Hiring: Assistant Wedding Coordinator (Seattle, WA)

Assistant Coordinator 

Seattle, WA (most of our weddings are located in Seattle or the Snohomish area, so we’d prefer someone in N. King or Snohomish County - occasional need/opportunity to assist in Skagit or Whatcom Co.)

Pay $20 per hour - for trial period, then increase to dual rate in range of $22-26/hr

The assistant coordinator will be responsible for assisting with weddings and events on (typically on) weekends. Additional roles and responsibilities are available, such as blogging and social media contribution. 

The ideal candidate must be polished, self-motivated, loves weddings, enthusiastic, detail oriented and comfortable being on their feet/active most of the day. They must be able to self-manage and work independently. This is a Woman, Best Friend, Co-Owned business.

You would be able to work from home on any assigned tasks, such as blogging or vendor research. The time commitment is approx 1 hour a week for non-wedding day work. Occasional attendance at staff meetings required, approximately quarterly. On weeks we have weddings the time commitment is approx 10 hours.

This is an extremely part-time position with potential to grow. Currently, we are looking for someone to start as an apprentice, shadowing us and learning the ropes (paid training), pay is $20/hour for the duration of the apprenticeship.  We are seeking the right candidate to grow with us, to be hired on as an assistant coordinator for 2025 with further growth opportunities (associate planner, etc) in the years beyond.  Apprenticeship lasts for approximately the first 4 weddings or 90 days, whichever comes first. After that, we/you will have the opportunity to reflect on your experience so far and decide if you'd like to be hired on permanently. If hired on as assistant coordinator, pay will increase, DOE. Growth opportunities are available if the candidate is a right fit to join the event planning team as an Associate Coordinator (leading your own weddings). We are looking for someone to stay and grow with us and be a part of the IYDE team/family.

Responsibilities: 

- Assist Lead Planner at weddings (this is a multi-hats position and can include everything from placing table numbers to setting up chairs, getting the DJ a plate of food, to floofing the bride's dress before she walks down the aisle)

- Client and vendor communication

- Vendor research & networking

- Blogging

- May include “closing” at weddings, meaning being the last person on the team to leave, after things have winded down.

- Have a seat at the table in team meetings & provide your valuable voice

Desired Skills/Experience:

- Excellent written and oral communication skills

- Must have your own vehicle, cell phone, and laptop.

- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with limited time frame

- Detail oriented with exceptional level of accuracy and follow-through

- Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment

- Works well within a team oriented environment

- Flexibility to work from home, some weekend availability required (must be available 75%+ of weekends from June - Sept)

- Agile at prioritizing and managing multiple projects

- Must possess strong communication, time management and collaboration skills; confident, self-starter, independent thinker

- Associate or Bachelor's degree in related field highly preferred

{Extra bonus point for candidates with previous event or wedding planning experience!!!}

We have weddings all over the Puget Sound, so if you are willing to travel you will have more hands-on opportunities.

-Estimated assistance at 4-10 weddings in the 2024 season.

Compensation:

-$20 an hour to start (for approximately first 4 weddings/90 days) & increase after apprenticeship period

- About 75% of our clients provide gratuity on the wedding day as well

-Yearly bonuses/holiday gift, company meals and gas stipends

Please send your cover letter, resume and portfolio {if applicable} by email. Deadline is 3/30/24. We will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview. info@itsyourdayevents.com

A Wedding Planners Favorite Wedding Invitation Sites

Hey Y’all! Wedding season is finally winding down as Fall is drawing near. We thought we’d do a very quick post today about Wedding Invitations! There are so many options out there. For Seattle area couples, we love working with one of our favorite local vendors if possible (Songbird Paperie, Perfect Press or Pike Street Press to name a few…) but for most people, the easy thing to do is order online with a big name company.

Now, our absolute favorite online wedding invitation vendor is Minted.com. They have arguably the most choices when it comes to options, and you are even able to customize your design by working with a designer. Plus, they have sales all the time (or if you work with us you get an exclusive discount code). Or many places even offer cash back when you shop on Minted’s site. Their stuff is pretty high quality so it can be a little pricier than a few of the other online vendors, but remember you get what you pay for, and again - they often have sales.

A few of the other sites we like are:

• Shine

• Basic

• Truly Engaging

DIY may sound like a fun and budget friendly thing to do, but most often it is not. As we always say “the invitation is the first glimpse of the vibe of your wedding.” Make sure it matches the level of your event! A beautiful invitation is the gateway to a beautiful wedding!

Cheers,

Ashley

Principal Wedding Planner and Co-Owner of It’s Your Day Events

Who is It’s Your Day Events?

We are a Seattle & Bellingham, WA based wedding planning, wedding coordination and design agency. What we do is at times difficult to picture because the services we offer are intangible. When you are scrolling through beautiful photos, with stunning flowers, and amazing cohesive design; the magic behind that is the planning, design, and coordination. This is what we do.

We professionally organize, plan, and coordinate the details.

We dot the i's and cross the t's.

We triple check it all once more. 

Then, when the day comes, we watch the wonderment and happiness on your face as your wedding day unfolds, just as you dreamed it would.

Contact us for any wedding planning, wedding coordination or design needs!

3 Ways You Can Raise Money for Charity at Your Wedding

A wedding is a time of celebration and happiness for all involved. At its core, the day is a showpiece to love – as two people take the time to shout about their love in front of a collection of treasured guests. But while the happy couple should always be at the center of things, it’s possible to use the big day to also benefit charitable causes. 

Photo by Kadarius Seegars on Unsplash

In the UK, as many as 278,000 weddings are said to be held on an annual basis. In the US, that number extends to a mind-boggling 2 million. If every one of those events raised just a modest $50, that would amount to a whopping $113.9 million a year being accrued across those two nations alone.

Are you interested in how your wedding day might be able to help give back to those in need? Here are three of the best ways to seamlessly blend fundraising and partying together as part of any occasion. 

1.Sell goods and donate the profits 

A lot of what you use at a wedding is unlikely to serve a purpose again in the future. And while it’s totally at your own discretion to keep any items for sentimental reasons, it’s also not unheard of for brides and grooms to sell-on any items which they can’t see themselves using again. After all, your day will be forever cemented in photos. 

If you do feel comfortable selling goods you no longer have a use for, you can make the choice to donate all profits back to charity. Arguably the biggest ticket item in this regard is the wedding dress itself. Reports show that you can receive up to 50% of the original cost of a dress if it’s returned in good condition. 

2. Run a wedding raffle or silent auction 

An oldie but a goldie, having a raffle which people can buy tickets for, or a silent auction where people place private bids on items throughout the day, is a guaranteed way to spin a profit. Just make it clear that the proceeds are going to a good cause. 

You can choose to either have a small percentage of the raffle money be given out as a prize, or a specific item which you’ve bought beforehand. In order to heighten the impact, consider making the silent auction prizes something sentimental (like a dinner out with the married couple at a later date). 

3. Donate a percentage of your registry to a charity 

It’s likely that you’ll have a wedding registry as part of your celebration. This is a great chance for you to redirect a percentage of any financial gifts towards the cause of your choosing. 

Research shows that the average wedding gift value sits at around $160. If 50 guests donated this amount, and even just 10% of this went towards a charity, you’d raise $800 from your registry alone. 

A wedding should always be about the love you share for your spouse. But that doesn’t mean you need to overlook the love you have for your fellow man as well. Consider utilizing these fundraising ideas on your big day to help give back to those in need. 

Guest writer, Leo Clarke

Who is It’s Your Day Events?

We are a Seattle & Bellingham, WA based wedding planning, wedding coordination and design agency. What we do is at times difficult to picture because the services we offer are intangible. When you are scrolling through beautiful photos, with stunning flowers, and amazing cohesive design; the magic behind that is the planning, design, and coordination. This is what we do.

We professionally organize, plan, and coordinate the details.

We dot the i's and cross the t's.

We triple check it all once more. 

Then, when the day comes, we watch the wonderment and happiness on your face as your wedding day unfolds, just as you dreamed it would.

Contact us for any wedding planning, wedding coordination or design needs!

Featured Vendor Highlight: Gina Thresher ~ From the Ground Up Floral

Friends! I’ve got another treat for you today. I interviewed one of Seattle’s greatest wedding florists (she is always in our top 3 choices)… Owner of From the Ground Up Floral, Miss Gina Thresher AIFD, EMC. What do those letters mean? She is certified with the American Institute of Floral Designers as well as European Master Certification.

Read on below to find out about her birds, growing her own flowers, what people should be asking their florist, and more!

Photo by Courtney Bowlden

• How long have you been in business? 

This year will be year 14! Hard to believe. 

• How did you get started in floral?

I did my own wedding flowers. We had a small intimate wedding on the Oregon Coast. There wasn’t a florist for miles, so I figured I had a year and a few months to take a basic design class and get my bearings. Turns out I really really loved it! 

• Why wedding flowers?

Weddings are just where it started. I love them. 

• What do you love about what you do?

Handing over the bouquet or pinning on the boutonniere for the couple is the best feeling. Second favorite is seeing the transformation of a room when flowers are added. 

• Do you have a favorite flower?

Kind of, but that’s like asking if you have a favorite child. LOL. I have to say overall, a good old fashioned garden rose is my favorite. They smell amazing, come in so many different varieties and colors.

• If I weren’t a florist…

I was studying marine biology, and catching specimens for Highline Marine Science Center before I discovered floristry. I mean, maybe I would be writing research papers and diving daily. 

I’ve also come to really love the field of marketing, I would totally go to school to get a marketing degree. I am social by nature, so it’s another good fit. 

• What is your secret sauce that makes you so awesome at what you do?

I believe I will never be done learning. I also believe that you can learn something from everyone you meet. So, I dive into trends, learn new techniques and mechanics, and everything I can get my hands on in this industry. 

• What is one thing you wish all couples would ask before booking you?

I wish more couples asked what the process looks like. I think there’s a disconnect sometimes. The flowers don’t magically show up looking gorgeous lol. It takes a lot of recipe making, procurement, prep, labor, designing, and delivery…sometimes a lot of onsite work too. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it’s not just playing with flowers all day.  

I also wish more couples would ask about what I do to make good eco choices. I have really been focusing on making my footprint smaller, buying  locally, or growing, and not using flower foam, but more alternative methods of mechanics for designs. 

• What are you most looking forward to as the Pandemic fizzles out?

Travel. And social gatherings. Really looking forward to those! I miss going to conferences and meeting new people. 

• Is there a wedding venue that is on your wishlist that you haven’t shot at yet?

Oooh good question. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I do love outdoor venues. They are so much fun!

• Anything else our readers should know about you?

Well, during the pandemic we adopted birds. We now have an umbrella cockatoo named Mr. Gibbs, A blue and gold macaw named Touca, and a cockatiel named Coral. My family loves animals. We also have 2 cats, a giant dog, and a rabbit. 

Besides that, I have an addiction to popcorn with garlic olive oil and sea salt. Love a good glass of wine, especially with a good friend. 

I love to cook, hate to bake. (I burn all the cookies) 

I have been dabbling in growing flowers since the pandemmy. My mom and I are growing lilacs, peonies, tulips, daffodils, dahlias, roses, zinnias, cosmos, and many more on her 5 acres in Enumclaw. I have learned so much the past year about how growing things requires patience and experimentation. I am looking forward to adding my cut flowers to designs. It is so special to hand off flowers you designed for someone, having them being grown by you just adds another layer of love though. 

Yes! That is awesome. We want to run through the field of flowers. Thanks Gina! Be sure to contact Gina if you are looking for an amazing wedding florist!

Cheers,

Ashley

Principal Wedding Planner and Co-Owner of It’s Your Day Events

Who is It’s Your Day Events?

We are a Seattle, Bellingham and Bremerton, WA based wedding planning, wedding coordination and design agency. What we do is at times difficult to picture because the services we offer are intangible. When you are scrolling through beautiful photos, with stunning flowers, and amazing cohesive design; the magic behind that is the planning, design, and coordination. This is what we do.

We professionally organize, plan, and coordinate the details.

We dot the i's and cross the t's.

We triple check it all once more. 

Then, when the day comes, we watch the wonderment and happiness on your face as your wedding day unfolds, just as you dreamed it would.

Contact us for any wedding planning, wedding coordination or design needs!

How to Include Your Culture and Heritage in Your Wedding - Advice from Wedding Planners

Weaving your culture into your ceremony can add a deeper meaning to your day of “I dos”. Whether in the form of traditional attire, cuisine, or music, the addition of cultural details creates a sense of connection to your roots and makes you feel more bonded to your spouse-to-be (and vice versa) if you’re from different cultures. By creatively infusing your culture into your wedding, you can showcase your customs to your guests and beautifully pay tribute to who you are. 

But the question is,  how do you plan a western wedding while still allowing your unique culture to seep in? Incorporating the markers of your culture into your 21st-century celebration can be a delicate dance. You’ll want it to be tasteful, not tacky; and authentic but true to you as a couple. 

At It’s Your Day Events, we know that not all couples want to throw a culturally traditional wedding—and that’s OK!  You can still have the western wedding you’ve always wanted while honoring your heritage. Here’s how:

Carefully consider which parts of your culture to include

Just because it’s part of your culture doesn’t mean you have to include it in your event! Before you figure out how to infuse your culture into your wedding, sit down with your fiance and decide on what you want to incorporate into your celebration. Have an honest discussion on which elements of your culture matter most to you and your partner. If you’re an interracial couple, list the cultures you want to pay tribute to from both sides, making sure to be respectful of each other. 

Remember that everything, from the flowers to the food, will be immortalized in your wedding photos, so think about how you’d want your day to be remembered. If it has always been your dream to walk down the aisle in a white gown, allow yourself to say no to the traditional dress. When you look back at your big day years from now, you should be proud of the choices you made. 

Feature your culture in your food

Introduce your wedding guests to new flavors by creating a menu reflective of your culture. For example, a couple with Indian roots can serve paneer tikka as their hors d'oeuvre, while a couple with Mexican roots can delight their guests’ tastebuds with tacos and chiles en nogada. For drinks, serve specialty cocktails such as Rossini if you have Italian roots, or Raki if you’re of Turkish descent. 

A twist to classic dishes is also a creative way to incorporate your culture into your event. For example, you could ask your caterer to bake a fusion cake using ingredients from your and your spouse-to-be’s cultures. 

Pay homage to your culture through clothing

Be bold and show up in a full traditional outfit, or pay a subtle nod to your roots by infusing your attire with motifs, embroidery, and colors from your culture.  For example, an Anglo-Indian bride could wear a red gown with gold jewels, taking inspiration from traditional Indian bridalwear. Meanwhile, a groom of Chinese parentage could wear a suit with Chinese motifs such as chrysanthemums, dragons, and orchids. 

Couples with more wiggle room in their budgets can also wear two different outfits. For example, a Chinese bride might wear a white gown for the formal ceremony, and change into a red gown (in Chinese culture, it’s tradition for brides to wear red) for the reception. An Indian groom, on the other hand, could wear a classic suit for the “I dos”, and then don a Sherwani for the post-ceremony portrait session. 

Dance away to traditional music

Add culture to your day’s soundtrack. From the processional to the dance-offs that occur during the reception, play music that features instruments from your culture, whether that’s the Chinese zheng, Irish cláirseach, or Argentinian charango. You could also play well-known songs from your homeland—like the ones that your relatives would always sing along to—for nostalgia. 

Remember, music is a universal language (there’s even a Harvard study to back this up!). Even if your wedding guests don’t understand the song, they’ll still be able to feel the love in the lyrics and will be up on their feet, dancing the night away. To make your event even more fun, you could teach your guests a traditional dance from your culture, such as the Halay if you’re from Turkey, or the Ceilidh if you’re of Irish ancestry. 

Incorporate customs into your ceremony

One of the most meaningful ways to infuse your culture into your wedding is through customs. They can range from religious rites to traditions that have been passed down through the generations. For instance, Indian couples can perform the choora ceremony where the bride receives bangles from her relatives, while Japanese sweethearts can do the Bon Odori dance to pay tribute to their ancestors. 

You could also showcase your culture through a unity ceremony such as the El Lazo—a popular ritual in Spain and the Philippines where a rosary or cord is placed around the couple’s shoulders. Unity ceremonies are an excellent choice for multiracial couples as they represent the merging of two cultures. 

Add small details that reflect your culture

It’s all in the details! From the stationery to the decor, there are countless ways to infuse your culture into your wedding’s details without going all out. For example, you could adorn your centerpieces with flowers from your home country, like Japan’s cherry blossoms or Laos’ yellow-and-white Dok Champa. You could also design your venue around your country’s traditional wedding colors, such as red and gold (prevalent in Indian weddings) and blue and white (associated with Greek weddings). 

Through these small touches, you’ll be able to pay a subtle nod to your culture without making your wedding look too traditional. Your wedding will still be the modern event you’ve envisioned, but with a few references to your culture thrown in. 

Planning a cultural wedding? We’re here to help.

Embracing your culture will allow you to throw a wedding that’s not only meaningful, but also memorable to you, your partner, and your loved ones. Through these thoughtful ways, you’ll be able to pay tribute to your roots, and honor your family’s time-honored traditions before you and your new spouse create traditions of your own. 

On the road to your “I dos”? The team at It’s Your Day Events would love to help you put together a wedding that thoughtfully integrates your culture. Get in touch with us today to add a cultural flair to your special day. 

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Specialty blog written by:

piercekatie.content@gmail.com

Featured Venue: The Edgewater Hotel - Seattle

Bonjour friends! Today I am going to be highlighting one of our favorite local venues…The Edgewater Hotel! Also, this featured wedding was exactly one year ago! Happy anniversary H&B!

This venue is iconic Seattle—we’re talking the hotel where Led Zeppelin crazily trashed their room and the Beatles fished out their hotel window - it’s located right on the water with breathtaking views of the sound. The Edgewater offers an elegant refined feel, and one that has the essence of our great Emerald City all over it. Getting married here provides the convenience of being downtown along the water with easy access to plenty of fun things to explore for out of town guests. The Edgewater Hotel also offers room blocks so you and your guests are able to stay up until the mic drop of the last song, and then either go out for the after party or walk down the hall to your comfy room!

The highlight of the venue is the Olympic Ballroom, which has floor to ceiling windows of an amazing view that is quite literally over the water. Most couples have their ceremony in front of the windows, with cocktail hour following on the rooftop patio and/or Terrace Room, while the ballroom is flipped by the amazing staff and your coordinator, in which guests are then invited back in to celebrate the night away in the amazing ballroom space.

Olympic Sculpture Park & the Rooftop at Bell Harbor are also in walking distance which make for some great photo spots.

The venue coordinator Payton is fabulous, and she, along with your wedding coordinator will guide you through all that is the Edgewater, making sure your wedding day is just as you dreamed!

For more photos, check out another favorite wedding we have done - Maggie & Allen

Cheers,

Ashley

Principal Wedding Planner and Co-Owner of It’s Your Day Events

Who is It’s Your Day Events?

We are a Seattle, Bellingham and Bremerton, WA based wedding planning, wedding coordination and design agency. What we do is at times difficult to picture because the services we offer are intangible. When you are scrolling through beautiful photos, with stunning flowers, and amazing cohesive design; the magic behind that is the planning, design, and coordination. This is what we do.

We professionally organize, plan, and coordinate the details.

We dot the i's and cross the t's.

We triple check it all once more. 

Then, when the day comes, we watch the wonderment and happiness on your face as your wedding day unfolds, just as you dreamed it would.

Contact us for any wedding planning, wedding coordination or design needs!

Photos by Claudia Noelle Photography