Washington Weddings

I can’t believe the weddings we get to share with you this week.  Each one is totally rad, unique and full to the brim with thoughtful details and personal touches.  This Washington state wedding from my favorite photographer of the Northwest – Ben Blood – just blew me right out of the water.  Set on an island near Seattle and intricately designed by McKenzie Powell Designs, it has an earthy elegance and feel-good vibe through and through.  The full gallery is your one-stop spot for vintage details galore!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

I couldn’t end this post without offering up this slice of goodness from Cabfare Productions.  It shows off even more of those sweet, sweet details and what looks like one heck of a dance party.  Plus it is set to my all-time favorite wedding song!

Jen was a dream client and so much fun to work with that by the time the wedding rolled around, she felt like a dear friend. Secondly, she has amazing taste, so working with her was easy. She added so many of her own touches to the day which made it truly unique and beautiful, my favorite being the seating card display built with garden trellises and yards of satin ribbon. It turned out fabulously! Both she and Brodie, along with their families were all so kind that it was such a pleasure to have played a part in their day.

The venue immediately set the tone as it sits overlooking a valley and privately owned lake on Whidbey Island near Seattle. After a beautiful ferry ride over, guests were treated to stunning views and a warm sunny day. Because the on-site location of the ceremony is so beautiful, we kept the décor to a minimum. Bundles of eucalyptus lining the aisle and two huge urns of luscious flowers, vines and greenery were all the drama we needed.

Old photos of the couples’ parents and grandparents on their wedding days were displayed in dark blue frames, all set in an antique kitchen hutch with added touches of flowers, vintage linens, and some pretty pink depression glass. Gorgeous vintage hats found by the groom’s mother went perfectly with the rest of the vision.

The venue offers a bit of that rustic charm, yet provides an elegant setting that was perfect for Jen’s request of a family style meal enjoyed outdoors with friends. We filled the long tables with natural looking flowers, using eclectic glass vases of garden roses, veronica, scabiosa, jasmine vine, a variety of herbs and other greenery, giving it a very summery, European feel.

The dessert table greeted guests immediately upon entrance to the barn to provide visual impact, to take advantage of the beautiful string lighting that would act as the romantic backdrop, and because I’ll take any opportunity I get to greet guests with a large gorgeous arrangement.

Wedding Photography: Ben Blood Photography / Cinematography: Cabfare Productions / Event Design and Flowers: McKenzie Powell Designs / Wedding Venue + Catering: Fireseed Catering / Invitations: Good Stock Press & Bindery / Dress + Shoes: Luly Yang

I had a hard time believing that this next wedding was 99% handcrafted by the couple with their families and friends. That was until I found out that it was the wedding of Aileen whose blog – Love & Lavender – I have followed since my own wedding planning days.  Simply Rosie Photography captured every last detail – of which there might be too many to count! –  from the pinwheel boutonnieres to the fun photo booth.  Check out all the DIY design in the full gallery to see what is possible with a little bit of inspiration and a whole lot of heart!

More DIY design in the full gallery!

From Aileen –

“The food [was] homemade by our families. We had a bbq reception with tons of sides that our families made ahead of time. For dessert, we had a small tiered cake by Pure Bliss Desserts as well as triple chocolate cheesecakes (made by Ben’s sister) and tons of Italian cream cake (made by Ben’s dad). We also had drawers filled with homemade cookies and old-fashioned donuts.

We collected vintage books and mason jars from thrift stores for months. Every centerpiece was different. We also used doilies as runners underneath and added paper pinwheels that I made. On the bridal party table, we also added oversized skeleton keys I bought from Pottery Barn. My bridesmaids, my mom, and I did all the flowers ourselves the day before the wedding, including the bouquets.

I made the cake topper to look like a mini-me of Ben and I. I also made all the boutonnieres. For our photobooth, we hung pinwheels from a tree and propped some empty white frames up against a bench. People loved it! We had them fill out cards with their favorite memories of us or advice to go along with their photobooth pictures. We hung pictures of us throughout the years in the front of the lodge, clipped onto twine with mini clothespins and we had croquet during the reception (which we took advantage of for the bridal party photos). We also did the invitations, programs, and other paper goods ourselves, and I hand-painted all the wood signs.”

Vendor Credits: The venue: The Beau Lodge / Bride’s dress –  was custom made by Milly Bridal / Photographers: Rosie and Mark Haberl of Simply Rosie Photography / Bridesmaid dresses: Anthropologie / Groomsmen attire: ties from J.Crew, suspenders from Urban Outfitters / Hair and makeup: bridesmaid / Cake: Pure Bliss Desserts

A soft dreamy color palette of muted pinks and yellows, an aisle full of lush pink petals, a garden wedding almost entirely DIY ‘d by the bride and her family, a gorgeous bride and groom … and some drop-dead beautiful children ~ equals a simply perfect wedding from Stephanie Cristalli Photography!

John and Jessica were high school sweethearts. They said their “I Do’s” in John’s parents’ back yard. I can’t imagine a more perfect backyard ~ garden wedding if I tried! {See the garlands draping the ceremony chairs? They were made by the bride’s mom!}

Photography by LBB member Stephanie Cristalli.       See the whole gallery here!

Jessica has shared their story and all the DIY details with us today! Congratulations to Jessica & John on a tremendously beautiful garden wedding!

. . .

John and I met in high school and dated for over 6 years before we were married. Since we met each other so young we are both really close to each other’s families. We have grown up in each others homes. For this reason we decided to get married at home. We were married and had our reception in my in-laws backyard. Having the wedding at home really created in intimate, setting in which we could put ourselves in every detail.

We did a lot of DIY to make our wedding more personal. My cousin Daniela is a wedding planner and creates beautiful florals (Bella Signature Design). She was a great resource for us while we were planning our wedding. She gave us great recommendations for vendors and was a constant person who we could go to with questions. She created the most beautiful floral arrangements, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. It was breathtaking to see all the flowers being unloaded from her car. From the beginning of our planning I knew that I wanted to have tons of flowers at our wedding. I wanted to have a very romantic look so we chose all soft colors in light pinks, peaches, buttery yellows, and creams. I wanted all the flowers to be very petally so we chose garden roses, hydrangeas, gardenias and sweet peas. We continued this floral theme by naming the tables at the reception after some of my favorite flowers.

Guests were greeted at the front of the house by two bunny topiaries that were dressed as a bride and groom. This was a surprise for us from our moms. My mother-in-law had the idea and bought the bunnies and my mom dressed them up by sewing a dress for the bride bunny as well as finding the veil, flowers, a ribbon and pearl necklace, a top hat and a tie. Guests then walked through the main entrance to the house were the found the guest book and a beautiful 3-tiered metal, garland and floral arrangement (the metal structure came from my parents’ bathroom and my cousin decked it out with the garland and beautiful flowers). Guests then walked through the double french doors to the back patio and yard where the ceremony and reception were held.

My mom and I really wanted to plan the wedding ourselves as a bonding time. We both love entertaining and design. As an art major in college I loved working with all the details, I designed our wedding invitations as well as all the paper goods (programs, labels, seating cards, etc.). It was so fun to design all of this from start to finish, I think it really gave our whole day a consistent look and feel. My mom created all the garland that you see down the aisle. She made over 40 yards of garland using greens from her yard (my parents live on 2.5 acres).

Our attendants were family and close friends. My matron-of-honor was my husband’s sister and he had my brother and his brother-in-law as groomsmen. We had a number of child attendants, we had two ring bearers, two boys to carry my train and one flower girl. The flower girl and one of the ring bearers are my cousin Daniela’s kids. The other three boys are brothers who I have nannied for years for. I have known these three boys since the oldest was three and the middle was one, I took the older boys to the hospital the day the youngest was born, needless to say we are very close. The little baby in the photos is our niece, my matron-of-honor’s 6 month old daughter.

I absolutely loved my dress and got so many compliments on it. It was so me! It was the Carrie dress by Melissa Sweet. The detailing of the pleating on the bottom of the dress was my favorite part. When I told the boys (at the rehearsal) that they would be carrying my train I think they were pretty excited. The next day I was asked, “But Jessie, where’s your train?” I think they were a bit let down that the train was not an actual vehicle, but rather the back of my dress. I also loved my shoes, they were the perfect color, were comfortable and added a bit of fun to my attire. My bouquet was so beautiful, it was many shades of creams and pale, pale pinks and yellows, it was wrapped with a beautiful light pink silk ribbon which Daniela made to echo the bottom pleating on my dress, also on my bouquet was a beautiful locket which was my grandmother’s. It was so special to have something of hers with me on that day, it helped me to remember that even though she is no longer with us she was there with me.

My husband and all the groomsmen wore yellow argyle socks to add a bit of fun as well as a nod to my husband’s huge love of golf. For our rehearsal dinner we took everyone mini-golfing a a great local, outdoor course. All of the men wore three piece gray suits, we wanted them to wear something that was not quite as dark and harsh as a black tux, but still formal. The gray seemed to fit our outdoor wedding better. My husband wore a cream tie, the groomsmen wore yellow and gray striped ties and our dads wore coordinating pink and gray striped ties. The little boys all wore gray suits as well with cream ties to match my husband’s.

My bridesmaids wore buttery yellow dresses with a waist band and straps that echoed my dress. They wore adorable cream heels with a little bow on the front. Isabella, my flower girl wore a smocked, cream dress which matched mine in color and was a classic little girls dress. She also wore her hair to match mine and had cute little pink flowers in the back. My mom made Isabella’s flower girl basket and the two ring bearer pillows out of gray silk with beautiful cream and pink silk flowers.

We were married by my pastor under a beautiful metal structure that was adorned with garland and gardenias. Our aisle was heavily petaled with rose petals. We had close family friends play piano and sing during the wedding. It was so special to have close friends have such a personal affect on our ceremony. During the ceremony we lit candles that were protected from the wind by hurricanes. After the ceremony we had a cocktail hour on the patio of the house. We set out water, lemonade and ice tea for our guests in addition to a passed signature drink (vodka lemonade) and passed hors d’oeuvres. Guests had time to socialize and we had a few moments to ourselves before greeting them (this was the best decision, having 15 minutes by ourselves with some snacks). During this time we had 2 of my brothers friends who are amazing musicians play some light music on the piano and guitar.

This was also where guests got their table assignments. I filled small envelopes with cards that contained the guests names on the front and table name on the back. These were attached to cream ribbons that were tied between two topiaries. After the cocktail hour the guests were welcomed into an open tent by our amazing dj. In order to help guest tables to get to know each other and feel comfortable he had each table sing a song with the word “love” in it. This was how they were dismissed to the dinner buffet. We had a lot of kids at our wedding (we had 6 child attendants, plus others present) so we had a kids buffet for them to enjoy. Each place setting was marked with the guests’ names, I created these place cards and my mom, my matron-of-honor and I put them on each napkin by wrapping the napkin with ribbon which was threaded through the place cards. Inside each napkin we tucked a menu card which I had designed. Our table names were attached with cream ribbon to clear mini cake stands which were filled with our favorite chocolates, raspberry truffles from Moonstruck Chocolate (my husband had lived in Portland, OR the year leading up to our wedding and Moonstruck is a local company, we loved going there for chocolates and hot chocolate treats in the winter). Each chocolate was adorned with a small pink flower on top. This was a great after dinner treat for our guests.

One of our favorite touches and most beloved by guests was our candy bar. My parents and I designed and created the whole thing. My dad built the candy bar structure to look like a lemonade stand or carnival stand. I painted the stripes on the canvas which we then hung on the wooden structure. My mom and I searched high and low for all the pink, peach, yellow and cream candy, as well as the stands and jars. My mom sewed the peach, pink and yellow flags that hung over and under the bar. I designed all the labels and covered milk and dark chocolate bars in papers that I had designed as well. People went crazy for the candy bar, it was so much fun!

For favors for our guests we made mini wedding cakes made from a favorite family recipe. My mom baked hundreds of cookies in three sizes. A family friend, my aunt, my mom and myself all got together one day to actually put the cookie cakes together. We stacked 3 big, 3 medium and 2 small cookies together then placed a sugar flower on top, they were then placed into clear boxes and tied with a light pink ribbon.

Our wedding was exactly what we wanted it to be romantic, beautiful, personal, soft, classic and elegant. While the wedding was beautiful the best part was marrying each other. Saying our vows to each other was emotional and perfect. The happiness of our day is what truly stands out to me. We felt completely surrounded by love and support all throughout the day. Looking back on our day we are so happy to know that our family and friends not only loved the beauty of our ceremony and reception, but that they also had a blast partying the night away with us to celebrate our new marriage. We all danced late into the night, the dance floor was always full and always joyous! It was fun to celebrate with everyone we love.

Photography: Stephanie Cristalli (Little Black Book Vendor, Seattle) / Flowers: Daniela Faget of Bella Signature Design (Little Black Book Vendor, Seattle) / Garlands: Made by bride’s mom /Ceremony and Reception Location: Private Residence, Groom’s parents’ home / Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Family friends / DJ: Tim Steever of A Beautiful Noise / Cake: Jen of Jen’s Desserts / Caterer: Russell Dean Lowell Catering / Candy Bar: Made by bride and bride’s parents / Favors: Cookie wedding cakes made by bride’s mom, bride and family friends / Invitations and all paper goods: Made by the bride / Shoes: J.Crew / Dress: Carrie dress by Melissa Sweet found at La Votre Bridal Couture / The Bridal Garden in Kirkland, WA /Bridesmaid dresses: Dessy found at Moms, Maids and More in Bellevue, WA / Flower Girl Dress: Found at www.bestdressedchild.com / Jewelry: J. Lewis Jewelry in Bellevue, WA / Tent: ABC Rentals /Rentals: Pedersen’s Rentals

The more engagement sessions that we post, the more inventive and creative and flat-out boundless we realize you guys are! Meredith and Jamaal’s e*shoot, sent to us by the mega-talented Sean Flanigan was all about the quest for fun and the art of love! See the whole shoot {here} …

Meredith and Jamaal

I was told to “pack my bags”, because we were “going somewhere tomorrow” when I walked in the door from a long day at work. It was four days before Valentine’s day 2009, which also happens to be my birthday. A million questions ran through my head. “But what about work? I can’t just not show up!” I said as I went for my suitcase. “Don’t worry, I called them, they know that you won’t be in” are the words that made me stop in my tracks from across the room. He went on to tell me that it was going to be cold, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that someone was doing something so amazing, and so special for me, even though at the time I had no idea the magnitude of love and beauty that were in store over the next few days. He didn’t say much, so I assumed that it had something to do with my birthday. I could not sleep that night, my mind raced, wondering what was in store for the day ahead of us. I thought about the previous days, if there was something that I could have picked up on, a clue perhaps that would make some sense of it all, but it was a no go. The next morning a car arrived at the house to take us to the airport. Jamaal, tight lipped, had a grin on his face the entire way. Nothing I did or said could get it out of him. Could it really be that the person who is impossible to surprise, was really getting just that? A surprise indeed as we made our way to the airline kiosk to print our tickets. I held my breath as the destination city popped up on the screen, “Paris, France!” I couldn’t believe it!

He told me later that he was going to propose to me in the gardens outside of the Louvre, but decided against it when he realized how busy it was. We are both very private people, who live a quiet life, so when we got back to the hotel after a beautiful day at the Louvre, it just seemed to naturally play out in the most perfect way. We were going to take a nap before dinner, so I went in the bathroom to wash my face. For some reason when I came out, I went directly to a huge bouquet of roses that Jamaal had delivered to the room when we had arrived in Paris the day before. I just wanted to smell them before I laid down, but as I put my face down in them, he said, “There’s something in there for you.” I looked down in the stems, and saw the box.

The rest is a bit of a blur, as I tried to listen to what he was saying over the pounding of my heart. I do remember him asking me to spend the rest of my life with him, and I do remember saying yes. Kisses, hugs, tears, and laughter all followed as we called our parents, even though being the gentleman that he is, he had already asked my father for his blessing. If you know Jamaal, you know what a kind and selfless soul he has. Everyone that meets him loves him instantly. I had never been around anyone who possessed such an aura before I met him, now going on 8 years. We were friends for about a year before we became partners, and I truly feel that the connection we have cannot be put into words. I am so blessed to have an amazing person to share every day with, and that is why on October 9, 2010 I know that above all else, I will be marrying my best friend.

Save The Date from jamaal layne on Vimeo.

Thanks Sean!

If chic, vintage, and totally gorgeous style is just your cup of tea, then you’re in for a little lovefest. Our last affair of this beauty-filled day is a super stylish Washington wedding by Laurel McConnell Photography. Filled to the brim with stunning florals and feminine details, this outdoorsy wedding is a modern mix of romance and rustic. There are oodles more gorgeous details for this one, so click here to see all the pretty in the gallery.

{Click here to see the rest of this romantic Washington wedding}

From Laurel McConnell…

I was so excited to meet Nicole and Steve the week they got married. We’d had a fun phone and email relationship for months while the details of their Northwest wedding fell into place- they’re from Southern California and their celebration was set for a woodsy retreat just a few miles from Seattle. From the start, Nicole and Steve envisioned a quaint and cozy celebration with a country feel and a touch of vintage. They’re romantics at heart, and the style of their celebration shows it! They started at Seattle’s beloved boutique art hotel for some swanky urban fun true to their personal style, and then transitioned to their sunny ceremony in the forest. The afternoon was full of so much love and emotion while they were surrounded by 75 of their favorite friends and family members- the tears of joy started at the ceremony and didn’t end until the party started on the dance floor!! We were so happy to share such a sweet and exciting day in their lives, and can’t wait for the next chapter!

Vendor Credits: Photography: Laurel McConnell Photography / Flowers: the bride and her friends / Event Design & Planning: the bride / Ceremony & Reception Location: Dragonfly Retreat in Woodinville, Washington / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Shoes: Mystic / Dress: Modern Trousseau from The White Dress / Makeup: Sequoia Leopold / Hair: Rachel at Salon Voda / Groom’s Suit: Barney’s / Seattle Photography Session: Max Hotel /  Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Catering: Twelve Baskets / Cake: Jen’s Desserts

We have had a tremendous time this past week presenting films from the Little Black Book Cinematographers that were honored by Event DV Magazine as the 2009 most influential event filmmakers in the world! We have a few more studios to feature and so we’re publishing a special Saturday edition of the LBB Blog!

Laura and Chris Randall’s passion for capturing the beauty and emotion of life has enabled them to become one of the most influential wedding filmmaking studios in the country. Acclaimed by their fellow cinematographers and Event DV, they are clearly leaders in the wedding film industry!

First, a little bit about the wedding from Laura at Edit 1 Media ~

Carrie and Nick got ready and had their “First Glance” at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. They were then married at the iconic Space Needle. We had SO much fun at their wedding! They are so obviously in love and laughed constantly. Carrie looked elegant and regal in a sleek Winnie Couture gown (from La Belle Reve in Bellevue). Tanya Stone of Elements In Bloom created a gorgeous bouquets and other floral designs. Jason Koenig of JKoe Photography was a blast and got some amazing shots. The wedding ceremony was held in the Skyline Level of the Space Needle and was officiated by Annemarie Juhlian. LOTS of tears and LOTS of laughter ~ the whole day was one big party!! Kevin Olson of Disco Royale spun tunes and kept the dance floor packed. I think the dancing might have been my favorite part of the day!

Carrie & Nick – Wedding at the Seattle Space Needle from Edit 1 Media on Vimeo.

On their website, Laura and Chris say, “Edit 1 Media has been honored to capture thousands of priceless moments for hundreds of clients. We can’t imagine a more important legacy.”

Neither can we!  Congratulations on being honored by your fellow cinematographers!

We spotted this next beauty over on Michele M. Waite’s blog, one of our favorite photographers EVER. And it’s the kind of wedding that makes you want to move right in. To set up shop in the fields, to dine on perfect pies and to dance the night away under the gorgeous stars. Knowing that so much of this wedding was DIY and that so many family members pitched in to help, makes it even more special, even more beautiful. Oh and did I mention that the bride is also an amazing floral designer, a business inspired by the fun she had in designing her own wedding. I know, I’m a little jealous too.

Our wedding really was what I always dreamed of—an elegant, laid back affair on a summer day with our close friends and family enjoying great food, dancing and lots of handmade touches. The year of planning was too much fun. James was totally supportive and let me become absorbed in a world of paper, fabric, flowers, and blogs—it was a complete DIY wedding. (Thank you, SMP, for sticking by my side all year long!)

My husband and I grew up in the county surrounded by fields of berries, and since many of my summers were spent picking and baking, we thought it would be fun to carry a blackberry theme throughout the wedding. And so they popped up in the flowers, food, favors, and invitations. Our guests were greeted with fresh lemonade and pound cake—all set up on the tailgate of my step-dad’s little antique truck. We wanted to set the tone immediately that this would be a fun, relaxing wedding and give guests time to mingle before the ceremony.

As I hid back in the trees with my dad and bridal party, my step-dad on guitar and his two friends on bass and violin treated our guests to a medley of French jazz and Bassa Nova pieces. Many people have told us that the magical moment of the day occurred when my dad and I first appeared from the trees and walked across the field to my waiting husband, while our very own trio (step dad and gang) played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I don’t think I shed a tear (at least not until our vows). I just beamed a huge smile. I was overjoyed.

Our favors were, of course, jars of jam made by aunts, moms, and grandmas from blackberries picked from the field. Since neither of us are huge cake lovers, we opted for a variety of pies which were also made by our wonderful aunts. Friends hung the clusters of little red berries from the tent, while James and I frantically worked away creating all the arrangements for the tables. I took on a lot of the work myself, and when push came to shove, I needed his help to get it all done in time! 10+ hours creating floral arrangements must equal true love.

Flowers were purchased in bulk online and combined with poppy pods, blackberries, and roses from my dad’s garden. We clipped Vinca Vine and threw that in last minute which created just enough of the wild, unfussy look we wanted. (I must also mention the hours James’s dad and brothers spent in road-side ditches, collecting buckets of Queen Anne’s Lace for the bundles of flowers lining the aisle.) See how lucky I am? The large ceremony arrangements were made by my amazing and talented mother all from flowers and greenery picked from family gardens. She also ripped / frayed all the table runners and sewed the vase covers. Underneath that beautiful chocolate brown material are plain ol’ tomato cans.

My degree is Graphic Design, but I wanted invitations that looked a little less graphic and little more handmade. So I used watercolors to paint the different elements (berries, leaves, flowers) and scanned them into the computer to give myself more control over the color, layout, and positioning. I was pleased as punch with the outcome.

Bridesmaid dresses were spotted at Anthropologie months before and carefully watched until they went on sale, at which point I snagged all possible sizes and purchased them on the spot. Coordinating flower girl dresses were found at Gap and went perfectly with the natural, summery theme. I sewed the two hairpieces for my adorable cousins (which coordinated with the top of the blackberry favors) and the hairpiece for myself as well.

My uncle married us in the middle of a field that belonged to dear family friends (who were so kind to let us completely take over their property for 4 days). Our photographers did an amazing job of capturing the day. Our makeup artist made us all beautiful. Our caterers nailed the food… The rain held off; the food was fresh off the grill; the birds flew overhead, and I got to dance the night away with my new handsome husband. What a day it was…

Thank you, Michele and McKenzie for sharing this beautiful day with us!! And thank you to Michele’s second (and fabulous) shooter Sharlene Chase.

Photographer: Michèle M. Waite /Makeup: Michael Bride / Hair: Argyle Salon / Flowers & Design: McKenzie Powell Designs / Caterer: Fools Onion Catering / Rentals: Stellar Event Rentals & ABC Special Event Rentals / Dress: Belltown Bride (The dress was Tara Keely) / Dress Alterations: Trish Jens / Suits: Macy’ / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie / Flowergirl Dresses: Gap

Daniela at Bella Signature Design ~ one of our new Little Black Book event designers based in Seattle, sent us some fantastic photos from a New Years-inspired photo shoot that she and some of her colleagues had just finished up. Wish we could have gotten this posted sooner. It’s pretty incredible …

Here’s Daniela’s idea ~

I’m usually so busy designing everyone else’s parties that I don’t entertain that much myself! However, when I do, I love to go all out ~ beautiful invitations, great food and all kinds of wonderful goodies. I prefer to keep my parties relatively small (6-12). That way, I CAN splurge!

So I thought it would be fun to create a New Year’s-inspired tablescape.  I sent out an inspiration board to our creative team ~ Kristi at Momental Designs, Caroline at Paloma’s Nest and Carla at Bainbridge Style ~ with a suggested color palette of champagne, vanilla, raspberry and gold. What I got back was stunning to say the least!

From Kristi at Momental Designs ~ these gorgeous invitations …

{Kristi has more photos and her inspiration for the designs on her blog ~ New Year’s Brunch With Bella Signature, Paloma’s Nest & Friends}

(above photo courtesy of Momental Designs)

From Caroline at Paloma’s Nest ~ these precious ceramic 2010 wishing bowls!

And from Carla at Bainbridge Style some absolutely amazing Profiteroles with cranberry compote and chocolate sauce.

Carla has posted more photos and her ideal New Year’s Brunch menu on the Bainbridge Style website along with the recipe for making the profiteroles [cream puffs (pate choux) filled with vanilla ice cream then drizzled with chocolate sauce]. Sounds sinful.

Oh … and the drinks!  Cranberry bellinis …

The stunning floral and design for the shoot was, of course, by Daniela. Photography for all except the stationery suite was by UK photographer Philip Meadows. Daniela has lots more of the details of the shoot over on her Bella Signature Design blog.

Perfectly beautiful. We look forward to seeing more from Bella Signature Design ~ here, on the LBB Blog.

As we continue on with more 2009 favorites from our SMP cinematographers …

Imagine … you’re married! All the months and months of planning and stressing about the details are over. And you almost can’t believe it ~ it went by so fast! Now, it’s time to celebrate … there’s nothing but fun in store for you and your sweetie!!  After a few quick shots with your photographer, you head on over to the reception and voilá!  A same-day-edit film from YOUR WEDDING is prepped and ready for you to watch all over again!! Yes. You really ARE married!

from Laura at Edit 1 Media …

This is a fun, funky and stylish Same Day Edit that we created for Diane & Fred…a fabulous couple who we absolutely love! From the moment we met Diane, we knew she was an “Edit 1 Media” bride! Diane actually now helps us at wedding shows to spread the word about how great a wedding movie and Same Day Edit are to other brides!

And now, a sensational “Same Day Edit” from Edit 1 Media …

Diane and Fred both got ready at the classic and elegant Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle this past July. Their ceremony and reception were held at a newer location called SoDo Park by Herban Feast. They were a dream to work with…Diane chose a great upbeat song for the Same Day Edit and we just went to town having fun shooting and editing this piece! When the video was shown at the reception, the small room of about 100 guests completely exploded with cheers when the couple’s two miniature daschunds, Darma and Izzy, came bounding on the screen! From the shoes, to the décor, to Fred & Diane’s personalities…this had to be one of our top “most fun” weddings of all time!

Michelle at Married & More With Michelle was right there by their side, helping them orchestrate a sensational celebration! Just in case you’d like to see the reception (and you totally should!), here is the Edit 1 Media blog post:  Diane and Fred’s Reception. Do take a peek!

Thanks, Laura for sharing another beautiful Seattle wedding with us!!

This engagement session just might make you cry. It’s that pretty. Kristen Tourtillotte shot the incredible spread at Discovery Park in Seattle and it’s so clear from the photographs, the couple is MADLY in love.

In case you guys are dying to know who designed the dress. Sadly for us, it’s a vintage fine that the her aunt bought her. Isn’t it adorable? Actually, I think it’s the whole spread…the dress, the oak, the STUNNING photography that really makes this shoot perfect.

To see the entire spread by Kristen Marie Photography, click right here! Kristen’s blog is such a treat so make sure you spend some time devouring her pages upon pages of wedding eye candy.

How CUTE! This little guy decided to join Darcy & Matt during their wedding photo shoot!

Their country-chic wedding at the Farm Kitchen has truly delighted us today! Seattle-based event planner and coordinator, Michelle, {Married & More With Michelle} posted Darcy & Matt’s November wedding on her blog and we fell in LOVE with it. It took us awhile … but we finally got to show you all the thoughtful and environmentally-chic details.

If you missed the copper-covered leaf favors, the very popular cake-topper, or the scrumptious food photos … all provided by the amazing Laurel McConnell … definitely look back through today’s posts. Ohhhh…. this would have been a great feature in celebration of Earth Day!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to ALL the fantastic vendors who contributed to Darcy & Matt’s fresh and simple, just naturally beautiful wedding.

We’ve been sharing such lovely photos from Laurel McConnell of Darcy & Matt’s wedding at the Farm Kitchen. What a delightful spot!  On their website it says, Farm Kitchen is a peaceful organic farm near Seattle on the North Kitsap Peninsula. Close to Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island, it is just far enough away from the pace of everyday life to make your short trip a pleasure.” Sounds just about perfect to me!

The menu for Darcy & Matt’s wedding was of utmost importance to them (he’s a chef at a Bobby Flay restaurant)!  Herban Feast Catering prepared these luscious-looking dishes …

The cake was from Blackbird Bakery in Bainbridge Island. One more quick look at the cute cake topper …

Married & More With Michelle did a spectacular job coordinating all of Darcy and Matt’s wedding details!

We do have a few more photos of Darcy & Matt’s wedding coming up a little later today, so check back in with us!

In the meantime, take a look at the stunning and romantic Rhode Island wedding sent to us by Images by Berit on today’s Little Black Book Blog. Just spectacular!

Darcy and Matt’s country chic wedding was planned and coordinated by Married & More by Michelle, a Seattle-based event boutique.  What an amazing job she did! The simplicity of the Farm Kitchen venue combined with the intricacies of the the leaves (and the food you’ll see in a bit) … and the branches ~ inside and out ~ bring such a feeling of natural wonder to the whole atmosphere! LOVE it.

from Michelle …

Their intimate ceremony, led by Reverend Mary Calhoun was touching and heartfelt. 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 (mmm…paper) 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.

photography courtesy of Laurel McConnell

Beautiful, beautiful florals created by Bella Signature Design.

Back in a bit with more …

I’m always running across gorgeous weddings on our LBB members’ blogs … and today, we got a thumbs up to show you Darcy & Matt’s Farm Kitchen wedding from their amazing planner, Michelle at Married & More with Michelle and their photographer Laurel McConnell.  It’s really fantastic!

from Michelle …

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.

Darcy and Matt were married on a cool and peaceful November day at the quaint and intimate Farm Kitchen, nestled in Poulsbo on an 18 acre organic farm, just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle but tucked away that you feel you have really left the city. Their vision of an intimate country chic dinner party came to life.

photography courtesy of Laurel McConnell

Invitations and stationery designed by mmm…paper . So many more lovely images of this delightful wedding to come!

Sarah and Nathan’s Seattle wedding was sent to us by Kelly at Sweet Pea Events. The absolute FIRST thing you need to know is that Nathan & Sarah met in the first grade. Years later, they “re-met” and, as the saying goes … (well, you know!)

Kelly worked with Sarah planning her storybook wedding from start to finish.

Read the note … fate.

This beautiful wedding took place in July at Seattle’s St. James Cathedral and the Benaroya Symphony Hall.

The stunning cake was from Jen’s Desserts and the fantastic florals from Loves Me Flowers.

Thanks, Kelly, for sharing Sarah and Nathan’s wedding with us today! For more photos and more of their story … take a peek at Sweet Pea Events’ blog!

Also, a huge thank you to Laurel McConnell for the lovely photos from the day. Check out her blog for even more of Sarah & Nathan’s story.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

I have one more florist to share with you today…Juniper Flowers out of Seattle. Their work is simply gorgeous. A perfect combination of modern and traditional….

I love the vibrancy of these flowers. The reds and pinks just pop, don’t they? So, so pretty! Juniper has a beautiful website filled with gorgeous creations for you to check out. And if you are EVER in need of inspiration, browse through our Little Black Book…the websites from our members are just incredible.

update…I am going to be working on my blog design today, so forgive me if there are little hiccups here and there!

I woke up this morning thinking about chocolate. Chocolate cake, actually.

My problem is…I have become completely and unabashedly addicted to the food/life/love/everything blog, Orangette. Last night, I read her post about chocolate cake and low and behold, I can’t stop thinking about chocolate cake. So I figure the next best thing to actually baking and devouring an entire cake, would be to blog about it, right??

I am going nuts over the chic concoctions that the Vanilla Bakeshop in Los Angeles is creating…

I also love the pretty cakes that Jen’s Desserts is cooking up in Seattle…contemporary and understated. Perfect inspiration in my opinion!

Okay, I lied. There really isn’t a “next best thing” to eating and devouring a chocolate cake!