I loved Beth’s expression as her parents escorted her down the aisle:

Our good friend Neal officated – so fun to see him in this role again!

So many sweet and funny moments during their ceremony …

LOVE this exit photo – quite possibly my favorite ever! – their expressions say it all, and the bubbles were a super cute touch.

The reception decor was simple and sweet:

Food was served both buffet style and as passed hors d’oeuvres – it was super yummy.

The first dance photos make me smile. They were definitely gazing into each others’ eyes.

After the first dance, I was officially off-duty, and the photobooth came out. I’m excited about my new remote setup which leaves me free to roam around taking dancing shots and candids … or to join the party if it’s my friends getting married.

Thank you Mike and Beth for having me document your day – it was such an honor being able to do this for such great friends. Huge thanks also to Stacey of Breath … Savor the Day for her awesome coordination.  And if you like what you’ve seen, please come over and like the Facebook page!

Bernie, Mike and Beth’s lab mix, is basically my second son. Bernie and Porter have spent a lot of time together and still seem to really miss each other. Fellow dog-lovers will no doubt understand the significance of the next few photos … I love how Bernie gazes at Beth as she has her hair done … and how she touches him gently on the head as he stands before her:

Beth’s mom, Karen, was on an emotional roller-coaster all day – perfect! I hope she doesn’t hate me for posting these … but I love the emotion here.

Beth made all the hair accessories for her and her bridesmaids. I love the peacock feathers, and the teal of the shoes to contrast with the main accent color, red.

Some more favorites – Beth helping her sister Kate with her makeup, then working on her own:

After a sweet first look in the front yard, we gathered up the guys and girls and headed over to Discovery Park, one of Mike and Beth’s favorite places. We started with couples portarits and detail shots:

… then added in the bridal party. These guys scrub up well!

The weather had turned to full-on miserable by this point, but I begged Mike and Beth to let me take a few final shots down by the lighthouse. They were absolutely freezing, but I promised them it would be worth it.

We headed over to Ballard for coffee and pastries at the Dutch Bike Co. I loved this space! It is so very Seattle – a mixed purpose coffee shop and bike store, in a mixed purpose building. All with gorgeous exposed brick and huge windows. Hurray!

Courtney Kroymann, of Designs by Courtney, did a phenomenal job with the bouquets. I especially love the trailing flower ribbon on Beth’s bouquet. I’ve never seen anything quite like this before. I’m a fan!

I’m not sure why, but I love this next photo.

Part two – the gorgeous ceremony and reception at Ray’s Boathouse, all expertly coordinated by our good friend Stacey Jehlik of Breath … Savor the Day – will be along in a few days. If you’ve enjoyed this post, please come over and check out my Facebook page … If you’re a newly engaged couple wanting some kick-ass wedding and engagement photos, view my portfolio here; if you’re more interested in kids and pets, click here; and of course you can always contact me here!

Ali will tell you that she met Trevin – in a roundabout way – because of the show Beauty and the Geek (Trevin’s the “geek” in case you hadn’t guessed … although he’s pretty good lookin’ for a geek).

Trevin will tell you that he met Ali through his extraordinary pie-pimpin’ skills at a friend’s party.  This is also true. 

When these cutie-pies decided it was time to tie the knot, Trevin emailed me about being their photographer. I was totally bummed that I was already booked … apart from anything else, look at them! And … purple shoes and a purple birdcage veil. And … how many people do you know that work it quite so well in front of a camera? Yep, I was bummed.

Still, that’s what day after sessions are for, right? Trevin agrees.

And who knew that public restrooms would make such a fun backdrop for a wide angle portrait? Love this!

We had some fun working the eyes …

And a few last sweet shots of these cuties bathed in the prettiest of Seattle light … sigh.

Thank you both for an awesome afternoon, for rocking it out for my camera, and for bringing the beauty and the geek.  Next time: we’ll drink some beer!  And if you like what you’ve seen here, please come over and like my Facebook page – click right here.  Thanks!

Pre-ceremony drinking is always a winner!

The ceremony was so cool.  Featured music included Mozart, Ravel and Talking Heads (yes!) and one of the readings was Ode to the Bee by Pablo Neruda.  Larry and Kathleen also read to each other, in an “exchange of poetry” following the exchange of the rings.  I am all about making your ceremony unique and memorable and these guys did an awesome job.

Coordinator extraordinaire Carna Lapping worked with Ravishing Radish and Midnight Blossom to turn around the room for the reception.  Love the variety of mossy centerpieces, and the tasty local favors (chocolate from Theo Chocolate on Phinney):

There is a real lion at ULS.  Dead, and stuffed, but real.  Rawhr!

Pretty cake with edible circles by Bakery Nouveau:

My favorite candids often come from toasting time – love the photo below of Kathleen and Larry laughing:

Their sweet first dance was to a song by The Decemberists (one of my favorite Pacific Northwest bands).

The rest of the evening was spent photoboothing (I can’t wait to see what Seattle photographer Jeremy Center posts!) and dancing to the sweet tunes spun by John Richards and his wife Amy of Pair Music.  John is my absolute favorite DJ in the world ever – I listen to his morning show on KEXP every day while I edit and I squealed when I found out he was DJing for Larry and Kathleen and Larry.  So that was pretty cool.

Thank you Larry and Kathleen for trusting me to document your day … and to all of my old Seattle Flickrite friends for bringing the party.  I loved catching up with you all!

After a season of mostly soft blues, purples and black in 2010, I was thrilled to see the bright, bold color palette that Larry and Kathleen had chosen.  Orange!  Green!  Gold!  The florals by Midnight Blossom in Ballard were spectacular:

Kathleen’s hair and makeup were done at Vain in Belltown, by William and Belinda respectively.  They did a great job and were super fun to hang out with.

Kathleen’s dress was a gorgeous silk champagne number from I Do Bridal.  Love this color – universally flattering and totally rock ‘n’ roll.

The girls ended up being ready well ahead of the guys (that never happens!) so we headed down to the lobby of The Maxwell Hotel for some group shots and details with the girls.

Love the gold Kate Spade bridal shoes and custom clutches for all the girls by Laura Bee Designs out of Ballard:

The veil and hairpieces were by Deeds & Petunia – an Etsy artist from Tacoma, WA.

The girls’ jackets and guys’ vests were custom made by talented up and coming designer Meg Konkol.  I especially love Larry’s bumble bee vest …

Once the guys were ready, we held the first look in the lobby.  Love Larry’s expression here.

Working for photographers and artists (both the bride and groom and in fact also most of their guests) is completely nerve-wracking but has some upsides – I loved that they wanted to get some fun portraits with a couple of Seattle’s many Henry murals:

Then we hit up Old Ballard.  I love the awning in front of Staple & Fancy:

… and I love pretty much everything about oyster bar The Walrus and The Carpenter:

Love this little series of oyster-feeding. 

Part two – the ceremony and reception, choreographed by the delightful Carna Lapping of Very Important Events – will be along in a few short days …  If you’re a newly engaged couple wanting some kick-ass wedding and engagement photos, view my portfolio here … and yes, I love to travel ; if you’re more interested in kids and pets, click here; follow me on Facebook here … or contact me here!

I started my day with some getting ready photos at the Comfort Suites on Lower Queen Anne in Seattle.  I loved the wallpaper in the bathroom and had to grab a fun shoe shot in there:

Alyssa’s bridesmaid Erin’s face cracks me up so much in that last photo above.  I am hoping she sees the funny side of me posting it.    With the dress on, time for a couple of cute window-light portraits:

For the first look I took a back seat as Laurel worked her magic.  I ended up scrambling around in some bushes trying to find a good vantage point – much to Aaron and Alyssa’s amusement when they spotted me!

Laurel led the portrait session over at the EMP, and I grabbed a few candids here and there.  I love how Aaron looks at Alyssa, I love how Alyssa giggles, and I love their sense of fun. 

The EMP is famous for its crazy pink wall.  Love the cotton candy shots there!

Barbie, Laurel and I split the ceremony coverage.  In hindsight it may have been a little much having three photographers roaming around Parson’s Garden (it’s so tiny!) but it was really nice knowing that I could focus on the long shots while Laurel was working the wide lens and Barbie was funking it up with her toy camera.  I LOVE this first shot of Alyssa tearing up as her dad walks her down the aisle …

The ceremony was beautiful, really personal and with tons of laugh-out-loud moments.  Aaron looked so sweetly at his bride, and Alyssa belly laughed as only she can.  Loves!

After the ceremony I grabbed this photo of Aaron and Alyssa hugging Alyssa’s brother – such a sweet moment.

Thank you, Aaron & Alyssa, for a super fun Seattle wedding day, and for your AMAZING patience.  Your guys rock xx.

We spent 25 minutes or so in the UW arboretum, making strange noises, giggling and wrestling with Eli.  He’s the perfect age for photos – super curious, but not yet camera-shy.

Eli wanted to touch everything … including my camera, and some dirty moss …

I fell in love with his huge eyes, and his 101 awesome little expressions …

… and most especially that final expression.  Loves!  Then it was off to the Madrona Pub for a couple of pints of Manny’s and some tasty fries. 

Jackie’s shoes were amazing.  She had hand-glued each one of those diamante sparkles on herself … wow!  Her toss bouquet was also pretty cool, and again hand made by Jackie (this lady is seriously crafty!)  While the ladies began makeup I went over to the guys’ room to see what they were up to.  Tying ties and eating ginormous sarnies, apparently. 

Jackie’s makeup took place in the killer bathroom in the bridal suite.  I want that floor, all over my home.  Even on the walls.

It was finally time for Jackie to get into her dress.  I love this photo of her sister’s girlfriend, Sarah, below … and the shots of Jackie ecstatic as she slips into her gown.  And that’s florist Anne from the awesome Floressence Design working on Jackie’s beautiful bouquet.

A couple more shots of the radiant Jackie and then it was off to set up the first look … which will be coming along soon!

I’m so happy I got these, because the sky quickly clouded over and we were left with the Giant Gray Softbox that was the bane of my life when I lived back west!

Still, who really needs sunshine when your subjects are glowing like this?

I was hoping to find an unused dock for a set of photos … no such luck, but a very sweet man kindly offered to vacate this one for us when he saw my camera. 

Thank you, guys, for a lovely afternoon, for making me laugh, and for helping me make it back to Boston in one piece.  I can’t wait to meet the little one when he arrives!