Llamas, Purple Details, and a Dance Floor That Got Wild


Lauren and Jake’s Novelty Hill-Januik Winery wedding in Woodinville, Washington had a little bit of everything: a private ceremony, a public ceremony, meaningful purple details, surprise llamas, a choreographed first dance, and one of the most energetic dance floors I photographed that year.


The day started with getting ready coverage before moving into private vows and a ring exchange with just the two of them. Later, they celebrated with their full guest list at Novelty Hill-Januik, using the winery’s mix of concrete walls, garden spaces, wine barrel rooms, and modern architecture as the backdrop for the day.


What I liked most about this wedding was that it never felt like a copy-and-paste version of someone else’s day. Lauren and Jake made choices that actually felt like them — honoring family, building in time alone, surprising each other, and letting the reception become exactly as chaotic and fun as it wanted to be.

Elegant wedding invitation suite with white and blue stationery, eucalyptus sprigs, and small white roses on gray background.

Why Novelty Hill-Januik Winery is Such a Great Woodinville Wedding Venue


If you’re planning a Woodinville winery wedding, Novelty Hill-Januik Winery is one of those venues that works well for both the guest experience and the photos.


The venue has a modern winery feel without being cold. You get concrete walls, clean architectural lines, warm wood, wine barrel rooms, outdoor ceremony space, garden areas, and enough variety that portraits don’t have to take over the entire timeline. That matters because the best wedding days usually have breathing room. You want time for photos, but you also want time to actually be with your people.


From a photography standpoint, Novelty Hill-Januik gives you a lot to work with:

Clean modern architecture for editorial portraits

Garden spaces for softer, more natural photos

Wine barrel rooms and indoor reception areas for atmosphere

Outdoor spaces that work well for ceremonies and cocktail hour

Enough variety on-site that you do not have to leave for portraits


For Lauren and Jake, that variety made the day feel easy. We could move from getting ready to private vows, portraits, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and dancing without wasting time driving around Woodinville for extra locations.


Planning a Wedding at Novelty Hill-Januik Winery?


A wedding at Novelty Hill-Januik works best when you build the timeline around the venue instead of trying to force too much into the day. There are enough good portrait spots on-site that you do not need to disappear for an hour just to get variety.


For couples who want a more private moment, I really like the idea of doing private vows or a private ceremony before the public ceremony. Lauren and Jake did this, and it gave them space to slow down before the rest of the day picked up. It also meant the public ceremony could feel lighter and more relaxed because they had already shared the most personal part with each other.


For portraits, I would plan time around the garden areas, the concrete walls, the winery architecture, and the reception space once it is fully set. If you care about detail photos, this venue gives you a lot to work with — especially if you are incorporating florals, paper goods, wine elements, or personal reception details.


The biggest advice I’d give couples planning here: leave room in the timeline. Novelty Hill-Januik has enough texture and space that you do not need to rush through it.


Getting Ready and the Details that Actually Mattered


We started the day with getting ready coverage and details. This part of the day had a calm energy at first, but you could feel everything building.


One of the most meaningful parts of Lauren and Jake’s wedding was how they honored Jake’s late mother through purple details. There was a purple diamond in Jake’s ring, purple flowers on a memorial chair, and small touches throughout the day that made her presence feel remembered without turning the wedding into something heavy.


That is the kind of detail I always want to photograph well. Not just because it looks good, but because it actually means something. Years later, those are the photos that bring people right back to the feeling of the day.


This wedding was photographed by me and a second photographer, which helped a lot with the storytelling. While one of us focused on Lauren, the other could photograph Jake, the details, guests arriving, and smaller in-between moments happening at the same time.

Private Ceremony and Vows Before the Main Ceremony


Before the main ceremony, Lauren and Jake shared a private ceremony with vows and a ring exchange.


I’m a big fan of this approach, especially for couples who want a more emotional moment without everyone watching. A full wedding day moves quickly. There are people arriving, family photos to organize, ceremony timing, cocktail hour, reception details, and a lot of energy coming from every direction.


Private vows give you a pocket of time that feels separate from all of that. You can actually hear each other. You can react honestly. You do not have to perform the moment for anyone else.


For Lauren and Jake, this worked really well because their public ceremony still had plenty of emotion, but they had already given themselves a quiet moment first. If you are planning a Novelty Hill-Januik wedding and want the day to feel less rushed, this is one of the timeline choices I would seriously consider.

The Surprise Llama Photos


At one point in the day, the timeline took a hard left and I learned we were going to see llamas.

Jake had apparently called more than 50 places trying to make this happen for Lauren. That is commitment. It also turns out that llamas are not exactly the easiest animals to coordinate for a wedding day. They are skittish, most places do not just “bring llamas to you,” and the whole thing was much harder to pull off than it probably sounds.


But Jake figured it out.


Lauren loves the outdoors and animals, so the whole surprise felt very her. Jake has more city-boy energy, which made the effort even funnier and more impressive. The llama photos were ridiculous in the best way, and they gave the day a detail that nobody there is going to forget.


Not every wedding needs a surprise animal visit. But the larger point is this: the best details are the ones that actually feel connected to you. This was not random. It was funny, thoughtful, and completely specific to Lauren and Jake.

Wedding Portraits at Novelty Hill-Januik Winery


After the llama visit, we came back to Novelty Hill-Januik for portraits around the winery.


This is where the venue really shines. The concrete walls, climbing vines, garden spaces, and clean architectural lines gave us a mix of portraits that felt polished without becoming stiff. Some venues only give you one look. Novelty Hill-Januik gives you a few: modern, garden, winery, indoor, outdoor, candid, and editorial.


For Lauren and Jake, that variety fit the day perfectly. We could make portraits that felt elevated, but still keep the energy relaxed. Nothing needed to feel overly posed or disconnected from the rest of the wedding.

Public Ceremony at Novelty Hill-Januik Winery


The public ceremony was officiated by Jake’s uncle, which made the whole thing feel more personal.


Jake brought the jokes, as expected. But when Lauren walked down the aisle, the emotion hit. There is a moment where Jake’s uncle wipes a tear from his face, and it is one of those small, honest photos that says more than a perfectly posed portrait ever could.


That is what I like about photographing ceremonies. Yes, the big moments matter — the walk down the aisle, the vows, the ring exchange, the kiss. But the smaller reactions are often just as important. A hand squeeze. Someone wiping away a tear. A guest laughing at exactly the right time.


Those are the photos that give the ceremony its actual shape.

Family Photos and Cocktail Hour


After the ceremony, we moved through family photos quickly so Lauren and Jake could get back to the party.


That is usually the goal. Family photos matter, but they should not take over the entire cocktail hour if they do not need to. Having a clear list ahead of time makes a huge difference. We can move through the combinations, keep people from wandering off, and get everyone back to celebrating.


For a venue like Novelty Hill-Januik, this is especially helpful because everything is close together. You are not fighting a long venue walk or moving between multiple locations. With a little planning, family photos can be efficient and painless.


If you’re planning your own timeline, these posts may help:

Wedding party guests line up for a panoramic group photo outdoors under tall green trees in autumn.
Wedding party and guests pose together in a series of outdoor group photos under green trees.
Wedding party in formal attire poses together outdoors with autumn trees and orange decor in the background.

Reception Details: Origami Birds, Daruma Dolls, and a “Pain in the Ass” Tree


Lauren and Jake’s reception had some of the most personal details. Not just pretty, but meaningful and memorable.


The Origami Bird Seating Tree


They made a tree display with origami birds for each guest’s table and name. Lauren laughed and said it was a major pain in the ass to build.


Respect. DIY is beautiful and also occasionally chaos.


Daruma Dolls for Everyone


They also incorporated Daruma dolls because they traveled to Japan and loved the meaning behind them. Every guest got one. It turned into one of those small touches people actually talked about afterward.

Cake Cutting, Outfit Changes, and a Choreographed First Dance


After cake cutting, the energy just kept climbing.


Lauren and Jake did an outfit change for their first dance and came out with a coordinated routine. It was fun, confident, and very them. Once open dancing started, it was wild in the best way. High-energy, packed dance floor, everyone all-in.

Tips for Planning a Woodinville Winery Wedding that Feels like this


If you’re planning your own Washington winery wedding, here are a few takeaways from this day:

  • Consider a private ceremony or private vows if you want a calm, meaningful moment before the crowd
  • Pick a venue with multiple portrait backdrops so photos don’t eat your whole timeline
  • Build in buffer time because sometimes llamas happen
  • A second photographer helps a lot if you want full storytelling coverage
  • Honor loved ones intentionally. Small details like the purple touches become some of the most important photos later


Vendor Team

Venue: Novelty Hill-Januik Winery

Planning: K. Hancock Design

DJ: Orion Entertainment

Hair + Makeup: GLAMbridal

Dress: Luxe Redux Bridal

Alterations: Sewing Specialties

Suit: Beckett & Robb


Planning a Novelty Hill-Januik Winery Wedding?


If you’re planning a wedding at Novelty Hill-Januik Winery, another Woodinville winery, or anywhere in the Seattle area, I’d love to hear what you’re putting together.


I photograph weddings with a mix of candid coverage, clean portraits, and enough direction to keep things comfortable without turning the whole day into a photoshoot.


You can view my wedding photography packages, browse more Washington wedding stories, or reach out through my contact page to check availability.


View my wedding photography pricing here

Or reach out through my contact page

If you’re still in planning mode, these posts can help:

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Photographer

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Photography Style