Jillian + MichaelClise Mansion WeddingRedmond, WA

A few weeks ago I had the honor of photographing a Clise Mansion wedding for Jillian and Michael in Redmond, WA alongside my dear and talented friend Kristen Tourtillotte. It was a soggy Pacific Northwest day that could not dampen our spirits.

Besides being 6′ 6″ and a former Seattle Seahawks tight end, Michael and his boys are huge lovers of Mountain Dew. I think there may be more Reservoir Dogs portraits of the lads with their Dew than traditional groomsmen images.

It turns out too that Jillian is a mighty good singer and as coincidence would have it, the male lead singer of the band was none other than James Cowan – A man I’m quite familiar with having spent hours and hours recording his sweet voice in the studio. The best part yet? Jillian jumped up and killed one song with the band. Awesome.

The Clise Mansion is best utilized for small, intimate weddings that are looking for a bit of a traditional feel. The floor plan is a little difficult with half of the action in one side of the building and the rest split to the other half, but not stuffing the place to the gills provides for great mobility and a nice experience. The surrounding grounds and Marymoor park provide excellent photo opportunities for portraits of the couple, family and wedding party.

Keep your eyes peeled on Kristen’s blog as she’ll be sharing tons of portraits, details and great moments as the primary photographer. Here are a few frames from my coverage that caught my eye and who doesn’t love a little rain hitting their lens when trying to hand hold a 70-200 1/6th of a second (Windmill shot).

Groomsmen having a laugh during preparations for a Clise Mansion weddingA groom beams while a groomsman laughs riotously during prep for their Clise Mansion weddingA view from the floor looking up at the vibrant green bottles of Mountain Dew being clinked together in toast after preparations at a Clise Mansion weddingA colorless silhouette of a bride and groom nearly touching noses before their Clise Mansion weddingA bride and groom share a casual laugh before their Clise Mansion weddingAn intimate black and white moment with a smiling bride gazing into her groom's eyes with his hands lovingly on her face just ahead of their Clise Mansion weddingA father kisses his daughter moments before they walk down the aisle at her Clise Mansion weddingThe first kiss from a Clise Mansion weddingThe witnesses signing the marriage license while the the new bride and groom look on at their Clise Mansion weddingA woman in the background cries on the shoulder of a man while the bride and groom have their 1st dance during a Clise Mansion weddingThe bride is bathed in blue stage lighting with arm outstretched and belting with the band during her Clise Mansion weddingA soggy, rain splattered night shot of a windmill on the property of and ajacent to a Clise Mansion wedding

Clise Mansion Wedding Details

Wedding venue:  Clise Mansion
Lead Photographer:  Kristen Marie
Second photographer:  Kip Beelman
Band: Oncore
Catering: Twelve Baskets Catering