Jeff & Dustin are a really fun couple.  They’re getting married in the back yard of their new house, so wanted to do their engagement session in the new house.  I found out that Dustin is a bit of a YouTube celebrity and a friend of ours calls him “my favorite YouTube Beauty Guru”.  Check you his YouTube Channel – click HERE.

We were dreading the weather forecast, it called for rain and was pouring on my way to meet them.  By the time we met it was down to a light drizzle and a few minutes into the shoot it stopped and we had some blue skies by the end.  This has happened a few times, we always head out in hopes of dodging our Pacific NW weather and more often than not we luck out.

Kyle & Jamie had a very intimate wedding ceremony at Clearwater Resort & Casino in Poulsbo, WA with their best friends & family.  They love beer so much that rather than a blending of the sands ceremony during the wedding they made a Black & Tan for the couple and wedding party to share.  Once they were married there was a brunch followed by a tour of breweries in the Poulsbo area.  It was a first for us and a LOT of fun for everybody involved.

The Breweries:
Valholl Brewing
Sound Brewery
Bainbridge Island Brewing

Amy & Paul got married in a very nice back yard wedding… a really big back yard.

We are giving away a few sets of tickets for this premiere wedding show that happens this Saturday!  Just visit our facebook page and comment that you want tickets and we will enter you in a chance to win.

Getting married? See the best wedding professionals at the South Sound Wedding Show on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at the Marcus Pavilion at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey (Olympia area).

• See the latest styles in wedding dresses, tuxedos, bouquets, hair styles and makeup at the fashion shows at 11 am and 1 pm. Gorgeous stage decor and design by PJ Hummel & Co. Meet staff from PJ Hummel‘s new vintage wedding venue Tin Can Alley.
• Meet more than 70 highly-skilled wedding professionals: photographers, caterers, invitation designers, jewelry designers, florists, venue representatives and others.
• Our featured presenters are: Firstlight Photography, Occasions Catering, The Heritage Room, Elle’s Floral Design andWeddings With Joy.
• Engaged couples will register at the door to be eligible to win prizes at the show.
• Engaged couples receive a swag bag at the door, including South Sound Wedding & Event magazine 2016.
• Meet our DJ / MC Cory Kolilis from Sound EFX music. He’s designing and setting up the stage lighting for the fashion shows.
• Order your tickets online by Jan. 22 for the best price.
• The show is presented by South Sound Wedding & Event magazine.
• The show is sponsored by Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau and Mixx 96.1.

As Seattle area wedding photographers we work at amazing wedding venues in Washington and beyond.  Wedding venues that offer a mix of outdoor and indoor spaces are the most flexible for couples – and they offer the most diverse backdrop for your wedding day photos.  Kalley and Eric were married at Green Gates at Flowing Lake in Snohomish, Washington.  

This venue has a fantastic open bluff that overlooks the Cascade Mountain Range and shoreline.  The reception was held in the open air covered barn structure that, once night falls, literally glows with rustic romantic twinkly lights.We fell in love with the venue and admire the owner’s vision and hospitality for clients and vendors.  We are proud to list Green Gates at Flowing Lake as a preferred vendor and are so excited to be one of their preferred vendors.  

We asked Kerry & Debbie Horner a few key questions we know couples have when trying to locate a venue.

How long has your venue been open?

The very first wedding at Green Gates was for our daughter’s best friend. We hosted her wedding because she is like a daughter to us. That was in 2009. When she posted her photos online, we were flooded with inquiries from people we didn’t even know. That’s when we knew that this place was something special, and we had to share it with others.

What is your typical wedding season start/end time frame?

Until the extensive renovations to the big barn are completed – which will enable us to offer the venue year-round – we are a seasonal venue. Our season begins mid-May and goes until mid-October.

Do you allow outside catering (outside of your list of preferred vendors)?

We do currently welcome outside professional caterers. If we ever decide to adopt a mandatory list of caterers, we will offer a wide variety and number from which to choose.

Please describe what your role is on the day of the wedding.  

We are very hands-on and available during the entire event because we want our clients to have the reassurance that we care about their event being as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

When we were at your venue we heard you talk about how you designed the grounds to be very photogenic.

Green Gates is a photographer’s playground. With every new project and addition to the venue, we are mindful of the visual allure and photographic memories that will ensue. The photographs are the lasting memories of a couple’s special day. Practically every square foot of the grounds at Green Gates offers a gorgeous and unique backdrop.

What has been the biggest surprise about being a wedding venue operator?

We are constantly delighted and amazed at how we are all so inter-connected. We meet people from all walks of life, from all over the U.S. and even from other countries. Somewhere along the line, we discover that we have friends, family, or experiences in common.

For more information contact Kerry and Debbie.  You might want to hurry  –  2016 Saturdays are nearly all booked.  There are currently several Fridays and Sundays still open.

Wedding Vendors Featured in Photos

Photography – Firstlight Photography

Planning & Coordination – Elements NW Events and Weddings Jennifer Vandeventer

Venue – Green Gates at Flowing Lake

Spirits – BevMo

Catering – Barry’s Catering

DJ – “Nick at Night” Nick MacDonald

Transportation – Rainier Limousine

Recently Firstlight Photography was given a tour of the Emerald Downs wedding venue and instantly placed it on our preferred vendor listing.

The sweeping vistas of the tracks with a backdrop of Mt Rainier are breathtaking.  We didn’t realize the diversity of this Seattle area wedding venue.  At Emerald Downs you can have an intimate outdoor wedding or one to accommodate 800+ guests.

Truly the biggest asset is the knowledgeable staff that assist couples with the important details.  As vendors, we love detailed and helpful venue staff.  It makes for a cohesive day and happy couple.

At Emerald Downs the tables, linen and china are included in the packages – as are bar and wait staff.

The venue is one of the most versatile in the region – it has indoor and outdoor options and, it sure can accommodate the masses.  What struck us was the price point.  Emerald Downs is, hands down, one of the best values in King County.

We want images at this venue so if you book your wedding at Emerald Downs and decide to hire Firstlight Photography and book us by March 2016, we will provide an extra hour of photography service as our gift.

Firstlight Photography is hosting exclusive photography sessions during BurlyCon, the burlesque Education and Social Convention held each year in Seattle.  This year and we are offering amazing rates in our once/year sale!

We are scheduling photography sessions on November 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th.  Do you need updated head shots or product photography?  Or, is it time to get your boudoir or pin up session under wraps in advance of the holidays?  We can provide you with professional quality performance photos.

Services with an Expert Stylist
Blowout $40
Updo $60
Curls $60
Custom style $60

Makeup $50
Makeup with lashes $60

Manicure $15

About Tousled

Tousled is a matchmaking service for clients and beauty professionals.

Tousled uses rich content — like verified reviews, photos and videos —to help you not only find your next stylist but also feel confident in your beauty decision.

Services include hair, makeup and nails.  You can also have Tousled on site for your wedding day

About Firstlight Photography

Kier is from Orange County and Mitzi is from just outside Chicago. We share a common love of music and photography. Kier caught the photo bug years ago and Mitzi always had a love of art and a mind for business.

Firstlight Photography is located between Seattle and Tacoma and we frequently travel throughout Washington, Oregon and California. We are a full service photography studio offering wedding photography, boudoir photography, pin up photography, family portraits, senior portraits, corporate photography and open air photo booth services.

Firstlight Photography was pleased to be a part of the recent venue open house at Rein Fire Ranch.

This rustic venue is set in the Sugar Loaf Mountain Valley so the sunsets are superb.  This serene location is versatile.  A rustic barn wedding is fitting here as is a modern elegant wedding.  The grounds are well maintained and the owners make sure events are effortless.

About Rein Fire Ranch

Nestled in the serene Sugar Loaf Mountain Valley this working ranch feels incredibly serene and remote but it is only 45 minutes from Seattle and Tacoma – making it the ultimate wedding venue   It is one of the most breathtaking outdoor ceremony locations in the greater Puget Sound area and is highly customizable for your occasion, from cowboy boots to high heels.  You can even BYOH (Bring Your Own Horses).

We were beyond thrilled when Refinery29, a fashion and style website, contacted us for a feature one of our amazing wedding couples – Hally and Lou.  Both were gorgeous tattooed brides that chose dresses to highlight their artwork.  This post is a true testament that the perceptions around tattoos are changing.  No more cover up makeup.  Brides are proud to show off their ink!

The Refinery29 post highlights 10 beautiful brides who refused to cover their tattoos up.  We were so pleased they let us photograph their big day!

About Refinery29

Refinery29, the fastest growing independent fashion and style website in the United States, is a lifestyle platform that delivers nonstop inspiration to help women live a more stylish and creative life. It connects over 21 million monthly visitors and 1.9 million email subscribers with 24/7 programming covering everything from shopping and beauty to wellness and celebrities, giving readers all the tips, tricks, and tools they need to live a more beautiful life — and share it with the world.

About Firstlight Photography

We are a husband and wife duo that is so very fortunate to do what we love.  The most amazing people choose us to photograph their engagement and wedding day. 

We offer a wide range of services and products and custom design each package.  How does this work?  It is as easy as 1,2,3.

1.  We’ll meet over coffee or Skype and review your wedding ideas
2.   With you, we craft a wedding schedule that helps you design a package
3.  Several weeks before your wedding we contact you and make any necessary updates

Throughout the time leading up to your wedding please feel free to contact us with questions or referral requests.  We’ve been part of hundreds of weddings so we are prepared and always happy to lend a hand.

Our photography studio is located between Seattle and Tacoma.  We cover Washington, Oregon and California but that is just the beginning.  You can book us for your destination wedding or event.

In addition to wedding photography we also provide photo booth services, corporate photography, lifestyle photography and boudoir/pinup photography.