A Stylish Gray-and-Gold Seattle Wedding

Jessica Ritt is not what you'd call a sports fan—so when Todd Jacobs invited her to a Knicks game in October of 2013, he knew he was taking a chance. "I thought it would be an easy way for us to get to know each other," he says. Luckily, he recalls, "she said yes, and we had a great time, even if the Knicks did not—they lost." That fateful first date was two years in the making. The New York City-based pair had been crossing paths since 2011, when they first met through mutual friends. Though it took a while to get their timing right, it was worth the wait. "It just felt comfortable from the start," says Jess, a publicist.

Fast-forward a little more than a year, and Todd, a principal at a real estate company, surprised Jess with a proposal in their apartment on his 30th birthday. Right after she accepted, both sets of parents walked in the door; Todd had own them in so everyone could celebrate together.

Planning began with choosing a wedding destination, and there was no question: It would take place in Jess's beloved hometown of Seattle. And the couple had a head start on the research. "I had looked at every venue possible the year before, when my sister was getting married," Jess says. For their ceremony, they chose the rooftop of a downtown space in the heart of the city. The venue didn't usually do weddings but made an exception in their case. "Todd and I really wanted a place that wasn't typical," Jess says. "We hoped it would be exciting and unexpected for our guests." Planners Steven and Jamie Moore reimagined the space, removing planters and unbolting benches so they could work with a clean slate.

By the time all 225 friends and family members arrived for the ceremony on October 10, 2015, the rooftop was a vision of Lucite, green foliage, and white flowers under a clear, modern tent. This being Seattle, "it was pouring rain up until the second our ceremony started," Todd says. "The sun started to come back out right when we were walking down the aisle."

After a traditional Jewish ceremony followed by a cocktail hour, buses transported guests to nearby Union Station, a former train depot that's awash in white marble—the ideal backdrop for the reception's festive gold-and-gray palette. Partygoers watched the newlyweds dance to Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" before a sit-down three-course meal of king crab legs and other regional foods. At around midnight, the band gave way to a DJ and everyone refueled with late-night mac 'n' cheese poppers, potato puffs, and mini Reuben sandwiches.

After the best night of her life, it's safe to say that Jess had no regrets about having said yes to that basketball game, and to Todd. From start to finish, the celebration was a slam dunk.

Dress details included hand embroidery and pleats with frayed trim.

"I never fully felt like myself in the white dresses I was trying on, and I had a vision of wearing gray from the start," Jess says. But after failing to find a gray gown she liked, she gave up and ordered one in white. Then, two months before the big day, her mom came across a gray Alexandra Vidal gown at Bergdorf Goodman. "I went to see it in person, just for fun," she says. "It was so unexpected but still felt bridal. It was everything I was hoping for!"

After toying with the "out of left field" idea of leather invitations, the couple chose triple-thick custom card stock stamped with gold foil designed by La Happy.

"I wanted everything to feel special and unique to Seattle," says Jess of the welcome boxes, which included local pears and chocolate-covered popcorn.

The bride with her parents and sister, the matron of honor, who wore a gold Oscar de la Renta dress.

The bride wore gray velvet Manolo Blahnik heels.

Though her gray dress bucked tradition, Jess did incorporate old, new, borrowed, and blue details: Her wedding ring was her great-great-grandmother's plain gold band. Her mom gave her a diamond-and-gold Marco Bicego bracelet just for the occasion, while the diamond earrings were on loan from her mother-in-law. "They were the first ones she showed me, and they were perfect," she says. The final touch: blue undergarments.

In typical Seattle form, it rained on their wedding day—but the sun came out right as Jess and Todd walked down the aisle.

The bride left the flowers completely in Moore's hands and saw them for the first time at the wedding. Her bouquet included peonies, garden roses, white-eyed anemones, and variegated eucalyptus.

Planner Steven Moore strove to create "an amazing secret garden"—and succeeded, with a simple yet stunning white-and-green palette and ethereal details. The crystal chandeliers almost didn't make it, arriving just one day before the wedding. Six 12-foot maple trees were brought in for the ceremony (two more were added for the reception). They're now planted at the bride's parents' house in Seattle.

The programs matched the invitation suite, incorporating gold foil and a velum overlay.

Todd (clad in a Lanvin tuxedo) and his parents walked down the aisle to Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud."

The flower girls (Jess's cousins) wore tulle tutu dresses from Olivia Kate Couture.

The Champagne poured boasted gold flecks.

Todd poses with his (male) friends and family.

Lucite lent an ethereal quality to the seating chart—as well as the ceremony chairs, chuppah, and custom cake stands.

Everything from the throw pillows to the tiered wedding cakes featured a gold brushstroke design.

Centerpieces alternated between low, conversation-friendly cinder-block containers of flowers and tall, arching branches. "I wanted it to feel like walking through a grove of trees," Moore says.

The gold-and-gray palette extended to the Casa de Perrin table settings, with two chargers at each place. Square menus suited the modern tables.

Tiny tiered cakes by The SweetSide—mini versions of the gilded wedding cake—graced each place setting.

The dessert table and its several cakes created a dramatic focal point. The towering confections were made with architectural tiers and gold-leaf brushstrokes. Beneath the white fondant was carrot cake with cream-cheese icing. Mini on-palette treats included salted-caramel pots de crème and an elegant take on s'mores, served with espresso cocktails.

Slices of cake, baked by Lisa Dupar Catering, were served on gray or gold-rimmed plates paired with modern gold forks.

The couple shared a moment on the dance floor.

The favors were inspired by renowned Seattle restaurant Canlis, where diners leave with a chocolate bar; white petits fours bore the newlyweds' monogram in chocolate made to resemble wax seals.

Reception location, The Great Hall at Union Station

Event planning, design, and flowers, Sinclair & Moore

Catering, beverages, bar, mini desserts, chocolate bar, and petits fours favors, Lisa Dupar Catering

Photography, Belathée Photography

Videography, Cabfare Productions

Photo booth, Super Booths

Officiant, Rabbi James Mirel

Stationery and calligraphy, La Happy

Cakes and mini cakes, The SweetSide

Ceremony music, Puget Sound Strings

Reception pianist, Walt Wagner

Reception band, Impulse

MC and reception DJ, Chris Graves

Rentals, Casa de Perrin; Cort Party Rental; Choice Linens; Kevin Bradford Design

Bride's gown, Alexandra Vidal

Bride's shoes, Manolo Blahnik

Bride's bracelet, Marco Bicego

Hair and makeup, Erin Skipley

Matron of honor's dress, Oscar de la Renta

Flower-girl dresses, Olivia Kate Couture

Groom's tuxedo, shirt, and pocket square, Lanvin

Groom's shoes, Prada

Groom's bow tie, Gucci

Groom's glasses, Warby Parker

Groom's watch, Rolex

Wedding rings, Valentin Magro

Transportation, Butler Seattle

Piano rental, A-1 Piano Sales & Rentals

Lighting, audio, and backline, GreenLight Events

Childcare, Annie's Nannies

Coat and bag check, Coat Check Complete

Ketubah, Ketubah.com

Ribbons, Mokuba

Pre- and post-wedding location, Fairmont Olympic Hotel