Tickets are on sale for Weddings in Woodinville!

Tickets for Weddings in Woodinville are on sale now!  This tour sells out every year so don't delay and purchase your tickets today.

Tickets available at http://www.weddingsinwoodinville.com/purchase-tickets/ and through Brown Paper Tickets.

GENERAL ADMISSION $40 PER TICKET
The Tour begins at 12:00 p.m.  Registration doors open at 11:30 a.m. & continue until 1:00 p.m. at Woodhouse Wine Estates, where parking is available. Once registered, participants will board chauffeured transportation and be on their way for a very informative and enjoyable adventure.

GROUP TICKET RATE $35 PER TICKET (5 or more ordered at one time)
The Tour begins at 12:00 p.m.  Registration doors open at 11:30 a.m. & continue until 1:00 p.m. at Woodhouse Wine Estates.

INDUSTRY/MEDIA TICKET $30 PER TICKET
Check in for industry or media attendee beings at 1 p.m.-2p.m.  For the password email info@weddingsinwoodinville.com.

The tour ends at 5 p.m.
For more information visit weddingsinwoodinville.com and   Weddings in Woodinville on Facebook for the latest information on the tour.

Understanding your "Plan B"

 If there’s one thing you can count on here in the Pacific Northwest it’s that our weather is unpredictable at best.  Just this last week we saw thunder, sunshine, hail, mugginess, and winds all within a few hours of each other.  That’s where sage advice from founding board member Jacky Grotle, owner of Event Success, has advice for all brides, living here in our gorgeous, albeit, capricious, NW or not, to always have a “Plan B”.

“Using outdoor spaces are a favorite choice here in the NW, however you should always understand your ‘plan B’.

As a veteran wedding planner we understand that more than anyone!  We explain to our clients that they have to accept and love the ‘plan B’ as weather here is never certain.  It is ideal if the venue has a large enough indoor area to host your ceremony or reception that was meant to be outdoors.  If that is not the case, you should consider a canopy tent (a tent without sides) to cover your guests from rain or sun.  This is a great choice as it can frame the event a give you some parameters for your decor. 

Sometimes a space is just too lovely and the client just does not want a canopy, such was the case with Angie and Dom with their outdoor Leavenworth wedding.  When my clients choose not to have a canopy and there is not an interior space, I always have available umbrellas (just in case).  They were very happy to have Event Success and our umbrellas as it was lovely for the ceremony but it did sprinkle a little at the reception. 

These photos show that a few sprinkles did not dampen the event and the first dance was very romantic with the umbrella for two.”

Leavenworth wedding by Event SuccessOminous clouds are no match for a prepared bride & her wedding planner.Dancing under the stars and sprinkles.

Vendor costs, a tricky question to answer

This entry was originally posted back in April, but as this is the most frequently asked question of our vendors, we thought it would be good to repost.

“How much do you cost?” 

It’s a question that’s frequently asked, but tricky to answer.

With bottom lines on the mind, brides are eager to request on the spot quotes for our planning services. Unfortunately, pricing out your unique event is not that cut and dry. Brides – here are a few pointers to keep in mind when “shopping around.”

Photo from Package Perfect BlogFirst, bridal shows like Weddings in Woodinville are not the ideal setting for a quick quote. Instead, these events are created to immerse you in the wedding world and introduce you to excellent vendor sources for products and services. While some vendors – like transportation providers or makeup artists – can give you a direct quote upon meeting, when investing in a wedding planner, capture the contact info of your favorites and follow up with them after the show. It’s this post-show one-on-one time that enables your planner to grow a deeper understanding of your wedding and form a more accurate, personalized quote.

As the foundation for your quote, planners request your day, date, time, guest & wedding party number, ceremony & reception location and your ideal, total budget. Here in the Northwest, Saturdays in June through August are considered prime dates in high demand. Friday and Sunday weddings may incur lower rates, but discounts vary by consultant or may be dependent on other factors. Your ceremony & reception’s location are also hugely significant to the quoting process. For example, a destination wedding on Maui or Washington’s San Juan Islands would require higher vendor and consultant travel costs than a winery wedding in Woodinville. The venue itself may even present challenging working conditions – think: a remote cliff-side ceremony vs. a resort ballroom reception.

Lead-time is another element to consider.  Ideally, consultants welcome 10 - 12 months for proper planning. For a wedding with production beginning 3 - 4 months prior, additional manpower is often necessary and may drive costs up.  That being said, if the wedding is fully planned and a bride chooses a Week-of Wedding Coordinator to implement and execute plans, consultants will sometimes reduce costs if your chosen date is still available.  

How Much Do You Cost? Written by Jacky Grotle of Event Success.  

At Event Success, we offer a range for both Full Planning and Week-of Wedding Coordination pricing, though we still rely on one-on-one time with our brides to determine their unique, precise needs and costs in the process of realizing their dream wedding. 

Ten Favors That Will Not Disappoint

I, personally, am a fan of the favor. I look for it, I inspect it, I try and decipher its selection by my generous hosts for my very presence at their gathering. I look for how it relates to the couple, how it adds to the splendor, and when possible, when the earliest appropriate time for ingestion can take place.  Some favors are full of personal sentiment, gratitude, and thoughtfulness while others (Jordan almonds-ehem) have the sentimental equivalent of spam in my inbox. 

Here are some general guidelines for selecting favors:

1.  Make it personal- something special to the two of you.
(this does not mean personalize it. If it is a keepsake, I am less likely to keep it around if it has a date or name imprinted on it other than my own. Tags, labels, and easily removable thingys are a-ok!)

2.  If it’s not personal, make it fun and engaging. Something that will spark conversation with the people at the table.

3.  If it’s not personal, or fun, make it functional. I can always use a wine opener or some fresh herbs.

4.  If it’s not personal, fun, or functional, PLEASE make it something I can put in my mouth!

5.  As an added bonus, make it unexpected. Maybe a game? Or something that will be mailed to them?

And with that, below are ten favors that meet at least one of the above guidelines!

Pom Confetti by Heathoriginal

1.  Pom Confetti by Heathoriginals
If I were to walk into an event and see these, I would just KNOW that the night’s fun factor would be just ridiculous. I also love that everyone will probably find one of these poms in a strange location the following day. And if you are planning a Suess themed wedding. These favors are also kind of like little galaxies of Whoville’s.

Midori Ribbon chargers2.  Chargers out of Midori Ribbon
These Midori ribbon chargers are both fun and functional. Not only are they unlike anything you’ve ever seen, they satisfy any desire to do a DIY project (we only recommend one per event for sanity’s sake). Totally customizable, these could be made as circular plate chargers or as a crazy fun chair mat. Chances are, not everyone will want to take them home, but all the more fun when you see your aunt’s scrounging the venue for extras. The DIY tutorial for these are on Midori’s blog: Ribbonista
http://blog.midoriribbon.com/tag/shag-rug-diy/

Flower bulb samplers by Lola Event Floral & Design3.  Flower bulb samplers by Lola Event Floral & Design
Packaged like a little chocolate sampler, these favors are fantastic for my fellow gardeney folks. Use your favorite flower, or maybe the flower that grows around grandma’s house you remember from your childhood.

Custom tote bag by Covet & Swoon4.  Tote bags by Covet and Swoon
Tote bags have the same effect on me as a Christmas stocking. The meer sight of them make me squeal. These totes are super cute and totally customizable. They’re a great gift to fill and give to your special people. Please do put something in it. There’s nothing sadder than an empty stocking on Christmas.

Matthews Estate wine 5.  Syrah by Matthews Estate
Matthews’ Columbia Valley Syrah made an already wonderful day extraordinary. It can do the same for your guests. Talk to the winery about getting a custom photo label made, or hang a beautiful ceramic medallion from Susabella Handmade Ceramics around its neck.

Lady Yum Macaroons6.  French Macaroons by Lady Yum
The lady at Lady Yum says these macaroons are life-changing. I agree. And since these macaroon favors would last a nanosecond in front of me, what if you could have two delivered to your guests houses a couple of day’s following the celebration? To be reminded of the delicious evening they had at your life changing event twice would be very unexpected. 

Bunny finger puppets kit by Purl Bee7.  Finger puppets
Monsters, people you know, bunnies, stars (for jazz hands)… the options are endless. These things will not only keep the kids entertained, it will encourage general silliness among your guests. These bunny finger puppets come in a kit by Purl Bee. http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2011/3/23/welcoming-purl-soho-bunny-finger-puppet-kits.html

Custom chocolates by Wellington Chocolate8.  Chocolates by Wellington Chocolate
Not only can you customize these yummies, you can put a pattern on them allowing you to meet both the personal and put-in-mouth recommendations.

Elegant paper packaging 9.  Brown paper anything
I heard somewhere that brown paper wrapping induces greater levels of anticipation. Here are a couple of ways to use a simple and elegant paper. (sources from Emmaline Bride and Minieco.co.uk)

Guest transportation by Butler Transportation10.  Ride home from Butler Transportation
Perhaps the ultimate in usefulness and unexpectedness. Surprise guests with a paper ticket from Paper Fling inviting them for a free ride home following the festivities. Live it up!

Ten Favors That Will Not Disappoint was written by guest blogger Emily Ellen Anderson of Lola Event Floral & Design

Tips for attending a wedding show

With so many big decisions to make, attending a wedding show can sometimes feel overwhelming.  Whether you have a good feel for what you want your wedding to be or have no clue at all, you will surely see something that gets you excited.  There really is no better place to find the inspiration to take your wedding planning to the next level.  Here are a few tips to help make sure you get the most our of attending a wedding show. 

Who should you bring with you?  Think about the important, influential people in your life that will help you make important decisions about vendors:  Do you always ask your mom? Your mother-in-law? Maid-of-honor and bridesmaids?  Your best friend from grade school?  These are the people you’ll want to have with you at the wedding show. If they will be weighing in, let them receive the information when you do and experience the event together.  Plus it’s more fun! 

Ask questions.  You are there to learn and vendors love what they do and cannot wait to share their passion & expertise with you. Photographers, transportation, florists, caterers, DJs, entertainers, wedding planners and bridal boutiques will all be in attendance. Rather than sifting through countless websites, you can meet and see the real work of these outstanding professionals.  This way you can rule out anyone that does not feel right and have a smaller number of people to contact for personal meetings after the event.

Get your hands on a Wedding Resource Guide!  These guides will be your “bridal bible” and can be the ultimate resource to reference after the show is done so you don't have to sort through all those individual pamphlets.  

Dress comfortably & for the weather.  You’ll be walking around and standing talking to vendors for a few hours.  Take into consideration the shows location and possibilities for outdoor portions that call for sunglasses or raincoats.

Bring your checkbook.  Don’t be afraid to put a deposit down for vendors that you fall head over heals, or rain boots for those of us in the Pacific Northwest, with. 

Some of the Seattle's premier wedding shows are Weddings in Woodinvile, The Seattle Wedding Show, One Love Wedding Showcase and Get Hitched, Give Hope.