Laurel McConnell Photography

An Iconic Moment: A Rainy Day Marriage Proposal at the Seattle Space Needle!

Laurel — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:49:30 +0000

After a short conversation, I hang up the phone. There it is. Butterflies in my stomach and shakes in my hand- this is the exciting stuff photographers dream of. I’m about to photograph one of the biggest moments of a couples lives together: the proposal.
Amar lives in Vancouver B.C. and Joyti lives here. After what must seem like ages to them with the back-and-forth that comes with dating long distance, they’re going to be together for reals. He made dinner reservations, got the ring made, and confidently set out to ask his love to be his for forever. I will never know what was said out there, but it sure was sweet to witness.And boy DID WE witness. Hearing my feverish clicks, some behind me gasps, “Look what’s happening! Let’s go out there!!” To my amazement, a surprise, spontaneous, flash-mob-style Glee moment unfolded when the Varsity Blue Choir from Grangeville Highschool in Idaho started crooning a cappella Little Anthony & The Imperials “I Think I’m Goin Out Of My Head.” Things like this only happen in the movies. Disney movies.

We had a few minutes before their planned dinner reservations at the Space Needle (that was the guise all along, you see!), so we romped around the Seattle Center for a few final images to make their proposal photography complete.

A big ol’ congrats to you both. It was wonderful being nervous with you, pretending with you, squealing with you, recapping with you, and of course, watching it all go down. Cheers to love. And you. And the rain and Space Needle and all of it!!!

Brian and Casey Make Love Legal. Seattle Wedding Photography.

Laurel — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:50:04 +0000

Gah! Get ready for adorableness overload.

Casey and Brian, entrepreneurs from California, trekked from their West Hollywood home to Seattle to say their ‘I Do’s’. They got all gussied up and before their courthouse nuptials invited me along for the loviest-doviest wedding portrait session this city ever did see.The W Hotel. So hot right now.So super sweet.iPhones and wedding rings, what more do you need?

I mean, come on, that is some serious style.Love, love, love.

Congrats you two, loved being a part of your day! And hells yeah to marriage equality and gay marriage becoming legal. Seattle was honored to have you celebrate yours here!

Seattle Sodo Park Wedding Extravaganza featured on Style Me Pretty

Laurel — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:27:07 +0000

The sweet, sweet couple has an adorable story. They met at as teenagers at an annual Kansas Christmas party, but didn’t have their first date (which Molly didn’t know was a date:)) until 2009. Sparks flew and, after a few cross-country weekend trips, the rest is history. Their wedding details could have been scavenged, collected, and handmade by Martha herself. Collections of antique books and lace complemented split logs and burlap. Each table was uniquely dressed with fresh market flowers, unique wooden table numbers, brass candle sticks, turquoise birds, Ball jars and more. Candles glimmered from twisty-turvy tree branch arrangements. Surrounded by hilarious and sweet family and friends, Molly and John’s day was a perfect woodland affair tucked into Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood. And that doesn’t even mention the unreal dance party (props included)!

Photographing Molly and John’s wedding was a blast and we’re super excited that their rad day is featured on Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book blog. Check it out here and make sure you click through to the full gallery. There is just too much goodness to miss it! Props to the incomparable Holly-Kate & Co for styling and coordinating an amazing event.

The other lovely wedding professionals who rocked Molly and John’s day include:

Wedding Venue: SoDo Park by Herban Feast , Floral Design: Amy Eller of Bloom, Catering: Herban Feast, Cake Topper: Cinnamon Birds, Invitations: Bella Figura, Cupcakes: Cake Envy, Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta via LaBelle Elaine, Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew & Nordstrom, Hair + Makeup: Erin Skipley, Rings: My Baubles, Musician: Alec Gross, DJ: Kris McCoskery of Wave Link, Linens: Choice Linens, Rentals: Glassybaby, Transportation: First Student School Bus

Superfun Seattle Senior Session

Laurel — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:00:45 +0000

John’s senior session was so, so, so Seattle (can you count the number of neighborhoods we hit?) and so, so, so much fun!

Seattle Bride Magazine Feature

Laurel — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:02:11 +0000

Weeeeeeeeee! Ellen and Scott’s super awesome Four Seasons wedding is featured in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Seattle Bride Magazine. Run to your newsstand (do we still have those?) and grab your copy.

Spoiler: Oh you think that’s just an average everyday ice sculpture? Nope, it’s actually an ice luge. Yeah, we know.

A Roche Harbor Destination Wedding: Navy + Yellow + Nautical All Over!

Laurel — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:27:20 +0000

Abe and Lindsay’s engagement story is quite possibly the most adorable tale ever told. Visiting a friend in Paris, Lindsay was on her way to check the famed love lock-covered Pont Des Arts off her her sights-to-see list. As she approached the bridge she noticed a familiar figure standing amongst the couples locking symbols of their undying love to the bridge and pitching the keys into the water below. Abe had secretly flown across countries and an ocean to propose to her amidst thousands of strangers’ symbols of love. They left their own promise locked to the wrought iron and then had the fringe benefit of being in the most romantic city in the world.

Their big day was equal in adorableness overload. They started by picking the perfectly Pacific Northwest Roche Harbor Hotel venue. All of the natural bay-side surroundings–towering trees, blue water and skies covered in puffy white clouds, docks, and sailboats–were emphasized and reflected in their nautical decor. The iconic navy and white sailor stripes (fittingly originated by 19th century French sailors) peeped into the day repeatedly: in the invitation liner, around floral arrangements, topping signature mojitos as flags, worn by the bridesmaids as shawls, across the tables, and as part of the escort card display. A “Message in a Bottle” take on the guest book was flanked by a model ship and a shadowbox filled with boating knots. The guests ate oyster shooters and Abe and his groomsmen even wore boat shoes!

Beautiful anchor and oar elements acted as a classic part of the nautical vision and served, among other things, as a graphic design element for the programs and the escort card display. The incredibly impressive floral arrangements perfectly show cased the colors of the day and partnered with and emphasized the ribbon-covered chair backs and entry to the ceremony site. And we haven’t even mentioned the crazy-rad chalkboard-esque menu cards, the gorgeous letterpress maps, and the ice cream (Lindsay’s favorite!) dessert truck complete with toppings buffet. But the sweetest gem of the day were the keys. As a nod to their super sweet first promise of forever, Lindsay and Abe hid keys throughout their day. Whether tied to Lindsay’s bouquet, tucked amongst ceremony ribbons, strewn like Easter-eggs in the grass, each key their guests spotted was an exciting little, heart-warming treasure.

>>>Real quick… wanna see their cute Seattle engagement pictures? There’s ice cream… and wooden boats… see the whole story here or hop on over to our Facebook page for a couple of highlights!

!!!! We’re not the only ones who are super excited about Lindsay and Abe’s gorgeous’ day!!! To see more images and to hear from the bride herself, check out their Real Weddings feature on Junebug Weddings!

(Psst, make sure you click through to the Real Wedding Library for all the juicy deets.)

We loved, loved, loved working with all these wedding professionals whose creative brains and hard work made this wedding happen!

Event Planner: All The Flutter
Ceremony Venue: Roche Harbor -Sunken Garden
Reception Venue: Roche Harbor -Seaside Lawn

Photographer: Laurel McConnell Photography with Catherine on second camera
Officiant: Pastor Brian Turnbull (get this, he used to be their landscaper! gotta love a personal connection, right?!)
Invitation Designer: Ephemera Custom Letterpress
Catering: Roche Harbor
Mobile Food Truck: Parfait Ice Cream
Rehearsal Dinner: Cask & Schooner
Details/Signage: Heathoriginal
Floral Designer: Fleurish
Cake Designer: Cake’s By Felicitations
Lighting: Green Light Event Design
Linens and Coverings: All The Flutter, Pedersen’s
Mobile Restroom: Royal Restrooms

Dress Store: Marcella’s La Boutique

Dress Designer: Vera Wang

Bridal Accessories: Sash – Vera Wang, Jewelry – Nordstrom

Bridesmaids Apparel & Accessories: Dress and Scarf – J. Crew, Shoes – Banana Republic, Jewelry – Nordstrom

Groom & Groomsmen Apparel & Accessories: Suits – Calvin Klein, Shoes – Sperry

Hair and Makeup: Bride – erin skipley, Bridal Party – Afterglow

Live Music: Ceremony – Windsong Classical Trio, Reception – Freddy Pink

Transportation: Kenmore Air

Favors: Welcome Totes from Kaye Rachelle Designs

Rentals: glassybaby, Aria Style, Pedersen’s, ABC Rentals

Rings: Bride – Seattle Diamonds, Groom – EE Robbins

Marriage Equality in Washington Rocks! Lily and Michelle’s Super Serene Seattle Summer Wedding.

Laurel — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:54:37 +0000

Today I’m writing about a very very special celebration. It was a a sweet June afternoon that I was honored to capture these people and their love. While it’s a celebration of love, adoration, family, and friends, I’m also extremely excited to share it with you because:

today is the very first day in the history of Washington state where love between same sex couples is legally honored
this is the wedding of my image editor/production gal and one of my very best friends, Lily

Lily and Michelle met in a film and media production class in college. Over a decade later, M is in the video production industry, and Lilipants still has a passion for classic film photography when she’s not working with me on my clients’ images. They’ve waited long enough and couldn’t wait a day more until marriage equality Referendum 74 passed, so they celebrated with their closest friends and family in a very intimate farm-style wedding. Among vintage napkins and succulents hugged by old crates and antique silver cups, we cheered, cried, toasted, ate wood fired pizza, played lawn games, and sampled desserts from their favorite bakery. We photographed til our little hearts were full of lovely love images; you see, half of the guests were photographers themselves! Toy cameras, vintage film cameras, modern digital cameras, Instagram, and funky lenses were EVERYWHERE. It was a love celebration truly inspired by their personalities and relationship. The classic photobooth was a huge hit and an absolute must- Lil and Michelle have been collecting photo strips of themselves for years and love to hunt out the dated little cabins of photo fun when on vacation and strolling through their beloved Seattle.

Without further ado, I invite you to take a browse through some of our favorite images from their sweet day.

Don’t you love Michelle’s detailed blazer? They found it on one of their trips to Vancouver where they love to shop the unique boutiques together. And Lily’s dress was designed by one of (both of our) favorite designers, Eva Franco.

Lily’s bouquet was AMAZING. Peppered with succulents, peonies, and tied with some fun chevron ribbon, one of our favorite florists, Anne Bradfield, was given a few choice ideas and creative control and couldn’t have been more spot-on. Lily loved it! Don’t you?

These cameras are not just trendy wedding props, these are tools of their trades.After portraits, we all migrated from the farm house to the ceremony field. This property wasn’t just any ol farm house in a field, it’s where Sarah, Anna, and Julia spent some of their childhood. As some of Lily’s best friends, they sang and played the cello and guitar. Their melodic voices accompanied by the tones of the guitar and deep notes from the cello were so beautiful, I wish you could have been there. Through tears of love and joy, another great friend and fellow photographer, Sandy Coan, sang between chords on her ukelele. Their snazzy friend Justin led the ceremony, and boy was that a treat (this guy is HILARIOUS!!!! Probably the best ceremony ever, but I may be a little partial).

So many smiles as they sealed their ceremony with a kiss. What a beautiful moment.

Now for a little celebration! Lily and Michelle hunted and gathered the cutest details for their wedding from antique stores ranging from Snohomish to Seattle. Flowers were arranged by Lily’s stepmother, and friend and fellow wedding photographer Sharlane planted the succulents.

Wood fired pizza. ZOMG. If only I could transport back to this day in June for lunch today.

Besalu in Ballard. French pastries for the win. Go there, and you’ll thank me afterward.Real men wear bowties. And pacifiers.Barbie brought her Bluebird and Polariod. If you can’t tell, we pretty much geeked out all day while guests mingled and played croquet. It was awesome.

Congratulations you guys. I’m super honored to have been picked to photograph your weddding… I mean, you know SO many awesome photographers! I feel so lucky and full of happiness for you both. Your wedding was so beautiful, personal, and came together so well. Now, what are we going to wear for the big legal ceremony this Sunday?!?!?! Can’t wait!!!!!!

Lily and Michelle’s wedding was brought to you by:

Photographers: Laurel McConnell (all images here), Barbie Hull, Sandra Coan

Venue: The Landa Farm

Music: The Landa girls and Sandra Coan

Officiant: Justin Funnyman

Food: Veraci Pizza

Dessert: Besalu

Photobooth: 321 Foto

Personal Bouquet: Anne at Floressence

Table decor: Sharlane, Marty, and Lily

Tables: Seattle Farm Tables