Karen & Greg's Virginia V Steamship Wedding on Lake Union

Friends, some weddings feel like a movie. Karen & Greg's felt like a Nancy Meyers movie: classic, romantic and full of thoughtful details, on a 1922 steamship on Lake Union with the Seattle skyline as the backdrop.

Here's my favorite part of how we met. Karen & Greg found me through Wini & Brandon's Virginia V wedding on this blog. I'm a preferred photographer for the Virginia V, and once they booked, I connected them with my favorite planner, Emily of It's All in the Details. Emily and I had teamed up on Wini & Brandon's day too, so it felt like getting the band back together.

Karen & Greg are both doctors, and they come as a package deal with two street-dog mixes, Coco and Gigi. In Karen's words, they "Parent Trap'd" their dogs. More on those two (and their cake toppers) in a minute.

A first look at South Lake Union Park

We started on dry land. Karen & Greg saw each other for the first time at the corner of South Lake Union Park by the marina, then shared private vows before anyone else arrived. The September sun did its thing on the water, and these two made my job very easy.

Their people

Karen had her high school best friends, Bella and Marlaina, plus her younger brother Kevin. Greg had all three of his brothers, Stephen, Eric and David. The colors were light blue and white with small pops of yellow, and everyone looked like they'd stepped out of a yacht club catalog.

Family photos happened right on the dock, so nobody had to wrangle grandparents up and down gangways.

All aboard

Instead of hiding until the ceremony, Karen & Greg greeted every guest as they boarded. With 50 guests on board, that meant real hugs and actual conversations, which is exactly the point of a wedding this size.

The details

The thoughtful details are what made this day feel like Karen & Greg. They set out photos of their grandparents, three who have passed and one who couldn't make the trip, so every one of them had a place at the wedding. Guests signed an Instax guest book with a polaroid of themselves, and the tables inside were simple, light and airy, with views of the water from every seat.

A ceremony on the bow

The wedding party made their entrance down the pilothouse stairs, and yes, there was confetti.

The boat left the dock at 4:30, and by 5:00 Karen & Greg were standing on the bow with the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle behind them. Their friend Erik officiated, a sailboat drifted by on cue, and I'm convinced Lake Union was showing off.

Cocktail hour on the water

Cocktail hour was license signing, extended family photos on the bow, and one groomsman who could not physically contain his joy.

The cape (and the dancing)

Karen wore Jenny Yoo for both of her dresses, and then she added a cape. Friends, if you are considering a cape for a boat wedding: do it. The wind on Lake Union will style it for you.

They had their first dance out on the deck, surrounded by everyone they love, and the dance floor stayed full from there.

Dinner, toasts and two very good dogs

Inside, it was dinner, toasts and parent dances. Instead of a bouquet toss, Karen dedicated her bouquet to her mom. Cue the happy tears.

And the cake toppers. Coco and Gigi were there in spirit, as custom cake toppers right next to Karen & Greg. If your dogs are your whole personality, I see you, and I photograph a lot of dog-friendly weddings.

Lake Union after dark

We snuck up to the pilothouse for a few portraits at the ship's wheel, then caught the Space Needle at blue hour from the water. The last song of the night was just Karen & Greg.

Planning a Virginia V wedding?

Do your first look and portraits on shore. Once the boat leaves the dock, you're on the boat's schedule, so we photographed the first look, wedding party and family at South Lake Union Park before boarding.
Greet guests as they board. It's the easiest way to talk to everyone at a smaller wedding.
Face the skyline. A ceremony on the bow puts Seattle and the Space Needle right behind you.
Save a few minutes at blue hour. The city lights from the water are worth stepping away from the party for.

Read my full Virginia V wedding guide, see more Seattle boat weddings, or check your date and get an estimate.

Karen & Greg, thank you for trusting me with this one. It was pure magic.