Modern Weddings/Chic Weddings

Cool Industrial-Chic Pizza Party Wedding in Seattle

Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 72

We’ve such a cool wedding to share with you guys today. One that’s so stylish, unique, and fun, but most of all, authentic.

Kristi & Cole are a Seattle couple who got married in a hangar wedding venue at Magnuson Park. Despite the extensive space and industrial style of their their venue, they managed to create a day that felt romantic, intimate and personalised.

Photographed by Claire Eliza, (who tends to shoot some pretty great parties), Kristi & Cole’s day was all about the informalities.

From their sweet first look, to arriving at the ceremony together, their pizza catering to ice-cream truck desserts, their unique venue to their killer dance moves; each detail of this day was taken from the couple’s own style and ideas, rather than as a nod to expectations or tradition.

And all that makes for a pretty awesome occasion, don’t you think?

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Our Love Story

Cole and I met in college and were introduced by my best friend.

After about four months of dating, both of us took a European trip abroad. Cole backpacked with his best friend and I went on a fashion study tour. The only plan Cole had on that trip was to meet me in Paris for the last few days of both of our trips.

Over dinner Cole said “I love you”. Paris is forever our city, we carved our initials in a tree in the Tuileries.

We returned to Paris in August 2015 and on a walk through the Tuileries to find that tree (we never did find it!) Cole proposed with a ring he designed.

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The Decor

This venue (Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park, Seattle) was a blank canvas. We felt that we could do everything with the space or nothing and it would still be rad.

Our theme was industrial chic. The color palette was light, whites, creams, blush pinks and metallic with navy blue accents. 

I have always known I wanted all white flowers with a fair amount of greenery. Seattle is the Emerald City and we are known for how green it is here! My bouquet was filled with vendella roses, alabaster garden roses, ranunculus, silver dollar eucalyptus and beargrass.

The beautiful custom-made aisle runners were filled with ferns, mums, white oriental lilies and dahlias.   

Our venue was decorated by an amazing full service production and décor company, Ryan Wenzel Events. They created the entire space based on our vision and created many custom pieces based on our style.

They worked closely with my florist and family friend Debbie to create an all white ambiance.

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Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 59
Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 60
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Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 63

The Food & Drinks

If you don’t like pizza, you can’t be our friend. We had a wonderful vendor, local family owned Veraci Pizza. They happily accommodated our guests with special dietary needs.

For drinks we served our signature cocktails. Vodka soda with a splash of St. Germain for her and Cole’s signature drink was a cocktail that he created one night. He has since introduced to everyone we know and it’s a fan favorite – The “Blevin” Black Velvet whisky, 7-up and a lemon twist.

We had a beautiful croquembouche cake made as a nod to our engagement and love for Paris. However, it was the hottest day of the year and the only photos we have are of it after it had melted and fallen half over!

Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 65
Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 66

The Music & Photography

I have known for many years that Claire would photograph my wedding. Her style is so untraditional “wedding” style and I am definitely an untraditional bride. She grew up with my younger brother and has been a friend of the family.

Cole and I have loved John Legend for a long time so naturally our bridal party and family had to enter to ‘Stay With You’ and exited to Mowtown classic, ‘Keep it Coming Love’ by KC and the Sunshine Band. Cole is a HUGE Motown fan.

Cole’s parents surprised us with a special guest singer by a family friend. Leroy Bell serenaded us with his hit ‘Ready to Fall’.

Our first dance was to a super unknown song that just was perfect for us. It’s called ‘My Kinda Swag’ by Emmi. We found it while doing hot yoga one day – our yoga instructor played it during vinyasa! We fell in love. We always call each other “swaggy” it was perfect.

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Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 61
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Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 70
Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 69

Our Favourite Details

We have heard from countless people that the day was so ‘us’, We didn’t do anything we didn’t want to do.

Most of the vendors are personal and professional contacts that I have made working in the fashion industry and it was a joy working with and having people you know well there on your day.

Also, Cole and I have a passion for traveling. We had our guests sign a vintage atlas instead of a traditional guestbook. They could sign a place that is significant to us or a place they suggest we travel to.

Our advice for other couples? Go with your gut instinct. We went with our first choices and didn’t waste time. Spend your budget where you want to.

Drink Dom Perignon and eat pizza if you want. Who said you have to do a sit down catered dinner?  

Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 58
Cool Seattle Wedding by Claire Eliza Photography 71
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