A Sweet Shower for the Sweet Side!

Little Baby Georgia is just six small weeks old now and beyond adorable! Here are the highlights of the cutest shower that Katie Parra, Holly-Kate Foss and I threw her lovely mother, Kara! Kara is the owner of my favorite bakery, The Sweet Side and is a fab new mommy!

Her bicycle themed shower was held at Katie Parra's beautiful West Seattle home. Katie also took these gorgeous photos!

Kerri Effendi of Kerri Effendi Design created the perfect invitations! Thank you Kerri!

 

 

I had the best time putting this together with these two!! Thank you Katie & Holly-Kate! Oh, and Holly-Kate did the flower arrangements from Pike's Place. She is multi talented:)

 

So who do we ask to make dessert for a baker's shower?! Her shop associates of course! We couldn't not have a Sweet Side cake at Kara's shower! And yes, it was delish!!

 

Had to include a super cute pic little Ruby!! Always dresses in style wherever she goes!

Guests painted blocks for little Georgia to play with. Some guests like Laura Marchbanks excelled (showcased below). I hope she likes my all green block with my thumbprint on it, oops:)

Thank you Kara for letting us be a part of your super special day...as shown below, we had zero fun whatsoever putting this together;)

Klara & Petr's Prague Pop Up!

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PETR & KLARA!!

 

When I was contacted by a couple from Prague wanting to plan an outdoor ceremony for two in Seattle on December 7th 2013 I thought it was a spam email for sure. But once I Skyped with Klara & Petr who were going to be in Seattle for a few days while following Pearl Jam on concert we immediately clicked! Klara had seen the light house at Discovery Park when she Googled Seattle and wanted to have the ceremony there. I warned her it would be cold, but it wasn't until we were on the water that she finally believed me:) But thank you mother nature for making December 7th a bluebird, perfect day!!

 

Reverend Jake Elliott performed the ceremony and the beyond amazing Ryan Flynn shot these gorgeous images.

 

Oh, and for the 1st time, I got to be a witness! Ryan and I were the only two people besides the bride & groom and Rev Jake to witness the signing of the license. So fun!

 

 

Thank you Emily Flynn for the perfect referral and for Ryan Flynn & Jake Elliott for being the best wedding guests;)

Jamie & Ryan's Black Tie Affiar

Jamie & Ryan got married at AXIS Pioneer Square this past June and it has remained one of my favorite weddings of 2014! Being from East Coast both the bride & groom wanted a Northwest feel for their guests to enjoy. Having their ceremony and reception at the historical AXIS Pioneer Square venue was a perfect spot for guests to see old town of Seattle while still keeping the class for their black tie affair! Capturing the day was the phenomenal Shane Macomber of Shane Macomber Photography.

 

 

The gorgeous couple right before their 1st look in Pioneer Square! Jamie's lace sleeves and open back gown was beyond! And Ryan in his black tux wasn't too shabby either;)

 

 

The florals were created by the delightful Kelly Sullivan of Botanique Flowers. She incorporated Jamie's preferred neutral pallet with hints of blue. One of Ryan's only requests was to have a unique boutonniere that had herbs and non blooming florals like scabiosa pods which turned out super rad!

 Jamie & Ryan actually built their own Chuppah! Hats off to them!! One of their best friends performed the ceremony which made it extra special.

 Guests sipped on specialty cocktails while we flipped the North room into family style rows for a Shooby Doo Catering plated dinner. Being avid outdoors folks each guests escort card marker was a skier, rock climber or fern image - so very them.

 

Please meet my favorite father of the bride of all time - Lon Levin. All fathers love their daughters and showcase that one way or another during the wedding, but Lon Levin is a step above the rest. He was so involved and wanted so badly for his daughter & their guests to have a wonderful day. He is the best:) Lon Levin had many opinions, but only one request - they must have pigs in a blanket served during cocktail hour. Shooby Doo added them to the menu especially for him and presented them to him on silver tray:) 

 

Oh, I'm sorry, is that Bill Nye the Science Guy rocking the dance floor?! Sure is!! He didn't leave the dance floor - so rad! Not that many people did - Solbird rocked the reception and the guests danced all night long!!

 

All in all this day was so, so wonderful!! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it Jamie & Ryan!

 

For more pictures please check out their album on Facebook!

 

Super rad vendors who made the day amazing!
Wedding Planning - Clutch Events
Photographer - Shane Macomber Photography
Venue - AXIS Pioneer Square
Florist - Botanique Flowers
Catering - Shooby Doo Catering
Band - Solbird
H&M - Erin Caldwell Styling
Gown - Nordstrom's
Rentals - AA Party
Dessert - High 5 Pie & Blue Bird Ice Cream

Erick & CB's Homerun!!

Erick & CB met at the baseball park in between games and immediately hit it off.  Both of the grooms are in competitive men's baseball leagues here in Seattle. Baseball was the first thing they knew they had in common, but there commonalities didn't stop there!

I'm going to try and spare you all the MANY baseball analogies that I want to intertwine into this blog. I'm afraid I'd strike out with my readers (aaah, get it!?)...ok, back to the grooms!! These two were so wonderful to work with! They wanted a modern wedding with soft colors, a thoughtful ceremony and a rock'n dance party. And boy howdy did they get it! The wedding was so them and they had such a great time - it was wonderful to be a part of it and to watch it unfold!

They chose Hotel 1000 as their ceremony & reception location. It was the perfect modern space for their vision. Erick's good friend Lanett Franko of Lovely Lulu Photography flew in from MN to shoot the wedding.

 

One of my favorite parts of their big day was that their teammates painted 12 baseball bats white and lined the aisle with them for a fantastic exit! Each bat had their initials and wedding date printed in blue on the handle. Such a thoughtful surprise from their friends! 

Both Erick & CB are art enthusiasts and so during there ceremony they created a blended piece of art using a blank canvas and two shades of blue paint which now hangs in their home.

Each dinner table was named after a Seattle landmark, the grooms sat at the Space Needle. The guests couldn't wait for the party to begin and so they made dinner a show in and of itself! Tables had sing offs, guests stood on their chairs and sang to the couple - it was hilarious, heartfelt and so fun!!

Morphy's Cake baked their four tier vanilla and chocolate cake and Kara from The Sweet Side created their dessert display. Guests were able to nibble on cheesecake shooters, cake pops, dipped pretzels and macaroons throughout the evening.

I want to thank Erick & CB for letting me be a part of their big day! Their one year anniversary is coming up next month - congratulations you two!!

Erick & CB's Vendors

Venue – Hotel 1,000

Photographer – Lovely Lulu Photography

Dessert – Morphy’s Cake & The Sweet Side

Rentals – Trendy Events

Florist – Tracy’s Basement Things

DJ – Playz Music

Olive You!

I can't believe it has been over a year since Kaitlyn & Dave said 'I do' at SODO Park! Together we planned a romantic and beautiful ceremony & reception and a rock'n party!! Which by the way, is my favorite combo - I call it a 'mullet wedding' - Business up front, party in the back;)

 

Dave & Kaitlyn's story is one of my favorites! Their parents met and were great friends in college (in fact, Kaitlyn's dad is Dave's Godfather!), but with moving for jobs and time drifting them a part they hadn't seen each other in years. When Dave moved to Seattle for grad school his parents urged him to reach out to their old friends. It was there at dinner, meeting up with people he hadn't seen since he was a small kiddo that he met their daughter Kaitlyn. And as the cliché goes....the rest is history!

 

One of my FAV photographers, Lucas Mobley captured their day. Now it is pretty rare to have a bride or groom resemble their wedding photographer. And as you can see, Dave is a 6'6"+ red head, but what you don't see in these photos is that Lucas is also a 6'6" red head! I overheard a few guests mention, "I didn't know Dave had a brother/cousin who is a photographer"...Too funny! Ok, enough random tidbits of mine! On to the details...

 

Kaitlyn has an eye for detail and she made sure to include thoughtful touches for her big day. From the hanger in her hotel room to gifts for all of their parents, she didn't leave a moment to waste!

 

 

Olive branches and olive leaves became a bit of a secret theme for the day. Our joke of 'extending an olive branch' to the families and guests who all came together ended up being a gorgeous showcase! Kelly Sullivan from Botanique created soft centerpieces for the guests table while also tackling my favorite head table centerpiece of all time! A 14 foot olive branch garland intermixed with white garden roses, wooden boxes and silver mercury cups. It has been a year and I'm still obsessed with it! We went to Pedersen's for the navy linens and silver charges.

Tara of Ephemera Press wrote out seat assignments on a custom chalkboard and calligraphered escort cards and table numbers. The invites were Vera Wang and the programs were from Heather of the former Heathorignal.

Kara from the Sweet Side put together a custom sweet bar with two, two tiered cakes, lemon bars (Kaitlyn's favorite), chocolate dipped pretzels and cheesecake bites - so good!!

Now on to the couple!! How frick'n cute is this pic of Kaitlyn getting her dress zipped up! I love it! Her and Dave's 1st look was one for the record books. I hate to call you out Dave, but a tear from the groom gets me every time!! They are just beyond adorable and affectionate. Seeing these two so happy was the kind of day that makes my job, not a job:)

 

Congrats Dave & Kaitlyn!! Your wedding was GORGEOUS! And it isn't just me who thinks so - Carats & Cake recently raved about your wedding as well! Check out their post HERE!

 

All of the fabulous vendors who put the day together are listed below!!

● Venue/Caterer – SODO Park/Herban Feast

● Planner – Clutch Events

● Photographer – Lucas Mobley Photography

● Dessert – The Sweet Side

● Florist – Botanique Flowers

● Ceremony Music – Contrast Music

● Reception Music – The Nines

● Photobooth – Atomic Photobooth

● Rentals – Pedersen’s

● Props/Paper – Heathoriginal

● Calligrapher – Ephemera Press

● Shuttles – Shuttle Express

● Hair – Jamie O’Neill Salon

● Make up – My Flawless Beauty Bars

Yachty by Nature!

I've been lucky enough to know and work with the gorgeous bride for over six years! Jenn Repp is a crazy great photographer and we've been 'working' weddings together since 2008! She is a preferred vendor of mine and I'm very happy to say that the feeling is mutual! When she asked me to be her day of coordinator I was super pumped and extremely flattered!

 

When she described her fiance Zak to me she lit up like a Christmas tree! She was literally giddy when she told me the story of how they met and have spent the past few years together. Very cute!!

 

The couple got married at my FAVORITE venue, Roche Harbor Resort and the cherry on top, Jenny Jimenez photographed the day. You know you are an amazing photographer when another photographer hires you for her wedding!!

 

Here are a few of my favorite detail shots. Jenn & Zak added such charming touches to their big day. It was fun to watch guests discover all of the unique touches they added. From her dress hanger, to the inscription inside his suit vest to the custom cuff links he wore. Everything was just very thoughtful and their June day turned out beautiful!

 

I know, she is looks stunning!! I cried when I saw her, for realsies. JennyJ has a blackmail photo of me open mouth, teary eyed. Not a good look on me. She on the other hand, was perfection!

 

Get ready to roll your eyes. Jenn made her invitations. I know! She is crazy talented!! She also created their seating chart turned guest book out of a map of the San Juan islands which now hangs in their home.

The Sunken Garden was the perfect sunny spot for their ceremony! Jenn wrote on their chalkboard, "pick a seat, not a side" to convey open seating. Love it!!

They carried the San Juan 'theme' through to the reception as each table name was the name of an island. Guests water glasses also served as favors. They were frosted with their anchor logo and initials.

Their dessert bar was beyond! They had cheesecakes, cupcakes and cookies - oh my! Family photos hung from the fire place which made for a great gathering spot for guests.

Once the sun started to go down a fire was started on the patio. A perfect get away for guests who needed a break from the rock'n dance floor. Jenn's mom helped her sew the blue, gold and white bunting that was hung - a perfect touch!

Thank you SO MUCH to Jenn & Zak for letting me be a part of their AMAZING wedding day! You two are awesomesauce!!

For more fab photos check out my facebook page, www.facebook.com/seattleweddingplanner. And please see below for a list of rad vendors who helped make the day superb!

Venue & Caterer - Roche Harbor Resort
Photographer - Jenny Jemenez
Florist - Fena Flowers
DJ - The Sound Factory
Dessert - The Confectional & Cupcake Royale
Invitations & Decor - Jenn Repp!

Maria & Jeremy's Wedding Bash!

When meeting with Maria and Jeremy they made their wedding vision very clear - they were going to have a good time party!! And boy howdy, did they! I had known Maria & Jeremy both through mutual friends and neighbors for a few years and they are SO great with each other! They laugh and play and are just fun to watch. Their wedding day was filled with flirty glances, a ton of hugs, even more kisses and a few swing your feet above your had dance moves!! They embraced the day with their guests, but more importantly you could tell they relished the day with each other!

 

Family was also a huge part of their day. Maria was born in Russia and she incorporated aspects of the Russian culture. Infused vodka favors anyone!? She even found vodka bottles that donned her name in Russian and placed them at her parents and grandparents tables. And her grandfather toasted their marriage with the cutest speech!  Jeremy's mom walked him down the aisle, his brother was his best man and his nephew was the most adorable and show stealing ring bearer ever! One super fun family tradition, his mom and aunts made up and SANG a song about Maria and Jeremy to a Beatles tune after dinner - so fun!

 

Here are a few of my favorite shots from their August wedding from Jeramie from SHODA LOVE  Photography!  Check out more great photos on my Clutch Events Facebook page!

Her dress was GORGEOUS! Each layer of tulle and lace floated as she walked - I couldn't get enough! And I LOVE this earring shot pinned to the Seattle map, such a unique picture!

 

Aaand here is the lovely couple! So dam adorable!! Their 1st look was down at South Lake Union and the weather was perfect!!  

The Rose Garden at the Zoo was a perfect backdrop for their ceremony! Ok, can you not feel the excitement after they were pronounced man and wife!?

 

Pun intended! Their adorable rabbit cake toppers is for their last name, 'Hare'. How cute! And a shout out to Judy Tallant of Tallant House. Jeremy and Maria consider themselves tiramisu connoisseurs and after scowering the city for the best tiramisu they selected her homemade treat!

Maria and Jeremy each made their own flavor of infused vodka before the wedding! Mini corked bottles acted as a favor and seat assignment for their guests.

The couple did a choreographed first dance and ended the traditions with a hora!! Seriously, her dress! So gorgeous!

 

A huge thank you to Maria and Jeremy for letting me be a part of your wedding!! You guys are the best!!

 

Wonderful Vendors!

Ceremony - Woodland Park Zoo

Reception - 415 Westlake

Photographer - SHODALOVE Photography

Caterer - Pyramid Catering

Dessert - Tallant House

Florist - Designs by Courtney

DJ - Seattle Parties

Transportation - Crystal Coach Limousine

 



Happy 1st Anniversary to the Wallas!

I want to wish Chris and Dianna the hap, hap HAPPIEST 1st Anniversary ever!! (OK, technically this is one day late, but it is the thought that counts, right?!) She is a knitwear designer, photographer, writer, illustrator and owner of Paper Tiger. He is a musician, producer and plays guitar for Death Cab for Cutie. Together they are THE smitten kitten, in love, 'what it is all about' couple and I absolutely ADORE them!!

 

The couple had an intimate, Scandinavian inspired wedding at the Swedish Cultural Center.  It was an ideal February day in Seattle - no rain, gray skies, slightly chilly.

 

The lovely bride Dianna knitted her bouquet and bolero. Let me write that again in case you read it wrong - she knitted them herself!! She is SO frick'n talented!

 

Their bridal party was SO fun and SO supportive and maybe most importantly, they had an awesome dance party! :) Chris's Death Cab band mates and his best friend Beau stood by his side and and Dianna's besties started their laughs early on while getting ready at the Four Seasons. All day happy tears and giggles with them!

 

 

Each table name was a flag from Sweden. Similar flags hung throughout the space at the cultural center. They used reds and blues which are the predominate Scandinavian colors.

 

Helen from Cake Envy designed their cake using elements from their invitations that Dianna had created (I mentioned she is crazy talented right?!). They also had a Norwegian ring cake called Kransekake from Larsen's Bakery. So good!!

 

 

Again, I'd like to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to one of the most lovely couples I've ever had the pleasure of 'working' with:) To see more pictures of their day please visit my Clutch Events facebook page.

Faboosh Vendors!
Photographer – The AMAZING Jenny Jimenez

Venue – Swedish Cultural Center

Caterer – StumblingGoat

Desserts – Larsen’s Bakery & Cake Envy (no longer in business) 

Florist – LaurieKearney

Invitations– PaperTiger (Bride)

Transportation – Butler Valet

Hair/Make up – Erin Skipley

Officiant/Music – DJ Corey Duncan

Rentals – Glassybaby

Gown – Jcrew (vintage, sorry!)

Wedding Day Emergency Kit List!

There are a few things I never leave behind when heading to an event.
My timeline - check!

A change of shoes - check!

My phone (duh) - check!

My nalgene bottle - check!

And last, but not least - my emergency kit - CHECK!

It doesn't matter what the occasion is, where it is held at or how many people/vendors attend, someone WILL need something out of my kit.

My E-Kit is a one stop shop of must have items and a treasure trove of 'I would have never thought of using that' bag of tricks!

My most common used item is a lighter. No shocker there, 99% of weddings have candles. But my favorite random item to have handy is chalk! Chalk is great for hiding red wine spots, dirt scuffs or your Great Aunt Edna’s favorite lip stick shade! The powder in chalk is absorbent, kind to your fabric and best of all white so it blends with nearly all white & ivory wedding dresses! I think I utilized my chalk about six times this past summer!

Below is my entire checklist of items that comes with me to every event...I was never a girl scout, but I'm definitely prepared:)

Addy & Joe Marry it Up!

I met Addy, the lovely bride, seven years ago at a NYE's party I hosted. Her best friend's husband was the captain of my softball team, Here For the Beer. A run in like that is the best kind of 'blast from the past' to have!

What made it even better was that she and her fiance Joe are such a GREAT couple! They adore each other! As a planner you see so many different kind of couples. Each are unique in the way they interact with each other. It is fun to get the googly-eyed for each other couple:)

Photographer Jeremy Leffel took Addy, Joe & their bridal party to Volunteer Park for pre ceremony photos. It was one of the nicest days of the summer, not to mention the hottest! Addy's bouquet and flowers were done by Aria Style - I loved the bright colors!

 

This Picture on the camel cracks me up!

 

I love the wall art at OSP! It makes for such an amazing backdrop!

 

Addy & Joe held there ceremony outside at the Olympic Sculpture Park's pavilion. Afterwards guests walked around the park and hung out in the grass - a perfect Seattle day!

They couldn't decide on just one cake - and really, why try!?! They chose cakes from four different Seattle bakeries. Six cakes and six flavors, yum! Aria Style did the flower arrangements on top!

Addy, who works at the EMP designed all of their paper. Their invite package was beyond rad!!

Thank you to Addy & Joe for letting me be a part of your wedding!!

 

Vendors who are awesome!
Ceremony/Reception Venue - Olympic Sculpture Park
Caterer - Taste
Photography - Jeremy Leffel Photography
DJ - DJ Joy
Florist, Linens - Aria Style
Dessert - King Fish Bakery, Bakery Nouveau, North Hill Bakery & Dahlia Bakery
Photobooth - 321 Foto

Thank you!!