Couture Weddings 2015

Inspiring Style for Puget Sound Brides

Real Weddings Couples tell their story

Tips for choosing a photographer

Creating Memories The beautiful details

Emerald Visions

A styled shoot

714 Lakeway Drive • Bellingham • 360.671.1011 • thelakewayinn.com

Lakeway Inn& Wedding Center

From Down Home to White Glove

Grand weddings or intimate, the choice is yours. With a host of flexible seating options up to 500 guests, our full service event center designs your most memorable moments. We say “we do”as you say your “I do’s.”

Distinctive food and drink paired to meet your taste and budget – exquisitely prepared and graciously served.

Poppe’s 360, home to Bellingham’s only year-round covered patio, and Chinuk Restaurant will host all your joyful gatherings, from bachelor(ette) parties to your rehearsal dinner or a delightful wedding brunch.

Take a moment to rest and refresh in our elegant guest suites - with preferred rates. We extend package pricing with our local wedding partners such as entertainment, floral, officiants, transportation, and planners.

Specializing in off-site planning and catering, call today for pricing.

Follow Bellingham Weddings at the Lakeway on Facebook

Contact Catering Sales Manager: Pat [email protected]

2 CoutureWeddingsMag.com

President/PublisherLisa Karlberg

EditorFrances Badgett

Art DirectorKelly Slater

Account ExecutivesChristine Biernacki

Lisa Knight | Kaelen MorrisMelissa Sturman

Graphic DesignerKelsey Wilmore

Editorial AssistantCait Auer

PhotographyAzzura Photography | Katheryn Moran

Josh Durias | Stacy JacobsenCourtney Bowlden

Office ManagementKelli Reynolds

Corporate OfficeK & L Media, Inc.

909 Squalicum Way, Ste. 110 Bellingham, WA 98225

klmediacorp.com

Snohomish County Office6100 219th St. S.W., Ste. 480 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Inquiries & [email protected]

northsoundlife.com 360.483.4576 x4

Cover Photography ©Courtney Bowlden

Design your own venue.

A canopy is the ultimate in DIY elegance. Our friendly rental experts are here to help you easily design the perfect place for your special occasion. With our 25+ years experience, you can rest assured that on your wedding day you can focus on the love of your life, not your party rentals.

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Free Wedding Planning ResourcesFacilities, Accommodations, Caterers, Photographers, Florists & Bakeries

UNVEIL YOUR DREAM WEDDINGIN SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Couture Weddings 2015 3

MUST-HAVES

Elegant Essentials 5

Distinctive Details 6

REAL WEDDINGS

Oscar & Kelly 16

Bryan & Candace 24

Amar & Celeste 32

Xadier & Marcelle 38

FEATURES

Creating Memories 9

Skimp or Splurge 20

Capturing the Moment 29

A Cultured Affair 36

Emerald Visions: A Styled Shoot 43

Trash the Dress 54

Seasonal Picks 62

HELPFUL

Checklist 57

Budget 58

Venue Listings 59

Couture Weddings 2015Contents

F I N D O U T W H Y W E A R E T H E PERFECT PARTNERS FOR YOUR WEDDING

B R I D A L ♦ B R I D E S M A I D S ♦ M O T H E R ST U X E D O S ♦ S U I T S ♦ A C C E S S O R I E S

AN

A M A Z I N G S E L E C T I O N F O R

EVERYONE IN YOUR WEDDING PARTY

W W W . A L I C I A S B R I D A L . C O M

14 0 0 N . S TAT E S T R E E T . B E L L I N G H A M . WA

3 6 0 . 7 3 3 . 2 5 6 3B R I D A L A P P O I N T M E N T S R E C O M M E N D E DC L O S E D W E D N E S D A Y S A N D S U N D A Y S

Elegant Essentials

BRIDE

Sparkle and shine brighter than the North Star, from the moment you walk down the aisle to dancing the night away in an intrica-tely beaded reception gown. Give into the elegant detail and glit-tering finishing touches on your special day, with classically chic designs fit for any leading lady.

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All Over Lace Trumpet Gown With Deep V Neckline$849.99, David’s Bridal

Alexis Bittar ‘Lucite®’ Drop Earrings

$275, Nordstrom

SJP Collection ‘Doras Metal Nappa’$385, Nordstrom

Dior ‘Diorific- Golden Shock’ Top Coat’

$28, Nordstrom

Charlotte Necklace$150 for a 4-day rental, happilyeverborrowed.com

TopShop Feather Hem Embellished Body-Con Dress

$495, Nordstrom

SJP Collection ‘Beekman’ Clutch, Metallic

$275, Nordstrom


GROOM

Tie the knot by suiting up — throwback style — with stylishly bold patterns that express your personality and encourage an ex-citing event to remember.

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Hugo Boss Super 100’s Wool Tuxedo$895, Nordstrom

Regal Bowtie$15, Zoraab.com

IOMOI Personalized Tote,Small $98, Large $168, Nordstrom

Keychain$4.95, H&M

Men’s Shoes$49.95, H&M.com

Sandalwood traditional shave kit$70, nyshavingcompany.com

Regal Pocketsquare$19, Zoraab.com

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Distinctive Details


3360.299.1400 | 419 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, WA | Majesticinnandspa.com

Majestic... Where history meets luxury

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Creating MemoriesThe place cards are set, the flowers are on the tables, your loved

ones are gathered, the weather is cooperating — your day is picture perfect from every angle. Now it’s up to you to relax and

enjoy one of the most important days of your life.

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© Nicole Medcalf photography

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Capturing the moments and memories at your wedding, birthday, anniversary or

special event, one “snap” at a time!

OhSnapEventPhotoBooths.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ohsnapphotobooth1

call us [email protected]

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S W I N O M I S H C A S I N O & L O D G E , 1 2 8 8 5 C A S I N O D R , A N A C O R T E S , W A 9 8 2 2 1

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360.416.7622 mcintyrehall.org2501 E College Way, Mount Vernon

Kelly

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Katheryn Moran | WRITTEN BY Frances Badgettt

AUGUST 10, 2013

Oscar

DRESS

2Be

VENUE

The Building Industry Association of Whatcom headquarters

CATERING

Chihuahuas

WEDDING SONG

Ray Lamontagne’s You Are The Best Thing

LODGING

The Chrysalis Inn and Spa

HAIR

Sarah Rydman of Something Different Salon

MAKEUP

Bonnie Scialabba


All it took was a hex wrench and some patio furniture to bring these two together. Kelly and Oscar met

through mutual friends in college while attending New Mexico State University.

“We were good friends and had an easy time being silly and playful together from the start,” Kelly said.

When Oscar first visited Bellingham, Kelly took him to a private beach on Bellingham Bay. “The landscape and the beauty of the bay had him in awe.” When he proposed, they hiked down to the same private beach. “As we looked out at the water, he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.”

While planning the wedding, the couple wanted the ceremony and celebration to reflect their relationship — the intensity of their love and the playful quality of their

shared laughter. “Our bridesmaids each wore a different, brightly colored dress, and the groomsmen sported bow ties that mat-ched their shirt cuffs (which were all sewn lovingly by the mother of the bride and the groom).” The bright, rainbow effect is lively and celebratory. Kelly, her cousins and her aunts hand-picked the flowers for the cen-terpieces. Kelly’s aunt, Elisabeth Adelstein of Boxx Berry Farm, prepared the bouquets.

“She even made my own bridal bouquet out of colorful flowers specifically cut by each of my aunties from their very own garden.”

After the colorful ceremony, Kelly and Oscar invited their friends to dance the night away. “Our reception was by no means a quaint party.” There was a lot of dancing and celebrating, as Kelly and Oscar love to dance. They chose hip-hop and music from their college days — a nice way

to incorporate their ties to their old friends. Chihuahuas catered the reception, hono-ring Oscar’s roots in New Mexico. Colorful Jarritos Mexican sodas complemented the color theme of the wedding and added a playful touch.

The whole wedding was a family affair. “Oscar has always told me that we won’t make it without the support of our families. This was completely true to us during our wedding planning. We were able to lean heavily on the skills of our loved ones. This wedding was a labor of love of the ones around us, and I believe that it is a complete reflection of the love that will carry us as a couple through whatever may cross our paths in the future.” From the looks of it, that future will be bright, colorful and full of laughter. [



…

The truth is, no one will notice. They’re looking at you, at the groom, at the adorable little ring bearer and flower girl. They’re thinking about the food, hoping they get enough

champagne to make the drive and hotel room worth it. One thing your guests are not doing is taking inventory of how much eve-rything costs, unless, of course, you’re a Kardashian. But there are some areas wherein skimping might contrast with the look and feel you’re trying to achieve. So here’s our guide to surgical spending.

THE DRESS

Splurge. The reasons are more emotional than psychological, but if you buy your wedding dress or rent it, you may not carry yourself with the same regal bearing as if you had spent a solid two grand on something that floats around you. Also, a dress that is fitted, shaped, tailored and hemmed will look great on you for the photos, which also last forever.

FLOWERS

Skimp. This one requires staying within season. If you want beautiful bobbing peonies in December, you’ll have to pay. And while we don’t recommend drug store carnations or fake flowers, really, no one is going to gasp if your florals aren’t breath-taking.

VENUE

Depends on the season. If you’re getting married in August, you can go with a free outdoor venue. If your wedding is small, you can gather in a hallway, the gallery of a museum, on a dock over the water. But if you’re planning a large winter wedding with 200 guests, you’ll need a venue that can accommodate your event. You can get some pretty sizable venues for very little money, but don’t count on being able to find one during the summer and fall high seasons.

FOOD

Splurge. People won’t talk about the colors of your tablecloths or the centerpieces (unless they are ridiculous) but they will absolutely remember the food. Make sure there is enough and that it’s good. Guests love free gifts, so throw around some little wedding favors, too. But make sure your food is ample and tasty.

DRINK

Skimp. A few bottles of good stuff for the toast, and then your guests are lucky to get a glass of anything potable. Though we don’t recom-mend scraping the bottom of the bargain shelf, you don’t have to impress the groom’s cousin with your taste in wine. There’s plenty of that at the next family gathering. Plentiful is a bigger goal than qual-ity.

MUSIC

Skimp. With iPods and sound systems, djing your own party is easier than ever. Not sure about your taste in music? Download a pre-sorted playlist from iTunes or elsewhere. Find a venue with streaming. Live music can be fun, but lots of hassle.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Splurge. Beautiful photos are among the only tangible, lasting pieces of your wedding you get to carry with you into the future. Whether you go for swoony and romantic or contemporary and chic, great photos will capture your style, the feel and mood of your wedding and great candids of your friends and family. The only must on the list for a perfect wedding is a great photographer.

Skimp or SplurgeWhere in the budget to stretch, and where to spend

Written by Frances Badgett


253.324.6417stacyjacobsen.com

CAKE

Skimp. Yes, you want a pretty cake, but it doesn’t have to be gigantic and artfully embellished to be right for you. We recommend a smallish cake for you and the groom and big, cheap sheet cake in the back for the guests.

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Splurge. You want to look amazing on one of the most important days of your life. You want perfect hair and makeup for your photographs and for your new groom. You want everyone to remember how stunning you were in that dress with that hair. Many stylists have favorite makeup artists they work with for special events. Be sure to have both on hand to make you look and feel flawless.

SHOES

Skimp, but be comfortable. Don’t hobble through your ceremony. Make sure your shoes can go all night. They don’t have to be brand new or perfect, but they should complement your dress, and they should feel good. Weddings are a lot of standing for the bride, so make sure you’re comfy. [


CandaceBryan

VENUE

Grand Ridge Manor

CATERER

Emerald Cove Catering Co

FLOWERS

Loves Me Flower by Kendra

MUSIC

Michael Benson Band

CAKE

Honey Crumb Cake by Carla in Seattle, WA

DRESS

The Dress Theory in Seattle, WA. The dress was by Nicole Miller, design Dakota.

HAIR | MAKEUP

Salon Maison in Bellevue | Shannon Rasheed

WEDDING PLANNER

Chelsea Edwards

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Azzura Photography by Tania | WRITTEN BY Frances Badgett

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014


Sometimes the best things happen when you aren’t looking for them. Bryan was a single dad with a six-

year-old son, and Candace was a single mom with a 5-year-old son. Neither Bryan nor Candace was looking for a relationship. Candace spotted Bryan at City Church in Kirkland. Several hours later, he sent her a friendship request on Facebook, and Candace realized something, “We had met twelve years prior in Arizona at the college we attended, ASU.”

Candace was traveling, Bryan was wor-king, but they managed to stay in touch by phone until their first real date. “Our first date led to an immediate second date the following day and then of course a third with no break. I’ve never laughed so hard and respected some one so much. The feeling was mutual. On the third date, he kissed me and in that moment, I felt in my spirit that I was ‘home.’ That he was my husband. I knew it in my soul and so did

he.” Their love was on a fast track after that. They took the boys on a trip to Disneyland, where Bryan proposed. Sharing their faith was — and remains — a large part of their relationship. “We did a 40-day prayer jour-nal with each other and fell deeper in love.” Though blending families can be a challenge for couples, Candace and Bryan didn’t feel any resistance from their sons. “The boys (Kason, 5, my son and Tadem 6 years, his son) met and their hearts were fulfilled with a longing desire of brotherhood.”

Planning the wedding was a six-week whirlwind. They had their hearts set on a date six weeks away, and their venue had just had a cancellation. Their day was open.

“Every detail in our wedding happened just like that.”

Candace imagined a wedding that was classically elegant with a touch of rustic. She and her dad drove to the ceremony in a vintage Rolls Royce. Candace’s bouquet was hand-tied with a rounded silhouette. Large

calla lilies, hydrangea, garden roses, small calla lilies and ranunculus were wrapped in ivory ribbon with crystal embellishments.

“The ceremony was very emotional and orga-nic. Tears were flowing, and you could feel the love!” The boys shared in the couple’s vows, and the couple’s pastor officiated.

The venue, Grand Ridge Manor, is in a quiet corner of Issaquah. “This truly is Issaquah’s best kept secret! I grew up in Issaquah and went to church right by this place and never knew it existed!” The venue was so perfectly appointed, the couple didn’t feel the need to decorate too much.

The reception sparkled with glass bowls and silver votive cups. The flowers carried the classically elegant-yet-rustic theme with orange and peach roses, mango mini calla lilies, peach dahlias and soft green hydrangea.

“The whole evening was relaxed and light, full of joyfulness and happiness and gratitude!” [


360.621.5159 | Joeandpatience.com | [email protected]

Yes, presumably, you could have your entire family capture your wedding on iPhones and Androids and call it good, but in doing so, you’ll be mis-

sing out on a great opportunity to keep a part of your wedding with you for years to come. So how do you sort through the hundreds of online portfolios and find just the right photographer for your wedding? We have a few suggestions:

Find Your StyleJust as wedding dresses come in different styles, so, too, do wedding photos. Decide ahead of time if you want something edgy and contemporary, or if you want a more romantic, classic look. Looking through the pho-tographers’ portfolios can give you an idea of what their individual styles might be like. A good photographer will also have additional ideas and inspiration, and infor-mation on what worked well for other weddings he or she has photographed.

ResearchYou probably know several people who have gotten married in the past few years. Find out not only how they chose their photographers, but what they liked and disliked about the way the photographer worked. Go online and take a look at portfolios and examples, and get an idea of what the photographer costs. This shouldn’t be the only step in your search — a photogra-pher who did a great job on your friend’s wedding may not have the style you’re looking for and vice-versa — but it’s a good first step. Meet with the photographers whose work you like, and get a feel for rapport — the photo-grapher who puts you the most at ease is likely to take

Capturing the Moment


better pictures of you. Check out full wedding albums if you can, and see examples of the photographer’s non-wedding work, to get an idea of style and ability. Remember that photographers work with assistants and second shooters, so be sure to meet them before your big day as well.

Budget Remember that photography is more than just shooting photos — there are processing costs, additional shooters, albums and more. You’ll want to make sure you budget enough for all of your needs, but do not skimp. Your photographs are the most lasting legacy of your wedding, and the lens through which you will always remember it. Expect to pay more than $2000 for a good photographer. You’ll want to work out how many hours your photo-grapher will be shooting, whether or not there will be an assistant shooting, additional portraits, trash the dress after-photos, rehearsal dinner photos — you have a lot of memories to capture. A good photographer will offer 1000-3000 shots for you to keep, but it depends on you

How to Choose a Photographer

…


and what you want. Photo finishing, albums and extras will cost more, but might be worth it if you don’t have the technical expertise. Photos can be turned into everything from posters to coasters, so make sure you include all those little extras you might want.

ContractContracts protect you and the photographer, and are an essential part of making sure your day goes smoothly. Things to include: a liability clause for damaged equipment, an agreement about use of images, ensuring the photographer has back-up equipment in a worst-case scenario, the form your photos will be in (cd, link to a website, memory stick, etc.), substitution in case of illness or emergency, etc. Ask friends or check online for sample contracts. A reputable photogra-pher will have one used on a regular basis.

The Big DaySome photographers are really helped by having a member of the bridal or groom party give them an idea of who to shoot, where to focus, how to cover the event. Remember to ask for detail shots of the cake, tablescapes, favors and decorations as well as portraits of the guests. Remember to relax and try to forget the camera is there — you’ll get great genuine, candid photos if you aren’t too conscious of the camera. Enjoy your big day knowing that a great shooter is on hand to capture it for you. [

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At Memorable Events and Catering our passion is to create a personalized menu to fit your pic-ture perfect wedding. We provide only delicious homemade cuisine from hand selected cuts

of meat, international cheeses, the best fruits and vegetables and local artisan breads.

360.441.7244 |[email protected] | memevent.com

Amar Celeste

VENUE AND CATERING

Semiahmoo Resort

FIRST DANCE SONG

Love Me Tender (Norah Jones version)

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Tart Beauty

FLOWERS

Kimberly Oldis

CAMEL

Camel Safari

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Josh Durias | WRITTEN BY Frances Badgettt

AUGUST 29-30, 2014


Celeste, an opera singer, was a newco-mer to Boston when she met Amar.

“On a night out, an outgoing hand-some man bought me a beer at a pub and we continued to talk all evening. We had no idea about what each other did for a living and came from extremely different back-grounds but there was a definitely spark and we were fascinated with each other’s story.” The pair hasn’t been apart since.

On a family trip to San Francisco to see a newborn niece, Amar was more fidgety and nervous than usual. He asked Celeste to go on a hike with him to Land’s End. “We started the hike in the early evening along Land’s End, a gorgeous coastal park whose trails are along cliffs above the ocean and looking out to the Golden Gate Bridge. We ended up hiking down to an empty cliff that jutted out into the water just at sunset.” There, Amar proposed. Celeste was delightfully surprised. The proposal wasn’t the only surprise. Amar had hired a hidden

photographer to capture the moment, and Celeste’s entire family was waiting on Skype.

The couple had two wedding ceremonies at Semiahmoo Resort to celebrate their respective religions and cultural traditions. The first day, they had an Indian celebration with a Hindu ceremony. “Amar rode in on a camel to the ceremony behind his family and friends who danced in a processional to greet my family. A drummer playing a Dhol played live music to dance and process to.” After the grand entrance of the groom, the couple are lifted on the shoulders of the guests for a flower garland toss. “Whoever gets their garland over the other’s head first is said to ‘have the power in the relationship’ haha, I won.” Both sets of parents walk the couple to the altar, and the married women in attendance give advice to the bride.

After the beautiful ceremony, the couple had a Sangreet, which is a Hindu music celebration. The couple and guests ate and danced all night. They had huge, tra-ditional group dances that their friends

had choreographed for them, such as the Dandiya Rass and Garba, Gujarat traditio-nal dances.

The second ceremony was Christian, and took place on the dock at Semiahmoo with a view of Point Roberts, where Celeste grew up. The couple had a cellist and violinist for the ceremony and the cocktail hour. “The day started out a bit cloudy but the second the ceremony started the sun broke through the clouds and stayed around all day, it was gorgeous.” The second night, they had music that all generations could enjoy. “It was a blast!”

The dress was a silk off the shoulder gown in ivory with a lace sweetheart neckline. The gown was embroidered with beads and lace flowers. It had silk but-tons down the back and a long train that bustled. The veil was an antique cathedral length veil that the bride’s mother wore at her own wedding and hand embroidered over the last many months to match the dress for the wedding. [



Weddings are among the most common traditions world-wide. Almost every culture has some

ceremony that binds two people together. We’re all familiar with the 15-minute qui-ckie ceremony common these days, but there are some lovely traditions from around the world that can be incorporated into your typical vow-n-bow ceremony. In Korea, the groom brings the bride’s family a pair of wooden geese (traditionally, live geese) as a symbol of his fidelity to their daughter. Korean couples often work geese and duck imagery into their ceremonies. Why geese? They mate for life. Another rich tradition is the sake-sharing ceremony from Japan, called san-san-kudo. The bride and groom each take three sips from a sake cup, and the parents each take three sips, totaling nine sips of sake. The ceremony cements the bonds between the two families. A very easy to incorporate and yet lovely tradi-tion is tying the knot—in Latin American

countries, the couple binds themselves together with rope. In Mexico, the couple is tied together by the officiant, with either a rosary or a rope. It’s easy to adapt this tra-dition by binding the hands together with a ribbon or simple short length of rope.

In India, the arrival of the groom at the ceremony is festive and splashy. The groom rides in on a decorated horse, or, in some cases, a camel or elephant. While adapting this tradition isn’t uncommon, make sure your wedding livestock is trained and of calm temperament. Another Eastern tradi-tion is that of using henna to decorate the hands and feet of the bride and her bridal party. A practice in India, Pakistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and northern Africa, henna is used for many traditional celebrations. In India, the darker the henna, the more intensely a husband will love his wife.

One of the most striking and oft-used wedding traditions is the Chuppa, a canopy that shelters the couple from “evil spirits.” A

A Cultured AffairWedding Traditions from Around the World

Jewish tradition, the Chuppa is often seen in many forms at non-Jewish weddings. Another Jewish ritual that has been readily adapted for all kinds of weddings is the ketubah, or wedding scroll. Traditionally written in Hebrew, the ketubah is a contract between the bride and groom, a kind of written form of vows. Frequently, wedding guests sign the ketubah as witnesses to the contract. Beautiful and ornate, a ketubah can be a lasting way to remember the beauty of your wedding day, and all of the people who witnessed your union.

Whatever tradition you borrow from, remember to do so delicately. Donning traditional clothing or appropriating deep rituals as a “wedding theme” can be disres-pectful to other cultures. Done well, rituals and traditions from other cultures can hold the key to adding meaning and depth to your ceremony. [

NORTHWEST WEDDING EXPOSJANUARY 2015

TACOMA WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL JANUARY 3 - 4, 2015

EVERETT WEDDING EXPO COMCAST ARENA AT EVERETT JANUARY 24 - 25, 2015

March 2015

TACOMA SPRING WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL MARCH 28 - 29, 2015

September 2015

TACOMA FALL WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL SEPTEMBER 12 - 13, 2015

EVERETT FALL WEDDING EXPO COMCAST ARENA AT EVERETT SEPTEMBER 19 - 20, 2015

BELLEVUE WEDDING EXPO BELLEVUE HILTON SEPTEMBER 26 - 27, 2015

WWW.BRIDESCLUB.COM

PHOTO BY EUGENE KAM PHOTOGRAPHY


NORTHWEST WEDDING EXPOSJANUARY 2015

TACOMA WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL JANUARY 3 - 4, 2015

EVERETT WEDDING EXPO COMCAST ARENA AT EVERETT JANUARY 24 - 25, 2015

March 2015

TACOMA SPRING WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL MARCH 28 - 29, 2015

September 2015

TACOMA FALL WEDDING EXPO TACOMA DOME EXHIBITION HALL SEPTEMBER 12 - 13, 2015

EVERETT FALL WEDDING EXPO COMCAST ARENA AT EVERETT SEPTEMBER 19 - 20, 2015

BELLEVUE WEDDING EXPO BELLEVUE HILTON SEPTEMBER 26 - 27, 2015

WWW.BRIDESCLUB.COM

PHOTO BY EUGENE KAM PHOTOGRAPHY

Xadier Marcelle

DRESS

Allure

VENUE

Marcelle’s parents’ house in Olympia, WA

CATERING

Taylor Shellfish Farms and Xinh’s Clam and Oyster House

CAKE AND CUPCAKES

Miss Moffett’s Mystical Cupcakes

LODGING

The Red Lion Hotel and the Double Tree Inn

HAIR

Jenna Harrison

MAKEUP

Monique Martinez

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stacy Jacobsen | WRITTEN BY Frances Badgettt

JULY 26, 2014

Marcelle and Xadier met in Los Angeles. Their cubicles were next to each other at the Coffee Bean

& Tea Leaf corporate headquarters. They discovered that they were both Los Angeles Clippers fans, and their first dates were spent watching their favorite team. Those dates soon turned into a relationship.

After they moved to Olympia, they were settling in for a cozy, rainy day at home. Marcelle often worked jigsaw puzzles to relax. “We didn’t have a television in Los Angeles, so I started doing puzzles.” Xadier often playfully hid pieces from her to get a rise out of her. That rainy afternoon, Xadier hid a piece and told Marcelle it was somewhere in the couch. What she found was a small box with the last puzzle piece inside. She turned around and Xadier was on his knee with the ring in his hand. “It was so cute, as he has always kept me on the edge of my seat, and our proposal was no different.”

Marcelle had always had a vision of what kind of wedding she wanted. “From a young age, I always wanted to get married at my parents’ house. There really is no place like home, especially when they have a yard made for a wedding.” Marcelle also wanted a vintage wedding in blush tones. “I loved that my bridesmaids all wore dresses of their choice, I could not have imagined that it turned out as well as it did!”

The dress, by Allure, met all of Marcelle’s expectations. She wanted something vintage-inspired with simple lines. The lace added that timeless touch, and she really liked the interest in the back. “When I tried it on, I knew it was the one!” Marcelle’s family also owns a black pear farm in Fiji, and Marcelle wanted to honor her family by wearing a long black pearl necklace in light shades. As it happens, her mother had been setting aside all of the light colored black pearls for years just for this day. “The

necklace turned out exactly as I wanted, and it perfectly complemented my lace dress.”

The reception began with a cocktail hour. The couple had a raw bar stocked with shellfish from Taylor Shellfish Farms and Xinh’s Clam and Oyster House. Occasions Catering from Olympia catered the dinner, which featured chimichurri chicken, grilled salmon, roasted vegetables and fresh rolls. The cake was a chocolate cake with a cream cheese frosting, and the cupcakes were red velvet and snickerdoodle.

After dinner, the couple enjoyed their first dance to David Gray’s Be Mine. The music at the reception was a mixture of 90s hip-hop, classics and current hits. “My hus-band is Puerto Rican, so we included some Hispanic music as well.”

Dramatic, romantic and picturesque, Marcelle and Xadier’s beautiful wedding over-looking Eld Inlet was a picture-perfect day. [



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Douse it, burn it, paint it, drag it in the mud—however you do it, do it up right. So what is

“trashing the dress“? After you (or your parents) have spent a small fortune on seed pearls and duchesse satin, the ceremony ends, the last song plays, the confetti and glitter are swept up into little piles on the parquet, and it’s time to say goodbye to the layers of shantung and Peau du Soie that you’ve agonized over for a year or two. All of those careful alterations, that stack of bridal magazines, the long hours in dressing rooms, and it all comes down to this—destruction.

So where did this quirky trend come from? According to the mother of all research libraries, Wikipedia, the origins of dress-trashing are, as all good things, from television. A bride on the soap opera Sunset Beach ran into the ocean when her wedding was interrupted, and a trend was born. Other sources claim a bored Vegas wed-ding photographer named John Michael Cooper wanted to mix up the woozy, glossy wedding photography style

Trash the Dressand had brides pose in off-beat locations—trash heaps, piles of tires, mud puddles. However it started, it caught on, and brides everywhere are dunking and smearing.

Couples sometimes arrange elaborate shoots that involve underwater photography or aerial photography. A famous example of an aerial shot is the bride who trashed her dress parasailing. Be forewarned—all that dress is heavy when it gets wet, and there has been a case of a bride tragically drowning. There’s also a bride who burned her dress while wearing it for maximum photographic drama, but we don’t recommend it. Keep it safe and use Photoshop for the crazy stuff. Some of the photos out there are of brides draped over train tracks or in front of streetcars, and while the drama certainly does get one’s attention, there’s a mixed mes-sage there (unless, of course, the groom ran off like a soap opera groom). But as with anything wedding-related there are no real rules.



Trashing your dress doesn’t have to be literal. Depending on the material, bridal gowns can stand up pretty well to water, sand and dirt. If you want to trash your dress and keep it too, check with a fabric specia-list like a dry cleaner or seamstress before your photo shoot, and they can make recommendations on how to resurrect your keepsake. Dresses with delicate bea-ding and lace may not make it through unscathed, and clearly there are fabrics that can’t get wet at all. Hair and makeup should be carefully considered, and you should work with a professional photographer. Some brides trash their dresses on the first anniversary—so make sure the age of the fabric is taken into consideration.

However you choose to do it, trashing the dress is a cute and lasting way to pay tribute to your dress, to your wedding. Whether it’s a symbol of being so done with the event, a refreshing way to cast off the stiff formality of the wedding, sullying the dress is how brides these days say goodbye to all that. [


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Bridal Inspiration • Real Weddings • Planning Tips

NOW LIVE© C

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Checklist12 MONTHS

�� Announce your engagement�� Set the date for your ceremony�� Select engagement & wedding rings�� Decide on your wedding style�� Discuss and set a budget�� Book a site for your ceremony and reception�� Visit clergy and discuss ceremony�� Select wedding attendants�� Select wedding dress and accessories�� Select a photographer�� Select a videographer�� Select musicians�� Select a florist�� Register with a bridal registry�� Choose a caterer�� Select a master of ceremonies

10–6 MONTHS

�� Establish a guest list�� Select and order attendants’ gowns�� Select and order men’s attire�� Order wedding invitations and stationery�� Make reception plans�� Mothers-of-the-bride and groom select their

dresses�� Plan your honeymoon and obtain passports

6–3 MONTHS

�� Order your wedding cake�� Book your limousine and transportation�� Make accommodations for out-of-town guests�� Meet with your hair and makeup stylist�� Order your wedding certificate�� Groom’s family to make arrangements for rehear-

sal dinner

3–2 MONTHS

�� Address wedding invitations�� Choose attendants’ gifts�� Arrange special music selections�� Plan the bridesmaids’ luncheon�� Ask relatives to assist at the ceremony and recep-

tion�� Write thank you notes as gifts arrive�� Open a joint savings and checking account�� Name your fiance as a beneficiary to your insu-

rance policy and will�� Make wedding favors

2–1 MONTHS

�� Arrange final fitting of your gown�� Arrange final fitting of your bridesmaids’ dresses�� Confirm with photographer, musicians, florist,

caterer, limousine services and bakery�� Confirm with hair and makeup stylist�� Select groom’s and bride’s gifts�� Meet with clergy on ceremony details

7 DAYS

�� Make a final check with clergy, florist and caterer�� Confirm with reception facility�� Meet with photographer and videographer�� Pack honeymoon trousseau�� Arrange head table seating�� Reconfirm honeymoon arrangements�� Make certain attendants have their instructions�� Pick up wedding and attendants’ gown�� Notify caterer of final guest count

1 DAY

�� Get a manicure and pedicure�� Attend wedding rehearsal�� Provide ushers with list of guests

WEDDING DAY

�� Appointment with your hair and makeup stylist�� Allow three hours to dress and relax�� Enjoy your special day


GROOM

Groom’s Attire $ × ( ) = $ Shoes $ × ( ) = $ Accessories $ × ( ) = $ Groomsmen’s Attire $ × ( ) = $ Groomsmen’s Gifts $ × ( ) = $

BRIDE

Wedding Dress $ × ( ) = $ Hair & Makeup $ × ( ) = $ Shoes $ × ( ) = $ Accessories $ × ( ) = $ Bridesmaids’ Attire $ × ( ) = $ Bridesmaids’ Gifts $ × ( ) = $

WEDDING

Caterers $ × ( ) = $ Centerpieces & Favors $ × ( ) = $ Coordinator $ × ( ) = $ Chair covers & Linens $ × ( ) = $ Entertainment $ × ( ) = $ Event Design $ × ( ) = $ Flowers $ × ( ) = $ Invitations $ × ( ) = $ Jewelers $ × ( ) = $ Master of Ceremonies $ × ( ) = $ Officiants $ × ( ) = $ Photo Booth $ × ( ) = $ Photographers $ × ( ) = $ Transportation $ × ( ) = $ Venue $ × ( ) = $ Videographers $ × ( ) = $ Wedding Cakes $ × ( ) = $ Wedding Favors $ × ( ) = $

TOTAL WEDDING COST $

Budget


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Seasonal Picks

Spring’s flowers are bright and

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sign that warmer weather is on

its way.

Peonies

Roses

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Though many beautiful blooms are available year-round, Colleen Elkins, owner of Bellingham-based Botanikal, recom-mends considering in-season flowers to maximize your wow-factor and budget.

Summer bouquets are marked

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Documents

Couture Weddings 2015