Meet You In Seattle

Ben and Kelly met in Seattle in the summer of 2005. Kelly was beginning her M.D. and Ph.D. coursework while Ben was finishing his studies as a research scientist before relocating to Iowa to start medical school in the fall. They both attended the same lab and discovered a shared love of baseball. Initial interest transformed into a serious relationship...and tons of air miles traveled.

Their studies have kept them half a country apart and the couple look forward to living in the same city! Kelly and Ben can now eat meals at the same table, cuddle while watching a movie or reading a book, go for walks and, of course, ski.





Kelly and Ben selected the beautiful Bastyr Chapel as the perfect place to exchange their wedding vows.






"Thank you very much Kent! We truly enjoyed working with you and Pat through this entire process and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding day."

It was our pleasure! (And look at that...two tall guys!)

And thank you Rebecca Ellison for the wonderful photos.

See other couples who have married at Bastyr Chapel on our wedding ceremony Testimonial page.

Heather & Jesse at The Quarry

For Jesse and Heather, creativity is their passion ... so what better place to celebrate their wedding vows than The Quarry. This amazing site is filled with art of all types (and there is a new reception venue being built that will make it even more inviting!)

Of course, outdoor weddings are always interesting in the Pacific NW. The day was a ribbon of sun breaks and rain showers. Heather and Jesse were prepared with tasteful white umbrellas and took it all in stride. So as we started down the "aisle" and the rain returned, we transitioned from the pond to the tent. (So good to have back up plans in place.)

Heather was beautiful in rain or shine.

Personal vows touched everyone's heart ... and then it was time for the ring exchange.

Well, who was supposed to have them? OK, it was planned that the best man would not seem to know where they were and the rings would actually be presented by another of Jesse's friends. Relief and big smiles.

Thankfully, the sun returned for photos and for the reception. Guests were able to stroll through the landscape, enjoy the art and share the joy of the wedding day ... and evening.

There was dancing and a few games (Greg Lowder did a great job as MC and DJ) and a good time was had by all.

And when the celebration came to an end, the couple drive off in a classic Chevy.

Many thanks to Charis Donough for the photographs!

Kent Officiates -- Winning Wedding Ceremony Photo Taken

Cory Parris just shared this award-winning photo with us. The image took second place in the ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers) Fall 2008 Photo Contest, Ceremony Category.

The best wedding photographers (those who have photographed at least 50 weddings as the primary photographer and have met the standards of the membership committee) compete for these awards.

We are so proud of Cory entering nine images, with eight of them placing.

Jen and Gregg created a wonderful world for their ceremony at the ever versatile Palace Ballroom. It was an enchanted space lit by the glow of lanterns.

Of course, it was made even more memorable by a problem on the monorail, which runs overhead on the street in front of the venue. Monorail passengers needed to disembark via firefighitng ladders. Emergency personnel closed the sidewalk making it difficult for guests to enter The Palace. Thankfully, Gregg and Jen were working with professionals and everything worked out well.

The rest of the evening went perfectly. Everyone enjoyed themselves, dancing the night away.

What I appreciated about this wedding is that there truly was an unexpected and unpreventable occurrence yet the ceremony and celebration were enjoyed thoroughly.

Jen and Gregg's love shone through. Their words of why they loved each other added that element of romantic sparkle to the night.

To see more of Cory's images, check out his website.

For a Seattle Wedding Officiant who can handle the unexpected, check out http://www.aheavenlyceremony.com/

Andrew & Maia's Wedding At Kiana Lodge

Kent was honored to officiate at Maia and Andrew's wedding ... an amazing and gracious couple who created a memorable day for their families and friends. Since many of the guests were from outside Seattle, the couple wanted to create a true Pacific Northwest experience.

To begin with, they arranged for an Argosy ship to transport us directly from the Seattle waterfront to the Kiana Lodge dock. What a treat ... it was a most enjoyable journey!

Kiana is beautiful ... and this day we were especially lucky. Just before the ceremony, an eagle flew by. How good an omen is that.

The ceremony itself took place on the lawn. Maia made a grand entrance handsomely escorted by her brothers.

Andrew and Maia wanted a personal ceremony and were quite keen to share what they appreciated about each other. We talked with them individually as part of the planning process in order to keep their thoughts a secret. You can hear a video clip of this part of ceremony, thanks to Gary Burlingame!

Being very fond of their cat, who wasn't able to attend the ceremony, Maia and Andrew were delighted when the resident feline graced their ceremony. Although their kitty wasn't actually there, her spirit definitely was in the form of her fellow cat cousin, Pish Pish. Doug Plummer captured the moment perfectly.





All in all a very good day ... a day to celebrate a love of a life time!









For help creating your unique, non-denominational wedding ceremony at a premier wedding venue in the Puget Sound area such as Kiana Lodge, see our website at www.aheavenlyceremony.com.

Garden Wedding Elan

Margo and Clayton decided to celebrate their wedding in an amazing private garden. Every aspect of the afternoon and evening was a blend of elegant and "green." For example, the groom painted a number of signs that lent an air of the rustic to this posh union. While the bride grew a flat of grass on which the place cards where displayed. The chairs for the ceremony looked hand made from tree boughs.

The ceremony itself took place in a wooded glen. The trees created a natural bower that created a sense of intimacy. The space seemed to be magic: filled with an aliveness that reflected the love Clayton and Margo share. Gardening is a perfect simile for marriage. So it was fun to use words about cultivating a good marriage is like two people tending a healthy garden. Speaking of gardening as a continuous process, changing with each season and evolving through the years. The garden being launched with great vision and bright enthusiasm. It, like marriage, invites the gardeners to work in harmony with one another and for them to use the right tools, to seek out and husband gardening wisdom, and to engage with a willing spirit.

Clayton and Margo shared traditional vows and every heart who heard them was opened. They are a couple who are obviously in love ... you could see it in their eyes. To symbolize their unity, they combined bouquets their mothers presented at the beginning of the ceremony.

It was a true joy to shower the couple with handfuls of rose petals as they exited as a married couple!






The night was filled with music and merriment, as the wedding celebration continued under a magnificent tent. Adam Tiegs kept everyone in good spirits and up on the dance floor.
And if you were feeling a bit chilly, you could always sidle up to the firepit and join in the conversations there. It was a night of romance, of warmth, of beauty ... a wedding celebrated in the embrace of the natural world.

Many thanks to Derek Pearson Photography and hats off to the planning and guidance provided by Michelle Engvall of Married and More with Michelle.

For more ceremony thoughts, click on http://www.aheavenlyceremony.com/!