Weddings in Woodinville 2018

Four years ago I attended Weddings in Woodinville as a future Bride-to-be. I decided that I would also ask my friends to be my bridesmaids on this day as well. They all came over to my apartment before had and then I (of course) made them special cookie boxes and a custom card asking them "to be my..." it was an exciting moment.

 We lucked out on weather that year too as you can see, it was sunny and surprisingly warm for January in Seattle... The following year I got to go back again but this time as a bridesmaid for my friend who is to my right and kind of squinting in this photo haha...oh Jayme...gotta love my squad!

#Squad

So first as a bride, then a bridesmaid and then this year as a VENDOR! I was so excited to be about of this wedding show because 1) it is a big deal 2) it is exclusive and 3) it is really classy and well done. 

My awesome team was initially going to be staged at Redhook...however they closed up shop so *panic* mode for our team, but luckily they still had a spot for us at The Hollywood School House which is a gorgeous venue. 

My Weddings in Woodinville Team

Hollywood School House - Julia Kinnunen Photography

As I mentioned, I got to work with some really great vendors so let's talk about those fabulous people. All of these people were so great to work with. Lauren did a knock out job of our theme which was crazy and a little out of this world...Intergalactic Planetary...yup like the Beastie Boys song. And believe me, it got stuck in my head every time I said it...and it's happening now. Our colors were really dark and moody which I thought were gorgeous for a fall or winter wedding, we had a mixture of navy blue, deep purple and reds with mixed metallic gold and silver. 

Design/Coordination: Lauren from Flying Anchor Event Design 

Floral: Amarie Flora 

Make Up/Hair: Arianna Scott

Videographer: Best Made Videos

Photography: Julia Kinnunen Photography

Beverages: Breakside Brewery 

DJ/Music: Magnolia Rhapsody DJ 

Transportation: Butler Valet

Event Rentals: Pedersen's Events

Invitations/Paper Goods: Emily Rose Ink

Photobooth: Fun Frames Photobooth

Accomodations: Hilton Garden Inn Seattle/Bothell

When I first met with Lauren for coffee this past fall, she told me about her vision and her inspiration boards on Pinterest. Her main goal was to separate her theme from just "stars" or "under the stars" which been kind of over played in the wedding industry. I admit it took me a while to get my head around the theme, it wasn't quite under the stars and not kids birthday space planet...so what is it then?

Hollywood School House Transformed 

When I arrived in the morning to start setting up my dessert station the above picture is what I saw and I was completely blown away! Lauren and our team completed transformed the Hollywood School House to an out of this world planet. The up lighting and floral hanging center piece was a total show stopper. 

Ceremony Space

I absolutely loved the non-tradition circular set up for the ceremony. The clear chairs added to the glow and almost very space like. Amarie Flora KILLED it with that hanging flower center piece. It looks like it grew on a different planet. 

Shout out to our beautiful models for this event!

The Head Table 

I loved the back drop for the head table and the lighting on it was just perfect. OH! And I have to mention the awesome job our DJs did. They literally had me dancing all 10 hours I was there. At one point in the morning as we were setting up, my assistant and I were slicing cake and I hear a rap song come on and I was listening to the rapper, as I was not familiar with the song and I was like..."is that Chingy?" Yup...it was Chingy at like 11am...haha 

Head Table Close Up

Thanks again to the talented and amazing individuals at Pedersen's Event Rental who supplied all this crazy cool stuff for our theme. They really knocked it out of the park!

Place cards by Emily Rose Ink 

Emily Rose Ink did an awesome job with the paper goods for the event. She was even nice enough to make some for my dessert table which looked so awesome next to all the desserts. 

Dessert Table by Seatown Sweets

Lauren and I had a lot of discussion about what the cake should be and look like. I had a really cool idea for a Galaxy cake using mirror glazing technique. I even took a class about it to learn how to do it but decided to keep it more simple and "traditional" Plus I didn't know if I would have enough room on the table to display everything.

Purple Ombre Galaxy Cake

Lauren showed me this really cool ombre cake from Pinterest that went perfect for our theme. The finishing touch was the little Astronauts, people freaked out about them! And they are just so adorable, that and the star burst was all Lauren.

Galactic Dessert Table

The best part of the display was this cool mirror in the background. Again, Lauren had the brilliant idea to have some vinyl quotes and decals printed up to put on the mirrors. The quote above the cake was " You're not just a star to me, you're my whole damn sky." I like to think of it as modern romantic - lol. 

Little ombre star cookies

After Lauren and I met, and I signed the contract commiting to the event, I was trying to come up with my cake flavors to feature. One of my favorite things is trying in fun names to desserts like cake or cupcake flavors. So one night I am researching some fun cake ideas and I see this one cake called "Black Nebula" and it was for an Oreo chocolate cake and I thought - "That is so cool! What else can I come up with?" 

Cake Samples by Seatown Sweets

Now, I don' know how much you know about Astronomy, but I took Astro101 in college online and I didn't really retain a whole lot in terms of "astro terms" BUT thank gawd for Google. After finding a astronomy dictionary sight I scrolled through the list and jotted down terms that I thought could be good parallels for cake flavors.

Place Cards by Emily Rose Ink

 The terms that stuck out the most were: Big Bang, Red Giant, Black Nebula, Meteor Shower, Lunar/Solar Eclipse, and other fun words like Cosmic and Galatic. Instantly when I saw Red Giant I knew I had to use that one for Red Velvet cake, it was just too perfect. I took it one step farther too and made the cake GF for all my GF friends out there - and let me tell you....people went NUTS for it. I was surprised that of all the flavors, that one was by far the most popular. In fact, I had so many people comment "this is gluten free?!" that I had a slight panic attack that maybe I accidentally DIDN'T make it GF like I thought. So I tried a sample and was relieved...yup my friends Gluten Free. *phew*

Place Cards by Emily Rose Ink

The other cake names were Meteor Shower for classic vanilla cake, might be a little bit of a stretch but meteors always burn bright white so that's the parallel I am drawing with that one. One of my all time favorite cake flavors I make is s'mores which is a graham cracker cake, chocolate buttercream and from scratch marshmallow fluff - that mess concoction was Big Bang...because well you probably get the idea! 

Do you see those little dinosaur guys? Lauren spray painted those guys gold...how funny is that. All the guys loved the quirky little touch. I think it must have spoken to their inner child, my husband loved dinosaurs as a kid. 

Galaxy Ombre Cake

I love the little tiny silver stars on the cake. Each on of those were individually applied on with a toothpick. Now this cake I have to say is not real. As much as I would have liked it to be, it is just made out of Styrofoam.

Me and the dessert table 

Here is a better view of the overall dessert table. We were in a corner which was a little tricky to mingle and talk with people, sometimes it bottle necked a little bit as people came over to grab samples. The show was sold out at 750 people! Which is incredible, I saw some couples would I knew and some other friends who were just tagging a long. I wish I could have made it to the other venues to see all the beautiful and creative ideas.

Purple Swirl Cupcakes

Weddings in Woodinville is definitely one of the best wedding shows in Washington. The people coming through are really awesome, and I feel like there were way more grooms at the show with the brides to be too than I remember when I was attending. Hopefully, I will be able to participate in years too come!

Be sure to check out the Weddings in Woodinville event page for more information about the event, our vendors and all of the vendors who participated in this year's show.

The Big Fake Wedding

The Big Fake WHA?!!?!? 

Yep you heard correctly! The Big Fake Wedding is an amazing new kind of "wedding show." They actually put on a wedding ceremony with a real couple - who is renewing their vows - and all the fun that goes along with a wedding. And this year, your's truly got to be apart of it.

The BFW, as it abbreviated, took place this year at Within SODO in Seattle Washington. The best part about this kind of wedding show is that it really gives you a feel for what a wedding may actually be like, I know it sounds crazy but some engaged couples have actually NEVER been to a wedding before. Believe me, I know a couple. This show really helps paint the picture for them of what a wedding is all about.

The show took place on a gloomy and rainy day in Seattle...typical...and as guests were arriving it was absolutely POURING down rain...lovely. But that didn't stop the awesome event turn out with several hundred in attendance.

The Color Palette and Inspiration

Cyanotype...yeah I have never heard the term either but I was a big fan of the colors. I used navy as the main color in my own wedding. There is just something timeless and classic about navy. The day certainly fit the overall mood for the event as well. Vendors featured dark and moody hues in navy, deep sea blues, gold and cream colors.

The Color Palette

About the Vendors

First off, the wedding vendors there are a select few, so this is not like the big wedding shows in Seattle, Everett or Tacoma. And while those shows are great for gathering information, they are extremely impersonal and over whelming. I would know, I went to several as a bridesmaid and then again as a bride.
Here is a list of the awesome vendors in attendance this year with links to my favorite vendors, not that the other's aren't good, I just like working with these awesome and talented vendors:

• Bartending: Party on the Rocks
• Dresses: Romashka Bridal
• Ceremony Music: Sophie D Harp
• Catering: Suite J
• Chair Rentals: Noble Rentals
• Clean Up Crew: Pacheco's Weddings & Events
• Day of Coordinating: Event Envy 
• Dessert Bar: Seatown Sweets (That's Me!!) 
• DJ: Orion Entertainment
• Event Rentals: Alexander Party Rentals
• Event Design: Willow & Ivy Events
• Floor Design: Petal+Vine, Forever Events Wedding, Jessica Vann-Campbell Flowers, Grace & Blooms
• Hair & Make Up: Beauty in a Box
• Invitations: Sablewood Paper Company (Modern Heirloom), Libby Tipton (Hand Drawn Florals), Southern Charm Wedding (Abstract Watercolor), RJ Calligraphy (Handmade Paper & Table Runner)
• Live Painting: Sam Day (See picture below)
• Photography: Breanna Marie Photography, Adina Preston Weddings, Stolen Glimpses
• Tux Rental: Top Tier Tux
• Venue: WithinSodo
• Vintage Rentals: Northwest Vintage Rentals
• Other Dessert Vendors: Eastside Specialty Cakes, Hey Sweets, Mousse Boutique

All the Pretty Details

The Head Table - Absolutely Stunning

Ok now the moment you have been waiting for now that you know who all was there...let's talk about the goods...and believe me they are absolutely to die for!

The evening started off with guests arriving just like you would at a normal wedding. A real ceremony was put on, we are talking dresses, tuxedos, bridal party and all! After the couple recessed, guests were allowed full access to the venue and the reception began! I was in the back so I did't get to see the actual ceremony take place. But the "real couple" renewed their vows for all to see. Talk about a room full of wedding crashers!

Below are a couple of collage boards I put together of some of my favorite pictures captured by our talent photographers, keep scrolling for lots of pictures though. (Yes I made them and I am totally giving myself a pat on the back! HA!)

The Big Fake Wedding - Moody and Romantic Decor

WithinSodo, if you haven't been, has a very industrial and modern vibe, you have probably driven past it on 1st Avenue S in Seattle and never even knew it was there. The "main entrance" is actually located in the back off the main street. I was near the back entrance to the venue which is actually off 1st avenue, and many of the guests came through that way which there seemed to be some confusion on. I was ok with it because everyone got to walk past me and see my desserts! 

The Big Fake Wedding Seattle 2017 - Dark, Moody and Romantic Wedding Details

After the ceremony, all the guests were able to walk through the "Tunnel of Love" this is where all the amazing vendors featured their table and were able to interact with the guests. Again I was on the outside of the tunnel of love, which was probably a good thing because that room got LOUD and hot! 

The Big Fake Wedding - "The Tunnel of Love" WithinSodo, Seattle

The bartenders were serving non-alcoholic blue punch drinks which were delicious! The caterers were passing around food as well as a buffet table. And of course there were lots of desserts to choose from as well. Including myself there was also a pie specialist, lava cakes and custom marshmallows, beautiful and classy mousse cakes, which are more of an eastern European desserts, something that is newer here, as well as a cake/cupcake vendor. 

The Big Fake Wedding - Moody Blues, Romantic Pink and Green Hues, Vintage Furniture Accents

You may have been noticing all the beautiful vintage rentals in the pictures...and how can you not, they are simply stunning with the bride and groom. In the picture above you will also see handmade wedding marble wedding invitations! Now, I consider myself a something of a "DIY-er" but that I think I will leave to the professionals. 

Dessert Time! - Let Them Eat Cake

My Dessert Table Sans Flowers

Now, since this was my first time at this event, I admit I really didn't know what to expect. All the vendors definitely brought their A-game and for me...well I was a little bit more focused on the desserts than the decor on the table, which is something that I am learning to get better at for sure!

For my table I featured a square marble cake with blue hues and gold sprinkle covered top layer for texture. I received a lot of complements on the cake especially regarding the texture - nailed that one! Was it real? - No...I mean what am I going to do with that big of a cake?!

Also on the table I staged some custom cookies with monograms as well as my favorite - bling rings with "I do" in them. And because a dessert table needs a little POP, I added a plate of decorated large cupcakes. At the end I gave away these cupcakes as people were leaving. SEE! What did I tell you? It paid to be by the door.

Monogram Wedding Cookies

It was so funny as people were leaving and I was starting to clean up, I would ask if they wanted to take anything home with them and they replied..."oh no I am so full.." to which I said, "I have to go bags..." "REALLY?!"

Haha everyone loves a good little doggy bag. And -added bonus- some of the attending brides didn't drag their fiances to the event so it was a nice way for them to have some samples as well, one bride commented, and I couldn't agree more!

Ok but I am getting ahead of myself, back to the dessert table details. For my samples, I let people try my signature sugar cookies, vanilla and chocolate cake pops as well. I couldn't get over how many people commented on how they liked the dessert table idea verses just doing straight cake. AMEN SISTA'! I am all about the dessert tables. I feel like cake is just mostly wasted and so many people have had bad wedding cake over the years that people are totally turned off by it.

Well NEWSFLASH there is actually good wedding cake out there, you just have to know where to find it (ahem...moi).

Cake Pops and 3D Flower Cookies

So remember above how I said that I am working on the decor aspect to my dessert tables...

After I finished setting out my desserts, I walked into the tunnel of love since I had some time before the show started to mingle with others. I had about a 6 foot table, and the vendors in the tunnel only had a cocktail table which were all beautifully displayed and packed to the brim with cool stuff....OH CRAP...I thought to myself...I didn't bring anything like that?!

Two Texture Square Cake

I was hoping that some of the florists would be around to help spruce up my table with some extra stems, but mostly everyone had been there earlier in the day to set up and I missed them. They would be coming back before the show of course... so I had to wait.


Luckily my friends at Petal+Vine designs SAVED THE DAY - and I mean no joke! They had some extra greenery in the car which they gladly shared with me...HALLELUJAH!

Big Fake Wedding - Dessert Table

Now the next problem was finding the photographers again to come back and re-shoot the table, I was able to snag one as she was passing by, so I made due...but I certainly learned my lesson.

The whole event went really well. I met a lot of wonderful brides and grooms and I hope they will be reaching out to me soon for their weddings! *fingers crossed*

3D Buttercream Flower Cookies

But not only that, I made some great connections with other local, wedding industry professionals, who are a lot of fun to work with. I think wedding industry individuals are some of the most creative, dedicate and hard working people around. Weddings just keep getting better and better and it is thanks to these people who help drive the industry - and I truly believe that.

I am looking forward to sharing more fun events that I am involved with and there are some good ones coming up! So be sure to come back and check them out when I post!

What are others saying?

Want to see and hear more about the event? Check out these awesome articles for wedding industry professionals at the event! 

Check out the event on Ruffled and The Big Fake Wedding Blog and Seattle Bride Magazine. 

Also see the live video from the event made by Ashley L Productions.

We want to hear from you!

If you were at the Big Fake Wedding please share some of your favorite highlights of the show? What do you want to see more of? What are some things that really stood out? Did you get any ideas and inspiration for your own wedding!! Tell us!!!