A romantic and intimate wedding with family and close friends. That was what Sarah Hayden and Steve Forman who were married at the Alexis Hotel, in downtown Seattle successfully accomplished in mid-October. It was so apparent to see how much in love they are. What also was apparent was their sense of humor. They really know how to have a good time and laugh. Tradition is also important to them. The wedding cake topper was originally used on the top of Steve’s parents wedding cake. They brought their wedding album of old black and white pictures and it was fun to go through them and see how some things have changed and others are still the same.

Sarah hid herself away in the unique suite they would later spend the night while Steve got ready in the room his parents were staying in. They followed the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony and so the picture of Steve seeing Sarah for the first time as she walked down the aisle is priceless.The small group of friends and family numbered about 65 and it was great to see how Sarah and Steve got to spend time with every one there. After the wedding ceremony, there was a reception in the Library Bistro.

It was great to watch the children’s table where they had games set out and then to watch them eat spaghetti. The toasts to Sarah and Steve were heartfelt and touching. They are both very close to their families. I would like to present some photograph showing the highlights of their day. Thanks to officiant Pat Stimac of A Heavenly Ceremony , Amber Zbitnoff, my associate photographer and to Angie Casper of the Alexis Hotel for making everything run smoothly.

The is the outside of the hotel at night.There is a real bookstore on the corner and the bar is called The Bookstore. Here is a link to Sarah and Steve’s  previous post of their Alexis Hotel Wedding.

Below is a mini-slide show with a larger selection of wedding pictures from Sarah and Steve’s wedding . Click on “toggle images” at top right to hide the thumbnails; to start just click on the right arrow on the image.

One of the most romantic destination wedding locations within an hours drive of Seattle has to be the Salish Lodge & Spa, at Snoqualmie Falls. Kristine Harrington and Steve Rutkowski chose it to be the venue for their lovely intimate wedding in October. They kept the size down by only inviting  a small number of family and close friends to join them.  They had a late afternoon wedding on a terrace overlooking  Snoqualmie Falls. There had been some grey skies but the sun began to burn through the mist over the falls and light up the hill sides above the falls and river. There were so many good pictures. I want to post some of the highlights from their day. If you want to see more, here is a link to the web gallery with all of the pictures from their wedding.

This was the first time we did a first look picture where the bride and groom did not actually see each other. Kristine did not want Steve to see her until she walked down the aisle so we set it up so they would be together but apart at the same time. They are holding hands around a corner and so could touch but not see. I love this picture. It was not until after Kristine walked out onto the terrace that Steve got to see her. As the bottom pictures show.  It was beautiful to see how they incorporated elements of the Thai water ceremony into their wedding ceremony. I would like to thank Rachael Mates, Event Planning Manager at Salish Lodge, Annemarie Juhlian, Seattle Wedding Officiant and Amber Zbitnoff, my associate photographer for making it a memorable occasion to photograph.

This picture of the cake reminds me how good the food is at the Lodge. Here is a link to Kristine and Steve’s  previous post of their Salish Lodge Wedding.

Below is a mini-slide show with a larger selection of wedding pictures from Kristine and Steve’s wedding . Click on “toggle images” at top right to hide the thumbnails; to start just click on the right arrow on the image.

September 25th started out as a grey day and then it became a rainy day. Not so unusual in the Puget Sound area for late September but the garden of Laurel Creek Manor was where Jocelyn Byers and Stephen Randalf Jaeger were hoping to be married surrounded by the beautiful flowers and greenery. So they moved the ceremony indoors. We were warm and dry inside as the rain poured down outside.  A funny thing happened towards the end of the ceremony. Just as they were proclaimed husband and wife, the rain ceased and brilliant sunshine burst through the clouds. As Jocelyn and Stephen  walked down the aisle and came out into the daylight the sun kissed them on both cheeks with its rays.   Jocelyn and Stephen are one joyful couple and it was a pleasure to hang out with them and their friends. Monica Frisell and I had a great time photographing their day and we got a good number of wonderful moments preserved in these pictures. Here is a set of our favorites.

Here is a link to Jocelyn and Stephen‘s previous post of their Laurel Creek Manor Wedding.

Below is a mini-slide show with a larger selection of wedding pictures from Jocelyn and Stephen‘s wedding. Click on “toggle images” at top right to hide the thumbnails; to start just click on the right arrow on the image.

Leigh Anne Freeman was in a bar one day with some friends and they discussing whether she should cut her Fauxhawk. They could not agree so she decided to ask a stranger and she went up to the bar. The stranger she picked out from among the people at the bar happened to be Lindsey McKeen. Leigh Anne & Lindsey have been in a conversation ever since. In the middle of September they got married at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral on Capital Hill.  Both of their families and many of their friends were  in attendance on a wonderful clear September day as the summer continued to hold on. After the ceremony we made some pictures at the Cathedral and then headed downtown to the  Mayflower Park Hotel for the reception. What a wonderful celebration of their wedding. They had a room, actually a suite, upstairs that Leigh Anne negotiated with the hotel management when they booked the venue. Here a some of my favorite highlights from a wonderful wedding on a beautiful day.     

Here is a link to Leigh Anne & Lindsey’s previous post of theirSt. Mark’s Cathedral & Mayflower Park Hotel Wedding.

Below is a mini-slide show with a larger selection of wedding pictures from Leigh Anne & Lindsey’s wedding. Click on “toggle images” at top right to hide the thumbnails; to start just click on the right arrow on the image.

East Meets West. Deep in Love. Hard to settle on a title for the wedding day of Jennifer and Polachi Sakchalathorn who were married on the first Saturday in September at the beautiful orchard at the Farm Kitchen, an 18-acre organic farm near Poulsbo.  Jennifer and Polachai were lucky that the weather was warm and sunny  and so were the smiles. Polachai is from Thailand, known to travelers to Southeast Asia as the Land of Smiles.

Jennifer was glowing in her beautiful wedding dress that looked like a cloud.

Jennifer and Polachai celebrated their marriage with a ceremony that incorporated part western ceremony and part Buddhist wedding ceremony. The Thai traditional water ceremony, (or in Thai, Rod Nam Sang) which involved the bride and groom sitting side by side at a special table. Then their family and guests, led by the most respected elders, had the opportunity to bestow their individual blessings. They did this, one by one, by gently pouring water from a conch shell over the hands of the couple. The water passes through the hands of the bride and groom and into a bowl filled with flowers, (typically lotus flowers which symbolize fertility) beneath. It was serene and evocative mixing the  Buddhist wedding ceremony with the western ceremony. Annemarie Juhlian was the wedding officiant who melded the two cultures together with ease.

Jennifer was very sweet to invite my daughter Claire to be their flower girl. Claire was in seventh heaven and played her part well. Thank you again Jennifer for making her day.

After some pictures and a fine dinner, Jennifer and Polachai danced a lot to some great live music. However, it was Jennifer’s grandfather who seemed to be out on the dance floor more than anyone. Whenever I looked, he was dancing with a different partner. He really knows how to move.

Here are some highlights from a wonderful wedding on a beautiful day. At the bottom is an extended slideshow with more pictures from their wedding.

Jennifer’s unique bouquet and other flowers were by the amazing Rebecca Slattery of Persephone Farms.  The reception had everyone out on the dance floor dancing to the awesome swing band JAVATOWN SWING ORCHESTRA lead by the talented Seattle vocalist, trumpet player and band leader Jake Bergevin.  Essence of the Thymes provided the wonderful catering. They really know how to cook. Krista Herman of Wishes Weddings & Events helped plan their wedding day for them. Monica Frisell assisted as my second photographer. Here are some highlights from a wonderful wedding on a beautiful day. At the bottom is an extended slideshow with more pictures from their wedding.

Here is a link to Jennifer and Polachi‘s previous post of their Farm Kitchen Wedding.

Below is a mini-slide show with a larger selection of wedding pictures from Jennifer and Polachi‘s wedding. Click on “toggle images” at top right to hide the thumbnails; to start just click on the right arrow on the image.