Real Wedding :: Shawnie & Justin :: The VIDEO!

So, I recently blogged about a fabulously fun wedding ~ Shawnie & Justin. I am *so excited* to share their wedding highlight video with you ~ thank you Bogle Productions!!

Watching their video brought back to many great memories for me (and I'm just the planner!!).

I laughed.

I cried.

I wished for every couple to have a wedding video...

Shawnie & Justin | September 3, 2011 from Bogle Productions on Vimeo.

Honeymoon Planning Tip {Why to use a Travel Agent}

With the use of the world wide web these days hiring a travel agent to book your honeymoon may seem obsolete. As much as I love searching through orbitz, cheaptickets, and kayak to find the best vacation deal... I have used a travel agent to book my last 3 vacations, including our honeymoon!

There are several reasons why a travel agent is beneficial, and my top two favorite reasons is saving you time and money! Instead of spending hours each day waiting for the best online deal, let your agent do the work for you (this is their job!) They have access to a major database and can give you insight on when is the best time to travel, the best honeymoon destinations and resorts, when to book, and much more!

My fiance and I sat down and met with a local travel agent and discussed all of our honeymoon options! We were able to browse through brochures of Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, and all of the other hot honeymoon spots. We already had our dream vacation in mind and ended up sticking with it... a Mediterranean Cruise! Our agent compared all of the different cruise lines and prices for us. This was extremely helpful for us as we were first time cruisers and had no idea what to expect or to look for when booking a cruise. Our agent even scored us both on board credits to use as we liked on the ship!

Check out this article on 101 reasons to use a travel agent and get onto booking your honeymoon of a lifetime!

Thank you to Totem Travel for finding us the best deal for our amazing honeymoon! (Check out our review on their website!)

Happy Honeymooning :)

Shawnie

Wedding Planning Tip {5 Tips for planning a Summer Wedding}

Yes winter has not even officially begun yet, however many newly engaged couples are in over their head planning for their up-coming summer wedding. Here are some things to think about NOW in preparation for your wedding next summer.

1- Send out your Save the Dates extra early- Don't wait until the last minute to send out your save the dates. A lot of people will plan vacations upto a year ahead of time. Make sure your date gets marked in their calendars first! :)

2- Check the calendar!- Before you choose your favorite date based on the day you and your fiance first met (although cute) make sure that it doesn't interfere with any holidays (Labor Day/Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc.) ALTHOUGH... do not be opposed to purposely planning your wedding on a 3-day weekend, especially if you have a lot of out of town guests. I planned our wedding on Labor Day weekend for this exact reason. My husband and I have a lot of out of town family so we figured it would be a great excuse for our guests to take a mini-vacation.

3- Speaking of "mini-vacations"... make your wedding a fun-filled weekend!- Guests may want to take advantage of the warm weather and fun-filled activities in the town you are getting married in. Make useful guest bags filled with an area map, attractions, a local food sample, or your favorite dining recommendations. Make your wedding a weekend to remember!

4- Use foods that are in-season. As a summer bride you have the opportunity to incorporate seasonal, local-grown foods into your menu. Think a fresh green salad with tomato's and bell peppers, or lime-butter grilled corn on the cob (one of my specialties!) Berries can also be incorporated into your cake or another delicious dessert such as a blackberry pie!

5- Consider the climate & have a backup plan. If you are planning an outdoor wedding expecting to see beautiful sunny skies without a cloud in the sky, we hate to rain on your parade but you do need to have a backup plan for the worst case weather scenario. A hall nearby, an extra large tent, or even an indoor/outdoor venue are all options. If you live somewhere that gets very hot, or humid, I recommend getting a fondant cake if you would like it to be displayed outside. Although buttercream is delicious, fondant will hold up way better without melting before you and your fiance cut the cake. Also consider the hottest hours of the day are roughly between 10 and 3 pm... and evening wedding may be more suitable. {Also, don't forget your sunscreen!}

Happy Planning!

Shawnie

Upcoming Event {Cake Tasting}

Cakes by Creme de la Creme is having an open house CAKE TASTING!

WHERE: Cakes by Creme de la Creme 440 Olympia Ave. NE Renton, WA 98056

WHEN: Sunday December 4th, 11-3pm

RSVP: http://cakesbycremedelacreme.com/tastings.html **no charge upto 4 people

Vendors We Love :: iloveblush.com

Do you want to look & feel your {most beautiful} on your wedding day?

Do you want to sit back and be totally pampered as you anticipate walking down the aisle?

Imagine your wedding day... you and your bridesmaids are sipping champagne, maybe a little fruit and some muffins are floating around. Lots of laughter and probably some tears, too! All the while, Shannon & Karen ~ the fabulous ladies behind iloveblush.com ~ are bringing together your stunning wedding day look with ease.

I cannot say enough amazing things about Shannon & Karen. These ladies are true professionals, and they are fun and super sweet, too!

{BONUS} iloveblush.com extends clients of Bobbi Roth Weddings a 10% discount!!!
Oh, and yes, they do lashes (lash extensions, too!) and airbrush!

Here they are, in action:

































Just a few of their stunning brides...










































Website: www.iloveblush.com
Contact: karen@iloveblush.com / 206.353.8139

Vendors We Love :: Jenny GG Photography

I don't know where to begin with the Jenny GG love... we call her JennyGG, Jen, Jenny, or even just plain GG. No matter what you call her, she is awesomesauce. (totally snagged that word from her, too!)

Her amazing partner in crime is the fabulous Jen Wade. We heart you, too, Jen!

Together, they bring a calm yet {fantastically fun} atmosphere to every couples' wedding day. You will pour over your wedding gallery for six months before you can decide what photos to frame. I wish I was one of those amazing bloggers who could make you swoon with my run-on sentences; but since I am not... I'm just gonna throw some adjectives out there: they're talented, fun, creative, funny, go-with-the-flow ladies who are just waiting to photograph your PROPOSAL, then your e-session and your wedding... and then pretty much anything after that!

Meet the ladies behind Jenny GG Photography:

















Wanna see some weddings we've done together?

Sofia & Brian...

































Angela & Arnel...

































and even more weddings we've done together...
Jenni & Jason
MaryLee & Derek
Galina & Bryan

I know you want kick-ass wedding photos!
Give GG a call: 425.830.4421 or email her @ jennygg@mac.com

Oooh... just have to share! Jenny photographed my youngest daughter, Emma when she was just five weeks old...


















and then Jen Wade captured her first birthday party!

Wedding Planning Tip {DOs and DON'Ts of Gift Registering}

Registering for your wedding gifts is a fun and exciting wedding planning task! Who doesn't love going shopping and picking out things they love? However, sometimes brides can feel overwhelmed on what to register for, quantities, costs, etc. Here are some tips that will save you time and help you end up with useful gifts instead of a closet full of toasters!

DO- Register at more than one store. People like options!

Do NOT- Add appliances you won't use just so that people have options. This is your gift registry, make sure it is things that you and your fiance will find useful and necessary.

DO- Spend some time with your fiance checking out the places you'd like to register after you have made lists of items that you really do need (and want!!).

Do NOT- Choose items that are really expensive because you know you won't be able to afford them in the first year of marriage. It isn't fair to your guests... a wider price range selection is key!

DO- Scope out the store's website before you go so you are aware of the items they have, price points, etc.

Do NOT- Feel limited to asking for only household goods. If you are already set up in your house and don't need a lot, ask for some things you ‘might' like to have or even items like movies, CDs and more.

DO- Have Fun! Make it a date night and get your fiance involved.

Happy Registering!

{Shawnie}