Engagement Party

This past weekend, I hosted an engagement party for a couple who is getting married early next March. Here is a re-cap of the party planning process and information:

• The bride and groom wanted this to be a fun time. Couples and close friends were invited via Evite online invitations, approximately 3 weeks in advance.


• A special engagement cake was purchased, using the couple's planned wedding colors.


• Each person who came brought a food dish to share, and the party coordinators also brought sandwiches, drinks and deviled eggs.


• Drinks included a variety of pop, sparkling water with lemons and limes and coffee.


• One person was assigned the job of official party photographer. She took candid and posed photos at various times during the party.


• The party began at 2:00pm, and most left by 5:00.

Since this was a time for just close friends who cherish the couple to gather, and no games were needed. Plenty of networking and socializing happened naturally. It was a great time for the bride and groom to discuss their wedding plans and ideas with this intimate group of friends, many of whom will be volunteering time to help at the wedding.

Engagement parties are fun! They are meant for both men and women to attend, and usually couples will choose to invite their closest relationships.

Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Day-of Wedding Coordinator

So you're getting married...Congratulations! Weddings should be all fun and games, but sometimes...they cause the engaged couple to be on overload.

One of the complaints we hear from brides is that their wedding day is too stressful and chaotic. The bride knows how she wants every detail, yet can't do it all herself. The groom is not fully available either! Besides, for the couple much of the wedding day is consumed by hair appointments, getting dressed, hanging around with the bridal party, photos, greeting guests and family members, etc. So what is a couple to do??

Hire a day-of wedding coordinator! What is the difference between a day-of coordinator and a traditional wedding planner, you ask? The day-of coordinator does a lot less of the planning work, and the majority of the practical tasks at the event. The day-of coordinator sets up decorations, organizes the volunteers, coordinates incoming vendors, such as photographers, caterers and DJ's, keeps the bridal party on-time, helps clean up, may return rented items, etc. Basically, this person takes care of many of the little things that need to get done so the bride, groom and their families can relax and have fun!

The couple gives this day-of coordinator their master plan, and meets with them beforehand to review all aspects of the big day. Fees for this type of wedding coordinator can vary widely. Depending on the scale of your wedding, and the tasks you want this person to take on, fees could be anywhere between $300 - $1500.

This person needs to be very organized and task focused, as well as have the ability to work with others effectively. Reliable, creative and sharp are also great qualities to look for!

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Wedding Jewelry Deals

Hello Readers!

Did you know that NWweddingplace also offers another blog dedicated to saving you money on your wedding? Yes...it's true...check out our cheap-wedding-tips blog for ideas on how to save your wedding budget from utter disaster.

As an example, we have access to this great jewelry deal from Ultra Diamonds, and we thought you'd want to know about it:

Use code 50off. Their prices are already great, so check this out and find a great wedding engagement set, or a gift for a loved one. Grooms, your lovely new bride would certainly appreciate some pretty earrings as a gift from you. Brides, what about getting your man a special watch, engraved with a wedding day message from yours truly?

Just a couple fun ideas for you :-). Happy shopping!

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Cool Ring Bearer Gift

If there is one gift that's difficult to decide on when planning a wedding, it's what to get the ring bearer as a wedding party gift! Not any more...Check out this super cool, personalized back pack from American Bridal!

Click the picture to find out more information about this personalized ring bearer backpack and how to order (then type in "camo backpack"). Camo is certainly a hit with ring bearers ages 4-10! Additionally, American Bridal also has a clearance sale happening on wedding favors and gifts!

Happy shopping... :-)

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Are Blue Weddings Back?

Blue - the color of the early 90's...

From what we can tell, blue seems to be back for weddings! In recent months, we've helped with several weddings, all whom have used blues for bridesmaid dresses.

In the past several years, blues have remained popular for beach themed weddings (for obvious reasons) and have been spotted in some winter weddings.

Great accent colors with blues could be browns and tans, silver, reds (used sparingly), pinks, pale yellow, and of course ivory or white. How do couples incorporate their wedding "color?" In several potential ways:

Bridesmaid Dresses

Groomsman ties

Bridesmaid bouquets and ribbons

Table centerpieces

Floral

Tableware, such as plates, napkins, linens, etc.

Balloons

Candles

Banners

Cake frosting accents

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue! Or maybe, a LOT of things blue!

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Picking a Wedding Date?

Hello Engaged Couples!

Are you deciding which day of the week to have your wedding? Personally, my husband and I got married on a Friday night. My sister and her husband did also. However, as you've probably noticed already, Saturday is actually the most popular day of the week for weddings. Friday is the second most chosen day.

According to The Wedding Report, 65% of weddings in 2009 were/are scheduled on Saturdays. This statistic tells me that if your heart is set on a Saturday wedding, your best bet is to set that date up as EARLY as possible. Many other couples will be competing for venues, vendors and services that same day. Priority #1 will be to secure your venue as soon as possible after your wedding date is chosen.

Saturdays are a practical day of the week for weddings for several reasons:

• Guests and wedding party typically have that day off.
• Guests who must travel can more easily do so on Saturdays.
• Churches normally do not have services on Saturdays, so they are available to hold weddings.
• Couples can leave for their honeymoon that night or the next morning, and take the following week off of work.

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Funny Wedding Video!

Are you worried that your wedding ceremony and wedding vows won't go perfectly smooth? Take a look at this very funny wedding video, and prepare yourself for a good laugh!

brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

How Much Are Bridal Shoes?

Once again, couldn't help ourselves and we're going to post more wedding statistics! Today's stat is about the bride's shoes. Every bride puts thought into what shoes they'll wear with their special wedding gown. Here's a statistic on the average spent on bridal shoes:

2008 (whole year average spent) - $94
2009, 1st quarter - $91
2009, 2nd quarter - $83

Wedding statistics by "The Wedding Report"

This particular tid-bit of information got me thinking. Are the prices really going down and/or people are spending less, or is it that it's summer time? Maybe more brides are opting for flip-flops or other simple flats to go with their summer weddings? Could that be the reason for the average spending dip right now?

We may never know for sure, but what I do know is that brides love shoes! If you're searching for just the right bridal shoe for your wedding, please visit www.nwweddingplace.com's shop online section for a wide variety of bridal shoe & jewelry options!

Buying Wedding Cakes

Since we're on a roll lately with wedding statistics...Thought you'd enjoy another one about wedding cakes! What are couples paying for their wedding cakes these days? According to The Wedding Report (wedding statistics company), the average amount spent for a wedding cake right now is approximately $350. This spending level has stayed relatively the same for the past 18 months, despite the economic downturn.



I took this wedding cake photo at a local grocery store's bakery department, where I know the bakers and cake decorators.

If you're looking for a unique, gorgeous cake topper for your wedding reception, visit our shop online section at http://www.nwweddingplace.com/shop-caketoppers.htm.

Wedding Planner Costs & Why Hire One?

It's wedding season! For those of you planning 2010 weddings, you may be curious about the costs of hiring a wedding planner (AKA wedding consultant or coordinator). According to the wedding industry statistics experts - The Wedding Report - the average cost of hiring a wedding coordinator is around $2300. Not too shabby, considering what an over-all wedding budget adds up to be.

Why would engaged couples want to hire a wedding planner? Here are 3 great reasons:

1. You just don't have time to figure it all out yourselves. Less stress!

2. You want a great wedding, but aren't that creative or knowledgeable. I need to DIY what??? No thanks...

3. You have family members who want to "take over" but you don't want them to. You'd rather defer to the planner. "Thanks anyway Aunt Millie...but the coordinator has already taken care of that detail..."

Planning a wedding in the South Puget Sound Region? Consider UniqXpressions Floral Design & Event Planning.

Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Fun, Funny Wedding March Video!

OK, this is not our normal informative wedding post. But... You simply must see this video! If you're planning a non-traditional wedding ceremony, maybe this is just what you've been looking for! Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Cheers!
Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Average Wedding Costs

Happy July!

Are you planning a wedding for 2009 or 2010? I personally know several engaged couples who are either getting married this year, or are gearing up for a 2010 wedding.

We just got word from one wedding statistics source that average wedding costs are still on the downward spiral. This is probably due to 2 possible, main causes:

1. Couples are cutting out extras & taking other cost-saving measures.

2. Vendors are lowering prices & offering more deals.

Chances are, that number 1 accounts for the bulk of the plummeting average wedding costs. If you are an engaged couple planning an upcoming wedding, how are you saving? Are you cutting out extra services, opting for cheaper outdoor venues, reducing the size of your wedding, etc? We'd be interested in hearing your plans and stories. Share them as comments to this post!

For more wedding saving ideas, visit our Cheap Wedding Tips blog. Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/.

Featured Wedding Story

Hello Readers!

I'd like to tell you about an upcoming wedding's plans, so you can potentially get some ideas.

Wedding Theme - Rustic

Colors - Sailor Blue

Location - Farm, outdoors, evening

Flowers - Bride's professionally created bouquet will be deep red roses, with bridesmaid and reception tables featuring a variety of wildflowers. The wedding cake will also be adorned with flowers.

Features - Short, outdoor ceremony with reception on the same property. On-location, country-style dinner served to guests. Bride will wear a strapless, oyster-shell top gown and flip-flops. Professionally printed invitations. Rented glassware (to avoid wind-tipping outdoors) and chairs.

Hopefully this information will be helpful in your wedding planning process!

http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Having a Recession Wedding?

Yep - that's right. If you'll be getting married in 2009, according to some big-name publications & websites, you're officially having a recession wedding! In fact, if you're NOT planning on cutting your wedding budget back, some have even called that choice "impractical" during this economic downturn.

Our view here at NWweddingplace has always been to find great deals for your wedding, but to have it be exactly what you want. We won't consider you as "impractical" if you decide to buy crystal guest favors or have a 9-tier wedding cake. We also don't feel that it's cool to label people's wonderful wedding day, no matter how small or large the budget is, as a "recession wedding." Tacky! But, that's just our humble opinion :-).

Go have a great wedding, no matter what you spend! Enjoy...

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com.

Wedding Budget Tracker

Are you looking for a way to keep track of all your wedding vendors and track wedding expenses at the same time? Look no further! NWweddingplace.com has a free, downloadable file that will be exactly what you need to keep your wedding budget on track and your contacts organized. Best of all - it's free! Yes...it's true...something for your wedding that doesn't cost you a thing!

Visit our home page, and look at the bottom of the middle column. You'll find our "Wedding Budget Tracker File" link highlighted and ready for you to click :-)

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com. "Helping Pacific Northwest Couples Plan Their Dream Weddings & Successful Marriages"

Summer Wedding Guests...What to Wear?

Are you going to be a guest at a 2009 wedding? Specifically, a 2009 summer wedding? Here's what eDressMe.com has to say about that -

"It seems that everyone has a wedding to attend this summer. Whether it's a dressy evening wedding, a black tie affair, a garden wedding or an island wedding, you can find the ideal dress to wear that is appropriate for the occasion. Shop edressme's What to Wear as the Guest at a Summer Wedding."

To check out their fun & funky varieties of wedding guest dress ideas, visit their link here:

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Pacific Northwest Wedding Vendors

Are you a wedding-related business owner (or representative) located in Washington, Oregon or Idaho? Did you know that NWweddingplace.com wants every Pacific Northwest wedding business to be listed in our vendor database?

YES! It's true... Every business can get a free, basic listing in their city and category. Our vendor search page is consistently in the top 5 most viewed page on our site every month. Engaged couples are looking for you!

Contact listme@nwweddingplace.com today and get listed. Although, you may want to first check the vendor search page, as you may already be listed :-).

Cheers!

Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/. "Helping Pacific Northwest Couples Plan Their Dream Weddings & Successful Marriages"

Need Marriage Help? Pre-Marriage Advice?

Here's a note about marriage from our friend, Robin Tramble:

Communication and Ping Pong
Being married for almost 29 years in June has afforded me some opportunities for "processing" in various areas of my personal and spiritual development. One area I have found to be a challenge in many marriages, relationships for that matter is the area of communication. Dr. Philip Goudeaux states..... "Marriages have failed because of a lack of communication more than anything else. Communication is where the devil fights the hardest. When communication is broken, nothing else functions. You definitely do not have sex. There is no "divisions of labor," and no one is doing his fair share. Most of us have not learned the importance of communication."

I'd like to share something I learned, and it's in relation to Ping Pong. You see many times we are so busy making points that we slam, don't pay attention or consider the value of continuing the game. The illustration was to try to keep the ball on the table. In other words instead of being quick to make points or slam, try to keep the conversation on the table. What does this involve? In short, it involves listening, paraphrasing, and giving value to what the other individual (your spouse) has to say. Now, this may be challenging to do if your husband isn't privy to what you're doing, however, if you commit to it from your perspective you will see a change in your stress level, frustration, etc. Ask for wisdom in this area.

Please visit my LINK and get my 60 minute, virtual workshop to transform your relationship - free! This workshop is called "The Empowered Wife". Whether you're engaged, been married 3 years, 15 or more years, there is a time where we realize that in order to help this great partnership thrive, we must learn new ways to enhance our relationship. If you don't do this, you may look around and you're no longer partners but merely exist.

Hurry, this recorded workshop will only be available for a limited time: http://budurl.com/88a5

brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Ingenious Wedding Guest Favors!

Have you seen these? I hadn't...Until a friend of mine told me last week about Josh Hershfield's exciting new wedding business called Flipped Out Productions. They create personalized, custom photo flipbooks. But wait, there's more! He makes them right at your event! On the spot! At your wedding ceremony and reception, Flipped Out Productions can produce 30-45 flipbooks per hour. They each contain 60 business card sized pages, generated from a seven-second video. You can pre-establish custom flipbook covers that match your wedding's theme, including your wedding date, etc.

How fun is that?! Josh is looking forward to rounding out his 2009 calendar with wedding bookings. If you'd like to find out more about Flipped Out Productions services and costs, visit http://www.flippedoutproductions.com/ today! As far as I know, he can serve most of the Western WA area. Contact Josh so he can bring his special brand of fun to your celebration!

For more great wedding tips, ideas & products, visit http://www.nwweddingplace.com/!

Event & Floral Design

We'd like to say a warm welcome to our latest NWweddingplace.com advertiser - UniqXpressions Event & Floral Design!

Owners, Sharris & Eric, seem to have a knack for style as well as how to please their bride & groom customers. Their philosophy in wedding planning is being "committed to optimizing your dream … 'It’s all about you.'”

Can you say AWESOME WEBSITE... check out this really neat site they have at: http://www.uniqxpressions.com/. Also, check out their ad page on our site at: www.NWweddingplace.com/uniqxpressions.htm.

If you live in the Western WA area, check them out. Sharris is a very gifted floral designer (as you can tell by that gorgeous photo of fall bouquets) and just a great lady in general.

Brought to you by http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Wedding Clearance

Special Announcement...
Pacific NW sees the sun after 4 months of overcast & rainy skies! Also, The Knot Wedding Shop has a clearance sale! One of their big sales is on mini Hershey's chocolate bars. Maybe I'm just hungry right now, but that sounds like the perfect favors to me (not to mention they'd help spruce up your reception tables)! They are even personalized chocolate bars!

Triple good: chocolate, personalized, on sale - perfect. Here is the link:

This sale ends next Tuesday, April 14th - shop fast!

www.NWweddingplace.com

Hi Readers,

Did you know that NWweddingplace sells wedding products? Yes! Some of them can be ordered directly online, and others need special, custom ordering. For example, one of our most popular products is the Heart Sand Ceremony. It comes with 3 vases, the main heart and its stopper and the metal stand. Couples can even choose to have the heart and the vases personalized. Some couples who are blending families may also choose to purchase extra vases so their kids can blend their sand in too! Neat idea!

To view our shop online section, click HERE. To custom order, or ask about what we offer, send us a note HERE.

Happy Wedding! www.NWweddingplace.com

Newlyweds & Finances

Our friend Dr. Taffy Wagner has this special message for brides & grooms who are planning to get married in 2009:

Spring is just around the corner. Bridal season is in full bloom. There is talk in the media about wedding budgets and what are brides doing to trim their costs.

Now is the perfect opportunity to share with your brides & grooms, the importance of investing in their marriage long-term. Money Talk Before The Commitment Walk can prevent their marriage from becoming a Divorce Statistic.

Check out Dr. Wagner's site by clicking the graphic below. She offers some excellent information that engaged couples desperately need!

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

How Many Bridesmaids??

Are you getting married in 2009? Congratulations! Will your wedding ceremony include bridesmaids? Almost every wedding does...

According to a survey conducted by the Wedding Report, there are an average of 4.3 bridesmaids per wedding. They also note that the average bridesmaid will spend over $1000 on everything from their dress to travel expenses, when participating in a wedding! WOW!

Most brides choose bridesmaids who are either family members or close friends. Sisters, cousins, and even daughters and mothers are the usual family members involved. Sometimes, sisters of the groom are bridesmaids as well. The challenge comes when you have a group of close friends. Who do you choose? Everyone, and making the bridal party potentially larger than you'd like? A couple, and risk hurting the feelings of the others?

Here is our advice - family first, then friends selectively chosen. Family is with you for life, but friends may change as you move through life.

www.NWweddingplace.com

Who Pays for a Bride's Wedding Dress?

Buying a wedding gown this year? Are you curious to know who pays for wedding dresses when a couple gets married?

We have some statistics! According to 'The Wedding Report',

• 56% of the time the bride pays for her own gown
• 22% of gown purchases are paid for by the groom
• 42% of wedding dresses are paid for by someone else, most likely the bride's parents.

The wedding industry has been hit by this recession, so chances are you should be able to find some deals this year on gowns. For other wedding money saving tips, visit our other blog at www.cheap-wedding-tips.blogspot.com and save some wedding budget money!

www.NWweddingplace.com

Wine For Wedding Receptions?

Hello Wedding Friends,

Are you interested in knowing more about how you can incorporate wine into your wedding? Or maybe wine for your honeymoon? In fact... did you know you can get personalized wine bottles with personalized labels on them?! That was a neat, recent revelation for me.

We have a new advertiser on http://www.nwweddingplace.com/ who wrote a great article for us. Stacy Brazington, Independent Wine Consultant, explains everything you could ever want to know about wine at your wedding event. Read our new Wine For Weddings article.

You can also visit Stacy's ad page to get ordering information - HERE.

Cheers!

Brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

The Dessy Group Wedding Accessories!

One of NWweddingplace.com's favorite wedding companies is The Dessy Group in New York. Their wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, men's and women's wedding accessories, etc., are great quality and are always perfectly in style. Check out their accessories! You can purchase those direct, online here:

If you want to order bridesmaid dresses, simple wedding gowns or destination wedding dresses, those are custom items. Call or e-mail NWweddingplace.com today for more information. ordering@NWweddingplace.com or 1-800-630-9771.

www.NWweddingplace.com

2009 Wedding Trends

According to theweddingreport.com, the number of weddings in 2009 is estimated to grow by 1.2% over 2008. Although there is a slight increase in the number of weddings this year, it looks like spending will be down. Their market data shows a 6-8% drop in spending/wedding budgets.

I know there are many of you 2009 brides out there! Our traffic levels at http://www.nwweddingplace.com/ are showing it!

• Are you wondering if you can still have a great wedding on a smaller budget? Yes you can.
• Is the recession putting a crimp in all your dream wedding plans? Keep it simple and enjoy your day to the fullest.
• Do you worry what guests will think if everything isn't perfect and over-the-top? It's your wedding and they aren't paying for it!

Here is some simple advice for stressed-out brides: Don't be completely consumed by planning your wedding day. Instead, be focused on your upcoming marriage. That is what will last a lifetime!

Just keeping it real :-)

http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

Puget Sound Area Wedding Expos & Shows

...Attention Brides to be in Western Washington...
If you live on the Kitsap Peninsula or in the Seattle area there are upcoming wedding shows and events!

February 7th, from 9am - 5pm, you can attend the Kitsap Peninsula's only major wedding expo for just $8 ($7 with a canned food donation or $6 with military ID and seniors). It is located at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds - Kitsap Pavilion building.

Here is what the event organizer says - "The West Sound Wedding Expo is Kitsap County's one and only wedding expo. It is truly a one stop shopping experience for your wedding. Come and see our wonderful vendors all in one place. Brought to you by The Direct Approach." Since this is the 15th year in a row for this particular expo, it's sure to be a good one.

Also coming up is a very interesting bridal event. Put on by The Healthy Bride, the "Battle of the Betrothed" is set to begin on Feb. 6th, ending on Feb. 14th. This is a competition for engaged couples (already chosen) who will compete for prizes. There are 9 "challenges" that each couple must take on to win, and will be judged! Should make for some fine entertainment... :-). For more info, visit www.thehealthybride.com.

Custom Wedding Rings

Looking to create a custom wedding or engagement ring? Or, maybe you've been married for a while and would like a new ring? Yes, many couples are not able to afford expensive wedding rings when they get married, but instead choose to upgrade rings on an anniversary or other special occasion at some point in the future. Thus... the wedding ring upgrade :-).

When you're shopping for engagement and wedding rings, getting a custom ring is twice-as-nice! Great, beautiful ring and exactly what you want. Perfect!

www.NWweddingplace.com

Money In Marriage

Recently engaged? Recently married? Discussing finances is a must! But how? Dr. Taffy Wagner has some answers for you. She recently wrote an article specifically for NWweddingplace.com on the topic of money and marriage. Here is a snippet of the article -

"For all those couples that will become engaged during the holidays and even through February, will pre-marital counseling prepare you for financial issues you will face during marriage? Financial issues are a part of marriage and no couple is immune from these issues. Automobile repairs, student loans, wedding expenses are some of the financial topics you will have to address.
Think about it. How many couples do you know personally that have..." Read complete article...

Thank you to our guest author, Dr. Taffy Wagner of http://www.debtatthealtar.com/
To get more information, please click below:

Valuable information brought to you by www.NWweddingplace.com

Average Wedding Costs

According to theweddingreport.com, 2008 had a surprising wedding budget trend -
"Economic trouble takes its toll on the average wedding cost. The average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. This is a 24% decline over the 2007 average of $28,704."

In our opinion, this 24% decline is probably not caused by wedding vendors lowering their prices (maybe some have). We suspect that couples are getting more creative with smaller wedding budgets, relying on DIY projects, cutting out certain non-essential wedding services & products, and generally bargain hunting! If you are looking for cheap wedding deals, DIY wedding projects, or other ways to save money and have a smaller wedding budget, visit our other blog at http://www.cheap-wedding-deals.blogspot.com/! Also, check out our shop online section for a wide variety of wedding supplies, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, wedding guest favors, cake toppers, etc. We have access to thousands of wedding products! www.NWweddingplace.com/weddingshop.htm

http://www.nwweddingplace.com/

2009 Wedding Colors

You may have already heard by now that the official color of 2009 is "MIMOSA" - a bright, sunny yellow color. It will certainly make it's way into fashion (already has). Do you think that will translate into a popular wedding color? Yes, potentially. Yellows are traditionally not a popular or often chosen wedding color. Even so, mimosa is cheery, sunny and gives a generally happy sense. It would make an excellent 2009 summer wedding color!

In my search this morning, it looks like mimosa is a color available in tableware (napkins, plates, punch cups, table skirts, disposable flatware, etc.), or at least versions of mimosa. Whether or not the bridal industry's bridesmaid dress companies will follow suit with mimosa fabric selections, remains to be seen. However, the company we work with (dessy.com) is ready for the mimosa wedding explosion! To order bridesmaid dresses, visit http://www.dessy.com/ to see their selection, then contact us for ordering information.

www.NWweddingshop.com