.” I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to design beautiful weddings for people. At the time, I thought that just entailed making a pretty flower centerpiece and sticking it in the middle of the table. While that is certainly part of it, I quickly realized that there are so many more layers that go into designing a wedding.

I used to sit in the bookstore for hours looking through every wedding book and magazine I could get my eyes on. I was fascinated by the beauty that I saw. Everything was so detailed and intentionally selected for each incredible wedding that was featured. I wanted to create the same type of wedding… but I didn’t know where to begin or how to get started. All I knew was that I loved creating beautiful things, and I was willing to put in the time and hard work to figure it out.

Through a lot of trial and error, I slowly earned my self proclaimed title of ‘event designer’ by discovering the heart of what that term really means. I learned that event design is all about taking an event that could be ordinary and making it extraordinary. I figured out that the best way to do this is by getting to know the people I was creating for… hearing their story and listening for clues that would help me create something magical for them. I began helping people define their style by exploring shape, texture, colors, patterns, papers, and fonts. I started to think beyond flowers and centerpieces and look at the wedding holistically, making sure every visual component was thoughtfully curated so the fine details were cohesive and a true reflection of our client. That is what event design is all about.

It is now sixteen years later, and I have seen countless trends come and go over the years, and the evolution of weddings has changed significantly. What has not changed is the heart, meaning and purpose behind what event design is all about. This is what we teach in our event design workshop.

In addition to learning how to create our signature lush floral arrangements, our event design workshop explores our 15-step process that we go through with each wedding. The students then divide into three groups and work together within that group to create a detailed photo shoot that puts the principles of event design into practice. This hands-on approach to learning allows the attendees to better absorb the concepts I teach, as they get to see three distinctive shoots come together.

This past spring we welcomed fifteen workshop attendees into our studio for our annual Event Design Workshop. Three different countries inspired the three distinctive photo shoots they teamed up to create: Japan, Greece, and France. This week on our blog we will be showcasing the student’s work and how everything came together. Many of the attendees had no prior experience and had never arranged flowers before! You’ll never guess when you see the finished designs.

Photography: Kerry Jeanne Photography | Cake: Midori Bakery | Stationery: Libby Tipton | Hair & Makeup: Yessie Libby | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Grecian Inspired Dress: Carol Hannah | Japan inspired dress: Nina Cherie | Models: Seattle Models Guild | Paris Inspired Dress: Nordstrom | Planner and Workshop Host: Sinclair & Moore | Rentals: The Ark Event Rentals | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Classic Blue & White Wedding at The Woodmark Hotel

Sarah & Pat’s love story goes way back to when they were just wee babes! From baptismal school to grade school, high school and college, they are “school sweethearts” in every sense of the phrase—making their wedding day a long time coming. They recruited the team at Valley & Company Events to bring their classic vision to life, complete with something (french) blue woven in. Lora Grady captured it all, right this way.

From Valley & Company Events Sarah and Pat first met as infants in baptismal school and then went on to attend grade school together, high school, and college, so their wedding day was full of family and thoughtful touches years in the making. Bride Sarah envisioned a perfectly classic wedding day steeped in tradition with a church ceremony, cathedral veil, and romantic details through greenery and white flowers that spoke to her timeless style, peppered with bits of fun. Their guests exited the gorgeous church ceremony with bags of petals and gave them the most lively farewell we’ve ever seen – 200+ guests lined the stairs for the picture-perfect moment that’s one for the books. Despite it being a drizzly September evening on the water, you wouldn’t have guessed it as our reception tent was decked out in all-white flowers, French blue linens, white chivari chairs, and gauzy draping that made the tent feel so intimate, despite the larger guest count. The icing on the wedding day was probably the delivery of Dick’s Drive-In cheeseburgers and fries, a Seattle staple! Nothing like seeing guests dancing in tuxes noshing on their favorite guilty pleasure!

Photography: Lora Grady Photography | Ceremony Venue: Villa Academy | Reception Venue: Woodmark Hotel | Hair and makeup: Salon Maison | DJ: Michael Garcia | Calligraphy goods: Libby Tipton | Design and Floral: Valley & Co. | Getaway car: British Motor Coach | Invitaitons: Minted | Planning: Valley & Co. | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals

Glamorous Black + White Downtown Seattle Wedding at The Rainer Club

Winter weddings are officially upon us and that means we’re turning up the charm. Today, it comes in the form of a glowing candlelit reception, a palette dressed in black and white (and a little gold for good measure), hydrangeas so fluffy they look like cotton candy, the coziest throws to stay warm during the I dos and so much more. It’s those tiny details that Valley & Co. dreamt up for this Bride & Groom, that made a big impact on their classically glam day. And thanks to O’Malley Photographers, we get to experience every bit as if we were there.

From Valley & Co.Nestled in between new skyscrapers in downtown Seattle is the most quintessential of Seattle properties: The Rainier Club. We started working with Nina and Matt about 18 months before their wedding and knew after visiting their home (also in a century-old brick Queen Anne building) that they wanted to give their guests an unexpected experience with decadent, yet classic and understated tones. Nina, so sophisticated and lovely, knew that a dance party was next on her list in terms of importance, right under the ambiance and great food, so The Rainier Club was the perfect setting.

They gave us carte blanche to truly surprise them with every turn – we knew they both really adore winter and that Nina is enamored with white hydreangeas, so creating a breathtaking ceremony that carried those favorites through was really important to us. Nina and Matt envisioned a black tie wedding but also wanted a high level of comfort and fun, down to the late night delivery of Dick’s Drive-In cheeseburgers (a Seattle staple!). Nina works in non-profit now, but had her heels in the wedding industry for years, working at Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom Magazine. Matt is an attorney, and they wanted everything to feel balanced and fresh – while peppering in those unexpected details and fun.

We welcomed guests with champagne and whisked them up the old gold elevators where the ladies each chose a cozy shawl, perfect for the blustery February afternoon. After each scene of the wedding, we transformed each room with different layouts and lighting, welcoming guests back for dinner into a cozy and enchanting wintry dining room. They were then whiskey downstairs for cake and desserts and – dancing! One of the most unexpected elements was the leaf pattern we projected onto the building over the valet entrance – we watched from above as guests departed in their taxis and Ubers and snapped photos!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Dress: Carolina Herrera | Hair and Makeup: Kelly Taylor | Lighting: Crimson Haze | DJ: Michael Garcia | Band: The Dudley Manlove Quartet | Venue: Rainier Club | Bride's dress: Nordstrom | Design and floral: Valley & Co. | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Planning: Valley & Co. | Stationery and calligraphy: La Happy

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This Modern Wedding Inspiration is White Hot

Starting with a bank slate, this inspiration designed by Simply Tamara Nicole layers texture and unexpected details that give a traditional white wedding a modern spin. From a contemporary floral crown to a cloud-like installation by Wild Bloom Floral and layers upon layers of white and ivory, Rebecca Yale’s images are proof that you don’t need color to make your decor pop.

From Rebecca & Tamara Nicole…The inspiration behind the shoot was to show a modern spin on the classic idea of the white wedding. We see so much white on white in weddings, but always done in a very traditional way and we wanted to approach the idea of white with a more sculptural sensibility focusing on modern sleek lines with an architectural sense of structure and three dimensionality. Even though all the pieces were created for a photo shoot there was a very tactile sense of texture in all of the floral elements and using vellum and clear glass for the paper goods invites you into the scene to interact with the pieces as a viewer. I envision a modern, minimal, artsy and polished city couple with great design style. Perhaps they were getting married in a New York loft, or a big clean white industrial/warehouse located in the heart of a big city. A location that is clean, minimal to allow the multitude of layers and textures stand out center stage. I have been so drawn visually to clean lines, white space and simplicity, which we carried throughout the shoot

From Wild Bloom…As a floral designer white is really an amazing hue to work with because it can be used as much or as little as needed to achieve a certain aesthetic. When used with other shades white can be a palette unifier or stand alone as a graphic statement. For this design we wanted to create something striking, architectural and beautiful. To do this we focused on choosing blooms that conveyed texture without being overwhelming. For the Bridal bouquet all of the textural blooms (Parrot Tulips and Garden Roses) helped support the core shape of the bouquet rather than detract from it. Then we added White Cherry Blossoms to give it an architectural quality and extend the lines in an unusual surreal way. Installations are something that I really enjoy creating for my clients. They can be an original way to incorporate florals beyond the traditional table centerpiece or garland. For this tablescape we wanted to create a real WOW moment that any couple would be thrilled to share with their guests. The main flower in this hanging chandelier is Lunaria. Lunaria is a beautifully iridescent flower with thin petals that almost resemble paper. When used in abundance the Lunaria takes on an otherworldly quality that is really ethereal. We then added Cherry Blossoms Branches to break up the design giving it an architectural & graphic quality. With a large installation is it always important to find balance. So for the table we simplified. We focused on creating levels and a sense of space with the florals and candles. On the table the main flowers we used were Ranunculus, I love the lines of the Ranunculus stem paired with the extra ruffled petals on the head of the bloom. It is the perfect balance of architectural and soft.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Planner: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Florist: Wild Bloom Floral | Florist: Wild Bloom Floral | Dress: Alexandra Grecco | Makeup and Hair: Yessie Libby | Favors: Sugarfina | Accessories Stylist: Madly Bride | Cage Veil: Shavato Veils | Cake and Desserts: Lilac Cake Boutique | Candle Holders: CB2 | Cocktails: Happy Camper Cocktails | Cuff Links: David Donahue | Custom Backdrop: Britnee Busse | Dress Store: The Dress Theory | Engagement Rings: Susie Saltzman | Escort Card Holders: Crate & Barrel | Invitations, Paper Goods and Calligraphy: Bespoke Strokes | Long Veil : Hushed Commotion | Model: Seattle Models Guild | Paper Goods, Invitations and Calligraphy: Bespoke Strokes | Planner and Designer: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Plates: Convivial Productions | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Vases: West Elm | Watch: Michael Kors

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How to Have the Best Morning on Your Wedding Day

You’ve been planning your wedding for months, and now the big day is almost here! You deserve to be able to be present in each moment and for your special day to run smoothly from start to finish. However, getting ready is one of those things that often gets overlooked in the planning process, but we’re here to help you change that! We sat down with Blue Rose Wedding Photography, Simply by Tamara Nicole, and Yessie Libby Makeup + Styling to get their tips and tricks on planning a smooth, enjoyable morning. From what bites and nibbles to keep on hand to how to capture the best getting-ready images, these proffessionals have all the advice you need. Read on, because you are just a short ways away from sitting back and relaxing with a mimosa in your hand and your besties by your side!

Just when you think you’re ready for your wedding day, after all the planning with the help of your soon-to-be mother-in-law, your friends, and your planner, you find yourself confirming with all your vendors the morning of because you fear deep down that you will forget something! Something small – not the ring – but something that you never thought you would. Or you find yourself rushing around, trying to fit everything in to not enough time. Our first piece of advice is simple, and you’ve probably heard it from everyone, including your bank teller: MAKE LISTS! Creating lists in advance for what you need to bring, who is responsible for what, and where to be when will help your day go smoothly from the very beginning! A few minutes thinking through all of this ahead of the wedding weekend will make all the difference, so here are each of our quick and easy tips to ensure a smooth, enjoyable morning that will set the tone for the BIG day:

Tips From Your Photographer

  1. Turn off your phone, and let your planner handle the last minute details.
  2. Have a great brunch or breakfast, and enjoy it with your bridesmaids.
  3. Get ready in a great vacation rental or awesome place that gives you enough space (and good natural light) to spread out, get ready, and relax. Check sites like Airbnb or VRBO for unique spaces.
  4. Plan for extra time. The last thing you need is any extra stress, so allot more than enough time in the schedule for each part of the day so that you don’t have to worry about being late for anything or rushing through any important photos.

Tips From Your Wedding Planner

  1. Plan for food while you’re getting ready or delegate someone to provide/order/bring! These days you can even Amazon or Uber Eats this. You want to avoid getting hangry – or anyone in the wedding party passing out! Make it something fun, easy to eat, and not too messy (ie. food that can stain or get seeds stuck in your teeth, etc). Small bites are cute for photos, too!
  2. Plan for fun details. Get glasses with the names of your wedding party (and anyone else who will be there) written in calligraphy. Purchase cute straws to drink from. Bring a champagne bottle to pop open for a photo. There are so many fun options for detail photos while you’re getting ready.
  3. Assign someone the task of coffee run or plan ahead to have coffee delivered or available on site. Coffee is always a good idea!
  4. I always recommend waiting to open gifts for the ‘maids these until the photographer is present to capture it!
  5. Specify in advance what everyone should wear while getting ready so that it is cohesive in photos. You can dual purpose this as a gift! Ideas include robes, rompers, pajama sets, etc.
  6. Why not have your favorite dessert just for getting ready? Mini cakes for the win! Who doesn’t love some sweet treats?
  7. If you don’t have a planner to do this for you, make sure to coordinate the timeline for your wedding day with your hair and makeup artists, photographer, etc. in advance for the getting ready portion. Don’t forge time for the fun photos! Keeping in mind what each vendor recommends and building in extra time just in case will allow a smooth, stress free morning.
  8. You hired your dream team for your wedding, so let go of ALL of the details and just sit back, turn your phone off, and enjoy your morning. Be present in the moment and trust your amazing hired vendors to rock your big day!

Tips From Your Makeup Artist

  1. Make sure you talk to your artist about the look for your bridal party in advance. Trust me, your team will thank you for this! The hair and makeup artists can then plan to have the right supplies on hand and can give you any instructions in advance, and you will be so glad to not have to make any sudden changes on your wedding day.
  2. When planning your timeline, take into consideration those who can’t wake up early, those with babies, and those who might or might not get on your nerves!
  3. Everyone will tell you, “You need to eat something!” and yeah, it’s so true, but remember that you can reward yourself with a delicious mimosa right after eating…or two!
  4. Make sure you can count on at least two if not all of your bridesmaids to keep the room clean and tell everyone where things need to be placed. I have seen too many times where the ring or undies have gone missing.
  5. After all those stressful yet fun months of planning, it’s time to sit and savor every moment. Be present! You don’t want to look back in the future thinking of the horrible morning you had because of a small mishap. It’s your wedding day, so enjoy it!
  6. Okay, okay, fine. One more tip. Pamper yourself! Put on a mask the night before, drink a glass of cucumber water first thing that morning, and don’t forget to moisturize those hands!


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Photography: Blue Rose Photography | Event Planning: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Floral Design: Simply By Tamara Nicole | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Rings: Green Lake Jewelry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Ravishing Radish Catering | Hair and Makeup: Yessie Libby | Calligraphy: Bespoke Strokes | Favors: Fran's Chocolates | Accessories, Jewelry: Lindsay Marie Design | Bridal Boutique: a&be bridal shop | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Models: Jenna, Olivia and Bianca | Paper Goods: Grey and Cake | Spray Tanning: Simply Sunkissed | Vacation Rental: Seattle

This Is the Coolest Way to Select Your Wedding Vendors

This is just about the coolest way to select your wedding vendors we’ve ever heard of. These two handsome fellas modeled for a Wedding Paper Divas campaign (pre-engagement) and enjoyed their experience so much, they brought on the shoot vendors to do their own wedding! The inimitable team included Clutch Weddings + Events, Katie Parra Photography, En Fleur Floral Design, Sholdt, and Wedding Paper Divas – with a roster like that, it’s no wonder their special day was phenomenal! Check it out, below.

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From Brandon and Tyler… Our approach to wedding planning was to just do what’s right for us… And having the most amazing wedding planner, Megan. Molly from EnFleur Event Design’s flowers were more beautiful than we could have imagined. She made us a garland to match our invite, save the date, and table numbers that was a statement during the ceremony and repurposed as a table runner on the head table for the reception. Her boutonnieres for us were gorgeous, natural, and masculine. We have received too many compliments to on how stunning she made our day! Lilac Cake Boutique was so lovely to work with. She made us three cakes of varying size that looked – and more importantly, tasted – amazing. We wanted semi-naked cakes, but we jazzed them up with gold leaf patching and sugar greenery and berries. They were exactly what we wanted. Our favorite part of the whole day was making it official! Also the perfect balance our officiant struck in setting the exact tone we wanted for our entire celebration.

From the Katie Parra PhotographyThese two are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Being with my dear friends on their big day was a total dream come true. I adored their jewel-toned color palette and dreamy candlelight ceremony.

From Megan of Clutch Weddings + EventsPlanning their wedding was beyond fun from the very first moment that they got engaged! We started looking at venues right away, and as soon as we toured Sodo Park, we knew it was the perfect fit for their wedding! They had modeled together as an engaged couple (before they were engaged!) on a Wedding Paper Diva’s promotional shoot and had such a great time that we kept quite a few vendors for the wedding from that shoot (myself, Katie Parra Photography, En Fleur Floral Design, Sholdt, and Wedding Paper Divas).

Tyler has been a big supporter of Get Hitched Give Hope for several years (he modeled for the ad twice and was in the kissing booth during our circus themed GHGH), and so this last year was extra fun because he and Brandon could come to shop for themselves! They won their rehearsal dinner at Zoe, which was amazing! And they won their three wedding cakes from The Lilac Cake Boutique during the live auction! It was a very much an ‘you can have your cake and eat it too’ moment!

A common thread that ran throughout their engagement was that they had a great sense of what would make them happy as well as putting forward a fantastic experience for their guests. They never lost focus on that aspect, which was great, and I think the guests truly felt catered to. On the day of the wedding, they were both so easy going and relaxed! By the time the ceremony was over I think four of the five kids from the wedding party were in the arms of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen with some whines and tears. The couple’s reaction was that it was adorable, and they were happy they could stand up with them. That is the kind of guys they are! After the toasts, Tyler and Brandon said a heartfelt thank you and Tyler didn’t leave a dry eye in the house when he said that growing up, he didn’t know if this would get to be a reality for him and just how appreciative they both are for getting the opportunity to be married.

Brandon and Tyler are the couple that you want to tell everyone about because they are both just SO great! I mean, it is hard to miss how gorgeous the two of them are, but they are both also so warm, caring, thoughtful, and FUN! If it wasn’t so easy to love them, you would definitely hate them.

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Photography: Katie Parra Photography | Floral Design: En Fleur Event Design | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Rings: Sholdt Design | Catering: Herban Feast | DJ: Kryspin Music | Venue: Herban Feast | Desserts: Lilac Cake Boutique | Event Planning + Coordination: Clutch Events | Photography Assistance: Anna Peters | Rentals: Rented Elegance & Design | Rentals: Pedersens

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Romantic Style Inspiration for the Modern, Minimalist Bride

Modern and minimal yet soft and organic, this Bridal inspiration session by Bright & Co. Events manages to find the happy middle between these two seemingly opposite styles. All the details are just so good, but my favorite is perhaps the tablescape. From the one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces by a local artist and thin, dark taper candles, to the velvet tablecloth by La Tavola Fine Linen Rentals and sleek ghost chairs, you won’t be able to get enough! Luckily for us, Lora Grady Photography was there to capture it all, so head on over to the gallery if you’re as obsessed with this shoot as I am.

“Less is more” was the guiding principle for this beautiful inspired shoot in Seattle. We wanted to show that minimal does not mean simply bare with clean lines, but could be combined with raw, organic, and romantic elements to create something fresh. Lora Grady Photography captured the day so beautifully in her light filled photos and really took care in shooting all the details of what we came together to create.

The amazing floral design by Carey of Bleedfoot Florals effortlessly demonstrated both the structure and romance that we were striving for. We really wanted the flowers and tablescape to shine, so we opted for the always elegant ghost chairs as well as skinny candles in clear glass holders atop an ivory velvet tablecloth from La Tavola Linens. This created an amazing base for us to utilize. To really set the place settings apart, we not only used warm toned minimal flatware from CORT Party Rental, but we also paired the flatware with one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces from local ceramic artist Natasha Alphonse.

Libby Tipton handled the stationery for this shoot with expertise. The raw edge pieces paired with the clean lines of the invitation offered just the contrast we were looking for. Not to mention the color green she used for the place cards brought out the undertones of the handmade ceramic pieces.

The Sarah Seven dress from The Dress Theory that out model wore was able to punch the theme home even more. This dress, the “Del Mar” with its modern silhouette and open back, is the epitome of modern romance, and the ring from Trumpet & Horn complemented everything so well.

The icing on the cake – literally! – was the clean white wedding cake from Honey Crumb Cake Studio set atop a barely there acrylic table from Yay! Parties.

This shoot was about blending contrasts seamlessly, incorporating two styles for the contemporary Bride. This team came together and created something beautiful, fresh, and stylish all while maintaining lightness, brightness, and softness.

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Photography: Lora Grady Photography | Event Planning: Bright & Co. | Floral Design: Bleedfoot Florals | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake: Honey Crumb Cake Studio | Invitations: Libby Tipton | Jewelry: Trumpet & Horn | Hair and Makeup: Yessie Libby | Bridal Boutique: The Dress Theory | Ceramics: Natasha Alphonse | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals | Rentals: Yay! Parties

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A Little Midwest Charm at This Northwest Wedding

When this Chicago couple returned to the Bride’s Seattle hometown for their wedding, they knew they wanted to incorporate both of these special cities into their classic celebration. During late night dancing at the reception, guests were offered Chicago style hot dogs and Dick’s cheeseburgers, a Seattle staple. The rest of the wedding looks as delicious as we’re sure those treats tasted! So get scrolling, because there’s so much goodness to be had in this gallery by O’Malley Photographers and the beautiful wedding film by First and Foremost Productions.

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From the Bride… Josh and I knew the second that we got engaged that we wanted to get married in my hometown of Seattle. Having lived in Chicago for 10+ years, it was a reason as good as any to get all of our Midwest friends and family to the Northwest. After attending our fair share of warm weathered, barn weddings, we craved something more classic and cozy. We landed on November and knowing that yielded more days of rain than not, indoors was an obvious choice. We were greeted with a warm welcome by Plymouth Church and felt right at home with the insanely talented team at the Fairmont Olympic. Because the majority of our guests would be traveling in for the festivities, we wanted everything to be super easy and walkable.

Natasha, with The Invisible Hostess, was instrumental in putting together what we deemed the A-Team. McKenzie Powell was one of the first people we reached out to (after I came across her work on Instagram) and helped us evolve our vision to be both complementary to the classic ballroom and fresh and fun at the same time (I literally gasped. There’s a photo for proof). We knew our memories were in the best of hands with the O’Malleys as well as First and Foremost Productions. Most importantly though was the band, and we knew our guests would all need new shoes after the dance party the Michael Benson Band was going to deliver.

The color palette we settled on was black, gold, ivory, lots of greenery, and at the last minute, we introduced some ballet pink (a nod to my background) and merlots. Even though we wanted a more classic event, we still wanted it to feel fresh and new, so the combinations of tables and high/low centerpieces all surrounded by a warm, candlelit glow really helped elevate the room and made it visually interesting.

It was really important to us to acknowledge, incorporate, and celebrate our friends and family throughout our day. My dad and brother made gorgeous walnut welcome boxes for all of our guests that were stocked with family favorites like Garrett’s Popcorn and chocolate chip cookies. My mom gave me my great grandmother’s fur stole (that I used to wear while playing dress up!) to wear over my dress. My grandparents (who have been married for 65 years) loaned us their cake topper for good luck. My dad and brother drove me to the church in our family’s 1942 Chevy Suburban – they so kindly removed one of the rows of seats so my dress wouldn’t get wrinkly (thanks, Mom).

We surprised all of our guests with a Sister Act II-like performance of “Joyful, Joyful” just after we were announced man and wife! My sister and I watched that movie so many times as kids that we broke the VHS. Just after our guests sang us through our first dance, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” the Maids of Honor “released the hound” – our beloved dog, Walter, who was hiding out under the head table.

After the most delicious dinner, a confetti cannon signaled the polka party to begin. In one of the most epic dance parties I’ve been a part of, Dick’s cheeseburgers sustained the late night crew in classic Seattle fashion. We also toasted the Chicago Cubs WINNING THE WORLD SERIES (mere days before) with late night Chicago style hot dogs that the Fairmont perfected, with a little direction from Josh. It was the perfect combination of our two worlds, Chicago and Seattle, coming together.

As guests ushered up to bed or, let’s be real, the hotel bar, they took along a Top Pot Donut, which is where Josh told me we were going when he detoured for the proposal instead. In true Seattle fashion, it rained the entire day, which really brought it full circle for us. There were so many little quips and details baked into the larger story, we are surely forgetting to share something in the above. Our love story isn’t particularly unique, but it is oh so special. The whole day just felt sweet, warm, and the perfect celebration not only of our union, but also all the people that got us here!

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Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Cinematography: First And Foremost Productions | Event Planning: The Invisible Hostess | Floral Design: McKenzie Powell Floral & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Sarah Drake Design | Ceremony Venue: Plymouth Church | Makeup: Michelle Finch | Makeup: Kayla Kollection Bridal Beauty Team | Hair: Marco Two Union Square | Lighting: Crimson Haze Event Lighting | Band: Michael Benson Band | Favors: Top Pot Doughnuts | Ceremony Music: Total Experience Gospel Choir | Custom Party Elements: For Your Party | Hotel and Reception Venue: Olympic Fairmont Hotel | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: 321 Foto | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Canlis | Rentals: Rented Elegance & Design | Welcome Boxes and Seating Chart: Northwest Building Tech

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Natural, Lush Green + White Wedding Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms, but when it’s crafted in the hands of top-notch vendors, beautiful things happen. In the words of photographer Heather Payne, “This design collaboration focuses on capturing the natural beauty of the bride and groom, the unity of their ceremony, overflowing lush florals and other carefully curated decor details.” See how all of the above came to life this way in the gallery.

From Heather Payne Photography… This look was inspired by the beautiful grounds of Christiansen’s Nursery. With lush landscapes, arching trees and gorgeous glass houses, these verdant venues provide a beautiful backdrop for any event.

This design collaboration focuses on capturing the natural beauty of the bride and groom, the unity of their ceremony, overflowing lush florals and other carefully curated decor details. Wearing a sleek Inbal Dror gown, the bride clutches an artfully-arranged bridal bouquet of sustainably-grown flowers as she walks down the isle to meet her groom. Meanwhile, the muted mocha tones in the table linens create an unexpectedly elegant neutral base to the classic white and green color palette.

Interspersed between the florals and china are natural beeswax taper candles in varying heights to provide additional vertical interest to the table setting. Special touches abound, from the timeless calligraphy on the Brown Linen Design name cards to the vintage flower pinfrogs utilized as name card holders, a subtle nod to the floral-centric nature of the celebration. It was pure joy to collaborate with Floret Flowers and our team.


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Photography : Heather Payne | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair & Makeup: Yessie Libby | Venue: Christianson's Nursery | Calligraphy & Paper Goods: Brown Linen Design | Candles : Creative Candles | Earrings: BHLDN | Flowers & Design: Floret Flowers | Models: Alyssa Knowling

Why Shades of Gray will Never Go Out of Style

Will we ever tire of gray? Probably not. This winery wedding makes a strong case for a gray palette being one of the most romantic ever. And that little ring bearers grand entrance? The cutest ever. Designed by Taylor’d Events + Kaleb Norman James Design, this day starts with a dreamy rose petal aisle and ends with a table full of cake. See all the pretty in between captured by O’Malley Photographers right here.

From O’Malley Photographers… Jason and Grace, the bride and groom, split time between Seattle and China, so they worked closely with Alex Chalk of Taylor’d Events to plan their dream wedding. Close friends and family flew in from all over the world for the intimate affair styled by the incredible Kaleb Norman James Design. Guests enjoyed a private ceremony in the winery garden with a chic family-style, farm-to-table dinner afterward as the sun set.

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Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Event Planning: Taylor’d Events | Styling: Kaleb Norman James Design | Floral Design: Kaleb Norman James Design | Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier | Cake: The Cakewalk Shop | Stationery: La Happy | Ceremony: JM Cellars | Reception: JM Cellars | Shoes: Christian Dior | Catering: Lisa Dupar Catering | Make-up: Megan Bingham - Off White | Hair: Megan Bingham - Off White | Calligraphy: La Happy | Music: The Side Project | Rentals: ABC Rentals | Veil: Monique Lhullier

Greens Turned a City Wedding into a Garden Oasis

It came as no surprise when Pantone announced greenery as the new IT color of 2017 because it’s a trend that’s gaining serious momentum in the wedding world. Case in point –  couples like Dylan and Dani who are gravitating towards designs filled with natural greens for a look that brings the outdoors in. Sinclair & Moore brought their “urban garden” vision to life and O’Malley Photographers captured every last bit.

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This bride and groom, Dylan and Dani, are the sweetest and coolest couple! When starting to plan they envisioned a day that was intimate, memorable and included just their closest friends and family. They got married in the city but kept with an intimate, garden feel throughout their design and photos. The incredible Sinclair & Moore team brought life to a more modern venue, turning it into a lush, whimsy romantic space where guests partied through the evening.

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Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Event Planning + Design: Sinclair & Moore | Floral Design: Sinclair & Moore | Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace | Wedding Cake: The SweetSide | Ceremony Venue: Metropolist | Reception Venue: Metropolist | Catering: Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes | Calligraphy: La Happy | Desserts: DERU Market | Hair and Make-up: Sarah Anderson

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
A Modern Autumn Wedding (Without a Single Pumpkin)

Leave it to Valley & Company Events to deliver the perfect autumnal wedding with details every fall bride will surely want to steal. The couple gave their event designers free reign to create a “warm and cozy celebration” and they totally delivered. Think copper mugs filled with mulled cider, greenery garland, gold lettered invites by Laura Hooper, and fresh plum place cards as an ode to the season. Cozy right up with the photos from the lens of O’Malley Photographers.

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From Valley & Company EventsWe had so much fun working with Savannah and Steve planning and designing their intimate Seattle autumn wedding. They gave us carte blanche to surprise them with charming details and experiences, giving us the parameters of desiring a warm and cozy celebration.

With many of their guests traveling from the East Coast and Colorado, we knew they envisioned a wedding that was quintessentially Seattle, showing off the character of their new home. Guests were greeted at a century-old industrial building in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood with warmed mulled cider cocktails in copper mugs and Spanish guitar playing in the background. The ceremony space was draped in gorgeous Northwest greenery garlands, peppered with magnolia leaves with hints of brown.

We incorporated fresh plums with calligraphy as table numbers and a subtle fall color story was told through the slate linens and autumnal centerpieces. We surprised Savannah and Steve by having their crest embroidered onto hemstitch napkins that we cinched with silk ribbon that sat atop each guest’s place setting. Guests dined on a decadent fall offerings, drank delicious wines, and danced the night away to a 7-piece band. It was such a pleasure to work with Savannah and Steve and looking back on their photos is so meaningful!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Event Planning + Design: Valley & Co. | Floral Design: Valley & Co. | Wedding Dress: The Dress Theory | Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Catering: Herban Feast | Hair + Makeup: Salon Maison | Band: Blue Wave Band | Vintage Car: British Motor Coach | Venue: Herban Feast | Cake + Desserts: Ruth-Anne Ford Cakes | Ceremony Guitarist: The Herbfarm | Day-of Calligraphy: La Happy | Draping: Prop Gallery West | Furniture Rentals: Vintage Ambiance | Linen Rentals + Monogrammed Napkins: Choice Linens | Monogrammed Handkerchiefs: Oatmeal Lace Designs | Props + Favors: Valley & Co.

Elegant Newcastle Golf Club Wedding

I don’t know about you, but I just so happen to believe that a little unexpected weather on your big day is totally romantic. Take this stunning celebration from Christine Clark as proof. Because even though their newlywed portraits weren’t covered in sunshine, it just goes to show that a little mist can make your pictures all the more memorable. See it all for yourself in The Vault!

From Christine ClarkeMisty elegance. This is how I would describe Frankie and Will’s Seattle wedding. The light misting rain added a soft light, and romantic mood to their beautiful affair. Frankie was the picture of understated elegance in her BHLDN gown and undone hair. Organic florals added a textured, artistic touch, while Will’s dark tux was the perfected sophisticated match. The misty views across Newcastle Golf Club were utter romance and dreams, while bright flowers across the grounds punctuated the muted weather. It was a day full of laughter, sweetness, and joy, set in classic Washington style.

Photography: Christine Clark | Floral Design: Mimi's Bakery and Floral Shop | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Cake: Mimi's Bakery and Floral Shop | Ceremony Venue: Bastyr University Chapel | Reception Venue: Prestwick Terrace At Golf Club At Newcastle | Bride's Shoes: J.Crew | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: Christy K. Makeup Hair | Favors: Honolulu Cookie Company | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

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