Woodinville Winery Garden Party Wedding

Q: Let’s talk wedding decor

A: “We used an adorable birdcage for cards at the entry to the reception area.  All the bouquets used as centerpieces were placed in mercury glass compote vases so they spilled out on the tables.  We also had chalkboard signs throughout the venue that were handwritten for the day.”

Q: What were the florals like in your wedding?

A: “The whole wedding site was decorated in fresh florals. We had roses, peonies and hydrangeas mainly, all of which are my favorite flowers. We also included edelweiss on my bridal bouquet and flower crown and my husband’s boutonniere- a symbolic flower for his family lineage. The ceremony had a gorgeous flower arch that was covered in white and cream flowers, and was later moved down to the reception area behind our sweetheart table. There were a lot of chandeliers on site, so all of those had bits of flowers and ivy strewn through them.”

Q: What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

A: “We gave all our guests custom candles scented in London Fog, my favorite tea- my husband would make me Earl Grey tea when we first started dating so I thought it was fitting.  We also included Earl Grey in a special cocktail for our guests and our wedding cake was Earl Grey flavored- in my opinion, the perfect tea for a garden party (or wedding)!”

Q: Let’s talk fashion

A: “For my look, I wanted something classic with a twist.  I always knew I wanted to wear a ballgown style dress, and I fell in love with a style for Hayley Paige when I first started dress shopping.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t within my price range, so I decided to DIY my dress a bit.

“I found a beautiful ballgown with a beaded bodice at a local boutique, and had them add tulle cap sleeves to be worn off the shoulder, as well as silk flowers on the skirt.  I felt like a fairy princess, and with my flower crown I think I looked the part.

“I also did my own makeup and hair for the day, which I loved and it made me feel even more beautiful.My husband wore a dark gray suit (we thought black would be too much for a summer wedding and he didn’t want a light color) with a black bowtie- classy and elegant, which was very his style.  He didn’t want anything that would stand out too much against my gown.”

Q: How did you meet?

A: “My husband and I met when we were 16 years old in high school.  We had known of each other since the beginning of middle school, but our paths never crossed.

“When we were sophomores we finally had a class together, and became close towards the end of the school year.  That summer we started dating, and became inseparable.

“We got engaged 4 and a half years later, at the ages of 20 and 21.  He took me on a ski trip to a small town called Leavenworth near Stevens Pass.  The town had a Bavarian theme, and both of us had visited in the winter together for a class trip.

“It was the beginning of December so the Christmas lights were up across town and snow was all over the ground.  He told me we would be spending the night at a local hotel, and we arrived at the most luxurious one in town, much to my surprise.  We even were in the honeymoon suite, which was extremely confusing to me.

“After a long day of snowboarding, with my makeup fading on my face and my hair a mess, he proposed in our suite room with the most gorgeous ring I could ever have imagined.  After several minutes of balling my eyes out I said yes, and we finally married 8 years later.”

Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

A: “I was most excited just to see everything come together.  You spend months, sometimes years, imagining the day and wondering what it would be like, that when it finally happens it’s surreal.  I loved seeing my hard work come together and my vision come to life.

“I also loved getting to see my husband that day- we did a sneak peak before the ceremony and I felt so excited to see him before everyone got there, so I wouldn’t be a ball of nerves before the ceremony.”

Q: Do you have any advice to share with other couples planning their day?

A: “For planning, asking for help is a must!  I did most of the planning myself, and it can be so stressful sometimes.  Use the people in your life who offer their help, and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of them – they want to see you happy!

“As for marriage advice, your relationship is going to be the same after your wedding as it was before, which is why you married that person in the first place! Don’t expect your wedding to magically make you have a perfect relationship, you will have to continue to work together through hardships.

“The first 6 months after our wedding were tough with a lot of moving and changes, but as long as you can work with your new spouse you can overcome any obstacle!”