Real Wedding~ Kirby & Derek 8/11/12

What a great amazing honor to share in the special day of these two! Kirby & Derek are in fact old friends/classmates of ours from high school. However, even though they went to the same HS, they did not know of each other until a chance meeting one day a few years back. (See their "Love Story" in the photos below.) It was a beautiful sunny day on August 11th and the bride looked amazing in her dress, the groom very stunning [slideshow]in his tux, in fact the whole bridal party looked sharp, right down to the 5 flower girls in their black tutus!

The room was adorned in coral, black and ivory with wine bottle and cork accents, with a slight vintage touch. To top it all off was a GI Joe grooms cake and a favor cookie bar from The Cookie Lady!

Congrats Kirby & Derek!

Venue: Rosehill Community Center, Mukilteo WA

Catering: Cristianos, Marysville WA

Day of Coordinator: It's Your Day Events & Expressions

Photography: J.Jackson Photography

DJ: Rich

Flowers: Garden of Eden Bouquets

Set up/Take Down Services: Lady Bug

Our Photo Shoot with Cindi + Chris Photography!

A month or so ago Wedding Wire came to Seattle for an event that we had decided to go to, for networking, and the social media seminar that they were presenting. It was packed and there were so many wedding professionals there! In the middle of the room this very nice duo introduced themselves as Cindi and Chris, and we found ourselves learning about their photography business and in turn, us telling them about our wedding planning business. We exchanged cards and enjoyed the rest of the evening, tasting appetizers, sipping wine, and talking with other professionals. The very next morning, we received a very prompt email from that wonderful photography couple; following up to our networking from the previous night, offering to take some time and have a photo shoot with us. We were so humbled by the courtesy of making sure they contacted us the next day and then by adding the photo shoot to that! We agreed and set it up for a chilly Sunday morning in November...

We met Cindi & Chris of Cindi + Chris Photography at the Hollywood School House in Woodinville. It was FREEZING! That is no understatement! But it was a beautiful day, the morning was crisp the sun was breaking in and Cindi and Chris were full of smiles and ready to snap their Cannon cameras :)

It was a total BLAST to work with them! They both do a great job working off each other. Where one is at one angle or shot, the other will quickly look at another angle all the while creating beautiful photography.  Their energy is very inviting and fun to be around, as we laughed, joked and talked shop throughout the shoot.  I could easily see a Bride, or couple who hates their picture taken, really feel at ease with these two, making it easy for her to not pay attention so much to the camera but to really have fun with these two professionals, and get amazing pictures in the end.

We made our way to Chateau Ste Michelle Winery, where we played in the leaves and really let loose! It was a lot of fun as they both inspired us to throw leaves in the air and be care free! We both felt completely comfortable in front of the camera (even though we both have non- photogenic issues. ) In the end we got to know a really genuine set of Seattle photographers, their pictures are proof of their work! We are so thrilled to have got to work with them, and we can’t wait to do a wedding and or an event together soon!

http://cindiandchrisphotography.com/

Real Wedding- Our Very Own Christina & Benjamin, August 13th, 2011.

Christina, our very own wedding planner here at It’s Your Day Events & Expressions was waiting for this day for a very long time; ever since she set eyes on Mr. Benjamin Fesler- she knew it was bound to be. Her day took place on August 13^th, 2011-at the Skansonia Ferry boat located on Lake Union. She had friends and family flying in from all over the country and world to see her and meet her husband to be.  She wanted to make sure her guests got a true Seattle welcome, right on the water with the Seattle skyline behind them. The week before her wedding, it was buzzing with excitement as friends and family began to pour in. After the rehearsal dinner at Tutta Bella on Stone way, the bridal parties departed to their respective hotels, Ben to Hotel Deca with his groomsmen, and Christina to the  Westin Hotel downtown Seattle to the Rainer suite where her and her girls would just sit and enjoy the very emotionally divine evening with champagne, the hilarious Bridesmaid movie and of course ice cream.

The bride to be couldn’t wait to get up the next morning- she was ready to go- breakfast at Portage Bay Café, and then off to hair and makeup. Her hair appointment was at Habitude salon in Ballard, and her makeup was back at the Westin done by Blackline Beauty.  After her girls hair and makeup was done by Rachel Austin, and Blackline Beauty- they all stepped into their dresses, and finally prepared Christina to get in her gown, a summer 2011 Manual Mota, collection with a tight bodice and lace appliqués that surrounded her waist. Her idea of her dress was classy however womanly. For Christina it was amazing to have all her closest friends around her help her in her dress. She was overwhelmed with love, joy, and appreciation to have these fantastic women in her life. As Rachel and Tyler Austin of TAustin Photography were busy snapping up memories of flowers, pictures, and everything else, the Mercedes sprinter arrive ready to take them to Hotel Deca to finally see her handsome husband to be. On the roof top of his suite they had their 1^st look. As the butterflies tamed and the glory of the day finally set in, they boarded the sprinter once again to make way to Talaris campus for some more photos, and then back to their final destination at the Skansonia  where her family awaited family photos.

After pictures- the girls; Ashley, Jordan, Maddy, Ashlee, Clare, and Annie all sat upstairs - all their hearts beating just a little faster as the moment drew closer for their processional to begin. All of a sudden, it was Ashley and Christina waiting at the top of the stairs, they both exchanged a heartfelt look and a hug as each of their hearts were beating rapidly with excitement and utter joy. As Christina watched the top of Ashley’s head disappear towards the arbor beautifully decorated by Wylde Flower’s Anh Wylde. She was standing their by her dad- holding back the tears, she all of a sudden knew that this was no time for words, as this was the moment she was waiting for- the walk with her father. As the doors reopened and her song began- she clenched her father’s arm, held back her tears and made her way down the 23 steep stairs to meet her husband.  After the I do’s everyone enjoyed wonderful food, delicious cupcakes, beer, Mexican cokes, and Chatter Creek Wine- while dancing to nonstop jams! The night ended in a sparkler exit where the couple returned to the Rainer suite on top of the Westin downtown Seattle, and enjoyed packaged cupcakes from their wedding made by Sweet Cakes in Kirkland, toasted with a final glass of champagne, and awaited to catch their  honeymoon flight to Cabo San Lucas for 7 days.

Wedding Venue- Skansonia Ferry Boat

Photography- TAustin Photography

Catering- Skansonia Ferry Boat

Cake/Cupcakes- Sweet Cakes

DJ- A  Sounds Unlimited

Flowers- Wylde Flowers

Wedding Planner- It's Your Day Events & Expressions

Hotels - Hotel Deca/Westin Hotel

Bridal Hair- Habitude Salon Ballard

Bridesmaids Hair- Rachel Austin

Bride/Bridesmaid Makeup- Tiffany from Blackline Beauty

Transportation- Butler Transportation

Wine Tasting...Local, Easy & Fun!

For many brides, one of the tasks that comes with planning is picking out the wines for your big day. But what kind do you choose? Syrah? Merlot? A mixture? A nice sweet Riesling? If you are a wine connoisseur or have done your fair share of working in an Italian restaurant like my best friend, you might have no problem at all doing this. You may give your fiancé a list you already have pre-selected and send him off to Costco or your favorite wine cellar. But for the novice like me, who often finds the taste of red wine vinegary and lip puckering, you might find this task somewhat overwhelming.
How can you find wines that you’d like to be at your wedding instead of just randomly picking or having brands that your mother suggested or picked out for you? One way to do that is to go to wine tastings, and the great thing about that is where we are located, near a great Mecca of Wine Country in Woodinville.
According to the website www.woodinvillewinecountry.com, Woodinville is home to over 70 wineries! Woodinville, which is less the 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, is regarded as a unique haven for exceptional winemakers. It is home to the well known brands and historic grounds of Chateau St. Michelle and Columbia Winery to even the smallest and unique boutiques such as Convergence Zone Cellars or Pomum Cellars.
Visit one or several of the wineries in one day, you can easily plan your route with the map provided on the website or wander around the warehouse district and see what strikes you. Many of the wineries have what are called “tasting rooms,” located in a warehouse district of Woodinville off of Woodinville-Redmond road. These rooms usually offer up to 5 tastes of their featured wine for $5-10. But the great part about it is, if you like a wine you sampled, they will give you your tasting fee back-toward a bottle of wine to purchase. Some places will even offer this on multiple bottles.
This is why it works great if you are buying for a wedding. For example, I went into one winery that was offering their special that day of a clearance white wine at $7.99 a bottle, take away my $5 tasting fee and each bottle was then $2.99! Buy a few cases of those and you are set for your white selection!
So no, don’t pay those ridiculous bar fees or even grocery store prices! Grab a group of your friends, make plans and head to Woodinville. Many places will suggest reservations for groups over 6-8 however. But go ahead, make a day of it, try something new, something local, and check something off of your to-do list as well.