Newlyweds and wedding vendors alike have cast their votes: Allow us to present our annual showcase of Seattle Bride’s Best of Bride–winning wedding experts for our region. These are the professionals who ensure your big day will be picture perfect.
Best of the Best: 2019’s Brightest
ALL-AROUND WEDDING VENDOR
Herban Feast
Known for: From custom culinary delights to industrial-chic venues to lovely designs and floral arrangements, the talented team at Herban Feast has everything you need for the big day.
Finalists: Bridal Bliss, Perfectly Posh Events
BEST NEW WEDDING VENDOR
Cake and Lace
Known for: Cake and Lace pairs each client with a hard-working, detail-oriented planner, who is not chosen at random, but is specifically matched to your wedding vision. The tech-savvy team offers the option of a free custom Snapchat filter and the integration of calendar events, text reminders or even your Pinterest board, as the team carefully curates the details and ensures a special and unique event.
Finalists: Elite Events, Hallea Events
BEST NEW RECEPTION SITE
The 101
Known for: Surrounded by history in the oldest part of Seattle, The 101 provides a generous, open-concept floor plan and an open vendor policy in the heart of Pioneer Square. The possibilities are endless in this space.
Finalists: Cathedral, On the Hiyu
Arlene Chambers Photography
BEST WEDDING PLANNER
Eventful Moments
Known for: Offering full, partial, day-of or customized packages, Eventful Moments gives you peace of mind in knowing that your wedding is in good hands. Its staff tackles not only the big tasks, but all of the behind-the-scenes minutiae to help assuage any anxieties about the planning process.
Finalists: Bridal Bliss, Weddings With Wendy
O’Malley Photographers
BEST DAY-OF COORDINATOR
Bridal Bliss
Known for: Bridal Bliss helps you put those final touches on one of the most important days of your life, taking on roles like liaison between you and the vendors, or setting your place cards and wedding favors. And its team is there for you with support and solutions should any unexpected glitches arise.
Finalists: Eventful Moments, Weddings With Wendy
Set the Scene: Decor, Rentals and Invitations
BEST FLORAL DESIGNER
Gather Design Co.
Known for: A lifetime of gardening and a deeply rooted love of plants and flowers are evident in this florist’s expertly crafted, seasonal arrangements. At once timeless and whimsical, Gather Design’s arrangements hold a variety of elements that coalesce into the perfect floral masterpiece.
Finalists: Bahtoh, Flora Nova Design
Kirsch Creative
BEST RENTALS
CORT Party Rental
Known for: CORT offers tents, lounge furniture, fine china and a host of other items in its extensive inventory. The company operates from two large showroom locations—Everett and Fife—making it accessible to residents of both the north and south ends of Seattle.
Finalists: Pedersens Rentals, Vintage Ambiance
BEST SPECIALTY DECOR RENTALS
Vintage Ambiance
Known for: This team can bring an authentic vintage flair to any wedding with its eye for spotting amazing pieces, whether you’re in search of a typewriter, goblet, easel or another one-of-a-kind addition.
Finalists: Wander Event Rentals, Yay! Parties & Co.
Nicole Conner Photography
BEST INVITATION DESIGNER
Ink and Sable
Known for: This one-woman operation creates custom suites from original designs, offering a variety of materials, lettering styles and patterns to choose from.
Finalists: Sablewood Paper Company, The Fancy Cat Studio
BEST CREATIVE FAVORS
Pomp & Revel
Known for: Though it has plenty of traditional favors, Pomp & Revel also offers some items that you probably won’t see at your friends’ weddings—such as a cutting-board charger or a monogrammed poker set.
Finalists: Fran’s Chocolates, Seatown Sweets
Memory Makers: Photography, Music and Entertainment
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
Sam and Sola Lee Photography
Known for: This charming husband-and-wife duo puts clients at ease as the two capture lasting memories with bright, warm, vintage-style images available in a variety of packages or with à la carte options.
Finalists: Alante Photography, Jenny GG Photography
BEST VIDEOGRAPHY
Pixel Dust Weddings
Known for: Headed by a film school graduate with an impressive repertoire, Pixel Dust and its passionate staff of videographers will document the day from start to finish. A drone operator is on hand for any brides longing for aerial views.
Finalists: Best Made Videos, Sam and Sola Lee Photography
Courtesy of 321 Foto
BEST PHOTO BOOTH
321 Foto Photo Booths
Known for: Unlimited sessions that offer custom filters, layouts and backdrops—as well as a superior collection of props—will have wedding guests lining up again and again to snap photos.
Finalists: Shutter Bus Co., The SnapBar
BEST MUSICIANS FOR THE CEREMONY
Windsong Trio
Known for: Two flutists and a cellist skillfully play your choice of classical or contemporary arrangements. The harmonious, ethereal tunes will set the tone for your big day.
Finalists: Blue Wave Band, Puget Sound Strings (tied); Michael Benson Band
Azzura Photography
BEST LIVE BAND FOR THE RECEPTION
Michael Benson Band
Known for: This talented sextet plays hit songs that transition seamlessly from one phase of your wedding to the next. A variety of services and configurations are available to give you exactly the vibe you’re looking for.
Finalists: Blue Wave Band, The Nines
BEST DJ FOR THE RECEPTION
Bamboo Beats
Known for: Using actual turntables, these DJs bring the kind of feel-good music and fun that could coax even the most timid of guests onto the dance floor.
Finalists: Chris Graves Music, Otto-Matic Mobile Music
BEST ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE RECEPTION
Seattle Parties
Known for: This full-service entertainment company has more than 1,000 weddings under its belt (and counting!). It books live music, DJs, karaoke and performers, and uses professional equipment and lighting to entertain everyone participating in your special occasion.
Finalists: Animate Objects Physical Theater, Michael Benson Band
Noelle Johnson Photography
BEST LIGHTING & AUDIOVISUAL DESIGN
Crimson Haze Event Lighting
Known for: Crimson Haze will help bring the magic to your ceremony, with endless options for illumination, such as chandeliers, projectors, chuppah and mandap lighting, and more.
Finalists: LightSmiths, Otto-Matic Mobile Music
BEST CATERING
Herban Feast
Known for: This caterer’s custom and seasonal ingredients are sure to be palate pleasers, from the appetizers to the desserts.
Finalists: Ravishing Radish Catering, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and Events
Benj Haisch
BEST BAR SERVICE
Happy Camper Cocktail Company
Known for: This mobile bar, a family-owned and female-run business, operates out of a vintage trailer. Staff serve drinks sourced from local farms, what they call their “garden to glass” approach.
Finalists: Herban Feast, Party on the Rocks
BEST WEDDING CAKE & BEST GROOM’S CAKE
Honey Crumb Cake Studio
Known for: Truly artistic, sculptural creations are made in this boutique bakery, which uses natural ingredients to craft its confections.
Finalists: Saltadena, The SweetSide
BEST DESSERTS
Lady Yum
Known for: This bakery specializes in offering a rainbow of delectable macarons, available in a variety of sweet flavors that are the answer to all your sugar-loving fantasies.
Finalists: Saltadena, The SweetSide
The Look: Apparel, Accessories and Beauty
BEST DRESS SHOP
The Dress Theory
Known for: Featuring both local and international designers, The Dress Theory offers a nontraditional collection of gowns to choose from, as well as trunk shows throughout the year.
Finalists: A&bé Bridal Shop, I Do Bridal
BEST CUSTOM DRESSES
Luly Yang
Known for: Couture consultants are on hand to assist brides with commissioning exclusive pieces, using fine artisan fabrics and materials to fashion the desired silhouette.
Finalists: Cicada Bridal, Desiree Hartsock
BEST FORMAL WEAR
Nordstrom
Known for: This Northwest retail institution offers luxe looks that will suit you, no matter your price point, and excellent customer service to assist you in choosing the right ensemble.
Finalists: Men’s Wearhouse, The Black Tux
BEST BRIDAL ACCESSORIES & BRIDAL PARTY APPAREL
BHLDN
Known for: BHLDN’s extensive collection of classic, romantic and posh looks will have everyone in the bridal party looking beautiful from head to toe.
Finalists: Bridal Accessories: Nordstrom, The Dress Theory
Finalists: Bridal Party Apparel: I Do Bridal, Nordstrom
BEST LOCALLY DESIGNED JEWELRY AND BEST ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING RINGS
Green Lake Jewelry Works
Known for: Green Lake Jewelry Works has an impressive selection on hand, but also specializes in customers’ ideas made manifest. From the traditional to the avant-garde, these highly trained, craft-loving designers will transform dreams into reality.
Finalists:Best Jewelry: Mandy Moon Jewelry, Sholdt
Finalists: Best Rings: Joseph Jewelry, Robbins Brothers
Henry Tieu Photography
BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
Pacific Brides
Known for: Enhancing brides’ beauty while adhering to their personal taste—whether it be a natural look or full-out glam with lashes and extensions—is the goal of this artist. She tames tresses and applies cosmetics to suit every skin tone to have brides looking flawless and camera-ready yet still like themselves.
Finalists: Salon Maison, Yessie Libby Makeup & Styling
It's Finally Here: Day-Of Team
BEST OFFICIANT
Reverend Mary Calhoun
Known for: Calhoun has more than two decades of officiating experience, along with a keen wit and a commitment to deliver a ceremony suited to every couple.
Finalists: Annemarie Juhlian, Reverend Ray Van Winkle
BEST VALET & BEST TRANSPORTATION
Butler Seattle
Known for: Whether its clients need valet parking for a lavish affair, a shuttle to an intimate ceremony or airport pickups for traveling guests, Butler will work with them to provide the services they need.
Finalists: Best Valet: British Motor Coach, Red Carpet Valet
Finalists: Best Transportation: British Motor Coach, Peace Vans
The Perfect Spot: Wedding Venues
BEST QUINTESSENTIAL SEATTLE RECEPTION SITE
The Admiral’s House
Known for: Located in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood, this historic landmark overlooks the serene beauty of Elliott Bay along with majestic Mount Rainier and our most famous landmark, the Space Needle.
Finalists: Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Sodo Park
BEST WATERFRONT VENUE
The Woodmark Hotel
Known for: From this elegant space, couples and their guests can take in breathtaking Seattle skyline views over Lake Washington.
Finalists: Roche Harbor Resort, The Edgewater Hotel
BEST SUNSET VENUE
The Admiral’s House & The Golf Club at Newcastle (tied for first place!)
Known for (Admiral’s House): Please see “Quintessential Seattle Reception Site” category.
Known for (The Golf Club at Newcastle): This absolutely idyllic milieu boasts panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, Lake Washington and our own Emerald City.
Finalist: The Edgewater Hotel
Alex Lasota Photography
BEST OUTDOOR VENUE & BEST PLACE FOR INTIMATE WEDDINGS
JM Cellars
Known for: This winery has a rich local history and is situated in the heart of Washington’s wine country. With its private arboretum lush with flora and fauna, the picturesque landscape fosters a love of the outdoors.
Finalists: Outdoor venue: Chateau Lill, The Admiral’s House
Finalists: 75 guests or fewer: Salish Lodge and Spa, The Corson Building
BEST PLACE FOR A LARGE GALA WEDDING
Sodo Park
Known for: This venue’s regal, soaring ceilings infuse elegance into a century-old, rustic-chic building. The space has a seated capacity of up to 300 guests, and as many as 500 for a cocktail reception.
Finalists: Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle Art Museum
BEST NORTHWEST DESTINATION WEDDING SITE
Roche Harbor Resort
Known for: This seaside resort presents the perfect Pacific Northwest getaway in the stunning San Juan Islands. It provides everything you need for a wedding, from the linens to the chapel to a complimentary wedding suite and lush gardens.
Finalists: Alderbrook Resort & Spa, TreeHouse Point
Best of the Rest: Before & After the Wedding
Ken Scott Photography
BEST REHEARSAL DINNER RESTAURANT
Canlis
Known for: This classy, award-winning establishment offers your choice of three private dining rooms, each of which offers a superb view of the city and beyond through floor-to-ceiling windows. Four courses of ambrosial fare with global influences comprise the menu selections at this lauded restaurant.
Finalists: Ray’s Boathouse, Salty’s on Alki Beach
BEST WEDDING-NIGHT HOTEL
Willows Lodge
Known for: Spend your first night of marital bliss in a deep soaking tub and commodious bed. Scenic vistas and help newly wedded couples ease right into married life.
Finalists: Salish Lodge & Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
BEST GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS
Alexis Hotel
Known for: With a sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic, this hotel presents luxury in every room. New guest rooms are being unveiled this summer that maintain the legacy of sumptuousness.
Finalists: Thompson Seattle, Willows Lodge
BEST BACHELOR PARTY SPOT
Westland Distillery
Known for: The spacious, 13,000-square-foot Westland is the nation’s largest single malt whiskey distillery in the country. Classic yet modern furnishings and a host of amenities guarantee a fun night out before the bachelor takes the plunge.
Finalists: Butler Wine Tours, Pennyroyal
BEST BACHELORETTE PARTY SPOT
Lake Chelan
Known for: An array of lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining options promise a blast for the bride and her friends. With over 300 days of sunshine in the area, Lake Chelan’s weather will brighten the mood even more.
Finalists: Can Can Culinary Cabaret, Woodinville Wine Tours
Rebecca Ellison Photography
BEST ATTENDANT GIFTS
Pink Blossom Events
Known for: This wedding-planning business offers unique gift baskets filled with locally sourced products that are sure to be crowd pleasers, appealing to everyone from Huskies to hikers and anyone in between.
Finalists: Glassybaby, Pomp & Revel
BEST WEDDING SHOW
Weddings in Woodinville
Known for: More than 100 vendors from every facet of wedding planning converge at of some of the most sought-after venues in wine country to assist you in planning every detail of your nuptials. Chauffeurs shuttle attendees from venue to venue in style.
Finalists: Seattle Wedding Show, Urban Unveiled
Carley Jane Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST EVENT DESIGN
Rock & Stone Weddings
From vintage to boho and every wedding style in between, Rock & Stone Weddings never fails to impress with its visionary design and production.
Anna Peters Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST BOUQUET
Boutanique Flowers
It’s no secret that our region boasts some of the freshest natural beauty around. This bouquet of clematis, “Distant Drums” garden roses, rockrose, heuchera and physocarpus foliage by Botanique puts our local bounty on display in all the best ways.
The Ganeys
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Gather Design Co.
Gather Design has created a floral wonderland for this ceremony, where the aisle and archway are lushly donned in baby’s breath, cream-colored roses, eucalyptus and other flora, transporting us long after wedding’s end.
Blue Rose Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
MOST CREATIVE IDEA
The Fancy Cat Studio
“If a cat lady had a wedding, what would her chairback say? Hiss and Purrs, of course,” quips designer Crystal Truong of The Fancy Cat Studio. Design and signage by The Fancy Cat Studio. Planning by Petra Rabson Events and Design. Florals by the Rusted Vase Floral Co.
Kamra Fuller Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST DRESSED
Candice Luth Wedding & Event Design
Give us all winter weddings, all the days, if they are as cozy as this. Bride Amanda Mark and her maids are channeling major Pacific Northwest vibes in their wedding day looks (Amanda and her groom, David Runyan, wed on December 18th, 2018, at Golden Gardens Bathhouse in Ballard). Wedding coordination, event design, floral design and rentals by Candice Luth Wedding & Event Design. Bridal gown from Sophia’s Bridal. Bridesmaid dresses from Lulu’s and Weddington Way.
Jenn Tai Photo Artistry
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST PHOTO
Jenn Tai Photo Artistry
Nothing gets us smiling more than couples having a little fun amidst the stress of their wedding day. This photo, snapped at Bainbridge Island’s Manor House, showcases just that.
Michele Equitz Photographer
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST INVITATIONS
Kirsten Musgrave (invitation design)
Lauren Essl of Blue Eye Brown Eye (calligraphy)
Rich emerald greens, custom calligraphy and a floral-inspired watercolor detail breathe new life into a more traditional invitation suite design, graced with a classic font and accented with luxe silk ribbon. It’s a fresh look that has us swooning.
Caylie Mash Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST BITE
Chef Emme Catering Co.
Featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients, these beet and goat cheese appetizers aren’t only amazing to look at, they’re sure totaste the same.
Deanna Rivaldo Photography
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST CAKE
Lady Grey Seattle
Covered in an utterly perfect saturated shade of green and embellished with florals crafted out of sugar, this decadent delight is a head-turner.
