Walla Walla Winery Wedding | Kendall + Marc | Abeja Winery

Photographer: Betty Globa Photography | Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs | Florist: Oak and Fig Floral | Venue: Abeja Winery | Catering: Castle Catering | DJ: Platinum Entertainment | Rentals: Cort Party Rentals + BBJ + Pedersens + Sandy’s U-Rent + | Beauty: Misbehaven Salon & Spa | Wedding Dress: A & Be Bridal Shop | Invitations: Minted

Kendall and Marc’s Abeja Winery wedding was a breath of fresh air! The couple added modern flair and chic style to the rustic venue, giving it a fresh look without taking away from any of the natural elegance. 

I first met the bride more than 10 years ago when I served as her sorority (Alpha Phi) advisor at Washington State University. I always had a special kind of relationship with Kendall and a really looked forward to visiting the sorority and hanging out with her. She would always include me in her weekend plans and I will never forget those live-out dance parties.

We stayed in touch over the years and loved hearing about her life and her adventure moving down to New Zealand for a few years. It was so great when she finally moved back home where we were reunited at a wedding I was planning where she was a bridesmaid in. It was so great connecting with her and finally meeting the love of her life Marc, who served as a groomsman.

I was over the moon when she first reached out to me shortly after getting engaged asking me to her wedding planner. I didn’t even hesitate, it was an honor to be part of this journey with these two for nearly 17 months.

Our first task was to find the perfect wedding venue! After some research, the couple landed on Abeja Winery in Walla Walla, WA. Taking a leap of faith, Kendall + Marc booked the venue only from the photos website and their Instagram account.

We first visited the site exactly a year before their scheduled wedding to see what the venue looked like and to create a wedding design that was perfect for the couple. It was such a huge help to see what the lighting would look like from all angles of the venue and what the heat was like.

This venue truly has it all. From the onsite lodging for the whole wedding party and family to the incredible indoor + outdoor locations for any weather situation, this is a dream location

But want to know the highlight of the venue for me?

It was the long entry driveway, which was the perfect location for their wedding dinner.

Initially, the design concept for their August wedding was an elevated rustic winery wedding, but once we got closer to the date the vision changed and I’m so glad it did. When meeting with Shane with Oak + Fig Floral, the floral design changed to a modern winery wedding with a white and black color palette with hints of greenery.

The dinner tablescape featured the venue’s incredible vineyard tables and chairs and we added a white sheer runner with black plates and napkins with gold flatware. The centerpieces were a dream with locally sourced fruits consisting of figs, blackberries, and grapes scattered along the length of the table with black taper candles and bud vases of stunning white florals.

Trust me when I say the tablescape transitioned beautifully as the sun set that evening.

Planning a destination wedding sometimes makes for a challenge, but then you throw in a global pandemic which makes it a little more complicated. At one point, since individual counties could decide their own rules when it came to the Phases, we were literally waiting on pins and needles to hear what their wedding would look like. Fortunately in May when we learned there would be no restrictions when it came to their wedding, and I think that’s when we could all finally take a deep breath.

Once we arrived in Walla Walla, the weather was perfect, and there was no smoke in sight (one concern we had from visiting the year before when the state was battling a massive wildfire in the area).

This was such a fun group to work with. I love when I get to see old friends and former clients as it makes the wedding that much more memorable.

This day couldn't have gone any more perfect! From a sentimental ceremony, officiated by Kendall’s best friend/bridesmaid Sammy whom she met while living in New Zealand to the incredible toasts by their friends and family.

As the sunset so perfectly, we transitioned from dinner to the barrel room for an epic dance party complete with an ice cream bar and late-night snacks consisting of corn dogs and tater tots.

Thank you Kendall + Marc for trusting me to plan your dream wedding. I love you two so very much!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 16 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Elevated Wedding Dinner | Nicole + Jeff | Russell's

Wedding Photographer: Jerome Tso Photography | Wedding Planer: Elegant Affairs | Florist: Fena Flowers | Rentals: Cort Party Rental | Venue: Russell’s | Musicians: Acrobaleno Strings

When it comes to your wedding and all you want is to have an amazing meal surrounded by your family and friends and that’s exactly what we did for Nicole + Jeff for their August wedding celebration at Russell’s in Bothell, WA.

I remember the first time I met this incredible couple and their young daughter, Norah at our office. It was made very clear exacelty who the party was really for and it was for Norah. I remember laughing at the time, but really it was the truth. Every time I met with them, Norah talked about her party. So instead of having 2 clients, I really had 3.

One of my favorite meetings with the trio was our menu tasting. Besides the amazing food and drinks, I really loved getting to know this family and our conversation. This family is beyond special and I loved every minute got to be with them. The most fun conversation we had was all about Nicole’s wedding shoe selection. It was Jeff who wanted to make sure she had the perfect footwear with her wedding dress. I loved helping “shopping” for the shoes and in the end, he selected the perfect pair for Nicole and they were incredible.

In the midst of wedding planning, Nicole was also in the final stages of her master’s degree and with a toddler along with running a business can be stressful so we wanted to make sure they could focus on what they needed to.

Wedding day arrived and I knew to be prepared with tissues, but Jeff had that handled like always with a handkerchief. I knew from the beginning of us working together that Jeff was the crier and that was a beautiful understatement. When he had his first look with Norah, the waterworks started and continued when he saw Nicole for the first time and then during the ceremony which was officiated by a very close friend of theirs.

Now it was time to unveil their dining table. While guests were outside for cocktail hour, we transformed the room into an elevated dining experience. The beautiful vineyard tables from Cort Party Rental combined with my favorite vineyard chairs were the perfect pieces in that space. From the candles to the florals, everything was perfect for their guests.

After a great meal, Jeff + Nicole treated their guests to a dessert bar, to end all dessert bars.

We have this beautiful family the wedding celebration they wanted and seeing their faces of how happy they were was the best feeling ever.

Jeff, Nicole, and Norah, I hope you three are enjoying your life chapter in Arizona and I hope to see you three very soon.

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 16 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Monday Winery Nuptials | Shea + Tyler | Columbia Winery

Wedding Photographer: The Lloyds | Wedding Planner + Officiant: Elegant Affairs | Florist: Oak and Fig Floral | Invitations: Minted | Transportation: British Motor Coach | Accommodations: Willows Lodge | Beauty: Salon Maison | Caterer: Herban Feast | Rentals: Cort Party Rental | Venue: Columbia Winery | Dessert: Better Than a Boyfriend Bakery | DJ: Brandon Ghorley

What’s better than a Monday wedding?

For Shea + Tyler, they always knew they wanted to get married on the day of their anniversary and it just so happened to land on a Monday, which is the perfect way to kick off your week.

We first met Shea and Tyler back in November 2018 at Tyler’s cousin’s wedding we were planning down in Cabo, Mexico. I instantly fell in love with these two the moment we met. Besides just them being super adorable, they were so much fun and truly the life of any party! I had the best time dancing with them at the reception, they sure know how to get down on the dance floor.

Flash forward 15 months later, we met up for the first time to talk about their wedding celebration.

Originally planned for August 2020, we got to work immediately finding them the perfect venue that would fit their vision, and that’s when we came up upon Columbia Winery in Woodinville. It was the perfect spot for these two to say I Do.

When it came to the design of their wedding, Shea’s inspiration stemmed from the thistle flower, which also happens to be the national flower of Scotland. It has become so well-known and is so easily recognized that it is probably one of the first things to pop into the minds of most when thinking of Scotland- well of course alongside the Scottish kilt, that Shea decided to wear on the wedding day to celebrate his heritage. (Fun Fact, Shea wore a kilt for that 2018 Cabo wedding!)

We incorporated the thistle into so many details. From the signage, wedding cake to floral centerpieces, we used the color palette of the thistle as our reference when it came to our color palette which turned out so beautiful.

Sadly, as the pandemic took a foothold into our lives, the decision was made to postpone their wedding so they could have the day they truly wanted and deserved. With the wedding pushed back a year, that didn’t stop these two from their honeymoon which was a countrywide road trip before returning a few weeks before their wedding.

Luckily, we had everything all planned from the year before so it really came down to the last-minute details. Plus Shea and Tyler put all their faith into us knowing they were in good hands when it came to decisions that needed to be made. I had the most fun working with these two and always looked forward to our Zoom chats.

I was over the moon when these two finally made their way back to Washington and our first and probably most important, dare I say critical agenda item left to tackle, wine tasting for the incredible menu they had planned. After deciding they had to have more than a few selections, Shea + Tyler decided to do a wine bearing with each dinner course, which was one of the best decisions they could have made.

But these two had a surprise for me when they asked me to be their officiant for their ceremony. It was such an honor to play this role on their big day. I loved crafting their script and the best part was incorporating a letter that was supposed to have been read by Grandma Kelly. Sadly, she passed away shortly before the wedding so I had the honor of reading her words that spoke volumes to anyone sealing their love to one another.

Now in the words of Grandma Kelly:

Marriage is serious. Too many people put it on like a hat they can take off again. I say you try it on at the store. You like it? Leave it and come back the next day. And the next. Don’t buy the hat unless you are certain. Have you had enough shopping? Now I’ll tell you what to do. Remember these words because marriage is not easy. Admit when you are wrong. And if you are right do not gloat. Never demand forgiveness nor hold it back. Always give it freely and learn to wait for it too. Do you understand? Spend time apart every year. That way you see what life is like alone. Then you will remember how good it is to be with your husband. Always take a step back so you can see your own luck and find new ways to make your partner happy. Stay healthy for you and for him. Have sex one time every week, maybe more if you want. This will help you to stay connected. Let your partner have bad moods and good moods. Don’t let anger make you act hastily. Walk away until your anger gets bored and leaves. Then you can talk again. The only rules in marriage are those that you both agree to. None of them are permanent. Reassess and renegotiate as the years go by. You will change. So will he. The marriage must change with you, or it will no longer fit as it once did. Keep love at the center of it all. That is the one constant. As long as you nurture that love and allow it to grow, you will be fine. Also, remember to visit your great-grandma that’s very important, or just come live with me that’s fine too. Ok bye bye.

Speaking of their ceremony, you really couldn’t get any more romantic as the barrel room was transformed into a beautiful candlelight romantic backdrop for Shea and Tyler to declare their love and commitment to one another.

After the ceremony and a delicious meal, the dance party commenced outside under the lights on the patio and everyone danced the night away under the stars and not even a few raindrops stopped anyone from one of the best nights of their lives. The night ended with the couple being whisked away in a gorgeous white Rolls Royce back to Willows Lodge.

Shea + Tyler, I love you two so much and wish you all the love and happiness in the world!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 16 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.