Sarah + Colin // August 29, 2015 // Hidden Meadows // Snohomish, WA

I met Sarah for the first time in January 2015.  I had been recommended to Sarah by Susan Beaty (the mother of the bride from a 2014 wedding) to be their day of coordinator.  Sarah is a very very sweet girl and our first meeting went great.  I couldn’t wait to dive into Sarah and Colin’s wedding details!

Sarah also plans events for a living, so she knew what she wanted and how to achieve it.  Lists, spreadsheets, diagrams – I was in planner heaven!  We dove right into planning and I loved the vision Sarah had for her wedding day.  Navy and gold – one of my new found favorite color schemes, glamour, sparkle – sooooo pretty!

I first visited the venue with Sarah and three of her bridesmaids in March.  I always like to see a venue early on in the planning process, incase the couple has questions or needs ideas and advice – it really gives me a better understanding of the whole vision.  Between Sarah and her three girlfriends, they had a lot of wonderful ideas, a ton of DIY projects and a great overall vision.  I also fell in love with the space.  Rustic chic and put together well.  It has a great history as a family farm turned venue, which is HOT in the wedding industry right now.

Months of planning and meetings went by and before I knew it, Sarah and I were at our final walk through of the wedding venue.  It was a beautiful warm Tuesday evening in late August.  Sarah and I met out at the venue and finalized the last few details.  Like most summer brides, Sarah had this vision of a gorgeous sunny wedding day – however, the forecast had a different idea.  Both of our weather apps were showing 100% chance of rain.  No biggie.  The venue has a gorgeous indoor location for the ceremony, that comes with your rental (awesome), and the reception space is also covered.  Sarah was bummed, but dealing well with the idea and had her rain back-up plan in place for set-up and ceremony, if needed.  No matter what, I assured her it was going to be a beautiful day and over and above everything else she was marrying her best friend.

Rehearsal dinner was held at the Seattle Yacht Club.  Right as the rehearsal started, outside, it started to rain, so inside we went.  Rehearsal went great and I left them for the evening to celebrate.

The next morning I woke up to a very stormy Saturday.  A little bit of panic started to set in when I received a text from the maid of honor that roads were blocked by flooding and downed trees so I may want to leave early to get to the venue by 3:00 pm.  I let her know I would be there on time and everything would be fine, because truely, rain or shine, everything will be fine.

I left my house about 1:45 pm and it was a mess to get to Snohomish.  I had been watching the traffic and the backroads from my house to the venue, were still the best option.  It was definitely a trek.  I pulled into the venue parking lot an hour later and could hear the generators running.  The power was out.  I had a feeling while I was driving there that this would be the case, as the storm had definitely hit harder in Snohomish.  A moment of quiet oh no’s and deep breaths in the car and off I went. I had to remain calm to keep everyone else calm.  I was met by the father of the groom who was all smiles and just said “oh well, it will still be a great day!” Great attitude!  I also got similar smiles and sayings from the rest of the parents and family that were gathered in the ceremony space.  I asked one of them how Sarah was and as I expected, she was a little stressed.  I peeked my head into the bride’s room to let her know I was there and that I would dive right into helping finish set-up.  Things had gotten off to a rocky start with getting to the venue, power going out mid updo’s, winds not allowing for some decor to be set out, but I assured her again “everything will be just fine.”  I was so very thankful Sarah and Colin had groomsmen that were on top of it.  They had decided, when the power started flickering, to run to Home Depot and rent enough generators for the venue to have the important areas and things lit up.

I jumped in with the set-up crew, who had already done so much, and was truely impressed with Sarah’s vision.  The space was beautiful.

Pictures got off to a late start because of the weather and power outage, but finished with no problems and ahead of schedule.  The rain had let up, so Sarah and Colin were still able to get outdoor pictures and the sky was awesome for the photos.

Ceremony time was quickly approaching, but because of the weather, guests were having a hard time getting to Hidden Meadows.  We delayed the start by 30 minutes.  Right before the ceremony started, the lights came back on!  GREAT timing weather Gods.

The ceremony went beautifully and we were able to make up some of the lost time!  Guests were moved into the reception space while Sarah and Colin spent a few minutes in the grooms' room as husband and wife.

After the guests had found their table, grabbed a drink and settled in, the bridal party was announced by couple.  For the first time, Mr. and Mrs. McElroy were introduced into the reception.  They ran through a tunnel they bridal party had created.  The father of the bride gave a quick thank you and the buffet was opened.  I was impressed with catering.  Even with the challenges of cooking by generator, they provided a full and tasty meal!

Following dinner were heartfelt and hilarious toasts.  Each toast was carefully written out and you could tell this couple has a lot of love surrounding them.  After toasts, was the cake cutting (almost to pretty to cut into) and then the first dance, father-daughter dance and mother-son dance.  Three beautiful moments.

After this round of traditional items, we took a break to allow guests some time to chat, grab a drink, relax and dance, while Sarah and Colin took some extended family photos, before moving onto the bouquet and garter toss.  More than most weddings, Sarah and Colin’s single friends and family were ready for these tosses and it was quite funny to watch!

By 9:00 pm, the dance floor was back open for the guests to show off their moves and it was defintiely packed with Sarah and Colin right in the middle.  By 9:30, catering was back to work setting up the nacho bar or as Sarah had called it in planning…the drunk food bar.  How fun!

As guests left, they got to choose from different homebrew options that Sarah and Colin had made, bottled and labeled in the months leading up to the wedding.  What a special treat!  Before Sarah and Colin left, we snuck them off for some fun photos with large balloons and sparklers (not together!). So fun and entertaining to watch as Sarah and Colin posed (and laughed) – in the pouring rain.  It was in this moment, that I could really see the love they each have for one another.

At 11:00 pm, Sarah and Colin made their grand exit and the town car swept them away.  Despite the weather giving us some challenges, it was a very successful and fun event!  Each guest made the difficult and long trek to be there and each vendor worked extra hard to make sure each of us delivered an unforgettable to day to the new Mr. and Mrs. McElroy.

Congrats again Sarah and Colin!  It was a joy getting to know you both through this process and I can’t wait to watch your love and marriage grow!

VENUE// HIDDEN MEADOWS, SNOHOMISH, WA
DAY OF COORDINATION// CASSIE RENAE EVENTS, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY// EYLANDER PHOTOGRAPHY
CATERING AND BARTENDING// TRAILS END CATERING
CAKE// ALICIA STACY – FRIEND
FLOWERS// LISA DUNTON AND KATE MCDONALD – FRIENDS
DJ// INJOY ENTERTAINMENT – DJ WAYLON
OFFICIANT// JOHN LEPTICH – FRIEND
DECORATING SERVICES// PROP GALLERY
HAIR AND MAKE-UP// FIREFLY AVEDA SALON
TRANSPORTATION// ACES CAR SERVICE

Ashley + TR // August 22, 2015 // Admirals House // Seattle, WA

Ashley reached out to me in early 2015 after I had submitted a quote to her request for a wedding coordinator through Thumbtack.  I learned early on that she was in her 1st year of Law School while planning a wedding.  I was impressed and once I met Ashley and got to know her more, I knew I was impressed for a reason.  I was hired by Ashley before we actually met in person, but once we met in person I was truly so glad she chose me to handle their wedding day!

Ashley and TR have dated since high school, even though they attended different high schools.  You can easily see why their relationship lasted through high school and college.  The love they have for one another is undeniable and it shows.  They both have a fun sense of humor, a radiant glow about them and Ashley an addiction to coffee (the minute I found this out I knew we would be friends), which TR fully supports!

Ashley knew what she wanted for their wedding.  She didn’t want a traditional reception.  Since their venue was an old home, she wanted the feel to be more “dinner party like.”  Her colors were pinks, peach, greens and gray.  Vintage flair with a classic feel.  A fun, memorable, stress free night was her big vision and I was there to help with that.

August 22nd was a perfect Seattle day.  I arrived on-site for set-up and the grounds just felt alive.  Ashley and her maids were upstairs getting ready and I got to work.  Everything was coming together beautifully.

Pictures were started around the grounds and Ashley and TR looked fabulous and so in love.  Guests started to arrive and Ashley was hidden away with anticipation of the ceremony time soon approaching.

Ashley had her grandfather walk her down the aisle to the stairs in front of the arbor.  Ashley wanted to walk herself up the stairs to meet TR, to start their lives together.  The madly in love couple exchanged their vows below a beautifully decorated metal arbor, while friends and family admiringly watched.  Cheers erupted and the happy couple walked back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Cummins.

While the new Mr. and Mrs. finished photos, the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with delicious munchies and drinks, time to catch up and mingle to meet new friends.  You could see in this time that Ashley and TR surround themselves with people who are full of love, fun energy and good conversation.  Once catering had the food stations ready, Ashley and TR were introduced into the reception and were greeted with a love from every person in attendance.

Food stations were opened inside the house.  After time to eat, toasts followed.  Toasts were given by the maid of honor, best man, mother of the bride and parents of the groom.  In these toasts, you could really see the love and admiration the people speaking have for this young couple, as well as the love and admiration that Ashley and TR have for them.  Ashley and TR wrapped up the toasts with thanks to their guests for being there with them, to share in their special day.

Following toasts, the couple cut the cake.  The cake was a gorgeous buttercream creation adorned with the most beautiful flowers and surrounded by macarons.  Since the the cake was in a small front room, guests were invited to also watch the cake cutting through the front window.

The cake cutting led into the first dance as husband and wife, the grandfather-granddaughter dance and the mother-son dance.   It is always in this moment that I fall in love with weddings all over again.  Every single time.  There is just something about these special intimate moments that get me and I know I am in the right place.

The bouquet and garter toss was held outside and followed by open dancing, both inside and outside. Fun was had by all the guests on a warm, sunny, perfect Seattle summer evening.

Ashley and TR, it was a blessing to work with you on your wedding day.  I look forward to watching your love and admiration for each other continue to grow as you finish school and start your life and husband and wife.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

VENUE// THE ADMIRALS HOUSE, SEATTLE, WA
DAY OF COORDINATION// CASSIE RENAE EVENTS, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY// KIANA MCCRACKIN PHOTOGRAPHY
CATERING AND BARTENDING// KASPARS SPECIAL EVENTS AND CATERING
RENTALS (TABLES, CHAIRS, LINENS, DANCE FLOOR, GLASSWEAR AND DINNERWEAR)// ABC RENTALS COORDINATED BY KASPARS
CAKE AND MACARONS// ALEXANDRAS MACARONS
FLOWERS// RHONDA KING – FAMILY FRIEND
DJ// KENDRICK BARNES
OFFICIANT// RANDY ROWLAND
HAIR AND MAKE-UP// SALON MAISON
PORTABLE RESTROOMS// ROYAL RESTROOMS
VALET SERVICE// SHUTTLE EXPRESS
TRANSPORTATION// BRITISH MOTOR COACH

Susan + Peter // July 12, 2015 // Bybee Blueberry Farm // North Bend, WA

An outdoor wedding in Washington, the weather could go any which way, right?!?  July 12, 2014 hit 100° for Susan and Peter’s wedding.  It was HOT, but that didn’t matter.  Susan and Peter were ready to get married and have the wedding of their dreams!

Susan and Peter got dressed on-site and were troopers in the heat taking phots with their bridal party and families, all around the farm.

The ceremony and reception were held at The Bybee Blueberry Farm in North Bend.  The ceremony had been planned to be held outside of the tent and even with the hot sun blazing that is where it was held.  The spot for the ceremony has a beautiful unobstructed view of Mt. Si and that is what Susan and Peter wanted.  It was a quick ceremony, but very sentimental and heartfelt.

Under the big white tent was where the reception space was set.  Guest tables were adorned with cream tablecloths, a burlap square, a mason jar wrapped with burlap and filled with purple and white flowers and a small frame that asked guests to facebook and instagram photos of the day.  At each place setting was a small kraft bag that had been hand stamped and stuffed with a homemade cookie.  Just a little thank you for celebrating the day with Susan and Peter.  Susan and Peter chose to have a small sweetheart table for themselves.

Guests enjoyed a yummy spread of American food with the option of Thai food as well.  Following dinner, were toasts from the wedding party and parents and then onto the cake cutting.  It was a beautiful cake with an array of different desserts for the guests to choose from.

While guests enjoyed dessert, the couple shared their first dance.  A very sweet few mintues between the new husband and wife.   Susan then thought we were having a 20 minute break before we started the rest of the traditional events.  Little did she know, she was in for a meaningful surprise.  Peter had put together a touching video that he wanted to share with her.

After the video, a short break followed before the bouquet and garter toss.  Although the tossing crowds were small, they were all in!

Then the party begin.  While it was pretty hot for people to really get down with their dance moves, everyone still was having a great time.  Catching up, laughing, having some drinks and a few that busted some moves.  Susan and Peter ventured off with their photographer for a few more perfect photos.

 Congratulations Susan and Peter.  Despite the crazy hot weather, it was a beautiful wedding and as I said that day, you two are CHAMPS!  Also, I JUST found out they are expecing a little one this month (October 2015) so congrats to that as well!!

VENUE// BYBEE BLUEBERRY FARM, NORTH BEND, WA
DAY OF COORDINATION// CASSIE RENAE EVENTS, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY// PL PHOTOGRAPHY
CATERING + BARTENDING// CHRISTIE’S CATERING
CAKE// BELLEVUE SAFEWAY
FLOWERS// LEE’S FLOWERS – FAMILY
DJ// DJ SLY-RICHARD GARCIA – FRIEND
OFFICIANT// PASTOR DONALD MCELVANEY
HAIR AND MAKE-UP// SALON BELLA DEA, ANDREA GILNER

Kaycee + Andy // June 20, 2015 // Bybee Blueberry Farm // North Bend, WA

75° and sunny was the backdrop for Kaycee and Andy’s wedding at the Blueberry Farm in North Bend, WA. Perfect.

Let me back up to where we began…

I met Kaycee and Andy at the end of December 2014.  We met at a Starbucks in Auburn, for a short consultation where we went through what they were looking for in their wedding day and how I could be of service to them.  We hit it off well and shortly thereafter I became their wedding coordinator.  It was fun working with and getting to know Kaycee and Andy.  Both very sweet people.

We jumped right into the coordinating process and I immediately got a clear vision of what Kaycee and Andy wanted and expected on their special day.  Rustic chic with a fun enjoyable party.  Kaycee already had her ideas in mind for decor…mason jars, wood boxes, burlap and lace with colors of coral, cream and burlap/tan.  Gorgeous.  And her vision truely came to life and the photographer did an amazing job capturing Every. Little. Detail.  Kaycee and Andy are both very creative people, so they had many specially made DIY items throught the venue.  I loved it!

My mother in law and I spent the evening before and the morning of the wedding setting up.  Kaycee, Andy, immediate family and bridal party got ready on-site and took GORGEOUS pictures around the farm, while we were getting the venue set-up finished.  Not only are Kaycee and Andy creative, so is Andy’s mother and aunt.  They assembled all of the centerpieces and decor flowers that morning!

Details are what made the decor and set-up of this venue so unique.  They thought out every little thing, every little sign and every little area that needed to be decorated.  It also helps when the photographer, as I said before, has a wonderfully creative eye.

The ceremony starterd at 3:00 pm sharp.  It was a beautiful set-up in the field with Mt. Si directly behind them.  They brought in two wine barrels to set the ceremony space and adorned them with 2 large floral arrangements that would later be transferred to the head table.  Lining the aisle were small shepherds hooks with beautifully arranged hanging mason jars.  The ceremony was short and sweet with words of wisdom, sentiment and love, as well as a sand ceremony to represent their two lives joining as one.  After being pronounced husband and wife, Kaycee and Andy walked down the aisle, hand in hand, full of smiles, off to sign the marriage license.

Guests were invited to grab their favorite drink, play some yard games and find their seat for the evening.

Tables were beautifully set with a cream linen, various burlap and lace runners and varying mason jar/wooden box centerpieces.  They wanted a bit of an eclectic feel.  At each place setting was a small jar of homemade jam to “Spread the Love”.  The head table was also set with a cream linen, wedding party bouquets and the large ceremony floral arrangements.

Dinner was served as soon as the bride and groom were introduced into the reception.  Following dinner, were heartfelt toasts by the matron of honor, best man, father of the bride and mother of the groom.  Each toast was very sentimental.  After toasts, the couple cut the first piece of pie.  The pie looked delicious and was displayed in a very fun fashion!

First dance as husband and wife followed the pie cutting along with the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance.  I think watching these dances is one of my favorite parts of a wedding.  It is a moment for me to watch these couples and kids and their parents just be in the moment.  The moment of one of the most special days of each of their lives.

Next came time for the bouquet and garter toss.  Kaycee, Andy and the DJ had to do a little bit of convincing to get those singles onto the dance floor.  But once the singles were ready they dove into action!

After all the traditional wedding events were checked off, the dance floor became the place to be.  I got to stand back and watch each guest smile, laugh and enjoy the afternoon.  Kaycee and Andy were able to sneak off for some more photos with awesome sunlight during this time.

Before we knew it, the Layman wedding was coming to a close.  The couple ventured into the back areas of North Bend for some final photos with their photographer, which resulted in some great shots along the river.

Congratulations Kaycee and Andy.  It was a beautiful wedding and a great pleasure to get to know you both!  I look forward to watching you both grow in love and marriage!

VENUE// BYBEE BLUEBERRY FARM, NORTH BEND, WA
DAY OF COORDINATION// CASSIE RENAE EVENTS, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY// J. SOLTMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
CATERING// NEW YORK CATERING
BARTENDING// CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
PIES// REMLINGER FARMS
FLOWERS// FARMERS MARKET AND DOWN TO EARTH FLORAL
DJ// GREG MCGUIRE
OFFICIANT// PASTOR MICHAEL MOWRY – FAMILY FRIEND
HAIR AND MAKE-UP// SALON BELLA DEA, ANDREA GILNER
INVITATIONS// DESIGNED BY ANDY, GROOM
GUESTBOOK, SIGNS, JAM// DESIGNED AND CREATED BY KAYCEE, ANDY AND ANDY’S MOM

Kaela + Ben // June 27, 2015 // Lake Wilderness Lodge // Maple Valley, WA

Kaela and Ben are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet.  Emphasize sweet.  And so are their families.  This couple was truly meant to be together and you can see that with the way they look at eachother and the love they radiate for one another.

Kaela has been my little sisters’ (twins) nanny for a couple years.  I hadn’t met Kaela yet when I was hired to coordinate the wedding, but I knew my sisters’ ADORED her and Ben, so I couldn’t wait to meet them both.  When we finally met, I could see right away why my sisters’ loved them.  Again, sweet, kind, caring and they both have huge giving hearts.  We met up for the first time in January 2015 to talk about where they were in the planning process and go over what I had to offer.  The meeting felt like old friends catching up.

When we met for the first time, the wedding was five months away, but before we knew it Kaela and Ben’s wedding day had arrived.  They had an early afternoon wedding ceremony time of 1:00 pm, so set-up of the venue started promptly at 8:00 am.  Remeber how I said the couple has the sweetest families?  Well, they do.  I had a great group of family show up to help with set-up since we had a small set-up window.  This was a 250 person wedding, so every inch of the venue was utilized.

While we were setting up Kaela, Ben, immediate family and the bridal party were taking pictures around the property.

Since it was a really nice June day, we held the ceremony outside in front of the lake.  On a day like today, we were thankful it was an earlier wedding, so we wouldn’t be outside at the hottest part of the afternoon.  But, don’t get me wrong, it was definitely still hot!  A white arbor sat in front of the lake adorned with a beautiful flower swag Kaela made.  The aisle was lined with tulle and every other row was decorated with another DIY floral piece.  At the begining of the aisle were tall shepherds hooks with streamers blowing in the breeze.  The ceremony was about 20 minutes long and ecompassed what Kaela and Ben are looking for in their marriage, faith, trust and love.

Following the ceremony, guests were asked to head inside, grab a drink and find a table.  Each table had a coral tablecloth with different blue fabric squares in the center.  A mason jar wrapped with burlap and blue and white twine sat in the middle with gorgeous white and coral flowers.  Along with nuts and M & M’s to munch on, the guests each could take home and enjoy a specially made wood burned magnet to remember the day.

The sweetheart table had a white tablecloth with a blue and white chevron runner, bud vases with white roses and the bride and bridesmaid bouquets.  Simple and sweet.

As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Church were introduced into the reception, lunch was served.  The couple chose lasagna, salad and french bread.  With a short time at the venue we had to move things along quickly.  Once everyone had a plate of food we moved into toasts.  Each toast was heartfelt and showed exactly who this couple is.  Very loving selfless people.

Toasts turned into cake cutting, followed by the first dance.  A sweet moment where everyone could see a couple madly in love.  The father-daughter dance was beautful to watch, as was the mother-son dance.  Although, that one turned into fun!  After a couple slow dance moves, the mother and son busted it out! Following those dances, the bride and groom got down to dance with the flower girls.  It was the cutest thing.  After dances, came what most single people either love or dread, the bouquet and garter tosses. That varies at every wedding. The dance floor was then opened for everyone to get down and boy did they.

About 30 minutes later, the day was coming to a wrap and the new husband and wife were on their way out the door to begin their life as Mr. and Mrs. Church.

Congratulations Kaela and Ben!  It was a beautiful day!  I wish you nothing but the best in you new adventure together!

VENUE// LAKE WILDERNESS LODGE, MAPLE VALLEY, WA
DAY OF COORDINATION// CASSIE RENAE EVENTS, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY// LAURIE ASCANIO PHOTOGRAPHY
CATERING// ATHENS PIZZA AND PASTA
BARTENDING// NAOMI EDIE
FLOWERS// ALICE OCTAVIA FLORAL SHOPP
DJ// SOUND SATIONAL MUSIC
BAKER// HILLCREST BAKERY
OFFICIANT// PASTOR PAUL DELASHAW
HAIR AND MAKE-UP// FAMILY FRIEND
INVITATIONS// WEDDING PAPER DIVAS
GUESTBOOK// ETSY