June 2021 Chloe was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah and celebrated with an outdoor glamping inspired Mitzvah Party incorporating her favorite colors of blue and orange. We were so impressed with Chloe that day and were honored to help her celebrate this milestone in her life.
It was a sunny summer afternoon as friends and family arrived at The Carey Gardens for the Ceremony as Chloe became a Bat Mitzvah. No detail was missed on this event! From the décor to the focus on COVID 19 guidelines to ensure everyone’s health and safety was top of mind.
Upon entry friends and family first stop to get their temperature taken then signed Chloe’s guestbook poster and each household received a gift bag filled with water, custom hand sanitizer, masks and candy to toss at the end of the ceremony.
The pulpit adorned with the Torah and fronted by a lush orange and blue floral pieces was set on the pond deck while guests sat on chairs protected from the summer sun underneath a tent. Awaiting on each chair was a custom siddur which would guide friends and family through the ceremony.
With the ceremony over it was time for the festivities to start! Hiking inspired directional signage guided kids to the kids only art zone and lawn games while adults gathered around the bar area for appetizers and mingling!
While adults enjoyed signature cocktails (Camp ’75 and Camp Fire Old Fashioned) and tray passed appetizers (chicken skewers with BBQ spice rub, house made andouille sausage corndogs, mustard remoulade and three-cheese, caramelized onion & arrugula flatbread) kids had their own appetizers and beverages to enjoy!
In the ‘Art Zone’ Chloe’s friends took their turn at AR Workshop’s station where they painted their own sign.
Soon guests were invited to dinner and found their seats by escort cards that were displayed on mini wood stumps. Like all Mitzvah’s the kids had their own dinner tables and buffet while adults sat on dining rounds that were set in anticipation of the family style dinner.
Centerpieces on all tables featured wood rounds custom royal blue lanterns by Off The Block Games, a floral bud vase and picture of Chloe with the campfire table number attached.
Post dinner one could take their turn on the dance floor, snap a pic in the photo booth, enjoy a scoop of gelato, or roast a marshmallow and enjoy s’more fun around the bonfire!
Custom Sherpa blankets awaited kids as they headed home that night. They were the most comfy and warm favors yet!
It was the day before their one year anniversary and Ross and Linnea were preparing for their long anticipated wedding day at Chateau Lill this June 2021. In the height of the pandemic Linnea and Ross made the hard decision to postpone their 2020 wedding and chose to marry on a beach in San Francisco, with only one witness in attendance. While the beach wedding was magical in its own sense, they were so grateful that after the past year, they were able to gather loved ones to witness their marriage and celebrate all evening!
And we were simply thrilled that after working together for nearly two years they were finally able to celebrate how we had first planned! And even better the guidelines loosened right before their wedding day which allowed them to have a fully vaccinated event sans masks (well vendors still needed them but no guests!).
Linnea had an eye for design and new a classic and modern design was what inspired here. Working together, along with their team of vendors, we pulled in Linnea’s favorite color of green, romantic white blooms, PNW inspired greenery and touches to gives this classic winery wedding a modern twist. And not too forget Linnea’s own sketches could be found throughout they day; from the invite to the signature drink menu featuring their furry children!
A grand sparkler entrance into dinner was followed by a welcome from the bride and groom and incredible plated dinner.
Later the tent was filled with laughter and tears as toasts touched each guest. Cake cutting, dancing and memories to last a lifetime followed!
Jamie and Mike knew that with friends and family flying in from around the states and a few overseas that they wanted to make sure they could show them the best of the PNW and make sure guests felt like they were a part of something special and could celebrate together all weekend. To kick off the wedding weekend Jamie and Mike, along with Mike’s mom Kim who hosted the event, welcomed friends and family to Seattle with a Welcome Party at Parties on the Terrace.
To recognize Jamie’s birth home of Hawaii Jamie and Mike’s parents placed wedding leis on them prior to guests arriving that evening. Mike wore a traditional maile lei while Jamie donned two orchid leis.
Shuttling in from Archer Redmond, the home base for Jamie, Mike and many of their guests that weekend, guests arrived to an open bar, lawn games and appetizers. A casual setting just how they wanted!
With the dinner bell ready to ring loved ones were welcomed to Seattle and soon a gourmet bbq buffet dinner opened.
Taking direction from the host we pulled in white linens and house plants throughout. In addition burlap overlays were placed on the dinner tables to give it a more casual bbq look.
A dessert of miniature caramel cakes and blackberry cobblers were enjoyed and a visit to the fire pits surrounding the venue to end the night!
I wanted to thank you again for all your help! It was so nice to be able to enjoy each event without worrying about all the details! You did a fabulous job of directing everyone and making sure everything ran smoothly! Each night was a rousing success and Mike described the wedding weekend to me as “perfect”. Best, Kim (MOG and Welcome Party Host)
COVID-19 had a way of changing plans and Jessica and Robb were not along. Having supposed to have been in New York with their girls on their 18th month anniversary Jessica and Robb found themselves enjoying another night in. Robb told Jessica there were dressing up that night like it was a date and he was cooking her dinner. Long story short they were engaged by the end of the night and eager to plan their wedding the summer of 2020.
Riding the pandemic roller coaster they moved their wedding from a local venue to a friends backyard in Medina where they could celebrate safely around an intimate group of family and friends.
As guests arrived that afternoon, masks and all, Robbie Christmas played. Keeping a traditional look Jessica chose white floral with plenty of greenery to fit the Pacific Northwest backyard.
It was a blending of two families as Jessica and Robb said their I Do’s as it not only married the two of them but Robb’s three children and Jessica’s daughter who would now be family.
The celebration kicked off with lawn games and champagne before friends and family sat down for a blessing followed by the opening of a buffet. Toasts, cake cutting and a formal first dance were soon after. While dancing wasn’t on the books – darn pandemic – the wedding day was simply everything they dreamed it would be and more as love always wins!
Wedding Planner – Pink Blossom Events Photography – Amelia Soper Photography Venue – Private Home Hair & Makeup – Anne Timss Makeup and Hair Wedding Gown – The Dress Theory Daughter’s Dresses – Lulu Groom & Son’s Attire – J.Hilburn Floral – Fena Flowers Cake – Seatown Sweets Rentals – CORT Party Rental Stationery – Sablewood Paper Company Favors – Fran’s Chocolates
Locking in their wedding venue, site unseen, at the beginning of the pandemic Carrie and Tylor knew that no matter what happened, as long as they could have a meal the night of the wedding with friends and family they were moving forward with their wedding plans! This April 2020 Carrie and Tylor got just that and more!
Bringing in the natural elements surrounding them at JM Cellars they chose to focus on ferns and greenery found in the PNW along with bringing in white floral with pops of soft peaches to bring in a touch of spring. Not too forget Carrie’s favorite flower daffodils.
Fast forward, asking Tylor what his favorite part of their wedding was, he mentioned this first look as he saw Carrie in her wedding dress for the first time. They were so in love, it was beautiful!
Carrie’s full bodied organic bridal bouquet was a favorite of ours. Floral in soft muted peaches with a splash of white fell in perfect harmony with the greenery bring in plenty of texture as Carrie had dreamed of. Ranunculus, tulips, garden roses, plumosa ferns, eucalyptus and italian ruscus were included.
Marrying during Phase 3 of Safe Start Washington led to a number of guidelines that we were to follow but Carrie and Tylor made the best of those guidelines and created an event that would keep guests health in mind and most importantly spread out and seated when eating and drinking.
And a wish for many pandemic wedding couple was a request to leave out the C-word (aka COVID). So we set out a jar for people who mentioned the C-word to pay up, money for the honeymoon it would be!
The ceremony held at the bocce court at JM Cellars required guests to wear masks and be seated in pods of 15 guests. It was a ceremony filled with love, laughter, masks and a surprise ceremonial shot of Whiskey at the end of the ceremony.
Post ceremony a seated cocktail hour outside on the patio at JM Cellars was full of spring delight! A mix of farm tables and rounds with hunter green linens featured soft spring blooms and clear acrylic table numbers. Not to forget Carrie and Tylor’s sweetheart table that was set on a glass top wine barrel filled with fresh blooms. To seat guests we used the same seating chart we would later use for dinner to keep guests within their households, to follow the guidelines at that time.
After the newlyweds were introduced into cocktail hour a Wine and Cheese Pairing led by John Bigelow, owner and winemaker at JM Cellars, began and soon was remembered as one of the most favorite parts of the event for many guests! The pairing included four pairings:
2018 Bramble Bump White (57% Viognier & 43% Chardonnay) + French doublecream Brie
After the seated wine and cheese pairing for cocktail hour friends and family moved indoors for dinner and toasts. A buffet dinner from Ravishing Radish Catering was filled with fresh spring produce and proteins of chicken and salmon.
For a unique guestbook during dinner we distributed an Anniversary Card to each table for them to fill out while seated. Each table had a different anniversary year so in the years to come Carrie and Tylor will be able to open up cards from their wedding day and read notes from those who attended it. So fun!
At the end of dinner a trio of desserts and Irish Coffee was served. The trio of desserts included a mini lemon and white chocolate tartlet, a mini salted port infused caramel nut tart and citrus white chocolate bites.
Post dinner s’mores were also enjoyed! We brought in two additional propane firepits to pair with the two onsite at JM Cellars to allow guests to sit around the firepit to continue conversations and enjoy s’mores around the firepit
I really really enjoyed the whole night and wanted to give you a huuuuge thanks. There’s absolutely no way we could have pulled off such an incredible night without you and all the vendors you recommended. Everything came together so beautifully and it sounds like our guests all had an amazing time. Thank you again for everything you’ve done. You definitely played a key role in making all this happen! ~ Carrie
This June we had the opportunity to work with The Lodge at St. Edward Park and a talented team of vendors to showcase this new venue that opened in the heart of St. Edward State Park in May 2021. Pulling in the surrounding grounds and the historic features of The Lodge we chose an elegant PNW inspired theme that included lush greenery, white blooms, and gold accents.
Getting ready in Daniel’s Suite, our bride Raven made her way to the first look with her beau Nik inside The Lodge at St. Edward Park. Raven, wearing one incredible black gown paired with a stunning bridal bouquet from Fena Flowers – an art piece in itself – was simply glowing as she joined Nik for photos around The Lodge and down into The Grotto where the ceremony was set. Not to forget a visit with Sam Day to be painted into his canvas that captured the surrounding venue.
Gold geo pendants from LightSmiths hung over the ceremony aisle set inside The Grotto at St. Edward State Park. The garden alcove that was used by priests for prayer and meditation is the perfect place for an intimate wedding ceremony.
Walking through the Great Lawn from the ceremony to the patio outside Remington Ballroom, cocktail hour was highlighted. Signature drinks with a historic name were highlighted along with lounge furniture from Vintage Ambiance. Cheers!
The reception was set in the signature event space, Remington Ballroom, the largest venue at The Lodge at St. Edward Park. Located on the lower level of The Lodge at St. Edward, Remington Ballroom is connected to the outdoor patio and is highlighted with natural light welcomed through original windows stretching across the room as well as the magnificently restored stone hearth.
One of our favorite details of the reception included the dinner menus by Perfect Press that were customized to each person’s entrée choice coordinating with the place cards that featured a different leaf based on their entrée choice. The addition of the wedding cake by Blue Box Bakery which featured a gold leaf design inspired by the envelope liner on the invites from Perfect Press Invitations was one simply unforgettable!
No event is complete without custom gifts for those nearest and dearest. Evergreen Custom Gifting designed these custom gifts featuring products from The Lodge and local artisans.
Yesterday Roxy and Ben celebrated their one year Anniversary and today we look back at their intimate micro wedding at Chateau Lill. We started working with Roxy and Ben planning a large 4th of July wedding weekend but as the Pandemic spread they shifted gears and moved their wedding to August 8, 2020 so immediate family members could travel to celebrate their day as well as moving their date to their actual anniversary.
As family and a few close friends gathered at Chateau Lill early that day, the misty morning rain lifted.
With chairs set in groupings per couple/household, guests sat around the sofreh which had been set with family heirlooms from Roxy’s family.
In the Iranian tradition, the Sofreh Aghd, meaning wedding spread, holds food and object traditionally symbolizing truth, happiness, prosperity, hope and beauty. Each aspect of the Sofreh is rich in tradition.
Rubbing cones of sugar together represents the raining of sweet joy upon the union. The mirror incarnates light and represents the light of truth, honesty, reality, purity. Candles represent the symbolic weight of light as well as fire in the sense of a purifying agent.
Flowers highlight the beauty of a life together. Honey and sweets tell a future of sweetness and happiness. Esfand (wild Rue) is used to guard against and neutralize negative energy and negative thinking.
Bread represents prosperity. Eggs and walnuts bring fertility. Fruit speaks of a joyous future. Rosewater is to perfume the air. Coins represent prosperity. Needles and thread are displayed to intertwine the lives of the couple and their families together.
No two sofrehs will be the same. This choice of Sofreh was made to include the most meaningful items for prosperity in Roxy and Ben’s marriage.
Following the ceremony loved ones came together for a group photo before enjoying espresso from Espresso Elegance and gourmet dogs from Dante’s Inferno Dogs; both originally contracted for their late night snacks but repurposed to be used for a post wedding treat!
And with restrictions requiring masks on unless eating or drinking, they followed!
Even though their wedding day was not the date nor the size of the original wedding that they had thought about and prepared for Roxy and Ben embraced their wedding day and knew in the end they were truly lucky to have each other and get the opportunity to celebrate their love that day. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day!
Congratulations Roxy & Ben!
Thanks so much for your help on Saturday. I really don’t know how we could have done it without you. With Roxy’s finishing residency, the pandemic, planning and replanning a wedding from another state, moving across the country, but you kept us on task and pulled everything together. We would have been truly lost without your expertise and guidance. Obviously the day wasn’t what we originally planned, but we loved it regardless and it turned out perfect and beautiful and we’re so happy. ~ Ben
Spring 2021, the floodgates have opened. The wedding and social event industry in the Greater Seattle area has gone from a small trickling of celebrations in 2020 (thanks, but not thanks COVID-19) to a million miles an hour. Events are happening and inquiries are coming in stronger and faster than pre-pandemic levels as people are eager to celebrate both this year and in the year ahead in 2022! While our industry is thrilled for weddings and events to return as we’ve been waiting to get to this point since March 2020, the post Pandemic event world has changed and the wedding and events industry is doing it’s best to come back to life as smoothly as possible.
Couples who had postponed their wedding in 2020 are finally able to move forward with their wedding plans and are locking in final details for celebrations throughout this year. Families are eager to lock in celebrations that were put on hold and simply celebrate life with friends and family whether it being Birthday Parties, Post Pandemic Family BBQs or getting a chance to Celebrate a Life lost during this time. In addition, newly engaged couples are worried that dates will soon be filled and are frantically locking in dates, venues and vendors in both 2021 and 2022.
While most people outside of the wedding and event industry see the front of the house I thought it might be helpful to give you a glimpse of behind the scenes and what is currently happening.
As a wedding and event planner we are used to working with a large volume of events and juggling a constantly full inbox plus meetings throughout town however this time it is different as the pause in the industry caused everyone to kick off planning at the same time. Pre pandemic, bookings for weddings and events would come in throughout the year, always heavier post Holidays, but making for a balance of the planning schedules for each event. However this time inquiries and the interest in planning has all happened at once – hello spring 2021. Clients we’ve been working with since 2019 and 2020 that chose to reschedule dates to 2021 and beyond having been excited to resume planning that was put on hold for 10+ months. We have been working together since the New Year revisiting plans and revising for the celebrations to come in the year ahead. At the same time weddings and events for both 2021 and 2022 are booking and planning at speeds we’ve never seen. Typically we are planning events that fall within a year to a year and a half away but this time we are planning events that should have taken place in 2020 as well as new events for 2021 and 2022 that are all at the same starting point. While we can’t complain it’s definitely a full and rushed start!
As planners we get an inside look at every aspect of our industry and have firsthand knowledge of what we are experiencing working with venues and other vendors but not everyone gets this viewpoint. Here are just a few examples of what we are hearing as told by some of our most trusted industry pros.
Floral
Things to consider as you work with your florist as told by Flora Nova Design
~ We are seeing shortages and therefore pricing increases throughout the floral supply chain. It affects basic staples like white hydrangea, specific blush garden roses varieties, and favorite vases we love to use – just to name a few.
~ Just a few weeks ago we were not able to get a single stem of white hydrangeas: an item usually available abundantly and stocked generously at our local wholesale markets. We needed to sub with white roses and white stock – not the same look but it worked.
~ We are used to ordering specific rose varieties from our suppliers and keep a list of preferred colors, growers, and variety names. Repeatedly we are told that these varieties are not available which keeps us scrambling for possible replacements.
~ One of our favorite glass centerpiece vases, which is our go-to for low designs, is out of stock until August.
~ The list of shortages is long. It’s been a frustrating experience. Because of the shortages we see a 20% (and even up to 50%!) price increase on supplies. Customers need to be aware that pricing of wedding flower orders placed in 2020 or even in 2019 will need to be increased.
~ The reasons for the shortages are manifold: I read that some farms have gone out of business. However, the majority of farms were simply not able to maintain their staff to plant the necessary crops in 2020 (because of the shut downs), therefor affecting supply this year. South-American farmers even switched to the much more lucrative farming of cannabis – a crop in high demand throughout the pandemic.
We hope that this situation will normalize by 2022, but for now we need to roll with what we have.
~ For drivers in the rental industry it’s more than just driving a truck and dropping off some equipment. Most times it also includes setting up and breaking down tents, flooring, and more. It’s more of an installer job. The need for delivery drivers has increased during the pandemic with more and more people having items delivered to their homes through companies like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, GrubHub, and UberEats.
~ As the season is ramping up and mandates are reducing, more and more people are ready to plan events which means an influx of rental requests – from both regular account customers and consumers. Adding sales associates to help with the demand will impact our success but with everyone else in the industry trying to ramp back up, the talent pool is either getting hired elsewhere or those previously in the events industry have moved into different industries like technology, real estate, and insurance, to name a few.
Everyone Wants a Tent!
~ From the beginning of the pandemic we knew that tented weddings and events would be the first type to come back. An outdoor environment is the least restricted option in terms of the regulations for COVID and many guests are more comfortable being fully outside.
~ Because of this demand, the availability for tents is getting reserved much sooner than previous years. We anticipate seeing the surge of outdoor weddings and events last for a least a few more years, so reserving tenting well in advance of the event date is going to be important for all customers.
~ The important part to remember about tenting is that the installation requires a specific skill set of labor that has the proper training. Which in turn means that across all rental companies, there are only so many tents that can be setup in a day with this skilled labor force.
Supply Chain Shortages
~ We are seeing delays in product arrival across the board, but primarily in the tenting and lumber industry. Tent manufacturers have been running in overdrive this year to support the demand for outdoor space. Requests that would have been fulfilled in 3 weeks in 2019, are taking up to 18 weeks in 2021. In addition, lumber has been in high demand and the price has surged this year, which impacts the larger projects where the buildout includes a lumber subfloor.
SO many things are different this year than last year! Besides being overbooked for everything due to postponements from 2020 and new clients/income for 2021, there are definitely some stationer-specific differences: PAPER SHORTAGES.
Almost every colored paper out there is backordered until the end of June or beyond, especially the popular colors of 2020/2021 like muted greens, dusty rose, dusty blue, et cetera. Cotton paper (a favorite for letterpress) is in very high demand and is also backordered through a lot of print vendors. Paper mills are facing unprecedented shortages of supply and employees. Our production partners for wax seals, ribbon, and more are struggling to keep up with demand. I’ve had to source 5 or 10 sheets/envelopes from multiple vendors and colleagues just to get enough in hand to make a project work!
Wedding Cakes & Custom Desserts
Honey Crumb Cake Studio owner Carla shares how the event world has changed for her team post Pandemic
~ Our calendar for summer 2021 is DOUBLE booked. 2021 includes new orders, plus last year’s postponed weddings.
~ Lots of shuffling around on the staffing front — we are now actively trying to recruit new talent for the summer workload, but the pool of qualified people has definitely shrunk as people found other jobs after being laid off during the Pandemic!
~ There will be no in-person tastings at Honey Crumb for the foreseeable future. Given the possibility of viral variants, we’re playing it as safely as possible. Tastings will still be “pickup only”, and we offer a complimentary Google Meet consultation ONLY for those clients who are looking for a custom-designed Fine Art cake.
~ In 2020 we added a whole new catalog of Micro-Wedding Cakes to our range last year, and those designs have been selling. We’ll keep that range available in the long-term, so that even as weddings open up, couples can still choose to have a beautiful cake to display and cut (and we can add a separate kitchen cake to the order for larger guest counts).
Beauty
Salon Maison, a look before Hair & Makeup is applied
~ Finding people to come back to work is nearly impossible. We are paying the most we have ever paid consultants plus doing sign on bonuses and bonuses for our existing consultants to keep them working extra days or longer days.
~ People are still getting covid and have to quarantine or not work while they get testing. This makes it very hard for scheduling. For example, we may have 3 consultants scheduled and 1 is exposed to covid in her personal life and has to not work until tested which takes them off the event schedule.
~ Keeping up with all the emails and calls has become almost impossible. Postponed brides from 2020 who were already contracted for a new date this summer but are now wanting to move up their dates so we have to start the booking process all over again and find them a pre date. We are having 4 times the work and not passing any new costs on to our brides. Plus all the new inquires for new bookings because we are dealing with our existing brides. It’s a lot but if people have patience we will get to you!
~ Not to mention supplies aren’t as easily accessible. Everything is sold out for weeks.
~ This year I have triple the number of weddings that I would have in a normal year, and inquiries are coming in so fast I can hardly keep up with them. To handle this wedding boom, I went from a one-woman show to hiring 5 people and purchasing loads of new gear!
~ I brought on three additional photographers to serve couples on weddings dates that I’m personally already booked for. I hired a studio manager to help manage the behind-the-scenes processes and keep everything organized. I’m also now bringing a day-of assistant with me on wedding days to help haul gear so my body stays physically ready to handle those double and triple wedding weekends.
~ New gear to handle the extra workload: During the height of the pandemic I purchased a new telephoto lens that allowed me to physically distance more easily while photographing. I also bought two new smaller cameras to lighten my load since the extra weddings take a toll on my body. A new computer for my studio assistant. And tons of extra hard drives and memory cards.
~ COVID is still here, and yet my team and I are now attending several large gatherings per week – week after week. Which is honestly still pretty scary for us. My business is only accepting weddings that are carefully following all guidelines (whether that’s being a fully vaccinated event or distancing/masking). I am SO appreciative of my clients who are considerate of the health and safety of not only their guests, but also the vendors working at their wedding.
So thankful for the grace my clients have given me this year as my email response times are slower than normal!
2021 (+ 2022) will be one incredible year of celebrations!
Just remember to have a little patience and grace for your vendors as they deal with things out of their control and do their best to make the planning experience a smooth one. We are an industry that has always been able to say YES but these past 16 months have forced us to say NO more than we’d like andwe cannot wait to be back in the world of YES!
Seattle Wedding Planners Pink Blossom Events, Clutch Events, and New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination have teamed up to share what you need to know as you finalize wedding planning for the summer ahead. Pandemic or not, your wedding is going to be a celebration of a lifetime and we’re here to help!
With vaccinations rolling we are feeling cautiously optimistic that the end of the pandemic is near. As much as we’d like to ignore the never-ending restrictions and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our Washington State Governor there is a good chance they will play a part of your wedding day. As of today most counties in Washington State are in Phase 3 and can expect the following guidelines:
Masks
Masks (aka face coverings) are required at all times unless when eating or drinking. Make it fun and outfit your wedding party and crowd! *Mask exceptions are listed below
Maximum capacity of 400 or 50% capacity (not including vendors), whichever is less, so long as six feet of physical distancing is maintained between groups. Table size maximum of 10. If food or drinks are served, eating and drinking requirements apply.
Outdoors
Maximum capacity of 400 (not including vendors), so long as six feet of physical distancing is maintained between groups (groups of 15 maximum). If food or drinks are served, eating and drinking requirements apply.
Ceremony
We recommend sitting groups of 15 on either side of the aisle. Think a traditional wedding setting (ie. 3 rows of 5 people) with a 6’ space between the next grouping of 15 (ie. 3 rows of 5 people).
While mingling is not officially allowed just yet cocktail hour can happen, and ideas are everywhere! Assigning guests their groups (up to 10) at the beginning of cocktail hour will allow them to enjoy cocktail hour safely and transition to dinner that same group of people. Think comfy seating and a mix of tables to allow guests to sit for eating and drink and participate in allowable entertainment activities such as lawn games!
Dancing is allowed! A maximum of 10 per person per dance floor and consists of your same table group and all must wear masks. Who says you can’t have multiple dance floors?
In addition, the following dances are expressly allowed: the couple’s first dance and the parent dances. For these specifically allowed dances, only one pair may dance at a time, both must be wearing masks (unless they are part of the same household).
Exemption on Face Coverings – Yay!
~Wedding couples are exempted from the face covering and six feet physical distancing requirement from each other during the ceremony so long as they maintain six feet of physical distance from all other persons.
~The officiant is also exempted provided six feet social distance can be maintained.
~The officiant, family members, and wedding party are also exempted for posed photographs provided that the face covering is removed only briefly at the direction of the photographer to take the photo.
~Face covering must be reapplied immediately after the photo is taken.
Follow this link for the most up to date guidelines outlining Phases 1-3 published 3.23.21.
Note: We are not certified CDC health experts. Our ideas are suggestions based on current guidelines and our years of experience. We know these may adjust down the road as guidelines change however, we, your wedding planner and vendor team, are here to support you and make it the best day ever!
Between evolving regulations, updated county phases and guests traveling from all over the country with their own local rules, it is important to make sure everyone is on the same page and aware of the safety guidelines at your wedding!
Here are some tips to ensure you properly communicate the safety guidelines and regulations for your county!
~Double check the current regulations so you communicate the most update to date rules. A great reference is the WSWEA regulations page! We also recommend confirming these rules with your venue and vendor team, so everyone working your wedding is on the same page!
~When sending out your wedding invitations, make sure to note on your details card that your wedding website will include up to date COVID-19 restrictions and make sure to list the URL. We suggest having a dedicated tab on your website where you can outline the rules that guests will need to follow.
~Incorporate the major rules into your welcome signage for your wedding so that guests can see them as they enter the venue for the first time. Your vendor team will be happy to remind guests of the rules if they aren’t following them correctly, but everyone will be appreciative if you alert them in advance!
~Write a quick addition for your officiant to read during the ceremony! It is the perfect quiet moment to have the rules listed out so that it takes away the pressure from you during the reception.
Here is a quick example:
“On behalf of the couple, their families and the team of vendors here today, I would like to quickly talk through the safety measures to ensure we all have a great time while we celebrate together. Please keep your masks on unless you are eating and drinking. If you get up from your dinner table to use the restroom or go through the chefs’ stations, please remember to wear your mask. Please keep in your group of ten while enjoying cocktail hour, the photobooth and on the dancefloor. I will be releasing you by rows so that we can avoid a crowd while moving to cocktail hour where there will be tray passed drinks and appetizers brought to your tables. The staff will do their best to refill your drinks, but if you go to the bar and there is someone in front of you, please remember to keep six feet of space between you.
We have hand sanitizer throughout the venue, so please sanitize often. We realize this may not be the traditional wedding we planned for, but we are so excited that we are able to still celebrate together. We really appreciate you keeping everyone’s comfort level and safety in mind!
We hope these communication tips allow you to be more present in the moment of your wedding day to thoroughly enjoy yourselves!!”
We as a collective wedding vendor and venue community are forever grateful to our couples for hanging in there as we’ve rode this pandemic rollercoaster right alongside you. We are excited for the opportunity to safely celebrate with you and your families on your wedding day.
We all had some amazing intimate weddings in 2020 and are thrilled that weddings are extremely close to ‘normal’ given the current climate. We know what you might be thinking, “After reading these dang rules, should I just cancel my plans and host the wedding in my back yard so I don’t have to follow the rules?
We get it. It’s a lot to navigate. However, this is what wedding vendors do best- we “pivot” and navigate on a daily basis. If any group of people were built to handle the ever-changing regulations, it’s us.
Having your wedding at home might sound easier, but not only will it be a huge logistical undertaking turning a home into a wedding venue. It will also have huge financial repercussions for you, and it does not get you off the hook for following regulations. As the host of the wedding, you are the responsible party to keep your guests safe as it states in the Wedding & Event regulations linked above. Regardless of where your wedding is being held, the same rules are to be followed.
If they are not followed at a private home/property,
1. This puts your vendors in an incredibly tough position from needing to keep their income and truly wanting to do your wedding day however knowing regulations will not be followed, to
2. The possibility of having your vendors tell you no and remove themselves from their contracts as you are putting them in a potentially dangerous/hazardous environment. Most contracts have a portion of them that state that a vendor can and will leave an unsafe environment with no money due back to the client.
After a year of risks with the virus, don’t risk the health of your guests and the livelihood of your vendor team by having an unsafe wedding.
Venues and vendors truly have your best interest at heart through this. We WANT a successful wedding day for you and your guests to celebrate and enjoy. We know these current rules feel tiresome, believe me, we get it; but we are here to help you through them and find ways to creatively still have a fabulous wedding day.
We’ve come this far together, and we’ve been a part of some amazing wedding days in 2020. We are so ready to fully get back to work and be a part of your fabulous 2021 wedding day.
With hints of spring surrounding us, the excitement of Phase 3 next week and the opening of the new Edmonds Waterfront Center, we’d say March treated us well!
Earlier this month we had the opportunity to style the new Edmonds Waterfront Center with a talented team of vendors as the building celebrated its new beginnings. Images by Into Dust Photography.
Located on the waterfront in downtown Edmonds and steps away from the ferry terminal the outdoor area at Edmonds Waterfront Center makes for the perfect location for photos, an outdoor ceremony and lawn games!
Working with Fena Flowers we designed a low ground floral arch to compliment the natural flow of the lawn and avoid blocking any of the backdrop. Arrangements were filled with bright pink and yellow floral along with greenery found in the PNW. The yellow forsythia branches are always a favorite!
Whether in the community lounge or in the ballroom, your cocktail hour will be surrounded by large open windows highlighting the waterfront views and giving you an opportunity to fill with appetizers!
Right now we’re crazing the Crab Cakes and Fried Chicken Sliders by Shooby Doo Catering!
The awakening of Spring in the PNW gives the opportunity to spot bright yellow daffodils popping up throughout the area and what better way to highlight that beauty than in your event florals?
Tables adorned in cobalt blue linens were topped with vibrant pink and yellow centerpieces and circled with fruitwood chivari chairs. Place settings featuring waterfall mustard napkins and white chargers topped with watercolor-inspired dinner menus to match the table numbers and place cards.
The sweetheart table stood out amongst the sea of blue linens with its mustard yellow linen and lush floral spray. Daffodil blooms topped the place settings to add that special touch.
Buffet or plated, what’s your vote? Luckily for you this menu dreamed up by Shooby Doo Catering can be served plated or in a buffet!
Artisan apple salad, flat iron steak, grilled salmon, sautéed green beans, and rainbow marble potatoes are the perfect menu for a PNW wedding or event!
Desserts while not only delicious can be another vehicle to add that wow factor to your event. We chose to be daring with a mustard yellow buttercream three-tiered wedding cake as the focal piece to the dessert bar that featured petite desserts including fruit tartlets and lemon bars. Yum!
Don’t forget the kiddos! With families eager to get out of the house, be sure to keep the little ones in mind as they too will be attending your event.
From tables filled with easy to grab snacks and games galore, parents will thank you for keeping their kids busy and happy! A babysitter to watch the children is a must.
Meetings never looked so good! Being on the waterfront has its perks and the meeting rooms at Edmonds Waterfront Center definitely capture it well!
For this shoot, we set the room for a corporate meeting using the venue’s tables and chairs along with some fun surprises to keep attendees eager to take note and stay alert with mini cupcakes and a caffeine of choice!
Inspired by the city of Edmonds and the surrounding PNW Evergreen Custom Gifting created gifts featuring products that would delight both the corporate and wedding world!
Pink Blossom Events is your destination for Wedding and Event Planning in the Northwest. We believe in turning the expected into something unique. Your guests arrive expecting a cookie cutter event, but we want to surprise them by making your occasion truly unique. We specialize in weddings, auctions, corporate events, and milestone birthdays.
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