Paulina and Max: August 15, 2010

What a BEAUTIFUL day, Paulina and Max's wedding!  The weather was at an all time high (as was the heat -- I think it neared 100 degrees, which is quite unusual for Northwest summers!) but the sun was nothing on Paulina and Max's exuberance.

Paulina and Max both grew up in the Northwest (Max in Bellingham, and Paulina on Bainbridge Island -- did I mention she's the sister of one of my best childhood friends?) but they met in Australia while studying abroad.  Currently residing in Michigan, they decided to get married in the Northwest, and picked Tazer Valley Farm for both their ceremony and reception.

Now one of my favorite venues in the north Seattle area, the farm has breathtaking grounds, a refurbished barn, and a big white tent to give couples countless options for their wedding dreams.  Paulina and her parents were escorted to the ceremony site in the Farm's antique car, while their friend officiated a very touching and personal ceremony.

You may have noticed that penguin the ringbearer carried down the aisle -- there are more coming later on! -- a cute nod to a little joke between Paulina and Max.

Following the ceremony, Max and Paulina snuck away for photos, while guests enjoyed cocktail hour strolling through the gardens and playing lawn games.

Some fun details of the day....

Following thoughtful toasts and a gourmet dinner (provided by Avenue Catering), the guests really let loose, showing their playful side in the photo booth and tearing up the dance floor.

The revelry paused for a brief moment as Paulina and Max cut their cake (and pies!) courtesy of Bainbridge Bakers).  Paulina wanted cake -- and Max is a big pie fan -- so they decided to do both!  Mike at Bainbridge Bakers even made the pies with little hearts decorating the tops of the pies in their honor!

At the end of the night, Paulina and Max made their getaway in a borrowed Jaguar while family and friends waved them out with blue and orange glowsticks.  What a great end to a magical night!

Paulina and Max, congratulations and all our love and best wishes!!

All photos by: Ben Bender Photography



Playful Socks!

There seems to be a trend emerging for groomsmen's socks....check out these fun and playful ideas for dressing up the men in your life!

Photo by:  John & Joseph Photography

 Photo by: Sarah Rhoads Photographers

Photo by: Erica M. Photography

It looks like the girls don't get all the attention in the clothing department anymore!  I love the idea of having something playful for the boys; friends of ours have started a tradition of whenever one of the boys get married, all the guys get identical, somewhat-ridiculous socks and wear them to the wedding.  Love it!

Jamie and Chris: August 6, 2010

Everything about Jamie and Chris' wedding near Port Angeles was local, handmade, and completely "them."  Jamie and Chris are one of those true stories about love at first sight; they met at MIT while Chris was there on an exchange from Cambridge in the UK for one semester; they spent the next four years commuter-dating, finally ending up together in California where Jamie is completing her PhD and Chris works for a large energy corporation. 

They decided to get married at Lake Crescent (where Chris proposed) and have the reception at Jamie's parents' house on the beach in Port Angeles.  While the locations posed some difficulties (Jamie's parents spent the whole spring and early summer spiffing up the beach house, and we had to bring everything into the beach for the ceremony), it really turned out exactly as they wanted -- unique, casual, and completely fun filled!

We arrived one day early, along with many of Jamie's out of town relatives from Brazil, California, and Chris' friends from the UK, to begin the setup.  Jamie's mom, Jean, picked wildflowers and blackberries from the neighboring fields for the handmade centerpieces, while Jamie's dad, Fleisch, was busy climbing up ladders, setting up the bar with his personal collection of Brazilian crystal, and mixing the specialty drink, a caipiringa, with Brazilian sugarcane rum.

They even hung the flags of the three nationalities represented by Jamie and Chris -- Brazilian and American for Jamie, and Welsh for Chris!

The day of the wedding proved gorgeous -- sunny, warm, and perfect.  Jamie and Chris chose to get married on a small spit of land at Lake Crescent against the backdrop of a large piece of driftwood they found the summer before.  Guests gathered, standing, around the couple during the ceremony officiated by Jamie's uncle. 

Following the ceremony, Jamie and Chris took some time with their fabulous photographers Lisa and Peter Kuhnlein at the lake, while guests made their way to the reception site.

Jamie and Chris hired the Brazilian Band, Show Brazil!, to play during the cocktail hour and the beginning of dinner.  Afterwards, DJ Jeff Hill took over as the guests unleashed their party side!

Jamie and Chris ordered a plethora of sweets for their handmade tower, embellished with silk flowers -- cupcakes, brownies, cookies, lemon bars, tarts, and mini pies all from Bainbridge Bakers!

Fleisch built a bonfire near the bar and on the way to the beach -- a perfect way for guests to warm up once the winds picked up and the sun began to set.

Thank you, Jamie and Chris, for such an outstanding party!  I am honored to call you my friends -- and wish you all the best!

All photos by KP Studios