October 2023 | Almquist Family Winery

As a wedding professional, I often get asked to participate in “styled shoots” or “editorials” (I tell my grandparents its a fake wedding but they still don’t get it). I always love contributing to these as its a great way for me to work with different vendors, design in a new space, and create something new.

I don’t, however, often get to plan a styled shoot from start to finish. I got to select each vendor to make up an absolute dream team. Some I have worked with a number of times, others I had only dreamed of working with, and others I was excited to finally work with in person! I’m so grateful for all of their hard work and for trusting me to make this shoot come together.

Autumnal Romance is a design I dreamed up with Kaylin from Kaylin Pinkett Photography one day. I’m always looking to push myself creatively, be that with colors, mechanics, or the season. For this design, we chose an autumnal color palette that wasn’t the typical oranges and yellows. It was exciting to use colors I don’t normally use: plum, lavender, honey, and cider.

I love designing in the fall: all the glowing colors, the soft sunlight, and the abundance of textures.

Our beautiful and very much in love couple, Melanie and Lyndsay, got ready with the hair and makeup team, K and Hart Beauty Collective. Azalee and Joy elevated the models’ natural beauty with high quality products. The final look was both natural and elegant, feeling authentic to each individual.

I can always count on K and Hart for a good time. If you’re going to have someone get up and personal with your face and hair, you want them to bring good vibes and great conversation, right? Azalee and her team always do that– makes me wish I could have been hanging out in a chair with them!

Any wedding, big or small, doesn’t feel complete without stationery. Chelsea from Magnolia Marks Studio is an incredible calligrapher and created the most beautiful items for this shoot. From a hand painted welcome sign on a mirror, to the invitation suite, custom vow booklets, and personalized place cards and menus, everything was perfect. She uses high quality paper and inks and is so so talented. I gave her creative freedom and she did not disappoint! I loved that the harvest produce she included in the stationery paired perfectly with the salad plates from Celebrations for Every Season.

I am a sucker for cake. It might just be my favorite part of a wedding. I was ecstatic to work with Kenna from Kenna’s Cakes for this shoot. Kenna used to be an interior architect, so not only are her cakes structurally unique, but the design is amazing. Each cake is adorned with detail, texture, and depth. The flowers and designs she makes for the cakes are truly otherworldly. If you’re wanting a cake as beautiful as it tastes, Kenna’s Cakes will not disappoint (ours had fresh raspberries between each cake layer!).

Gorgeous, gender neutral, sustainable, and comfortable jewelry? Yes please! I have been a huge fan of Wend Jewelry for the last couple of years. Wendy handcrafts the most stunning pieces, all designs inspired by nature.

The couple each wore gold wedding bands and gold and diamond engagement rings. Melanie wore the most beautiful pearl necklace and pearl earrings while Lyndsay wore layered gold chains. I love everything about Wend Jewelry and really admire how innovative and intentional each piece of jewelry is.

Want to include your pet in your special day? Hire a wedding pet coordinator! Their entire job is to make sure your pet is taken care of and smiles for the camera. I was excited to include Ayisha from Posh Pet Sitter for this shoot. She brought her fur nephew, Jack, to prance around in a little floral bowtie I made. Everyone loved it and I always think it's a good idea to include something a little different or special in your big day!

The women at Astraea Bridal are amazing to work with. Their upscale bridal shop offers recycled designer gowns at affordable prices. What’s not to love! They curate the most beautiful dresses and have created an inclusive and sustainable experience for all those looking to buy wedding dresses.

Because their inventory changes so frequently, I sent Melanie and Lyndsay up to Mount Vernon to shop their store and see what they felt best in. Melanie chose a gorgeous strapped dress that was both elegant and timeless. The dress had beautiful sequin designs throughout that paired perfectly with the jewelry from Wend Jewelry.

Rentals can be tricky to navigate when planning a wedding or event. If you’re like me, you love the convenience of going online and getting it all sorted in one fell swoop. But sometimes, a little extra time can yield the results you’re wanting.

For this styled shoot, I decided to go with two smaller rental companies rather than get everything from one company. The result? *chef’s kiss*

Susan from Celebrations for Every Seasons specializes in small events and provides a beautiful collection of vintage table settings. I selected the gold rimmed glassware and gold rimmed plates. Susan also had vintage orchard plates that turned out to be perfect with the stationery from Magnolia Marks! The purple linen napkins were casually draped under the salad plates for an extra pop of color and to relax the formality of the gold.

We also worked with Elevated Rentals, a newer rental business in Everett. I loved their rattan chairs for this. The color and texture added to the vintage feel while pulling the colors together. They were also to provide the tablecloths cutlery!

I love everything about Almquist Winery as a Seattle venue: parking, views of the canal, the light filled greenhouse, and the cozy PNW vibes inside. Situated in Queen Anne off the Ship Canal, it’s an ideal venue location. The venue offers the greenhouse that can seat up to 46 people, a restaurant area that seats up to 60 people, and the barrel room that can seat up to 200. Additionally, they have an outdoor wine garden space. The possibilities are endless!

Table Catering Co whips up beautiful and delicious food for the venue. They focus on seasonal, local, and fresh cuisine which fits perfectly with the venue and with my design for the day!

Heartfelt Sentiment is your neighborhood friendly wedding planner. I was so lucky to have her available as our Day of Coordinator, a role that is often overlooked but very necessary. Sulee cultivates warmth and authenticity into your big day. Heartfelt Sentiment will do everything from full service planning to day of coordination (like she did here!). Sulee kept us on schedule while being an extra, and very necessary, set of hands.

I’m sure I’m not supposed to have favorites, but Cherise is definitely my favorite officiant. Another One Ties the Knot exudes authenticity and sentiment. She’ll make you laugh, cry, and be totally comfortable doing both at the same time. Another One Ties the Knot offers services ranging from personalized ceremonies, to vow writing guides, to officiant training.

Samara Anne Creative is so amazing in every way. Samara is talented, friendly, fun, and so efficient! She provided beautiful videography of the day and was a huge help. Samara creates soft, romantic, and engaging videos. Everything she makes is incredibly emotive and inviting. She also offers photography services!

If you'd like to learn more about weddings at Almquist Winery, be sure to check out my guide to 8 Dreamy Garden Wedding Venues in Seattle, where I feature the venue and dive deep into everything it has to offer!

All photography is by Kaylin Pinkett Photography. Kaylin captures authentic, genuine connections and does so with warmth, kindness, and inclusivity. She’s such a talented storyteller and I’m so happy with the images she captured and created.