Wear What When

Out Now: Winter/Spring SMBG

The brand new issue of Seattle Met Bride & Groom is in stores now. In my inbox now: Queries about our Real Weddings section.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 18, 2012 at 10:45AM 0 Comments

Photo: Love Study by Stacy Jacobsen

The real Seattle wedding of Bree Carino and Barham Beireis is in the brand new edition of Seattle Met Bride & Groom. Your could be in an upcoming issue, if you hire a great photographer and follow the guidelines here.

Twice a year, when new issues of Seattle Met Bride & Groom land in stores across the region, I get hit with questions about our Real Weddings section.

You can scroll through the Seattle-area celebrations online, but I’ll admit: there’s nothing like having the big, oversized pages in your hands.

And from what I understand, there’s nothing like seeing yourself in the big, oversized pages.

If you’d like your wedding to be considered for a future issue, please take a look at look at these hopefully helpful tips.

1. Plan a singular wedding. Go outside-the-box, but do it in an elegant, timeless way. Tell your story, in the form of a party. Leave no detail out.

2. Hire a photographer who is literally and figuratively focused on the little stuff. Make sure he or she captures the:

a) welcoming, inviting tabletops; the centerpieces, the carefully selected place settings, the gorgeous linens, the printed menus, the place cards, the thoughtful details of fine service

b) food and beverages—the cake or dessert, the signature cocktails, the inventive apps

c) fashion of the bridal party and the guests. Like you, we love a shoe shot—when the shoe shot really shows something new and tastefully colorful and inspiring.

d) decor. What hung from the rafters? What greeted guests as they walked through the country chapel doors? What handsome signage pointed folks in the right direction? What tweaked tradition informed your middle-of-the-field altar or chuppah? How did you arrange the vintage settees on the venue’s back porch for the coziest cocktail lounge ever?

e) printed matter. We’re paper junkies, you dig?

f) the venue. Where did this glorious union take place? You, seasoned soon-to-be-married-person, know that it often starts with selecting the right setting. Real Weddings is, above all else, a service to other engaged couples. We love the idea of putting them inside a handful of venues each issue, via your celebration pics.

3. Take note of what we don’t tend to print. You don’t see many posed, formal portraits in the mag, right? Best not to use up one of your 15 or so allotted submission pics by including three or four.

4. Alloted submission pics? Yes, please see the instructions on the Seattle Met Bride & Groom site of the nitty gritty of how, when, and via what delivery method. (And should you chose to send a DVD, do be a dear and label it with your name and wedding date, eh? You’d be surprised how many don’t …)

5. Anyone can submit Real Weddings images. In the current issue, it was an officiant who brought to our attention the vows of Amy Sommer and Jeri Andrews, causing us to scrutinize anew the words “Bride & Groom.”

6. Have fun with it. If you have a ball planning your wedding, if you have a riot being the co-star of the day, if you spend a fun Sunday putting together your submission, you’ve succeeded—even if your wedding doesn’t end up being quite right for our pages.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings

Real Weddings: Home, Where the Heart Is

An artful, vintage Central District at-home celebration to inspire your celebrations.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Aug 24, 2011 at 08:40AM 0 Comments

Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Slideshow: The Tanseys at home on their wedding. Tips, inspiration, and more from the couple and their photographer.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Slideshow: The Tanseys at home on their wedding. Tips, inspiration, and more from the couple and their photographer.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

WWW: What made you decide to have your wedding at home?
Michele and Ryan: We wanted to share all the hard work we’d done at our house over the past year with our friends and family. We also wanted a relaxed and comfortable environment and to make sure that all of our pets could be there. The financially responsible part of us figured that we should spend our wedding money on something we could use after the wedding not just that day. The bulk of the wedding cost went towards home improvements (paint, new doorknobs, light fixtures, furniture, and decorations), a new deck, and landscaping.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

What was the inspiration for the look and feel of the day?
We love all things vintage and antique, so our theme was Mad Men-inspired with late 50s early 60s attire. All of the decorations from the glasses, silverware, pie plates, chairs, tables, everything and I mean everything was collected by Michele (with a little help from Kaye and Michele’s mom) from Goodwill and Value Village. The wonderful people in the housewares department at the Goodwill on South Lane Street in Seattle knew Michele so well by the end.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

How many guests did you have and do you imagine you would have invited more if you held the party in a larger venue?
We had about 75 guests at our wedding and we probably wouldn’t have invited any more if we’d had the event somewhere else. Obviously the process of choosing who to invite is a difficult one for all couples, but overall I think we didn’t have too much trouble since we knew we wanted to keep it small and intimate.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

For some couples, planning a wedding is enough of a project. Wasn’t it also overwhelming to plan a wedding and fix up the venue?
We nearly bit off more than we could chew. We didn’t do much serious planning until about three months out from our wedding, and we decided to do most everything ourselves. We had to put in a deck, landscape our yard, install light fixtures, retile our bathroom, finish installing trim in a few places, paint a couple rooms, and find new furniture and art. We are so thankful for the help we received. In the months leading up to the wedding we had help from our “Best Man of Honor” Jon, and from Michele’s close friend Kaye who is a wedding planner in Indianapolis. In the few days before the wedding we had most of our family fly in and help fix up the house, bake pies, and set up the tables and chairs.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte
View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Michele: After the band left there was a group of about twenty of us sitting outside drinking and chatting. We pulled together all the comfy couches and chairs; it is the coolest feeling to be in your yard sitting on indoor furniture. I don’t know who started it but someone said, “Ryan! Wooooh!” and started clapping. Then everyone outside joined it cheering and clapping. “RYAN!” He had the biggest smile on his face, and I knew he was thinking, “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.” He tells me every day. I am so proud of him.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Tell us you didn’t also make all the food and dessert.
We decided to have brunch catered by Duos Catering. We had bacon, biscuits and gravy, quiche, strata, breakfast panini, fresh fruit, and yogurt. Everything was so good we wish we could have eaten more! For the dessert we had our friends and family bake pies. We had so many pies that we had ten left over after the day was done. As for the drinks, we got two kegs of beer from Georgetown Brewery. We also mixed up a cooler of tequila-spike limeade for the day.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Ryan: My favorite moments from the day came whenever Michele and I would sneak away to take pictures with our photographer Kristen Tourtillotte. The entire day was such a whirlwind of family and friends, with not as much time with Michele as I would have liked. Stepping out of the party for a few moments meant so much to me and it let me have time to spend with the woman I love so much on such a special day.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

How is photographing a wedding in a home different than taking pictures at a venue?
Tourtillotte: Since there was so much character in the house, taking photos was almost a breeze: It was easier to search for light and negative space. The guests were comfortable with having a camera in their face and were close together rather than spread around a large venue. It allowed me to come up closer and document them in conversation without them noticing so much whereas if I walked up to them from 20 feet away… Guests were just a lot more at ease and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Michele and Ryan didn’t have the traditional events of cake cutting, bouquet toss and the like so the guests conversations weren’t interrupted and they weren’t called to move to a different room to watch traditional wedding events take place.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Tourtillotte: The way the house was decorated and landscaped reflected who Michele and Ryan are. Creative individuals with an eye for aesthetic beauty and love for antique and charming pieces that have been warmly loved in the past.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte
View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte
View Slideshow » Photo: Kristen Tourtillotte

Tourtillotte: After having shot plenty of backyard, hotel, gallery, and large venue weddings, there was definitely something very different about this particular home wedding. I think what connected me the most to it was having met with Michele and Ryan a few times in their short planning process and seeing first hand the amount of work they had put into making their nest feel like a home and wanting to engage their friends and family in the home-making process. I think for couples to put their own hard work and labor into creating this type of event is quite the feat. Their guests were able to see this as well and it only created a more welcoming environment and appreciation for the day. Their hospitality was multiplied; guests felt more comfortable and hung around longer.

On June 19th, Ryan and Michele Tansey were married in their Central District home amid an artful collection of vintage decor and an equally inspiring group of friends—most if not all of whom complied with the couple’s Mad Men-era theme and dressed the part.

In the slideshow here, photographer Kristen Tourtillotte of Kristen Marie Photography shares her images of the Tansey’s day, and we talk with Tourtillotte and the new couple about the down-home affair.

Click through the slideshow to find out how the newlyweds pulled off such a stylish wedding (spoiler alert: she’s an interior decorator and together they run Reinspired Home), how photographing in a home can be different than photographing at say, the Four Seasons, and get tips and inspiration for your big or small Big Day.

To see more Real Weddings, access the Seattle Met Bride & Groom website.

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Tags: Seattle Vintage, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Catering, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Photography, Seattle Wedding Planning

How to: Real Weddings

Do you see yourself in our pages? Here’s how to really make it happen.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jul 20, 2011 at 06:40AM 2 Comments

The current issue of Seattle Met Bride & Groom is on stands now. You could be in the next issue, if you follow these Real Weddings guidelines.

The new issue of Seattle Met Bride & Groom has been out for almost a month now—more than long enough to generate a new round of feverish queries regarding those pages known as Real Weddings.

Here’s what you need to know about getting in to the next issue.

1. Plan the wedding that only you could plan. Don’t worry so much about trends or tradition; do what feels right to you and what will look beautiful and be completely captivating when guests walk into the room. On one hand, consider your wedding a dinner party, the most special and well-produced one you’ve ever thrown. On the other, think about immersive environments that inspire indelible memories.

2. Hire a detail-oriented photographer who will capture the little thoughtful moments, smart and stylish tabletop and decor elements, and the big three: flowers, dessert, and dinner (or breakfast, appetizers, whatever)—not just posed shots. Gather about 25 images that are similar in subject matter to the ones we tend to print in the magazine and online (ie: they illustrate the ceremony, show off the wedding party’s grand style, and point out what was brilliant at the reception: the tables, the printed matter, the favors, the overall venue), and reference our submission guidelines for final instructions.If and when we like what we see, we’ll send the couple a Q and A to complete, and we’ll request a full set of high res images.

3. Get submissions in by October 18. We’ve already received lots of great submissions but we want to make sure we have all the best events to choose from so get your best bets in soon. We only have so many pages for Real Weddings in each issue, and considering how many beautiful weddings were orchestrated in the last year, they do go fast.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Photography

Book Review: A Gentleman Walks Down the Aisle

A moderately helpful tome for grooms and other patient, intelligent males.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 25, 2011 at 07:15AM 0 Comments

It’s good to be wary of anything that claims to be a “complete guide to the perfect” anything, but there is some guidance worth noting in this new book.

If there’s one assumption that Seattle Met Bride & Groom makes, it’s that these days, both the bride and the groom (or the bride and the bride and the groom and the groom) are equals in this thing called a wedding, just as they are equals in marriage.

Each issue I see proof of it—the guys who submit their photos for Real Weddings and then serve as the main point-of-contact and answer the survey question all on their own. Yes, guys. It happens every issue more than once. And I hear from wedding vendors all the time about grooms who take the lead in planning and vendor selection if not decor.

So when their new book came across my desk, I wondered what John Bridges and Bryan Curtis had to say to modern men about their modern roles. The introduction didn’t charm me.

"As the happy day grows nearer, any mention of ‘Jason and Mary Sue’s wedding will have been absorbed into ‘Mary Sue’s wedding,’ goes the preparatory text.

Uh-oh. So, Bridges and Curtis are not assuming that the two of you of are entering into this thing as dynamic duo. They’re assuming that Mary Sue is a crazed warrior bride who will take down anyone who stands between her and a 25 just-so peony centerpieces in coral—not blush, not rose, not hot pink.

That annoyed me. The passage, “More than once, the groom will have every good reason to feel like the forgotten man of the hour—a cog in the great wheel of marital merrymaking, just a necessary means to an end, a guy whose only function is to show up and say, ‘Well, yes, I think I do,’” annoyed me even more. Can’t we assume that a gentleman is marrying a gentlelady not bridezilla? Can’t we assume that he cares about throwing a grand event and that she cares that he cares?

But as I read on, I found some really useful information on thank you notes, dance class, tying a bow tie, and the all important who-pays-for-what stuff. Aside from the whole cog-in-a-wheel-who’s-marrying-a-nightmare, the authors are generous to their reader; they figure he’s a smart guy, a patient soul, a caring friend and partner. They seem to want to help him—mostly through a series of affirmation-like statements that bookend each subject or topic (“A gentleman prints out his self-composed vows on stiff card stock and grips them tightly. He does not trust fragile copy paper, which will shake because his hands will be shaking too.”). And here “him” also refers to fathers, best men, groomsmen, and even guests. After all, each of these gentlemen will be walking down the aisle—just not in the grand way that the gentlemen in the tailcoat (see page 179) will be.

It’s an okay little tome as it turns out. The authors are not new to the milieu of the gentleman. They have between them a number of volumes on masculine etiquette, including a special edition for Brooks Brothers called A Gentleman Entertains. (Probably not a bad next-in-series for the home collector who finds Walks Down the Aisle of use, considering how much a wedding can and should be like the biggest and best party of one’s life.

So I suggest that, if you’re looking for written words to aid you in navigating the planning and execution of your big day, you go ahead and pick up this book from your local independent book seller, and then, before leaving the store, rip out the two pages that make up the introduction. I wish that it were more practical to also have you go through and blacken certain passages where the tone gets condescending and the equilibrium is off. Why, for example, does the hypothetical bride in the section that deals with the possibility of an elopement, have to have such a whining tone? Why does she have to call her father “Daddy?” What is that?

But here’s the thing: A gentleman will have to filter out a lot of imperfect information between now and the big day. (So will a lady.) And while modern dudes, in my experience, are more than happy to take on caterers and DJs and plot intricate and highly political reception table seating charts, that isn’t stuff men were born knowing how to do. Women weren’t born knowing how to do it, either, but the planet generally supposes that she’s been daydreaming of this stuff since kindergarten and thus has some weirdly innate ability to rattle off canapes and color palettes. In addition to our big, fat gorgeous magazines (now on the iPad!) and these Wedding Wednesday posts, you may well both need a book or two to see you through. A gentlemen could do worse than this one.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Catering, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Venues

Makeup Forever

DIY wedding-day makeup: Kate did it. Should you? Six prominent Seattle makeup artists sound off.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 04, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Kimberly Kay Photography

SLIDESHOW Seattle makeup artists share some of their favorite editorial and real-world wedding looks. Here, makeup artist Shannon Mercil and hair stylist Karen Vogt, both of I Love Blush, get to work.

View Slideshow » Photo: Kimberly Kay Photography

SLIDESHOW Seattle makeup artists share some of their favorite editorial and real-world wedding looks. Here, makeup artist Shannon Mercil and hair stylist Karen Vogt, both of I Love Blush, get to work.

View Slideshow » Photo: Emily Allen, Solace Arts

This Seattle bride’s makeup was created by I Love Blush artist Alysha Abrams; hair by I Love Blush’s Allie LIvengood. I Love Blush’s head blusher, Shannon Mercil reveals her favorite wedding day look for 2011: "The almost Victorian-era look; natural fresh eyes, soft rosy cheeks, and a gently stained natural lip (in various shades from pink and peach to berry). This look is definitely made more modern with a slight glow to the cheek and an emphasis on lashes. When it comes to false lashes I prefer the individuals as they are build-able can be applied just to the edges for a slight flare or built up to create a more ‘doe’ eyed look.

View Slideshow » Photo: Azzura Photography

Makeup for this Seattle bride was created by I Love Blush’s Shannon Mercil. Says Mercil, “In the era of modern and (extremely) unforgiving hi-definition videography and photography, hiring a professional makeup artist is an almost essential wedding day investment. Since not every bride has ‘Kate’ perfect skin. airbrushing is a great skill our professionals and many other makeup artists use to take the illusion of flawless skin to a whole new level.”

View Slideshow » Photo: JKoe Photography

A perfectly blushing Seattle bride; makeup by I Love Blush’s Shannon Mercil. If you’re in a pinch, Mercil says, “For help purchasing great makeup products for your big day visit Alyx Bisler (by appointment only) at the downtown Sephora. He is the store’s personal shopper and can help you with all your wedding day cosmetic needs. He Rocks!.”

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins at work on a client. “For brides my favorite eye shape is the classic winged eyeliner at the lash line,” says Watkins. “It’s versatile, meaning a bride can choose a very thin line with or short wing, or she can go bold with a thicker line and longer wing to evoke a mod look. If you really look at your eye shape and where to kick the wing up and how long to make it this eyeliner technique flatters all brides. This type of eyeliner is also great for camouflaging false lashes,”

View Slideshow » Photo: Daniel Usenko

Hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins created this wedding-day look. She has these tips for those that want to do their own makeup for the grand event: “I would highly recommend investing most in foundation and a brush with which to apply it. Really take the time to get some samples or buy a few kinds and see how they hold up during the course of an 18 hour day. Brides need to get a lot of mileage out of their makeup on their big day and their skin is the one thing that needs to look most natural and flawless. If you have oily skin consider a powder or silicone based foundation; if you have dry or mature skin consider a more hydrating liquid foundation. I recommend color matching foundations outside in sunlight because that is the most unforgiving light, and always apply with a brush, never your hands or a sponge.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Bambi Cantrell

Lindsey Watkins, the makeup artist responsible for this very pretty face, on how and where to shop for makeup. “Hands down, my favorite place to buy makeup is the MAC (Makeup Art Cosmetics) store at University Village. All the artists there know their products and if you really talk to them about your skin and your skills they can be a wealth of knowledge. U Village gets a little busy on the weekends, so I recommend an early morning weekday visit if you can manage that. Candice is one of my favorite gals there, she’s got a great attitude and is passionate about makeup, that goes a long way in my book.”

View Slideshow » Photo: John Lasseter

Makeup artist Jenny Bowker helped make this bride extra happy. “Be sure that your foundation is your perfect shade and that it not only looks good in person but also in photos,” says the makeup artist. “Try Makeup Forever HD Foundation, it is designed to give you an airbrushed effect at all times. Be sure to also give yourself a healthy dose of blush, which can get washed out in photos. NARS Deep Throat gives every skin tone a soft romantic glow that still has a punch.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Rosemary Jacobsen

Wedding day makeup by Jenny Bowker. When it comes to makeup shopping, Bowker recommends “Marina at Barney’s; she’s incredibly talented and truly helpful, no matter what you are looking for.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Michelle Moore Photography

Another wedding-day look by Jenny Bowker. Says the Seattle makeup artist: “This summer my favorite look for brides is a softly smokey chocolate eye, glowing peach cheeks, and a soft coral or apricot gloss on the lips.”

View Slideshow » Photo: La Vie Photography

Hair and makeup artist Erin Skipley created this look for an editorial shoot for Junebug Weddings. Says the good-looks guru, “Don’t forget the eyelash curler and use a waterproof mascara in the blackest black! If you’re not skilled in eyelash application, consider doing eyelash extensions to increase the length and volume of your lashes.”

View Slideshow » Photo: La Vie Photography

Another editorial wedding look created by hair and makeup artist Erin Skipley. Some free advice from Skipley: “Considering how much is spent on hiring the best photographer, it’s best to hire a professional makeup artist who’s invested thousands of dollars in building a kit. They know what works on camera and what doesn’t.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Stephanie Cristalli

Makeup pro Jenny Verador, the artist behind this bride’s stunning but natural look, says, “I love making the skin look flawless. The key to this is blend, blend, blend! I use either a foundation sponge or a foundation brush to blend the foundation into the skin.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Jessica Valle

A gorgeous Seattle bride; makeup by Jenny Verador.

View Slideshow » Photo: Azzura Photography

Jenny Verador worked with this bride on her wedding day. “If you’re thinking about doing your own makeup,” says the artist, “I recommend picking up a good foundation like Laura Mercier’s from the downtown Seattle counter.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Alex Lim

Says Suresh, the makeup artist who created this editorial bridal look, “I love a delicate smokey lash line—so chic, beautiful and timeless.”

View Slideshow » Photo: Alex Lim

Another view of that delicately smokey eye by Suresh; he recommends that you see Micah at the La Prairie counter at the downtown Nordstrom if you’re shopping for beauty products.

First, let’s get one thing straight: I don’t intend to talk about the royal wedding forever. I mean, I won’t be talking about it forever. Will not. I promise you that. But when I read that the former Miss Middleton did her own makeup for her big (really big) day, I figured we had better talk this one out with some Seattle-based wedding and fashion makeup pros.

Here, six such local professionals not only dish on what they think about DIY makeup (okay, okay, you can totally guess what they’re going to say about that), they also allow for those who are adamant about applying their own eye-liner and generously offer tips on shopping for blush and spreading on foundation. Great gals these are—and one great guy, too!

Also! In the huge and gorgeous slideshow here you’ll see more of each artist’s work and get even more tips on key summer looks and the best wedding day trends.

This Wedding Wednesday is a regular beauty bonanza.

Erin Skipley
‘For the DIY bride, it’s important to invest in good quality products that have low or no SPF and avoid mineral foundations that have a high Mica content (produces glare on the skin). Use a neutral color palette that will accentuate your natural beauty, and avoid trendy colors/metallic textures with a lot of sparkle.’

Skipley, a frequent contributor to SMBG shoots, also offers this list of easy to use makeup kit essentials (I will refrain from commenting on the product names):

Primed and Poreless by Too Faced
Strobe cream by M.A.C.
Fix + by M.A.C.
Diorskin Airflash foundation (apply w/ brush)
Dior Skinflash under eye brightener
NARS bronzer in Laguna
NARS blush in Orgasm or Sex Appeal
Stila all over shimmer duo in Kitten
Stila convertible color in Peony

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Shannon Mercil from I Love Blush
‘If you are having a destination wedding and absolutely have to do the Kate thing, invest in a makeup lesson. (Rumor has is that was Kate had two professional lessons before her Royal Reveal.) For smudge-free eyes one of my favorite tricks is to apply Too Faced cosmetic’s Shadow Insurance before all other eye makeup. This product allows your makeup to stay put ALL night though dancing, sweat and (those much anticipated) tears.’

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Jenny Bowker
‘There are so many factors that go into your wedding day, adding the stress of doing your own makeup can go wrong quickly. If you make a mistake with delicate techniques such as false eyelashes, contouring the face or achieving a golden glow you may find yourself in a panic with no way to fix it. There are also tricky techniques for high def quality makeup that ensure you look perfect in both professional photos and regular old flash shots.’

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Suresh
‘A real pro understands how the camera sees you, not just the human eye. New digital cameras are invasive and expose everything on your face. There is a major difference between “everyday makeup” and “photo-ready makeup.” The makeup techniques I use are tested from the photo sets I work on so my brides look impeccable on their wedding day.’

In offering a tip for those who absolutely have to do what the former commoner is said to have done, the one-name artist has this: ‘Use good makeup brushes and blend products well. A well blended face looks professional and photographs better. Avoid harsh lines around the eye and don’t contour your cheekbone with pink (like Kate did). It’s a major makeup faux pas.’

(To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about those cheekbones myself.)

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Jenny Verador
‘As professionals, our job is to make you look your best. We know what to highlight on the face; for example, a highlighting pen in the inner corner of the eyes, bridge of the nose, and above the cheekbones to give you a fresh and glowing look.’

********************************************************************

Lindsey Watkins
‘I believe that it pays to have a professional do makeup because we can ride that fine line between making sure the bride looks beautiful in person but also reads well in photographs. You never want a bride to look washed out in her photos. Also, a makeup artist knows how to match and blend foundation expertly to the bride’s skin tone and will know what colors overall will compliment the bride’s skin, eye, and hair color.’

Click on the slideshow for more tips and images.

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Tags: Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Gown, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Photography, The Royal Wedding, Seattle Wedding Hair and Makeup

The Real (Weddings) Big Day Approaches

Submission deadline for the summer/fall 2011 issue looms.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Apr 20, 2011 at 07:15AM 0 Comments

Photo: Photo courtesy Michele Waite

Ben and China got in because their wedding at Chapel on Capitol Hill was lavish yet austere; an almost all-white, all-out indulgence for everyone involved. And their photographer captured all the essential bits.

Top three questions asked about Seattle Met Bride & Groom’s Real Wedding pages:

1. How do I get my wedding into Seattle Met Bride & Groom’s Real Wedding pages?

2. How do I get my client’s wedding into Seattle Met Bride & Groom’s Real Wedding pages?

3. What’s the deadline for the next issue’s submissions?

Here’s how we reply:

1. Hire a detail oriented photographer and a stylish event design team (or be your own very thorough celebrations engineer), and plan a spirited, thoughtful celebration that will inspire couples all over the Northwest.

2. Make sure the photographer captures details, not just posed shots, gather about 25 images that are similar in subject matter to the ones we tend to print in the magazine and online (ie: they illustrate the ceremony, show off the wedding party’s grand style, and point out what was brilliant at the reception: the tables, the printed matter, the favors, the food, the cake, the overall venue), and reference our submission guidelines for final instructions.If and when we like what we see, we’ll send the couple a Q and A to complete, and we’ll request a full set of high res images.

3. May 12 That’s soon. We’ve already received lots of great submissions but we want to make sure we have all the best events to choose from. Hence this reminder. Get your best bets in soon. We only have so many pages for Real Weddings in each issue, and considering how many beautiful weddings were orchestrated in the last year, they do go fast.

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Tags: Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Catering, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Photography

Good Stock Wants Your Wedding Photographs

Seattle gals — one recently featured in our Real Weddings pages — create handmade keepsake wedding albums of your big day story.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 23, 2011 at 06:00AM 3 Comments

SLIDESHOW: Custom end sheets and stamps in wedding albums by the Seattle book bindery Good Stock .

View Slideshow » Illustration:

SLIDESHOW: Custom end sheets and stamps in wedding albums by the Seattle book bindery Good Stock .

View Slideshow » Illustration:

If you’re wondering why end sheets aren’t called front sheets, you’re not alone. I am too. Call them whatever you want, it’s clear that Good Stock facilitates some pretty adorable ones.

View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration:

Good Stock also does custom stamps on the covers of their books.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

These can be classic and austere, or …

View Slideshow » Illustration:

… more whimsical in nature.

When we decided to run Emma Close and Merritt Hess’s wedding in the current issue of Seattle Met Bride & Groom, I didn’t know that the bride was part of Seattle’s Good Stock Press and Bindery, a local outfit that’s all about using your wedding photos to create an epic, keep-forever opus.

(Actually they do sweet baby books, family histories, and other custom-order tomes, too, but that’s for someone else’s blog.)

Having discovered it, I wanted to pass the contact along. Friends of friends and all that, right?

I asked the Good Stock gals to answer some questions, and they smartly provided some images of what makes their work, well, their work, too. You’ll find those in the slideshow here.

WWW: Why should couples consider commissioning Good Stock instead of an online service like Blurb.com?
GOOD STOCK: Because we’ll do all the design for you! It’s overwhelming enough for couples to narrow down the images they want to use in for their book, let alone do all the design layout, too. We will take design direction from a couple, or just use the wedding images for direction, so the book looks and feels consistent with the wedding. We figure each couple has put so much thought into their wedding details that we try to make the book just feel like an extension of the day. We’ll also offer advice on which images are best, if the couple is having trouble deciding.

Another key difference to our service is that we love to incorporate special elements from a wedding into the book&8212;vows, speeches, invitations, engagement story, newspaper announcements, etc. We think they make the book so much more special. And finally, because all our books are handmade we can source unique fabric colors, ribbons for bookmarks, and stamping options. This gives each book a unique, one-of-a-kind feel, as opposed to a mass-produced feel.

WWW: Many photographers include custom made books in their packages. How do your services differ from what they’re offering?
GOOD STOCK: Actually, we do work with some photographers who offer our books in their photographer packages. However, if a photographer [is working with a different press vendor and] does not carry our books they typically do not offer an option that allows as much customization as ours. We can design special patterns for the book end sheets, select special fabrics and ribbons, and incorporate text and memorabilia.

WWW: What are the cool things in bookbinding and custom books these days?
GOOD STOCK: We love custom end sheets for our books. These are the first page you see when you open a book; [it is the name for the first sheet that] is attached to the inside of the cover. We usually try to design an end sheet that incorporates the style we’ve used in the rest of the book. It’s an extra unexpected touch when you open the book.

We also enjoy creating custom stamps for engraving on the book covers. With custom stamps, we can match a specific wedding logo or design element.

We are also big on story around here. We love when a couple includes their ‘how we met’ or engagement story. We think it’s such a special, personal touch.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Photography

Vera Wang, Red Velvet Wedding Cake, Killer App(etizers)s, and More

A local author asks, “How will you build something beautiful together?” and that’s just the beginning.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 16, 2011 at 07:00AM 1 Comments

Perfect for someone else’s wedding — or your own? A LulaKate dress marked way down at Bella Bridesmaid.

Where: Bella Bridesmaid

What: For the first time since opening its doors in November of ‘09, the Belltown bridesmaid dress shop is hosting a sample sale. Party dresses from Amsale, Dessy, LulaKate, Queue, and Swoon are up to 50 percent off, and while you can’t necessarily outfit a whole party at the sale (in most cases, just one of each style is available, and the range of colors is limited), you might find just the thing for a pre-wedding party or someone else’s big day.

When: Now. The sale started yesterday—Tuesday, March 15—and continues as long as merchandise does. For the best selection and service, call the shop for an appointment.

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Where: Marcella’s La Boutique

What: A Vera Wang trunk show; the iconic wedding gown designer’s current season frocks in a second story, storybook wedding boutique.

When: Thursday, March 17 through Saturday, March 19. Call 206-264-0700 to make an appointment; space is limited.

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Where: Simplicity Decor in Kirkland

What: Seattle author Dan Zander is a numbers guy. His first book, 5, asked readers to consider where they’ll be in five years. His next, 1, wondered how many people are necessary to make a change. His new book, 2 ought to appeal to those of you on your way down a certain kind of aisle. Says Zander, ‘Life is meant to be shared. If you have found love, you have been given one of life’s greatest gifts.’ He’ll be signing volumes — which you might consider giving as a gift to moms, maids, or mates, or keeping as a reminder of what all the planning and budgeting is for — at the lifestyle and decor shop in Kirkland.

When: Saturday, March 19 from noon to 2

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Where: Knows Perfume

What: Baked, a new special occasion custom cake-baking shop in West Seattle is celebrating its foray into Seattle weddings and events with a Marie Antoinette-inspired cake tasting inside the neighborhood’s sweetest smelling boutique. Sample lavishly decorated red velvet, lavender, dark chocolate, and more while sipping Champagne and contemplating your own dessert spread.

When: Saturday, April 2 from 6 to 9. RSVP by sending a note to baked.seattle@gmail.com or calling 206-307-4847

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Where: Herban Feast’s SoDo Park

What: Sample the food and meet the faces that make this one of the most celebrated celebration locations in Seattle. The new season’s menu offerings are on offer, and you’ll have a chance to see the brand new Herban Design Studio to boot.

When: Wednesday, April 6 from 5 to 8

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Tags: Home Decor, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Reception Venues, Seattle Wedding Cake, Seattle Vera Wang

Real Wedding: Surprise Ceremony at Staple and Fancy

Warning: This may very well be one of the most sweet, romantic things you’ve ever encountered.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 09, 2011 at 06:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

Slideshow: Meet the West Seattle couple who ditched sweet anticipation for all-out surprise when they through the ultimate curveball wedding at Staple & Fancy.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

Slideshow: Meet the West Seattle couple who ditched sweet anticipation for all-out surprise when they through the ultimate curveball wedding at Staple & Fancy.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

WWW: Tell us about the moment you decided to throw a surprise celebration.
Meg: We planned on the surprise all along, and just used an elopement plan as a cover story to make the lack of final wedding plans more plausible and also to keep suspicious friends off our trail.
WWW: Why Staple & Fancy?
Meg: We LOVE Ethan and Angela’s restaurants (our first date was at Tavolata) and they are friends of ours.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

(Meg slips out of the party to do a wardrobe change in the stairwell.)

WWW: What did you give up by having a surprise wedding?
Meg: We really don’t feel that we missed out on anything — however our plan did not allow us to have the traditional wedding lead-up (showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, dress shopping, and fittings with friends and family). But we knew we wouldn’t be able to have any of those things if we did it this way, and both of us felt that was a small sacrifice to make.

Dress: Laundry by Shelli Segal at Nordstrom’s Wedding Suite

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

WWW: How many people knew about the plan in advance?
Meg: Very few: The staff at the restaurant, the photographer, the best man, one of the bridesmaids (the other had no idea!), the officiant, and one close friend.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

WWW: What things did you have to keep in mind as you were hiring vendors for a surprise ceremony?
Meg: We kept it simple. Sean Hoyt is a friend and we love his work so that was an easy choice. We only had bridal flowers done and didn’t want anything fancy so we stayed with the floral department at our local Metropolitan Market. Discretion was important; we needed to be able trust people with the secret.

Rings and jewelery: Green Lake Jewelry Works and Turgeon Raine

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

WWW: What was your favorite moment of the evening?
Meg: For Will the best moment was when everyone realized what was happening (the transition from engagement party to wedding ceremony). I was hiding in the back hallway so I missed the crowd’s reaction.

Groom’s formal wear: Dolce & Gabbana at Mario’s

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

Meg (con’t): The moment that I enjoyed most was when I raised my head and saw my groom (I had walked into the room with my head down and paused for a few seconds before I looked up and started down the aisle).

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

(The couple has a moment to themselves after all that excitement.)

WWW: What were the benefits of going about your wedding in this way?
Meg: EXTREME FUN!!!!!!!!!! We wanted a low stress, intimate event that no one, including ourselves, would feel overwhelmed by. The idea of doing something different was a goal from the start and we were able to accomplish and enjoy it all. And the looks on our friends and family’s faces are something we’ll remember forever.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt
View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

Meg and Will honeymooned in Kauai following the big event. We wish them a very happy and surprise-filled ever-after.

View Slideshow » Photo: Affinity Photography, Sean Hoyt

WWW: Any regrets? Anything you’d do differently?
Meg: No… it was perfect.

Imagine this: you and 50 or so of your friends and family are gathered at a birthday bash, an engagement party, or some other celebratory party, and between the salad course and the main, it is all the sudden revealed that things are going to get a lot more interesting. Someone’s getting married, right there, right then.

Megan Fox, a vet tech, and William Lemley, a radiologist, both from West Seattle, shocked their loved ones with a surprise wedding at Staple and Fancy a few months ago; Sean Hoyt of Affinity Photography was there to capture the romance and drama.

The slideshow here tells the story, and the video below fills in any blanks. You can access more Real Weddings on the Seattle Met Bride and Groom website.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Reception Venues

DIY at SoDo Park

Tonight! Herban Feast’s SoDo Park unveils Herban Design Studio, where do-it-yourself wedding projects aren’t lonely endeavors.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 26, 2011 at 07:40AM 1 Comments

Photo: All images courtesy Herban Design Studio

Slideshow: Get a sneak peek at Herban Design Studio at SoDo Park.

View Slideshow » Photo: All images courtesy Herban Design Studio

Slideshow: Get a sneak peek at Herban Design Studio at SoDo Park.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Resident design expert Chad Burnworth presides over the studio. He’s like a naturalist with a flair for high drama; check out his bouquet in the current edition of Seattle Met Bride & Groom by using this link to download a free digital version of the magazine for your iPad, iPhone, or PC.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

The venue experts at SoDo Park converted 1,800 square feet of storage in creating their new event design studio; the space is being used to show off and generate ideas on handcrafted favors, centerpiece botanicals, dessert presentations, and more.

The do-it-yourself thing has never struck me as a particularly well-branded experience when it comes to weddings. It works for like, jilted songwriters recording sour ballads in their bedrooms, but for someone who’s about to celebrate the rest of his/her life with all the people he/she loves? The notion of spending late nights muttering to yourself as you solo through a ballroom full of table numbers just doesn’t quite jive. Which is probably why savvy vendors here and there are starting to offer do-it-together services.

Welcome Herban Design Studio at SoDo Park to that particular party.

Welcome them tonight, that is.

Sorry for the late notice (it’s my fault, not theirs), but you might not want to miss this. Tonight between 5 and 8 you’re invited to the First Ave S venue and catering company’s spring tasting event, where bites from the brand new 2011 menu will be offered inside a design studio that’s been concepted to give couples fun, inspiring, useful access to artisan guidance, vintage decor rentals, and full-service floral and event styling (in case your idea of rolling your sleeves up and getting to work means simply signing a check).

Why build a design studio inside an award-winning celebration space? Eliott Peacock, the company’s marketing brain, says, ‘Our clients inspired us to provide a space for them to create their event styling and help them tell their story. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a sort of rebirth in people putting themselves into their event through doing their own styling and décor. We’re grateful and honored to be a part of it.’

The company witnessed one such example of personalized decor when Barb Whipple decked the joint out for her daughter’s wedding last summer. The experience led her to launch Plume Wedding Concepts, which in turn led Peacock to invite her to the studio tonight so that you could meet her and talk about your ideas and hers.

‘We want to nurture creative energy and we feel it’s important to provide a space that people can use. We’re excited to see what people do with it!’ says Peacock. I’m excited to see what you do with it, too. Stay tuned for updates and workshop dates; we’ll share what we know about designers and couples doing it together at Herban Design Studio.

Check the slideshow here for more information about the space and tonight’s event.

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Tags: Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Wedding Venues, Seattle Reception Venues, DIY Projects

Save the Date: Get Hitched, Give Hope

Be a giver: Get your tickets now for the Oct 28 event, and get ready to give a lot and get a lot.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Sep 08, 2010 at 08:00AM 1 Comments

Photo: Azzura Photography

One of this year’s Get Hitched Give Hope vendors is Timeless Weddings, who embroider classic, lovely veils, linens, handkerchiefs, and more.

Where: Downtown’s Four Seasons

What: Get Hitched, Give Hope is, at its heart, a wedding show — though really, considering the crew that throws it, a wedding party — in which great vendors gather in a gorgeous room and give couples the opportunity for face-to-face interaction and a real-world, real-time experience of their experience, their talents, their craft, and their specialties. For a list of the premier beauty, photography, floral, decor, planning, paperie, and more wedding professionals at your disposal at this year’s GHGH, slide over here to their vendors page.

But GHGH is not just about you, and it’s not just about the vendors. It’s about giving stage four breast cancer patients a chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience before their life on earth is over. Area vendors have agreed to donate their goods and services; you bid on them, via a series of silent and live auctions, and the money goes to the women who need it most. GHGH organizers are hoping to raise $50,000 this year; all of which will go to the Making Memories Foundation. It takes about $4k to make one dream come true — a first-ever family vacation to Hawaii, a wedding she wasn’t sure she’d get to have — and this year, the Seattle dreammakers who have pooled their resources to make this happen are hoping to make those things happen for twelve women.

By way of illustration: I just got a gorgeous Real Wedding submission from a photographer who donated her services at last year’s event. A lucky bride “bought” the photography package that night with a donation to the worthwhile charity (money she would spent anyway, hiring a shooter). The images are fantastic, due in no small part I’m sure to the underlying bond shared between the bride and her photographer; they knew that they were in it together all day long not just in pursuit of gorgeous photographic memories, but for a greater cause, as well. It’s really pretty amazing stuff.

Bottom line: Your dream happens in the most beautiful and meaningful way — and someone else’s dream comes to life in a truly special and singular way, also. And, you got to go to a really fun party.

So you’re saving the date, right? Be sure to check in on the GHGH blog, too; there are some pretty great run-up happenings before the big event — for example: an online jewelry trunk show from Stella & Dot; 25% of all purchases will be donated to GHGH.

When: October 28; tickets start at $35

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Tags: Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Get Hitched Give Hope

In Love with Love Songs

Inspiration for the first song of the rest of your life

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 10, 2010 at 07:00AM 4 Comments

Pink Martini

In honor of your approaching big day, we’re using this Wedding Wednesday to share the first dance and otherwise special, sacred, and, in a few cases, silly songs that trademarked the nuptials of some of Seattle’s leading celebration specialists as well as a few of our past Real Weddings couples.

Enjoy.

-Amanda Brotman, designer, Amanda Pearl Amado Mio by Pink Martini

-Daniela Faget, designer, Bella Signature Design: We both love reggae so when we got married with 20 friends at our favorite sailing spot in the Caribbean we danced to One Love by Bob Marley.

-Tes de Luna, owner, Velouria: When we get married on March 27 our song will be La La Love You by the Pixies.

-Michelle Mansfield Loretta, cofounder, Sage Wedding Pros: We love Brazil, and I always thought it was nice that I was marrying someone that I could samba with, so ours was So Nice (Summer Samba) by Astrud Gilberto (more recently done by Bebel Gilberto). It’s a beautiful bossa nova song that goes: So nice, life would be so nice / If one day I’d find / Someone who would take my hand / And samba through life with me.

-Cindi Brooks, designer, Brass Paperclip: Frank Sinatra’s I Love Paris because we were engaged in Paris! On a kooky side note, I was once in a wedding where the entire bridal party was asked to join the bride and groom on the dance floor for this first dance; there was an uneven number of guys and girls, so they picked something fun we could all dance to together.

-Nick and Aleah Valley, founders/designers, The Good Life Event Specialists and Fine Line Management and Events: At Last by Etta James.

-Sally Brock, owner, Fancy: The Ship Song by Nick Cave; we weren’t exactly dancing.

-Katie Hanchinamani, featured in Real Weddings: Your Everything by Keith Urban! I am country fan and I have loved that song since high school!

-Liesl Elson, featured in Real Weddings: La Vie En Rose, sung by a good friend of mine, the opera singer Noah Baetge; he was accompanied by our klezmer band, Shawn’s Kugel.

-Michelle Jensen, marketing and public relations, Rosanna, Inc.: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.

-Jennifer Shea, founder, Trophy Cupcakes: We did not have a first dance because we eloped! But when we finally do have our reception, our first dance will be Northern Sky by Nick Drake.

-Eliza Truitt, photographer, Eliza Truitt Photography: We didn’t have a first dance but Steve and I walked down the aisle to Mitch and Mickey’s When You’re Next to Me from A Mighty Wind. It’s incredibly sweet and if you’ve seen the movie it’s also pretty funny. Hearing it still gets to me.

-Catherine McCadden, designer, Grace Gow: Rod Stewart’s You’re in My Heart

-Natalie Fobes, photographer, Natalie Fobes Photography: We didn’t have a first dance because we got married on the Schooner Zodiac. We had a first sail instead. However, during the ceremony my husband’s niece sang Someone to Watch Over Me. The best song from our wedding was our recessional, though. 76 Trombones from The Music Man. My husband surprised me with it.

-Megan Smith, featured in Real Weddings: Flower of Scotland; our band Ockham’s Razor played it for us.

-Gayle O’Donnell, cofounder, All About Weddings and Celebrations: The most beautiful song I’ve heard at a wedding this past year for a first dance, as far as lyrics go, is The Luckiest by Ben Folds.

-Allison Foreman, featured in Real Weddings: You Are The Love of My Life by Jim Brickman

-Aimee Palacios, featured in Real Weddings: We didn’t have a first dance, but did walk into Tonight Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins. I’d always envisioned it as our first dance song, but it meant so much to us that we placed it as our processional.

-Marianne Graham, designer, Marianne Graham Designs: My husband choose the first, Kenny Loggin’s Danny’s Song, and as we danced we started signing along to each other. Before we knew it we realized that our guests had joined in too—still gives me chills thinking about it. We followed it up with Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered and twirled, laughed, and danced as our friends joined in. Good times!

-Erin Green, founder, Moms Maids and More: At our reception, we danced to Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes – you don’t realize how long that song is until all your wedding guests are standing in a circle and staring at you for five minutes.

-LaRae Lobdell, photographer, Lifework Images: Cory and I first danced to (drum roll please): It’s Oh So Quiet by Bjork. We were married in Spokane when the music scene there was still very, um, traditional? Only our close friends had ever heard of Bjork. The song cued, we did our own rendition of a waltz to the soft beginning, then when the beat broke into a fast tempo we had fun with it! as our parents got the slow waltz feel and our friends got the alternative feel of the music so it worked well.

-Sean Flanigan, photographer, Sean Flanigan Photography: Scientist by Coldplay

-Nancy Kramer, co-owner, Bella Bridesmaid: My husband and I had our first dance to Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet. We just got married last May and did a fully choreographed dance! We decided that was our song early in our relationship because of our mutual love of cheeseburgers and the sun.

-Joe Ross, Joe Ross and the Bird Watchers: My wife Laura and I danced to Side By Side a classic from the ’20s but most famously sang by Kay Starr in the ’50s. We had a live band at the Georgetown Ballroom comprised of members of the Jukehouse Hounds and my own band, the Bird Watchers. It was really swinging.

-Jenny Jimenez, photographer, Jenny Jimenez Photography: First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

- Annette Lefebvre, designer, Luxe Wedding Design We had live and recorded music the pre-ceremony music had all of our favorite old romantic standards from Billie Holiday’s version of As Time Goes By to Nick Cave’s The Ship Song. Henry Mancini’s Moon River was a part of our candle lighting and I walked down the aisle to the 1930’s French chanson by Charles Trenet, La Mer. Our recessional song was David Bowie’s Heroes. Seems dated now, but we thought that was the greatest. It still makes me smile thinking about that triumphant feeling in that moment with the music. But the greatest part for us was our first dance, Herb Alpert’s 1968 hit, This Guy’s in Love With You. Back in 1994, when we first started dating, I put that cheesy, overly sentimental song on our very first mixed tape… and loved it like nobody’s business. In less than a year that song had become “our song.” By the time we got married five years later it had become so imbued with meaning that by the time we were dancing to it at our wedding, Herb Alpert had become an old friend and the song was our anthem of alchemy, love and magic.

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And what about you, what’ll you be dancing to? Let us know!

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Tags: music, Weddings, Venues, Valentine's Day, Seattle Real Weddings, vendors