A Great Client Referral

A thank you card for guests

A few months ago, we were very excited to work with some great friends, Lauren and Bryan, on their beautiful Port Townsend, WA wedding. We designed all of their paper goods for the big day, including programs, thank you cards, table assignments, and more. Check out the finished products here and here. 

We just received a lovely email from Lauren that we wanted to share. 

"How can we thank Jen Lyons of Vivid City for creating our beautiful paper products and signage? By telling everyone we know. My husband and I were thrilled with the creativity and thought that Jen put into creating our programs, guest book cards, thank you notes, and instructional signs. She took the time to sit with me and nail down out the exact vision of how we wanted the end product to look for each product. 


I will be the first to tell you that I can be nitty gritty about details but I was no match for Jen. She made sure that everything was perfect, not one feature was missed. We received so many compliments and we will continue singing the praises of Vivid City. We can’t wait to use them for our next big event."


Thanks Lauren! 

Sh*t Brides Say

We've all seen the new "Sh*t Girls Say" YouTube videos, and probably some of the spin-offs and parodies. Well, WeddingChannel.com just came out with "Sh*t Brides Say" and it is pretty clever. Most things are funny because they're (at least partially) true, right? Check out the video below for a good laugh. 


(Oh, and pardon the language)

Design work for a cause

Because of all the design work we do on invitations and other party materials at Vivid City, I was contacted by a good friend to pitch in on another project, Hope for Jess. It's an Etsy site in honor of Jessica Oldwyn. Jess is a friend of a friend (who I actually had the pleasure of meeting last weekend) who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010.

Jess is an inspiring young woman who has grace, perseverance, and an amazingly positive attitude. Because of this, her friends have donated money, time, and materials to set up an Etsy shop to help raise money to cover some of Jess' mounting medical costs.

Etsy banner, designed by Vivid City

And what's the best part? They are selling prints and unstretched giclee canvas prints that are Jess' own creation, called "Hope".

The prints are available in their Etsy Shop. Learn more about Jess and her journey on the Etsy site, and on her blog, which is a really great read.

Fun table number idea

Sometimes here at Vivid City we cook something up that is so fun I can't help but share it right away! My dear Vivid City business partner Jamie is getting married next month, and we've been planning day and night. We came up with a super fun and easy way to make table numbers for her wedding.

We cut out cardboard numbers, and, with camera in hand, hit up some of Jamie and Bill's favorite Seattle landmarks. I love that some of them are classic Seattle (Pike Place Market), but some are more subtle (cheers-ing at their favorite bar, Kells). These will be framed and placed on each table at the reception.

Here's a sneak preview. Aren't they so stinkin' cute? I am loving this idea!

Pike Place Market flower stands

Pike Place gum wall--gross but awesome

A couple more from Lauren & Bryan's Wedding

Here's a few more pictures of our design work featured at Lauren & Bryan's Port Townsend wedding!

Advice for the happy couple!

Programs

Design Work-Lauren & Bryan

(Here's a picture of the venue, right on the water!)

Last Saturday, our dear friends Lauren and Bryan got married at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. Talk about a beautiful venue! It was sunny and 75, with views of Mount Rainier, plenty of sailboats in the background, and set in the charming, antique town of Port Townsend. You couldn't ask for a better day for a beautiful, Northwest summer wedding.

Still don't believe me on how pretty it was? Here's the view from cocktail hour!

We were lucky enough to do some really fun design work for the bride and groom. From programs to instructional signs and thank you notes, we were busy! The final product turned out fantastic (If I do say so myself!

The "Hop, Skip & Get Married", their signature cocktail

This is my favorite piece--a thank you card for wedding guests

Congratulations to the happy couple! Thanks for letting us be a part of it!

Willows Lodge - One of our favorite venues

We've seen a lot of great venues around the Seattle area, but Willows Lodge in Woodinville is one of our favorites. It's a boutique hotel tucked away just a 20 minute drive from Seattle, but once you're there, you feel like you're a world away! The guestrooms and event space are cozy and inviting, with beautiful stone fireplaces, exposed beams and gorgeous gardens.


But, the best thing about Willows Lodge is the service. We've worked with Jenn Wenman, Associate Director of Catering. From questions about the menu, to last-minute rain plans, she is so organized and truly cares about her clients.


I can say all kinds of great things about Willows Lodge, but let's go right to the source. I talked to Jenn recently about her favorite things about the venue.

What makes Willows Lodge a great place to have an event?

It is hard to summarize why Willows Lodge is an ideal wedding and event venue because the list is endless!  Located in the heart of the Woodinville Wine Country, our rustic elegance, breathtaking gardens/grounds, and quintessential Northwest vibe attract guests locally and from beyond, based on these physical attributes alone.  Once our guests arrive at Willows Lodge, however, they are even further won-over by the friendly yet professional staff, delicious food from the Barking Frog restaurant, and most of all, the genuine, personalized service provided from start to finish of every event. 

What kind of events, outside of weddings, do you usually host at the lodge? 

Willows Lodge hosts all types of events, large and small, including corporate retreats, team-building off-sites, holiday parties, auctions, social events, bar/bat mitzvahs, pharmaceutical dinners, winemaker dinners, and of course, plenty of weddings!

What do you love about your job? 

After working in the hospitality industry for 16 years and spending the past nine at Willows Lodge, it is obvious that I love where I work!  I am lucky to spend my days at such a beautiful property and with so many passionate, caring team members that make me look forward to coming to work every day.  I also love my job for the other people that put a smile on my face: the amazing vendors we work with and even more so, the clients! We are such a hands-on team that throughout the planning process for events we truly get to know our clients on a professional level and often times on a personal level as well.  This connection strengthens my desire to guarantee the success of an event and leaves me feeling more fulfilled after we have provided our guests with an unforgettable experience.

What tips do you have for couples planning their weddings? 

The best advice I can give to couples is: know what is best for YOU and trust the advice of your vendors!  There will always be sacrifices you must make as a couple when you plan your wedding (think of it as practice for the sacrifices you will need to make once married!) and you must determine what is most important to you.  Whether it be date, venue, food & beverage offerings, flowers/decor, entertainment, photography -- or any other wedding service -- spend your money on what you care about the most.  This could mean selecting an off-peak date, making your own invitations, eliminating favors...you get the idea!  Cut corners on the elements that are not as important to you so that you can spend more money on the elements that matter to you the most.  

In regards to vendors, I always tell my clients two things: trust the professionals and trust your gut!  As a wedding venue, Willows Lodge hosts approximately 70 weddings each year and after celebrating our 10th birthday last September you can do the math as to how many weddings -- and thus wedding vendors! -- we have accommodated.  We can give you the "inside scoop" on all of the vendors we have worked with...the good, the bad...and the unmentionable!  Likewise, all of your wedding vendors can direct you to those professionals that do an amazing job but reverting to point number two: trust your gut!!  Your wedding is a very personal day and you must have people around you that you are 100% comfortable with and confident in, and that understand your vision.