I knew a year ago that tonight will be my best New Year’s Eve celebration ever to date.  For the past two years Seung and I spent New Year’s Eve  at our friends Annabelle and Kashi’s downtown Seattle  rooftop party with a group  of good people and friends.  It beats the Seattle nightlife parties for sure I can tell you that.  This year we’re doing it again except at a different downtown Seattle venue.  A venue more suitable for a wedding.  A venue like the luxurious Hotel 1000. If you haven’t pieced it together yet, Annabelle and Kashi are getting married on NYE!  I’m so excited that it’s hard to believe that today has finally arrived.  How cool is that to get married and  to count down to the new year with your closest friends and family on this very special day?  I’m extremely happy for the couple.  It’s going to be so much fun!

Last month we got together to do an engagement shoot at the very site of past new year celebrations.  How fitting was that?  We initially had plans to roam around Seattle, but due to time and the sun setting much sooner during the winter we were confined to the apartment building.  It was fine though because it was already the perfect spot.  Plus, it was windy and chilly which made it less desirable to roam too far way.  Good thing you can always count on a glass of wine to help warm and spice things up! 

I totally love the city view on one side and the view of the St. James Cathedral towers on the other from the rooftop.  Love the architecture of that church.  It’s even more beautiful and dramatic in the inside.  If I was Catholic that would be my first choice pick to walk down the aisle.  Seriously.

First off I just want to say congratulations to Elisa and Steve who got married yesterday!  I’m a little behind on my blog entries so I’m finally posting some pictures from their engagement session.  About a month ago I took engagement photos for my sister Elisa and my future brother in-law Steve.  I have to admit that at first it was really weird for me, for my sister, and maybe Steve too.  There were plenty of “ewww” moments when Elisa and Steve had to give each other kisses and other affectionate gestures.  For those who know us can you just imagine the torture?  Haha, just kidding (a little).  It was pouring rain on my way to meet them for the photoshoot.  The rain finally let up right when we arrived at our first location.  Thank goodness!  We were able to get in some photos at Lincoln Park in West Seattle, and then we moved over to California Ave for a change of scenery.  All these places appeared random at first but I as learned during the photo session each place holds a special place in the couple’s hearts and memories.

I met Hanh through work over three years ago.  Years before that, I met Wing at another co-worker’s White Elephant Gift Exchange party.  Wing and I mingled and got along instantly.  Maybe it was because we found refuge in not knowing too many other people at the party.   Actually, I think it was video games.  Wing’s a game designer at Nintendo and my husband loves playing video games *gags*.  I should mention that the party was also a potluck.  Til this day I still remember him as the deep-fried macaroni cheese guy.  Such a bachelor dish to make, haha.  It’s funny that I clearly remember that but not what I brought (I bet it was take-out).  Well, that was the last I saw of Wing or so I thought.  As big as this world is I’m constantly reminded of how small it could really be also.  I would cross paths with Wing once again many years later.  Hanh and Wing found each other and they couldn’t be more perfect for one another.  A few weeks before their beautiful wedding this past May I found out that they didn’t have their engagement photos taken yet.  Lucky for them I had just gotten my camera and needed test subjects, and lucky me for the opportunity to photograph them.  I chose the Olympic Sculpture Park as our shoot location since I thought it would be a fun place to go.  I didn’t expect to learn so much about them during the photoshoot.  I think that most people would be slightly uncomfortable or not be themselves in front of a camera, but for Hanh and Wing their true colors showed and I tried my best to capture it.  Honestly, I had a more formal shoot in mind but Wing showed up in a Mario t-shirt and Hanh with her hair in a ponytail.  They came exactly as their everyday selves.   Once we got started it was hard to get any serious photos as they kept me laughing with their fun and silly nature.