Emily + Elizabeth | Sequins and Birds at The Pacific Tower Seattle, WA

If there was ever a wedding worth me traveling for…
A wedding photographer’s dream is to work with a couple that are deeply in love, have solid visual chemistry, trust their creative team, and have families that are equally as excited and supportive as the couple themselves. Emily + Elizabeth are that couple.

I made my way to Seattle the day after Thanksgiving to prepare for their wedding the next day. Needless to say I wasn’t excited about traveling on Black Friday, a day when I normally don’t even leave my house, but the trip was thankfully uneventful. I was rewarded that night with a yummy dinner with my second shooter, Stevi Sayler, and her longtime bestie Hannah at her Seattle apartment. Stevi and I planned the next day, had some wine, and finished the evening with Exploding Kittens (it’s a card game – no kittens were harmed. I’m not a monster).

The morning was cooooold, but clear and sunny. I had a chance to talk with E&E about changing the first look location to a really lovely spot across the street from the hotel called Four Corners. Initially they were worried that it would make the day and transitions more difficult; I reassured them that not only would it likely make the first look easier since Emily was getting ready at the hotel, but that the scenery and lighting would be well worth the change in plans. They trusted my professional opinion and we went for it. Four Corners did not disappoint.

It was a busy morning with friends and family preparing the 8th floor of the Pacific Tower that overlooks Seattle. The excited brides planned long tables to diagonally fill the space where their guests would both watch their ceremony and enjoy a second Thanksgiving feast. Each table was named after a bird to follow one of the sweetest relationship stories I’ve ever heard…

Emily and her cousins were riding in the car together one day. One of them was looking through an online dating app and swiping passed profiles she wasn’t interested in. Soon the others added commentary including the work “Duck” whenever she would swipe passed one and “Goose” when she would give the profile a thumbs up. Fast-forward to early in Emily’s relationship with Elizabeth… there was a gathering with Emily’s family and upon seeing the way they looked at each other one of Emily’s cousins pulled her aside and asked, “Is she your Goose?”

With their siblings by their sides as bridesmaids and bridesmen and Emily’s uncle officiating these two read their vows of support, promises, and love to each other while the sun went down behind the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle lights began to glow behind them. Happy tears, laughter, and love swept over the whole building as the wedding ceremony ended with a kiss and transitioned into a sequin filled dance party.

I wish E&E many many many long happy years together being each other’s gooses.

Blooper/Pro-Tip: Mostly likely a situation specific for two ladies tying the knot, or even more specifically two ladies who are both wearing dresses, make sure that your dress materials aren’t so likely to get stuck together when you go in for a kiss (like lace + bedazzled beading). …or your photographer will have to very carefully and only slightly awkwardly separate you. lol. Thanks to Stevi for catching this #photoglife moment. 

Amanda Photographic is available throughout the Pacific Northwest and American Southwest for weddings big and small. I would be happy to discuss details with your via coffee or Skype and hear all about your wedding day vision. …tell me your love story. Contact me today!