a little bit for me, a little bit for you!
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PLANNING
Emily with Lola Floral is so incredibly talented. She is unique and elegant all at the same time. This event was put together for the Dinner d'Elegance tour which is an annual event with some of the finest examples of automotive art and design worldwide as the host of the new Pacific Northwest at the Le May Museum in Tacoma, Washington. The details in the centerpieces and emasculate, and don't even get me started on the working headlights hanging from the bar. Incredible work Emily!
Coordinate colors
Coordinate styles
Wear Layers
Accessorize
Accessorize
Things Not to Wear
Planning an event for family, and friends can be a daunting task for some. Here are a few tips from the pros that I have learned over the last year while working with some of the best here in Seattle. Now remember kids that these are guidelines. Leave the larger events to the pros, after all they have years of experience, knowhow, and superb organizational skills that have been honed over the years. Here are 5 event planning tips from top event planning companies here in Seattle, Washington.
Choosing the right location to hold the event is key! One hundred people won't fit in your back yard? How about a friend who has that beautiful acreage just outside of the city limits? Don't forget about how your guest will get to a venue, and what they will see when they are arriving, as this can set the ambiance for the event. When considering the venue itself, think about everything that you do at a party. Do you dance? do you stand or sit while you mingle? Do you use the restroom after a few libations? This is very important to think about if you are holding a backyard event. Do you really want all these people going into your home (or your friends) to use the facilities? don't forget clean-up. Make it easy for guest to dispose of plates, napkins, etc. with trash receptacles close by. This will make your life much easier after the event, especially once you have had one too many glasses of Chianti.
Ok, this is the easy part. Pick a fruit or herb that is in season, and build your own signature cocktail around this.
Basil + Burbon = Yum
Mint + Rum = Yum
Cherries + Vodka = Double Yum
Be creative, and test your creations out at home (twist my rubber arm). Once you get the formula down for the perfect cocktail.... make a large batch of the base you need, get your garnishes ready, and you will be able to pour these signature drinks in minutes for your guests.
This is one of the most important bullets to check off on your to do list. Create a mood at your event. You don't want it to be too dark, and there is no better way to kill the mood then to have an event too bright. Think about where the sun is going to be during the specific time of your event. Will the sun be beaming straight into the eyes of your guests? Do you need to add blinds, or sides on the tent you rented?
And if you don't know what up-lighting is, click the link here…uplighting. Learn my pretties, learn. Any space can be easily transformed and DJ's often offer lighting packages. Ask, you won't regret it, I promise.
Have and Entertainment Plan that goes along with the theme of your party. Whatever that theme may be - Casino night, flapper dresses, cigar boxes, or board games - have a plan and stick to it. I mean it..... type it up, print it out, and hand copies out to those who will be helping you out on the day of the event. This will make the day flow, and details that you swooned over while planning the event will not get pushed to the back burner because you are too busy cleaning up a spilled glass of red wine on your favorite, and very expensive Medallion Ushak Rug.
Goodie bags aren't just for kids, seriously! Adults love them too! Think about your theme, and create a special gift for every one of your guests to receive before they leave. This will also give you the opportunity to chat with all of you guests one-on-one before they head home.
As Photographers we get distracted (well, I know I do anyways), which is not always a bad thing when it comes to the creative process. Although, the other day I was organizing a styled shoot, and I was thinking about which powered strobe I was going to use, debated between a beauty dish, and 5 foot octabox, and don't even get me started on lens selection. I thought to myself, I need to go back to basics, I need to remember my roots, and KISS!!! Yes, kiss my husband, but also Keep It Simple Stupid! So, don't over complicate things, and try to getting back to basics with these 3 photography tips.
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid, don't over complicate your images. Make a plan for your day, and make a plan for your shots. Have a vision for what you want to accomplish, and don't over complicate the shoot. Try using simple repetitive patterns, leading lines, and keep the subject unmistakable. The Rule of Thirds can be as a guideline to creating visually gratifying images as well. The rule of thirds breaks your frame into 9 squares that are roughly the same size. Attempt to line up the subject of your image along these lines, or where the lines intersect. This rule gives simplicity to your images, and is more captivating then a subject being placed dead center of the frame. But, remember kids, rules are mean to be broken!
What? An image with less? Negative space, or the absence of clutter can be as powerful as the above, rule of thirds. Simply put, Negative Space is the space that surrounds an object in an image. This area often creates a simplification of the image, and creates greater focus on the subject. Negative Space can be very powerful, and should be uncluttered. This can often be achieved though different methods, such as compression - grab a 70-200mm and take advantage of the compression you can achieve with that $2500 paperweight. Shallow Depth of field - choose a low f stop 1.2, 1.8, 2.0, etc and use that bokeh to your benefit to declutter, and create beautiful Negative Space.
We often overcomplicate our light sources, flash, strobe, natural, overcast, direct sun, or not enough, this often creates boundless amounts of stress for photographers. Although, and easy way to alleviate this stress is practice in everyday situations. All you need are your eyes, and awareness of your surroundings. In everyday situations notice where the light sources is - lights, windows and the sun, and what is creating that source, and make note of the tone of light that is being producing. If you are out for a walk at high noon, look at how light is effecting faces, where are the shadows, highlights, and mid tones. If you were taking an image right then and there, where would you put yourself, and your subject to get the most flattering light. I often find myself in hotel rooms while brides are getting prepped for their big day. I make note of where light is the most flattering indoors in relation to windows. I often think of windows as large soft boxes, and if used properly you can reproduce the ever flattering Rembrandt Lighting, or silhouettes. Also, pay attention to how lighting acts at the edge of the window where it meets the curtains, and how the light is modified on your subject.
Weddings are a celebration of life, of love, and of two families becoming one. These celebrations are for the bride & groom, their families, friends, and relatives, and brides are increasingly thinking about 'how can I entertain my guest's at the reception'. There are many options out there, but one of the most popular, and in my option the best, are photo booths. I recently got to chat with a fellow business owner here in Seattle about why every bride should have a photo booth at their wedding. Nicolette with Photo Booths by Nicolette is an incredible resource for brides, and well, just fun! So, here goes the amazing 5 reasons that you SHOULD have a photo booth at your wedding!
Photo booths provide memorable entertainment for your guests. It’s the perfect break between dance songs, and a great activity for guests to do during a cocktail hour while you are finishing up your formal portraits. Friends and family of all ages will enjoy getting their pictures taken in a relaxed, fun-filled way!
Photo booth prints are the perfect personalized wedding favor. Your guests will keep their prints for years to come and remember how much fun they had at your wedding. You can personalize prints with your name, wedding date, a special message for your guests, plus colors, fonts and graphics to match your unique wedding theme.
You and your guests can close the curtain and let loose your inner child for images that would not regularly be captured in your formal wedding photography. Add props to add inspire creativity in your guests! You can also purchase a guest scrapbook to take home at the end of your reception that includes copies of the photo booth prints with handwritten messages from your guests. Online galleries provide free guest downloads and make it easy to share their images online via e-mail or social network sites. A disc of digital image files is also available for reprints and archival purposes.
Photo Booths by Nicolette are flexible to accommodate larger groups of guests with either a black curtain or open air setup. Our black curtain stand-up booth can comfortably fit 5-6 people per session. Choose an open air setup if you’d like to feature a great view of your venue in your images. Custom backdrops can also be ordered. Our booths feature a touchscreen interface so guests have control over when their pictures begin, and even whether their instant prints will come in color or black and white. Our booth features constant lighting so there is no distracting flash, and a live view screen so you can see exactly what your photo will look like. Guests take four pictures per session, and there is no limit to the number of sessions during your service period. A convenient countdown allows guests to get ready for their next pose and change up their props!
With monthly specials and photography packages available from Photo Booths By Nicolette, a photo booth for your reception is more affordable than you think. For a limited time, I am offering up to 3 hours of service with basic prints and a professional attendant for only $450.00! Contact Nicolette today for availability at (360) 463-9731 or photobooths@bynicolette.com!
By Nicolette Oliver, Photo Booths by Nicolette (http://photobooths.bynicolette.com)
I am a small business, yes, I am a Seattle area local, and brides who focus on having a local, sustainable, and green wedding are near and dear to my heart. 'Keeping it Local' with Your Wedding Registry is a really cool resource for brides, and is a wonderful new trend that is here to stay. Gina Grappone, Nearby Registry is my amazing guest star on the blog this week, and she has some really amazing points on keeping it local.
Buying local is a trend that’s here to stay. As more people learn about the benefits local shopping brings to the economy, the more we turn to these shops and services to meet our retail and service needs. Couples planning weddings are great supporters of these independent businesses. They hire local photographers, caterers, DJ, and other professionals from their own cities and towns. But there’s an additional way to get your local fix while planning your wedding—through your gift registry.
Newlyweds Chelsea and Yoon express what many couples feel when creating their wedding registries:
The thought of getting gifts meant to help you launch your life together as a couple is exciting, but then you find yourself roaming the aisles of a big box store using one of those scanner devices to tag a set of crème brulée ramekins you never before imagined using.
Chelsea and Yoon created their registry on Nearby Registry, www.nearbyregistry.com, a free gift registry service that includes only independent businesses: “It was so nice to have a place where we could list items that we really wanted from stores we knew and loved, on one personalized registry page.”
Building your gift registry with items from independent retailers, services and non-profits is good for the local economy, and it’s great for you! Instead of those ramekins, you can pick out products and experiences that are meaningful, useful and unique. Here are five great ideas for your personalized local registry:
1. Exercise classes for couples (yoga, taekwando, kickboxing, etc.)
2. Annual museum pass for two
3. Cookware and cooking classes from a local kitchen shop
4. Organic produce delivery
5. Donations to your favorite local charities
Sound fun? With a local registry, the sky’s the limit. Just think about what you love and what matters to you! Take it from Sarah and Ryan, who are using a local registry for their upcoming wedding: "It's so much more about who we are than just a set of plates from a big box store. This is about what we do and what we value."
For information about creating your own local registry, contact Gina at (206) 450-2766 or happytohelp@nearbyregistry.com
