Canlis Restaurant: A Sweet And Intimate Seattle Favorite For a Seattle Wedding Ceremony And Celebration...

I love driving my car up to the valet at Canlis Restaurant. It's such a fancy place and in all of the right ways.

And for a small and intimate wedding ceremony, it's such a perfect venue with city and lake views.

Last night, I indeed did drive my car up to the Canlis valet for Christian and Kristen's wedding ceremony. It was small and sweet Seattle elopement - just the two of them and their witnesses.

The paradox of life plays out at a wedding ceremony: what is small is really big and what is big is really small. Last night, Christian and Kristen did something very big in a elegant and small way.

Jason and Kelly's Winter Wedding Day At The Salish Lodge ~ Snoqualmie Falls...

Jason and Kelly did The Salish Lodge proud!

With their wedding designer and planner, Kevin Bradford, Jason and Kelly created a winter wonderland for their ceremony and celebration.

Yes, the wedding ceremony was beautiful and the reception was spectacular.

Yet, most inspirational is the love, commitment and devotion shared by Jason and Kelly and the intention they brought to their wedding day.

For Jason and Kelly, December 17th was all about their wedding day and this celebration was also about consciously envisioning their marriage.

In the chaos of planning a wedding, planning a marriage can get lost among the chaos and gentle tension of all things wedding. One of the gifts a couple can give themselves on the way to a wedding day are "time-outs" to focus on partnership, marriage covenants and opportunities to explore/expand intimacy and trust.

Beautiful Photo: www.azzuraphotography.com

Jonmark and Emilie's Wedding Ceremony ~ At A Hidden & Little Known Park In The Center Of The Seattle Universe ~ Fremont!

It was a grey January morning last week and an email popped up on my screen.

I was delighted to see the note was from Jonmark and Emilie, a couple I married in the most wonderful and obscure park in Fremont last Summer!

Like Jonmark and Emilie, if you are looking for a hidden gem of a Seattle park for an intimate wedding ceremony, take a peek at the Fremont Peak Park ~ it's quaint with a lovely view and being a neighborhood park, it doesn't have alot of foot traffic.

Fremont Peak Park: http://www.fremontpeakpark.org/

"Annemarie - Six months in and the wedding seems a bit far in the past but the joy, laughter and warmth of the day are still very present. Thank you again for making the ceremony cheerful, simple and authentic to us." ~ Emilie and Jonmark

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Photo: Sacha Blue at http://www.sachablue.com/

A Fall/Winter Wedding Full of Style: Ryan and Karin's Wedding at Hidden Meadows, Snohomish...

Fall and Winter weddings have a much different feeling to me than weddings in the Spring or Summer months ~ particularly if a wedding falls close to a holiday.

There is something about the glow of candles in the darkness ~ the anticipation of the holidays ~ the cozy feeling to a warm indoor space~ and how wedding attire is different in style in the colder months ~ that wraps a beautiful bow around a Fall or Winter wedding date.

And better yet, oftentimes a couple can get more value and/or a preferred rate on venue/services in the off-season!

With this said, Ryan and Karin were married this past Thanksgiving weekend at Hidden Meadows in Snohomish.

Planner Erin Lindeman took her signature black and white motif and crafted a beautiful design for the ceremony and reception areas, capturing Ryan and Karin's contemporary style.

Photographer Kristen Honeycutt didn't let Ryan and Karin down on their wedding day. In fact, she went over the top! In addition to gorgeous images from this wedding day, Kristen also created lifetime momentos with funsy and eclectic photos from her "crazy cam" photo booth at the reception.

Ryan and Karin ~ I wish you much happiness in this new year - and bring on those "love trips" to Costco!

Erin Lindeman: http://www.lindemanweddings.com/

Kristen Honeycutt: http://www.kristenhoneycutt.com/

Life Of A Seattle Wedding Officiant: Why I Would Love To Marry You And Why I Say "Check Others" Out...

Getting married - getting hitched - is a big huge deal.

When I meet with a couple, you won't find me "pitching a package" ~ i.e., the emerald package, the gold package, the pearl deal.

Instead, most often, when I meet with an engaged couple who is seeking an Officiant, I suggest that they meet with a number of Wedding Officiants.

Yes, I love this work that I do. And I love booking a couple for a wedding - especially one I am crazy about. Yet at the same time, I know one thing for sure. I'm the right Officiant for many couples and not the best choice for others.

Selecting an Officiant for a ceremony is a very personal decision and often a daunting decision for engaged guy and gal. When I meet with a couple, I don't arrogantly assume I'm the "right choice." I want a couple to talk or meet with a number of Officiants and to do their "selection homework." Then, when I am happily the best choice, I know that I have a couple who truly appreciates my personality, approach to this work and my heart and spunk. And I fully get that I am the best choice for them.

My thanks to Ann Pallesen for the gorgeous photo of her on her wedding day with a vintage camera. Photographer Sharlane Chase took this photo and it's one of my favorites - it's sweet, mystical and so very unique.