Stevie and Kelli ~ You Are So Very Married! Wed On April 24, 2010 ~ The Sorrento Hotel, Seattle!

Stevie and Kelli ~ You did it! You are so very married!

More than 100 family and friends gathered for Stevie and Kelli's wedding ceremony atop the Sorrento Hotel. And the very slow hotel elevator only added to the fun and ambience of this day.

Kelli was absolutely smashing in her gown and accessories and as I told her new husband more than once, "Stevie, you are one lucky guy!"

Working together, we created a personalized wedding ceremony that included tributes to the couple's parents, special gifts to their parents, keepsake mementos created and exchanged by Stevie and Kelli during their ceremony...and humor. You could not have a wedding ceremony for this couple without humor!

Stevie and Kelli ~ congratulations!

Tony and Shannon Ihlen: A Rainy ~ Sunny ~ Windy ~ Rainbow Filled Wedding Day At Alderbrook Resort, Union, WA...

Tony and Shannon Ihlen

April 17, 2010 ~ Alderbrook Resort

Mother Nature was in full force during Tony and Shannon's wedding day. When I arrived at Alderbrook Resort for Tony and Shannon's 4:00 p.m. wedding ceremony, it was raining.

And within the next two hours, we had more rain, no rain, a little wind, sunshine - big sunshine! - and a rainbow. And then, a downpour!

50+ family and friends gathered for Tony and Shannon's waterside wedding at Alderbrook Resort this past Saturday and the weather just became a part of this couple's story. This was such a fun ceremony - Tony and Shannon share a great sense of humor and Tony's friend, Photographer Mike Tallman, had his running shoes on to capture the marvelous fun during the couple's vows and more.

And just after the ceremony completed, a rainbow - peaking through the clouds. The funny thing is that on this exact Saturday a year ago, I married Matt and Katie in the exact same location at Alderbrook and right after their ceremony, a rainbow!

Mike and Tiffany - thank you for the beautiful images from this ceremony - you captured this couple so beautifully! And Julie Noice - your staff at Alderbrook Resort is the very best!

Incorporating Hawaiian Customs, Rituals & Traditions Into Your Wedding Ceremony

When a couple incorporates rituals, themes or traditions from the Hawaiian tradition, this makes a wedding ceremony extra sweet.

As I move into this year, I find that four of my couples are weaving in Hawaiian pieces into their ceremonies. There are many ways to do this. Chip and Susanne were married recently at St. Paul's Church in Port Gamble and being that Chip has family and history from Hawaii, this couple exchanged leis at the beginning of their ceremony and also offered leis to family members.

Using the koa wood bowl for the blessing of the rings and ring exchange is also something that I'm writing into a few ceremonies that I am working on.

And here's what's true: if you'd like to incorporate Hawaiian tradition/ritual into your ceremony and don't have ties to the Hawaiian culture, "just do it!" A wedding ceremony is all about finding what resonates with your heart and Hawaiian marriage customs/traditions are beautiful in all ways.

It Was A "Wedding Weekend" At The Marvelous Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville!

Sarah & Dan Whitford

March 27, 2010

Hollywood Schoolhouse

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Jesse & Kelly Havens

March 26, 2010

Hollywood Schoolhouse

Talk about synchronicity! I married two wonderful couples last weekend at the marvelous Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville.

Jesse & Kelly were married on Friday evening and one of the sweet moments were the wishes and wisdom shared by both Fathers from the couple's Grandparents who could not travel for the evening.

Less than 24 hours later, I was back at The Hollywood Schoolhouse (yeah!) for Dan and Sarah's Saturday evening ceremony, featured in the photo above. I am quite sure Dan and Sarah's wonderful photographer, Brooke Hendricks, "got" the huge smiles on their faces during the ceremony - I'll also make a bet that one of these images will be a favorite from this day!

If you are seeking a sweet and wonderful venue for your wedding ceremony, please contact Manager Lori Reeder at The Hollywood Schoolhouse - she's one of the best in this business and will take very good care of you. Take a peak: http://www.hollywoodschoolhouse.com/

Hendricks Photography: www.hendricksphotography.com

Andre and Amanda's Beautiful March Wedding Day ~ The Pickering Barn, Issaquah, WA

Andre and Amanda

March 20, 2010

The Pickering Barn

Okay, just look at these sweet smiling faces!

Andre and Amanda are one of those young "it" couples. They met as teen-agers and have created a most remarkable, loving and compassionate relationship over the past six years. And for a big chunk of those years, this included a long-distance relationship.

In front of 200+ family and friends, Andre and Amanda exchanged their vows. A sweet moment in the ceremony for me was when little flower girl Nola walked down the aisle. I was fortunate to have married her parents, Mark and Meghan, a few years ago at Bastyr Chapel and if you know this couple, their little girl is going to be a dynamo in life!

Andre and Amanda - thank you for trusting me with your story. I left your ceremony with a little lilt in my step ~ it was fun to be back in my old neighborhood (Issaquah), where I lived for six years before moving to Bainbridge Island.