Centerpiece Idea

I came across this blog post recently, and while it's a couple years old and meant for Valentine's Day, these candy and flower combo would be a fun and affordable way to do centerpieces. And, you could change the whole look and feel just by using different candies or different colored flowers!

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)

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. 

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!

Wedding Central!

As you've noticed on recent posts, it's "all wedding, all the time," here at Vivid City. If we're not coordinating weddings, designing invitations and programs, or dishing out advice, we're working on our own weddings!

Jen, co-owner of Vivid City, got married on October 9th--event management and stationary photos to come, and Jamie, our other co-owner, is recently engaged, and getting married on September 10th, 2011.

Jamie recently wanted a creative way to ask her wedding party to be part of her big day. She decided we should make custom champagne labels, and she'd give each wedding party member a bottle when she asked them!

Best part? She has bridesmaids, a maid of honor, and a bridesman! It went off without a hitch, and we'll be putting together another great Vivid City-designed wedding on 9/10/11!

Check out the photos below, and email us today for info about how we can help with your big day!

Congratulations, Christy and Paul!

Our good friends Christy and Paul are getting married over Labor Day weekend, and we've done a ton of design work for them. I didn't want to spoil the surprise until all of the pieces had gone out in the mail, but since their wedding is coming up this weekend, I think we're in the clear! I love the simple design and the blue and green. Congrats again, guys!

Christy's Bridal Shower Invitation!

Sorry for the delay in posting to the blog. We've been busy designing, printing, planning, and more! I'm happy to unveil a wedding shower invitation I recently designed for my good friend Christy. She's getting married here in Seattle this summer (I'm also designing her wedding invitations!) and we're having a bridal shower for her next month. I love the way they turned out, and they are part of our larger decorating theme for the shower! Congratulations Christy!

Cherisse & Kelly's Save the Date Cards!

We're so excited to be working with our friends Cherisse & Kelly on their upcoming wedding! The first order of business was their save the date cards--they wanted something simple, classic, and not too flowery. I love the fonts that we chose, and I love that we were able to incorporate an image from their proposal. Congrats, you two!

Seattle Wedding Show

I just got back from the 2010 Seattle Wedding Show. I was a little hesitant about it, picturing swarms of crazy brides elbowing each other out of the way for cheap wedding dresses. But, since I am getting married this year, and I wanted to make some contacts for Vivid City, I decided I should go.

I was pleasantly surprised! I had a great time and got a lot of ideas for my wedding. Here are my top reasons to check out a wedding show when you are planning your big day:

1. Great vendors. We met vendors from all different areas: DJs, invitation designers, florists, tuxedo rentals, gift registries, caterers, and more.

2. Dresses. We saw a great fashion show, and were able to skim the racks of a lot of dresses. It was so great to see dresses on real people, in person, instead of just in wedding magazine ads.

3. Great deals. Many vendors give away great discounts at the show only. Make sure to pick up coupons and sign up for discounts wherever possible--weddings are expensive!

Don't get overwhelmed! Vivid City can help you navigate the confusing waters of wedding planning. Email us at info@vividcitymarketing.com