Wedding Setup: Bastyr University Chapel and Inglewood Golf Club

Here at the Fena Flowers blog we're hoping to periodically give you a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes. Wedding season is in full swing right now, so we thought we'd introduce you to the world of wedding setups! The first in this series involves a beautiful black, white, and red wedding in a formal and elegant yet modern style, with the ceremony taking place at the Bastyr University wedding chapel and the reception at Inglewood Golf Club. Now it's time to load up the van and begin!

A cart loaded with bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets on top
and reception centerpiece elements on the bottom waits to be
loaded into the van.

These beautiful floral balls are all set to make a statement
at the reception!

The van is loaded according to the "first in, last out" principle and since the reception flowers are being dropped off first for scheduling reasons, the large boxes containing cylinders for the ceremony go into the van first.

One of the most beautiful wedding venues in the Seattle area is the wedding chapel at Bastyr University in Kenmore. Once the site of a Catholic seminary, Bastyr is a school for alternative medicine and the chapel, on campus grounds, has been deconsecrated by Catholic Church. It is now open for ceremonies of all denominations and it is also a popular place for recitals and musical recordings that take advantage of the space's perfect acoustics. The long, narrow chapel is full of warm wood, ornate stained glass windows, and a magnificent altar. The attention to detail that was observed in every aspect of the chapel's ornamentation makes it a space that is both inviting and awe-inspiring.

The chapel at Bastyr University.

A stained glass window in the Bastyr Chapel celebrating the sacrament of marriage.

Unlike other venues that present more of a blank canvas, the chapel at Bastyr is already rich with beautiful details and needs little in the way of additional ornamentation. All the decorations that Fena Flowers provided for the ceremony were white (the bridesmaids wore simple black sheaths and carried bouquets of red roses to complete the wedding's palate during the ceremony) and of utter simplicity. Long swaths of puddled drapery stretched the length of the aisle, leading the eye toward the altar. At intervals, mirroring the spacing of the aisles between the inward-facing pews, Fena placed tall glass cylinders filled with water and topped with white hydrangeas. Tea lights were lit in the numerous alcoves near the altar and the altar itself was covered with masses of candles of different heights, their glass cylinders decorated with bands of crystals. That was the extent of the decor for the chapel, but it was both sufficient and elegant. The white fabric that lined the aisle gave the chapel an unambigiously bridal atmosphere and the tall cylinders caught the light of the late-afternoon sun shining through the west-facing stained glass windows, matching the shine of the banks of candles at the altar. It was simple, tasteful, and stunning.

Having dropped off the reception flowers, Katie (L) and Judi (behind box) begin to unload the van when they arrive at the chapel.

Katie pushes one of Fena's indispensible black carts--laden with hydrangeas for the decor on top and the boutonnieres for the groom and others stowed on the bottom--toward the chapel.

An event set-up is not complete without a JICB (pronounced jik-bee)
or Just In Case Bucket full of extra flowers in case there
are breakages or other mishaps!

The copper chapel doors open...

Judi and Katie arrange lengths of fabric on the aisle floor.

A view of the laying-of-the-fabric from the altar.

Katie makes sure the fabric is attractively "puddled"!

The fabric, post-puddling.

A fold in the fabric catches some of the color from light shining through the stained glass windows.

Phase One is complete!

The cylinder vases are transported in their original boxes to prevent the risk of falling over. They were wheeled outside the chapel restrooms (the most convenient water source!) to be partially filled with water.

Katie adds additional water once the cylinders are in place;
when filled, the cylinders are quite heavy and difficult to lift in and out
of their boxes without risking accident!

Colored light beautifies even the humble watering cans!

Judi can be seen at the far left putting the final cylinders in place
near the chapel doors.

The cart of hydrangeas was then wheeled down the aisle as Judi and Katie placed a handful of blooms in each cylinder.

Katie's rather fabulous hair mirrors the lush abundance of
the hydrangeas in her hands!

The finished look.

Clear crystal marbles anchored the cylinders, providing a bit of subtle sparkle. Color from the stained glass windows has painted the surrounding fabric in shades of pink!

Green hydrangea stems in the clear water.

The afternoon sun shining through the stained glass windows.

During the setup, the musicians for the ceremony arrived and began to rehearse, filling the chapel with beautiful music!

Tea lights added sparkle to these alcoves near the altar.

The candles on the altar shimmered with bands of crystals.

A glimpse of the copper mosaic tiles that flank the altar.

The candle-decked altar.

A view of the white-swathed aisle leading toward the altar.

And with those simple touches, the ceremony decor was complete!

The reception for this wedding was held at the Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore. Inglewood Golf Club was established all the way back in 1919 and their beautiful clubhouse, built in a French Provincial style, dates back to 1926. The ballroom's airy and understated elegance, with its tall ceiling, large fireplace, and half-moon windows set high in the walls, was a great match for the wedding's aesthetic!

The reception was to start on the clubhouse veranda, where cocktails would be served, and then move into the grand ballroom for dinner and dancing. Judi and Katie had set up the reception before going to the chapel to avoid a scheduling conflict with an earlier wedding--setups often involve careful planning to make the most effective use of Fena's time during limited windows of venue availability while still guaranteeing that everything is in place when the event begins. For the reception decor, Fena Flowers provided a variety of centerpieces for the table in the ballroom: red carnation pomander balls atop silver stands, massed red carnation arrangements set at table level, and arrangements of red roses in silver vases. The centerpieces were surrounded by votives in a variety of different containers, some silver and some clear, to create a twinkling, twilight ambience. After the ceremony was over, Judi and Katie moved the cylinder vases with the white hydrangeas from the chapel to bistro tables on the veranda, beating some, but not all, of the guests to the reception site! (It is sometimes necessary for the florist to discreetly and efficiently make changes to an event's decor while the guests are present.) With all of the centerpieces in place and the candles lit, it was time for Fena Flowers to retire and the guests to enjoy the party!

The Inglewood Golf Club's clubhouse.

Red rose petals were scattered across the tables containing
place cards on the veranda.

A glimpse of the French Provincial design of the clubhouse through one of the ballroom windows.

The airy space was full of elegant blacks and whites
with touches of red.

A black napkin makes a visual statement on a white plate.

A magnificent ball of red carnations on a silver stand rises above
the black-sprigged table linens.

Red roses in a silver julep-style vase is surrounded by votives.

A mass of red carnations in a low silver urn completes
the trio of centerpiece varieties.

The elevated red centerpieces were spaced on tables
throughout the room.

The candles and red lights casting translucent columns of color
on the walls helped generate a feeling of warmth and intimacy
within the formal sophistication of the decor!

The red-lit bride and groom's table was placed at the very center of the room with easy access to the dance floor.

The red carnations seem to glow in the candlelight!

With their setup work done, Judi and Katie load up the van
and head back to the shop.

Fena Flowers

425-825-8181

12815 NE 124th St, Suite K

Kirkland, WA 98034

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Photography by c.creativity

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