Category Archives: recommended vendors

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A Wedding Voyage on the Virginia V: Lanaya + Zach

September 4, 2008 – 3:46 pm

Here’s another wedding I’ve been looking forward to since the moment we first met - and not just because it was my first boat wedding!  Last Saturday, I met with Lanaya and Zach for their amazing wedding on the Viginia V steamboat.  I started out with some getting ready shots of the girls and guys, first at the salon (where I almost cried as Lanaya was helped into her perfect little birdcage veil), then at their respective hotels.  I love the photo of the groomsmen in black and white - Zach was giving them a detailed lesson on tying the perfect tie, it was hilarious.

We held the first look and group photos in a shady area of Volunteer Park, then headed into the conservatory for some couples shots.  By late afternoon we were all excited to board the Virginia V, which had been beautifully decorated by Jennell and Lily of Luminous Event Design (I just love working with those guys!)  I ran around like a headless chicken grabbing detail shots for a few minutes, then enjoyed watching the guests board from the top deck with Lanaya.

We set sail around Lake Union, and just as the evening began to glow the ceremony began.  It was wonderful and warm, full of deep gazes and many giggles.  My favorite shots are those of Lanaya and Zach coming back up the stairs during the recessional - those steps are not made for long wedding dresses!

The rest of the evening was a whilwind of on-deck drinking and sightseeing, delicious food, dancing and even a little photoboothing towards the end of the evening.  Thank you Zach and Lanaya for an awesomely fun wedding - enjoy your teasers!

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By Kate | Also posted in boats, seattle, weddings | Comments (10)

Lovin’ at the Lakeside: Gretchen + Ben

August 22, 2008 – 2:08 pm

Here’s another wedding that I’d been looking forward to since the moment I met them - Gretchen and Ben’s glorious Sunday wedding in a very sunny and happy Seattle.  Ben and Gretchen were one of my first engagement session couples, and after several meetings (including one completely random occasion at Smith on Capitol Hill when I was just a teeny tiny bit tipsy) it was finally time for their wedding day!

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By Kate | Also posted in seattle, weddings | Comments (5)

Gorgeous at Gonzaga: Mandy + Josh

July 31, 2008 – 4:19 pm

Last weekend, I travelled cross-state to Spokane for one of my most eagerly anticipated weddings of the year, with Mandy and Josh.  They went to school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, and were excited to show off this very special place to all of their family and friends.

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By Kate | Also posted in spokane, weddings | Comments (11)

Love and Limes at Leifer: Melanie + Sidney

July 18, 2008 – 2:09 pm

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of working again with the ultra talented Nick and Aleah Valley of Fine Line Management & Events at the venue of my first ever wedding, Leifer Manor.  The lucky couple?  Melanie and Sidney, one of the most wonderfully complementary couples I’ve come to know.

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By Kate | Also posted in weddings | Comments (5)

Kelsey + Charles Part 2: The Wedding

June 27, 2008 – 3:46 pm

I can’t believe it’s almost a week since Kelsey and Charles’ wedding - time flies when it’s peak wedding season!  I was back at the Center for Urban Horticulture for their wedding, and they made great use of the outdoor space there - thankfully we were blessed with the perfect weather for an outdoor celebration!

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By Kate | Also posted in seattle, weddings | Comments (5)

Romance in Issaquah: Jennifer & Kirby’s Wedding

April 28, 2008 – 5:55 pm

On Saturday, I had my first wedding of the summer season and we were blessed with beautiful weather - warm and sunny, and even the occasional slither of blue sky! It was the perfect day for an inside-outside wedding, and Tibbetts Creek Manor was the perfect location.

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By Kate McElwee | Also posted in weddings | Comments (7)

Elegance at the Court: Erica & Rodney’s Wedding

April 3, 2008 – 12:46 pm

A couple of months ago, I photographed Erica and Rodney’s engagement session, and after hanging out with them for a couple of hours I was really excited for their wedding. It finally happened on Saturday, and although we weren’t blessed with the same gorgeous weather, it was a beautiful day in every other way.

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By Kate McElwee | Also posted in photobooth, weddings | Comments (6)

Darlings of the DAR: Sarah & Chris’ Wedding

March 25, 2008 – 8:14 pm

I’m finally back home after several weeks of jet-setting around the US! It’s great to be back, although I do miss that Hawaiian sunshine … and those Las Vegas party nights! There’s no rest for the wicked though - less than 48 hours after returning home I photographed Sarah and Chris’ wedding at the DAR Rainier Chapter House on Capitol Hill (and it was just like being back in Vegas - those kids can party!)

I started off the day by surprising Sarah and her bridesmaids with an extra little photoshoot at Babalouise salon in Ballard. It’s a fun and funky place (their logo is a monkey!) and they had an adorable little doggy running around too (she didn’t seem too impressed with my big lenses though). I met with the girls again a few hours later when they arrived at the DAR to get ready, and we took full advantage of all the cute fixtures and fittings around the building. I especially loved the antique lamp in the ladies’ room where the girls were getting ready - the black and white photos of Sarah on the couch were taken using just that lamp for light.

The guys arrived early for their group portraits, so there was plenty of time for group shots and candids before the ceremony … and even the ceremony started a little ahead of schedule! It really does make a difference working with a wedding coordinator - or two, in this case: Lily and Jennell of Luminous Event Design were fantastic to work with, thank you ladies!

After the ceremony, Sarah, Chris and I headed over to Volunteer Park for some couple portraits, driven by our fabulous chauffeur, my assistant Kelly. There was another wedding going on there, and I felt a little bad about hogging the Black Sun sculpture, but it was almost sun down and we were running out of light! The other couple didn’t seem to mind though - and they even presented Chis and Sarah with glasses of pink bubbly, very cute.

Then it was back to the reception for some great food, fun speeches and a lot of drinking (them, not me, I should add!) The upstairs at the DAR was gorgeous - Lily handmade the decorations and designed all of the gorgeous stationery to match their purple and orange color scheme. At the end of the evening, we headed outside for some final couple portraits - Sarah loved the ones I took at Kipper and Andrew’s wedding at the DAR in January.

Have a great honeymoon guys, and thanks for a super fun night!

By Kate McElwee | Also posted in seattle, weddings | Comments (10)

Pan Pacific Panache: Marcy & Kyle’s Wedding

February 27, 2008 – 1:06 pm

Last Saturday, I headed down to one of Seattle’s newest and coolest hotels, the Pan Pacific, to photograph Marcy and Kyle’s beautiful day. The venue had extra significance this time - Marcy was one of the architects who designed the hotel! And I have to say, she and her colleagues did an amazing job: it is such a beautiful space. There are huge windows throughout the hotel, meaning lots of lovely natural light, and the coolest zebra wood on the walls. I also loved the gorgeous curving staircase just off the lobby. It really was the perfect wedding venue.

I arrived early in the day to get some interior shots, and then I made my way up to Marcy’s room where the girls were getting ready. It was tons of fun in there - we had Marcy and her maid of honor Becky; the two moms; the delightful Kate Crotty (who did another amazing job with makeup); Barb from Cynderellie’s Closet; and few others popping in and out. You’d think it would be crowded, but Marcy had been reading The Bride’s Guide and she got a fantastic corner room with tons of space, and it was actually a really fun way to start the day.

I also popped in and out of the room where Kyle and his best man Ryan were getting ready. I got very lucky with timing in fact, and arrived just in time to document Kyle opening his wedding gifts from Marcy - a stunning set of Tiffany cuff links, and a super-cute concertina card of photos of the two of them together.

At 2:30pm, we hid Kyle on the second floor balcony (which has a great view of the Space Needle - and also unfortunately lots of big ugly cranes at the moment) and brought out Marcy for their first look. It was definitely a challenge keeping the cranes and construction out of their photos but we got some beautiful shots there. The plan was then to head to the library downtown but we had the most amazing weather so I persuaded them to head up to Kerry park and EMP instead. Kerry Park is such a classic spot, and I LOVE the backgrounds and all the crazy colors at EMP. I’m particularly liking the (intentional) lens flare shot. Thanks for putting up with the chilly breeze, guys!

Back at the hotel, we did some family group photos (with the best-behaved families I’ve ever met; we were done in just 20 minutes!), and soon after we had the ceremony, with one of my regular favorites, Reverend Ray. They used a lot of candles to decorate the venue, and my favorite part of the ceremony was when they had everyone light a candle mid-ceremony. It was so beautiful, and such a nice way to incorporate all of their friends and family. I also loved the music by Dan Purser - what a great find!

Onto the reception! I’ll just run through the highlights for you as I’ve written quite enough already! The awesome cake by Kelli Morse … Marcy’s dad’s speech, and her mom’s reaction, when he said that Marcy was the most important person in his life (there was a lot of laughter!) … Marcy and Kyle’s amazing choreographed dance to ‘Fever’ … great party music from Sounds Unlimited (those guys really do keep people dancing!) … and my absolute favorite part of the day: geeking out with Kyle’s dad Nate about cameras, lenses, lighting, Pocket Wizards and all kinds of good stuff!

Phew! I hope you’re still awake after all of that. One last thing: huge thanks to Trevin Chow for doing a splendid job assisting me. OK, now you can go enjoy the photos …

By Kate McElwee | Also posted in seattle, weddings | Comments (16)

Dinner & Photos with Seattle’s Hottest Private Chef

February 12, 2008 – 7:09 pm

I’ve been so excited to post about this! A couple of months ago, one of my favorite Seattle chefs, Jeremy Fox, asked if I’d like to host a dinner party for him to showcase his culinary skills and at the same time have me take some photos for his new website. How could I possibly say no?! So I invited a few of my favorite Seattle wedding vendors for a fabulous six-course dinner. There were eight of us total: me and my husband Josh, Eliza Truitt, one of my favorite wedding photographers, and her boyfriend Steve; wedding and event coordinator Stacey Jehlik with Breathe … Savor the Day; Lily Sommers and Jennell Taylor of Luminous Event Design; and Sanya Lawless of Axis Concierge.

Jeremy showed up at our house around midday with everything he could possibly need to cater and clean up a large dinner party. Bags and bags of fresh produce, a bucket of ice, complete sets of silverware, tableware and glassware … even a trash can! I was so impressed by his thoughtfulness. Unlike regular catering services, everything is done on-site, and the only requirements are some refrigerator and freezer space, a surface for food prep and serving, and some form of stove (he has hosted several large dinner parties on sailing boats, so he’s very flexible when it comes to work space).

The food … the food was amazing. Six heavenly courses, all different yet complementary … It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I have particularly fond memories of the wild mushrooms in phyllo with herbed mornay appetizer, the flourless chocolate torte with raspberry creme anglaise and whip cream, and the amazingly tender seared calamari, served over polenta with tomato coulis. And I usually hate squid! Not only was the menu seasonally oriented and original, with everything cooked from scratch, it is also designed around the likes, dislikes and allergies of both host and guests. Something you could never get in a restaurant!

And that, I think, is the best thing about Jeremy’s service. It’s got everything great about a fine-dining restaurant (awesome food, great service, no cleaning up) but none of the bad stuff - no long waits, no parking nightmares, and no nasty surprises when you get the check. I’m still having a hard time believing that the price is comparable to a meal out!

Before all you brides get too excited about Jeremy working his magic at your wedding, you should note that he specializes in intimate dinner parties with a maximum of 12-18 guests - no mass catering for this chef! - but how about for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or post-wedding brunch? Or even better, as a thank you to your friends and family for helping you through the wedding planning!

Here’s what some of our guests said about the meal - followed, of course, by a few photos.

A big thank you to Chef Jeremy Fox of Stewards of the Flying Dutchman for his delectable culinary stylings. His carefully selected six-course meal highlighted seasonal dishes, including mushrooms in phyllo, incredibly tender lamb with lentils, and handmade mint sorbet. Humbly-presented courses were artistically designed, and ensured the attention was on the food, not the creator. Each new plate was another highlight to the evening. Thanks, Jeremy, for an unforgettable meal! -Jennell & Lily

Jeremy’s food completely knocked me over–it was delicious and imaginative, from start to finish. I’m still thinking about those mushrooms in phyllo and that lamb the next day! Plus, it it was the first dinner party I’d been to in ages where the hostess didn’t spend half the night in the kitchen. -Eliza

Jeremy treated us to a wonderful feast that delighted both the eyes and the palate. A series of sumptuous starters was followed by an amazingly tender leg of lamb, with meat literally falling off the bone. The bed of lentils beneath was the perfect accompaniment. I also really loved the cheese course - a selection of melt-in-your mouth cheeses served with a cranberry apricot compote on the side. Perfection! And Jeremy’s own uniquely flavored mint sorbet was an especially surprising treat. Aside from the outstanding quality of the food, Jeremy’s service and pacing was perfect for an intimate gathering. We had enough time to enjoy each of the courses, linger over our favorites, and enjoy plenty of good conversation with our fellow diners. Thank you, Jeremy and Kate, for hosting such an enjoyable evening! -Stacey

By Kate McElwee | Also posted in commercial, food & drink, fun | Comments (10)

The Perfect Winter Wedding: Kipper & Andrew

January 17, 2008 – 1:38 pm

You may remember Kipper and Andrew from one of my very first engagement sessions. Well, on Saturday the time finally came for their wedding, and it felt like I was being reunited with old friends. I’m now offering a complementary engagement session with my main wedding package - I feel it’s so important for us to all get to know each other, and it does wonders for your wedding day nerves if you’re already used to being in front of the camera.

I started the day with Kipper and her bridesmaids at the Mayflower Park Hotel downtown. They were having their makeup done there by the lovely and super-talented Kate Crotty … and yes, they were already drinking at 10:30am when I showed up! It was probably just as well - my fabulous second shooter Amanda Shea was greeted by a lively group of Rolling Rock-swilling groomsmen in Andrew’s room! Beer was even a theme for the wedding; Andrew’s from Australia, so they used the names of Australian beers as their table markers - such a cute idea!

After some detail shots and portraits with our respective groups, Amanda and I met up at Blessed Sacrament Church in the U District. It’s a gorgeous building, and I love photographing Catholic ceremonies. We spent some time doing the formal photos, then onto the ceremony itself at 3pm. The reception was over on Capitol Hill at DAR Rainier Chapter House, another splendid building. I arrived with the bridal party just in time to catch the end of cocktail hour and to get everyone in place for a huge full-group photo. Lots of fun!

The rest of the evening was a mixture of fantastic food by Ravishing Radish - including a curried butternut squash soup that I am still craving almost a week later - fun speeches and a whole lot of dancing. Kipper and Andrew hired the Michael Benson Band for the entire event and they were outstanding. Best live band I’ve ever seen, period. The way they mix up everything from big band and swing to Andre 3000’s ‘Hey Ya!’ is extraordinary, and my toughest job was not getting caught singing along. Luckily everyone else was far too busy on the dance floor to notice! And I want to add in a special thanks here to Kristin Pittman of Focus Events who made my life so much easier - it was great working with a coordinator, and Kristin is not only a fantastic coordinator but she’s also a sweetheart!

Anyway, here are some of my favorite photos, including a couple of Amanda’s shots of the guys and their little ring bearer Lohann. Enjoy!

By Kate McElwee | Also posted in weddings | Comments (8)

KerryAnn & Kevin’s NYE Extravaganza at the Smith Tower

January 8, 2008 – 1:27 am

You know it’s going to be a fabulous night when both the bride and the groom are keeping their sparkly shoes under wraps until the big night …

KerryAnn & Kevin’s wedding at The Chinese Room at the top of The Smith Tower in downtown Seattle really was quite spectacular. I started the day at the W Hotel, photographing the girls getting ready. It was there that I was introduced to the first pair of shoes - Kerry’s gorgeous Christian Louboutin glittery heels - and her super-cute above-the-knee Oscar de la Renta-style wedding dress. Fun!

I got back to the Smith Tower just as the first guests were arriving - and started my battle with the elevators. It’s an amazing venue, but the elevators are a killer when you’re a vendor, especially one that has to be everywhere at the same time! The boys arrived at around 6:30, full of great ideas for their group shots (I wish I could post them all), and then Kevin and his amazing silver loafers were whisked away upstairs before KerryAnn’s arrival. It’s becoming quite rare for couples not to see each other before the ceremony, but there’s something very special about having your groom see you for the first time as you walk down the aisle.

The ceremony was beautiful and really unusual, thanks in part to Pat Stimac, another fantastic officiant. I loved that they did a reading together, and Kevin’s niece Kiley did a spectacular job with hers - she’s by far the youngest reader I’ve ever seen at a wedding. After that, Rachel and I whisked Kerry & Kevin off for a portrait session in the lobby, and then the party began. Wow, what a party!

The champagne flowed … the Grey Goose and Knob Creek flowed … the food was outstanding, the dancing outrageous … people partied like it was New Year’s Eve! And, to top all that, their first dance (well, second really) was a top-secret and utterly fabulous dance to Prince’s ‘Kiss’. At midnight, we had a special treat: fireworks at the Space Needle, with a view up through 2nd Ave. Congratulations KerryAnn & Kevin, and enjoy your teasers!

By Kate McElwee | Also posted in seattle, weddings | Comments (15)