Perfect Backyard Wedding | Krysta + David | Redmond, WA.

Photographer: Tasha Owen Photography | Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs | Florist: Herban Design Studio | Beauty: Salon Maison | Wedding Dress: I Do Bridal

When COVID decides to cancel your wedding plans, what’s your first reaction?

Of course, you go through a range of emotions but for Krysta + David, they kept level-headed and we started planning for all options. As we monitored the situation, it became quite clear that their May date wasn’t going to happen so they decided to postpone to August.

Then good news came in June that receptions were going to be allowed so we were gearing up to finalize plans when everything changed and that receptions were once again going to be banned, a mere few days before their wedding day. Luckily for the couple, the bride’s father offered his beautifully landscaped backyard as the site of their nuptials.

The pressure was on to really create a memorable and special wedding, something of which Krysta and David truly deserved. I first met Krysta + David almost 6 years ago when they served as her sister’s Maid of Honor and David as the officiant. We stayed in touch over the years when I would run into them as wedding guests at a few of my weddings.

Their wedding was romantic and intimate as they were surrounded by their closest friends and family and in the end, it was the best decision for these two who will have a lot of stories to tell their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids one day about their wedding day.

“What else can we say except... Lori and her team are amazing! We hired Lori in early 2019 for our May 2020 wedding. They were the very first vendor we booked! We knew how good she was and had seen Lori in action at my sister's wedding in 2015 and at another friend's wedding in 2017. Lori was always available to take our calls/texts or answer our emails. In March 2020, she helped us postpone our wedding date to August 9. Two weeks before our wedding, we lost our venue due to the new COVID rules. She helped us move our ceremony to my dad's backyard with literally days to go. She decorated and cleaned up the whole ceremony space as well as keeping everyone on track the entire day. Not to mention, she's such a treat to be around - so positive and willing to help! Lori worked so hard to make our special day happen, even during a pandemic. You won't be disappointed when you hire Elegant Affairs! Thank you Lori! Also, Go Cougs!”
~Krysta + David

A Look Back | Chelan Winery Wedding | Joel + Michelle

Joel + Michelle's Labor Day Wedding 2015 was one of many firsts for me. This was my first wedding having a family member as a client, my first time in Chelan hence Elegant Affairs' first wedding there too.

This was a fun wedding to plan and also very special this Joel is my baby cousin and he and Michelle are both Cougars as they met at WSU(and yes, they named their tables after their favorite spots in Pullman) and finally began dating after many years of friendship. This wedding was truly a family affair, from me as their wedding planner, my uncle (aka the groom's father) as the officiant and Joe's sons serving as ring security. Finally, the couple served Tim's Cascade Potato Chips to their guests as the family's farm produces the potatoes for all chips made in the month of July. And yes, at every family event Tim's are always served! Good thing they are tasty.

From the early stages of planning (just over a year), Michelle knew exactly what she wanted as her color scheme for her late summer wedding at Karma Vineyards. The bride wanted a bright blue and orange and that really complimented the gorgeous scenery at the venue. Now, what we didn't plan on was the raging wildfire that hit the area weeks before the couple said I Do. We were on fire watch leading up to the wedding day, including daily calls into the venue for an update. Ultimately we really lucked out since the smoke finally dissipated and from the ceremony area, we were able to see all of the lake. We all blew a sigh of relief that Mother Nature was on our side.

When it comes to destination weddings, we lucked out with some amazing vendors including Janine from J9Bing Floral Design who splits her time between Puyallup and Manson (which is right out of Chelan). She created some beautiful bouquets and ceremony pieces. Then we were tasked to create centerpieces for the rectangle tables. Joel + Michelle wanted simple yet elegant. We used our rectangle vases and used the hydrangeas and roses and as a homage to the winery we filled the vases with corks and then made a beautiful arrangement.

What I loved most was using my creativity for those extra touches from the chalkboard signs to creating a S'Mores station to our favorite of making watercolor escort cards that we displayed on vintage shutters to watercolor table names. 

What we loved so much about this incredible venues is the many "spaces." From the outdoor covered area for a pre and post cocktail hour to taking a trolley bus up to the ceremony location for an unbelievable view to eating in the vineyard to going inside the cellar for dancing, this venue has it all and we are dying to go back.

Everything about this day was truly magical and it was hard to leave at the end of the night, but the best thing about a destination wedding is that we got to make it a family vacation and got to stay and play and enjoy all of our family.

Vendors
Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs
Venue: Karma Vineyards
Photographer: Jacquelynn Brynn
Florist: J9Bing Floral Design
DJ: Todd Kneaston
Hair + Make-up: Deep Water Salon + Spa

A Look Back | College Sweethearts Wed | The Kelley Farm

What happens when a girl from Colorado and a boy from North Carolina meet at Duke University? They fall in love and not just over Duke basketball, then move to Seattle and start their life together and chose this city to seal their commitment to one another.

When I first met Hilary and Alex, the bride and I bonded right away when we both discovered we belonged to the same sorority and from there, our journey began over the course of the next 18 months. It was fun working alongside this couple along with their families to create the perfect wedding at The Kelley Farm.

What we truly loved about this couple was they really thought about every detail, from their own logo, to the decor details down to their beautifully crafted wedding ceremony, they truly thought of it all. And it went beyond our bride and groom, we loved how involved their families were including the fact the bride's father was able to score all of the chargers needed for the wedding and then sprayed them rose gold to match the color palette. 

By selecting the stunning The Kelley Farm, one needs not to have to do much to make this venue beautiful. For table decor, we worked with Love Blooms to create three different looks that reflected their rustic yet romantic theme using candles, lanterns, and flowers.

As for wedding must-haves, our couple only had two. The bride wanted her grandfather to sing at her wedding which he did so beautifully and the second was having a Funfetti wedding cake, which Baked! did so quite delicious.

We came away with so many memories from this day and from our time together planning, but I will say what I will most remember about this day was when our couple snuck away for sunset photos and we got to tag along. To see the love between these two along with some silliness pretty much summed up how perfect they are for one another and we are forever grateful to have played a role in their day. 

Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs | Photographer: Van Wyhe Photography | Venue: The Kelley Farm | Videographer: Pixel Dust Weddings | DJ: Brandon Ghorley | Florist: Love Blooms Wedding & Event Design | Beauty: Salon Maison | Wedding Cake: Baked! | Caterer: Galluccis | Rentals: American Party Place | Officiant: Wesley Peacock (friend of couple) | Transportation: BellAir | Accommodations: Sheraton (downtown Seattle) | Wedding Dress + Bridesmaid Dresses: Bellevue Bridal | Groom's Suit: Custom Suit | Groomsmen Suits: Men's Wearhouse