Our Wedding (and a Cocktail)
A few months ago I showed you a glimpse into our wedding day, compiled from cell phone photos we’d managed to gather from friends and family. Then on Christmas Eve we received a package from our photographers with all of our photos. It was quite the early Christmas present, and I’d be remiss in letting 2014 come to a quiet close without sharing them with you. Looking back at these photos, what really strikes me are all of the moments that I simply don’t remember — or, frankly, wasn’t there for. It looks like quite a party! As with many weddings, I suppose, we were pulled aside for photos every now and again and were trying to make sure to talk to each of our guests, many who’d traveled quite a long ways to come to Whidbey Island to help us celebrate. So there were dance-offs, cocktail circles and polaroid sessions that we just never saw … until these photos. I’ve loved flipping through and looking at that golden September sunshine, all of our friends and family eating cake, dancing, meeting one another, drinking cocktails. Yes, there’s a cocktail we must discuss here, too.
So first, the ceremony: There was a big, beautiful tree in the backyard of the main house where we decided to hold the ceremony. We set up vintage slatted chairs all along the grass, and printed programs that looked like old Southern fans.
The main house at Jenne Farm is really what sold us on the venue in the first place. While it’s firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest, it has a real Southern charm with its wrap around porch and beautiful old staircase, moldings and lace curtains.
Despite the busy gathering outside, I’m so grateful that there were quiet moments for us to steal, too.
Instead of a guestbook, we had Sam’s old typewriters and asked people to type a little something on notepapers. I found these sweet, small Polaroid cameras and we left them around so our guests could take photos of themselves or the surroundings. We were so, so grateful to have them after the wedding as we waited for the more official photos from the wedding photographers.
The table! We’d both thought so long and hard about the table — I wanted one very long farm table on the side of the main house, and I felt pretty particular about the flowers (lots of wild white flowers mixed in with loose, romantic peach roses and local greenery).
The venue had an old lace runner and beautiful white milk glass vases for the flowers. Sam designed our menus, and I found really beautiful vintage china. I want to rewind and have another meal here.
Once everyone was seated, mingling, snacking and drinking I kept looking down the long table and telling myself to remember this. I’d get goosebumps realizing this was the only time all of these people would be seated at a big table in the Pacific Northwest eating fried green tomatoes, creamy polenta and fall-off-the-bone pork together. The only time.
Choosing the food, cocktails and cake was one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning for me. We both love Southern food and felt like it was in keeping with the feel of the house and the barn. One of our favorite cafes in town makes a mean Southern layer cake, so instead of a more traditional wedding cake we opted for coconut cake, lemon cake and a chocolatey caramel cake. I have a few regrets from our wedding day and one was not eating enough cake. We’ve frozen a small version of the coconut cake to eat on our one year anniversary and it takes all of the willpower I have not to sneak it out on occasion and cut off a small slice.
In addition to the food and cake, the cocktails played a big role in the pre-ceremony and dance party. Sam and I both really love good, strong cocktails and do a lot of experimenting at home. We’d visited our friend Niah at Essex about a month before the wedding to brainstorm ideas and he helped us come up with this one, a really special bright, slightly citrusy rye-based cocktail. Niah pre-mixed these a few days before the wedding so the bartender would just have to pour them in cups with ice and … BOY were they strong. I recall expressing deep concern for the older folks, wondering if they’d make it to cake cutting. Perhaps this explains the memorable dance party. Maybe you can create one (the cocktail and the dance party) in your own living room?
In case you’re curious as to who helped us pull this off:
Venue & Coordination: Jenne Farm // Food: Ciao Thyme Catering // Photography: One Love Photo // Cakes: The Wandering Goose // Vintage Dish Rental: Seattle Farm Tables // Flowers: Jenne Farm // Signage, Menus, Favors, Design: Neversink
The Green Lake Cocktail
- Yield: 1 cocktail
- Prep time: 5 mins
- Total time: 5 mins
This cocktail is named after a beautiful lake in Seattle with a 3-mile (or so) walking path. In the fall, it’s the best for spotting changing leaves; in the summer, the whole city comes to linger, read, sunbathe, and swim. When we were first dating, Sam lived in a bungalow a block from the lake and we walked many a lake lap through all of the various seasons.
Ingredients
Instructions
Place a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker, and add all cocktail ingredients. Shake well. Serve over ice.
Welcome to A Sweet Spoonful, my blog devoted to seasonal cooking, whole grain baking, and casual gatherings in our Pacific Northwest home. My name is Megan Gordon and I'm so glad you're here.
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Millie | Add A Little
What an absolutely stunning wedding - you look so beautiful and I can just see the happiness in your eyes! I also love the typewriter idea - so cute!
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
Megan - what a gorgeous post - there's so much love there. Thank you for sharing these precious moments with us. Wishing you and Sam a stellar 2015 XO
Susan
Yes, absolutely beautiful, everything and especially YOU! You both look so happy. No wonder I like your book SOOOOOOO much with all that love behind it!!
Stephanie
What a stunning wedding!!! You guys look happy, what an awesome christmas suprise!
Shannon Oslick
Oh my gosh and your vintage china is to die for!
megang
Happy NYE to you, too, Shannon!
Shannon Oslick
Looks like an absolutely incredible day! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos. What a gorgeous venue. I had to laugh a little at the guest book table- our stars must have aligned because at my own wedding this last september we did the same typewriter guest book, surrounded by milk glasses. lol. The cocktail sounds AMAZING! Can't wait to try it, Happy NYE!
megang
Thank you so much, Laurel. Happy New Year.
Laurel
What a gorgeous wedding! And day! I love all your little details. Many blessings to you and your husband as you've begun your life together.
mcs3000
Love. Love. Love. XO
Melissa
So many chills reading this post. Your wedding looked so beautiful, but more importantly thoughtful. That table, that meal.
megang
Thank you, Millie! :)
megang
Thanks so much, Mardi. So nice to see your name pop up this morning. I hope you're doing well, staying warm, and enjoying a restful holiday. Wishing you a wonderful 2015, too! ~Megan
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Thank so much for sharing your special day with us - you looked stunning! And this cocktail recipe is just in time for New Years! xx
megang
Oh thank you so much, Katrina! Too kind. Happy NYE to you! ~Megan
Ashley
What a beautiful day. These photos are incredible! I love that we got to celebrate that day with you, dance with you and share a strong cocktail with you guys. To more of the same in 2015!
Kasey
One of the best weddings we've ever been to! We miss you guys, and wish you a warm and joyful start to 2015. xo
Kate
Your wedding looks utterly perfect and so unique to you. You both look glowing - what wonderful photos to capture the day and I love the cocktail!
Kathleen
Megan, I think if I could re-do my wedding, I'd copy yours note for note. My Louisiana-born husband would be quite pleased, too. So stunning. And you just shine! In every picture!
Happy New Year!
Francesca
that looks like just about the best dinner table party I ever did see.
Mary
What a beautiful wedding! Every detail so carefully thought out and so lovely. You look absolutely stunning in those pictures, lady. Well done!
That cocktail sounds like just the kind of drink I love. I'll have to grab a bottle of Amaro Montenegro and make room for it in the liquor cabinet (well, one of the liquor cabinets...).
Congratulations on your marriage. Wishing you many years of happiness!!!
ahu @ ahueats
Just gorgeous, thank you for sharing. I love the idea of everybody being at one long table. Best wishes to you and your husband!
megang
Oh thank you, Kathleen! Happy New Year to you, too! ~Megan
kristie {birch and wild}
So beautiful! What a stunning venue, and special day. Congratulations to you both. Happy 2015!
Jessica
How very, very beautiful! I, too, regret not eating enough cake at my wedding!
megang
Awesome, Kathryn! Yes, I think the long tables actually helped people mingle more -- sometimes those separate tables start to feel like their own little island. Congrats on your upcoming wedding (I secretly miss the planning!) Have a great week, ~Megan
Kathryn
Beautiful! We're having long tables at our wedding, all joined together at the end and I think it's so much nicer than than usual separate round tables. To have everyone sitting together, mingling and talking, seems to me to be what weddings are all about. Wishing you lots of love and happiness for your first year as a married couple and, of course, for many years to come.
Shila
This is absolutely dreamy! The details like the lush flowers, vintage china, and typewritten notes make my heart sing. Congrats to you and Sam and bravo on creating a celebration that so beautifully reflects what is important to you.
We just got married this August, and boy am I glad to be done with wedding planning ;)
Kate
What a glorious day! Makes me think back to my own wedding day and what a special time in our lives. Best wishes to you both! I'll make two of those cocktails and share with my husband tonight. :)
annelies
There are all these thoughtful details that go into a wedding and really make it so unique to each couple. Your wedding looked like such a wonderful time with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Mary@SiftingFocus
Hello Megan! I found your blog via Tea and Cookies. I just had to comment on your beautiful wedding. You and your husband obviously gave all the details a lot of thought. I have to say, if i were to have a wedding right now, it would look so much like yours - quaint with personal touches.
megang
Oh thank you so much for the sweet comment, Mary. We there were lots of details ... I have to say, we're both happy to now have our evenings back as all of those details took so much time! But yes, it was a beautiful day. Have a great weekend, Megan