By Annemarie Juhlian
Chris & Krystina - Group Photo
Group Photo! I’m a big fan!
Photographer Paul Sanders worked with me to set up this post-ceremony photo for Chris and Krystina after they exchanged vows on a sunny week day at the Clearwater Resort in Suquamish, WA.
What made this moment extra special is that every person in this photo traveled far to join Chris and Krystina on their wedding day.
So, as I did yesterday at Don and Jila’s wedding at Thornewood Castle with 150+ people in their photo, here are my best wedding day tips for orchestrating an easy and elegant group photo:
1) It’s All About Your Officiant & Photographer: A great group photo takes this dynamic duo! Work with your Officiant and Photographer and have them take full responsibility for setting up this moment. They know what works and what doesn’t and alot of this falls on the shoulders of your Officiant.
2) Pre-Ceremony Welcome: Big Tip! Have your Officiant welcome your guests before your ceremony begins and tell them “what to do” immediately after the ceremony for a group photo. This is invaluable in making this moment elegant, fun and easy.
3) In Your Wedding Toolkit: A Ladder! A ladder is a huge help in getting a best photo. If you don’t have this, find a location where your photographer can shoot from above – i.e., an open window, elevated area, etc. The elevation factor is key in snapping a great photo
By Annemarie Juhlian
One of my most favorite places in the Pacific Northwest for a wedding ceremony and celebration is Alderbrook Resort in Union, Washington.
And on a sunny Saturday, July 23rd, I drove to Alderbrook Resort for Tanner and Emily’s wedding ceremony. I had been looking forward to this day for months, knowing that this was going to be a true weekend wedding extravaganza!
And before 200 family and friends, who traveled far and wide for this weekend, Tanner and Emily exchanged their vows and celebrated their remarkable partnership in brilliant sunshine.
There was so much happiness in this moment – this is a couple who leads with graciousness, kindness, bright vision and heart and who inspires all of us to “go big” in our partnerships.
Wedding Planner Ellen Peterson of Serenity Weddings did an exceptional job pulling together this weekend for Tanner and Emily. And the staff at Alderbrook was over-the-top helpful in all ways.
Tanner and Emily – I wish you much joy and happiness as you begin your new adventure in Winnipeg. And rumor has it that your wedding was so fun that you want to do it again??!
Serenity Weddings: www.eventsbyellen.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Planning a wedding from out-of-state isn’t the easiest of tasks and Nick and Elise did a beautiful job orchestrating their wedding day from afar.
With 100+ family and friends under a big white tent at Woodland Park’s Rose Garden, Nick and Elise exchanged vows on a sunny July 16th and celebrated their loving partnership.
I was lucky to snap this shot of them immediately after their ceremony as they greeted Nick’s Grandmother before leaving for photos.
I so enjoyed everything about Nick and Elise and the opportunity to get to know them long-distance as we moved toward their wedding day.
Working with a couple who is from out of the area has become second nature to me. With all of the toys and tools of technology, I often use Skye, email, text and phone to stay connected as we work to create a wedding ceremony.
Nick and Elise – I wish you much happiness! I hope you had a most beautiful honeymoon and are taking your East Coast heat wave in stride!
By Annemarie Juhlian
Tysen & Julie - June 2011
The sun was shining (yeah!)
The fabulous photographer (Paul Dudley) was doing his thing with great style!
Guests were arriving (there was no bus snafu!)
And finally, the ceremony began.
Tysen and Julie were married at Kiana Lodge in June surrounded by loving family and friends.
I loved working with these two wonderful people. They ooze the best of what a loving and conscious partnership is all about and Tysen’s words still resonate with me, “I’ve got my Julie and all is right with the world.”
With a wonderful post-ceremony group photo taken overhead by Paul, Tysen and Julie turned to their family and friends to celebrate. Best of all, I left this couple and their ceremony with such a happy heart.
I love it when my heart is happy. Corny and true.
Paul Dudley: www.pauldudleyphotography.com
By Annemarie Juhlian
Nahom & Kristin Wersom
As I left Nahom and Kristin’s wedding ceremony on a warm Summer Friday evening at Newcastle Golf Club, I skipped to my car with such a happy feeling in my heart.
I loved every moment of knowing Nahom and Kristin as we worked together to create and prepare their wedding ceremony. Nahom and Kristin share a beautiful love story and with love and humor, we wove parts of their journey into their ceremony. AND I actually learned where the Country of Eritrea is (Nahom is from this African nation!)
As you can see from the photo, joy and laughter during a wedding ceremony is such a great thing. When it is unexpected or unplanned, it is even better. Kristin wrote that the photo at right is one of her favorite from their ceremony as the moment was spontaneous.
While a ceremony can be fully planned out, I love the unexpected moments – the crazy, the not so crazy, the truly unexpected, the moment that just makes you say “I love this – it’s real, it’s authentic and it’s so them.”
Nahom and Kristin – thank you for giving me the wonderful opportunity to know you both. I wish you a beautiful marriage adventure! Nahom, best of luck in your new job and Kristin, much success in your nursing career!
By Annemarie Juhlian
Seth and Jill von Allmen
Seattle Photographer Michael Good did an extraordinary job capturing Seth and Jill’s joy during their mountainside wedding ceremony at Snoqualmie this past weekend on July 2nd.
I left Seth and Jill’s ceremony with such a happy heart. I absolutely loved working with this remarkable couple and the opportunity to know their immediate family and friends. Jill’s parents, Randy and Cyndi, were so very gracious in all of their wedding planning efforts and I loved the joy shared by Seth’s parents, John and JoAnn.
So why share all of this? Sometimes the grace of “fabulous families” melds for a ceremony that is comforting, ultra-inspiring and memorable for it’s authencity. This was the case for Seth and Jill as they exchanged vows at Snoqualmie Point Park under grand sunshine this past Saturday.
Seth and Jill von Allmen - I wish you a safe trip back to Ohio and am so very grateful to know both of you and to have shared in this intimate and sweet experience with you.
By Annemarie Juhlian
What do I mean by EASY?
Easy = peaceful, comfortable, gracious, accessible and kind.
Andrew and Jaclyn as a loving couple are all of this AND more.
This wedding “business” can be crazy at times. I had a particularly challenging week going into Andrew and Jaclyn’s wedding ceremony and they helped me to remember why I do what I do and why I love this work so much.
Andrew and Jaclyn’s wedding ceremony on the Skansonia Ferry Boat was not only “easy,” it was fun with doses of laughter and the mood was lightened even more when a seaplane flew overhead for a little local color on Lake Union!
Andrew and Jaclyn – go take on the world together as I know you to be…a most loving and gracious couple. I am blessed to know you.
By Annemarie Juhlian
- Xuan & Cynthia – Woodmark HOtel
Yes, we would have not been together on May 22nd for Xuan and Cynthia’s wedding ceremony at The Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland if their mutual friend, Tiger, had not thrown them together!
And I loved seeing Tiger and his wife, Wen, once again on this day, having married them over a year ago at The Willows Lodge.
Xuan and Cynthia’s late morning ceremony was a mix of tradition and contemporary. Tiger took a bow as matchmaker – the couple’s vows were poignant and sweet – there was a bit of difficulty getting the little ones down the aisle and all finally went well – and lastly, there was just so much laughter and joy in the room.
Xuan and Cynthia – I wish you every happiness as you embark on your marriage adventure!
By Annemarie Juhlian
Adopt Dahlia 425.922.1325
Wedding are hugely personal business. I often get to know a couple very well in working to create their ceremony.
And in our time together, they often get to know a little about me, my home life, my relationship and marriage with Greg and my life on Bainbridge Island around dogs.
Yes, I’m a dog person. So is my wonderful husband, Greg. I’ve been involved in dog rescue for 20 years now in Seattle and have a special affinity for cocker spaniels.
In between my wedding work, I can be found doing all sorts of dog rescue tasks – from taking a dog out of a hell hole to encouraging a person to give up their dog (rather than kill it), to rushing a dog to the emergency room or simply sitting with a dog at the end of it’s life.
Like my wedding work, this “dog work ” touches my heart and soul. I feel “complete” with the work that I do with individuals, couple and families. And the work that Greg and I do around liberating a suffering animal or caring for a companion animal who would otherwise be thrown away makes my life fulfilled and complete.
Back to “wedding stuff” next week!
Always for the animals,
Annemarie
By Annemarie Juhlian
Ray & Val - June 4, 2011
If there ever was a “million dollar day for a wedding ceremony and celebration, Ray and Val won the lotto!
This past weekend, it was “road trip” time for me as I drove from Seattle to Cle Elum to join Ray and Val for their wedding day at Swiftwater Cellars located on the Suncadia Resort property.
So, let me sun up what I absolutely love about Ray and Val and how they “packaged up” their wedding day:
~ Graciousness: It was important to Ray and Val that their family and friends were warmly welcomed and included in many aspects of the ceremony and celebration.
~ Family Ties: Val’s children received special gifts during the ceremony along with personal words that touched the heart of everyone present.
~ Celebrating God/Spirit: Ray and Val chose to weave their faith and tradition into their ceremony in such a way that was inclusive and welcoming – their approach brought people together and did not push people away.
Most of all, Ray adores Val and Val is crazy about Ray!
www.swiftwatercellars.com
