Lake Couer d'Alene 'Destination' Wedding

The resort town of Couer d'Alene, Idaho is technically included in the Pacific Northwest Region, but being a six hour drive East of Seattle makes it feel like a destination. It is a lovely and quaint lake resort town just 30 minutes outside of Spokane, WA. If you haven't been there before, definitely plan a trip this summer! That is where our exquisite bride Lindsey and handsome groom Mike chose to tie the knot this past September.
 
Lindsey & Mike live and work in Seattle, but Mike grew up in the Spokane area and so they wanted to showcase the region and the amazing views of the lake! Who do you call when you want to capture scenic beauty like this!? None other than Shane Macomber, photo genius and overall outdoorsy guru.

Who says a black and gold wedding can't scream summer?! We integrated the black & gold into the paper, table design and bridal party and threaded pops of pinks and greens throughout. It felt light and romantic - I absolutely loved it! The below invitations from La Happy set the tone. Gold foil, hand calligraphered black envelope and a silk raspberry ribbon, yes please!

 I know right!? They are GORGEOUS!! I cried when I saw her - she looked faboosh!

This is the most impressive guest entrance of any wedding I've ever planned! Guests boarded a boat at the dock of the Couer d'Alene Resort and took a 30 minute boat ride around the lake and docked at the ceremony & reception site. They were greeted with a champagne station and sat in a beautiful garden on a sunny and 70 degree afternoon day.

Look at this view!! It was the most gorgeous ceremony backdrop! And then wait for it, after the ceremony, a couple of white tail deer and fawns walked out during the cocktail hour to munch on the resorts flowers. I had the best Funny Farm opportunity of, 'queue the deer'. I assume no one reading this got that reference, but I liked it;)

Once again Sally Balt from La Happy blows me away! The escort card table was beyond gorgeous! We used a black linen from BBJ, covered it with moss and added hand calligraphered table assignments and this gorgeous mirror that Sally wrote the famous line from Louis Armstrong. Lindsey & Mike chose this classic as the song for their 1st dance, aaaaw!



The reception site was open air on three sides and faced Lake Couer d'Alene - it was gorgeous! The cherry on top was once the sun went down there were two fire places on either side of the head table with some soft seating around it. It was perfect!

 

Jenna from Fleurtations Florals did an amazing job on all of the arrangements! The pops of pink and green from the florals paired perfectly with the black and gold table settings.

Pink Seattle Chocolate favors were placed at each place setting. A perfect pop of color and shout out to Seattle!

The couple cut a gorgeous gold foil and buttercream cake, but their favorite dessert is cupcakes, so they treated their guests to a multi flavored tower!

We added white ceiling draping across the room with crystal chandeliers. It was a perfect romantic touch! Just look at the mountains in the background during their 1st dance - gorg!!

Congratulations Lindsey & Mike!! You were amazing to work with! Thank you for letting me be a part of your wedding!

 

The Amazing Vendors are...

Photographer – Shane Macomber Photography

Venue & Caterer – Couer D’Alene Resort

Florist – Fleurtations Floral

Dessert – Sweet Frostings Bake Shop

Invitation & Day of Paper Designer  – La Happy

Rentals – BBJ Linen (Linens & Chargers)

Rentals – AA Party (Gold flatware)

Lighting/Draping – Epic Vibe

AV – Rox Music

Ceremony Music – Piano Dan

Videographer – Sure Shot Video

DJ – Ben Pitasky

H&M – J. Ashley Sellen Design & Artistry

Pop the Champagne!

To begin, HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MICHELL & COLIN!! And a quick 2nd comment, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Michelle & Colin planned a wonderful NYE celebration! It was romantic and fun and the party didn't stop well past midnight! This day last year the weather was pretty similar, chilly, overcast, but no rain - wahoo/phew, which made for a great day around the city! The amazing photographer Carol Harrold took the gorgeous & well dressed group from the Arctic Club down to Pioneer Square for some pre ceremony photos and shenanigans.

Please note on a regular day these two could be frigg'n models - neither hurt your eyes to say the least. So to see them all gussied up, I was giddy!! The details of Michelle's dress are gorgeous! Check out that shoe shot! And please, Colin's gold bow tie! So dapper!!

The gorgeous ceremony took place at St. John Evangelist Parrish in Phinney Ridge. Post ceremony guests were shuttled downtown to The Arctic Club.

Colin & Michelle's favorite dessert? Donuts! And yes, they do pair great with Champagne:) So why cut the cake when you can feed your new spouse a maple bar!? They were a huge grab and go hit with their guests!

Late night NYE décor was passed out to guests for a super fun celebration! They donned golden hats, sparkly headbands, horns, noisemakers and more!

A kiss at midnight!!

Thank you Michelle & Colin for letting me be a part of your amazing wedding!!

Have a wonderful 1st Anniversary!!

 

And for more fun images check out their Facebook album!!

 

Awesome vendors to note!

Photographer - Carol Harrold Photography

DJ - City DJ (WendyQ)

Venue & Rentals - Arctic Club Seattle

Flowers - Christine Davis (Mother of the groom) & Kim Oberto (Family friend)

H&M - Offwhite

Church - St. John Evangelist Parish

A Sweet Shower for the Sweet Side!

Little Baby Georgia is just six small weeks old now and beyond adorable! Here are the highlights of the cutest shower that Katie Parra, Holly-Kate Foss and I threw her lovely mother, Kara! Kara is the owner of my favorite bakery, The Sweet Side and is a fab new mommy!

Her bicycle themed shower was held at Katie Parra's beautiful West Seattle home. Katie also took these gorgeous photos!

Kerri Effendi of Kerri Effendi Design created the perfect invitations! Thank you Kerri!

 

 

I had the best time putting this together with these two!! Thank you Katie & Holly-Kate! Oh, and Holly-Kate did the flower arrangements from Pike's Place. She is multi talented:)

 

So who do we ask to make dessert for a baker's shower?! Her shop associates of course! We couldn't not have a Sweet Side cake at Kara's shower! And yes, it was delish!!

 

Had to include a super cute pic little Ruby!! Always dresses in style wherever she goes!

Guests painted blocks for little Georgia to play with. Some guests like Laura Marchbanks excelled (showcased below). I hope she likes my all green block with my thumbprint on it, oops:)

Thank you Kara for letting us be a part of your super special day...as shown below, we had zero fun whatsoever putting this together;)

Klara & Petr's Prague Pop Up!

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PETR & KLARA!!

 

When I was contacted by a couple from Prague wanting to plan an outdoor ceremony for two in Seattle on December 7th 2013 I thought it was a spam email for sure. But once I Skyped with Klara & Petr who were going to be in Seattle for a few days while following Pearl Jam on concert we immediately clicked! Klara had seen the light house at Discovery Park when she Googled Seattle and wanted to have the ceremony there. I warned her it would be cold, but it wasn't until we were on the water that she finally believed me:) But thank you mother nature for making December 7th a bluebird, perfect day!!

 

Reverend Jake Elliott performed the ceremony and the beyond amazing Ryan Flynn shot these gorgeous images.

 

Oh, and for the 1st time, I got to be a witness! Ryan and I were the only two people besides the bride & groom and Rev Jake to witness the signing of the license. So fun!

 

 

Thank you Emily Flynn for the perfect referral and for Ryan Flynn & Jake Elliott for being the best wedding guests;)