A blind date isn’t a foolproof way to meet your soul mate, but that's exactly how Marnie Hanel and Jamie Bordley found each other. After their first fateful meeting, the two quickly became a couple, and a few months later, Marnie invited Jamie home to Seattle for the holidays. "On New Year's Eve, I remember thinking, 'This is my guy,'" she says. So it's only fitting that they decided to get hitched there on New Year's Eve 2011.

With the holiday though came one big conundrum: Throwing a huge party that still felt like a wedding. See how the duo found a balance.

Stationer Cheree Berry designed the couple's punchy letterpress suite. Party horns announced the big news, followed by formal invitations and reply cards. To get guests in the New Year's Eve spirit, Berry enclosed envelopes of confetti printed with gold motifs.

On December 31, 250 guests gathered at Seattle’s Trinity Parish for the Episcopalian service, accompanied by readings of love letters from notable historic couples such as John and Abigail Adams.

Here, the couple pose for pictures before the ceremony.

Marnie and Jamie kiss in front of a giant red ampersand and the iconic Space Needle in Olympic Sculpture Park before their vows. "I was nervous to see Jamie before I came down the aisle, but it was nice to have that private moment between us," says Marnie.

The matron of honor, Marnie's pregnant sister Maggie Storino, shows off her custom feather corsage by Brown Paper Design.

Jamie's boutonniere of silk acorns, leaves, and feathers was also by Brown Paper Design.

The Northwest Girlchoir sings winter carols before the processional. "Walking into a church full of people we both love was just amazing," says the bride.

The couple's bands nestle in the same ring box that Marnie’s parents used at their wedding. Marnie gave Jamie a pair of engraved silver bird cuff links in honor of his nickname for her, "Bluebird."

The tiny 14-month-old flower girl, Sophia, Marnie's niece, was carried down the aisle by her father.

Sophia, Marnie's niece and flower girl, was carried down the aisle wearing sparkly red Toms shoes.

On every seat in the church, guests found a program that flipped open to reveal the order of events and a packet of supersize confetti for them to throw as the flower girl went by.

Though she didn't have a bridal party, Marnie honored her closest girlfriends with a sushi party. She gave her pals classic books like "Oliver Twist."

The reception was held in a century-old factory decorated like a 1950s supper club. Round tables of different sizes were scattered around the dining room to mimic confetti.

Noisemakers, similar to the save-the-dates, were used as escort cards.

At the reception, guests were greeted with an amuse-bouche of blini topped with salmon and caviar.

Circular menus, calligraphed with each guest's name, describe the hearty holiday meal of blinis with caviar, beef tenderloin, and cheesy twice-baked potatoes. "People practically licked their plates," says Marnie. Bottles of Veuve Clicquot double as table numbers.

The couple's first dance was to “You're the Best Thing.”

In lieu of a traditional welcome bag, umbrellas emblazoned with the words “pitter patter goes my heart” were left in guests’ hotel rooms. Here, Jamie and Marnie pose with one in front of Trinity Parish.

Marnie and Jamie also put together a comprehensive list of their favorite places in Seattle, so out-of-town guests could explore. Marnie's mom's famous chocolate-chip cookies were slipped into rooms while everyone was at the rehearsal dinner.

Sugar peonies and the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne” decorate the carrot, lemon-blackberry, and chocolate-raspberry cake.

The couple's signature drink, a kir royale, was served in a Champagne flute with a lemon twist.

Mid-reception, Marnie's parents gave the couple a Bernese Mountain Dog pup they named Winter.

"Guys never get anything special at events," says Marnie, so she asked craft whiz Denise Sharp to make military-style badges for the male guests to wear.

Cocktail stirrers bear gold silhouettes of Marnie and Jamie.

They gave "tattooed" apples from Old Tower Farm as favors; the unripened fruit had been covered with stickers, and then left to turn red in the sun.

Jamie handpicked six of his favorite Northwestern beers, like Oregon's Session, for his friends to sample at the bar.

A "take one, make one" resolution wall spells out "M+J." Guests chose a playful prediction ("I resolve to visit Graceland") to honor the new year on the way.

Marnie wrote all of the whimsical resolutions, including "I resolve to play the banjo" and "I resolve to meet a tall, dark stranger."

After guests plucked a resolution from the wall of envelopes, they made a resolution for the newlyweds, which they slipped into the nearby guest book.

When the couple’s "kissing clock" (also designed by stationer Cheree Berry) struck midnight, Marnie's silhouette smooched Jamie’s.

Around 11 p.m., Marnie traded in her veil for a fun, feathery, sparkly headpiece by Twigs & Honey.

A guest models her headpiece.

Late-night coffee was served with napkins that said "Up all night."

Marnie's mom raises a glass to the newlyweds -- and the new year.

Friends go wild as confetti cannons blast off to celebrate the start of 2012.

Sparklers and matches were distributed to everyone for the grand finale. "How else do you finish an evening that's been so decadent and fun?" says Marnie.

Marnie and Jamie walk to their getaway car, an old-fashioned British taxicab, through throngs of sparkler-waving loved ones. The next day, they flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they spent their honeymoon.

"Midnight was amazing," says Marnie. "We'll never top that moment, but New Year's Eve will always be extra special for us."

The newlyweds sent out thank-you cards that said "Big Kiss. Big Thank You."

Locations: Trinity Parish ceremony; Sodo Park reception

Photography: Annabel Braithwaite and Dorothee Brand of Belathee Photography

Catering: Herban Feast

Flowers and Decor: Brown Paper Design

Cake: The People's Cake

Stationery: Cheree Berry Paper 

Custom Headpieces: La La Laurie

Boutonnieres and Cake Letters: D.Sharp

Wedding Coordination: Solomon Event Planning

Calligraphy: Envelopes: Cheryl Tefft of Calligraphics; menus and day-of papery, John DeCollibus of Beyond Words

Ceremony Music: Northwest Girlchoir

Reception Band: Mister Miyagi

DJ: Austin Beaver

Rentals: AA Party Rentals; La Tavola Fine Linen; Bickner Dance Floors

Videography: Bogle Productions

Lighting: Blue Danube Productions

Bride's Dress: Priscilla of Boston

Bridal Headpieces: Twigs & Honey

Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Groom's Attire: Wall Street Custom Clothiers

Cuff Links: Stephen Einhorn

Flower Girl Hat: Jamie Rae Hats

Hair and Makeup: Tiffany Lowry of Tiffany Colors

Alterations: Anna's Bridal

Transporation: Premier Coaches Northwest, 253-529-1655; British Motor Coach; Butler Valet

Web Design: Hum Creative

Hot Dog Cart: Dante's Inferno Dogs

Cocktail Napkins, Matches, and Stirrers: ForYourParty.com

Sparklers: Say Anything Design

Top Hats: Forum Novelties

Confetti: A Class Act

Umbrellas: Shed Rain

Apples: Old Tower Farm