An Enchanted Garden Wedding at Chateau Lill in Redmond, Washington

An Enchanted Garden Wedding at Chateau Lill in Redmond, Washington

Andrea Carl and Mark Russinovich met at Microsoft, where they were colleagues for years. As the public relations lead for Microsoft’s cloud platform, Andrea often supported Mark, the cloud Chief Technology Officer, in interviews and public engagements. She initially felt Mark was aloof and reserved, while he thought she seemed full of carefree energy. 

Over time, they became friends, discovering that they were far more alike than they’d initially thought. The friendship deepened when they realized that their connection was unlike anything either of them had experienced before, making them both believers in the idea of soul mates.

Mark proposed in March 2019 in Napa Valley, after whisking Andrea away on a wine tasting and spa adventure. Though she thought the proposal might happen that weekend, he still managed to surprise her, proposing on a hill overlooking the valley when she thought they were posing for pictures. 

Andrea experienced the tragic death of her older daughter a few years earlier, so she felt life was too short and unpredictable for a long engagement. She and Mark set out to marry that summer but hoped the short timeline wouldn’t compromise their dream wedding. They immediately sought one of their favorite local venues, Chateau Lill, where fortuitous late-August availability, a beautiful outdoor tent, and a ceremony lawn by a lake sealed the deal.

Both Andrea and Mark wanted the wedding to feel like finding your soul mate does – magical, like a fairytale -- so the vision was complex. In particular, Andrea imagined soft white, muted pink and peach colors, petals falling from the sky, and an enchanted garden where flowers hung down from the ceiling, surrounded by sparkling lights. The couple knew there was no way they could execute a plan that ambitious on their own, so they hired Elite Events of Seattle to make it into a reality.

The big day exceeded their high hopes. Surrounded by their families and closest friends, Mark and Andrea made their vows under a rare Seattle sun, standing on a sea of pink and white petals under a sparkling chandelier and an archway of wisteria and roses. After mingling for cocktails, guests made their way into the reception tent where they were wowed by an enchanted garden come to life. 

Flowers hung from the ceiling over every inch of the tent, and luminescent trees sprouted from the tables. After dinner and the cake cutting, everyone moved to the adjoining dance area where Mark and Andrea had their first dance while petals fluttered onto them from the ceiling. Finally, the couple were whisked away to happy ever after under an archway of sparklers.

After their enchanted garden wedding, Mark and Andrea waited a few months to take their honeymoon, preferring instead to spend time with family and friends in town. In December, they escaped the gloom of the Pacific Northwest to vacation in the Maldives.