How to Keep Wedding Jitters from Getting in the Way of Sleep

The cake, the caterer, the flowers, the seating arrangement – your checklist seems to just keep growing. Unfortunately, the planning can add a significant amount of stress to your wedding jitters. As stress increases, you'll find it's harder to get a full seven to nine hours of sleep. Though stress and sleep deprivation feed off of one another, you can put a stop to the cycle. By incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine while developing healthy sleep habits, you’ll be able to enjoy the special months before your wedding.

Wedding Stress and Sleep Deprivation

Anytime you get less than seven hours of sleep, the portion of your brain that processes emotions goes into overdrive. It becomes highly sensitive to any negative thoughts, emotions, or events.

Normally, the brain's logic and reasoning center keeps your emotions in check. However, when sleep deprived, this part of the brain becomes less active. You’re left with magnified emotions at one of the most stressful times in your life because stress causes you to lose sleep and sleep loss leads to more stress.

While you can’t get rid of all of your stress, you can manage it in healthy ways to reduce its effects. As you work on stress management and develop good sleep habits, your emotions will stay grounded so you don't have any embarrassing bridezilla moments.

Stress Management Techniques

Daily Meditation

Meditation has a powerful mental and physical impact on your body. When done regularly, it can strengthen the connection between the brain's logic and emotional centers, restoring balance to your emotions. It can also help you focus on the present moment so that wedding thoughts don't overwhelm you at bedtime.

Journaling

Sometimes it's the running list of tasks you need to accomplish that keeps you awake and ramps up your stress at night. Take a few minutes before lying in bed to write down what you want to accomplish the next day. It also gives you a place to process your emotions and leave stress on the page. Once you're done, you can close your journal and let your mind relax.

Yoga

Sore, tight muscles often begin with stress. Gentle yoga poses provide a way to relieve tension before bed. It's also been shown to reduce stress-related inflammation, improve moods, and increase energy levels.

Sleep Habits that Help

You need sleep to keep stress under control. Thankfully, sleep responds to changes in habits so your personal behaviors can help you get a few more ZZZs.

1.Keep a Consistent Bedtime

This may sound simple, but it's one of the easiest ways to enhance your sleep. The human brain thrives off of the predictability and will start to release sleep hormones to accommodate your preferred schedule.

2. Make Your Bedroom a Sanctuary

The bedroom should only serve two purposes – sleep and sex. Clean up clutter, move out your desk and gym equipment, and try to make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary. At night, keep it as dark as possible and lower the room temperature to stay comfortable.

3. Stick to a Bedtime Routine

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, a soothing bedtime routine gives you a chance to relieve tension and stress before bed. Try to perform each activity in the routine in the same order and at the same time each day, even weekends.

Conclusion

Your wedding is an exciting event that you should be able to enjoy. As you work to manage stress and get the rest you need, you and your partner will be able to grow closer as you prepare to start your life together.

How to Plan for a Wedding, a Move, and Buying a Home with Minimal Stress

Photo Credit: Pexels

When you’re trying to tackle three major life events at once, things can get pretty intense. Dealing with the planning, the expenses, and the execution of a big move and buying a home, and a wedding can make it hard to focus on the tasks you need to complete for each. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to help you minimize stress. Follow these helpful tips to stay on task and stay focused during all this change.

Sort Through Your Stuff     

There’s no doubt that putting together a wedding will keep you pretty busy over the next few months. And when you add buying a home into the mix, you’re going to have more than enough on your plate. However, now is the perfect opportunity to get rid of things you no longer need and decide what goes with you and what you can put into storage. According to Sparefoot, the overall average price of a self-storage unit booked in Seattle over the past 180 days is $121.67, which is a small price to pay to ensure your new home doesn’t become a haven for your college dorm room decor. You can always revisit the need to possess your excess later but now isn’t the time to blindly purge meaningful belonging, but it’s also not the time to make them part of your new life.

Plan Ahead for Your Move   

In addition to sorting your stuff, you can also make plans for your move well ahead of time. This will ensure that small but important tasks such as picking up moving supplies and booking a moving truck won’t slip through the cracks. You can also price out your move so that you can work the expenses into your budget over the coming months. That’s bound to be a big help when you’re already budgeting for a deposit on a home, closing costs, and wedding day expenses. You can get an estimate of rental rates, as well as advice on moving supplies and accessories, by visiting a few moving sites. For example, U-Haul and Budget both have simple websites that can get you started with your moving plans.

Review Your Finances Together

You can do some pre-planning for your move now, but you also need to know how to navigate the homebuying process. First, if you haven’t discussed your finances as a couple, you need to do that ASAP. You should both pull copies of your credit reports and review them for errors. Look for any old accounts or misinformation, and take steps to remove credit issues. Being aware of your credit also means not using too much credit to pay for wedding expenses since opening new lines of credit can impact your loan offers. You should also get a good idea of your joint income and put together a solid budget that will help you cover the costs of your new home, your wedding and any other financial goals you may have as a couple.

Pay Professional to Help

From moving to buying a home to planning your wedding, trying to keep track of all your “to-do’s” is bound to get overwhelming. This is no time to add extra stress for either of you, so it’s worth it to hire professionals to help you stay on track with all of your planning. First, look for an experienced wedding planner to help you plan your celebration. This professional can offer priceless advice when it comes to your celebration and help coordinate with caterers, florists, and other wedding professionals. For your home, make sure you are working with a licensed realtor who can make the homebuying process much easier. Finally, consider hiring professional movers, who can make packing and moving your homegoods much easier, and help you use your time for more pressing tasks.

Getting married is such a major life event, but buying a home and moving are pretty big changes, too. By planning ahead and budgeting for professional help, you can save yourself some stress and enjoy all the excitement of these big life steps as you take them together.

-It’s Your Day Events guest writer, Alice Robertson

Save a little for yourself this weekend....

Photo by Mary Kahlor

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday...One of them involves heavily gorging yourself with delicious food, the other 3 are about shopping and sales! But they just so happen to be all coming up back to back. We know you may be scrambling, looking at ads, trying to figure out what to buy everyone on your list. But!...Don't forget about yourself. If you (or someone you know) are currently planning a wedding, we have got a wonderful little sale for YOU!

Now through Tuesday 11/27 at 11:59pm, Save 20% OFF all of our packages! Do you have to decide quick and book us by tuesday night? NO! As long as you inquire with us and set up a free consultation in the next few weeks, we will honor the pricing through the end of 2018! 

BONUS: If you do decide to book with us before the sale ends, we will not only give you $25 credit towards anything from our expressions studio, but we will also donate $25 to Northwest Harvest! That is enough to provide a family of three 37 nutritious meals!

All you have to do, is inquire with us and mention our Small Business Saturday Sale! 

Until we meet again, Happy Thanksgiving weekend from our entire team to you and yours!

Seattle Wedding Planners Share Their Top 12 Favorite Local Venues

Photo by Affinity Photography

Puget Sound wedding venues...there are so many to choose from, yet at the same time not enough. Peak season in the PNW runs June-September. If you don’t book your venue at least a year in advance you may find yourself scrambling to find something that fits your ideal date. There are so many to weed through. How do you know which ones are the best? First, you could narrow it down to ones that fit your ideal vision (that’s a whole ‘nother blog!) and go from there. However, today we’d like to share with you our top 12 favorite venues in the greater Seattle area. All three of our lead planners at It’s Your Day have chosen their top 4 (with a few honorable mentions) and we break it down on why said venues tickle our fancy and have made the cut.

Ashley’s Top 4:

1. Willows Lodge Woodinville

   Located in Woodinville Wine Country, Willows Lodge has a charm that appeals to all types. It has a PNW lodge feel with lots of wood and a tiny hint of rustic charm. The gardens & grounds are absolutely beautiful, complete with a firepit, lawn games, and pet pigs. The venue is also an actual lodge/hotel complete with a spa, so you and your guests have a place to stay the night(s) of the wedding AND get pampered. The most notable thing about the venue however, is THE FOOD! Willows wedding meals are catered by the Barking Frog restaurant. Mmmm. This is a fabulous venue, and in fact, we will be there showcasing the venue January 27th, 2019 for the 10th annual Weddings in Woodinville.
   

2. The Golf Club at Newcastle Newcastle

   Even if you absolutely loathe golf, this venue is worth it for the breathtaking view! Situated up on a hill near Cougar Mountain, the view expands from Downtown Seattle to Bellevue, to the Olympics, Cascades and beyond. You can choose from a few different locations for your ceremony & reception here, but our favorite is the tent on the Prestwick Terrace. Delicious food & incredible service round this venue out as a solid top choice.

3. Salty’s at Alki West Seattle

   Located in the beautiful Alki area of West Seattle, Salty’s has arguably one of the most amazing views across the water of the Downtown Seattle skyline. Many people don’t know that this amazing restaurant has a full event space located downstairs. Depending  on your guest count, you can utilize one to three of the adjoining rooms to fit up to 240 seated guests. They have two patios, right outside on the water, perfect for ceremonies and/or cocktail hour, and feeling that cool ocean breeze on your skin. On top of all that, the food is incredible. Did I mention this is where I got married!!?? :)
   

4. Ballard Bay Club Ballard

   Another beautiful waterview venue, this gem is located in Ballard. This venue has a bit of everything; with 2 rooms to utilize, (seating up to 400) complimented by brick and a warm wood tones, as well as a patio and bit of lawn space for the ceremony or outdoor cocktail hour. Enjoy the palm trees, and the view of the Olympics, giving it that true beachy yet PNW feel. This venue is operated and catered by Jewel Hospitality Group which is a wonderful team of professionals who serve up some amazing food (they have a few other fun venues too).
   

Ashley’s Honorable Mentions: SODO Park, Hidden Meadows

Christina’s Top 4:

1. Edgewater  Hotel Seattle

This venue is iconic Seattle—we’re talking the hotel where Led Zeppelin crazily trashed their room and the Beatles fished out their hotel window- it’s located right on the water with breathtaking views of the sound. The Edgewater offers an elegant refined feel, and one that has the essence of our great Emerald City all over it. Getting married here provides the convenience of being downtown along the water with easy access to plenty of fun things to explore for out of town guests. The Edgewater hotel also offers room blocks so you and your guests are able to stay up until the mic drop of the last song, and then either go out for the after party or walk down the hall to your comfy room! The venue coordinator Catrina is fabulous, and she along with your wedding coordinator will guide you through all that is the Edgewater, making sure your wedding day is just as you dreamed!

2. The Woodmark Kirkland

This is another waterfront hotel venue combo- it sits on Lake Washington in Kirkland. This hotel has a very refined nautical theme and there are various areas to get married at, all along the well-kept lakefront. There are many highlights about this venue option, from the hotel convenience to the amazing selection in food and service. This venue is less congested than a Seattle venue and offers easy parking for guests, as well as the cute little city of downtown Kirkland in almost walkable distance. There are sweeping stairs for stunning photo ops, and you even get a boat ride after you say your I-do’s! The attention to detail and service that is given to each couple that gets married here is truly genuine. They do require a day-of coordinator and that is to continue the ease of your wedding planning.  Working with your planner and venue coordinator, this venue will bring you a well-rounded beautiful day with high end service from pre-ceremony to your last dance.

3.  Skansonia Ferry Northlake-Seattle

Yes, another water view venue!! This venue is on a vintage moored Ferry Boat, and is chock-full of Seattle history. Located on North Lake Union; you have the panoramic skyline of Seattle as your backdrop, and meditative sounds of the water lapping at the sides of the boat as the boat traffic quietly passes by and sea planes land in the distance. This venue is pretty special as I got married there in 2011! They have made a lot of upgrades since then. The biggest compliment I received when having my wedding was that the food was amazing-- which it was! The buffet was lavish with plenty to choose from. The dance hall is already lit up with bistro lights, and ready for the party. This venue doesn’t host the same convenience as the hotels do, but is treat for those visiting from out of state, especially if you are having a summer wedding!

4. Treehouse Point Issaquah

We are now venturing out of Seattle, still King County, but somewhere a little bit more PNW, and hearty. Amongst the trees, if you please! Who doesn’t love tree houses? Not what your 10 year old self remembers, but designer treehouse; with plush beds and heaters inside. I can’t describe fully how beautiful these treehouses are, but they are designed by Nelson Treehouses...go take a peek at that website. The first time we did a wedding at this venue I felt totally blown away. There are trails, and a beautiful river that runs behind you. They have Yoga in the pond room which is also where the dancing happens after dinner on your wedding night, and much more. The Treehouses are for you and your guests to stay in, there are  6 Treehouses and the couple should certainly stay in a Treehouse on their wedding night, the rest is for your close family or bridal party. Food is provided by caterers off their preferred vendor list. This is a really dreamy spot to get hitched, and you really feel like you’re somewhere extremely special….because you are, and that is in nature.

Christina’s Honorable Mentions :  Rainier Chapter House, Melrose Market Studios

Sara’s Top 4:

1. Maplehurst Farm Mount Vernon

Beautifully situated in the heart of the Skagit Valley in Mount Vernon Washington, this venue is my top pick (I love it so much, we got married there!!). It boasts views of Mount Baker, and is a well maintained 6 acre family farm. You can count on ample space for up to 225 guests, including plenty of parking and ceremony space options galore. If you have a smaller guest list, there is a tiny “Secret Garden” situated behind the mansion. Or go big on the main lawn, in the gardens, in the barn or under the impressive treeline that welcomes you to the venue. Get your vendors together & let the festivities begin!

2. Lairmont Manor Bellingham

This venue is pretty unique. Indoor or outdoor space is available for 100 to 250 guest respectively. The Manor is a century old Italian Renaissance-Style estate, with a BEAUTIFUL  garden. I could spend all day in the garden you guys...I wonder if they would let me just sit there a while with a book, and a glass of wine!? Okay, back on track, the landscaping on the grounds is basically enough, so additional ceremony decor is pretty unnecessary. Not to mention the fountains! Meaning, you can focus your time and energy toward making the tent beautiful for your big day. If we had gotten married in the summer, this would’ve been a top choice for us. Winter wedding indoors anyone? The historic town of Fairhaven is close by, and is a place your guests would probably love to tool around for a long weekend. Take pictures by Bellingham Bay during cocktail hour, and dance the night away under the giant oak trees at the Lairmont Manor!

3. Semiahmoo Resort   Blaine

This venue really has it all. Ocean views, city views, tasty food, great staff, and room for all your guests. It is close enough to town, that you can find anything you need, yet far enough out of town to feel like you are on a little vacation. Hey, lets just be honest and call it a wanna-be destination wedding, without the plane ticket! For the win! Your guests can make it a long weekend, come and golf or enjoy time out on the ocean. Nearby, Bellingham has something for everyone. Get married on the beach, the dock or snuggle up under the giant wedding tent, have a kids party during the reception in their mini movie theater, and a killer after party at the bar. Brunch the next day to say farewell to all your favorite people. I’m SOLD.

4. Swan Trail Farms Snohomish

This venue is just waiting for your vision to bring it to life. Get married on the grassy knoll, under the open, yet covered patio area, or under the pergola by the scenic pond. The staff there is friendly and hard working, and your 250 guests will have ample space to party! Go back each year and check out the pumpkin patch & corn maze that is on property and look back fondly on your big day! I say I DO!

Sara’s Honorable Mentions: Seattle Aquarium, Fremont Foundry

There you have it~ Our top 12 PNW area venues (make that 18 including our fabulous honorable mentions)! Check them out. Hopefully this helps in your search for your perfect venue. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions, we are always down to chat weddings!

Cheers!

Ashley, Christina & Sara (the lead planners at It’s Your Day Events).

Photo by Affinity Photography

Getting Married Locally? Here's How to Prep Your Home for the Big Day

You've spent the better part of a year planning, and the big day is almost here. The décor is ready to go, you've checked in with your vendors, and your dress fits like a dream. Everything is perfect for your wedding day … almost. Unless everyone is staying at a hotel throughout the festivities, you'll want to take these steps to get your home ready for the big event, too.

1. Set Up the Guest Rooms

It's not uncommon to host relatives at your home when getting married locally. Older parents and grandparents appreciate a home-like environment over holing up at a hotel and eating meals out. Ensure your home is comfortable for guests by putting fresh bedding and towels in bedrooms, clearing out closet space for guests to use and decluttering the coat closet so everyone's items can fit. Apartment Therapy suggests a few more things you can do to make houseguests more comfortable and your life easier.

2. Stock the Kitchen

You'll want to eat well the week of your wedding so you feel your best the day of the nuptials, but with the chaos of wedding prep you may not find time to cook. Stock your refrigerator with healthy snacks like cut vegetables and hummus, raw nuts, and fresh fruit. If you'll be hosting guests, ask about dietary restrictions and preferences and shop accordingly. Don't forget to purchase coffee and tea, cocktail supplies and finger snacks for mingling the day your guests arrive (Food52 names the essentials).

3. Streamline Your Housekeeping

In the days leading up to your wedding, your focus should be on the big event, not keeping your house clean with guests. If family is staying with you, delegate chores to ease the burden. If one person washes the bath towels while another loads the dishwasher daily, you can focus on quick and easy tasks like wiping down kitchen and bathroom counters once per day. With people walking in and out constantly, the floors will the hardest to keep clean. You could vacuum daily, or you could spend a little bit on a robotic vacuum cleaner and not worry about it. While some robotic vacuum cleaners are costly, there are some great, affordable options on the market that are worth checking out.

4. Glam Out Your Bed and Bath

From the moment you wake up on your wedding day, you should feel like royalty. If you're staying at home before the wedding, give your sleeping quarters the bridal treatment. Replace your quilt with a fluffy white comforter and pillowcases to match, hang romantic curtains in the windows, and replace surface clutter with bouquets, candles and other charming touches. In the bathroom, clear the counters and lay out your wedding day beauty essentials.

5. Establish a Gift Drop Area

You probably won't touch the mountain of wedding gifts until you're back from the honeymoon. Keep gifts from taking over your house by establishing a drop zone ahead of time. However, you shouldn't hide them in a spare closet — if a gift-giver sees, it could hurt some feelings. Prepare a table or area of your living room where gifts can be arranged nicely until your return.

Your home may not be the center of your wedding festivities, but that doesn't mean your guests won't see it. You may be hosting family, getting dressed for the wedding at home, or just running back and forth preparing for the big event. In any case, your home should help set the mood for your nuptials, not be yet another thing to worry about.

It's Your Day Events Guest Writer: Alice Robertson

Image via Unsplash

Intern Call! Seeking awesome intern for Summer!

Hello and Happy Spring! We are currently in search of an awesome summer intern to work with us Mid-June through Mid-October.

School credit is available if applicable.

The details:

The Intern will be responsible for assisting with weddings and events on weekends. Additional learning opportunities are available, such as blogging and social media contribution. 

The ideal candidate must be polished, self-motivated, loves weddings, enthusiastic, detail oriented and comfortable being on their feet/active most of the day. They must be able to self-manage and work independently. Growth opportunities are available if the candidate is a right fit to join the event planning team as an Assistant Coordinator. This is a Woman, Best Friend, Co-Owned business. All three of our regular employees started as interns.

This is an extremely part-time position with potential to grow. Currently, we are looking for someone to start as an off-season intern, pay is stipend DOE and time commitment. You would be able to work from home on any assigned tasks, such as blogging or vendor research. The time commitment is approx 1-2 hours a week for non-wedding day work. Occasional attendance at staff meetings required, approximately monthly. On weeks we have weddings the time commitment is approx 12 hours. 

Responsibilities: 

- Assist Lead Planner at weddings (this is a multi-hats position and can include everything from placing table numbers to setting up chairs, getting the DJ a plate of food, to floofing the bride's dress before she walks down the aisle)
- Client and vendor communication
- Vendor research & networking
- Submit real weddings and styled shoots for publication
- Assist in planning market events, such as industry open houses

Desired Skills:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Must have own vehicle, cell phone, and laptop.
- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with limited time frame
- Detail oriented with exceptional level of accuracy and follow-through
- Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment
- Works well within a team oriented environment
- Flexibility to work from home, some weekend availability required. 
- Ability to prepare written reports and correspondences, and presentations as required
- Agile at prioritizing and managing multiple projects
- Must possess strong communication, time management and collaboration skills; confident, self-starter, independent thinker
{Extra bonus point for candidates with previous event or wedding planning experience!!!}

*You MUST be available 7/14,  7/21, 7/27, 7/28, 8/25, 9/1, 9/15

Compensation:
-Small stipend only of approximately $350 + meals, drinks, parking etc paid for when working. Estimated assistance at 7-8 weddings in the later season.
-Position opportunity to become our lead set-up & take-down coordinator or more.

Please send your cover letter, resume and portfolio {if applicable} by email. Deadline is 7/2. We will contact if you if we would like to schedule an interview. info@itsyourdayevents.com