Elegant Affairs: Jessie & Josh (6/5/11)

Photo courtesy of Tasha Owen

On Sunday, June 5, I had the honor and privilege to sere as a bridesmaid along as wedding coordinator for my best friend's wedding on the Skansonia Ferry. I first met the bride in August 1998 when she joined our sorority at Washington State University. We became instant friends and have remained close over the years, but really reconnected when she moved back to Seattle in the fall of 2007.

I remember the first time that I met Josh in August 2009, it was shortly after Jessie and he started "secretly" dating. Since they both worked for King 5 as news producers and sat next to each other they were friends from the start but it wasn't until that summer until they made it official. Seeing Jessie and Josh holding hands at the concert we were attending and the way they looked at each other that night, I knew that they were meant for each other. It was at King 5 where it was fitting that Jessie and Josh had their "First Sight" photo.

Flash forward a year when I get the call that Jessie and Josh were engaged, the planning started immediately.Once the couple found the Skansonia Ferry, they knew that this was where they wanted to have their wedding.

The best way to envision their wedding on the Ferry was to see a wedding there first hand. I enlisted Jessie' help as an assistant in a wedding I was planning on the Ferry last June. Jessie saw the layout on the boat and how seamless the transition was from ceremony to reception. Jessie got so many ideas for her own wedding and even hit it off with my favorite DJ, DJ AlphaMehl and booked him shortly after that wedding for her own.

In planning their wedding, there was no question about the theme. Baseball. Born and growing up in Massachusetts, Jessie became a Boston Red Sox Fan and for Josh, growing up in California is a die hard Anaheim Angles fan. They incorporated America's Pastime from their centerpieces displaying both a Red Sox and Angels bats in a vase with baseball covered chocolates. Their seating arrangement was made by Josh and her mother in the shape of a baseball diamond using pennants to designate which table, named after their favorite baseball stadiums they have visited their guests were seated. Their cupcake tower was topped off with a groom about to throw a baseball to his bride who is up to bat.

Another first for for me in this wedding was it was completely flower-free. Not being big into flowers, Jessie wanted to try something different and when she came across blue and pink pinwheels, Jessie and her Maid of Honor came up with a great idea that she and all of the bridesmaids would carry pinwheels instead of floral bouquets down the aisle.

For the groom, what he wanted he wanted most in his wedding was a photobooth, which turned out to be a big hit by everyone including my two boys who each visited the photobooth close to seven times each. In addition to the photobooth, the five cupcake flavors from NY Cupcakes were much adored by all of the guests followed closely to the very personalized favors, made up of the bride and groom's favorite things including a pad of Post-It Notes, Capri Sun, pack of gum and a personalized mini bottle of Tabasco Sauce.

With the power of the Weather Gods and the meteorologists from King 5, the weather was picture perfect as the bride and groom recited their perfect vows followed by their first kiss to the bride and groom making their Grand Exit down the dock to the sounds of Thundersticks.

Congrats to Jessie and Josh! I love you both so much and I am so excited for your future.