Carmen and Erik's Wedding at Blue Ribbon Cooking

Taking photos for Carmen and Erik's wedding was extra special for me. Roughly 5 years ago, Erik and I actually traveled to Ireland together for a business trip. I didn't know Erik at all at the time. After living in the same apartment in Cork, Ireland for 2 months, I could say I had a new friend. Erik is one of the funniest and most straight-forward individuals I know. It was a memorable trip with many recollections of us cracking jokes and taking photos while touring Ireland.Fast forward a few years later, Erik married an equally awesome bride in Carmen. To begin their wedding day, Carmen and her bridesmaids got their hair done at Aria, a salon in Capital Hill of Seattle. Her bridesmaid, Christine, happens to be a skilled makeup artist and did makeup for the entire party.The ceremony and reception was then held at Blue Ribbon Cooking, which is a neat venue in the Eastlake area of Seattle, close to the waterfront. Blue Ribbon is decorated with European accents throughout the venue, with a dedicated area just for the ceremony and dinner. The best thing about the location is the access to the waterfront. You'll see in the following photos what a nice backdrop this location brings. There are a few shots where Carmen and Erik are standing in front of a section of houses that are "floating" on water. Very cool.Without sounding too cliché, I could definitely sense the love and rapport they had with each other and their respective families. Weddings can be stressful, but there was nothing but positive vibes between them, the wedding party, and all their guests. This obviously made taking photos a blast. Carmen and Erik brought the energy, smiles, and plenty of laughter. Some highlights I recall: Erik making his own mother fall during the mother-son dance (she was okay!), Erik's expression during the First Look, both their emotions during the ceremony, and their grand exit.Carmen and Erik, it was truly an honor to document your big day. It was a pleasure working with you two. May you two continue to bring the joy and adventure out of each other!