THE SWAIN WEDDING

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog068

WOAH. Our wedding. Of course I had to share some photos because I LOVED OUR WEDDING, but I also wanted to give a virtual shout out to all of our amazing vendors that helped make this day so special for the two of us. Looking back, there are so many things to remember, so many thoughts I jotted down in my mind as the day progressed….things that changed  last minute and happened unexpectedly. So many things we enjoyed, learned from, and will hold in our hearts forever. I apologize for the novel you’re about to read, but I’m passionate about weddings. They’re extraordinary days with extraordinary people. SO, let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

We knew (or rather, I knew) from day one of our engagement I wanted our wedding to be small and take place somewhere meaningful to us. After seeing/shooting 100+ weddings I knew exactly what I DIDN’T want. I didn’t want to be rushed trying to beat a venue clock (no “you have to be done at 10pm” sort of thing). I didn’t want us having to work around the parameters of a formal venue (no outside catering, no hard alcohol, no this, no that). And most importantly, at the end of the night I didn’t want to feel like I didn’t get to chance to sit down and speak to every single person in attendance, spend time with them, see their faces. Having that perspective helped me explain to Tyler why those things mattered, and of course, who couldn’t agree that those are important? Did having it small make it go by slow, you ask? Hell no. It went by in a flash, but there are so many vivid memories we have of that day because we cushioned it with a ton of extra time and were purposeful with each and every detail. We didn’t want to ever ask someone what time it was, or say “shoot, we’re late!”. We wanted to float. In all, we wanted everything to reflect a few important ideals. Intention. Family tradition. Joy. Without taking ourselves TOO seriously.

So, then we began assembling our wedding “team”. The people I knew would help me reflect these same intentions and make our day how we’d imagined it. I didn’t want to just choose anyone. There were some people I knew I wanted to work with off the bat — people I had worked with before that I knew were a perfect match — but, others I had to research until I felt that click. When I meet with potential clients or speak with friends recently engaged, I always encourage them to do the same when they’re planning their wedding. These people are spending the majority of the day with you, it’s important that you like them. :)

I’ve written a little bit about each person at the end of the post and I hope you read it. These people are the best of the best (in my eyes) not because they are at the top of the a google search or have 10 features in magazines, or are the “cream of the crop”, but because they are damn good at what they do and they’re passionate about it. THEY CARE.

We ended up holding the wedding at Tyler’s parents house on Vashon Island, a quick ferry ride away from West Seattle, where we live. Vashon has quickly become one of my favorite places to be. It’s quiet, welcoming, with big stretches of woods & beaches. It’s somewhere we imagine raising kids one day (woah!). It’s the home that Tyler grew up in and we visit any chance we have. It’s been such a big part of our relationship and we knew that it just made sense to get married there. After a loving “a-okay” from Tyler’s parents, we began to plan. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all took place in different lawns so we could have people flow from one place to the next. We only had 38 people attend, so the whole time it felt extremely intimate. Not once did I feel like it was too small. It was amazing to look around and see all “my people” talking and hanging out with “Tyler’s people”. And for a wedding of 38, we kept that dance floor jam packed all night long. We didn’t have bridal parties per say. I had 8 of my close friends in attendance and the intimacy of the wedding itself made it feel special. I had my two sisters as honorary bridesmaids and Tyler had 2 friends hold a few responsibilities, but we didn’t want anyone standing up with us at the ceremony, no bridal party entrances to the reception, none of that. Frankly, I’m not a fan of bridal parties (sorry, I’m saying it). During the ceremony we wanted everyone to be able to sit with their significant others or families and see our faces. No staring at the backs of our heads. But, they did readings, gave speeches, signed the marriage certificate and ultimately felt included. (So, hey future brides, it’s OKAY to completely nix a bridal party!). Wink, wink.

For dinner we ate a traditional Polish meal. Three kinds of pierogi, a vegetable medley, potatoes, sauerkraut salad, pickles, etc. It was dang good. And filling. I’ve seen it happen at weddings where brides don’t even get a chance to eat. Nope, not us. I wanted a giant family dinner. I wanted to actually sit down and eat on my wedding day. I wanted bottles and bottles of wine to be passed around, no rushing, just eating and enjoying. There was also Polish vodka available — served out of crystal decanters from my grandmother — and a Polish dessert my dad always makes, mazurek (think honey graham cracker crust with chocolate on top). Essentially, there were a lot of family memories jam packed onto a small dinner plate.

After dinner, we drank, danced, and had a bonfire. We threw out some formalities, kept others. We did what we cared about and we took our time, ate late night mac’n’cheese, ran around barefoot. Drank whiskey out of the bottle (or what was left of it). It was perfection.

So, without further adieu, our wedding (240 photos…deal with it. I couldn’t narrow it down).

 

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog001CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog002CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog003CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog004CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog006CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog007CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog008CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog009CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog010CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog011CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog012CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog013CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog014CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog015CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog016CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog017CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog018CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog019CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog020CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog021CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog022CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog023CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog024CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog025CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog026CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog027CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog028CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog029CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog030CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog031CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog032CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog033CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog034CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog035CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog036CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog037CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog038CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog039CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog040CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog041CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog042CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog043CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog044CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog045CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog046CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog047CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog048CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog049CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog051CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog052CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog054CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog055CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog056CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog057CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog058CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog059CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog060CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog061CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog062CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog063CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog064CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog065CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog066CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog067CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog068CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog069CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog070CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog071CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog072CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog073CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog074CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog075CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog076CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog077CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog078CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog079CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog080CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog081CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog082CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog083CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog084CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog085CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog086CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog087CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog088CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog089CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog090CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog094CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog097CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog099CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog100CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog101CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog102CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog103CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog104CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog105CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog106CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog107CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog108CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog109CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog110CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog111CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog112CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog113CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog114CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog115CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog116CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog117CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog118CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog119CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog120CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog121CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog122CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog123CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog124CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog125CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog126CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog127CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog128CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog129CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog130CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog131CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog132CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog133CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog134CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog135CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog136CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog137CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog138CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog139CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog140CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog141CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog142CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog143CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog144CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog145CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog146CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog147CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog148CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog149CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog150CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog151CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog152CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog153CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog154CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog155CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog156CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog157CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog158CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog159CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog160CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog161CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog162CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog163CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog164CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog165CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog166CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog167CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog168CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog169CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog170CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog171CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog172CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog173CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog174CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog175CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog176CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog177CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog178CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog179CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog180CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog181CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog182CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog183CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog184CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog185CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog186CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog187CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog188CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog189CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog190CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog191CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog192CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog193CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog194CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog195CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog196CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog197CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog198CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog199CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog200CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog201CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog202CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog203CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog204CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog206CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog207CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog208CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog209CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog210CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog211CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog212CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog213CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog214CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog215CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog216CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog217CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog218CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog219CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog220CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog221CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog222CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog223CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog224CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog225CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog226CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog227CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog228CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog229CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog230CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog231CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog232

___________

A little bit more about the wedding specifics & vendors. We sat all of these people at our dinner table (if they were still there during dinner) with us because they worked hard. All day. And we wanted them to enjoy celebrating with us just as much as our guests. It doesn’t go unnoticed with you treat your vendors as friends.

Make-up: Chelsey Matley // Look no more. Chelsey is the Beyoncé of make-up artists. FLAWLESS. She’s not only amazing at what she does, she’s extremely professional and personable. When I first started working with her I not only loved her personality, but I knew I could stick her in a room with anyone and she would be amazing. More importantly, she’s punctual. I’ve worked weddings where hair/make-up has put me way behind schedule and that was NOT happening on my wedding day. Nope. She knows where to be, what time, how to plan, and she’s just a magician. She made me feel beautiful.

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog234

Hair: Rayna Hart // Dear Rayna. This gal is just such a joy to be around and she dang talented. I knew I wanted my hair up for the wedding because I’d just mess with it all day. Loose, effortless, but put together. She delivered. And she knows Chelsey, so when Chelsey gave her a glowing review as well I knew she was the one. Yay for Rayna of Charbon Salon!

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog235

Florals: Stacy Anderson Design // Let me ask you this. How many people do you know that were headed down a certain road in life (let it be school, a career, family etc.) and up and said “nope, I’m doing THIS.” and totally changed careers? That’s Stacy. She knew what she was passionate about and she went for it. This gal is talented beyond her years as a florist and I knew from the get go there was no one else I wanted to work with. Her eye for design & floral work is exactly what I always have loved…a little unkept, but considered, elegant etc. She’s also become a great friend over the years, and I knew her presence and work ethic was something that I never for a second had to worry about. She nailed it on the head and I love her for it.

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog236

DJ: Marc of Integral DJs // This is going to be a quick one because it’s a no-brainer. The one and only DJ you ever need to hire. I have loved working with Marc and his team and there is NO ONE else I’d rather have on our wedding day. No one. He’s so good at what he does and even with 38 people, he kept the party alive for hours. Yes, there were like 20 of us on the dance floor for hourssssss. It was a great success. Plus he’s a huskies fan. Go Dawgs!

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog222

 

Videographer: Jeff Marsh // has been a good friend for years. He’s one of the first Seattle photographers that took me under his wing and showed me a thing or two about weddings and answered my millions of questions when I was first starting out. We’ve collaborated on projects so when it came down to thinking about video, I knew we had to hire him. When I say he’s the most chill person ever…it’s true. And he’s just a hoot.

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog238

Photography: Lauren Apel // I don’t even have to dive deep into this one because I’ve been signing the praises of Lauren for months. She’s an absolute doll of a human (both literally and figuratively) and she’s insanely talented. She was the perfect mix and her and her assistant extrodinaire, Allison, just knocked it out of the park.

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog237

Tables: Gather Tables // Personally, I hate linens. I hate all the fold marks in them when you rent them. I hate having to choose colors. I didn’t want to have to set up a bunch of plastic tables with linens on them. I knew we wanted something “naked” and PNW feeling. So, enter Gather Tables. My good friend Kate & Adam hand crafted these for their wedding and when figuring out how we wanted our dinner to go, we knew we wanted to use the tables. They’re huge, seat about 10-12 people each, and added a bit of wood to the mix. They are available for rent if anyone is interested!

CASPhoto_SwainWedding_blog240

Food: Terri Collelo // Terri is an amazing Vashon-based caterer. She took a vision and transformed it. She was able to accommodate us wanting to serve a bunch of food she hadn’t prepared before (pierogis) and made it work. To top that, her personality is top notch — she makes you feel valued & welcomed and we loved working with her.

Day-of Coordinator: Yes, with only 38 people, I still hired a coordinator. Wanna know why? Because there are still vendors arriving looking for AV outlets, and wifi passwords, and extension cords, and mixing bowls, and prep space, and a water faucet, and ice coolers to chill wine. Guess who I didn’t want to do that? My family. Enter Ellie. A friend who knows what she’s doing. In a word, Ellie is a godsend. If there is one thing I will say to someone planning their wedding it’s HIRE A DANG DAY-OF CORDINATOR. If that means nixing a bit of the budget on something else, I don’t care…do it. You will thank yourself. You spouse will thank you. Your families will thank you. I didn’t want my mom to have to get up early on our wedding day to set the tables. I didn’t want my future mother-in-law folding napkins for hours. I wanted them to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day along with us. I’m all for a family affair and everyone pitching in, but I believe that can be done in other ways. Ellie was amazing and I’m forever counting our blessings for what an organized wonderful human she is. THANK YOU ELLIE.

Other details: Dress: Penelope by Willow by Watters from The Dress Theory (TOTALLY the opposite of what I wanted. I wanted structured, modern, sleeves, etc….but I put this bad boy on and felt like a million bucks. It was the one!) // Shoes:Halogen from Nordstrom // Jewelry: Nordstrom // Tyler Suit: Boss from Nordstrom, Tyler’s Shoes & Watch: Aldo // Invitation printing: The Pike Street Press

In all — here’s what I learned about planning a wedding. Take a minute to reflect on WHAT is meaningful to you…. how do you want it to feel? Don’t get swept up in what people expect it to be. Don’t get stressed out managing everyone ELSE’s expectations. And despite all the influence, blogs, & visual overload making you want to throw it all down the drain…. this day, more than any other day, does matter. Whether big or small, in the country or in a courthouse, in a backyard or abroad, with 3 people or with 300, whether it costs $100,000 or $1,000, it’s all the same. It’s the the start of a lifetime with another human being. It’s entering into a union that represents the highest ideals of love, devotion, trust, respect, sacrifice, and family. It doesn’t have to check a bunch of boxes. It doesn’t have to be grand or lavish or expensive. But, it has to matter. Make it matter.

 

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *