Essence of Events, LLC

Let’s talk about something that’s gotten a pretty bad wrap, and no, I’m not talking about your uncle’s literal wrapping of your last present (although that was pretty bad, masking tape and newspaper, anyone?). No, I’m talking about the dreaded bridesmaid dress. Shudder. Anyone who has been asked to participate in a wedding may, right now, be experiencing dreaded flash backs, and cold sweats.

But fear not! Because the rein of terrible, ill-fitting cocktail dresses has ended! You can now come out from your hiding places, because designers and brides alike have come to their senses and have decided to stop putting bridal attendees through a 27 Dresses-like conundrum of wedding day panic.

Options for bridesmaid’s dresses have greatly improved over the years, and it’s recently become trendier to have miss-matching gowns all together. Brides are ditching the one-style-fits-all approach for a more flattering, and casual feel for their day.

Here are a few new styles that I’m loving this season:

Print dresses are definitely more bohemian, but this look is something you wouldn’t even need to “shorten so you can wear it again.”

Some of these dresses are vintage, while others are new. However the bridal party kept the color the same, and tied the look together with matching satin ribbons and grey tights.

Again, matching the tone to be similar, but changing the dress styles keeps the look for the bridal party fresh, young, and romantic.

Of course having matching dresses will always be on-trend, especially if you are having a formal wedding. Just be sure if you are the bride or helping choose bridesmaid dresses, that the style and color is flattering to all the members in the bridal party. Another important tip is to make sure to have the dresses properly tailored. Sometimes people spend more money on proper alterations then the actual garment itself.

If you have any questions about style, trends, or tips for your wedding, please contact one of our Wedding Planners. We are happy to help you with all aspects of your wedding planning. To schedule your free, initial consultation, please contact us at contact@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

Dancing at your wedding can be nerve wrecking, especially the first dance. It can feel like all eyes are on you, which in fact, they probably are. Unless both you and your husband are professional dancers and you know what you are doing out there on the dance floor, chances are you’re probably making it up as you go along.

That is why I highly recommend taking at least one dance lesson before the big day. Your first dance doesn’t have to be a choreographed, So You Think You Can Dance full-scale Broadway-style extravaganza, but knowing a basic waltz or two-step certainly wouldn’t hurt.

One of the best studios to work with is Arthur Murray International Dance Studios. The instructors are wonderful and work with beginners all the way to professionals. They are able to help choreograph your wedding dance, or just give you a few dancing lessons and tips.

Essence of Events works with Arthur Murray in Tacoma, but there are over 260 studios in 21 countries, so there is bound to be a location near you. To find yours, and to learn more, visit: http://arthurmurray.com/

If going to a studio isn’t exactly your thing, at least practicing to your song at home is a must. Knowing that you are both on the same page is important.

While you’re at your dress fitting, make sure you take a spin around the shop and you’re comfortable in the dress. You should make sure that your gown isn’t going to go anywhere and you can dance the night away, after all that’s what your wedding should be about; a celebration!

For more wedding tips, on dancing, music, and general coordination, please contact us for a free initial consultation at info@essenceofvents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

You’ve hired a photographer, but all she keeps doing is taking photos of you as a couple. And worse yet, they are all staged. When you think of your wedding album, the visions that flash through your head are in-the-moment, showing you and your guests having the time of your lives, and spontaneity. Instead this photographer is exactly the opposite of what you wanted.

You look around and your guests are having the time of their lives, capturing the moments on their iPhones. You’d love to have those photos, but there is no way you can contact some 200 people after the wedding and beg them to give you the photos. But how are you going to get the shots that show your guest living up the night?

Wedding Party is a free app that your guests can download onto their phones, and then it’ll store all of the photos they take that evening into one place, so you can access them. Your professional photographer can capture the glamor shots, while your guests get the subtle, fun, and candid moments that might be missed. Plus it’s so easy that even the flower girl can use it.

Another thing I love about this app (available for iPhone, beta for Android) is that it uploads the photos onto your personalized website in real-time, so if you have guests that are unable to make it, they can still see what’s going on.

Instagram and Twitter are also great alternatives for people who are signed up with accounts with those services. When you want to see your photos the very next day, without having to wait weeks to see the results of your professional wedding photos, this is a wonderful alternative.

Instagram is a fast and easy way to get multiple perspectives on your big day. Again, for guests who are unable to make the long-distance ceremony, this will give them a sneak peek into the happenings of your wedding.

So here are the steps you’re going to want to take:

Create a hashtag for your wedding so that all your photos will get stored in one place. When someone takes a photo of your day then they need to tag the photo with the hashtag. For example #EssenceofEventsWedding. Make sure the hashtag hasn’t been used before!

If you are less inclined to pick a hashtag for your wedding day, another option is to create a profile that people can follow and also tag photos to. If you already have an Instagram profile, simply log out and create a new account with a title related to your wedding day. This way you will always have a spot you can go to that is solely reserved for this event.

Make sure to provide some sort of handout or bulletin to introduce your guests to these ideas which explain the concept and also notes the selected hashtag and/or profile.

To learn more about different ways to capture the Essence of your Event, make sure to contact us. To set up your free, one hour initial consultation, email us at info@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

We’ve all been to those weddings before with the favors that make you think “thoughtful, but what on earth am I going to do with this tomorrow?!” You know the ones I’m talking about. The couple, who give you things like, say, a framed photo of them. It’s beautiful, but unless you are their sister or close family member, why would you want to have a picture of someone kissing on a beach?

But now you’re about to get married and you need to choose some really amazing favors, so that when your guests leave your reception, they have something to look back on and remember what a fantastic time they had at your wedding.

Besides, no one should feel twinges of guilt the next month when they decide to throw out a useless favor. So make it indispensable, as opposed to just putting more trash out there into the world. And choose something so people can look back, and smile about your big day.

Essence of Events have compiled a list of 20 of the top gifts your guests would actually want to receive from you, and no, they aren’t going to blow the bank, or your budget, for that matter! A lot of them you can DIY yourself, and if you’re not that kind of bride, there are plenty of people out there willing to do it for you, like friends and family.

A s’mores kit if you have a bonfire, or just because they’re so yummy. And a jar of jam passes TSA regulations, which is perfect for out of town guests.

We can all use extra water bottles. Buy them at the dollar store and put the appliques on yourself.

Sunglasses for a summer wedding. Coffee beans, because, well, we do live in Seattle after all.

Succulents double as favors and place settings.

Journals or sketch pads. See if you can have your guests draw a picture or write a poem or note about your day for you to keep.

Local honey in cute containers, and cookie cutters.

Bottle openers are always fun, you can ones like these that have a vintage look, or ones that have a local feel if you get one in the shape of the Space Needle or other native icons.

Candles made from thrifted tea cups.

A cookie or candy buffet with takeaway containers.

Luggage tags (check out the hilarious inscriptions on these ones!) and tiny pies in a jar.

Charity donations made in your guests’ name, and pretty smelling soap.

Seed paper; its paper that you can plant! Just make sure if your wedding takes place in the park that there aren’t rules about handling seeds.

Tea diffusers.

Alcohol is always popular.

Candy in mugs.

For more favor ideas, plus help organizing and planning your wedding, make sure to contact Essence of Events to set up your free, one hour initial consultation. Our planners are happy to talk about all of your wedding and event related questions. Call 253.292.1482 or email info@essenceofevents.com

Written by Samantha Macrae