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. 

Great marriage proposal!

Here at Vivid City, we're suckers for a good marriage proposal, since we work with so many brides and grooms every year. This is one of the best one's I've seen! Check it out.

A letter from one of our clients

We coordinated Cherisse & Kelly LeProwse's wedding in Puyallup, Washington last summer. Here's what they had to say about Vivid City Marketing & Events. (Photos by Tiffany Burke Photography)

Our wedding…legendary! Many couples probably say that they’ve enjoyed their wedding, but for us, that day couldn’t have been more perfect. The food, the dancing, the guests, the moment; it all came together to be the best day of our lives. My husband and I are so happy and couldn’t have pulled it off without Vivid City experts, Jamie & Jen.

J&J were by our side throughout the entire process. Whether it was designing our save-the-dates, giving advice, contacting vendors, arranging flowers and venue set-up, organizing wedding day logistics, composing ceremony verbiage, or handling any of the game time requests…J&J were the calm of our wedding planning frenzy. 

We are truly touched by the service and attention provided to make our wedding day so memorable. We couldn’t be more grateful. We look forward to starting a family and working with J&J on many more celebrations to come.

Cheers!
Kelly & Cherisse LeProwse

Weddings: Everyone has a budget

Reading wedding magazines or watching shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" may make you think that you're the only one on a budget, and that every other bride (or groom) in the world can spend, spend, spend on an over-the-top wedding.

In real life, however, everyone has a price point. Every couple we've worked with has a limit, regardless of who is paying for the wedding. It's important to keep a little perspective as you're planning.

Here are our top five wedding budgeting tips that we always tell all of our clients.

1. Spreadsheet, spreadsheet, spreadsheet. The very first thing you should do (after calling all of your family and friends, of course) is talk about your budget. No, it's not glamorous, but you must do it. Knowing how much you are willing to spend from the start will help you navigate all of the options in front of you, and be realistic about what you can afford.

2. Stop comparing yourself to other couples. So what if you went to a wedding last weekend where you drank from a Cristal champagne fountain, the bride wore a custom-made Vera Wang gown, and U2 was the live entertainment. Who cares. Your wedding will be special, because it's yours. The rest is just details.

3. Decide what is most important to you. Maybe you love photography so you want to book the city's most famous wedding photographer. Perhaps you love the look of letterpress and calligraphy invitations. Whatever it is, every couple has one or two must-haves on their list. That's great--fit them into your budget if at all possible, but something's got to give. Decide which wedding details aren't that important to you. Maybe you have a friend who can do the flowers. Perhaps you don't even like wedding cake and can settle for cookies from a local bakery. Sit down and make a list, from most important to least important, and go from there.

4. Always ask for discounts. Anytime you are in conversation with a vendor, ask if they have any specials. Many photographers will throw in a free session of engagement pictures. Your venue may give you a better deal if you get married in low season, or on a Friday or Sunday. Ask your florist if they can substitute in-season flowers for exotic ones that have to be flown in. Worst case, they say no, but at least you've tried!

5. Pay for a day-of wedding coordinator. We're not just saying that because we want your business (which we do). You've spent months planning your big day, counting your pennies, and scrutinizing your guest list. Don't let all of your hard work go to waste. Save enough money in your budget to hire someone to handle all the details on your big day. You want to enjoy the time with your new husband/wife, hang out with your wedding party and family, and really ENJOY! You only get to do this once, after all!  And a bonus: We provide unlimited phone and email contact to all of our day-of clients. We can help you find great vendors, give advice on budgeting, and more.

Email us today for a quote!

More invitation design

Here's another example of Vivid City-designed wedding invitations. Email me today at jen@vividcitymarketing.com for a quote!

Great Wedding Vendor Alert: Michael Benson Band

I just got married in October (with the best wedding coordinator--my business partner Jamie from Vivid City!) and we had some really amazing vendors, some of whom I'll be posting about in the weeks to come.

As my husband and I saw our family and friends over the holidays, many people were raving about our wedding and how fun it was. The one thing they kept mentioning over and over again is how great our wedding band was.

We first saw the Michael Benson Band at a friend's wedding a few summers ago. They were so energetic, emceed the whole night and kept things moving, and played some really amazing music.

At our wedding their five-piece band played everything from "What a Wonderful World" to Lady Gaga's "Pokerface". It was such a sight to see. They were like chameleons who could morph their voices and instruments to sound like whatever song they were playing.

Their can-do attitude and energy make them so easy to work with, and they kept us dancing until late into the night. They even let my dad sing with the band to "Sweet Caroline"!

I've already recommended them to couples I know getting married in 2011, and I hope to work with them again soon. Book them early--they've been voted Best Wedding Band in Western Washington year after year. Thanks, Michael Benson Band!