Wedding Inspirations

Inspiration Board for the ABC Table Top Competition

2010-02-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Ethereal Romance

Ethereal Romance:
Ethereal= heavenly, spiritual, marked by unusual delicacy or refinement
Romance= Love affair

Isn't this a great definition for marriage? All of the inspirations on the "board" represent these definitions in some way. There are many layers to this theme, but here is "skimming the top." The feathers, gems, colors all have a heavenly connotation. The black and white photo speaks of a romance that has stood the test of time, delicate and refined, just as the silver and diamonds must endure in their procession to beauty.

On March 15, 2010 Amber May will be a contestant in the annual Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) and International Special Events Society (ISES) table top design event. The event will be held at Columbia Winery from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Come by and see the final design of the Amber May table (click here for link to invite).

Wedding at Arctic Club Hotel

2010-02-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

Recently I coordinated a wedding at the gorgeous Arctic Club Hotel in the Dome Room. The outside of this hotel does not do justice to what lies within. The deep, dark woods and marble floors speak of another time. As well as the bar and lounge area just beyond the registration counter. One private, lounge room off of the main lounge area was perfectly described by a wedding party member when he said, "I could see FDR and his comrades enjoying a drink or two in here." The Dome room is stunning with its ornate ceilings. The room is quaint and large enough for about 150 guests seated comfortably and can then be transformed into a reception room, while guests are treated to cocktails and appetizers in the lounge after the ceremony. The staff is professional and is efficient in the turn around of the room. The only draw back this venue is the parking situation if you cannot afford a parking garage or valet, as one must park on the streets.

I was fortunate to be working alongside a few vendors that were very pleasant to work with.

Photo Elan, a husband and wife team, were creative with group and space. They are a peaceful couple to work with on the day of and took the group off site to do some "Downtown Seattle" shots.

Greg Lowder of Affairs to Remember was the DJ for the evening, providing sound for the ceremony as well as getting the party started for the reception. His wit and ease of temperament made for a good fit for the couple. I was glad to finally be able to work with him as I've met him before at meetings for the Washington Chapter of Association of Bridal Consultants. (Check him out on the new radio show Nearlywed Radio on Saturdays from 11 am to noon, on KKNW 1150 AM.)

Another vital part of the evening was Reverend Patrick Callahan (it was funny to be working with someone of the last name- he may have even been a priest at my mother-in-laws church over 20 years ago!). Mr. Callahan added humor and details to the ceremony that were unique and enjoyable; he explained the background of the couple and their future plans. He also has a unique story as he left the priesthood to marry the love of his life.

Making Your Relationship Last

2010-02-03T08:49:00.001-08:00

A must read for looking forward to a long lasting, good marriage!
Written by a friend of ours.
http://www.journal-newspapers.com/articles/2010/02/02/in_this_issue/monthly_features/feature_story/doc4b622bf6dc979472294595.txt

Sophia and Wayne

2010-01-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

Last summer we were privileged to take part in the wedding of Sophia and Wayne. I just so happened that Sophia's mother was a past acquaintance of ours and that made this an even more special occasion for us.
Their ceremony took place at Bethany Community Church in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle; the church's coordinator Suzanne was exceptionally helpful and pleasant to work alongside.

Sophia did all the planning herself; being very organized she made our job of decorating and managing much easier.

GH Kim Photography captured all memories posted here. This husband and wife team were enjoyable to work alongside as well.

Sophia's dress was from Cynderellie's Closet Bridal Boutique and altered by Barbara's Bridal Alterations .

Her flowers were beautifully done by Lea at Acanthus Floral .

Maygen and I had the task of decorating the reception room and had an interesting time hanging fabric from the ceiling of the Everett Yacht Club. The staff of the EYC are very personable and made set up of the reception easy.

The chair covers and sashes were delivered and assembled by some employees of Seattle's Best Chair Covers. Pipe and draping was rented from ABC Rentals to cover a wall of pictures that didn't go with the rest of the decor and added an elegant feel to the room.

Their cake was made and delivered by Edmonds Bakery- Very yummy and reasonably priced.

Food was made on sight by Chef Bert and his very lively support team of cooks and servers, consisting of long time employees, family members and friends. They were very efficient and "on top" of things the whole evening. A unique bit about Chef Bert is that he came to Wayne's place and made a dinner tasting for Sophia and Wayne to sample his dishes.

City DJ provided music and emceeing for the evening. They are a wife and husband duo that definitely kept us on schedule and livened things up. In the picture above you can see the wedding party had a blast...they were the last ones to leave enjoying each others dance moves until the very end.

All photos provided graciously by GH Kim Photography.

Contact info: 425-223-4443/ http://ghkimphotography.com/

Rolled Back Prices on Rentals

2010-01-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Pedersens, a local events rental company, is having an anniversary and they are "rolling back" some of the prices for some items for until May 2010. Check out the link and we hope it helps with your budget!

http://news.pedersens.com/seattle/2010-01/

Seattle Wedding Expo 2010

2009-12-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

We are going to be a vendor in the Seattle Wedding Expo January 9-10, 2010.
Come by our booth and check out our low-budget design ideas. We will be next to the seating for the fashion show.
Below is a link to their website. Purchase tickets online now and get 2 for the price of 1. We hope to see you there!

http://www.bridesclub.com/bridal-shows/seattle-wedding-expo.cfm

Planning September's ABC Meeting

2009-11-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

We had the opportunity to plan a meeting for the Washington chapter of Assocation of Bridal Consultants, of which we are members. If one takes the opportunity to do this it involves planning every detail of the night, although the venue is set. Because we are advocates for local living the option of the Woodland Park Zoo as a meeting was exciting.

We met with the staff of the Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) Katie and Carol and the onsite catering manager Sarah (for Lancer Catering). They were all very nice to work along side and excited as well to make local living the theme of the evening. Upon viewing some pictures of their past events the choice of the colors green and orange were chosen since apples and peaches are seasonal fruits of September in the Northwest, to carry the theme of living locally.

Sarah and Chef Brandon came up with a wonderfully appetizing menu for appetizers as well as dinner. Most of the ingredients were purchased locally, the fish from Ballard.

Next, we invited other vendors to showcase their talents/wares.

Sheryl of Paper Moxie made menu cards for both meeting places that also included a list of vendors with in.

Anne of Floressence made the tables more beautiful with her arrangements in reused vases and locally grown flowers and plants.

Missy of Fossil Fire brought her not so edible chocolates along for display and spoke breifly on how supporting local artists is also a part of living locally.

Aria Style provided decoration of the ceiling and Pedersens Rentals the linens (orange napkins and bright green seat cushions!) and chairs.

Cupcake Royale donated some yummy mini cupcakes. Their ingredients are locally grown and purchased and one of the flavors was seasonal.

Last but not least we invited Derek from a group called Business Alliance of Local Living Economies to share his thoughts and educate us in the wedding industry on ways that we can further live, do business, and wed locally.

The whole meeting was photographed by Daniel of Daniel Usenko Photography (all photos in this blog are thanks to him!). David of Live Oak supplied sound equipment for the main room.

It was an exciting time for us to be able to branch out and show what we are capable of to our colleagues as well as great to see and hear how empassioned others in this industry are about these topics as well (and even more so than us in most cases).

WeddingWire.com reviews

2009-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Avoiding Body Odor on Your Big Day

2009-09-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

For some of us avoiding body odor on your big day is a major issue. We fear, for instance, that it will come upon us in the receiving line as we lift our arms to hug each guest or ruin the romance of a first dance.

Seven years ago, as a bride myself, I was reading thru a bridal magazine and came across a "quick tip" that mentioned using Neosporin® in your armpits the night before your wedding. The reason being it contains "Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are antibiotics that kill bacteria on your skin". Bacteria is the cause for "body odor." I have used this tip a lot over the past seven years. But it came through in a different way recently and thought I would share.

Recently I was getting ready for an event and as usual my two little boys were distracting me in the process, after grandma arrived to watch them and I rushed out the door. I was on the road when I realized I had forgotten to apply deodorant! That is huge for me, but I couldn't turn around and go back and I didn't have time to stop at the store. Then I remembered putting my tube of "Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B" in my purse. I dug around frantically and there it was. I applied it and then hoped for the best. Sure enough, by the end of the evening it was as if I had put on deodorant. Amazing!

Quotation from http://www.drugs.com/mtm/neosporin-topical.html

Shannon and Peter

2009-09-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Recently we were privileged to be a part of the wedding of Shannon and Peter.

They had their nuptuals and reception at Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, WA. Kiana Lodge is a beautiful location to have a summer wedding. It's natural beauty lends itself to less need to decorate the spaces available.

The following pictures were taken by the brides uncle, wedding photographer Bruce Miller (http://www.winecountryphotoart.com/).

Shannon and Peter included Shannon's son in the ceremony, which was a very touching moment for all.

The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Fred Fowler- who is a very laid back officiant, yet respectful of the couple's wants. Fred is in the background behind the bride. (http://bestchoice.weddingministers.com/)

The floral design was done by Bella Signature Design ( http://www.bellasignature.com/index.php)

The aisle pedestals were moved to the dinning room and made for stunning center pieces.

Before the ceremony, during and while the couple was taking pictures we were serenaded by a quartet. (http://www.seattlestringquartet.com/seattle_harp_quartet.htm)

Kiana Lodge has a wonderful, helpful staff as well as very delicous food. (http://kianalodge.com/)

Jen's Desserts supplied the tasty cake that had hydrangea's made from sugar cascading down, with blackberries and butterflies intermittently. (http://www.jensdesserts.com/)

Dancing ensued at the Lodge, thanks to Brett of Master Mind Productions (360-876-2238)

The "Chicken Dance" in honor of Peter's mom.

The romantic groom hired a yacht to take his wife and he off to their next destination.

They were met at the dock by Skipper Jason and his wife.
(http://www.ledgermarinecharters.com/)

And off to their happy ending!

Ceramic Chocolate Creations

2009-05-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Recently, I met with Missy James an artist from Seattle that has a unique twist on the indulgent box of chocolates. They are beautiful and they glisten in their dark brown, paper beds beckoning you to try them, but they have you fooled. If you were to attempt to eat one of these truffles you would be disappointed to find that they are not edible- purely “eye candy”- and you would be struggling (literally) for they are glued into place. These ceramic creations are very true to life. As she and I sat and chatted about the boxes of chocolate it was apparent that she is thoughtful about the process and the outcome. She also has fun watching the look of surprise cross a persons face as they realize that they cannot indulge themselves of the lovely morsels they have their eyes on.
“What would I do with a box of chocolates I cannot eat?” you might ask. Well, many people enjoy them as a conversation piece or given as a gift. The latter is where we are most interested. Many brides and grooms wonder at the thought of giving a unique and timeless gift to those involved in their wedding day. These chocolates would definitely be a distinct present to receive. Also, they can be used as décor at your at your reception on your wedding day.
If you were to order an item, be sure to order in advance as each of these are handmade and glazed; preferably two months allowance. In order to customize the color of the box or color of candies, you may send a fabric swatch so that Missy can match the glaze as closely as possible to the color theme of your wedding; allow for even more time in custom ordering. The boxes come in three shapes- square, rectangular, and heart shaped, and as mentioned before you may customize the color or stick with the original black version. You can also have your initials or words painted on the candies. The price range for these scrumptious looking creations is $40 for a box of four all the way up to $450 for a large heart shaped box of about 50. Whatever you choose the recipient of this wonderfully unique gift will be able to enjoy these chocolates for a long time.
Contact information for Missy James:
206-778-8313
fossilfire@yahoo.com
www.fossilfirechocolates.com

Free Tour of Snohomish Wedding Venues

2009-05-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

We all like free stuff right? Well, I had to get the word out for all you brides-to-be that are interested in venues of the city of Snohomish, WA.
Sunday, March 17th from noon to 6 pm there is a tour being put on by the Snohomish Wedding Guild that should be great. They will take you on a tour of historic Snohomish, taste food of local caterers, sample cake, view wedding attire and much more, and even be driven to each site in a complimentary limo ride if you so desire.
For more information you can find the event details at http:/www.mysnohomishwedding.com and click on the image for "Snohomish Wedding Guild Showcase Tour."

To brew or not to brew?

2009-05-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

As a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants we are consistently meeting new vendors offering great services. Our favorites are the vendors who allow you to truly personalize your wedding day. Our newest favorite: Gallaghers "Where you brew". Gallaghers offers a special way to personalize the beverages you serve at your wedding while guaranteeing freshness and the highest quality of ingredients for a brew that is uniquely yours and tastes amazing! Gallaghers offers personal brewing of beers, wines, ciders, and root beer. This can also be a really fun planning event for an engaged couple to enjoy together (especially for you grooms).

Beer or Cider
To make a batch of beer at Gallaghers you should plan on spending about 2 hours at their facility. You will be greeted by a friendly, experienced brewmaster who will talk with you about the styles of beer you enjoy and help you choose a brew from among their 50 recipes. You will then be assigned one of their steam fired, professional kettles and give you an easy to follow instruction sheet to create your special brew. Once this process is completed, they will transfer your brew into one of their specialized fermenters and set a date for you to come back and bottle your beer. The standard fermenting time is 2 weeks (so allow at least this much time before your wedding date, up to 3 months for the freshest beer possible). On your scheduled bottling date, plan to spend about one hour sterilizing your bottles in their professional bottle washer (ensuring cleanliness and health for you and your guests) and capping your brew. You can also request special labels (ex: Jack and Jill's Wedding Day Stout). A full batch makes about 138 - 12oz bottles of the freshest beer you have ever tasted. The cost per batch is between $150 to $165 depending on the recipe you choose. This is a truly unique and cost efficient way to serve something special on your wedding day. If you keep the bottles in a cool, dry place your brew will keep for 3-6 months.

Wine
Making and bottling your own wine for your wedding requires a bit more time, so plan ahead. Gallaghers offers over 45 wonderful varieties. The 1st step of wine making only takes about 15 minutes to complete. You must return for about 4 steps. Again, this process is a little more involved than beer or cider brewing, but the results and benefits of making and bottling your own wine for your wedding day are well worth it! From step one to bottling, the process is about 6-8 weeks, making your wine quite drinkable at this point. Gallaghers recommends an additional aging time of 3-6 months for optimum results. If your engagement allows time for this, it will result in a very special wine sure to impress you and your guests. Gallgahers wine kits vary from $145 to $215 (not including bottles) depending on what you choose to make. This makes 28 - 750ml bottles of wine. Again, a unique and cost efficient way of serving an amazing wine at your wedding.

Tasting Room
Located in beautiful downtown Edmonds, make it a date and head over to Gallaghers tasting room to sample a variety of their house brews of ales, ciders, and wines. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff will be happy to introduce you to the amazing experience of brewing and tasting some of the best brews in the Northwest.

Info:
Address: 120 5th Ave S, Edmonds WA 98020
Telephone: 425-776-4209
Website: www.whereubrew.com
Hours: CLOSED MONDAYS
TUE-FRI 2PM - 8PM
SAT 10AM - 5PM
SUN APPT. ONLY PLEASE
Payment accepted: Cash, Visa, Mastercard

We hope you enjoyed our article about Gallaghers Brewing.

Personal Wedding Blog on Facebook

2009-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new way to share about your engagement or the time leading up to your wedding day?

If you are a member of Facebook.com there is a new application available to you at no cost. You must become a "fan" of "Wedding Wire"* (see explanation below) and then you can "allow" the application to upload onto your profile. You will be able to share your status in planning, upload photos, and blog about your plans. There is also a vendor search engine that can help you find local vendors to assist in making your wedding day what you want it to be.

For more information check out "Wedding Wire" on Facebook.com.

*"Wedding Wire" has a website at weddingwire.com for finding local vendors. Those who have used these vendors, or worked along side them, are able to write a review of the company; which can be very helpful in narrowing your search among an overwhelming amount of options.