Yummy Eats, Hot Beats

Last night, Michele and I had the pleasure of attending a tasting with Ravishing Radish at the Yacht Club on Lake Union. The food is organic, locally sourced and delicious! We started with the night's signature cocktail, a martini mixed with vanilla vodka, Midori melon liqueur and lemon. So sweet and smooth.

We moved on quickly to the tasting where we sampled Organic Lemongrass Chicken, calamari, baked Brie with cranberry and pistachio and so much more. I have to say my favorite was the salad with organic greens, candied walnuts, blue cheese and beets. So tasty and served on cute plates from Totally Tabletops. I highly recommend attending a tasting. You will get a really good feel for how your event will be handled with fresh food waiting to be scooped up at the buffet. The women behind Ravishing Radish have really thought out this event.
Setting the mood for the party was DJ Tecumseh of Bamboo Beats. He spun records that started out jazzy and progressively got more lively. JoJo, the DJ's wife, attends each wedding and works directly with the coordinator to ensure an event will flow smoothly. They help you to "green" your wedding and practice it in their own lives. Most of all, they will add the perfect soundtrack to your event.

Michele and I stayed late and had so much fun talking with other vendors, all of whom I am sure I will talk more of soon (flowers, photo, linens, and a planner). A very nice evening!

Love + Tastings,
Megan

A Breakfast at Tiffany's Wedding by Michele

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Michele Simmons
So today's theme is Breakfast at Tiffany's and shame, shame and double shame on me for never seeing the movie. I used to work at a picture framing place and I've framed the poster 100 times but never saw the movie. So I went out and rented it and LOVED IT!

Your dress is something you might find in the movie. A white vintage tea length that will wow him 'til morning! Of course a fabulous up do and vintage hair clip. Long white gloves totally add that Breakfast at Tiffany's look. You are wearing an awesome pearl necklace, one that has several strands and a diamond (cubic zirconia of course) the size of a walnut! You definitely do not have any of the mean reds!! The bridesmaids are wearing similar dresses but in black with long black gloves. Instead of hair clips they are wearing fabulous floppy black hats!

Your cake looks like a giant Cracker Jack box with a ring on top! Cracker Jack boxes are also given to each guest as they arrive. In each box they will discover their own special prize!

Bourbon and other "gentlemen" type alcohol is served at the bar. For a lighter touch maybe a Tom Collins or a Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers, pop or just water!

On each side of the "alter" and at the entrance there are stacks of vintage suitcases. I love that touch. On each table is a different scene from the movie. For fun there are also several masks at each table for each guest to take with them, either a dog,cat or sleeping mask. Inside the mask is printed with you and your honey's name and date so your guests will always remember what a great time they had with you on this day!

Who says you can't lose your heart to a wild thing?......

For the Love of Color by Michele

Color Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is color. As easy one for me indeed! No white walls in my house! Every room has color! Fall is probably my most favorite time of the year since there are so many beautiful shades of reds, oranges and yellows.
This wedding takes place in late summer, early fall.

Your dress is a strapless, A-line ball room length and white. A orange flower in your hair. Your bridesmaids are in burgundy, orange and yellow. Each dress different just like each of them.

Your flowers are gorgeous and are in all the colors of the season. The colors against your white dress seems to make them come alive!

Your event takes place in the local park under the canopy of fall leaves. The sunlight dances through the leaves and the warm breeze invites your guest like a campfire invites you on a cold night. There are picnic tables scattered about. Each table has a white table cloth on it. Each table has a different centerpiece some have a jar of flowers and some a bowl of oranges, lemons, apples.

The BBQ's are cooking up good ole' hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken. There is nothing better than the smell of a barbecue and your guests can not wait to sink their teeth in! In the mean time they can quench their thirst with bottles of lemonade or pop.

Your wedding cake is white, tiered and decorated with a paisley pattern. A real work of art and yummy too!

After the wedding and reception you and your groom get into daddy's classic Mustang and drive off to your favorite "make out" spot before venturing on to your honeymoon!!

Poetry Wedding by Michele

Poetry Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is Poetry. As I browse the library shelves and the collection of poetry books I keep coming back to one in particular. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Such fond memories of reading to my boys like "Warning" about your finger getting lost up your nose. Or "Sick" too sick to go to school. Or "For Sale" about selling your sibling. Laughing our loud in the library it was an easy choice! So instead of the more serious readings of Emily Dickenson or Robert Frost mine tends to fall on the silly or whimsical end.

True Love by Michele

True Love Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is true love. You hear stories all the time of true love. You hear the story of "the moment I met you I fell in love" or "I knew the moment I saw you I would marry you". But when I think of true love I think of the couple who have been married for 20 + years. The couple who still hold hands or snuggles together. So today I would like to focus on a marriage vow renewal wedding, the real true love.

Your dress is simple off-white and short. Just enough wow to show that you still got it after all these years! Your husband is in a suit with standard tie. He is looking just as handsome as the first day you met him.

The event takes place in your backyard with all of your closest friends and family present. A large tent is set up for the ceremony and reception. This is an afternoon event and we do not want any of our guests getting too overheated. Beautiful fabric is draped throughout the tent with paper lanterns above. The sunlight dances on the fabric and lanterns creating a cool ambiance.

The reception is a catered event. After all this is a big deal! The long tables seat your guests comfortably family style. Lemonade, ice tea and light beer quench the thirst of your guests. Your cake is a combination of white and chocolate and topped off with calla lilies.

Your bouquet is made up of flowers from your garden. Calla lilies, one of your favorites. Your husband planted it for you in your garden the first year you were married.

Instead of exchanging rings for this vow renewal you both exchange Rolex watches. Resembling your time together unforgettable, so precious. Your past, present and future.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin. "Love is the beauty of the soul." --St. Augustine

New Years Eve by Michele

New Year's Eve by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is a New Years Eve theme. How totally fun and totally not traditional! Love it! With all the other events and parties going on that night be sure to plan early!

I would plan to get married at a hotel downtown Seattle. Somewhere where you can marry and then you and your guests can stay. Typically you can book a bank of rooms for such events. (the planning early would definitely be beneficial here!)

I love the dress. This short, flirty silver cuteness would surely dazzle all who see you in it! Your ball earrings mimic the ball that is dropped in Times Square in NYC! Your bouquet is small but flirty and fun with colored roses and peacock feathers! Wow!

This would be a later in the evening affair so no dinner served at this wedding. Instead some simple snacks and lots of champagne! Plus a full bar alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

As you say your vows everyone in the room is given a champagne glass that has a number on it from 9 to 1. The excitement builds as you and your groom wrap up the vows and the clock is counting down and then as the countdown nears the guests chime in each with the corresponding numbered glass and continue the countdown to number 1 when you and your groom seal the deal with a matrimonial kiss!! What a great new year this is going to be!!
Fireworks are going off in the distance as well as in your hearts!

Cameras are scattered about so the guests can capture all the candid shots your photographer won't. I love this idea because you get to see your event from someone else's eyes. Unless your kids get a hold of one of the cameras and take pictures of themselves doing silly boy things.....but that's a whole other story!! : )

Modern Splurge vs. Steal by Michele

splurge steal by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is Splurge v.s. Steal Modern. I appologize because this one is going to be short and sweet.

There are many ways to get a steal of a bargain when it comes to your wedding day. The best advise is to keep an open mind. Think outside of the box. Many ordinary everyday household items can be used with just a little addition here or there your guest might think you purchased them from a high end store.

Splurge? Well if you can, the sky is the limit. If you can go for it!

King + Queen Madonna Style by Michele

King & Queen Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is King and Queen Madonna theme. So what girl that grew up in the 80's didn't totally love Madonna. Idolize her, know the words to all her songs? All the girls that I know. So today's theme was gonna be great but then I decided that I couldn't go there. The 80's I did love just not all the clothes...

So this is what I've come up with a Madonna like wedding.

First let's start with the place. I think a castle is appropriate. Madonna was married in a castle and there are so many hiding here and there. If you are determined you will surely find one. And even if you don't you can always have a theater group possibly make a castle facade for you.

This dress I absolutely LOVE! It is so goddess like with silver embellishments. Add some silver bangles and a huge diamond ring and you are definatley the queen of the night! Any queen would be without her crown or tiara right? This tiara is similar to what Madonna wore to her marriage to Guy Ritchie. The handsome king is in a white tuxedo and confident as can be ready to sweep the queen right off her feet.

The cake is royalty for sure! With silver and gold it is sure to be a jewel of the night. A separate cake with gold and silver crowns is just right for the cake cutting event.

For fun I found these fantastic crown rings. Wouldn't you and your king be all the envy of the Kingdom?

Love of Books by Michele

Love Of Books Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is the love of books wedding. A love story. There are so many great stories from Guinevere & Lancelot, Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde, The Notebook, Titanic and even Lady & The Tramp!

The invitations read you are cordially invited to the wedding of Miss and Mister to share the start of their next chapter together in the greatest love story of all time....

The wedding and reception are at one of the most beautiful libraries around, the University of Washington Sozzalla Library. The warmth of the wood surround you and your guests. The star paper lantern strung throughout the area create a magical glow.

Each table is set with different book, a different tale of love. The table cloth is made up of pages from that particular book so your guests can read bits and pieces and reminisce.

The place cards double as a favor. They are book marks with a collection of pictures of the bride and groom on one side and a list of their favorite books. Something each guest can take with them and remember this special day and maybe even pick up one of the books listed and share it with the one they love.

The groom is handsome in a tan suit with chocolate accents. Your cream colored dress is tiered and fits you perfectly and compliments him to a tee! This is a match made in heaven!

Your bouquet is made of of colored roses of browns and creams. It is a round bouquet of perfection.

Even your wedding rings keep with the same color scheme. Chocolate diamonds! Yes, chocolate diamonds. I recently fell in love with these and can't wait for my own!! (hint-hint honey!)

Fashion Splurge vs. Steal by Michele

Fashion Steal v.s. Splurge by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is Fashion splurge v.s. steal. I had fun with this one because I love trying to find a bargain but if I had the money would totally be a fashion freak!
The venue: I choose the Museum of Glass for both my splurge and steal sets. This is such a beautiful site located along the waterfront in Tacoma. Your guests can stroll along the sky bridge and the waterfront taking in the scenes prior to the wedding. Chihuly is the inspiration behind the museum and an awesome artists and many of his pieces are showcased along the sky bridge.
Your splurge would be reserving the museum for a full day with opportunities for your guests to stroll the exhibits and the hot shop. Your steal would be reserving your wedding date on an off date such as a Sunday or weekday and only for an hour or two keeping your costs down.
The dress: Researching the hot trends for 2009 and wedding gowns I found that tiers are one of the new hot things! I love this because tiers are so versatile for all body types. My splurge dress is a Jenny Packham for $15,000 or a similar, just as pretty gown by David's Bridal for $700.00.
The favors: I love both of these favors! I love glass! The glass hearts are made by Bedrock Studios and are a simple memento of your special day for $6.00 each, definitely a steal! The triangle glass vases are hand made by Dehanna Jones and are $185.00 each.
Dinner: Your splurge dinner would have to be a sit down event. With prime rib and maybe a halibut dish. The place card holders are soo cute! An art easel with an erasable canvas! For your steal I would suggest a buffet style with a salmon and a chicken dish, still delicious but not as spendy.
Music: Your splurge would be hiring a band to perform for the entire event. There are many local bands for hire that offer a variety of sounds from your walk down the isle to dancing the night away. For your steal a DJ or even an I-Pod plugged into your favorite music can do the trick!
Flowers: To keep your costs down on flowers use one type of flower such as roses. Most roses are fairly inexpensive and come in so many colors, at about $1.00 a stem they can be used in so many ways! For your splurge go for the hard to find exotic flowers. Mix and match the exotics with common roses and such.
The cake: Your specialized baker can create this tiered cake for your wedding day. White cake with fondant and embellishments it is sure to be eye pleasing. For a steal wedding your clever relative can bake yummy cupcakes and use special filigree liners to dress them up. You can display them on a tiered serving tray to keep with the tiered theme.

Sorority Wedding by Michele

Sorority Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is a Sorority/Fraternity wedding. I choose a sorority wedding. Keying sorority on any research site brought up a variety of things but mostly the fact that sorority is a sacred sisterhood. A bond shared by a group of women that is not easily forgotten.First, the bacholorette party, from a movie I saw recently, all the girls wore silly argyle socks (I love that!) and met at a local pub. They shared fruity cocktials and cheered their bride to be.Your dress is white with fuscia pink accents. All eyes will be on you and you will be shining like the brightest star. Your bridemaids wear matching dressing in the same fuscia pink. You are all matching and fabulous!Monogramed Swarowski crystal charm bracelets and cuffs are your special gifts to your bridesmaids. You couldn't imagine this day with out them.Local microbrews and wines are served to your guests during the reception. The reception takes place in a large venue such as The Harbor Club of Bellevue. Located on the 25th floor it offers sweeping views of the city and beyond. Your cake is custom made with colors of your wedding, a work of art!Your flowers are a bouquet of frilly pinkness and all are the same except the brides is larger.Finally your pink diamond ring is the talk of the town. One of kind and everyone tells you how lucky you are! You know it and are just so happy that your sisters were there to share this day with you.

Techie Wedding by Michele

Today's theme is techie wedding. This has been a tough one for me. The first thing that comes to mind is Star Trek or Star Wars but that would be trekie? Right? So here's what I came up with...A theme of black and white. Techie? Technology? Always looking into the future?I picture a roof top wedding. Downtown of a big city with all the hussle and bussle still going on below. This seems like the perfect setting. The guests can take in all the city's romantic lights and sounds during the ceremony and reception.The bride arrives in total style in a perfect strapless white dress that is floor length and tied in the front. Her hair is pulled back in a tight bun. Her shoes are black with just enough heel that she doesn't trip. The groom is in a black tuxedo with bow tie and accesories to match.The brides bouquet is black and white. Not an overpowering bouquet but just enough that screams look at me but don't gauwk.The reception starts with a seated dinner. The tables are decorated with simple square vases and candles. The dinner is a choice of prime rib or chicken. The wedding cake is a spectacular white with black details.Last but not least this bride and groom would not be complete without their platium wedding bands. Platnium, the metal of the future?

Fairytale by Michele

Dream Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is fairytale but not Cinderella style. Well it didn't take me very long to create my ultimate fairytale wedding....
Splurge $104,700
Your closest family friends arrive at this exclusive resort in Bora Bora. Greeted by the friendly faces and a warm breeze you know this is going to be an incredible week, something you will never forget. The staff shows you to your bungalow. The six bungalows are built over the water with see through floors so you can gaze at the sea life below.Your wedding takes place on the beach. Your dress resembles something that only a goddess would wear. Only appropriate since you are definitely the goddess of the day!Your bouquet of flowers are colorful and vibrant and mimic the colors and smells that surround you and your guests.Your guests are seated facing the ocean in chairs draped with the most beautiful fabric accented with large bows in the colors of your wedding. You will be married under an arch covered with flowers and greenery.The resort caters to your every need. The cake is special, made to order. White cake with fruit and flowers from the islands. A treat indeed! The reception is catered by the resort as well with a menu of chicken and seafood, light salads and fruit. Fruity cocktails alcoholic and non-alcoholic treat the guests.

Steal $15,445
You can still create an ultimate get away on a budget. For my steal wedding you are whisked away to the fabulous Oregon coast! It is such a beautiful place with it's winding roads and little lost parks, after your wedding your honeymoon can be an adventure all on it own with awesome new discoveries.A simple dress by David's Bridal is short and just dressy enough. Your sparkly sandals add that special touch.Your cake looks expensive but is made by a local baker and is topped off with fresh calla lily flowers by Costco.Your simple bouquet is also made from calla lily flowers by Costco. They have phenomenal flowers for a very good price and any one of your relatives that is half creative can wrap fabric around the stems to create a beautiful bouquet.Your guests sit facing the ocean in simple white chairs decorated with shells. Your ceremony is simple and the ocean offers and fabulous back drop.

Christmas Wedding by Michele

Christmas Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is a Christmas Wedding. I think having a Christmas wedding is a wonderful idea. But you have to plan way in advance to make sure all your guests do not make alternate plans. The traditional red and green colors of the season might throw some off when designing a wedding. But if you love the season, why not? I LOVE red so I would jump right in and start with a red wedding dress. Yes, not at all traditional but I never did do what every one else was doing!!
First, the red wedding dress. I love it! I think the gathers in the dress resemble poinsettias flowers. Add the poinsettia earrings to totally keep you in the spirit. The groom is in a white tux with black accents to match.Where to have this special event? I think the perfect spot would be the skyline level at the Seattle space needle. At 100 feet in the air you and your guests can be treated to all the sparkle of the city. You can have both the ceremony and the reception in the same spot making traveling for your guests a little bit easier this time of year!Most public places and hotels do their own sprucing up for the holidays with lights and poinsettias so you wouldn't need to do a lot of extra stuff. I would focus on the tables and centerpieces. Your guests are seated at tables that sparkle with magic. The twisted branches are coated with silver and gold and are planted in faux diamonds and faux snow. Silver and gold chargers add an unexpected sparkle under the soft Christmas lights. Champagne and wine treat your guests. Hot cider and cocoa too!The cake is dressed up for the occasion too! A beautiful white tiered cake with poinsettias draped all over it! What could be more perfect?At last you and your groom are whisked away in a horse drawn carriage to honeymoon the night away!!

Eco Friendly by Michele

Wedding by Michele Simmons
Today's theme is eco-friendly. These days there are so many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Even without trying very hard you can make a difference on the earth! There are so many recycled papers and companies that use recycled paper to make invitations, dinner ware and more. Reuse and reduce!

Simple white Christmas lights strung between the majestic evergreen trees give the night an enchanted feel. Jars of different shapes hold candles and flowers and surround the perimeter. Your dress is simple, eloquent and yours. Short, so the forest floor does not collect on your dress. You can purchase your dress from such sites at OnceWed or Bravo Bride and after you can sell your dress on these same sites. The groom is simple too in a suit and tie.

Your cake can be a marvel in itself by added a few natural items such as a sprig of flowering buds, rose petals or baby pine cones. This wedding is not only eco-friendly but family oriented. The food is not purchased or catered but potluck style. Your Aunt's secret recipe meatballs are a hit! The tables are dressed in table clothes of different prints purchased from vintage and thrift stores and non matching chairs wait to seat your guests. In the background a soft guitar is playing. The night will be one to cherish forever!