Red Letter Events was assigned the theme “Winter Desert” for the inaugural show in Tacoma. It was our challenge to create a vignette that incorporated these two opposing themes. To do this, we used rustic and organic elements like burlap, twine, wood, sand, moss and succulent plants. We also used snow and cool blue lighting, as well as blue napkins and ribbon, and brown and blue fonts in the paperie.

We want to give a big ‘thank you’ to our vignette partners, Trendy Event Rentals, Burning Cupcakes, Valerie’s Invites, AA Party Rentals and Mercer Island Florist for all of the time and materials you put into this event.

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This year, 100% of our clients through out the receiving line, and we couldn’t have been happier about it. For the sake of soon-to-be wed couples that are trying to figure out what to do to acknowledge their guests, but really aren’t excited about the thought of a receiving line, I thought I’d offer some alternatives to consider.

• Mingling during the cocktail hour – Instead of planning a grand entrance to your reception with your new spouse, you could enjoy a more casual entrance to your party and mingle with your guests during the cocktail hour. You probably won’t have to go far though, because what you might find is that an informal line will start to form, and the guests that really want to greet you will come to you.
• Releasing tables to the buffet – Of course this only works if you’re planning dinner buffet-style, and not plated. The idea is that you and your new spouse visit each table, receive your congratulations, thank your guests, and excuse them to the buffet before moving on to the next table. This keeps the buffet line short and managed, and gives you and your guests a moment together. Don’t forget about you, though. To pull this off, I recommend having your wedding coordinator prepare a plate of food for the both of you, and eat a bit before you make your entrance into your reception. Depending on the size of your guest list, releasing tables could take a while, and if you don’t eat before, you’ll be starving by the time you’re done. That, and there won’t be much time before toasts, cake cutting, and the many other reception events replace your time to eat.
• Mingling at guest tables – This works for buffet or plated dinners. You and your wedding party lead the way to the buffet, or receive your plated dinner first. Because you’re first to eat, you’ll likely be first to be done. When you’re done eating, you and your new spouse can spend a few minutes at each guest table. This is less rushed than releasing tables to the buffet, but you still need your wedding coordinator to manage your time, otherwise, you may not make it to every table before reception events begin, and you lose your opportunity.

While we don’t wish ill will on the poor Receiving Line, or any clients that are planning on “the long walk”, we are glad to see this tradition fading into the past. Always have fun planning your wedding, and don’t be afraid to make some new traditions.

Ice Cream Bars are becoming increasingly popular. You can offer a variety of different ice cream flavors for your guests to choose from (or just select a few), and have an assortment of cute glass containers full of candies, nuts, cherries, bananas, hot fudge, berries, cookies, sprinkles, brownie pieces… you name it. Oh, and don’t forget the whipped cream! Your Ice Cream Bar could be self serve, or you could have someone staff the table during your reception to serve your guests. It would be a refreshing late night treat, after hours of dancing the night away – or if you’re truly a non-traditional bride, you could offer an Ice Cream Bar instead of wedding cake!

Popcorn Bars have also become popular recently – you can offer it as your take-home favor for guests, or as a novelty treat during your reception. Offering a few different flavors to choose from would be a nice option (you can pre-make the flavors at home prior to the wedding) – and offer a few mix-in treats such as nuts, M&M’s, Sour Patch Kids and other types of candies. If you don’t want to try to pull it together on your own, you can hire someone to do it for you.

We’ll be featuring a Seattle-area based popcorn vendor called Pop! Gourmet Popcorn at the Tacoma Art Museum during the Wedding Walk Tacoma on February 20, 2011. You can check out their popcorn mix-in station to see if you’d like to include popcorn at your wedding. Hope to see you there!

Predictions for late 2009-2010 wedding dress trends continue to focus on a bride’s unique style and individuality. Some of the new trends include embellishments such as intricate sequence, beading and off-color embroidery; asymmetrical off-the-shoulder strap design; dress fabric colors such as champagne, warm toasts and charcoal grey; and styles such as sleek silhouettes, mini-dresses and tiered gowns.

While ball gowns never go out of style, if you’re looking for a modern twist, you might consider a slim fitting silhouette style column or trumpet wedding gown. Also, tiered skirted dresses are similar to a ball gown style, and have multiple layers of a soft material such as organza, chiffon, tulle or even feathers, which is perfect for a romantic-at-heart bride. Mini-dresses are less formal, and typically are most appropriate in a casual setting, or as a “second” party dress to wear at the reception to dance the night away.

Splashes of color are becoming a more popular option for brides. Based on 2009-2010 predictions, options could include a portion of or the entire dress to be colored other than white, including colorful sashes or bodice appliqué details.

Asymmetrical one shouldered dresses are becoming more popular, allowing brides to be less concerned with a strapless dress falling down (and needing a padded bra to keep it up where it should be). Additionally the bride can show off her hard work from the months prior to the wedding (of excruciating workouts and diets) – a toned upper body physique.

If you are starting the wedding planning process and are interested in creating a green eco-friendly wedding from start to finish, here are a few tips and guidelines you will want to follow, to leave your green thumb-print on the world:

Catering – While potentially being quite costly, an organic and eco-friendly menu can be an excellent way to represent to your guests your dedication to health, Earth-sustainability and quality flavor. Choose organic seasonal fruits and vegetables that have not been grown in a green house or been exposed to pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Organic meats such as grain-fed, free-range, hormone free beef, pork, poultry and wild (not farmed) fish are great – and extremely flavorful – options for your menu. Your caterer should also be able to provide breads, pastas and grains made of organic ingredients, and organic hormone free eggs and milk products to suit your guests’ palettes. Additionally, purchasing locally grown food supports local farmers and local small businesses.

Venue – More builders are starting to go green with the construction of new buildings, to achieve LEED certifications and acknowledgements. Check for new buildings in your area that have been built green. This could include being made with recycled material – rubber tire carpet, recycled cement, sustainable or recycled wood, low-flow plumbing fixtures, high efficiency lighting, biodegradable paper materials, or even a green roof to catch the rain and prevent storm water run off. Another option for a green venue would be a natural outdoor wedding – check out parks, mountains/hilltops, farms and gardens.

Invitations/Stationery – From 10% to 100% recycled paper, to vegetable-based low VOC inks, there are many options available which save trees and produce less harmful emissions into the air.

Flowers & Decorations – Potted flowers and plants are the best eco-friendly option to use flowers as decorations in your wedding. Afterward, you can give them as gifts to those who help you at the wedding, or plant them in your own garden as a special memory of your wedding day. Many cut flowers typically used in wedding decorations are sprayed with pesticides to keep the leaves and petals from being eaten by insects during growth. If you decide to use cut flowers, check to make sure that they are VeriFlora-certified, which means that they are not grown under harsh working conditions or covered in chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

…Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe

I’ve always wondered about what this well-known phrase actually means. After doing some research, I thought I’d share with you what I learned.
 
Historically, this phrase likely began in the Victorian era. Each item represents a good-luck token for the bride to carry with her on her wedding day.
 
‘Something Old’ – is symbolic of continuity with the bride’s family and their past. It could be something like carrying an heirloom handkerchief, wearing your grandmother’s pearls, or carrying a silk flower bouquet that has been carried by brides in your family for generations.
 
‘Something New’ – symbolizes hope and optimism for a good future. You could buy new shoes, a new dress, new jewelry, a beautiful new hair clip…I think you get the picture.
 
‘Something Borrowed’ – is an item borrowed from a happily married family member or friend, and represents good fortune being passed along to you. It also is representative of the bond between the bride and her family and friends. Items you could borrow are numerous, but could include your mother’s wedding gown, your best friend’s diamond stud earrings, or even your sister’s strappy glam shoes.
 
‘Something Blue’ – signifies love, modesty, fidelity and purity. Ideas of something blue could be a blue garter, a blue sash on your dress, blue lacy panties or even painting your toenails a light blue color.
 
‘Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe’ – represents wealth and financial security. Sixpence coins are made of silver and are worth six pennies – originally minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. Modern day tradition is to use a dime or copper penny, although you can find keepsake sixpences for weddings online.