Real Weddings: Amanda & Tieming

One more from the lady that is quickly becoming a great friend! Thanks Kate for more beautiful pictures. As always, you did a stunning job.

Amanda and Tieming were married a few weeks ago at one of my very favorite Seattle venues for small, intimate weddings--Ray's Boathouse. Ray's has so much to offer--a beautiful quintessential Seattle view, a FABULOUS group of people in the event planning/catering department that are great to work with (this is important brides!), and dee-lish food.

Best wishes to Amanda and Tieming! And to see more pics, check out Kate McElwee's beautiful blog here.

(#20) Just (another) glimpse...

of my little photo shoot bouquet, this one courtesy of the awesome Fifi over at Fifi Flowers Design Decor. She did a little painting last weekend of the photo I posted, and shared it on her blog on Monday. Thanks Fifi!!!

In other news...I just returned from a lovely weekend away with good friends, a precious baby that I just got to enjoy but wasn't responsible for, good food, beautiful weather, and fun shopping. I've been dying to see one of my favorite on-line shops, Bell'occhio, in person for years, and it did not disappoint. I found some gorgeous vintage Swiss and French ribbons that I can't wait to use on special bouquets. Another wonderful stop very close by is my favorite bakery anywhere--Tartine. Their Gruyere cheese gougeres and passion fruit cake are two of the best things I've ever eaten.

(#19) Just a glimpse...

of a little bouquet for a recent photo shoot (!). The details and rest of the bouquet to be revealed in January!

A little shameless self promotion

'Tis the season for campaigning! So while this probably isn't the time to be asking you lovely readers for favors (I haven't been posting much at all--I know!), here I am.

A former client was sweet enough to nominate Fiore Blossoms for "The Best of Western Washington" contest, put on every year by a local TV station. There are only a few days left for voting, and it just takes a second! So...if you're feeling really generous with your time, here's the link! You don't have to be local to vote.

And thanks. YOU'RE the best!

Real Weddings: Gretchen + Ben

Fab photos from a fab gal for a truly fab couple...pics today from Gretchen and Ben's August wedding. Kate McElwee took the beautiful images below--more are available here.

Gretchen and Ben started pics at Volunteer Park in Seattle (one of my favorite picture spots!), and then celebrated at St. Therese Church with a reception at The Lakeside. They get the prize for the couple with the sunniest disposition...ALWAYS smiling and having fun...which you'll see in their pics!

Mmm...Tiffany's....

Gretchen getting ready...

and Ben getting ready.

Mmm...mojitos!

Yes, I'm still alive!

Hey there! A few of you sweet readers have sent little notes that you are worried about me. So nice of you to notice my little absence. I had eye surgery about 10 days ago, and have been busy resting and healing up--which is coming along nicely. I've been away from the computer since looking at the screen felt a little like what I think poking hot needles in your eye must feel like. Doing so much better now though, and promise to have some pics of recent work in the next few days. (Maybe I'll even get brave and show a few pics of how the 80's ensemble turned out...but I doubt it).

In the meantime, isn't little baker Hayes the sweetest?

Real Weddings: Lanaya + Zach

A few pics from a recent wedding aboard the Steamship Virginia V here in Seattle. The totally fab Kate McElwee (who is just as absolutely cute as can be, and has gazillions of talent to boot) shot some really gorgeous photos. Check out the rest on her blog.

Layana and Zach were a blast to work with because they were so excited about vibrant colors (deep eggplant, teal, and chocolate brown), had a gorgeous Art Deco sense of style, and love peacock feathers (I can't get enough of them this summer either!). Jennell and Lily of Luminous Events put together a pretty incredible day. Enjoy!

Gorgeous henna! And I do love a girl that can rock the blue toenails on her wedding day.

The bridesmaids bouquet were designed with deep eggplant dahlias, blue thistle, callas, peacock feathers and antique hydrangea.

Really off topic...

Ok folks. If you're here for wedding talk, you might want to move right along. The rest of you, hang with me on this one.

So, I'm doing research tonight (ok, I'm really watching old videos on YouTube in an effort to remember what we used to wear in the 80's. I have a party to go to this weekend, and all I've done so far is procur a hair crimper and scrunchie. I think the fashion must have been so bad that I've totally blocked out all memories of it).

Anyway, I started with "Thriller", and then got completely sidetracked. It seems there is a prison in the Phillipines that is doing dance rehabilitiation of inmates. They film the whole prison (hundreds of people! maybe thousands actually) doing a choreographed routine to some really great songs. Of course "Thriller" is there, and also "Do the Hustle", "I Need a Hero" (remember? from Footloose?), a little Black Eyed Peas...and I'm telling you, some of these people can DANCE!

Anyway, here's my fav. Maybe because I fell completely head over heels for Hugh Grant as soon as he shook his cute little booty to this. Fell in love, actually.

Oh, and if you have ANY ideas on 80's fashion, please pass them along. Remember, I'm a girl that lives in a 99 year old house, would own a 1958 Porsche Convertible D if it were possible, and loves disco music. Other than the previously mentioned Footloose and Thriller, the 80's just weren't my decade.

Real Weddings: Nicole + Travis

A few pics from a recent wedding...no pro pics yet, so please excuse the bad photography by yours truly. Nicole and Travis exchanged vows in Parsons Garden on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, and celebrated with their guests at Pravda Studios (an awesome blank-slate, modern and bright venue). Check out the amazing "curtain" Nicole hung behind the cupcake table.

Flowers: Fiore Blossoms. Venues: Parsons Garden, Pravda Studios. Cupcakes: Trophy Cupcakes.

Wednesday's stream of consciousness

The lovely Fifi at Fifi Flowers Design Decor was inspired today by a few little shots she found on Fiore fresco. I'm so flattered--she paints the sweetest little vignettes that are little collages of photos she finds. They always transport me away from reality for a few moments, and it was so fun to find out that she used some Fiore fresco material today. Thanks Fifi! (And here are the original shots...)

Catching up on paperwork today so that I can spend a few moments uploading photos from a few of the FIVE weddings last weekend. It was crazy, exhausting, and fun.

And...feeling like a proud momma after watching Hayes meet his first teacher this morning. He's off to preschool next week! Also loving that delicious warm feeling I get whenever I'm reminded of the wonderful and amazing friends I have...lots of help, love, working out some kinks, and enjoying really good times lately from a group of people I consider family.