Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Real Weddings These College Sweethearts Rented a Vintage Rolls-Royce for Their Washington Wedding By Sarah Madaus Published on October 29, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos From an On-Campus Couple to Forever Partners Kerry Jeanne Photography Evelyn, a financial analyst, and Sam, a software engineer, met in college in August 2011, during freshman orientation. A mutual friend introduced them and they started dating during the first week of school—and have been together ever since. Five years later, in honor of their anniversary, the couple decided to elope in Seattle. Another five years after their elopement, Evelyn and Sam made a public declaration of their commitment to each other with an intimate ceremony and reception attended by just 28 guests that took place on July 19, 2019. They celebrated the nuptials at the Lairmont Manor in Bellingham, Washington, and exchanged vows in front of a bubbling fountain, surrounded by lush, fragrant flowers. Post-service, the duo celebrated with private golden hour portraits and a party to remember (complete with the groom's all-time favorite cake!). The classy and curated wedding came together smoothly, says the bride, thanks to the couples' month-of coordinator and florist. Their overarching goal? They made it a point to prioritize their family and friends on their big day by streamlining the process, which involved making the ceremony short and sweet and skipping bridesmaids and groomsmen altogether (this way, everyone felt part of the wedding party!). As for the event's details? Each and every element—from the polished calligraphy on the invitation suite and the bride's pearl-lined wedding dress to the duo's getaway car (a vintage Rolls-Royce) and favors (Diptyque candles!)—was delicate, refined, and reflective of the party as a whole: one during which their loved ones received the very best of the best. 01 of 20 A Simple Suite Kerry Jeanne Photography For their invitation suite, Evelyn and Sam chose rustic, minimalist handmade paper with simple fonts. "The layout is very simple with very concise text and a small botanical illustration," says Evelyn. "I also sourced vintage stamps, ribbons, and wax seals for packing each invitation." Evelyn assembled all of the invitations—and decorated them—on her own. "Each guest received a slightly different wax seal and ribbon combination based on my guess of their preference," she says. "I also sprayed on a little bit Le Labo Santal perfume—it's my favorite." How Much Time Should You Really Allot for Stuffing Your Own Wedding Invitations? 02 of 20 A Picturesque Venue Kerry Jeanne Photography The couple selected the gorgeous Lairmont Manor for their ceremony and reception. They loved the fact that their idealized wedding day—one that was modern, with a touch of vintage glam—could be realized at this locale. While booking, they reserved both indoor and outdoor spaces with Seattle's volatile weather patterns in mind. The venue wasn't the only no-brainer choice for this bride. "I would not consider anything easy in [the planning] process, but selecting and booking vendors were relatively easy for me," says Evelyn. "I used Instagram to search 'wedding in Seattle,' and found the tags of vendors from the weddings that interested me." 03 of 20 A Different Kind of Guestbook Kerry Jeanne Photography In lieu of a traditional guest book, Evelyn and Sam set out a fun photo book for their attendees; they placed an intricate glass sign next to a Fujifilm camera so celebrants knew to snap a polaroid and add it to the collection. Evelyn tackled another DIY for the guests, too—she packed mini Diptyque candles into acrylic boxes, wrapped them in ribbon, and sealed the favors with wax. Unique Wedding Guest Book Ideas That Aren't Actually Books 04 of 20 A Non-Traditional Gown Kerry Jeanne Photography "I did not want a traditional wedding dress," says Evelyn. "This was the only dress I tried on." Her Danielle Frankel gown stood out to her immediately—especially the garment's baroque pearls, which ran from top to bottom. She paired her chic ensemble with Meadowlark pearl hoop earrings and a Mizuki choker. 05 of 20 Shoes Sent from Heaven Kerry Jeanne Photography Evelyn chose two pairs of shoes for her big day: white Aquazzura stilettos and cream No. 21 kitten heels with a loose bow detail. 25 Nontraditional Wedding Shoe Ideas from Stylish Brides 06 of 20 A Bouquet Fit for a Queen Kerry Jeanne Photography Light pink roses and carnations were the stars of the bride's personal arrangement. "Evelyn's bouquet felt effortless, lush, and a bit wild, with both full, fluffy blooms as well as smaller, textured 'wildflower' blooms," says Gather Design Company, the event's florist. "[It] didn't have any green foliage—[we wanted it to] stand out from her gown." The Prettiest Pink Wedding Bouquets 07 of 20 A Casual Suit Kerry Jeanne Photography Sam wore a gray three-piece suit and a black silk tie for a wedding-day look that was stylish, not stuffy. He paired his tailored ensemble with polished brown Paul Smith oxfords. 08 of 20 An Emotional First Look Kerry Jeanne Photography Evelyn says she was "in a rush" before the first look, but once she saw her groom in front of Lairmont Manor, her stress melted away. Though the moment was undoubtedly poignant, it was also a fun opportunity to pose alongside the event's pièce de résistance: a fabulous vintage Rolls-Royce. 09 of 20 A Break in the Action Kerry Jeanne Photography Right after their first look, the couple escaped to Bellingham in their luxury ride. "We were able to feel [in] the moment, just the two of us," explains Evelyn. After snapping a few portraits, they returned to Lairmont for the official ceremony. Wedding Getaway Car Ideas for Riding Away in Style 10 of 20 A Serene Scene Kerry Jeanne Photography The ceremony took place in front of the manor's fountain; guests' chairs framed the brick pathway, which was lined with potted floral arrangements featuring dahlias, cosmos, zinnias, lisianthus, and more. 11 of 20 A Live Music Moment Kerry Jeanne Photography Evelyn and Sam chose Puget Sound Strings, a cello and violin pair, to play beautiful renditions of the classics—including pieces from Campra, Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel, Bach, and Gounod—during the service, from the moment guests found their seats to the recessional. 12 of 20 A Special Officiant Kerry Jeanne Photography Sam's father officiated the couple's wedding, which made for an extra special ceremony. Both Evelyn and Sam are very family-focused, so having a family patriarch involved in the service was poignant to everyone in attendance. To make their ceremony even more unique, the duo chose to write their own vows. Everything You Need to Know About Asking a Friend to Officiate 13 of 20 Remember What's Important Kerry Jeanne Photography "Prioritize what matters the most; don't spend too much time on every detail," says Evelyn, reflecting on her ceremony and overarching celebration. The couple intentionally had a small, intimate wedding so they could do just that: focus on their family and their love for each other. 14 of 20 Cheers to Cocktail Hour Kerry Jeanne Photography Family and friends came together for a light cocktail hour post-service. The duo's planner placed lounge sofas and chairs on the Lairmont's lawn, and added tall cocktail tables so attendees could gather comfortably. Appetizers like bacon-wrapped scallops and flaky phyllo asparagus with asiago were served; the cello and violin duo continued playing during the interlude. 15 of 20 Sunset Portraits Kerry Jeanne Photography One of their favorite big-day memories? Posing for portraits at sunset. "[It was] a rare peaceful moment out of the fast-paced day," Evelyn recalls. "It was very nice that Sam and I could chat with each other and take a small break." Sunset Wedding Photos That Will Convince You to Take Portraits During Golden Hour 16 of 20 A Golden Hour Reception Kerry Jeanne Photography Evelyn cites the reception as another favorite part of the event. It perfectly coincided with golden hour; warm light spilled over the entire venue, casting a glow on the outdoor pavilion that housed the party. 17 of 20 A Vintage Touch Kerry Jeanne Photography Since they didn't have a massive guest list, Evelyn and Sam decided to sit all of their loved ones at a single dinner table under the terrace awning; floral centerpieces were added to the extended tablescape to create a lush atmosphere. "The arrangements were contemporary and a bit wild, featuring locally-grown flowers and foliage," says month-of planner Tamara Nicole. "Vessels and candles were selected to complement the linens and dinnerware, along with the stunning chandeliers." A Guide to Wedding Reception Tables 18 of 20 Simple, Fresh, Delicious Kerry Jeanne Photography The evening's menu kicked off with an heirloom tomato and watermelon salad with feta cheese and basil. After that came cedar-wrapped salmon, grilled beef tenderloin with herb butter, potato gratin, rainbow carrots, and artisan bread. 19 of 20 The Groom's Favorite Kerry Jeanne Photography Keeping with their simplistic theme, the pair's cake was a two-tier white-frosted confection adorned with fresh flowers that referenced the bride's bouquet. The flavor was Sam's favorite: vanilla with strawberry buttercream. 20 of 20 Sources Kerry Jeanne Photography Photography, Kerry Jeanne Photography Venue, Lairmont Manor Catering, Foodz Catering Event planning, Simply By Tamara Nicole Flowers, Gather Design Company Invitations, August + White Day-of paper products, The Fancy Cat Studio Bride's gown, Danielle Frankel Bride's jewelry, Meadlowlark, Mizuki Bride's shoes, Aquazarra, No. 21 Hair and Makeup, Yessie Libby Groom's attire, Paul Smith Music, Puget Sound Strings Cake, Saltdena Rentals, Court Party Rental, Pedersens Event Rentals, St. James Rentals Transportation, British Motor Coach, Inc. Linen, BBJ Linen Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit