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.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Andy & Raeleen Shepard, owners of Fancy Fin Photography. We sat down with Raeleen recently to talk about what makes them a highly desired wedding photography team, and to get to know them better.

Red Letter Events: When and how did you get started as wedding photographers?

Raeleen: We both have extensive art backgrounds – I majored in Fine Art at UW and Andy went to school for digital animation and design, but were both amateur photographers all through college.  When it was time to choose a photographer for our own wedding, we were surprised at how confusing wedding photographers’ packages were, along with all those hidden charges. We did a bunch of research so when we finally picked a photographer we felt good about our decision.  The wedding day came and went, the honeymoon was fabulous, and we were looking forward to receiving our wedding photos (ok, we wanted to relive our wedding day just a little bit).  When we finally got our photos back, they were so horrible I was without words, and cried.  It was at that moment we both realized we could have done a better job ourselves and from there the rest is history.  Within 6 months we had a full-time photography business.  In a sense, we learned photography backwards because we already knew composition, color, etc. – but had to learn the mechanics of our cameras, while most photographers learn the mechanics and then focus on the art later.  I believe that is why our photography style is unique.

RLE: What or who inspires you?

Raeleen: From an artistic point of view, we’re inspired by vintage style, by the great masters of Art Nouveau, Dada, Deco, Minimalism periods and the contemporary look of modern fashion. We search for the beautiful, the odd, the sometimes crazy, the always hilarious, the fleeting moments that flash by, the smiling eyes behind soft tears, the delicate, the strong and we love a little dramatic flare!  We are passionate about creating unique images that evoke an emotion… a thought… an action.

RLE: What is something unique that you do that you are extra proud of?

Raeleen: Because of our art backgrounds, we don’t just snap photos, we compose elements in photographs like creating a painting.  Anyone can snap a photo, but creating something that is visually beautiful that stirs up an emotion… that’s what we do.

RLE: What is your philosophy when working with couples?

Raeleen: We always show up early to scout out the location and have poses in our mind so we don’t waste your precious time. We make sure the bride and groom are as relaxed as possible and go the extra mile.

RLE: How do you approach shooting the wedding day?

Raeleen: Being a great wedding photographer requires a lot of focus and the ability to change gears at any time while maintaining your creativity – but you also have to have fun!  We want our couples to be completely at ease and have a fabulous time knowing that we will be photographing them in the best way possible.  Let’s face it – not everyone is completely comfortable in front of the camera. I’m not, and I’m incredibly awkward when I get my photo taken, so I can relate to our more self-conscious and shy clients.  We make it a priority to make sure our clients are having a good time when we are photographing. Your wedding should be filled with laughter, joy, and beauty and so should your photos!

RLE: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Raeleen: I would say that the best part of our job is the challenge to create something new and different each time we photograph.  It’s why we can keep loving what we do!   Andy and I actually have a running contest between the two of us to come away with the best image of the day. In my opinion, I usually win, but that is hotly debated amongst ourselves!  I believe that one of the biggest things photographers have to face is falling into a rut – same venues, same style, same photo locations. We see a lot of photographers fall into a routine and wind up with all their weddings looking the same with just different brides and grooms.

RLE: How would you describe your style?

Raeleen: Our style can best be described as Modern + Vintage.  We blend together the bright, colorful, clean lines of high fashion with the ornate soft shapes of classic beauty.

RLE: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to in order to photograph a wedding?

Raeleen: That’s a hard question – we’ve been blessed and had the opportunity to travel and photograph in so many great places like Kauai, San Francisco, and Napa Valley to name a few.  If we have to narrow it down to one place, we would say Sedona, AZ!  We photographed Allie and Kyle’s wedding there a little bit back and immediately fell in love with the beautiful Red Rocks – the landscape is truly inspiring!

RLE: What do you do when you are not shooting weddings?

Raeleen: When we are not photographing weddings, we are traveling, drinking a latte, collecting ideas for inspiration, or swing dancing (Lindy Hop to be precise!).  We are also dedicated to eco awareness, green business practices and we are a Greener Photography certified leader!

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We chose to go Behind the Veil with Fancy Fin Photography because we like the way they treat their clients, we love their work and we appreciate they way they treat other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Debbie Hurter, owner of Transformation Salon & Spa. We sat down with Debbie recently to talk about why brides and brides maids should consider her salon and spa for wedding services, and to get to know her better.

Red Letter Events: How did you get started in the salon and spa industry, and how long have you been doing this??

Debbie: Well, I got started in the salon and spa ( beauty ) industry about 25 years ago. It was always something as a young girl that I was drawn to and dabbled in here and there – finding myself giving advice and “prettying up” my girlfriends. So when it came time to think about college (if you will), I had to think about my passion and where and what would bring me the most joy. Cosmetology School won!

RLE: What inspired you to open Transformation Salon and Spa?

Debbie: My inspiration for naming and opening the salon was simple – with everything I do and have a passion for, it has always been about the joy and desire to help others with their personal needs and goals for themselves.  ”Transformation”, whether it be on the inside or outside – inside being the most important – is such a personal thing. So it just seemed fitting to Steve and I that we name our new business Transformation Salon and Spa.

The inspiration for opening Transformation Salon and Spa was to be able to have one place where we could with a FAB team, touch and affect and empower a lot of peoples lives in one day. I love to show people how AMAZING they are and what they have to offer themselves and the world – give personal encouragement. The salon gives that opportunity abundantly!

RLE: What is your philosophy when working with bridal parties and how do your services compliment that?

Debbie: My philosophy for working with bridal parties is that you need and must remember this is one of the biggest days of the bride’s life. And it is very important to take time and listen to her vision – visualize the day with her, so this way, when it comes to the bridal party you can create that most magnificent day ever! I want to fulfill every dream she ever had – and then some!

RLE: Your services go beyond the typical day at the spa. Can you tell us more about those unique services that you provide??

Debbie: I love the fact that our services are geared toward making our guests shine from the inside and out! We can – with enough time before hand – assist the bride and her party if wanted, with personal training needs, nutrition – making sure she and her party are staying healthy and full of energy during what can be a stressful time – skin preparation to get that glow every bride deserves, and natural nail maintenance. We also offer lifestyle classes that teach and give super info on what the importance of eating well and often will do for our bodies, and of course the HAIR!

I took a lot  of time researching products to bring into the salon that would NOT be damaging to the hair. I like the fact that these products are sulfate free, paraben free and one line is actually gluten free. So cool! I know how important to have that perfect hair is – and our CHI color line does that. It is incredible! No Ammonia, and adds life and shine back into the hair. I definitely know how important that is to the brides and their wedding parties.

RLE: How do you go about helping a bride and her attendants choose the perfect make-up and hair style, just for them?

Debbie: Helping a bride and her party choose the right make-up look and hairstyle is best done with at least one consultation before you do a run-through of the total look, pre-wedding day. This is where I and my team get to “know” the bride and her gals. I feel it is essential to get a grasp on the entire vision that the bride wants to have reflected on her wedding day! I then take into account her skin color, eye color, facial profile, length of neck, and overall hair texture and amount. These things play a huge part in making it all perfect.

RLE: Do you have a favorite trend that brides are requesting this year?

Debbie: I have been seeing a lot of originality, with twists on the classic favorites. Such as half twist done up to the side, chignon off to and behind either ear, all down and big retro waves. I am finding that brides are wanting to show their personality along with being romantic and pretty. I do say to my brides that they need to accessorize as well – it can make or break your entire look. Right now, colored stones are quite popular. It is a great way to add color and not go overboard. Emerald green is the hot trend right now. Another thing I like to have my brides think about is lip color – so necessary for all those endless pictures. Plus it perks up the face when you are starting to feel things catch up to you.

RLE: You guys are really involved in the community here. Do you have a favorite organization that you love to help?

Debbie: Steve and I have a huge passion for community service and working with our chosen charities. We both feel it is important to give back to our community and help those in need! The two main organizations we have been working with are Infant Initiative with the Emergency Food Network of Pierce County, and the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Steve and his twin brother Mike have a golf tourney every summer that supports and creates dollars for the Infant Initiative. It is always so heartwarming to see tons of people come out to support the cause and help give back!

RLE: What do you and Steve love to do after business hours?

Debbie: Ha! After business hours – what’s that? I think we are continuously in business mode of some sort. Steve and I do love to cook, entertain, go for mystery rides to wherever the car ends up, play with our 2 dogs – pretty much anything that lets us be together. I think that is how we have made it to 20 years of marriage.

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We chose to go Behind the Veil with Debbie Hurter because we like the way she treats his clients, we love her work and we appreciate they way she treats other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

We’re taking you Behind the Veil with some of the Puget Sound’s best wedding and event venues and vendors. This ongoing series of personal interviews will be both entertaining and informative. Who are the real people behind these great companies and why should you put them on your ‘must-contact‘ list? Join us as we answer that very important question for you.

In this edition of Behind the Veil, we interview Kim Halinen, owner and principal photographer at Vivid Images Photography, LLC. We sat down with Kim recently to talk about why she stands out in the highly competative field of wedding photography, and to get to know her better.

Red Letter Events: So why choose engagement and wedding photography?

Kim: My passion for photography started when I was in grade school. I always had a camera in my hand. In high school I took photography classes and found it to be my most rewarding class. When graduation rolled around, my dad gave me diamond earrings as a graduation present… I ended up returning them and buying a camera.

Photography has always been my passion and building my career around photography was the most natural choice.  I have an artful eye. I see something and know just how to make it into a beautiful picture. Photography is a part of me and as natural to me as walking.

RLE: What’s the most rewarding experience in your photography career so far?

Kim: I would have to say the most rewarding part of my career is giving our clients lasting memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. An even bigger reward is when they send thank you notes and end up being a lifetime client… bringing in their growing family, inviting me to capture events in their lives and referring me to their friends and family.

RLE: Given the multitude of different events that people request to be photographed, what is your favorite?

Kim: Weddings, Quinceañera, or any big event that takes more then 3 hours is always the events I prefer. I love being able to connect and work with different personalities. It’s always a joy to be able to capture the flow of the day and the personalities of the people I am photographing. I hear from some photographers that they think weddings & big events are way too stressful. I honestly thrive on the business, emotion and challenge of preserving a wedding day or event in photographs. I think it’s where I shine most and where my passion truly shows in the product I produce for my clients. My camera becomes a part of me and I become a part of the couple’s special day. Capturing the wedding or event day for each of my clients is truly a joy to me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I also really enjoy the engagement sessions. One of my photographers, Erin states; ‘During the engagement session, couples are free from the stress of the big day.  Their love, excitement and personalities shine through. Without the time constrictions of the wedding, you are able to have a more relaxed session. This gives us a bit more time to get to know the couple and helps put them at ease as they move toward their wedding day.’

RLE: So how do you approach shooting a wedding day?

Kim: We always show up early to scout out the location and have poses in our mind so we don’t waste your precious time. We make sure the bride and groom are as relaxed as possible and go the extra mile.

RLE: No doubt, there are a ton of photographers in Pierce County and the Puget Sound. What do you think sets you apart from other wedding photographers?

Kim: We have an experienced team of photographers; our main photographers are myself & Erin, and we are able to shoot multiple weddings on one date. Our photographers are hand picked. They are professional and precise at their trade. Our photographers are personable and professional you can rest assured that we will take care of the details on your event day. We also have an experienced editing/graphic design team resulting in high quality photos.

Our editors regularly calibrate our monitors to ensure precise color. We make sure your images are those you will cherish forever. We also have a dynamic sales & marketing team. These teams ensure that our photographers are free and able to “put their all” into your wedding photography. At Vivid Images Photography, LLC, our photographers, editors, and sales & marketing staff are committed to bringing our clients the best service and quality possible.

All of our wedding packages include editing, enhancements and a DVD of images complete with permission to reproduce. We don’t make the bride choose certain photos; we make sure they are well cared for on their wedding day photographically.

We have a studio in Fircrest where we are able to take care of our clients before and after their wedding. We also do family photos, baby photos, senior photos, and boudoir photos. Actually, we do any and all special events with pride.

RLE: So do you have a favorite service or package that you particularly enjoy providing?

Kim: Our in Studio Boudoir Sessions are a huge hit.  Brides have been giving them to their grooms as a wedding present… and there have been no complaints from the grooms.

Our photo-studio-on-the-go is another hot item this year.  You can have guest take pictures all night long.  You can have them printed or just on a DVD.  You choose your background… we bring background, lights, printers, props… everything is taken care of!

Our custom guestbooks we create using their engagement photos have been a real hit!

RLE: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to in order to photograph a wedding?

Kim: Hawaii was one of the best places I’ve traveled for a wedding. It was great to shoot some new scenery. Another one of my favorites of the ‘travel’ weddings was Zenith Vineyard in Salem, OR.

RLE: What do you do when you’re not shooting weddings?

Kim: I am either working in the studio or spending time with my two beautiful daughters and wonderful husband.

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We chose to go Behind the Veil with Kim Halinen because we like the way she treats her clients, we love her work and we appreciate they way she treats other wedding and event vendors. Regardless of how you find a wedding or event vendor, we always recommend that you personally interview them before signing a contract. You should be able to count on a quality referral from your wedding and event planner, but you should always take the time to ensure that you like and trust a vendor yourself.

Wedding Walk Tacoma is a one day event, coming Sunday, February 11th, 2011, that will introduce prospective brides, grooms, wedding attendants and their family and friends to Tacoma, as a one-stop shopping destination for weddings, while sampling excellent food, wonderful beverages and touring Tacoma’s most beautiful places to get married.

Brides, grooms, friends and family will walk the Downtown Tacoma Business District, stopping at the Marriott and Pacific Grill Event Center,  then walking down Pacific Avenue to the Tacoma Art Museum, Union Station, and the History Museum before crossing the Chihuly Bridge to the Museum of Glass on the water.

There are approximately 60 premier businesses and sponsors participating from categories such as floral design, formal wear, hotel and banquet halls, invitations and printing, jewelers, photographers, salons and spas, shoes and accessories, and bakeries.

Participants can choose to walk, ride in a limo, or hop on Tacoma’s Link lightrail to the featured venues. After visiting all locations, participants will be entered to win a Grand Prize Raffle.

Red Letter Events is excited to be the Wedding Walk Tacoma wedding and event planner for the Tacoma Art Museum. Purchase your ticket in December 2010 and take $10 Off the regular price.

Come join us at the Tacoma Art Museum on April 8th for and evening of delicious appetizers and beverages, provided by Jonz Catering.

You’ll get to meet an array of wedding vendors in an intimate setting, pick up some beautiful decorating ideas, and see the museum as you’ve never seen it before.

This free event is by invitation only. Please RSVP with us by email or by phone.

Come join us at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall on March 27th & 28th for the Tacoma Spring Wedding Expo. We’re going to be there with some great partners and an amazing 20′x20′ booth, showcasing our collective talents and services.

We’ve also put together a great package just for Expo brides – wedding-day coordination, photography, videography and a DJ, all for under $5,000. You’ll save over $1,500, just by attending the show. You won’t find a better deal at the Expo than this.

On site will be Kim with Vivid Images Photography, Adam with Adam’s DJ Service and Anthony with Motion of Life Video Productions. And of course, we’ll be there too. Be sure to ask us about our Expo pricing, as well as our group package with Kim, Adam and Anthony.

Tickets are $15. Sign up now and get 2 tickets for the price of one. Limited time offer.

Dear Friends,

We’re on an important mission to rekindle the holiday spirit and we need your help.

Quite simply, we’re asking America to believe. This holiday season, join Macy’s and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to help collect a million reasons to believe.

What is the Believe campaign? Beginning on November 6, children across the country are invited to drop off their letters — stamped and addressed to Santa at the North Pole — in the Santa Mail letterbox at any Macy’s store. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million dollars to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. We’ll be picking up letters from our local Macy’s and getting them on their way to the North Pole.

What is the Make-A-Wish Foundation? The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Be an inspiration. You are in a unique position to really make a difference. Write your own letter to Santa and drop it off at your local Macy’s store today. Inspire your children, peers, family and friends to get involved by writing their letters, too.

This is Part 3 in our 3 part series on saving money while getting the wedding you want. There were great ideas long before these, and there will be more tips after this series – but we hope that some of the info in this series has been a help to you in planning your wedding. If you find yourself in need of some cost saving or trendy ideas, or you need help on your wedding day, please call or email us – we’ll be right there for you.

Videography: Limiting the events that your videographer captures will save room in your budget. Instead of having them film from the time you start getting ready to the time you ride of into the sunset, you could have them capture just the ceremony and the formal events of your reception.

Wedding Cake: Instead of getting an elaborate cake for display and eating, you could have a small 2-tier cake made for display, and then have a sheet cake made that will be served to guests.

Favors: You can save on cost by making your own classic favors from scratch. Buy tulle circles (or cut them out yourself) and wrap some Hershey Kisses or Jordan Almonds with ribbon tied around it. Other affordable favors might include paper fans, coasters, candles, or handmade chocolates.

Hair & Make-up: Depending on the look you want, hair and make-up are easily done by you or a friend. More complicated hair styles will require someone with some expertise, though.

Wedding Planning & Coordination: With enough time and enough organizational skills, you can plan your own wedding and save the money for day-of wedding coordination. Having a professional wedding planner coordinate your wedding day allows you, your family and friends to enjoy your wedding day instead of working. We have the experience with vendors and venues to make sure that your wedding day looks just like you imagined it.