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.

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

REAL WEDDINGS: Kim & Rich, May 28, 2011

What a beautiful wedding this Korean and Hawaiian infused celebration turned out to be! The bride had family flown in from the Hawaiian islands and those who could not make it, sent over a video greeting shared during the toasts to send their love. The couple also took part in a cultural Korean tea ceremony while the rests of the guests enjoyed cocktail hour. It was a large celebration of over 250 guests, with lots of drinks, fun and dancing and the bride and groom leaving happy at the end of the night!

Venue: Lynnwood Convention Center Day-of Coordinator: It's Your Day Events & Expressions Photographer: Studio 6 Photography Cake: Morfey's Cake Flowers: Melrose Florist Music: DJ Asia Hair & Make Up: Pacific Artistry

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