Leah and Seb had a Canlis Wedding on October 17, 2024, which just so happened to be the biggest super moon of the year! The whole day was magical. But watching the moonrise over the sound and Seattle cityline through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Canlis penthouse was the most unforgettable moment of them all. 

Let me rewind to where the day began. 

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The morning at Shafer Baillie Mansion

I drove through hustle and bustle of Seattle’s Capitol Hill district, and turned down a quiet tree-lined street. As I pulled up to Shafer Baillie Mansion, there was no mistaking it. I had to pinch myself. As a lover of all things old-timey and vintage, I was in heaven. An old 1914 tudor-rivival inn stood tall behind a steel-gate and pristine hedges. Its brick-facade and stained glass windows made even more romantic under the ivy vines that decorated the walls. Inside these walls, Leah and Seb had spent their last unmarried night, and morning getting ready here together. As I walked through the big steel gates, and onto the property, it felt like I had taken a step back through time. And when I met Leah and Seb in the foyer, the scene was complete. Leah wore an off the shoulder short black dress with pearls and Seb looked dapper in a black and white suit. The pair of them were modern elegance meets old-world charm. After strolling the courtyard and neighboring tree-lined street and taking some photos, it was time to head to Canlis where the real festivities were set to begin!

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The wedding ceremony and evening dinner-party at Canlis

It was October and the days were starting to grow shorter. The sun was already setting when we arrived at Canlis. Twelve or so chairs were set in front of floor-to-ceiling windows of the Penthouse Suite overlooking the Seattle skyline. It was an intimate affair to be witnessed only by their very closest friends and family. Leah’s family was local to the Seattle area, but Seb’s family traveled all the way from Australia to be there. In fact, Australia had become home for Leah when she traveled there for her studies and met Seb years prior, so they too had traveled all the way from Australia to be wed at Canlis!

Why Canlis? Canlis is an award-winning fine dining restaurant is Seattle. Canlis is classic Seattle – It’s basically an institution here. The food is incredible. The ambiance is warm and inviting. And the penthouse suite boasts some pretty epic views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound. But although all these things are true, most of my Canlis couples seem to have a few things in common. They either live in Seattle or are traveling from abroad and want to show their guests a classically Seattle wedding experience. They would rather have a swanky dinner party/intimate affair with their closest loved ones than a large or traditional wedding. They value good food and ambiance above all else. I’ve also found that my Canlis couples prefer documentary coverage of there day. They are more into candid real moments and just want to savor the experience.

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Canlis Weddings after dark and the Super Moon

Evenings at Canlis are my favorite. When the sun sets, the cityline sparkles through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the penthouse space comes alive with dim house lighting and candlelight. Canlis at night is downright sexy. But nothing prepared me for just how magical this particular night would be. Leah, Seb and their guests were mingling and sipping cocktails when a bright glowing orb started to appear from behind the city line. Camera’s were out, and I could hear the sound of ooooo’s and awwwww’s as the moon broke over the horizon. It was a sight to behold, and such a special moment. Moments like this are a perfect example of a micro-story. As a documentary photographer, I am always looking for little micro-stories that weave into the big overall wedding story. Within these, tend to be the little tangible details that are super memorable. I knew that Leah and Seb’s album needed to showcase this lil but mighty micro-story.

Without further ado, here’s some highlights from Leah and Seb’s Canlis wedding on the October super moon.