Pinch me. I can’t believe this is happening.

Four years ago, we dreamed big. What we never really grasped was the extent to which our families, clients, and businesses across the country would come together, so excited to participate and raise so much for those who don’t have enough time left on this Earth.

Join us in our happy cyber celebration! We’re screaming it from the rooftops: we’ve come together to raise $84,700 AND COUNTING for those whom the cure can’t come soon enough; granting final wishes and providing support through Dream Foundation and the Young Survivors Coalition. We couldn’t have done it without YOUR support and attendance, so THANK YOU!!

Check out all of the awesome sponsors and amazing images  from this October’s bridal auction event at Four Seasons Seattle (images by La Vie Photography)! If you didn’t come, boy did you miss out. The speakers. The music. The food. The models. The auction items. Oh, and the spontaneous dance party after the final amount was announced!!!

It was the BEST Get Hitched Give Hope yet, and we’re not even done yet. Stay tuned for another big announcement Thursday!

Amazing images by my super AWESOME pals Kim and Adam at La Vie Photography. Thank you both for putting such a glamorous face to our event-baby!!!!

It’s that time of year again!!!!! Get Hitched Give Hope is in T-minus 3 weeks!!!! And I’m giving away a FULL engagement session package!!!!

What is Get Hitched Give Hope, you ask?? Well, lemme tell you. It’s a volunteer-run non-profit organization that I co-founded in 2007 with some lovely pals in the wedding industry. Among other FUNdraising activities, we throw a yearly cocktail gala in downtown Seattle where brides and grooms can “get gorgeous goods for their wedding by giving back.”  The money that is raised that night and throughout the year not only raises awareness for breast cancer and supports survivors, but also GRANTS WISHES for those whom the cure can’t come soon enough, no matter what the illness may be! A truly worthy cause funded by a really INCREDIBLE event! (check out last year’s event, it was too amazing for words, and we raised over $64,000! SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND!!!) The support from the wedding industry, professional community, AND our community is truly amazing (thank you, friends, clients, and colleagues!!!).

Now, I know you’re thinking, “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” Not only are there drinks, great LIVE music, and fun little surprises throughout the event, nevermind the heart-pumping live auction and exciting silent auction, but I’m auctioning off a FULL ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGE! It includes a photography adventure for us 3 (think: picnic in the park. wine tasting in woodinville. urban exploration downtown. game night and cookies at home.), an online proofing gallery, disc of high resolution images, and a beautiful lil’ guest book album where your wedding guests can write little love notes to you! Normally, this would be well over $1,250, but since silent auctions start at a fraction of retail prices, you could get lucky. REAL lucky. (and yes, you can parlay this into a wedding photography package, or this can be used for a baby or family shoot!)

Let’s recap:

1. You’re granting wishes simply by BEING there.
2. Free drinks and fancy finger foods. YUM.
3. Live auctions are pretty dang exciting. BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS.
4. You could win some REAL awesome stuff, but mostly want to bid on my engagement package! PHOTOGRAPHY!!!
5. It’s October 27th, at the swanktastic Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle!!!! FANCY PANTS.

So what are you waiting for? Buy tickets here, and if you’re uber lucky, there still might be swag bag tickets available!!! There is something there for everyone, whether you’re a bride, groom, or friend! (I once won a magnum of wine. Let’s just ponder that for a second…) Just by looking at the sponsors, you KNOW it’s gonna be good!!

(event photos courtesy our good friends at La Vie Photography)

As always, if you’re unable to attend but still want to support, we’d be ever-so-grateful for your donation online, and if you want to get involved as a volunteer for this month’s event or get on the sponsorship list for future events, PLEASE DO!!! Info can be found through our website HERE. If you know someone who is losing their battle with a life threatening illenss and is in need of a wish, please visit our recipient organization, Dream Foundation.

See you there with your party shoes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t even know where to begin. The style. The personality. The light. The location. The food. The style.

So that we can cut to the chase, lemme give you a quick background: Ashley and Chad are New Yorkers. He’s a director/producer. She’s one of the sweetest gals I’ve ever met, and has more style in her pinky than I have in my whole body (although she thinks Chad is a better dresser than she is!). Together, they created a super stylish affair to remember, one that has evolved over the last 14 months since his proposal to her on the Hudson River, when he was “scouting” for a filming location (read: an excuse to video the whole thing!).

They were married at Sodo Park, one of Seattle’s most beautiful, historic, and rustic venues, set in the heart of our industrial district. Her style was romantic, with her grandmother’s broach re-purposed into her handmade hat and birdcage veil, a really stylish silk belt, and he WAS James Bond. In fact, Mr. Bond IS jealous. Their decor was romantic yet rustic, with herbs for the boutonnieres and eucalyptus candles scenting the room. They were inventive with their arch, using willow and baby’s breath.  The signature cocktails were concocted by a well known New York cocktail maker and writer JUST for them (oh, I want that job next…). Escort cards were sweet little honey jars, with a little anecdote that Ashley’s mom used to tell her when she was little about how the bee shouldn’t have been able to fly because of it’s big body and little wings, yet since no one told the bee that, it flew anyway. How’s THAT for a great childhood value! The food was delicious as always, and the cake was, well, breathtaking. The dance party was awesome- MAN those New Yorkers know how to cut a rug. It was a day that ran the emotional gamut: from excitement to nervousness, awe to admiration, romance to tears of joy.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, I’m not a writer, but a photographer, so shuttup and let’s just get on with it…….

Reerrrroww, ladies. Meeeyowww, gentlemen….I think Chad’s been waiting for this day. Ya think? And also, check out his Breitling USAF Thunderbird watch… just slightly cool…. slightly Yes, those ARE handwritten thank you notes to each and every guest from the bride and groom. I’ve never seen such a sweet and thoughtful gesture….These cakes are so cool, they need an introduction. His was a surprise, it was a black solar system groom’s cake. It rotated. IT ROTATED!!! Do you even know how cool that is?!? The bridal cake was amazing- set atop a nest of branches, it was entirely edible. The succulents? The curly branches? The flowers? The leaves? All sugar and chocolate! True masterpieces. And to top it off, there were two cute stumps- a bride and a groom.Who DOESN’T love a classic photobooth for a guest book? And some props? Great entertainment for all!And I leave you with this- their late night reception snack. Sliders, shoestring french fries, and milkshakes. A great way to end the night after crying your eyes out, hugging your hearts out, and dancing your feet off!!! Congratulations, Ashley and Chad. It was a true honor to be chosen to capture these images for your wedding- I hope you and your family and friends enjoy them for decades to come!!

Now let’s talk about the wedding team, baby!!!

Wedding planner, consultant, designer, and all-around-awesome chick: Holly-Kate Foss of Sweet Pea Events

Venue & catering: Herban Feast at Sodo Park

Photographer: Laurel McConnell Photography

Documentary videographer: Brett Renville (can’t WAIT to see this!)

Hair and makeup: the amazing Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio

Bride’s fashion: Gown by Enzoani from Luly Yang, shoes by Kate Spade, veil by couture milliner Preston & Olivia

Groom’s fashion: tux by John Varvatos, shoes by Alden, cufflinks by Jan Leslie

Rings: Phoenix Roze

Officiant: Reverend Brendan Coleman

Cake: The People’s Cake

Floral: Willow & Bloom

Italian/Bistro/Globe lights: Blue Danube Productions, via Sodo Park

Invites, programs, menus, escort cards, and anything else paper related: the ever stylish Kerri Efendi

Photobooth: my lovely friends at 321 Foto

Adorable photobooth props: Heathoriginal

DJ: Emerald City Productions

Cocktail band: Jason Parker Quartet, of course!

Transport: British Motor Coach

Cocktail mixologist: Jason Rowan, Embury Cocktails

Suitcases and votives: Sweet Pea Events

And for you photography buffs: This wedding was mostly documented with my trusty Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70mm, Nikon 34mm 1.4, Nikon tilt-shift PCE-45mm , Nikon 70-200mm, some Nikon SB-800′s (SB-900 is the new model), and lots of Quantum battery packs (a must have for reception photography!), and edited solely using Adobe Lightroom, with minor retouching and blog prep using Photoshop. Did you know that the more you get your supplies through these links, the more often I can blog JUST for photographers? Hint hint…

We’re on location out in Roche Harbor in the San Juan islands photographing the most sweet and intimate wedding, and before we travel the island with the bride and groom to get some stunning portraits, I just HAVE to share this little gem that we JUST documented while Bridget was getting ready (seriously, just an hour ago!). Isn’t she beautiful!!!!???!!! Congrats, Bridget and Tim!

Barbie and I having so much fun capturing lots of great memories with these two… smores by the fire (that was Bridget and Tim), bug attacks (that was me), bee stings (that was Barbie), and lots of love and beautiful light! Now we’re off to shoot some more…. see y’all later!

I’m so excited about each of the awesome couples we’ve gotten to photograph this summer. Things are busy here, so blogging has come to a screeching halt, but I’m just too dang excited about this sexy vintage Sodo Park wedding in Seattle that here I am, at 2am, picking a couple sneak peeks. Enjoy, Ashley & Chad, and congrats!

Erika and Zach tied the knot this weekend during the wackiest weather I’ve ever experienced at a wedding: pouring down rain while the sky was bright blue and the sun shone on. Oh Seattle, we have no choice but to love you.

Their wedding day was filled with the most effortless fun and inspiring love, so even though today is supposed my day off, I couldn’t wait to work on these frames. I hope Erika and Zach love them even half as much as I do. So here are just a few details we captured during portraits at Seattle’s Ballard Locks before their ceremony at Ray’s Boathouse. Check out her amazing handmade mantilla veil and his snazzy (and custom!) navy suit.

For more of this sweet couple’s shenanigans, you should check out the engagement photographs we captured here.

Tech Specs: these wedding photographs were captured at Seattle’s Ballard Locks in between rain showers using a Nikon D3 andNikon 35mm, along with a Canon 90mm tilt-shift chosen by my lovely assistant Sarah Landa.

This issue of Seattle Bride Magazine is uber gorgeous. I mean, check out that cover!

We’re stoked to have Melissa and Josh’s Parisian Seattle wedding at Georgetown Studios featured! They have a great story, thought of some amazing details, and they had wonderful inspirating ideas- I’m so elated that they chose us to document it all (and that they don’t mind being our poster-children, hee hee!)!  If you’re planning a wedding, be sure to pick up a copy to read more about them and their wedding day style. The magazines hit news stands super soon if they’re not already out there, and boast Seattle Bride’s annual “Best Of” wedding vendors with some of the city’s awesomest photographers, planners, florists, clothiers, bakers, and more!