Real Weddings: Julie + Mike

Julie and Mike were married last November at Court in the Square--a lovely old alley that was glassed in years ago. Now, the old 6-story buildings on either side are the walls, and the ceiling is all clear glass way up above. There is also a huge wrought iron arch and pond that make for a great backdrop.

They started their pictures outside with the Smith Tower--Seattle's first skyscraper--in the background. That's it with the pyramid top, just over Julie's shoulder.

The wedding was designed in red, orange, and black. Julie had the bridesmaid's bouquet done in burgundy, red, and orange, and hers was a combination of the three shades. We found graphic black and white linens at Pottery Barn to set off the table centerpieces, and they were surrounded by handblown votives from Glassybaby in a variety of shades.

Pomanders and strands of red James Storie and orange mokara orchids hung from the arch.

Flowers from Fiore Blossoms, photos by Jeremy Leffel, planning by Unveiled Events.

It's grey and rainy in Seattle

so thank you Minna for the beautiful reminder that spring is on the way.

(#22) Just a glimpse...

of something a lot more fun than salad!

Michelle Rago (I know! I tend to go on and on about her) set-up a "Bouquet Bar" at the recent Brides.com Valentines Day/Empire State wedding day extravaganza. Each of the 14 brides married at the event stopped by the Bouquet Bar on their way to their wedding and Michelle created a custom design for each on the spot. How fun!

Real Weddings: Chelsea + Jon

I'm jonesing for a little spring today, so a pale pink and green wedding from last September. Chelsea and Jon were married in the chapel at Holy Names Academy in Seattle (yowza it's gorgeous!) and celebrated at Bell Harbor. Gorgeous photography from One Thousand Words Photography.

Chelsea's bouquet featured creamy, classic, and fragrant white gardenias.

Pomanders lined the aisle for the ceremony, and then were converted into centerpieces for half of the tables. The other half featured tall silver Manhattans with mixed arrangements of hydrangea, "sweet Akito" and "Avalanche" roses, spray roses, lilies, and bells of Ireland. Fiore Blossoms provided all the flowers and the sparkly table numbers.

weekend update

Laying on the dance floor at the Arctic Club Hotel...

I decided to stop making healthy chocolate chip cookies. I hate to admit it, but my ccc baking talent disappeared with the arrival of trans-fat fears. Switched to butter; flat and greasy cookies ensued regardless of the gazillions of different recipes I tried.

In a fit of madness and 80's nostalgia, I bought a wee bit of shortening (gasp!--at least it wasn't the bucket that was in our fridge growing up) and these gloriously puffy and tender little gems emerged from my oven. Bliss. Since I successfully use butter for all other baking, I've officially decided to keep riding the trans-fat sin wagon for future ccc. But do educate me if you have a puffy-with-butter recipe...

Black and white anemones...

Spring in etched glass...

A quilt my mom has been working on.

week in review (february 06.09 edition)

Late! little felt hearts from purlbee via I Suwanee.

And I hadn't caught up yet with my reading last week when Cannelle et Vanille graciously thanked everyone for voting her the best food photography blog of 2008. My congrats--her pictures are exquisite in every single post. She never fails to amaze me, and there is no one more deserving. If you don't already subscribe, make it your new guilty pleasure.

From the Norwegian blog Litt av meg. Always lovely photos of daydreaming spots, but I can't read a word of it.

And early! Belle maison featured some great little collections today. I love the globes because we collect them here at our casa, and the pincushions? Randomly wonderful and red.

post #210

Winter Whites

A few photos from a Alderbrook wedding. If you are in the area and looking for a place that is poshy northwest, this is the place. Beautifully refurbished lodge, yummy restaurant, cozy rooms, peaceful grounds with outdoor fireplaces for curling up next to, and a lovely view. In fact, the view is nice enough that a certain famous Seatllite (called by the lodge folks "he who must not be named" for the sake of privacy, but they did reveal he had something to do with Microsoft AT THE VERY BEGINNING) has his vacation home/giant-compound next door.

After set-up, I was much more interested in the champagne being served in the restaurant than in taking photos. So it is what it is. Oh, and I do want to point out the birch bark around the base of the centerpieces. I would like to do this for at least 97% of my weddings this year. I'm very partial to it; something about the idea of flowers sprouting directly out of a log is appealing to me. I might change my mind about this tomorrow though.