I could literally write a novel on this very topic. However no one would read that so I’m keeping it short and sweet. These just scratch the surface but I chose some helpful!

1.  We search for the YOUR IDEAL VENDORS from our own personal lists. Planners have worked with dozens and dozens of vendors from various categories. They often have something called a ‘Preferred Vendor List’ that is only available to their booked clients. This is a list of vendors that they enjoyed working with and trust. From there, they’ll look into the vendors that fit your needs and even reach out to them on your behalf (depending on the planning package).

2. Some venues and certain vendors will ONLY work with you if you have a planner. This is because 1. they’ll know that someone is keeping track of all the details and 2. they know there is one person they can go to for questions.

3. We read your contracts. This is included in every single one of my packages because I think it’s so important. After reading it, I give my clients (who have also read it) any particular items that stand out to me or they need to know. It is extremely helpful to have someone, who works in the wedding/event industry, read through contracts and understand specific language.

4. We all get SO MANY EMAILS these days and the important ones are becoming easier and easier to miss. Imagine the detail conversations going on back and forth over email. Multiply that by your 8-12 vendors and you basically have a full inbox right there! Not to mention these conversations are running throughout the year and especially the months/weeks leading up to your wedding. How does NOT having that sound? Having a planner takes those emails right out of your inbox and only sends the essentials.

5. We keep track of the details in ONE place. I use a platform called Aisleplanner which keeps all of the vendor contact information, moodboards and inspo pictures, wedding checklists, budget tracker, a place to house contracts and other documents, your ceremony and reception layouts, guests names, table assignments and food preferences…it’s amazing. NO need to buy a physical planner or wedding binder.

   Hope this helps!

   xoxo, eva

I created this guide because I have seen so many couples struggle with where to even start so I created this guide so you can start building the cornerstone to your day!

Yes. yes. A thousand times yes.

Does this sound like you? You’ve curated the perfect playlist on your spotify account. Your best friend was the resident DJ in college (meaning they pushed next song at the appropriate time) and has excellent people skills. You are looking to cut costs where you can.

When considering a wedding DJ, a friend is likely not the best option. At first, it sounds like a good way to save money or add a personal touch. And if you’ve been around here long enough…you know I’m all about those unique touches. However, it's crucial to remember that this role requires specific skills and experience.

A professional DJ brings serious expertise that is very hard to recreate. They have the music library suited to a variety of listeners, they mix the music, read the crowd and keep guests engaged. Unexpected situations can arise during a wedding such as specific equipment needs and minor emergency situations. These likely won’t be something that a friend may be able to handle…not to mention feeling torn between their DJ duties and celebrating the occasion.

Here is the hard truth. Cutting the DJ won’t just cut financial costs. It will cost you smooth transitions, it will cost you the time to do the extra work yourself and it will cost you the peace of mind that a professional is taking care of business. If I haven’t convinced you yet, here is a breakdown of what they can do during your day. Keep in mind, this is ONLY the work that I see with my own eyes. Hours of pre-planning goes into this before the day even arrives.

• A couple hours of equipment setup for the ceremony

• Going over the timeline with the planner

• Ensuring the ceremony runs smoothly and all transitions are seamless

• Potentially breaking down the ceremony setup

• Potentially a second set up for the reception

• Double check timeline with planner

• Ensuring the reception has mingling music, correct volume, making sure desired songs are played, making announcements at the correct time, making spontaneous announcements as needed, directing the crowd in a succinct way.

• Making sure the first dance and any parent dances are focused on by guests.

• Starting the dance party, creating an all ages dance floor if desired, following the clients requested vibe and song list, taking song requests if previously discussed, announcing last call, announcing the final dance at the appropriate time, etc.

• Breakdown of equipment (have you seen the size of the speakers alone?!)

As a planner, I work with the DJ to make appropriate announcements at the right time which is absolutely key. I would say that they, along with the caterer, are who I work with the closest on event day. I can happily make announcements for the evening but I am already telling you that having a dedicated emcee to manage the flow is the way to go. So much hinges on this coordination effort! I can promise you…they are worth their weight in gold.

If you are considering cutting a DJ out of your budget, think to yourself “but what is the real cost here?”

xoxo,

- Eva

Photos: Jonas Seaman

DJ: DJ B Two Times

Michelle and Nick | August 2023 | Ballard, WA

Traditional in series of events, unique in all selections. The magic of this day cannot be replicated into words…though here I go. Take a stunning venue with a classic Seattle view (smoke be damned), incredible food, extremely intentional wine selections and curated bites, small yet meaningful details, add in some live music and you have a true party. 

Upon guest arrival, they were greeted by rose bubbles for a cocktail hour right on the water. Guests snapped a photo for the guestbook and enjoyed a 5 piece jazz band, a game of cornhole and seeing old friends as many guests traveled far for the occasion.

If you’ve been to more than one wedding, you know that the food can be hit or miss. Kaspars Catering knocked it out of the park and they were absolute gems to work with. They are so food focused and make sure to hit every mark so everything tastes delicious. 

The ceremony was on a snug, asymmetrical piece of grass and the chairs were squeezed as tight as we could get them. It was not your average setup but it was more important to the couple that the guests get cozy and experience the space well. We love that here! To top it all off…the officiants were the bride and grooms combined brothers and it really brought a specialness to it all. 

Can we talk about the drinks for a quick sec. Michelle and Nick are both in the wine industry so naturally this was an important element to get right…dare I say perfect. They hand chose the wine for EACH table. This meant that they took each and every person into consideration when choosing their wine.

As dinner was winding down…it’s almost like the second half of the evening was about to begin. The DJ created an epic dance floor that was second to none. Meanwhile, Karaoke was setting up. The party was almost like a wave going from one room to another and eventually leaving the dance floor for the Karaoke room. It was cohesively chaotic in the best way. To top it all off (and I hope you aren’t hungry) Dick’s burgers and fries were brought in for a late night snack.

I’ll be honest here…there were some very specific desires and I was not completely sure how it would play out. You can plan until the ends of the earth but you never really know what will arise until the day arrives. In the end, the guest experience was really kept in mind for this day. Every extra meeting, phone call, email and text were worth it in the end. 

Venue | Sunset Bay Lodge

Planner | Gather and Cheer

Photography | Jonas Seaman Photography

Catering | Kaspars Catering

Bar | Sunset Bay + Kaspars Catering

Cake | The Sweetside

Floral | (Personals): Moonflower Design Co.

Floral | (Table centerpieces): Pike Place

HMUA | Bridal Beauty Agency

Officiant | Brothers

Stationary | Minted.com

Rentals | CORT

Late Night Snack | Dicks Drive-In

Music | Brass Band

Where do I even begin? This wedding was the ideal mix of natural elements and an urban city. Let’s start at the beginning. All of the ‘getting ready’ fun was had at the Edgewater Hotel which is an excellent place to really feel like you are in Seattle. It should be noted that all of the photos you see here were capture by the incredible Nicole Gagne who was an absolute gem to work with.

This is the goal.

This has always been the goal. I strive to ‘bring the gather’. Look at the smiling faces that we know are laughing at a good joke (that we kind of wish we were in on). Unprompted, just a bunch of besties supporting their bestie.

The ceremony was at Martha Washington Park in the Seward Park neighborhood. It’s open to the public and has very low traffic which makes it the perfect spot. It was a classic August day with not a cloud in the sky. Once we completely set up the ceremony, it was almost as if someone had snapped their fingers and a wedding was dropped in the middle of a field. That is how we like it. No signs that this was ‘a hell of a lot of work’ to make happen. But in the BEST way. Bond in Bloom was incredible with the flowers and it ticked the bride's dreams of having ‘tons of color’. The live music absolutely set the mood and it was the perfect fit for the setting.

The reception was hosted at Westland Distillery in SODO. It is very unique and the entire night felt like it aligned with the distillery’s branding, ‘Thoughtfully Made’. Many of the guests were from the East Coast so the couple wanted to showcase Seattle as best they could. I would say they hit the mark on all levels. One unique addition was that their guests were able to do whiskey tastings…hello guest experience! 

Herban Feast brought their A game. I have the unique opportunity of going back and forth between the reception and kitchen. I do my best to stay out of the way unless needed…but it feels like such a gift to watch them mindfully plate each dish with care. 

Thoughtful with every decision. Intentional with every choice. Even their dog was on the cocktail napkins!!

Wunderland Events personally crafted a KILLER dance floor. They are wizards on the mic and getting everyone into the party. When a grandparent gets on the dance floor…the party speaks for itself. 

Ceremony Venue | Martha Washington Park

Reception Venue | Westland Distillery

Planning & Coordination | Gather and Cheer

Photography | Nicole Gagne Photo

Videography | Peak Productions

Catering and Bar | Herban Feast

Floral Design | Bond in Bloom

HMUA | Michelle Wight

Rentals | Stellar Rentals and CORT

Stationary | Honest Calligraphy

Ceremony Music | Puget Sound Strings

DJ | Wunderland Events

Vashon Island | Summer 2023

Magical, whimsical and thoughtful is how I would describe this day. Island weddings are truly out of the ordinary, every one is different and each has it’s own special touches. They frequently take place in private residences which add a certain element that is very hard to describe.

This couple had a relatively loose idea of what they were hoping for. However, they hired vendors that they were confident in and gave them creative freedom to execute the wedding they’d always hoped for. In this wedding planner's opinion…this is the key to a great event. Hiring vendors that you really vibe with, you know will accomplish the task well and give them the tools to get the job done. 

From the moment I walked the property…I knew it was going to be a great day. As guests walked down the long driveway from the shuttle, they rounded the corner to the front yard and were immediately greeted by a beautiful view of puget sound, the world’s most adorable bar and friends ready to party.

Lita wore a gorgeous flower crown with a matching bouquet full of dahlias, the tables were full of dahlias and the ceremony flowers also (you guessed it) had dahlias. This is an important detail because we found out later that Lita LOVES dahlias but never mentioned it to anyone. This is one of those beautiful things that just happens. Page through the images below and see for yourself!

The food was a big focus of this day (call me obsessed). Everything that needed to be cooked in an oven was done so Chef Matt’s own ‘brick oven truck’. It's exactly what it sounds like and it was absolutely incredible. The food was mouth-watering and perhaps the best wedding food I’ve ever had. 

The bar was the sweetest arrangement of everything you could need but nothing more. The ice buckets were repurposed gold flower pots and the patio umbrella was used to shade us from the blazing sun. Every detail down to the chalkboard sign was so adorable. 

All of this came down to Lita and Ryan’s willingness and trust in their vendors to work as a team and I can’t make mention of this detail enough. Hire a great team who is willing to work together to create something beautiful and meaningful. 

Vendors:

Venue: Old Chaser Farm Bluffhouse

HMUA: Kayla Collection

Floral: Brita Fisher

Officiant: Pattie Hanmer

Catering + Bar: Matt Dillon

Cake: Vashon Island Baking Co.

DJ: Ralph Reign

Photographer: Sung Park Photography

Transportation: Beeline Shuttle

Rentals: CORT Party Rentals