Next Top Model in the making.

Shades of things to come.

Yes we’re on the railroad tracks.  And YES I looked both ways.  No we weren’t in danger.  Technically we weren’t ON the tracks but between them, so even if a train came we would have been safe…..geez Mom.

On a soggy morning in July I caught the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.  It was pretty, quiet and fun to watch the tourists.

I arrived a few minutes early so I was able to dive right in with the detail shots.  Will, the groom created the boutonniers our of pounded/shaped copper.  The rings were custom done by local jewelers

Will’s just a fun guy in general.  He was in prime form the morning of and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Holly found her gown on Craigslist if you can believe it.  It was fantastic!  The color, the detail-loved it.

Hanging out with the girls while the got ready was so much fun.  The house was a disaster but the photography was awesome.  The hair piece was created by a friend of the brides.

girl!-look at the back.  hot, hot, hot.

What’s not to be happy about?!…

This kind of sums up the guys-there was a whole lot of grab ass going on.  Never a dull moment that’s for sure.

The girls were proper and demure as they should be.  Well for the moment at least.

Noah, Noah, Noah-not to be left out.   Who would leave him out, he’s going to bring them down the isle with Ukulele music.

We were all set up to do family portraits in the forest when first Holly spied her Grandpa and then Will his Grandma.  These are the moments we all live for.  Or should.

Forest details around the venue; Kitsap Memorial State Park.

Both Holly and Will are creative.  Holly spent months putting the final touches together.  They all came together as planned!

Holly and her Dad share a chuckle over the Flower girl.

Holly doesn’t sew, but that didn’t stop her from creating a lovely bunting to hang at the ceremony site.  The yellows and oranges really popped against the blues in the sky.

Will is an artist by trade and a part time teacher-he sandblasted each of these bottles with the letter B for their last name.  They were filled with water and corked, ready to be opened and used or taken home as a keepsake.  Holly created the “flowers” out of sticks tissue paper glued on in simple jars with pebbles.

Thankfully instead of the usual salmon they opted for wood fired Pizza from Rolling Fire.  Delicious!  And how cute is a heart shaped pizza, I mean come on!

Fun, unique, simple and creative.  The cake table set up worked so well in this space I just loved it.  Simple flowers in common jars placed in, on, and around stakes of books.

First dances always get me.  Especially when there is amazing back lighting!

They had a do-it-yourself photo-booth with super fun props.  I just had to steal a few, couldn’t help myself.

End-of-the-day sun is always the best!  I can’t say that enough.

Instead of the traditional guest book they opted to have guest write them a note on an old fashioned typewriter.

The next morning I woke up early, stepped outside of my cabin with a fresh cup of coffee and watched the birds on the water.  What a lovely way to start the day.

What can I say, a good time was had by all.  Even the carnies got into it.  They were so great.  Let us stay longer, let us in/on longer.  They were SO great to us-it was a real treat.

How they  meet and courted such long distances (Kevin is Irish):

Ok, well that can be a very long story.  I will give you the short version!
We met in Chicago in January 2005, when we both worked for the same Consulting company (Accenture).  Accenture hosts worldwide training in Chicago; Kevin came from London, I came from Seattle.  We didn’t know each other that well during the training, but we met a mutual group of friends.  I planned my first trip to Europe with that group of friends in May of 2005, and Kevin was “hosting” the trip in London and Ireland.  I spent 10 days in London and Ireland with this group of friends and Kevin; our first kiss was on Kevin’s Dad’s boat near the Shannon river in Ireland, on May 22nd, 2005.  We got married on May 22nd, 2010, exactly five years later.  During those five years we mostly dated long-distance.  We’d see each other every 3-8 weeks, and we’d take turns travelling to Seattle or London, or meeting somewhere fun like New York or Mallorca.  We were lucky to have jobs that supported our travelling.  We didn’t talk on the phone more than a few minutes per day, because of the 8 hour time difference, but relied on Instant Messenger and email for most of our communication.  I moved to London with my company and lived with Kevin for almost a year.  In the end, I knew I needed and wanted to live in Seattle.  Kevin proposed in December of 2008, and finally moved to Seattle in 2009.

Photography: Sheila Addleman Photography
Venue, Food, and Cake: Mountain Home Lodge, Leavenworth Washington
Dress: Winnie Couture
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm (JLM Couture)
DJ: Brandon Ghorley
Hair and Makeup: Sequoia Leopold, My Flawless Tan and Makeup
Rings: Seattle Diamonds
Flowers: American Floral Distributors, arranged by Sarah Salter
Suit – Hugo Boss!  (Kevin-I was also wearing Hugo Boss undercrackers and socks in case you want to include that!)
Decor: Bride and Groom
Invitations: Carousel
Ceremony Music: Grooms brother

Our point of destination was the lovely Roch Harbor Resort.  Carley and Brett assembled the amazing welcome bags for each family.  Our had a bottle of wine from local vintner Darby, a book by Michael Pollan, candles, matches, cards and local island info.

The next morning after a kick-ass brunch we all went on a private whale watching tour.  It took us a while but eventually we, or they, found us.  Whale watching is amazing but defiantly something that should be done with respect to the animals.

After our whale watching excursion and after the wedding rehearsal came the family BBQ on the beach.  The grooms father and step mom hosted/prepared/served this extravaganza.

Next morning the getting ready commenced-not to early thankfully.  Carley’s hair and makeup were done by the girls at the resorts Spa, and the foot rubs given by her dad-ahhhhh.

Meanwhile in a condo not to far away Brett was donning his custom suit by Hugo Boss.

And then we were off.  Basically we just went for a walk, ok a bit of a hike but it’s not like they had to be mountain goats or anything.

Not far away is an outside art museum in a large field of grass-which we made good use off.

And then there was the mausoleum which initially may sound kind of creepy but it was far from it.  And made for an amazing photo backdrop.

After all the finishing touches are done (washing of feet, picking grass out of cloths and liberal use of a lint roller) it’s wedding time.

Moments before the ceremony starts they both suddenly get a massive case of jitters.  It wasn’t the concept of getting married it was that walk down the isle in front of all those people.The ceremony was held in the Sunken Garden with Brett’s stepfather doing the honors.  Did I mention Carly tripped going down the isle in the shoes I talked her into wearing….not to self-zip it.

Tender moments minutes after.

The reception followed the cocktail hour and it was held in the Pavilion Courtyard.  Their wedding coordinator hung the paper lanterns while the matron of honor did the stones.  Clean, simple and modern was the goal.

The life ring served as a fantastic backdrop for a photobooth manned by some cousins.

I eat a lot of wedding cake and this cake was fantastic.  Designed, baked and decorated by Brett’s step-mom Donna.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  Oh butter cream frosting how I love thy.

Shortly after dinner the 3 of us headed down to the marina to watch the colors ceremony.  I’ll confess I’m not a sailor so for me it was quite the spectacle and a great photo op.  The end of the day lighting was beautiful, just beautiful.  I just loved how the kids were totally oblivious to whats going on around them.

And here is one way to clear your head after having a drink or two too many.  But in my book it’s the perfect Day-After session.

Please do not try this.  The Puget sound is around 52 degrees on a good day, hypothermia can kick in with in minutes.

At this point I should probably confess that both Carly and Brett are professional models who met on the job.  And Brett is my second-cousin-in-law.  So is Carly now.

Ensalada de Boquerones and Tortilla Espanola con Jamon

Baby octopus plate and Vieras

Harvest Vine, Madison Valley’s little sliver of Basque cuisine

Too quote John: ”

THE BUZZ: An authentic foreign food experience is always enhanced by equally appropriate ambience, and Harvest Vine, Madison Valley’s little sliver of Basque cuisine, mixes the two qualities perhaps as well as any local restaurant. The bulk of the action is upstairs where a handful of coveted kitchen seats overlook the raucous preparation of small plates. However, diners seeking a mellower atmosphere retreat to the rustic and cozy lower level, whose stone-lined walls and floor-to-ceiling wine racks open a portal to the north coast of Spain; far away from the hustle and bustle at street level.”

I’ve lived kind of in the area for 20 years, drive by it weekly and I’m ashamed to say this is the first time I’ve eaten there.  Well it won’t be the last!  YUM!

On another funny side note…Octopus is kind of scary right?- (well not really) but it was for me for a long while.  And then one day my husband and I find ourselves in a little seaside town in Mexico on a Sunday.  Nothing in town is open and only one shack on the beach is serving.  They don’t speak English and we don’t speak Spanish so we both just randomly pointed at something on the menu.  We both got Octopus in different dishes.  I decided at the moment in time that it was time I learn Spanish.  Now don’t be leaving me comments in Spanish cause I’m still not that competent but I can get by and hold a conversation with a toddler.  AND turns out I really enjoy octopus.