Laura & Nate – Magnolia UCC and Seattle Aquarium

Laura and Nate’s Magnolia UCC and Seattle Aquarium wedding was one I had been excited about photographing for a long time. Not only was I thrilled to photograph the reception at the Seattle Aquarium, but I was happy to be working with an awesome couple, who I had met somewhat randomly at the Aquarium a year prior. It all felt very serendipitous to us!

I was glad to be working with a laid back couple, because the day got pretty hectic at times. The limo got stuck at the First Look site, but my 2nd shooter, Mark Hopkins is always prepared with his reflective safety vest! Wish I had gotten a picture of that! Things calmed down a bit at the Magnolia United Church of Christ, and we were back on track for a ceremony full of laughs. There was a hilarious cake cutting fail where Angela, of Olive Juice Events, saved the day. Nonetheless, Laura and Nate took it all in stride. Love this couple!

Be sure to read more about their story in their own entertaining words, below the photos. And thanks to Mark Hopkins for his contributions. Safety vest and all! 🙂

 

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            •           Tell the one thing you love most about each other.

Laura: Nate is like me in so many ways that matter, but much more calm than I am.  He helps me keep things in perspective and see the bigger picture.  It’s an excellent balance!

Nate: Laura is very goal-oriented.  She keeps me focused on my goals, and is very supportive and patient with my tendency to take longer to make decisions.

 

•           If you feel comfortable, share something silly or quirky that the other person does.

Laura: Nate collects bicycles.  Until yesterday, he had six!  Now he just has four (to make our cross-country move easier), which I take to be a major sign of love and dedication on his part.

 

•           Besides getting married, what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to on your wedding day?

Laura: Cake!  Well, yes, but in all honesty, seeing all of our friends and family in one place.  We really can’t wait to have everyone come together from all over the country.

Nate: Also, sea otters and seeing my friends’ kids run around the Aquarium.

 

•           Besides the honeymoon, what’s the one thing you’re looking forward to when the wedding is over?

Laura: Can I say getting a dog?  Just kidding!  I will be spending a school year in England after the honeymoon, so we will have the “being together” part of marriage on a bit of a tape delay, but I cannot wait to be together, have weekends to go exploring, cook together, etc. — all of the little benefits of proximity that we have had to forgo for the better part of three years.

Nate: The conversations you have when no one else is around.

 

•           What’s your favorite wedding trend right now?

Laura: Photobooths.  I hope we can get one!

Nate: The progress that we have made towards marriage equality.  I feel very strongly that people should be able to get married, no matter who they love.

 

•           What inspired your décor or theme?

Laura: Sadly, we don’t have much of a theme.  “Whatever Laura likes?”

Nate: “Let’s get married?”

 

•           What’s one thing you wish you would have known earlier in regards to planning?

Laura and Nate: How expensive everything is!  We are happy to be getting married on a long weekend, so that our out-of-town guests will have an easier time getting to/ from the West Coast, but a holiday weekend really puts some things out of reach.

 

Ceremony venue: Magnolia United Church of Christ

Reception venue: Seattle Aquarium

Day-of Coordinator: Olive Juice Events

Hair & Makeup: An Off White Seattle

DJ: Terry Green

Cake: Izabella’s Sweet Creations