Midsummer Night's Dream Inspired Wedding
Our brides Victoria and Christina held their weekend long nuptials at the famous Salish Lodge (the location of the original series Twin Peaks) next to the roaring waterfall. The brides wanted a warm, family focused day in an autumnal floral filled woodland wonderland setting. We focused on bringing the beauty of autumn in the Pacific Northwest to the ceremony and reception spaces. The scene of the celebration, amidst the gorgeous falls of Snoqualmie, multiple course meals, abundant blooms, luxurious textures and organic embellishments, was a remarkable experience for the two families who came from all over the country to honor their union.
THE REHEARSAL DINNER
AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR SEATTLE OWNER ALISSA
AS A DESIGNER, WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ELEMENTS?
Florals - What can we say? Sarajane and her team at Thatch Floral absolutely brought our vision to life. Every inch of the day was covered in floral perfection and the inside of Salish Lodge was completely transformed into an autumnal woodland wonderland.
Stationery - All of the stationery and signage was custom created for V+C. Paper goods were created on seed paper that guests could later plant and stamped with a custom gold seal. Signage was created on acrylic and hand calligraphed in gold by Heather with My Lovely Letters.
The ceremony space- abundant floral, mismatched wood chairs, custom signage. The lawn was fully transformed into an enchanting woodland dream.
The guest book - This fun guest book from Bleu de Toi was the perfect PNW highlight for guests to sign. It now hangs in V+C’s home.
The dining space was our absolute favorite highlight of the day. Guests felt as if they were seated inside of a woodland paradise with a view of Snoqualmie falls. It was heaven.
Escort keys - An ugly chain link fence entry to the cocktail hour patio was transformed into a wall of greenery where seating tags were hand calligraphed on antique keys and hung for guests to find their way to their tables. Very secret garden like.
Two bars - Victoria and Christina chose to offer three separate bars to their guests. A full craft cocktail bar offering any cocktail their guests could dream up, a ridiculously fun mocktail bar serving non alcoholic custom concoctions such as a Blood Orange and Cherry Spritzer, a Peach Ginger punch and more, and lastly an espresso bar where guests could caffeinate to their hearts desire with hand crafted espresso and affogato pour overs.
Venetian Hour - why just have one dessert option when you can have a full buffet? V+C chose to host a Venetian hour for their guests and spoil them with desserts beyond your wildest dreams. The highlight of the desserts was the four tier wedding cake finished in gold ombre and fresh florals from Thatch. Inside the layers brought to life flavors that V+C love - coconut cream with sprinkles, red velvet and chocolate. Complimenting the gorgeous (and delicious cake) guests were able to choose from three kind of gourmet popcorn (caramel, sea salt, parmesan and olive oil), red velvet, strawberry and pistachio macarons, fresh fruit tartlets, homemade pretzels with whole grain mustard or Beecher’s cheese sauce. A chocolate fountain provided an interactive station for guests to dip a variety of fruit or homemade marshmallows in and the espresso bar had its own Italian dessert station accompanying it where guests were able to choose from affogatos, cream puffs and rainbow Italian cookies.
WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY?
Creating an atmosphere. We took a place that was already beautiful but a rather blank slate and completely transformed it into the girls’ vision. Salish Lodge is an already gorgeous lodge set against the backdrop of the falls that highlights so much of the beauty the PNW has to offer. We were able to highlight the features it already has and on top of that create a once in a lifetime experience for guests to be transported into a whimsical woodland paradise from ceremony to reception.
As guests trickled down the winding path to the ceremony, which took place on the Centennial Green, a lawn just adjacent to the falls, they were directed by gilded hand calligraphed signs to come and join the festivities. Welcomed by the sounds of live strings, V+C chose to have a barefoot ceremony on the sacred ground and guests were invited to join them with a special area designated for shoes and a calligraphed sign explaining the ritual. The entry trees to the lawn were wrapped with blooms by Thatch Floral creating a gorgeous entry for guests to enter the ceremony space through. Seated in mismatched chairs and encouraged not to choose a certain side, V+C’s nearest and dearest opened programs that were created on seed paper (that could later be plated) that each contained a handkerchief for any happy tears. The aisle was a bed of flower petals representing Victoria and leaves representing Christina and no one walked down it until it was time for the brides to be the first. Annemarie Juhlian’s personal and beautifully crafted ceremony didn’t leave room for a dry eye in the house. As the ladies exchanged I do’s and celebrated back down the aisle, they were showered with wildflower petals.
Guests were welcomed to cocktail hour with a glass of champagne on the terrace directly on top of the falls where they were able to fully enjoy the dynamic scenery inside of a clear top tent. Guest mixed, mingled and lounged on gorgeous soft seating from Vintage Ambiance and Wander Event Rentals and selected a drink of choice from either of the bars as well as passed appetizers to tide them over.
The dining room was set, photos were complete and dinner was ready. Guests were directed to their tables by antique keys hung on a fence of greenery outside on the terrace and as they entered, the dining room had become an extension of the beautiful autumnal woodland paradise that they had experienced in the ceremony. Rafters dripped with vines and organic blooms of orange, blush and crimson tones. A wall of floral highlighted the fireplace just behind V+C’s sweetheart table. Tabletop was focused on the same lushness of the room. A combination of wood tables and linen tables brought together with soft green textiles kept with the feeling of the verdant beauty of the PNW. Details were luxe and refined. Each one carefully selected with their guests experience in mind. Place cards were leaves hand calligraphed in gold, table numbers were acrylic with gold calligraphed numbers with a leaf or fern inside, plates were a speckled brown and white (Salish Lodge’s own plates) mimicking that of a bird egg and set upon a wood (on linen draped tables) or glass and gold rimmed charger (on wood tables). Menus were created on organic seed paper with hand torn edging and a gold wax seal. Vintage green goblets were mixed with gold rimmed wine and champagne glasses for a special touch set aside gold flatware. Each table was perfectly embellished with the most lush and organic floral and moss to bring the woodland whimsy table side and round out the look.
Guests delighted in a 5 course farm to table menu highlighting the best that the PNW has to offer and showcasing the fine dining that Salish is so well known for. After toasts concluded, guests were treated to the most luxurious dessert course. V+C chose to offer a full Venetian Hour as a surprise and nod to Victoria’s Italian heritage. (see above for details on this) As dessert wrapped up the party moved back outside to the terrace above the falls to dance the night away under twinkling cafe lights. V+C chose not to have a formal exit but to sneak away together at the end of the night and leave their guests to enjoy the rest of the party. Upon their exit, and as a nod to their love of theater, a friend of theirs read a beautiful goodbye poem written by Victoria which was hand calligraphed on a scroll. On their way out the door, guests were given favor boxes that had hand selected mugs inside with rainbow hearts and a reminder that love is love.
THE WEDDING
Find more of this beautiful wedding over on Martha Stewart Weddings.
xoxo- the GATHER girls
VENDOR TEAM
PLANNING + DESIGN + STATIONERY: GATHER EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN FLYNN FLOWERS: THATCH FLORALVIDEOGRAPHY: PIXEL DUST CEREMONY + RECEPTION VENUE, DESSERT, BAR: SALISH LODGE DESSERT: ROSES FOR YOU AFFOGATO BAR/ESPRESSO: ESPRESSO ELEGANCE RENTALS + LIGHTING: CORT PARTY RENTAL SPECIALTY RENTALS: RENT WANDER + VINTAGE AMBIANCE RENTALS - CHARGERS: SEATTLE PEDERSENS RENTALS - LINENS + NAPKINS: LA TAVOLA RENTALS - GLASSWARE: BALANCING BALLOONS RENTALS - BARS: HAPPY HOUR RENTALS CUSTOM RUNNERS: GREEN EARTH STUDIO DJ: IDEAL ENTERTAINMENT