By Annemarie Juhlian
When I first met with Colin and Andrea, they told me they wanted a wedding ceremony that was light, fun casual and not stuffy or formal.
As you can tell from the very fun and bright photos taken by the wonderful Jenny GG, Colin and Andrea did good!
We started Colin and Andrea’s wedding ceremony with a “parade” – we lined up family and friends and Colin and Andrea led everyone out to a ceremony area under a canopy of trees at Golden Gardens Park.
It was a cloudy day and the hint of rain was ever present. And we had fun! What I loved most about this ceremony was the joy under the trees – family and friends were so happy and delighted for this couple and this ceremony just oozed happiness in all ways.
And best of all, the light rain started immediately once the ceremony was over!
Colin and Andrea ~ I wish you much happiness and isn’t it delightful that you now have a “spot” to return to to celebrate “you!”
Fab photos: Jenny GG ~ www.jennygg.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Kara and Ian were married waterside at The Seattle Tennis Club on Sunday, August 8th ~ between a mini-rainbow and a great patch of good weather!
Ian and Kara Sawyer
This remarkable couple exchanged vows before a large and diverse group of family and friends – many of whom made great effort to travel from all parts of the world to be at this special event.
Ian and Kara’s story was incorporated into their wedding ceremony along with special moments of gratitude to their family and friends. Photographer Jenny GG (as always!) captured the energy and verve of this couple and some of the images on her blog are just so fun and eloquently tell the story of this day.
Ian and Kara ~ I wish you much happiness as you move forward in life together…Ian, with your big dreams and exciting projects and Kara, with your start of medical school!
Jenny GG: www.jennygg.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Viv & Jennifer's Happy Dance!
Viv and Jennifer are one of those couples I would LOVE to marry again!
With their closest family and friends and 7 “Vivi’s” in attendance, Viv and Jennifer were married in the bright sun at Woodinville’s marvelous Willows Lodge.
Viv spiced up their wedding ceremony by surprising his bride with a beautiful poem he wrote for their day ~ it was indeed a true hanky moment!
Once again, Jenn Wenman and her staff at Willows Lodge pulled off a once-in-a-lifetime experience for this couple – from the tiny details to big picture “stuff.”
Erik Vail of Vail Studio ~ www.vailstudioweddings.com ~ captured this sweet shot of Viv and Jennifer as they walked away from their afternoon ceremony.
By Annemarie Juhlian
- Nate and Crystal Stanton
Nate and Crystal’s two girls are just too cute and spunky for words!
Pearl and Ava fully participated in their parent’s Summer wedding ceremony which took place waterside at the Port Gamble Pavilion in Kitsap County.
Nate and Crystal worked with me to create a very robust ceremony – it was a little longer than what I usually create and it was a full tribute not only to their multi-year loving relationship but to their girls, family and friends.
Crafting and creating a ceremony for a couple which involves children is a delicate dance. I like to weave together words and rituals that fully celebrates a loving relationship, respectfully honors the children AND at the same time, keeps the focus on the couple.
Nate and Crystal ~ I wish you much happiness as you move forward in life. And what fun to have a “place” to return to each anniversary with your girls!
The photo above was taken by one of the area’s finest wedding photographers,
Chris Sollart ~
www.chrissollart.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Danny, Amber & Charlie
Danny and Amber were married under glorious sunshine on July 23, 2010, at one of my most favorite venues on this planet – Kiana Lodge.
In many ways, this was a destination wedding for Danny and Amber as so many family and friends had traveled long and far to gather at this gorgeous venue on Agate Pass in Kitsap County.
The couple’s beloved pooch, Wedding Dog Charlie, preceeded Amber down the aisle with great joy and abandon and took his “spot” at the front!
Charlie also formally presented the rings from a festive wedding ”back pack” he was carrying and was front and center during a group reading by Danny and Amber’s five brothers and sisters.
Amber’s parents brought two gorgeous hand-crafted leis from their home in Hawaii and Danny and Amber opened their ceremony with the exchange of leis. The rest of their ceremony just flowed – comfortable, easy and with touches of humor and tears and their reception featured live Hawaiian music and dancers.
What I love and appreciate about Danny and Amber is their story. They have grown up together over the past nine years and have created a most remarkable and loving partnership that is inspiring to every person who knows them.
Danny and Amber – from the moment I first met you late one night on Mercer Island to this moment, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have had a front row seat (literally!) at your wedding. I wish you much, much happiness!
The gorgeous photo above is by the wonderful Jackie Williard: www.jacquelinephotographyblog.net
By Annemarie Juhlian
Tim and Christina Kelly…
Tim and Christina share a remarkable love story and inspire all of us to love big, laugh out loud and truly “be in the moment.”
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During their Sunday morning wedding ceremony at the Snoqualmie Golf & Country Club, there were tears, laughter and perfect moments.
One of the best moments for me was the moment before the end of their ceremony where Tim surprised Christina with his “Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Christina” list. You just had to be there to see the look of joy and surprise on Christina’s face!
Tim and Christina ~ I so appreciate the opportunity to drive to Snoqualmie on a beautiful Sunday morning and share in your wedding day. And Christina ~ why don’t you one day surprise your handsome husband with a “What I Love About Tim” list of your own?!
And about what we talked about last week – thank you for your kindness and understanding.
By Annemarie Juhlian
Tara and John At Reception!
Tara was stunning in her wedding gown for her marriage to John at Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park on July 10, 2010.
John and Tara’s wedding ceremony was a mix of romance, sharing of their story, involvement of family and friends, live music and more. I so appreciate this couple because their enthusiasm, appreciation and grace permeated their ceremony and set the tone for their evening reception/party!
The staff at Olympic Sculpture Park did a fantastic job at coordinating all outdoor details to insure that this wedding ceremony in a very public space (with hundreds of onlookers) went off without a hitch.
Megan and her musicians from Windsong Trio pulled the processional and recessional together with lovely music selections. Live music at a ceremony creates such added elegance and fun.
John and Tara ~ How happy I am to have shared in your wedding day!
By Annemarie Juhlian
- Michael and Yuka’s Kiss!
Michael and Yuka raised the “joy bar” at their wedding ceremony at Kubota Gardens/Seattle by just being themselves.
In front of 100+ family and friends and on a somewhat sunny Friday afternoon, June 25th, Michael and Yuka exchanged vows and celebrated the journey that brought them to their “I Do” moment.
As a ceremony ending/flourish, the sassy, turbo-creative and most outstanding Lens Goddess ~ Jenny from Jenny GG Photography ~ helped me round up family and friends and we orchestrated a marvelous and “once in a lifetime” group photo in the gardens.
I’m a huge fan of group photos. Fun group shots are a wonderful way to truly “mark” a moment and make for a fantastic large canvas print in a home as remembrance from a beautiful wedding day.
Jenny Goldberg-George is solely and hugely responsible for the fabulous photo at your right! www.jennygg.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Jeff and Emily Haines ~ July 3, 2010
I loved every moment of the past couple of months as I grew to know and love Jeff and Emily Haines.
On Saturday evening, I had the most marvelous opportunity to officiate a wedding ceremony that was part sacred, part fun/humor and most of all, pure “Jeff and Emily.”
Not only did the clouds part for a sun filled wedding ceremony at 6:00 p.m. but let me tell you what Jeff and Emily did as an “end of ceremony” flourish!
After a beautiful kiss and being pronounced as husband and wife, DJ Extraordinaire Austin Beaver hit the music with a very fun and jazzy selection.
Jeff and Emily turned their backs to their family and friends and from their pockets (yes, Emily’s wedding dress had pockets!), they pulled bright colored sunglasses. Jeff and Emily wore shades and danced down the aisle, followed by their wedding party who also pulled shades out from hiding and danced down the aisle. I’m quite certain that Photographer Cory Parris got some terrific shots of this for a lifetime moment!
Wedding Planner Janell Schlit did an fabulous job (as always) coordinating all wedding day details for Jeff and Emily and really added an ease and grace to this day.
Jeff and Emily ~ I wish you such a happy honeymoon in Mexico and I want pictures!
By Annemarie Juhlian
Stevie & Kelli ~ The Sorrento Hotel
You know, it’s funny. In this work that I do, I’ve found that many people have not had the good fortune of attending a truly fun and enjoyable wedding ceremony.
If you take a peak to the right, you’ll see the fun and joy that was had by all at Stevie and Kelli’s Noon wedding ceremony at Seattle’s Sorrento Hotel.
And here’s is what is true: it takes time, planning, a little execution and a dash of luck to create, craft and deliver a wedding ceremony that elicits giggles, laughs, tears of joy, moments of “sacred,” and one that carries the precious weight of such an important life transition ritual.
I love working with a couple to create a ceremony that incorporates unique elements and moments. Yes, there are pieces and themes to a wedding ceremony that “are the same.” I invite every couple to truly consider what is fun, joyful, unique and inspiring about their love story and to craft a wedding ceremony that truly and authentically celebrates such a gift.
