It’s a match made in heaven: the passion you possess when he gazes into your eyes, the sparks in your soul when your lips touch for the first time, the power of standing breathlessly as he slides a ring onto your finger signifying “forever.” Reality is the rest of your life together. But for now, the magic radiates in the big day — your wedding. Take it from the experts, real couples, who are happy to share their 425 wedding day bliss (and some personal tips) with you.
Lawrence Guyette & Jennette Mendoza
February 17, 2009
Their dream began in paradise before these Woodinville natives brought their wedding home. From their Kirkland reception to their Leavenworth honeymoon, these two are truly a 425-perfect pair.
LOCATION: Kirkland
COLORS: Black, red and cream
MENU: Catering by Desert Fire in Redmond
DRESS: Brides by Demetrios
GUESTS: 150
HONEYMOON: Leavenworth
ORIGINS: Woodinville natives
PROFESSIONS: He’s a student pursuing a degree as a pharmacist. She’s a hairstylist at Sorella Salon and Spa in Kirkland and Issaquah.
HOW THEY MET: In the 7th grade at Leota Junior High. The two were great friends throughout junior high and high school and reconnected seven years later over drinks and appetizers at Desert Fire in Redmond.
THE PROPOSAL: It took place April 30 while celebrating their one-year anniversary in Hawaii. The first night in paradise, Lawrence offered to make Jennette a cocktail while she applied her makeup. All of a sudden he walked over to her, bent down on one knee and handed her the glass. Inside there was an open box with a gorgeous engagement ring. “I was shocked and speechless,” she recalls, later discovering he proposed a day early in anticipation.
THE WEDDING: It was authentic and traditional to Jennette’s heritage as a Mexican-American and also provided a very fun, romantic and intimate atmosphere. The couple wanted every guest to be fully entertained: from mariachi, to food and drinks, to folkloric Mexican dancing, to the live band.
THEIR ADVICE: Take deep breaths, your wedding day should be the most amazing, memorable and priceless day of your life. Nothing is perfect and something, even the smallest of things, can and will go wrong. Don’t let stress overpower the way that you’re supposed to feel.
THE BEST PART: The first kiss, mariachi and the toast.
RESOURCE LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tasha Owen, Tacoma, tashaowen.com
VIDEOGRAPHER: Family friend
CEREMONY SITE: Holy Family in Kirkland by Father Kurt Nagel. Jennette’s parents were married there in 1976
RECEPTION VENUE + CATERER: Desert Fire in Redmond
FLOWERS: Kim Alexander, friend of the bride, Bellevue
CAKE: Lisa Patricelli, friend of the bride, Bellevue
RINGS: Shane Company, Lynnwood
DRESS: Brides by Demetrio’s, Bellevue
HAIR + MAKEUP: Sorella Salon and Spa
HAIR: Andrea Keene, China Wilson, Rachelle Wilke
MAKEUP: Ashley Spellman and Heather Olson
MUSIC: Mariachi Ayutla, cousin of the bride’s band
REHEARSAL DINNER: Pizza Bank in Kirkland
WEDDING NIGHT: Marriot at Redmond Town Center
Drew Couron & Leanne Walters
August 30, 2009
Vibrant fuchsias and oranges illustrate the colorful connection between these two Redmond locals who tied the knot earlier this year. Whether they’re biking the Golden Gate Bridge or simply sharing a smile, the Courons’ love will surely span a lifetime.
LOCATION: Golf Club, Newcastle
COLORS: Fuchsia and orange
MENU: Classic Caesar salad, field green salad, Manchego stuffed chicken breast, grilled beef tenderloin, roasted fingerling potatoes, sweet onion-russet potato mash, summer squash medley and asparagus
DRESS: Alfred Angelo from the Bellevue Bridal Boutique
GUESTS: 150
HONEYMOON: Hawaii
ORIGINS: Redmond natives
PROFESSIONS: He’s a medical researcher and she’s a fitness instructor and public relations professional
HOW THEY MET: Through mutual friends
THE PROPOSAL: On a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on Aug. 30, 2008 — exactly one year before their wedding.
THE WEDDING: Carefree and romantic
THEIR ADVICE: Start as soon as possible planning for the big day.
THE BEST PART: Celebrating with friends and family.
RESOURCE LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Azurra Photography, Bellevue, azzuraphotography.com
CEREMONY SITE: The Golf Club at Newcastle Terrace
RECEPTION VENUE: The Golf Club at Newcastle Preswick Terrace
CATERER: The Golf Club at Newcastle
FLOWERS: Flora Nova, Seattle
CAKE: Cupcake Royale, Seattle
RINGS: E.E. Robbins, Bellevue
DRESS: Alfred Angelo, Bellevue Bridal Boutique
HAIR + MAKEUP: The bride did her own hair. Makeup by Katherine Bell Makeup, Issaquah
MUSIC: Greg Lowder, Affairs to Remember, Seattle
REHEARSAL DINNER: Bride’s brother’s house, Redmond
Chris Danks & Jessica Wood
October 10, 2009
This classic couple chose conventional coloring and themes to make their duo-dreams a reality. Meet a down-to-earth couple that took a refined taste for tradition and made it their own.
LOCATION: Columbia Winery in Woodinville
COLORS: Champagne, white and cranberry
MENU: Miso-marinated salmon, prime rib, mixed greens, scallops and beef phylo appetizers
DRESS: David’s Bridal
GUESTS: 150
HONEYMOON: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
ORIGINS: Kirkland natives
PROFESSIONS: He’s in sales and she’s an esthetician and business owner
HOW THEY MET: The patio of the Blue Water Bistro in Kirkland
THE PROPOSAL: Signs reading “Will you marry me?” hung around their dogs’ necks as Chris bent down onto one knee to ask for Jessica’s hand in marriage
THE WEDDING: A classic masterpiece
THEIR ADVICE: Hire a wedding planner for the day of the wedding and try to have fun. It goes by so quickly.
THE BEST PART: Dancing and the ceremony. “Our slideshow was also amazing,” she said.
RESOURCE LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Erin Vey, Kirkland, erinvey.com
VIDEOGRAPHER: Family friend
CEREMONY + RECEPTION SITE: Columbia Winery, Woodinville
CATERER: Daniels Broiler, Bellevue
FLOWERS: Lisa Anderson Rahr, Rahr originals, Woodinville
CAKE: JW desserts, Mercer Island
RINGS: Kay Jewelers and International Jewelers, Bellevue
DRESS: David’s Bridal, Lynnwood
HAIR + MAKEUP: Makeup by the bride (she’s an esthetician). Hair by Holly James Salon, Kirkland
MUSIC: A Sound Celebration, Tom Denman, Newcastle
REHEARSAL DINNER: Russel’s Catering, Bothell
WEDDING NIGHT: Four Seasons, Seattle
Julius Farrington & Felicia Fuller
May 24, 2009
Julius used his gift with words and, in a leap of faith, won his love’s hand in marriage. And now, they have eternity to share the significant day which marked the beginning of their life together.
LOCATION: Harbor Club in Bellevue
COLORS: White and silver
MENU: Baked Alaskan ling cod filet with reggiano cracker bread crust and lemon butter, blackened Cajun chicken with demi glaze, seasonal vegetables, wild rice medley with toasted barley, penne pasta with wilted baby arugula and toasted hazelnuts, buttermilk whipped russet potatoes and more.
DRESS: Brides by Demetrios
GUESTS: 150
HONEYMOON: Montego Bay, Jamaica
ORIGINS: Atlanta (him) Seattle (her)
PROFESSIONS: He’s in corporate finance and she’s in corporate sales
HOW THEY MET: Felicia’s cousin’s birthday party
THE PROPOSAL: Julius wrote Felicia poems, in correlation with the chronological progression of their relationship. Much of the poetry, as with their marriage, centered around religious and biblical principles. “I used numerical symbolism from the Bible to construct the proposal as there were seven poems total, each with three stanzas of seven,” notes Julius. “In the Bible, seven and three signify completion and perfection, as seven signifies spiritual perfection and three signifies divine perfection.” The groom-to-be then flew Felicia to a couples’ resort in the Pocono Mountains, where he would read the final two poems and ultimately propose on 11.3.07. “As her answer completed my poem, her presence completes my life,” Julius says.
THE WEDDING: Classic and romantic
THEIR ADVICE: Start early. It takes time to view and lock down your location and vendors, set an ideal budget but expect to spend roughly 15 percent more once everything is finalized.
THE BEST PART: “The best part of the wedding was to be able to sit back and enjoy the friends and family in attendance and watch the day unfold as we planned it,” he said.
RESOURCE LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Azzura Photography, Bellevue, azzuraphotography.com
VIDEOGRAPHER: Bogle Productions, Seattle
CEREMONY SITE: 1st Presbyterian Church of Bellevue
RECEPTION SITE + CATERER: Harbor Club Bellevue
FLOWERS: Aria Style & Flowers, Seattle
CAKE: Mikes Amazing Cakes, Redmond
RINGS: Shane Co. & David Yurman
DRESS: Brides by Demetrios, Bellevue
HAIR + MAKEUP: Taco Hair Artistry, Seattle
MUSIC: John Carrington, Harpist, Seattle and DJ Skiy, Seattle
REHEARSAL DINNER: Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge, Redmond
WEDDING NIGHT: Hyatt Regency, Bellevue
WEDDING PLANNER: Events in the City LLC, Seattle
John Cook & Sabrina Crissinger
July 25, 2008
Sabrina’s fairy-tale fantasies came true when she became Mrs. Cook. From the Disneyland proposal to the Mexico getaway following the bright and beautiful Eastside ceremony, the Cook betrothal was “picture perfect.”
LOCATION: Issaquah
COLORS: Orange and blue
MENU: Smoked salmon, barbeque chicken and pulled pork
DRESS: Brides by Demetrios
GUESTS: 130
HONEYMOON: Ixtapa, Mexico
ORIGINS: Kirkland (him) and Mill Creek (her)
PROFESSIONS: He’s a firefighter and she’s a math teacher
HOW THEY MET: Former co-workers at Windermere Real Estate
THE PROPOSAL: It took place in Disneyland, Sabrina’s favorite place in the world, after he had led her to believe that it would be another year before the engagement. “I have never been so surprised in my life!” Sabrina said.
THE WEDDING: Sabrina cared most about the quality of her photos and was very impressed by the moments captured.
THEIR ADVICE: Choose one or two things that are really important to you and make sure those things happen. Under-spend on the rest.
THE BEST PART: “We both truly enjoyed every moment and didn’t waste any of the day being stressed. We consciously paid attention so the day wouldn’t just blur by,” the bride said.
RESOURCE LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Teddi Yaeger, Snohomish, teddiyaeger.com
CEREMONY SITE: Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Issaquah
RECEPTION SITE: Tibbetts Creek Manor, Issaquah
CATERER: Larry’s Smoke House, Mill Creek
FLOWERS: Personal Flowers: Trillium Design, Lynnwood; Hanging Baskets from The Weed Patch, Bothell
CAKE: Costco Cheesecake
RINGS: Alvin Goldfarb, Bellevue
DRESS: Brides by Demetrios, Bellevue
HAIR + MAKEUP: Eric Berger, owner Gem Salon, Kirkland
MUSIC: DJ found through KJR Radio
REHEARSAL DINNER: Pizza at the church
WEDDING NIGHT: Woodmark Hotel, Kirkland
For the full story pick up the latest copy of 425 magazine. Subscriptions are available by phone at 425.646.1380 or you may order your subscription online.
