Having an artist as a mom, I frequented art galleries growing up. From small shows, to exploring huge art museums at home or while traveling, I have grown very fond of visiting them. When Sarah was looking for a second shooter and mentioned it would be at the Seattle Art Museum, I knew we were in for a great day. Also major bonus that I could simply walk from my place to the venue, one of the many benefits of photographing a downtown Seattle wedding as a city dweller.
To set the scene, it’s early June, there are a few clouds in the sky but no rain in the forecast. I make my way down from Pioneer Square to The Alexis Hotel to start capturing getting ready photos of Kelsey & Jake. I walk in to a beautiful boutique hotel that you may have missed while making your way through the hustle and bustle of downtown. As I approach the door of the girl’s suite, I can hear the slight hiss of a steamer, a few giggles, and the faint sound of music. This is where our day begins.
Sarah and I spent a few minutes gathering details and getting photos of all of the important items to the couple. With so many moving parts in a wedding day, it’s fun to be able to have a creative moment to arrange the invitations, shoes, jewelry, and any other personal details that the couple wants documented. From the girl’s suite, we headed over to photograph the guys. I loved that the hotel allowed their dog to join them for the getting ready process and even followed us from getting ready with the girls to the guys, allowing us to get the cutest photos of Jake and their dog together.
Kelsey & Jake wanted to do a first look so they could get their family photos and portraits done ahead the ceremony, and also to allow them time to share private vows. We found a black wall down an alley on the side of the hotel that made for the perfect spot. It doubled as our starting location for portraits, which we ended on top of a parking garage with all of the wedding party in attendance. I loved the contrast of everyone in their black tie apparel on top of an old parking garage in downtown Seattle. Having that vantage point, surrounded by buildings, made for some epic images.
After the portraits were complete, it was time to settle in and be present. We made our way over to the Seattle Art Museum and began getting ready for the ceremony. With tons of natural light spilling in from the tall glass windows of the art museum, Kelsey and Jake had a beautiful ceremony on the steps full of candles and green and white florals.
As the two exited the long aisle, music began and the bar was open. Guests mingled around the downstairs lobby for cocktail hour as a jazz quartet filled the space with music. I walked around grabbing candids of guests, group photos, and a few photos of the beautifully crafted passed appetizers and craft cocktails. After the hour had passed, we all made our way upstairs to the main lobby so the guests could find their seats for dinner. Underneath the iconic giant tree sculpture, the long tables were adorned with candles, and black and white accents, to highlight the colors of the black tie affair. By the light of these same candles, Kelsey & Jake had their first dance, dances with their parents, and some of the most heartfelt toasts from their parents and best friends.
The night concluded with tons and tons of dancing, so much so that Kelsey even ditched her shoes at one point (look at the last photo!) The couple even opted to have a late night snack of Seattle dogs (which if you are not familiar, a Seattle dog is a hotdog with onions and cream cheese).
As I packed up and made my way outside, having just finished my second hot dog, I was so excited to have documented such an incredible day as such an iconic location. This elegant downtown Seattle wedding was such a blast – getting to go around to iconic hotels, views, and landmarks, all while capturing the moments that encapsulated a beautiful milestone.
Looking for other similar work? Click here to see another downtown Seattle wedding, at SoDo Park.
