How to Set Sail with your Dreams without Sinking the Boat

Making your dream wedding come to life on a budget may seem like a difficult task, especially when you know what you want. However, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to help you get there without breaking your bank account.

Set a dollar amount. First and foremost, set a budget number and stick to it. This is the most important rule of budgeting. You need to keep that figure in the back of your mind when considering all the details of your big day. The point of a budget is to prevent you from overspending, so you need to establish this dollar amount as a hard stop. 

Set individual budgets. After you set the overall budget amount, breakdown budgets for each individual area of the wedding. Set a dollar amount for your dress, the groom’s attire, flowers, favors, catering, décor, etc.

Number of guests. When you’re thinking about who you would like to invite to your big day, remember that you’re paying for their accommodations as well. If you really can’t compromise on cutting anyone from your guest list, then retract a plus one from the invite. This will help save cost on food and drink more than you may think.

Wildflowers.  Wildflowers are not only going to be a popular flower choice for the 2017 wedding season, but they are inexpensive and easy to arrange. Wild, overflowing bouquets are going to be all the rage, so if you’re crafty enough to do it yourself, you can arrange your own centerpieces by way of this style.

Photo by ZBrooks Scrbiner Photography

Cupcakes. Instead of a large 3-4 tier cake, opt for a small cake for you and yours to cut and serve cupcakes (or another dessert of your choice) to your guests. Still incredibly delicious, this option is cheaper and easy to serve. Cupcakes have also been trending the last few years, and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. 

Photo by Alante Photgoraphy

Weekday venue rental. Fridays and Saturdays are expensive to reserve an event space. Weekdays however, can be much cheaper. Make sure to check venues for discounted rates for a non-Saturday wedding.

It’s never easy to set limits, but if you sit down with your partner and draw up guidelines about what you both really want and what you can do without, then setting the budget will be much easier. It all comes down to what is most important to the two of you and the rest will follow! 

Real Wedding: Jereme + Mark

There was no better way to kick off 2016 than the wedding of Mark + Jereme at Salish Lodge.

I first met Jereme three months before their big day from a referral from their officiant Annemarie Juhlian with whom we have worked many weddings over the years.

What I loved was that this would be our first brunch wedding at one of our favorite locations for brunch, Salish Lodge. It provided a perfect backdrop for this January wedding.

Using the bright bold colors of Tiffany blue, black gray and white we loved how this couple incorporated this palette from their attire, flowers, linen and decor.

When we came on board, Jereme knew exactly what he wanted just needed helping in finding those perfect vendors to execute it. The best part of selecting Salish Lodge, it included the food, cake and the beautiful venue overlooking the Snoqualmie Falls.

Our first suggestion was Sal Floral Design and this was a great recommendation as our couple just loved what Sal brought to the table. They created a beautiful ceremony backdrop that matched the beauty of the venue and their theme. We loved the candles and branches the created an inviting yet intimate backdrop or Mark + Jereme's I Dos. Moving inside, using stunning silver candelabras Jereme was able to use from his work, Sal created stunning centerpieces that really showed off their  elaborate linens.

What we loved the most was Jereme wanting to surprise Mark as much as he could. The first surprise was having a dove release as part of their ceremony. We tried very hard to keep this a secret from their wedding guests, bu the couple's two dogs who were also part of the ceremony, discovered the doves, who were enclosed in a beautiful white basket. Luckily, the dogs gave up their sniffing of the basket when they quickly discovered the feathered friends inside were not there to play.  first.Michael from White Dove Release brought 12 doves, two of which were included in the ceremony in a touching moment between the couple before releasing the remaining doves that symbolized all of their friends and family. Watching Mark + Jereme release the doves and watch them circle the area and the falls before making their way back to Michael's home.

Another surprise Jereme had up his sleeve was some sort of entertainment for Mark including for their first dance. I suggested the University of Washington acapella group, Furmata A Cappella. We worked with them two years ago and just fell in love with them and knew they would be perfect for Jereme's surprise. So as we ended brunch, a few members of the group filtered into the room and then just began singing. It was an experience for all the guests and still gives me goosebumps thinking about.

Here is a link to the video of their performance and here and here!

To say thank you to the family and friends who traveled by all over the United States and abroad, Mark + Jeremegave each guest a jar of honey to commemorate their time at Salish Lodge, which is quite known for their honey.

It's with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to Mark + Jereme as they start a new chapter of their lives together as they move to Chicago next month, but we wish them all the best! Love you two!!

Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs
Venue: Salish Lodge
Photographer: Crozier Photography
Florist: Sal Floral Design
Officiant: Annemarie Juhlian
Dove Release: White Dove Release
Musicians: Susan W. Haas and Nicole Williams
Entertainment: Furmata A Cappella

Real Wedding: Michele + Rick

What better way to end 2015 than to marry your best friend? Well, that's what Michele + Rick did this past New Year's Eve at The Edgewater. When I asked what they most wanted in a wedding, they said to give their guests an experience that they will never forget and I think we accomplished that.

From the gold and silver bling accents to the food, photo booth to the countdown to midnight on the roof of The Edgewater, these guests were truly entertained. 

This December day was perfect for this couple to explore Seattle with their bridal party. We loved their mode of transportation from Big Woody Limos. No better way to travel the streets of downtown and the waterfront.

One of the emotional moments not not only for the guests but myself included was when the bride's 10-year-old son Titus escorted her down the aisle. It was truly a beautiful moment. Titus was such a poised young man and was so happy for his mom.

As we got closer to midnight, you could feel the excitement in the air and people braved the bitter cold to step out on the roof to watch the Space Needle fireworks. Growing up in this area, I had never seen this in person so it was a real honor to be able to experience this, one of my top 10 wedding highlights of all time.

Vendors
Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs
Venue: The Edgewater
Photographer: Alante Photograpy
Florist: Love Blooms
DJ: Affairs to Remember
Officiant: Mary Calhoun
Cake: The Sweetside
Hair + Make-up: Salon Maison
Transportation: Big Woody Limos