Get Inspired!

One of my favorite parts about planning a wedding is creating an inspiration board! An inspiration board pulls in the feeling, flavor, colors and vibe of your event onto a single page. You can show a vendor such as a planner, photographer or florist your inspiration board and they are instantly caught up with your ideas of how the big day should look. The best part of an inspiration board is it is a perfect way to capture your thoughts and ideas! While planning your wedding you can easily get inundated with magazines, websites and blogs of pictures and ideas and it can get hard to keep track of everything and/or to keep your vision cohesive.

Here are two of my favorite inspiration boards that were put together by Clutch Events Associate, Sarah Gai. Sarah has a special talent in that she can hear just a few sentences of your vision and can whip up a spot on board that makes a bride giddy with excitement because she captures 'that feeling'.


The bride Sarah created this board for wanted a classic and clean look with a pop of fun yellow!

The words used to describe the below board were a mix of modern and vintage Montana. I think she nailed it!

You can easily make yourself an inspiration board by going to one of my favorite wedding blogs, Style Me Pretty. You will see the below 'build a board' icon and from there just click on the pictures of real weddings you find inspiring and you can build your board!
For my own wedding I'm creating inspiration boards for my photographer, my florist and my hair stylist to get them in tune to my inspiration! Happy planning!

A Crafty Couple!

SODO Park was the perfect venue to accentuate the craftiness of 10.10.10 spunky & clever couple, Kate & Elliot! What was super fun about working with these two is how complimentary they are to each other. Each meeting would begin and end with comments like, "Elliot is really great at detailed 'to do lists, he is getting things done" or "New fun projects keep coming up because Kate has such great ideas and is so artistic". I'm paraphrasing here, but you get the idea. They brought out the best in each other and it showed during their fabulous wedding!
The bride, a fab designer, created their own invites, programs, menus and more. When walking through the front doors at SODO Park there was a ~ 8' X 15' faux store front that Kate & Elliot hand painted to welcome guests to their Wedding Haberdashery.

The white chocolate & golden raspberry cake is from TM Dessert Works in Ballard. And yes, that is a giraffe and cat cake topper! The couple also had super yummy cookies, cakes and cupcakes from Simply Desserts in Fremont.

The couple ordered over 100 apothecary jars of different shapes and sizes. They made many of them into mini atriums filled with dahlias, moss and succulents. After the wedding K&E planted the succulents at their yard!

Other jars were filled with craftiness such as vintage spools, buttons, scissors, clothes pins, ribbon, measuring tape, etc. It gave the their long tables a vintage, haberdashery feel.

Their photographer, Win from LifeBox Studios did an amazing job moving them about all of the nooks and crannies that SODO Park has to offer. A little October rain didn't keep K&E indoors!

A major hit of the reception was the photobooth from 321Photo! The couple put together an eclectic 'prop bar' which let guests to dress up & get creative! It definitely made their photo collection one to remember.

The Horah is always one of my favorite parts of a Jewish Ceremony. Try not to laugh and have fun during this part of the reception, I dare you! Plus it is a great way to get the entire group on the dance floor ready to help you celebrate! DJ Ollie with Gen X Pro kept the guests on the dance floor from beginning to end!

One of my favorite florists, Kimberly Neff with Lilies & Lemon Drops incorporated deep purples, plums and magenta into her gorgeous bouquets. Kate and her bridesmaids made a trip to Pike's Place Market for their centerpiece flowers the day before the wedding. The couple hosted a family style lunch served by the always decadent, Herban Feast. They also chose bride & groom 'old time' feeling signature cocktails, a French 75 and a Spiked Arnold.

Bride Kate wore an amazing Jenny Packham dress! Loved it! Groom Elliot, wore a dapper suit with purple shoes:)

This couple proved that having a Sunday afternoon wedding doesn't mean you have a to have a formal low key event. This was one of the most rock'n parties that I've been too! They spent their engagement thinking about the details that would add to their overall aesthetic and guests experience. The result was UHmazing!

Wahoo, Get Hitched Give Hope Results!

Uh, what a night! What an event! What a success!! Get Hitched Give Hope 2010 surpassed our expectations beyond belief! We had a goal to raise $50K for Making Memories Foundation and guess how much we raised?? Wait for it...wait for it....$64,000!!!!! Hi Cloud Nine, it is SO nice to meet you!

If you weren't there...well, sorry, but you missed out! 500 brides, grooms and wedding community members made their way into the glamorous Four Seasons last Thursday and gave to a great cause while getting great deals! I won 50 glassybabys for my own wedding, aaah yeah!

So check out some super rad photos from La Vie Photography of the event and the team that put it together!

Shout out to the fabulous guy and gals who put on the event!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those who donated their time, goods and $$ to such a great cause! Feel good about yourselves, you rock! And if you want to read more about the event or see more pictures check out our recap page!

Cute Little Pumpkin!

Trick, Treat or a Baby Shower for little Olivia Gai?! How about all three! Throwing a baby shower for Clutch Associate Sarah Gai on Halloween was SO much fun! We chose an appropriate theme for the holiday and the event, "Cute Little Pumpkin", awwww! And used fun colors for the season and the gender, a soon to be little girl - purple, orange and black.

We incorporated orange and white mini pumpkins throughout the living room and dining room. And to the right in the below picture are festive bat/malt ball favors for the lovely ladies to take home with them.
What would Halloween be without yummy treats!? We did witches brew mimosas made with prosecco with a oh too perfect orange label and straight up OJ for the expecting mommies. Dishes like a cheesy strata and a chicken, spinach, mandarin orange salad were a perfect combo for a late brunch. Especially when you top it all off with a peanut butter cupcake for dessert!
As a take home for Sarah and a cute touch of decor we hung onesies on clothespins in each of the windows in white, purple and orange. It is a baby shower...we have to get a little corny right? The chair says 'Mummy To Be'...bwah haha!

A fun game that got everyone involved was to bring a picture of themselves as a child dressed up on Halloween and Sarah had to match them to everyone's name - super cute and a fun blast from the past!

Sarah and I!! No, we didn't plan our fall green outfits:) And below...eat your heart out Martha Stewart, I quilted it myself!

And because Sarah is the most prepared person with a thank you I had to showcase her shower gift. How cute is that stork? She drew and colored it herself....ah, love her!!

I'm so happy you had a great shower Sarah and I can't wait to meet Little Olivia!!

Christie & JJ Get Married!

Who is a fun couple? Christie and JJ are a fun couple! And they let the fun fly at their September 18th Wedding!

Step 1 to Fun - They chose an entertaining new venue, Urban Light Studios. The space is broken up into unique, artsy rooms like a tiki bar, library, Chinese room and a log cabin (Random tidbit...the log cabin room is from the set of Northern Exposure).


Step 2 to Fun - Hire boisterous vendors! Case in point, their photographer, Stephanie Haller! (How many of you thought I was going to say myself? Bwa hahaha! No!) Stephanie took awesome pics of the couple and their family throughout the studio. To see more pics take a look at her blog!

And while we're on the subject of 'boisterous vendors'....Christie's Italian Grandmother and Aunts prepared a delightful Italian meal! Talk about a wedding feast made with love!

Like the close ups? Shanelle of Pacific Artistry did on site hair and make-up for Christie and her bridesmaids. Who could say no to that face?!
Step 3 to Fun - Save $$! The couple was able to save pennys left and right by doing things themselves and having friends and family assist them when possible! A few examples you could do yourself are 1) They had their close friend officiate the ceremony and MC the reception. 2) Christie had a craft party where many of the decorations were put together in a cost effective manner. Bonus, she has sold many of them to a future bride! 3) The couple sent out their Save the Dates via email directing guests to their website and had a close friend do the rest of their paper design. You can find other tips throughout the blog on ways to save money as well!

An awesome picture on Greenwood Avenue outside of Urban Light Studios! It shows off Christie's gorgeous dress she purchased on Ebay which was an unworn gem from JCrew! I think I should incorporate a life size lion into all of my receptions...what do you think?! It was a definte fun photo backdrop!
Christie had found her amazing necklace on Etsy before she was engaged and had kept her eye on it for months. She loved it so much she made it her 'signature piece' for her wedding day!
The couple had an fab friend bake some delicious tiramisu cupcakes and they also had a yummy strawberry cutting cake from Simply Desserts in Fremont.
A close friend to the bride put together the bouquets, bouts and a few large arrangements for the space. And another close friend took the lead on serving and bartending!

I hope you liked the 3 Steps-o-Fun and the enjoyed the loverly images from Christie & JJ's wedding!!

Get Hitched Give Hope!

Get Hitched Give Hope is just around the corner! It is next Thursday! Now is the time to buy your tickets and read the online program so you can check out the goods, services and events that will be happening at GHGH!

It is going to be such an amazing night! There will be fabulous food and cocktails, marvelous music, great live/silent auctions and amazeball raffle items! And remember it isn't just for brides and grooms! It is for anyone who wants to support an incredible cause! The money the GHGH team raises on Thursday goes to Making Memories Foundation who grants wishes to woman/men with stage 5 breast cancer - BOO cancer!

So pick out your party dress and some swanky shoes and head to the Four Seasons on the 28th!

Need some incentive?? The first person to contact me in reply to this blog will win two free tickets to the event!! WAHOO!!

Nautical Nuptuals

Meet Adam and his sweet Melissa! The lovely couple were married in June at one of my favorite venues, Roche Harbor Resort. Enhancing the already gorgeous aesthetic the marina provides the two chose white and navy decor for their nautical nuptials. Please enjoy these gorgeous photos taken by my new photog obsession, Shannon Rice of Riso Studios.

Playing up their vintage digs Adam & Melissa took some retro pics in the Presidential Suite where Teddy Roosevelt once stayed at the Hotel de Haro.

Talk about a beautiful bride!! Melissa got her got her make up done by Sequoia Leopold of My Flawless Tan & Make up and her hair 'did' by Kate McCarthy of GEM Salon.

A little bocce anyone? The couple meandered around the grounds of the resort taking charming action shots like the ones below.

A fun wedding feature was that the pair used all of the spaces that Roche Harbor had to offer. The ceremony was in the sunken garden, the cocktail hour was in the courtyard, the reception was in a faboosh white tent by the shore and an after hours party was held in the main hall.

The tent, chairs and lanterns were ferried out by ABC Party Rentals and the flowers were provided by local Friday Harbor florist, San Juan Florist.

Can we please just take a moment to absorb how insane this candy table is? I know, I feel better just looking at it too. The bride displayed yellow and white candy in apothecary and mason jars she collected before the wedding on top of a nautical navy striped linen rented by Prop Gallery West. I love it!

Melissa and her father danced to Sweet Melissa by the Allman Brothers and later on guests boogied into the night dancing to the rock'n band, Oncore.

I hope you enjoyed a piece of the Hay Wedding!

Grazie!!

Just Do It!

Sometimes you just have to take your wedding decor and style into your own hands and do it yourself! And that is just what super couple Jen and Ray Illian did for their June 4th wedding at Georgetown Studios. Showcased below are some of my favorite DIY projects from their wedding. I hope you enjoy and get some creative ideas. DIY projects are a great way to add personal touches and showcase a couples sense of style!

Meet Jen and Ray...I know, they are super cute...they are high school sweethearts...yep, that makes them even cuter!
Their 175 guests sat in two rows at rectangle tables that stretched the length of the Engine Room. Jen added a splash of color to the table decor by using turquoise hand made napkins.

To let their guests know where they would be sitting the couple wrote the guests name and table number on river rocks and created signage by displaying Goodwill purchased frames that they refurbished and spray painted the glass with chalkboard paint.

De-labeled Pellegrino bottles subbed as flower vases. The flowers for the wedding cost under $30 and were purchased the day of wedding at the Pike Place Market.

Mugly's...unfortunately it isn't the name of Seattle's newest pub. But it did act as the bar for the night of the wedding and as the guests favor. Jen and Ray collected eclectic mugs from thrift stores which served as the guests drinking glass for the evening.

To mark the table numbers Jen took a pattern out of a quilting magazine to make stuffed birds. She used extra fabric she had and filled them with rice to give them weight and shape. Basically, she is super crafty...

Tradition! Keeping a long time tradition of Jen's family alive the couple had a pinata filled with candy for guests to take a whack at! Please note the awesome dress Jen is wearing made by local designer, Chrissy Wai-Ching.

Just to name a few other cool ideas this budget conscience couple did to make their wedding special and affordable...they did all of their invitations online, they had a friend officiate their ceremony, an iPod was used for dinner music, they had Veraci Pizza cater (their moms made salads) and their dessert was personal cheesecakes from the Confectional. All photos were taken by their friend photographer, Erica Nomura - nicely done!

Here's The Scoop!

Local ice cream shop, Molly Moon's, has launched their new venture, an ice cream truck! And good news to you brides who are looking for a tasty, unique dessert this mobile scoop shop is available for weddings!

Some fabulous planner friends and I stopped into the Wallingford location today to talk with Events Manager, Renee Gervasi, and sample some sweet and savory flavors! Molly Moon's frozen treats are made extra special by using local Northwest ingredients including milk from Western Washington hormone-free cows, much appreciated! Some of our favorites included Balsamic Strawberry, Maple Walnut, Salted Carmel (personal fave!) and 'Scout' Mint made with Girl Scout Cookies! Yum!! Their FedEx sized truck has been traveling through local neighborhoods and making appearances at private events for a few weeks now. You can keep track of its location via twitter alerts, website map and coming out soon you can download an iPhone App to track its path, how cool is that?!

How does the phrase go? You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! You don't have to scream to get all of your questions answered about having Molly Moon's cater your wedding. Just email Renee! renee@mollymoonicecream.com

Still smiling from today's tasting are Clutch Events Associates, Andrea Noble & Sarah Gai, Kaycee Parker of Parker Events, an international super model, Molly Moon's Event Manager Renee Gervasi and Molly Moon Wallingford Manager Kendal Hutson.

Why Knot Tie It!

It's the big day, you are getting dressed and ready to go and you look at your groomsmen, you gasp and flinch at their poorly tied ties! Oh, what to do?! Learn how to tie those ties in a pinch with this awesome website I found that shows you how to tie a ton of popular knots!

There are step by step diagrams and videos that show you how to properly tie a Bow-Tie, Windsor Knot, Four in Hand Knot, Pratt Knot (Not Spencer, eew) and more! There is also etiquette advise on what knot to use and rules on length for corresponding occasions!



Above is a handy dandy example diagram of how to tie a Half Windsor Knot. The tie-a-tie website is much more helpful:)