It has been a whirlwind since returning home from Paris! After I righted myself from jet-lag, I plowed full steam ahead into wedding season. I was so excited to kick off the summer with Ann & Kevin’s wedding this past weekend. Ann & Kevin are huge “cinephiles” (lovers of cinema) so it made perfect sense to do their first look at Scarecrow Video in the U District. I loved the rows and rows & rooms and rooms of movies – everything from horror (where they chose to do their first look!) to classic westerns. Ann & Kevin watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre on their second date (romantic, right!?) so we even snuck in a shot with the film case! Kevin already had tears in his eyes at this point so I knew it was going to be an emotionally beautiful day! It is my absolute favorite when I can incorporate my couples’ personalities into their wedding day. It makes it completely unique to them and so so special. Now every time Ann & Kevin go to Scarecrow to rent a movie, they can be like “Hey, remember when we were here on our wedding day?!” So sweet!
I loved Ann’s Jenny Packham gown – she actually got it second hand & it suited her so well!
This might be one of my all time favorite bridal portraits!!!
Next we took the short walk over to their church, Blessed Sacrament, for the ceremony. This church was built in 1908 & soars beautifully above the neighborhood rooftops. There were so many nooks in the gardens surrounding the building as well, all in their full spring bloom. The rain held out for us all day making for gorgeously vibrant photos. I like to call Seattle’s clouds Mother Nature’s natural light diffuser! Ann had snap dragons in their family garden growing up & had many fond memories of playing with them with her mother. I love how she had the talented Theresa of Althauser Designs include them in their bouquets!
Kevin & Ann actually carved their wood grain wedding bands themselves at With These Rings in Port Townsend! What a meaningful activity to share with each other, and then get to wear those works of art forever!
Kevin’s little cousin was the flower girl & she laid the most precise little piles of petals along the isle. She carried her toy in her basket so she ended up carrying him with the other hand as she continued her duty – it was so adorable! I also love the frame of her dad watching her meticulously make her way – that is the smile of a true loving father!
How stunning is the stained glass windows & exposed brick inside this sanctuary!? The acoustics were beautiful for the four-person choir as well.
Ann & Kevin wanted to include photos with each of their parents holding their own wedding portraits – it was such a sweet moment for them to all share! Marriage is such a gift!
Next, we jetted around Seattle for more portraits – it was such a treat to have extra time with just Ann and Kevin! It allowed them to really soak in and enjoy their day and allowed me to capture their love. First we stopped at an overpass near Wallingford. The clouds were settling in, but I still loved the movement of the bustling city around them as they shared a moment together – interrupted by congratulatory honks & a not so gentle breeze! Next we headed over to Gas Works and I found my new favorite nook down by the water with the skyline in the background. Only slightly treacherous to get to, it was worth the combination of grass, water & city! Finally, we headed to the Knights of Columbus for the reception – Ann & Kevin may or may not have had a quick rest in the car before the party came into full swing!
One of my favorite details at their reception was the stunning cake from Honey Crumb. I’d recently gotten connected with Carla, the owner of Honey Crumb, so I was excited to see what she and her team had created for Ann and Kevin. I was blown away by the hand painted artistry that Chrissy did! Each root stem & tree leaf were so delicate and I loved the whimsical woodland creature cake topper as well!
Ann, Kevin and their friends and family (and I) feasted on a delicious meal from Ravishing Radish and danced into the evening. Ann’s ladies of honor did a spirited personalized rap toast rendition a la Hamilton & Kevin’s sister had everyone in happy tears after quoting It’s a Wonderful Life, one of Kevin’s favorite movies.
I love that Ann put on her glasses for part of the evening!!
Congratulations Ann & Kevin – it was such a pleasure getting to capture you on this happy day. Wishing you many many happy years (& movies of every genre) ahead! Cheers to you! xx
Venues: Getting Ready, First Look & Portraits: Scarecrow Video // Ceremony: Blessed Sacrament // Portraits: Gas Works Park // Reception: Knights of Columbus // Planning & Coordination: Simplicity Events, LLC // Florals: Althauser Design // Custom Wedding Rings: With These Rings, Port Townsend // Wedding Gown: Jenny Packham // Hair & Makeup: OffWhite // DJ: Ben of Seattle Parties // Cake: Honey Crumb // Catering: Ravishing Radish // Photography: Meredith McKee Photography
