Destination Kona ~ Congratulations Amy and Jon!

On October 20, 2007 Amy and Jon headed from Seattle to Hawaii with 30 of their closest family and friends to tie the knot. I had the pleasure of helping them plan their destination wedding, and it was a blast! Their intimate ceremony was held on a grassy knoll right near the beach at the stunning Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kona, Hawaii. Thousands of white orchids were sprinkled to create a delicate aisle and also covered their wedding arch. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour by the ocean while watching the beautiful Hawaiian sunset, then headed over to their outdoor reception site called “Hoku Amphitheatre”. White hanging lanterns and tiki torches lit up the sky as guests enjoyed amazing Hawaiian cuisine like fresh Grilled Island Fish, Pacific Lobster Tail, and desserts like Macadamia Nut Chocolate Torte and Island Sweet Potato Haupia cake. All of these images were captured by their fabulous Photographer, John Hong of John & Joseph Photography.

A few things that made their wedding unique (besides being in Kona!)...

They adore their dog, Augie, and for their favors they made a donation on behalf of each guest to Old Dog Haven where they rescued him from. They also chose to give their guests customized Hawaiian gift baskets at their Welcome Dinner where they kicked off the weekend’s festivities at the Mauna Lani Resort. Last but not least, they had exquisite custom invitations designed by Whitney and Jonathan of Brown Sugar Design. These invites were letterpressed and the type was an antique, shimmery gold color that was just stunning and reflected the elegant and fun impression that Amy and Jon wanted to give their guests.

Vendors they selected:

Photography: John & Joseph Photography
Florist: Flowers by Heidi

Dress Designer: Justina McCaffrey
Bridal Gown Store: Belltown Bride

Invitations: Brown Sugar Design
Venue: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Welcome Dinner: The Canoe House at the Mauna Lani Resort
Cake: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Band: Full Circle
Hair and Makeup: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Ceremony Musician: Ursula Vietze from Magic Strings
Gift Baskets for Guests: Big Island Sams
Officiant: Pastor Keith Elliott from Kona Church of God

Suncadia Resort ~ Congratulations Jessica and Buzz!

If you haven’t been to Suncadia Resort, you are in for a treat. This serene Cle Elum lodge was the venue for Jessica and Buzz’ intimate wedding with 40 of their closest family and friends. The outdoor ceremony site overlooked a golf course, water, and mountains to create a picturesque northwest scene for their beautiful wedding. Jessica had planned most of her wedding, but was also in the middle of buying a house, working and going to school full time….so she asked me to help her secure the last few vendors she needed to pull together her special day. Aaron Horton and his wife Jana, fellow Photographer, captured their photos for the day and here are a few of their awesome shots. Aaron also is an awesome Videographer so be sure to check out his site! Jen of Jen's Desserts created this custom cake for Jessica using local and seasonal ingredients - we even made sure that the cake matched the color of her dress perfectly!





Vendors Jessica and Buzz chose:

Photography – Aaron Horton Photography
Cake – Jen’s Desserts
Florist – Loves Me Flowers
Dress – David’s Bridal
Venue – Suncadia Resort

Fall Wedding at Lord Hill Farms

Laura and Chris tied the knot at Lord Hill Farms in Snohomish, Washington on 10.13.07. They had been dating for 7 years so family and friends were super excited to be celebrating their wedding day with them! Laura has been visualizing her wedding since she was a little girl and created most of the décor herself – everything from the programs to the reception centerpieces and table numbers. Guests partied the night away while DJ Austin Beaver played music until the reception began winding down, and even then the guests didn’t want to end the party…so Austin allowed a few guests to enjoy a bit of karaoke for an after-party. :)

What made their wedding unique? Their Photographers from Northern Lights Photography, Eric Sartoris and Laura Elskan staged a “photo booth” where friends and family enjoyed being creative and making some crazy poses that made for some fun laughs.

Vendors Laura and Chris selected:

Photography: Northern Lights Photography
DJ: Austin Beaver with NiteLite Entertainment
Cupcakes: Hoffmans Fine Pastries
Venue: Lord Hill Farms
Florist: Family friend
Officiant: Family friend
Dress: Proms & Promises
Tuxes: The Tux Shop

A Tuscan Wedding

Melissa and Michael envisioned a wedding that embodied the feeling of Tuscany, Italy. They chose earthy oranges, tones of gold, and rustic browns to help create this ambiance and to compliment their outdoor wedding at Olson Mansion. As guests approached the Mansion’s entrance, candle lit lanterns lined a pathway and created a beautiful glow. Champagne colored raw silk lined the aisle, and whimsical flower arrangements set on rustic bronze candlesticks filled the ceremony and reception. Melissa also used Christian’s Tree Rental to provide topiary trees and greenery to add that extra touch. As you can see from the pictures, we lucked out as their outdoor ceremony finished in the nick of time - right before a classic Seattle thunderstorm hit! :)

During the cocktail hour the couple chose to have a raw silk covered tent from Rented Elegance filled with wines and cheeses that awaited their friends and family after the ceremony. Their beautiful scroll patterned cake below was created by Mike's Amazing Cakes.

Melissa and Michael really know how to throw a party. Guests were treated to a night of memorable dancing, a delicious ice cream sundae bar, and plenty of fun and laughter.

Vendors Michael and Melissa Chose:

Photography – Scott Turner
Caterer – Galluci’s
Venue – Olson Mansion
DJ – Party Source NW
Hair and Makeup – Salon Sorello
Cake – Mike’s Amazing Cakes
Florist – Fleur de Lis
Dress & Bridesmaids Dresses – David’s Bridal
Topiary Rental - Christian’s Plant and Tree Rental

Rentals – Rented Elegance

Congratulations Sheleeza and Brian - 9.15.07!

"Kelly! Where do we begin? You were such a key component of our big day and we have no clue how we could have done it without you! You rock, and if you didn't already know...you were born to be a coordinator!" ~ Sheleeza and Brian

Live, Laugh, Love

Sheleeza and Brian are such a fun couple! Their theme for their wedding was "Live, Laugh, Love" which was so appropriate for them as they are truly a couple who lives life to the fullest and they are so in love!

What made the wedding unique and personal:

Sheleeza and Brian got married at the Tyee Yacht Club in Seattle surrounded by their close friends and family. The setting was beautiful as the sun set on Lake Union as the couple exchanged their vows.

Sheleeza and Brian wanted a simple, classic, and elegant wedding so they chose ivory, black and sage as the primary colors that were incorporated into their wedding. They created the invitations, programs, and menus themselves and everything tied together beautifully!

They added personal touches to each table. The table names represented different places the couple had traveled throughout their relationship and they shared the significance of the location on the table card.

Family style Italian food was paired with Italian wine and German beer to represent where the couple would soon honeymoon (Italy and Germany)! A highlight of the evening was a slideshow of photographs taken throughout the wedding day by Jennifer and Brian Hartman with Photo Elan.

Brian Dale from Wave Link Music mixed an impressive selection of music while guests danced the night away. As the evening wound down, Sheleeza and Brian were sent off amidst the light of sparklers and the well wishes of friends and family.

Vendor Line-Up:

Ceremony and Reception Venue and Caterer: Tyee Yacht Club

Cake: Mike's Amazing Cakes

Gown: La Belle Elaine's

Photographers: Jennifer and Brian Hartman - Photo Elan

Flowers: Loves Me Flowers

DJ: Brian Dale - Wave Link Music

Officiant: Rev. James Kubal-Komoto

Transportation: British Motorcoach

Bridal Suite: The Sorrento Hotel

Congratulations Scott and Shannon Thompson!

Scott Thompson and Shannon Poglajen tied the knot on June 29, 2007 at Edgefield, a McMenamins property, in Portland, Oregon! It was an honor to be a part of their special day and help plan their wedding, as I have known them for several years so it was fun to work with such great friends. Their venue was a perfect setting for intimacy and fun, as Edgefield is a historic property overflowing with character and charm! The property was purchased by McMenamins in 1990 and transformed into a unique European-style village, including lodging, a pub with a movie theater, a winery, a brewery, distillery, golf course, gardens, vineyards, and wedding and banquet space.

About the couple:
Scott owns a recruiting company called Lexicon Staffing in Portland, Oregon. He is originally from Seattle and went to University of Washington and graduated in ’99 and is a true Husky fan! Shannon works in Sales for Symantec, an internet security company. She is originally from Wisconsin and went to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, graduating in ‘00. Scott and Shannon met in Mexico on college spring break in ‘99. The two of them make a fabulous couple as they are super fun to be around and their energy and bright smiles light up a room!

What made the wedding unique and personal:
It was really important to Scott and Shannon that their wedding was personal and unique. As they selected vendors, colors, and planned out the details of their wedding, they ensured that every element would be personal to them. Here are a few examples:

• Scott and Shannon hired The Photographers to not only capture beautiful photos from their special day, but also to create a movie advertisement which casted Scott and Shannon as actors in the movie, “A Lot Like Love”. This is a special movie that is personal to them, and they thought it would be fun to incorporate this into their wedding. A movie sized poster of the below image was showcased at their wedding – guests were ooh’ing and aah’ing over their awesome poster!

• Another example of how they inserted their creativity into their wedding was showcasing different flavored cakes at each guest table. This encouraged guests to mingle with other tables so they could try the other flavors of cakes, which were absolutely delicious! The different cake flavors were chocolate with raspberry ganache, mocha rum custard, carrot, banana cream, german chocolate, and orange dreamcicle.


• To begin the ceremony, Scott and Shannon asked their Officiant and good friend, Justin Rothmier, to introduce each member of the wedding party. Justin explained how each bridesmaid or groomsman was special to Scott and Shannon. He also gave guests a brief background of who they were – what they do for work, fun, family, etc. so it really personalized the ceremony for guests so they knew who were standing in the ceremony supporting Scott and Shannon’s marriage.

Vendors Selected:
Cake: Beaverton Bakery
Dress: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Flowers: Kathy Sohler Designs
Photographer: The Photographers
DJ: Chad Dowling Productions
Venue: Edgefield McMenamins
Hair On-Site: I Do

Congratulations Scott and Shannon!

Bring Your Girlfriends to Julep ~ New Seattle Nail Parlor!

Jane Park, CEO and Founder of Julep Nail Parlor, created this new fabulous nail parlor (right across from University Village in Seattle) so that women can connect and celebrate life together while enjoying a manicure or pedicure. The layout of the store was designed so that groups of friends can sit facing each other and socialize while enjoying their pampering. Rent the entire parlor after hours and you can plug in your I-pod, DVD, or PowerPoint presentation into their speakers and flat screen TV. They are even planning Happy Hours, Mommy Mondays, and Ugly Betty Thursdays where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a cosmopolitan while getting a pedicure. This is a perfect place to bring your bridesmaids, celebrate a birthday, or just to treat yourself!

New From Blumebox - Blumebuds!

These "blumebuds" are place card holders, bud vasees, and gifts all in one! If you are looking for a unique place card holder idea for your event, these blumebuds offer a stylish look to compliment your table decor. There are four patterns and eight colors to choose from. Purchase online at www.blumebox.com or at a local retail store like Whole Foods, Packaging Specialties, etc.

Bridesmaids Dresses You'll Want to Wear Again!

If you are looking for stylish, modern bridesmaids dresses that you or your bridesmaids can wear again, then check out Bella Bridesmaid. With retail locations from San Francisco to Atlanta, Bella Bridesmaid was created by owner Bridget Brown to respond to the needs of sophisticated and sassy bridesmaids. Not only does Bella Bridesmaid carry chic dresses, you can also find a variety of innovative products such as customizable jewelry, purses, and bridesmaids gifts. Although Bella does not yet have a physical store in Seattle, you can order via their website's order form. Also, franchise opportunities are available so check out that section of the website as well. Enjoy wearing those dresses again and again!

Sassy Table Decor

Try this new centerpiece idea called a "blumebox" to give your tables a splash of color and personality! Or, use them as a "gift box" for flowers when you take a hostess gift to a party or bring flowers to a hospital. You can find them at retailers like Whole Foods and Packaging Specialties, or visit them online at Blumebox. Enjoy!

Fun Address Labels

Whether you are mailing out bridal shower invitations or sending a birthday card, you will find the perfect address label to use by iomoi. Here are just a few examples of the super cute designs they have available. Happy mailing!