Testimonial

"Everything was beautiful and truly exceptional. All I could have ever asked for" -- Samantha, 2010 Bride

More on Markets

I've compiled a list of local farmers and flea markets as well as a couple other helpful resources. Please feel free to add your suggestions to the comment box, we'd love to hear about more great shops and resources.

Kingston Farmers Market
Takes place Saturdays between 9a-2p, at the Port of Kingston Marina
{Look here for more info}

Poulsbo Farmers Market
Takes place Saturdays between 9a-1p, at the corner of 7th and Iverson
{Look here for more info}

Fremont Flea Market
Takes place Sundays between 10a-5p, North of the Fremont Bridge.

Ballard Farmers Market
Takes place Sundays between 10a-3p, on Ballard Ave.

Wallingford Farmers Market
Takes place Wednesdays between 3:30p-7p, on the corner of Meridian Ave N. and N. 50th Street

Madrona Farmers Market
Takes place Fridays between 3p-7p, on the corner of MLKJr Way and E. Union St

Georgetown Flea and Farmers Market
Takes place Saturdays between 10a-4p, at 6000 Airport Way S.

 {more information can be found for any of these markets here)

Other options include:

Watson-Kennedy
86 Pine Street, Seattle
http://www.watsonkennedy.com/

BHLDN
http://www.bhldn.com/

Anthropologie
1509 5th Ave, Seattle
2920 NE University Village, Seattle
700 NE 110th Ave #180, Bellevue
http://www.anthropologie.com/

Michaels Arts & Crafts
10300 Silverdale Way NW, Silverdale
800 15th Ave NE, Seattle
http://www.michaels.com/

Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores
2886 NW Bucklin Hill Rd, Silverdale
2217 NW 57th St, Seattle
http://www.joann.com/

Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/

Quote of the week

"A life without love is like a year without summer" -- Swedish Proverb

Wedding Photo of the Week

To inspire and excite you...

how to find what you're looking for

Some of my favorite weddings employ the ‘shabby chic’ or ‘DIY’ vibe which I completely adore. I’m a sucker for mason jars of wild flowers, vintage accents and mismatched plates. However, it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly where to find these items.

{inspiration found from Emmaline Bride}

{inspiration found on 100 Layer Cake}

Antique Stores: Antique stores are great for finding classically old things. They are often heavily stocked, which can be overwhelming so make sure you have a lot of time to sift through the chaos. However, the name ‘antique’ often substantially increases the price tag so it may not be your best bet monetarily speaking.

Thrift Shops: As far as cheap goes, these are definitely your best bet, but as the old adage goes "you get what you pay for". Thrift shops are often nonprofit and filled with a mash up of other peoples junk. Typically thrift stores produce the best results in mason and apothecary jars, platters, cake stands, and mismatched dishes. Finding something like a phonograph or typewriter may be slightly more challenging at a thrift store.

Flea Markets: Flea markets are where it’s at. They often have the best of vintage finds at the most reasonable prices. However, they usually take place once or twice a week, most often on weekends. Since they aren't always open they keep pretty busy so you may have a 4:30am-black-Friday experience. However,they will probably yield the best results concerning discarded window panes, wooden crates, kitschy tables and other more substantial items.

Farmers Markets: Farmers markets are great for shopping locally, supporting small businesses, keeping things eco-friendly and adding a unique touch. While most farmers markets don’t have vintage finds you will find great selection of florals, delicious dessert alternatives and funky favors, like soaps, honey, jams, etc. Farmers markets are also a great way to meet local business owners that you can work with to get exactly the product that you want. I.E. you love their cupcakes so see if they would be willing to make a cake. Or you adore their bouquets so maybe they would be interested in assembling your centerpieces. Most local businesses are eager to show off their talents and more willing to cater to you.

Check back Wednesday for specifics on local farmers and flea markets.  

themes part two

I’m a sucker for a good theme, especially when properly executed. As I mentioned last week, it can be terribly overwhelming trying to decide on, and stick with a theme. Let’s back up a little. When I say “theme” I’m talking about the concept, color, vibe, etcetera that your wedding is built around. A theme could be as simple as a color combination or as elaborate as an era. However, choosing a theme can be incredibly helpful to the bride because when friends, family, vendors, planners, strangers are all giving you their opinion it can become the basis for elimination. “Yes, that IS a wonderful idea; unfortunately it doesn’t fit to theme.”

Themes tell you what to keep an eye out for, what to avoid, and basically give you a starting point. Maybe you’ve known what theme you’ve wanted since you met “the one” so this doesn’t apply to you but for those of you who are looking for some guidance, allow me to help.

As I mentioned last week, there are several things that can influence your theme without you really realizing it. First is the dress, obviously this is subjective because maybe you really, truly don’t care about the dress; maybe something else is more important. For most brides the dress is the most emotional purchase, however if something else is more important to you than by all means use that as your starting point for theme. Consider the dress, the venue, the time of year, the guest list, the budget. Write down several themes or concepts you are interested in and as you make decisions on the big things you can eliminate themes from the list. Ideally you will narrow the list, be able to confidently choose one them and begin execution. Once you pick a theme stick with it. No matter how cute/adorable/original the idea might be, if it doesn’t fit everything else it’s going to seem out of place and ultimately fail to impress.

However, if you are like me and have a telephone book sized list of totally doable themes and you can’t imagine eliminating even one, let alone all but one, than I have good news! The list of wedding related parties you could potentially have goes on and on. There’s engagement, bridal shower, bachelor/ette, bridesmaid luncheon, rehearsal dinner and post wedding brunches. And that doesn’t even include your actual ceremony and reception. Consider choosing a different theme for each event you plan on having. If budget is a concern pair the ones that are priciest to execute with those that will have the shortest guest list. Also, your ceremony and reception can be treated as two separate celebrations and don’t have to coincide with the theme. Have a lace and ivory, candlelit ceremony then swap your dress and lose the veil for a pink and leopard print reception. That can be tricky but with the right attitude and two separate spaces it can be totally feasible.

thoughts on theme

So you’re finally engaged! After years of stealing glances at wedding magazines and casually throwing out the phrase “well if it was my wedding’ it is finally YOUR wedding. During this exciting time it can be difficult to sift through and narrow down the collection of must-have wedding ideas you’ve had stored in the back of your mind since birth.

But before you get your heart set on an elegant black-tie affair or a rustic country wedding, remember this, the most emotional purchase you will make is the dress.

{photo courtesy of Saleina Marie Photography}

The dress is the one item of your wedding that you should absolutely not have to compromise on. That is why it’s usually a good idea for brides to choose the theme of their wedding before finding the dress.

Often times brides make assumptions about what sort of dress will look best on them, or worse, they completely rule out a certain style because they think it “isn’t them”.

The thing about wedding dresses is that they are unlike anything else you will ever wear. Yes, maybe you aren’t a frilly-lacy-princess-bride kind of girl but wedding dresses have a magical ability to transform even the most stubborn bride. Wouldn’t it be a shame to find absolutely the perfect dress that absolutely doesn’t fit your theme? Yes, a casual beach wedding sounded perfect until you found an antique lace gown with a ten foot train that took your breath away.

To avoid feeling out of place at your own wedding, or worse yet having to forfeit your perfect dress for the sake of theme, always find the dress before making any other decisions.

Budget Tip! Buying the dress first is also beneficial because if the perfect dress ends up being more than you planned you will be able to adjust the budget other places prior to making any decisions. Also, bridal shops are usually one of the only vendors that will allow small payments made over time, which leaves you with more cash on hand to pay off your other vendors.

Check back next Wednesday for more help on navigating themes!

Happy Planning!

Un.Traditional

Last week I posted on how to navigate floral centerpieces and as promised today I’m tackling non-floral centerpieces.

Now, if you aren’t completely sold on non-floral centerpieces mixing and matching different elements is a trendy way to liven up smaller centerpieces without completely forgoing flowers. Citrus fruits, feathers, candles, sea glass, sand, pinecones and candies are all fun, easy to find options.

{photo inside Pavilion tented terrace}

Personally, as much as I love flowers, I prefer non-floral centerpieces. For starters there is a lot more room to personalize your wedding and you don’t have to worry about wilting or what’s in season.

One of my favorite centerpieces I’ve ever seen was for a brunch wedding where the bride displayed donuts on vintage cake stands for her centerpieces. Besides being completely adorable, the edible centerpieces also eliminated end-of-night stress over what to do with the centerpieces – talk about multi-purpose!

A great way to get your guests to mingle is to display different items of significance on each table. Some suggestions:

--Jars with favorite childhood snacks (ring pops, goldfish crackers, bubble gum)

--Pictures of family pets, vacations, houses, etc.

--Favorite movies, cd’s or toys.

--Items that symbolize your favorite hobbies (baseball, ballet slippers, sheet music, etc.)

Name each table after the category (entertainment, food, family, hobbies) and display the items on a stand in the center of each table with explanation labels. Guests can mingle to see what is on each table and also learn things about the bride and groom that they may have not known. This is especially helpful for distant relatives who may have not gotten to know your significant other as well as your immediate family.

{photo inside Hood Canal Vista Pavilion}

Some other ideas to get you thinking include:

--stacks of old books for literary couple

--pretty lanterns

--colorful glass jars filled with pinwheels

--balloon bouquets

One of the many wonderful things about weddings is the endless possibilities. Inspiration can be found in anything from a quote, to a picture, to a pattern, to a food. This is your day to celebrate however you want, so don’t let traditions and the preferences of others dictate how your wedding plans out.

Happy Planning!

June Blooms

The flowers are in bloom and so are the brides. Elaborate, fragrant floral arrangements are always popular during summer months and often brides can become overwhelmed with all the options. Here are some tips to keep you focused when deciding on flower arrangements.

(Disclaimer: I am not a trained florist and the following advice is based solely on personal opinion and experiences. For professional advice check out our list of preferred local florists at www.portgamble.com/weddings)

Like with every other aspect of your wedding, keep theme in mind. For a more laid back wedding focus on simple arrangements that are multi-tonal. Flowers like Gerber daisies, anemones, sunflowers and daffodils are great for laid back summer weddings. Mixing and matching them adds the fun, whimsical feel of being in a field of wild flowers.

If you are planning a more extravagant evening affair use larger arrangements with less variation in colors. Elaborate centerpieces with roses, lilies or ranunculus in varying shades of one color add a more dramatic quality. Adding pieces like baby’s breath, Queen Anne’s lace or bare tree branches can be beautiful without detracting.

{Courtesy of Kip Beelman Photography}

{Courtesy of Jenny GG Photography}

Another thing to consider is whether or not you want scented flowers and how the scents will blend if you are having multiple types of flowers. Be careful when choosing things like lavender, it smells incredible but can become too much in large amounts or for extended periods of time.

Budget friendly tip: Consider potted plant centerpieces. Floral centerpieces are often extremely pricey and once the night is through I’ve seen far too many bridesmaids and MOB’s frantically trying to send them home with guests. Realistically these beautiful centerpieces will either get forgotten in the backseat of someone’s car or thrown out in a few days when it goes bad. Potted centerpieces can be saved for the bride to start her own flower garden or can be used in the homes of family and guests. Not only is this more economical but it can also serve as a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.

Check back next week for nonfloral centerpiece ideas!

Happy Planning!

Introductions

Allow us to introduce ourselves!

We are the Port Gamble Weddings and Events office and we are here to encourage, inspire and support you in your journey to the altar. With a range of experiences and hundreds of weddings under our (very large) belt we can give you the insider advice necessary to make your day unique, seamless and within budget.

If you’re looking for a venue we have several stunning options including a 132 year old chapel with all the charming details as well as a contrasting 2 year old reception hall equipped with modern necessities.

{Aubin Ahrens Photography}

{Brad Camp Photos}

Or maybe you just need advice on trends, etiquette and everything in between. As we enter into wedding season stay tuned to find out what works, what doesn’t, how to save money, why we toss the bouquet and more.

Happy Planning!!