REAL WEDDING: Amy & Eddie 4/27/13

Amy & Eddie are an amazing dynamic duo that have known each other since high school. The two had rekindled their friendship a few years out of school which in turn blossomed into the beautiful romance you see today. With Amy being a professional dancer, along with some of the wedding party and many guests, this wedding at the beautiful Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom made for one heck of a dance party!

The couple incorporated their love of music into their theme of orange, purple and grey with chevrons. Beautiful fresh flowers, large orange round balloons and many, many paper cranes plus lots of little handmade personal expression touches added great accents to the wedding.

It was a truly amazing day to remember! Congratulations Amy & Eddie!ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Venue: Tulalip Resort Casino

Photography: Brooks Scribner Photography

Day-of Coordination: It's Your Day Events & Expressions

DJ: Kyle Batterman

Cakes: Happy Cakes

Four ways to make the world a better place on your wedding day

CREATE LIFE. Give back to mother earth & commemorate your wedding day by planting a tree. Plantamemory.Com’s Spruce Evergreen party favors are unique & great for the environment. The tree seedlings come packaged in an eco­friendly box, equipped with a personalized card made from recycled paper. Plus, the more you buy, the cheaper they come. Fifty guests? Pay $3.15/seedling.Image

FEEL A BIODYNAMIC BUZZ. Biodynamic wines are 100% organic, which means they exclude the use of nasty pesticides & synthetic fertilizers. Growers of biodynamic wines create their own compost, & like astrologists, use the stars & planets to help guide them. Save soil —sip biodynamic wine. For more information on biodynamic wines visit: thedailygreen.com

GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. Present your bridesmaids with a gift Mother Theresa would love. A beaded bracelet goes for $16.00 at Spark Tree on Etsy.Com. Seven of those sixteen dollars are donated to Drop in the Bucket, a non­profit organization dedicated to building sanitation systems & wells in Sub­Sahara African schools. Often when a well is built, enrollment doubles. Give the gift of water & education with this trendy accessory.

Image

PLAY MARRY POPPINS. Instead of using rice for your send off, use bird feed & teach your guests the importance of feeding the birds. 

More & more couples are adding eco-friendly & charitable elements to their wedding day. The four listed above are just to name a few! For more ideas visit: eco-beautifulweddings.com/blog/

 

Why I {Ashley} wanted to be a Wedding Planner!

In high school, I was very active in my school's DECA (Marketing) class/club. My first year in the class as a Junior, our teacher, Mr. P had assigned myself and 3 of my good friends to be in charge of the Giving Tree event that year. This involved a lot of planning, organizing, and follow through, and this; as far as I can remember, and other then planning out my own birthday parties, was my first real taste of event planning. After the Giving Tree Event, I went on to become the DECA Co-Publicity Director my Senior Year with my friend Kristi and we took on several other small events, and decor scenarios and campaigns etc. From here on out I KNEW I wanted to do something in the event field! When it came time for me to go to college, I chose to go to Western Washington University in beautiful Bellingham and persue my degree in Communication. Communication is more of a broad spectrum degree that can lead to careers in many things, but I did focus my studies on event planning courses and took my final internship course for the Downtown Bellingham Association, helping plan a Summer Outdoor Concert Series. By then, I knew planning events was REALLY what I wanted to do.

So, I had graduated college and a few years had gone by and I had started thinking about how the job I was in wasn't really what I wanted to do, and I still had hopes for my event planning dreams. Meanwhile, many of my friends had started to get married, and I realized what a big, exciting, stressful, fantastic & crazy thing weddings were.

All the while, Christina (my best friend) is off doing her creative thing on the side, like making earrings and creating wedding cards and invites.

We talked it over one day and realized we could definitely combine our forces; with Christina's creative flair and business mind & my event planning sense and both our love for weddings, thus, It's Your Day Events & Expressions was born.

For those who don't know, the "Expressions" side of our business is Christina's super creative invites, table numbers, menus, save-the-dates, favor tags, buntings, cake-toppers, cupcake flags etc!

We have been in business for over 4 years and loved every minute of it! We have been in King 5's Best of Western Washington Top 5 Wedding Planner for the last 3 years in a row!

The thing that I love most about this business is that we get to see an event from start to finish AND all the amazing couples we get to meet. It is truly a humbling experience and an honor to be able to share in their special day. What I love about this job is that I get to do it with my very best friend!Ashley+Christina_sm-093 527043_10100262923720810_275807244_n

Meet Annie our Bride-to-Be

Meet Annie our bride, getting married this July 5th at the beautiful Rock Creek Gardens. I asked Annie a few questions about her and her fiance Joe.  Read on to find out about the story of a young beauty and a military man who instantly clicked on their first date and plan to spend their life together! Also, read about the great wedding planning tip she has for other brides!396198_10100335633923980_1141788811_n 598786_481474698549851_1283784331_n How did you and Joe meet?

 Joe and I met on Match.com August 2010 and September 17,2010 was our first date. We met at the Panera Bread in Federal Way. The date lasted 5 hours. It wasn't a typical date, we went to an arcade after eating and challenged each other to table hockey, skee ball, basketball toss, and a few others. In the end, he did win more games than me but that's ok. It was a lot of fun. We had all these tickets from our games so we traded them in for plastic colored vampire teeth and walked around The Commons with them in our mouths. Then we went to Borders books and hung out in the kid's section because it had a cool couch to lay on. We both were laying on it and talking about memories as a child. Then....we caught eyes and leaned closer to each for our first kiss. By the second date we both knew we had found something special and by January of the next year we exchanged 'I love you's', in March we got a dog together and by May I had moved in. Before we knew it we were a family before our one  year anniversary came around.

How did he propose? 

I was hoping for a proposal by one year but it didn't happen, that's ok maybe for my birthday. How awesome would that have been. Nope didn't happen for my birthday. So at that point I knew it wasn't going to happen before our two year anniversary. Little did I know he was planning the proposal since May of 2012. But it didn't happen until August 26, 2012. It was a nice Sunday and we wanted to spend it with our two dogs. We went to the dog park then down to Ruston Way in Tacoma. On our walk on Ruston Way we stopped at a sundial and I spotted one of our friends running by and I thought it was strange she was running in jeans with a camera in hand. I called her over and while I was trying to figure out why she was there, Joe turned me around and he was down on one knee. It was a flash of excitement and then I heard "Will you marry me?" I tried to compose myself and when I did I said YES!.
What is the inspiration and theme for your wedding date?
We already knew that July 5th was our date before he even proposed because many our guest were going to be out of towners, so it made sense to us to make it for that weekend because the military gets a 4 day weekend. Joe is a Captain in the Army and many of his friends are also in the Army so they get that long weekend off as well.
The theme of our wedding is vintage romance and pictures through the ages. I love seeing pictures of me as a child and I knew it had to be a part of the wedding. I have been gather pictures of both Joe and I's family to incorporate in a few aspects of the wedding. It really started forming as a theme when I was exploring Pinterest. What a great site to get ideas from and I just took it from there. I am looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.
What is one wedding planning tip you have for other brides?
The one tip I have for brides and future brides is get yourself a wedding planner or day of coordinator. I am absolutely thankful for the knowledge and expert industry opinion I have my amazing planners Christina and Ashley. When I needed Christina to go to bat for me on an issue I was having she jumped on it and fixed it in a snap. Get a planner!

 

 

Thanks for sharing Annie,  we can't wait until your wedding!

Real Wedding : Brooke & Clay Woodinville, Wa

“I didn’t want it to stop”; that was the consensus of this fantastic late September wedding that took place in Woodinville last year. BROOKE & CLAY September 22nd, 2012

When you first meet Brooke and Clay, you are instantly greeted with the friendliest of smiles from each of them; their smiles were infectious, and I found myself smiling bigger! Brooke & Clay are Oak Harbor natives, and high school sweethearts.

Their wedding took place on September 22nd, 2012 at Willows Lodge in beautiful Woodinville, Washington. Their guest count was about 160, and this group of people made for quite a night.

As the wedding day started, Brooke resided in the Bridal suite, surrounded by her bridal party of 5 which included, her nearest and dearest friends from childhood, college, as well as her Sister in Law. In the Suite down the hall, Clay and his Groomsmen were up to the same! As the couple got prepped for the big day, they sipped on complementary wine and bubbly while exchanging gifts of appreciation to their bridal party. The groomsmen were decked out in grey and black tuxes, rented from Men’s Wearhouse. The bridesmaids were dressed in Ann Taylor Chiffon grey dresses; in a variety of different styles to fit each lovely lady.

Brooke’s dress was breathtaking and it completely encompassed the beautiful bride she was meant to be. She wore a La Sposa dress named Sala from the 2012 DREAMS COLLECTION. Her dress was made with fine knit tulle and Paris organza-- bottom line this dress was stunning on Brooke (see pictures below).  Brooke had her hair swept to the side, curled and embellished with a beautiful fresh hair flower; her style was fresh, and all her own.

Brooke and Clay were married under the grand pergola which was adorned with two vibrant late summer flower swags to frame the couple as they said their vows. The aisle was decorated in colorful wild flowers in sweet glass vases that were hanging off each chair end. The ceremony included the most famous of all ring “bears” as their dog Gussy, was called up to hand over the wedding bands.

After the beautiful ceremony, guests were ushered over to the cocktail hour, where they sipped on drinks and were asked to sign the couple’s guest book that was in the form of a tree swing. Cocktail hour was full friends and family, mingling, laughing and enjoying the delicious appetizers, and refreshing summer drinks.  Guests were then invited to take a seat in the grand ball room to welcome the new Mr. & Mrs. Tacia. The tables were set with stunning stemware and rectangular flower boxes, which had flowers cascading over the edges to give a lush look. The soft lighting and the flicker of tea lights gave off the perfect amount of ambiance. The couple was toasted into the reception, as folks dined on fresh seafood, fresh fruit, salmon, and beef tenderloin.  After which, the happy couple headed over to their lavish set up of cupcakes, and had their cake cutting. The rest of the evening included great drinks, dancing, and great memories that will last a life time. These great memories were all captured by Aaron and Malinda Warder, of Warder Photo, a fantastic husband and wife photography team. It was one of the best weddings I have ever been to and was able to help plan. Not only for the clients and the experience I gained, but from the friendships that I was able to make during the planning process; friendships that have forever changed my life.

Thank you Brooke and Clay, and family for letting me help out with such an amazing  wedding! Love,

Christina Somoff-Fesler

ImageImage

ImageImageImage

ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

ImageImageImage

680_MG_8345----- 679_MG_8343----- 676_MG_8333----- 673_MG_8312----- 671_MG_8493----- 666_MG_7727 669_MG_8329----- 659_MG_7159 663_MG_8306----- 662_MG_7726 674_MG_8321----- 634_MG_8990 456_MG_8334 195_MG_7425

Real Wedding {Carly & Jesse} The Harbor Club 6/23/12

Carly & Jesse are the classic story of young love. She was a sorority girl & he a frat boy...need we say more? Well, we will! The beautiful ceremony took place at the charming Bellevue First Congressional Church and the reception was held high amongst the city of Bellevue on the 25th floor of the Symetra Financial Building, downtown. Needless to say, the views were breathtaking. The decor was simple, classic, and mostly purple! With an amazing staff and crew, the evening went off beautifully. The bride looked absolutely radiant and the groom happy and handsome as ever!

The night did not end until both the sorority and frat had each done their special chant to celebrate the event.

At evening end, the bride & groom whisked off in the limo headed to their hotel, then off to Oahu! Congrats to Carly & Jesse!

J + C reception events-107 J + C reception events-50 J + C reception events-41 J + C reception events-10 J + C reception candids-155 J + C reception candids-51 J + C reception candids-67 J + C reception candids-71 J + C reception candids-114 J + C reception candids-125 J + C reception candids-28 J + C reception candids-24 J + C portraits-223 J + C portraits-154 J + C portraits-85 J + C getting ready-92 J + C getting ready-93 J + C getting ready-94 J + C portraits-50

J + C portraits-60

Vendors:

Venue & catering: http://www.harborclub.org/

Day-of Coordination: http://www.itsyourdayevents.com/

Photography: http://www.danapleasant.com/

Cake: http://kelliscakecreations.com/