NW Wedding Show!

We had such a great time at the NW Wedding show this past weekend!Despite the snow that held us up on Sunday! There were so many great vendors there like Mojo Photobooth, Bugsie Productions , and Simply Seasoned! Plus many many more! We absolutely loved mingling and networking with all those great vendors! Flowers by Tiffany had a beautiful booth! We also were able to have some photo booth fun at Mojo Photobooth! Our booth consisted of a very fun theme, burlap favors with chocolate, we had wood slabs;  decorated by wild flowers that were held in burlap and lace mason jars! We wanted to thank all those who stopped by our booth and put their information down, we are in the midst of getting all that data in our system and we will be contacting you shortly. We wanted to welcome Tara and Josh to the It's Your Day family who had booked us at the show! We do look forward to speaking and meeting with you all! Also, we wanted to let any other brides, grooms and or parents looking for planning or wedding day coordination know that we are running our special from the show until February 29th! 15% off any package!

Invitations and Save the Dates by It's Your Day Studio

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Wedding Shows

So you are engaged! Or maybe one of your good friends are? Well congratulations! It's that time of year, where a huge surge in wedding shows is upon us. There are tons of shows in January and several on weekends even weekday nights throughout the remainder of the year. Some are large, some are more intimate. It can be really confusing to sort out and get the best vendors among whose-who especially at the larger shows such as The Seattle Wedding Show, The NW Bridal Expo, and the Seattle or Tacoma Wedding Expo's (from Brides Club).

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your experience when visiting wedding shows:

1. Look for vendors who look like they are actually happy to be there and are engaging. Some people can be too pushy however. Don't let anyone push you in to anything you don't want. Interact with the vendors and get to know them a little. These are people who will be servicing you on one of the biggest days of your life. If you do not like them as a person why would you hire them?

2. Once you do get to know the vendors and there is someone you do like or someone you don't like, how are you going to remember them out of the hundreds of booths you are visiting that day? Do one of two things: Either bring a little note pad and make notes of names of companies you really did like or bring  a few colors of sticky notes and stick them on the brochures, flyers and cards given out by companies. You can use for example green for places you loved, yellow for places that were so-so and red/pink for places that were a huge no way! (Get the metaphor relation to a traffic light there?) Since they are sticky notes you can also make notes on them if you have the chance.

3. Look for vendors who are having sales specifically for the show or a short period of time. Many vendors offer special rates at the bridal shows, while others do not. Look for the ones who are offering a quality product but yet a special rate for you to take advantage of. Lots of places will give out free favors too! Loot score! (Make sure you get the free tote bag at the entrance).

4. If you haven't picked out a wedding cake (or if you are hungry even), make sure to stop by all the delicious cake booths offering samples. It is a great way to try out many bakeries all in one stop without having to travel all around the Sound to find that perfect cake or cupcakes or desert!

5. Lots of times you might see a great idea at a show as well. You might see a dress at a bridal booth you love or a flower centerpiece or a table display from a wedding planner or rental company that you just must have. That is why its always a great idea to have a camera. Sure you can write your ideas in your notepad but your camera will help you remember your idea even better, plus you and your MOH or fiance can document your fun experience. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

6.  At shows, nearly every vendor/booth is offering some sort of drawing. Save your hand some pain and strain and print your self out some pre-addressed labels. Make sure they include your phone # and/or email so they can contact you if and when you do win!

Upcoming Wedding Shows:

Seattle Wedding Show                                                                              January 7 & 8          Washington Convention & Trade Center

NW Bridal Expo                                                                                          January 14 &15        Tulalip Casino Ballroom (It's Your Day will be in booth #110)

Seattle Wedding Expo                                                                              January 14 & 15       Seattle Center

Space Needle Wine & Wedding Experience                                    January 19                 Space Needle

Tacoma Wedding Expo                                                                           January 21 & 22       Tacoma Dome

Lynnwood-Everett Wedding Expo                                                   January 28 & 29       Comcast Arena

Wine & Wedding Experience -Hollywood Schoolhouse          February 2                  The Hollywood Schoolhouse, Woodinville

Snohomish Wedding Tour                                                                    May 20, 2012           Venues around Snohomish

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 WEDDINGS: Jill & Trevor, June 18, 2011

Jill & Trevor were amazing to work with.  Jill is a fellow industry event planner and is super sweet, and we were thrilled to get to work with her and get the feed back! It was so much fun during our design session collaborating with her and honing in on her theme of vintage balloons, books & suitcases-- we went wild with  ideas! In the end it all came together, resulting in a incredibly beautiful design element for her day. The weather had been on and off rainy that week and the forecast was calling for rain that Saturday, but Jill really wanted to get married outside under the beautiful pergola at Sanders Mansion. In the end, the call had to be made to move the ceremony under the tent. Anna Brandt and her team of Distinctive Designs did a great job of making the tent look amazing inside. They had stunning centerpieces surrounded by tea lights. The sweetheart table was adorned with grey and white glassybabys, that are handblown here in Seattle. Each glassybaby is a one of a kind, and they donate a great deal of their profits to amazing charities.

Before making her walk down the aisle the bride got ready in the upstairs room of the mansion with her beautiful girls dressed in stylish gray dresses. Jill did something we hadn't seen before which was several "first look's". Not only did she make the groom wait to see her until she was done getting ready but her mother, and father and soon to be mother-in-law all took turns seeing her in her bridal suite, each teary-eyed with hugs.

The guys were dressed in gray too, a different shade, a nice classy suit, with converse shoes-all with their last name sewn in- very stylish~![slideshow]

The guests were given umbrellas to stroll the grounds and to make their way down to the tent. Everyone piled in as the rain poured making for a cozy intimate setting filled with love.

After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed some delicious appetizers, followed by a buffet dinner from Act 3 Catering listening to a great playlist of songs spun by Sound-A-Bout music. Everyone was moving and grooving all night long! Finally the Bride and Groom departed on the bus with some of the other guests! We were so very lucky to work with such an amazing pair of people! We were also so surprised to receive an amazing gift from Jill, two of our very own glassybabys!

What an amazing day!

Vendors:

Venue: Sanders Mansion

Wedding Planner: It's Your Day Events & Expressions

Photography: Ryan Flynn Photography

Videopraphy: Edit 1 Media

Rentals: Grand Event Rentals &  glassybaby

DJ: Sound-A-Bout DJ

Floral: Distinctive Designs

Catering & Cake: Act 3 Catering

Meet Dena & Cameron- Our Free DOC Contest Winners!

Congrats to Dena & Cameron! We chose their application as the winner for the recipients for free Day of Coordination services, courtesy of none other then yours truly, It's Your Day Events & Expressions! The couple will be getting married April 21, 2012 in a church in Seattle.

Dena's entry essay on why she should win:

I believe that Cameron and I should win the “Win a FREE Day-Of Coordination Package!” because not only do we love each other, we have been through several ups and downs in the past two and a half years. Cam and I met online, but it wasn’t love at first sight. We started off as friends, but slowly but surely, Cam convinced me to become his girlfriend. We were both unemployed for nearly the two years that we dated (before we got engaged in June 2011). It was rough to see a future together because of our financial situation, but I prayed that God would send us a sign that we were supposed to end up together. On our two year anniversary, Cam took me out to celebrate. He surprised me by taking me up to Kerry Park in Queen Anne and proposed to me! It was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me! Of course, I said yes, and we’ve been planning our wedding ever since.

More about the awesome couple:

What are some of your favorite things to do together?

Cam and I love to go to sporting events together (football or soccer games), we typically hang around the house together, we walk my dog together, and we like to spend time with our family and friends. We've also gone to the ballet a few times together (he calls me Sleeping Beauty).

Why are you looking forward to getting married?

I'm looking forward to our life together. It's not so much about the wedding, and that special day, but really building a home and family together. We talk about our unborn children all the time and I think we are both excited about having kids! We both grew up in a similar type of environment and we are looking forward to passing on our values to our children (one day).

What do you love most about each other?

I love Cameron's compassion and he loves my sense of humor.

Win a FREE Day-Of Coordination Package From It’s Your Day!

Have a chance to win a stress free wedding day, for free!
There are many hours that go into planning an event such as a wedding, and with that comes an immense amount of detail; of which need to be executed with the highest degree of accuracy and care. It's Your Day will be there, to guide your vision into reality!

Wedding must be taking place between December 10, 2011 and April 30, 2012 and be taking place within 30 miles of zip code 98034.

To enter email your submission to itsyourdayee@gmail.com and include:
Brides name:
Grooms name:
Email:
Phone:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Engagement date:
Wedding date:
Venue location:
How you heard about the contest:
Why we should choose you in 200 words or less:

Lastly, you must fan us on FB and leave us a comment!

Fine print: Winner will receive our classic “Day-Of “Coordination Package which includes 10 hours on site at your venue, one hour rehearsal coordination, vendor verification 72 hours before your event, timeline creation, and 4 week final detail consultation.
Contest not open to friends or family of It’s Your Day employees. Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Sunday, Nov 13th, 2011. Winner will be chosen on Nov 14th, 2011 and will be contacted between Nov 14th-18th.
All contest entries information will become property of It’s Your Day and you give permission to join our mailing list. We will NOT give out your information to anyone.
If selected couple grants permission for It’s Your Day Events & Expressions to use couple’s photos, story and review of services for promotional purposes.