Brita Guthrie & Richie Altig
Married: Holy Family Catholic Parish in Kirkland Celebrated: Private residence in Kirkland
Date: July 25, 2016
THE VENUE: High school sweethearts Brita Guthrie and Richie Altig held their reception at the groom’s childhood home in Kirkland, the rural setting providing the perfect backdrop for the collection of vintage furniture that made up the decor. “[Richie] grew up on a farm, and we both love the outdoors,” Brita says. “Our vision was a combination of romantic antiques and untamed florals, all while honoring the beauty of the natural setting.”
THE HISTORY: The furniture wasn’t the only vintage touch at the event—the groom wore his father’s wedding tuxedo, the bride surprised her parents by wearing both her mother’s and grandmother’s wedding dresses for the couple’s engagement photos, and the groom and groomsmen got ready in century-old cabin at the base of the property. The finishing touch: the groom’s grandfather’s vintage Model A, which made for a perfect getaway car.
THE FOOD: Chef John Howie (of John Howie Steak and Seastar restaurants) personally catered the entire wedding day. The menu, inspired by the bride’s Norwegian family recipes and the groom’s favorite Italian family meals, spanned from cocktail hour to a six-course seated dinner at the reception, which was held under a stunning tent festooned with greenery and chandeliers.
The menu included mini rigatoni, pork chops and applewood-smoked wild red king salmon. The bride’s mother topped the meal off with homemade Norwegian cookies.
THE PONY: The groom’s country upbringing meant more than a few animal guests made appearances, including a few dozen chicken and ducks, a pair of turkeys, llamas, goats and a donkey named Burrito.
But the star of the show was a miniature pony named Christopher Robin, who roamed the reception area (and ate a few flowers) before getting distracted by his reflection in the mirror of the vintage vanity.
