Bridal Open House

       Are you planning a wedding or an upcoming event? 

The Attic and the Hansen Place will be hosting their second Bridal Open House on May 2nd noon to 4pm.  Come tour two distinctly unique venues, sample food and meet with over 20 wedding professionals in a beautiful yet, relaxed setting.

The Attic: 1003 Main St, Sumner, WA

The Hansen Place, 823 Main St, Sumner, WA

Come meet the following members of the Puget Sound Wedding Professionals:

The Hansen Place, The Attic, Simply Celebrations, Gen X Pro DJ Services, Angie D Photography, Top Hat Formal Wear, Betta Mansions, Elyse Juarez Make Up & Hair, Greatest of Days, Pastor Pat, Susan Haas - Harpist, and Family Affair Photography.  Several other vendors will also be participating in the Open House.

This open house has been organized by Nancy Skipton of Simply Celebrations.

White Dress, Green Wedding?

It is very cool and chic to be earth friendly these days particularly in the Northwest. What most people do not know is that it can also be very budget-wise to be “green”. Even if “fair trade”, “sustainability” and “carbon neutral” are not in your daily vocabulary, you can benefit from incorporating some of these eco-friendly tips to reuse, renew, and recycle:

· Use rental (reusable) items instead of buying new. There are many local rental companies to supply you with table décor, linens, place card holders, etc. Or if you do buy items for your wedding that can be reused by someone else, there are websites you can list your items on to be bought and used again by another bride. Try Bravo Bride for this.

· Consider asking your floral vendor about which flowers are in season locally at the time of your wedding. Not only will it save you money but you will support local growers and reduce the carbon emissions caused by shipping flowers long distances. Use your altar arrangements twice - once at your ceremony and then have them moved to your reception and use them at your head table or on your buffet. This will save you money and reuse your arrangements. Bridesmaids’ bouquets can be placed in vases along the head table at the reception instead of doing more centerpieces.

· If you are not attached to saving, cleaning and preserving your wedding dress, consider selling it on Bravo Bride. Your bridesmaids can donate their dresses to Cinderella’s Closet which benefits young ladies who cannot afford to buy a new prom or homecoming dress. Brides Against Breast Cancer will also take “like new” wedding dress donations.

· Try to use local vendors whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint caused by shipping items long distance. Supporting local businesses is great for your local economy and almost always costs you less to buy local and in season.

• Reuse a family member’s items from their wedding. A grandmother’s embroidered handkerchief can be used to dry your tears of joy and your grandma will love you for using it. If your mother’s wedding dress was a classic timeless dress and close to your clothing size, you can have it altered to fit you. This is a lot less money than buying a dress new. This can be your something old or something borrowed!

• Here is a very simple cost effective tip you can utilize at the beginning of your planning. Find a venue that can hold both your ceremony and your reception. You save by paying for only one location for your wedding. Your guests save time and gas (emissions) by not having to drive from the ceremony to the reception. All your flowers can easily be moved from ceremony to reception.

• Give favors that are appealing and can serve a dual purpose. A program printed and made into a paper fan for a late summer outdoor wedding can be the program and a favor all in one and keep your guests cooler. Consider a plant-able favor  like a tree seedling in a mini terra cotta pot that makes your guest tables look great and can be planted later and green your guests’ yards.

So walk down the aisle in your white wedding gown but think “green” while you plan. 

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member: Nancy Skipton of Simply Celebrations & Events LLC.

Dos and Don’ts of Visiting a Venue

Do make an appointment.  You want to ensure that you will be able to see the space and have the undivided attention of the venue’s onsite representative.   You wouldn’t want your wedding day interrupted with a stranger checking out the party, so we extend the same courtesy to them on their special day.

Don’t be shy about asking questions.  We would love to make sure everyone is on the same page earlier rather than later.  Good questions to ask include parking options, how long you have the venue for, what the venue’s expectations are for setup and cleanup, how much the deposit is and what, if any, is refundable, etc.

Do ask about preferred or required vendors.  Often we recommend vendors that we know do a great job, and they are familiar with our venue and the ins and outs.  While some venues do not require you to use the vendors on the list, some do, and it’s good to know in advance.

Do ask about what’s included with the venue space.  Is there a bride’s room?  A groom’s room?  If you are only using the location for the reception, keep in mind that you may not need this space if you are coming straight from the ceremony location.

Do ask about restrooms.  Are they indoor?  Are they close by?  How many are available for your guests?  Sometimes venues do not have enough stalls available for the number of guests expected and this can cause frustration for your guests.

Don’t assume the caterer at a venue automatically includes rentals.  We’ve heard of brides that make all of the arrangements with the caterer only to find out there’s no silverware on their wedding day – the bride assumed the caterer would bring it and the caterer assumed the bride rented it.  Most venues with onsite food and beverage provide serveware, glassware, china, silverware, etc., but it’s always best to ask and make sure there’s not an additional rental.  Conversely, off-premise caterers typically can rent these items to you or arrange for the rental if they don’t stock them, but you don’t want to be surprised (by lack or cost of items) on the big day by not asking about them before hand.

Do ask if outside catering is allowed.  Some venues have an exclusive onsite caterer or in-house food and beverage.  Ask if the culinary staff in the venue’s restaurant is the same for banquets – if it is, the restaurant’s meals can give you a good idea of the banquet food!  For venues that allow outside catering, be sure to ask about preferred vendors, or if there is a required list.  Often there are preferred caterers as they know the venue and rules, and the venue knows the quality of the product and service staff to maintain a professional image.

Don’t ignore Mother Nature.  If you have an outdoor wedding or reception planned, ask the venue about options for tents in case of rain (especially if in the Pacific Northwest!).  As a courtesy to your guests, you may want to have sunscreen (or umbrellas), bug repellant, and/or tissues available.  Some guests may have allergies aggravated by an outdoor location, so let your guests know the venue is outdoors so they can prepare.  Garden or outdoor weddings can be gorgeous and provide for wonderful pictures.  A little bit of advance planning can make everything smooth.  If you have an indoor venue but the forecast looks like rain, consider having large golf umbrellas available and put the ushers/groomsmen to work at the end of the reception to escort guests to cars.  This little touch will be remembered for a long time.

Do ask about exclusive use of the venue.  Does the venue reserve the right to sell space in the morning before your wedding?  How much time are you given for access?  If you are at a venue that offers other services, such as a restaurant or golf course, what is the flow of wedding guests vs. patrons?  Will there be other events going on at the same time as your wedding?  By asking in advance, you won’t be surprised by Aunt Gertrude’s 90^th birthday party down the hall.  (This also goes back to the restrooms!)

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Members:

Kati Wright, Catering and Sales Coordinator, The INN at Gig Harbor & Trista Shinnick, Food and Beverage Manager, Trophy Lake Golf and Casting

Brides Club Spring Wedding Expo

If your planning a wedding it's once again time for the annual Spring Bridal Expo at the Tacoma Dome!  There will be several members of the Puget Sound Wedding Professionals who will have a booth at the show. 

The following members have confirmed having a booth at the show: Adam's DJ Services,  Makeup By Nika's Mobile Makeup Services, Motion of Life of life Video,  Party  Bee Entertainment, Knots about Balloons, Paula Demmer with Travel Leaders,  Red Letter Events and Twice as Nice as the Bride. 

Don't miss the  fashion show that features wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, plus-size fashions and tuxedos from local boutiques.  There are also vendors who will have dresses for sale at the show.

You can also save some money by buying discounted tickets online www.bridesclub.com.

Tacoma Parks Open Houses

The Tacoma Parks and Recreation will be having several facilities open and available for viewing allowing you see the venues first hand and learn about their wedding day services. The following venues will be open: Point Defiance Lodge, Pagoda, and Fort Nisqually all at Point Defiance Park. They also have Titlow Lodge, 8425 6th Ave and South Park Community Center, 4851 South Tacoma Way. 

Three of the venues will feature a variety of vendors to complete your wedding day;  The Pagoda, Titlow Lodge and South Park Community Center.  The open houses will be on Sunday March 21st from 11 am to 4 pm.

We have several members of the Puget Sound Wedding Professionals group who will be at the open houses.  Please be sure to check them out to see what they  offer to make your day extra special.

Adam's DJ Services - The Pagoda, Titlow & South Park  Entertainment Masters - The Pagoda, Titlow Lodge                         Extra Hands Catering Services - Titlow Lodge                                Family Affair Photography - South Park                                          Getting Personal Imprinting - Pagoda                                              Grand Affaire Catering - South Park &  Titlow                               Lifetime Memories - South Park                                                      Motion of Life Video Services - Titlow Lodge                                 Party Bee Entertainment - South Park                                              Simply Celebrations -  South Park                                                   South Sound Wedding & Event Magazine -  The Pagoda                   Streamside Photography - South Park                                              Trendy Events - The Pagoda, Titlow Lodge & South Park                 Vivid Images - Titlow Lodge & South Park                                       Wallflower Photography - The Pagoda  

We all look forward to seeing you there!   For more information you can check out the Tacoma Parks site:  Bridal Open Houses

Tips on How to Hire a Wedding DJ

With the wedding planning season in full swing, it is time for a tip that relates to my industry niche – the wedding DJ and how to hire one.

I have spoken with over two dozen brides this past weekend, and when I asked them if they have ever hired a wedding DJ before, or a DJ for that matter, none of them answered “Yes.”  So, the following is a list of tips and advice to use as a quick educational tool that will hopefully help you find the best entertainment value you can.

1. Narrow the list down to a few potentials.  Look at the DJ company’s marketing materials – is it professionally done?  Next, look at what they are saying – is it about “Us” or is it about “You”?  Remember, this is your day, your DJ service should speak about serving you.  Next, look at their website – does it look professional, clean, elegant?  Or does it look messy and unorganized?  How a DJ presents himself will be a direct reflection upon his service – pick the DJs whose presentation stands out and write their information on your list.
2. Meet with every DJ on your list, in person.  I know, email is convenient and much can be discussed over the phone – but it’s hard to fully disclose what a company’s service entails and the value you receive for your entertainment dollar in a ten minute conversation or via text documents.  Consider the DJ’s personality, his appearance, how he conducts himself, how he speaks - this is going to be the spokesperson that represents you!  The other need for a consultation is for comparing DJs – consider it a live performance (us professionals do!).  Not all DJs are the same, nor do they provide the same service.
3. Ask them questions, but make sure the question that uses the “P-word” is last.  Here is seven questions every bride should ask:

1. What do brides like best about your style?

2. Have you ever done a reception at our venue?

3. How good is your equipment?

4. What’s your secret to getting my guests on the dance floor?

5. Can you do anything special for my formalities?

6. What are the hottest ideas for wedding receptions these days?

If entertainment is a priority, and more brides are telling me it is, make sure your DJ company delivers on the level of service you are looking for.

4. Ask for demo announcements.  Go ahead, ask them how they introduce the wedding party.  I can guarantee mine will be much different than what others may come up with.  And then I’ll explain the reasoning behind it. 

5. Understand that a DJ can do much more than just play good music.  Ask your DJ what else he provides in his service.  Brides have been walking out of my consultation meetings going, “Wow, I didn’t know DJs can do that and I can see the value your services have!”  This is why a consultation meeting is a must!  I provide personalized packages – and simply asking me for an email quote based off what you desire is not going to convey the value or quality I provide my clients with.  Even the quality of the equipment can make a world of difference.

6. Price differences may shock you – but do your homework!  This is why I say ask for pricing after the consultation has been completed.  I have had some brides ask for some huge packages and quote over the phone and email - seven hours! karaoke! monogram gobo light! uplighting! two sounds systems for the ceremony and reception!  a photo montage!  love story! – and then been shocked at the price quote I put out – they simply didn’t think it would cost that much.  But ask the DJ to show you a copy of the planning process he uses – how much time is really invested into you?  The package before would easily include over 45 hours of time invested into that client – plus expense costs to create the magic she was looking for.  Add on top professional fees to do this full-time and perfect my craft – and it’s no wonder why $15 an hour wouldn’t make sense.   Find out if your DJ is full-time or part-time – and then ask him to breakdown his preparation hours.  Simply put, the day-of time for a reception-only service is generally 8 hours – if only 12 is being put into you, are you really getting a great service?

7. Have fun!  Remember, the reception is about you and the guests – make sure your DJ will inform you on how he will make your guests become apart of the reception – not just attending it.  And your search for a DJ should be fun – after all, this is entertainment and no one wants a boring wedding reception.  In an informal survey of my 2008 brides, I asked them, what have your friends commented on about your wedding?  Their answer: “The choice of the DJ.”  Make hiring a quality DJ a priority – and your friends will be saying, “Your wedding is the best wedding I have ever attended.”  That is, after all, what most brides want – the best wedding reception, ever!

I hope this helps – I understand most brides have no idea where to start.  Take what you have seen from other wedding DJs and start your basis there – and then see if you can find one that “WOWs” you.  If you need help looking for quality wedding DJs, please feel free to contact me, sometimes I am perfect for a bride, other times, I am not - but I will direct them to a DJ that is a better fit!

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Tony Schwartz of Tony Schwartz Weddings.  You can also find him on facebook.

How to Use a Honeymoon Registry

Do not expect your whole trip to be paid for unless your  parents or  grandmother have already indicated they will treat you to a nice honeymoon!

After booking the honeymoon that suits your style and budget, why not ask your friends and family to gift you with extra special experiences such as an upgrade to beach front lodging, a couples massage, a snorkeling tour, or private dinner on the beach instead of more towels and a toaster?

Your friends and family will love being able to gift something special for your wedding that they know you would like, but yet have options to choose what they can afford. With out of town relatives or a destination wedding, it also saves them money on gift wrap and shipping it to your home.

There are 2 main honeymoon or travel registry systems to consider:
Gift certificates for a specific activity they book through your travel planner (who has your wish list). Or a dollar amount applied to your honeymoon package. This version works well for older relatives and those not comfortable with the internet. Any reputable travel agency can do this and may have cards so you can announce your registry.

Online Registries where you have a page to post your wish list broken into smaller increments much like a set of dishes split into place settings. The better your description is – the more likelihood of getting the gift! Some companies charge a fee to the bride & groom. IMO, that’s paying to receive your gift. Other companies charge a small handling fee to the giver which ends up costing less than wrapping and shipping housewares.

When do you tell people you have a travel registry? As soon as you have booked your trip. Or when you send “save the date” notices. That way you might get some great experiences for shower gifts. Or a with a card inserted in your printed wedding invitations.

When do you get the funds? Gift certificates would be as soon as the person gives it. Online registries work like an escrow account and you receive one check just before the wedding and sometimes a second one a couple weeks after with the last minute gifts. Since registry funds come in after you have made your package final payment – it’s best for adding optional experiences, upgrades and during travel expenses.

Of course, you send a Thank you card saying how much fun you had with or doing the gift they selected not thanks for the cash….
From my experience, many couples keep their options open with a combination of agency gift certificates and our affiliation with the oldest online registry plus a store registry such as Macys or Target.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional Member Paula Demmer of Travel Leaders. 

Love Story in 6 Words

Earlier this month we found this article on the Washington Post website. Your Love: In Six Words. Below is a small sample of what people submitted to the Post.

Craigs List. True love. Who knew?
Submit to passion, never go back.
Past gone, future unknown, present bliss.
He ignites passion never known before.
Serendipity, luck, karma, brought us together.
Marriage is a neverending slumber party
Learning that love comes from within.
No hesitation. No limit. No doubt.
Mid-life brings love without fear.
Still waiting for honeymoon to end
He ignites passion never known before.
Love yourself first, others will follow!
He gets me like no one else
His most romantic words:"I'll cook!"
Seven dollar wedding. Twenty-four priceless anniversaries.

Submitted by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member:  Monica Allshouse of Family Affair Photography.

Be sure to share your 6 word love story with us in the comment section!

Dressing The Groom

You have fantasized, dreamt, searched and finally found the perfect dress. You have set the tone for your entire wedding. Now how would you like the love of your life to look standing next to the most beautiful woman he has ever seen?

The groom’s attire is just as important as the bride’s dress; after all it is his big day too. That is where your tuxedo experts come in to play. Our job is to help you coordinate the groom and his groomsmen to compliment and enhance the look and feel of your dress. Whether it is a classic gown with a cathedral train or a short flirty contemporary style your groom should look like he is standing next to the right bride.

Picking the tuxedo or a suit for your wedding party should be stress free and fun. Your formal wear specialist should guide you through the myriad of styles to find exactly the right look. You may be looking for the “James Bond” classic style or maybe more George Clooney on the red carpet. It may end up being a bare foot beach look or a fun “match these Chuck Taylor’s” outfit. Do you want the groomsmen to wear the exact same color as the bridesmaid dresses or should they just go together? How important is the color, maybe you are looking to have the classic black tie affair or a tropical explosion of color and texture?

Some details for you to consider; will your guys be in flat front or pleated pants? Do you like the look of the standard or wing tip collar shirt? Is your dress white or ivory, the men’s shirt should match your dress. What about the fathers, how would you like them to look in the pictures? If they are going to rent, what color accessories should they be in, same as the groomsmen or in a neutral color so the moms can wear any color? Do you put the groom in the same exact look as the groomsmen or would you like him to stand apart from the rest of the wedding party? What does the groom think; surely he will have an opinion about this aspect of the wedding plans.

So just as you did with your dress, fantasize, dream, search and find the perfect ensemble for the men in your wedding party. Start by looking at pictures, online or at your photographer’s studio, red carpet photos, go back and look at your bridal magazine with an eye for only the men. See what stands out to you, what you love and the styles that you don’t love will all guide you in the right direction. The easiest and fastest way to select what you want is to go into a tuxedo rental store and let the professional guide you. We are immersed in formal wear everyday. We know the trends, the styles and we have seen many wedding successes and even a few flops. Let us help you, with our knowledge and experience, find the perfect look for the groom so he will look just as perfect as you.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member Barb Van Haren with Top Hat Formal Wear.  They can also be found on Facebook.

Newlywed in the Kitchen

Time once again to share another recipe that was brought to our attention.

The Smooth Groove for Two

1 small bananas, broken into chunks

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries

1/2 (8 ounce) container vanilla low-fat yogurt

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons milk

1/4 cup sugar or Splenda

In a blender, combine bananas, frozen strawberries, yogurt and milk. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

* You can also substitute blueberries and peaches in place of the strawberries.

This makes for a wonderful on the run breakfast.  Let us know what you think.  Also, if you have a recipe you would like to share simply e-mail us at ps.wedding.vendors@gmail.com

Event Planners Can Save ...

... You Money and Sometimes the Day!

As an event planner the biggest myth that I try to dispel is that we are only "for the rich people".  In reality, if you want to save money in the process of planning for your wedding, it's a good idea to hire an event planner! 

We can get discounts that we in turn pass on to our clients with very few exceptions.  In my case, the only time I might keep some of that discount is when I have less than three months notice to plan a wedding or if the guest list is over 250, depending on the time of the year.  These discounts can range from 5%-20% on average.  When you think of how many vendors it takes for a wedding, that can be a lot of savings!

We save you more than money.  The obvious things that come to mind are time and stress.  Sometimes what you don't know can truly hurt you, if you are not lucky. 

One bride that I was hired by later on in the planning process as a one-day coordinator, had chosen a venue that had chairs that were black.  They felt very strongly due to cultural considerations, that they didn't want the color black to be in their wedding.  She had ordered chair covers and sashes to the tune of over $600.  When I did a review of the venue, I knew from looking at the chairs that it would be a rare day that you would find a chair cover to fit those chairs! 

If you want to think of an equivalent picture, think about trying on a pair of jeans several sizes smaller than what you fit into now!  The chair covers that had been ordered didn't even go half way down the back of the chair!  The solution ended up being renting wooden chairs that had seat cushions to match one of the wedding colors.  The best part?  They were less expensive than chair covers and sashes, and she was very fortunate that the chair cover vendor returned her money! 

If not, imagine that much money going down the drain!  The worst part would've been, in this situation, that the black chairs would not have been covered.  In some cultures the color black is strictly for times of mourning or thought to bring back luck.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional member Janis Flagg of Greatest of Days Event & Wedding Planning.  You can also find her on Facebook.

How to Find the Right Photographer ...

,,, for your wedding

The number of wedding photographers in the Puget Sound is staggering!  Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make.  The photos of your wedding will preserve your memories, not only for you but it will tell your wedding story to future generations - your children, etc.  Don’t trust these precious memories to just anyone!

So, how do you find the right photographer for your wedding?

Ask your married friends for referrals!  Ask them about their photographer!  If they were happy with their photographer, chances are you will be too.  Check out the photographers website, their online portfolio and see if they have any reviews of their services. 

Meet with a couple of photographers.  Find 2-3 photographers that you liked based on the style of their work.  Don’t overwhelm yourself with more as it can just make it more confusing and non productive. When looking at their work can you visualize yourself in  the photographs?  What is their primary style?  Photojournalistic? Posed?  Artistic?  Other?  If they only show posed  photographs ask to see samples of candid shots that capture the various moments of the day. It is a lot more challenging to get the exposure right when capturing moments as they happen than when the photographer is in control as in a posed shot.

Be prepared to ask the photographer questions.  How many hours are covered?  Will the Photographer who captured the samples you were shown be the one who photographs your wedding?  Do they edit the photos?  Is there a limit of photos you receive?  Do you get a CD with full resolution images?  Many provide you with a CD of reduced resolution that are only good for sharing online not for making prints.  Do they have back up equipment?  Are they prepared for the unexpected? 

Wedding experience,  there are many photographers who only photograph a couple weddings a year and work in another field the rest of the time, others do a few weddings with their primary business focus being on portraits in a studio.  The more experienced a photographer is with weddings, the better for you as you are hiring a professional who knows all the ins and outs of a wedding.  They are alert to all the nuances of a wedding and are prepared to quickly react and photograph all the emotions and love of the day.

Warning signs of the inexperienced photographer… Looking at their sample  photographs, are they over saturated so the colors remind you of a comic book?  Are they over exposed so even though you can tell it was a nice sunny day the sky looks milk white? Do they use an excessive amount of black and white? Black and white photos have their own appeal but often photographers will try to hide an over exposed photo by converting it to black and white.

Other things to consider.  Are you comfortable with your photographer?  Remember they will be shadowing you ALL day.  You want someone you are comfortable around.  They don’t need to be your best friend but you want someone leaves you feeling secure and relaxed so you don’t have that added stress on your wedding date.  When you are comfortable, some of the best photos  are the candid behind the scenes photos.

Beware of inexpensive photographers.   If someone offers to shoot your wedding for a few hundred dollars it’s probably because they are inexperienced. They are trying to buy experience.  The more experienced the better the odds that they will know how to deal with the lighting at your venue, how to deal with different family situations, and how to stay balanced if things go crazy. There are many good photographers who are inexperienced and deserve the opportunity.  However, do you really want to take that chance with your wedding memories? Once the day is over the main thing you will have to commemorate it will be the photographs so don’t scrimp on saving those precious memories! 

You don’t always get what you pay for.  Just because they charge a lot is no assurance of quality work. Ask to see an album or a proof book showing a wedding from start to finish rather than just images hand picked by the photographer from various weddings. They should have enough good quality photos to tell the story of the wedding from start to finish.

Contributed by Puget Sound Wedding Professional members:  Monica & Sonny Allshouse of Family Affair Photography.   You can also find them on Facebook.