Calista + Michael | The Thompson

We’re all about the gorgeous views our beautiful city of Seattle has to offer. From iconic Kerry Park, to Gas Works, to Alki Beach! That’s why we loved the view Calista + Michael had from their rooftop soiree–The Thompson Hotel. Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountain Range showed off amidst the smoky haze of August for their wedding reception.

From the beginning, we knew their wedding was going to be a gathering of different circles Calista + Michael ran with all coming together to celebrate their union! It was important to Calista for the event to be smooth, intentional, and very simple. No fuss. The clean lines and modern architecture of the Thompson’s Roof lent itself naturally this way, which made it easy to come in and add some personal touches to make the space feel inviting and festive!

Calista loved wild and unruly blooms, and to my pleasant surprise, requested the flowers have shades of orange! An often neglected color in weddings, I was obliged to incorporate them into her clean and fuss-free design. The stark contrast of her paper goods + venue to her floral preferences made for a striking pair, just like her and Michael!

She went classic and timeless with the wedding party as well, having the guys in black suits and the gals donning white, just like the bride! Calista stood out amongst the crowd with her satin gown with a train, and mother’s gorgeous lace veil. [Spot it further down in Ceremony!] She differentiated her sisters from the pack by having them wear greenery crowns, while her best friends held small posey bouquets of orange, white, and green.

Before ‘going to the chapel to get married’, the gals of course had to do a beer run to quench their thirst in the heat of August. And what beverage fits the bill more than the PNW’s hailed, yet mediocre specimen: Rainier Beer? They did it for the ‘Gram–and the memories, of course. 🙂

Cathedral Ceremony

Being a Seattle native, hailing from the neighborhood of Madrona, Calista settled on saying ‘I Do’ in the local neighborhood church, Epiphany Parish. Its red brick exterior and blooming gardens lent themselves to a lovely backdrop for their beginning together as husband and wife! There’s something still so timeless about getting married in a church!

Calista + Michael drove off in style in a vintage Rolls Royce, and met their guests at the Thompson for the reception. Peep Lolly, the mother of the bride waving goodbye through the Rolls’ window!

And then there’s this photo that I just had to throw in, because I find it so breathtaking and understated. <3

Rooftop Reception

Guests entered the rooftop, which is affectionally called “The NEST” via elevator, and were greeted by a live greenery wall, which was such a show stopper!

After they snagged a drink at the bar, guests mingled around the rooftop, found their name on the stunning escort sign display, took some snapshots of the view, and sung along to the live musician who played familiar tunes against the stunning Elliott Bay backdrop.

In an effort to be relaxed, we opted for food stations for dinner versus other dinner styles. Calista wanted guests to feel free to roam around, grab food from whichever station(s) they pleased, and head back to their seats! She wanted to make sure guests were comfortable at all times. She even commissioned our paper goods designer to make a map of the roof with the various food stations labeled, along with a map of the tables, so guests had peace of mind at all times! Everything was thoughtful, even up to the bar and food station menus.

As the sun was setting behind the Olympics, the remainder of the evening carried on, and Calista + Mike danced to their hearts content with those they loved. Congratulations, Calista + Mike! Yours was one for the books.

Fabulous Wedding Professionals

• Photographer | Kristen Marie Parker Photography
• Venue + Catering + Dessert | The Thompson
• Florist | Sublime Stems
• Videography | First + Foremost Productions
• Music: Paul Woida [Live Music], Brian Waltz [DJ]
• Rentals | CORT Party Rental
• Stationery | Perfect Press
• Transportation | British Motor Coach
• Beauty | Bridal Beauty Agency