I’m back on the blogging train this week and I’m finally sharing one of my favorite Seattle weddings from almost a year and a half ago!
Trent and Kristen’s big day took place at Crystal Lake Lodge in Woodinville, Washington. Woodinville is rural community slightly northeast of Seattle and a prime location for many Washington couples to tie the knot. Actually when I think of Woodinville wedding venues my mind first goes to wineries and charming countryside estates, as those are the most common venues you’ll find in that area, but Kristen and Trent chose to say their ‘I Do’s’ beside a rustic log cabin on a lake front property. As a Southern California native, I am constantly still in awe of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The lush green and number of trees alone make me pause to look around and really take it all in. Paired with a grey sky and chance of rain, this wedding was a classic Seattle wedding in my book.
We began the day with a first look followed by all of the formal portraits, including family, wedding party, and bride and groom shots. We were all fairly nervous that a big rainstorm coming in that night would arrive early and cause us to bring the ceremony indoors. Thankfully the small number of guests arrived early and we were able to start the ceremony just a few minutes ahead of schedule and finish up just as the first droplets began to fall. I love a lodge setting for the warm interior and rustic feel but as a natural light wedding photographer I much prefer an outdoor location where the lighting is bright and airy! Luckily things ended up working out just fine on the weather front that day. And as the storm continued through the night, it was actually rather peaceful to look outside and enjoy the rain. The rest of the evening was spent listening to speeches from friends, eating great Mexican food, dancing the night away, and celebrating Kristen and Trent.
Every wedding has its unique gems and this day was no different! So I wanted to also share a few of my favorite elements and/or moments from Trent and Kristen’s wedding, which included Kristen’s wedding dress, the ‘father daughter’ dance, beautiful florals, and dessert station. A fun fact about Kristen’s dress was that it was actually made by the bride herself! Kristen designed and made the skirt of the dress and paired it with a simple white tank. She looked amazing and felt like herself, which I found really inspiring. Another favorite moment of mine was the father daughter dance. Unfortunately Kristen’s father was not present so she spent that very emotional dance individually with each of her siblings and lastly, her mom. Again, this is a great example of taking a well-known wedding tradition and reworking it to fit your needs and wants. And lastly, I just had to give Melanie Benson Floral Design a shout out on her ridiculously gorgeous flowers and Kristen’s aunts for making the entire dessert spread. Cheers to a memorable day!!
VENDOR LOVE //
Photography: Jenna Bechtholt Photography
Coordination + Design: Married With Michelle
Florals: Melanie Benson Floral Design
Venue: Crystal Lake Lodge
