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.

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

Something Blue?

There are many customs and traditions that go along with weddings but this well known custom comes from and Old English rhyme, "Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe." Brides throughout the decades have incorporated this in their wedding attire, for tradition and superstition. It symbolizes: continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity, and good fortune.

Your "something old" could be an heirloom, a bible, jewelry, a piece of your mothers gown.
Your "something new" could be your dress, shoes, undergarments, jewelry, hair pins.
Your "something borrowed" should be borrowed from a happily married couple.
Your "something blue" can be discreet maybe ribbon laced through your garter, combined with one of your "old, new, or borrowed."
Penny in your shoe? Not many adhere to this tradition any longer but superstition is if so it is to ensure a life of fortune.