COVID-19 may have messed with their original plans of being married on Kauaʻi, but nothing was going to stop Kacee and Jasen from having their wedding. Talk about making the best of everything. Despite several date and location changes, plus having to buy everything – decorations, wedding dress, wedding suit – online because nothing was open these past few months, everything came together so elegantly and beautifully. It was an honor to capture their day.
The wedding took place in a family home in the Sand Point neighborhood, with a beautiful peekaboo view of Lake Washington.
Kacee and Jasen’s first look was beautiful; they were so surprised to see each other! I love first looks because it gives my couples a few moments to themselves before we dive into the festivities of the day.
Portraits of the two of them together were the priority of the day, which I lovvvved because it gave us two full hours to visit a few locations nearby. (Usually on a wedding day I’m lucky to get 30 minutes with the bride and groom!) We started at Magnuson Park in Seattle, with my hopes of getting down to the tall grass fields near the water – unfortunately, the roads were closed and it would have been quite a trek from the upper parking lots. Instead, we stayed around the buildings that are part of the old military base.
The weather leading up to their photos had been pretty sunny, but as soon as we got to the park, ominous clouds loomed overhead, and it was only a matter of time before it started dumping on us. Thankfully they had these awesome clear umbrellas, and Kacee joyfully accepted the fact that her dress would get wet – all part of the experience, right? All I can say is, thank goodness she wasn’t wearing heels, because that would have made these photos in the grass exxxxtra awkward.
Kacee really liked the bricks and industrial look of the buildings in Magnuson Park, and this staircase provided an escape from the rain. To make the composition a bit more interesting, I positioned myself well behind a tree and stood on my tippy toes so that I could get some of these leafy branches in the foreground. I just adore the way these two look at each other!
Next, we headed to the University District for some photos in an alley. Yep, you heard me right. And with things being the way they have been the past few months, there was lots of extra garbage on the ground. However, the cool thing about photography is that you can choose lenses to compress the background so you don’t show the mess. This first photo I took using my 70-200mm lens so that I could make the background appear closer to them and eliminate the garbage cans and dumpsters on either side of them.
Of course, it truly wouldn’t be a 2020 wedding without showing proof of the COVID-19 lifestyle, amiright?? Shopping cart, dumpster, masks – I mean, do these two rock or what?
After our jaunty in the alleyway, we walked across the street to the University of Washington for our final portraits. By this time, the sun was blazing and there was no rain in sight. Typical Seattle.
Kacee loves the look of brick and old buildings so I knew I wanted to end with them gliding down the stairs at Denny Hall.
Back at the house for the wedding ceremony, it was time for details. Kacee’s bouquet by Stadium Flowers and floral arrangements by Chong’s Flower Bouquets, featuring light pink roses and lush peonies, were absolutely stunning.
I just loved Kacee’s details for her elegant and rustic backyard wedding – the centerpieces in small, metal buckets sitting on pieces of wood, the napkins tied with twine, the beautiful pink and blue hues – absolutely gorgeous.
Kacee and Jasen had a few DIY decorations, including painted picture frames with black + white photos of them clothes-pinned to a line. Also, each food table featured its own bottle of hand sanitizer – because duh.
I didn’t stay long enough for the s’mores bar to see some action, but oh yes, what a perfect way to end a summer wedding.
Jasen and Kacee met while working at a high school, and the former vice principal (who was also my vice principal – Jasen and I went to high school together!) stepped in as their officiant. Mr. Bennett – okay, okay, I guess I can call him Geoff now – told a bunch of fun stories about K+J that had everyone laughing.
This stunning (and reportedly delicious) tiered wedding cake was made by Lil’ Cakery, including beautiful fresh flowers to match the bouquets!
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jaimes! I’m so glad that you could celebrate with your family, even though this wasn’t exactly how you’d planned things to go in the beginning. I know that Kauaʻi will be waiting for you for your one-year anniversary! Thank you guys for being so easy-going and fun – I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Big hugs! – TB
Wedding vendors
Catering: Bucatini Edmonds
Cake: Lil’ Cakery
Bouquet & Boutonnière: Stadium Flowers
Other Flowers: Chong’s Flower Bouquets (they’re one of those roadside stands!)
Hair + makeup: Jenny Jaimes
Everything else was DYI by Kacee, Jasen and family!
