Orcas Island Wedding Style

The Seattle Wedding Show

This last weekend was the 2012 Seattle Wedding Show. It is our second year doing it. It was intense, fun, demanding and very hard on the feet.  Fruitful? Well, we'll see.

I want to give a big shout out to Rosario Resort and Spa for including us in their booth. There is no doubt from the looks on so many faces as they passed by the booth and read the banner, the name Rosario holds powerful memories. Memories of romance,  childhood,  a first kiss, family time, whales and eagles, all that Orcas Island has to offer.  It was lovely to be associated with such a positive force.

Sarah McCulloch also deserves a big hug of thanks for her fixing our portfolio or rather rebuilding it and for making such a unique sign for Patina. Fan, Friend, Associate all hats worn with love. And we are very very grateful to her.

So here are a few pictures of our booth. Very bridal. Lots of pictures were taken by florists and brides and moms all of whom are getting married elsewhere.  Lots of man handling of the moss boxes trying to capture how it was done. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...I tell myself over and over....It got so that John would go up to people as they turned and twisted the boxes this way and that and say, "they grow like that on the island. We have moss box trees all over the place". Some people, actually quite a few stopped and stared with wonder in their eyes before they caught on. It was fun and funny.

 

 

 

Hats

Kate and William. As a planner and designer it is an interesting exercise to imagine what working a Royal Wedding would be like. Impeccable staff helps. A full wallet doesn't hurt. But the pressure of it all requires a very strong stomach. Like as not, I will not have to test myself on that scale.

Loved the hats! I think that was my favourite part. Did you see them? If not check out this slide show link Royal Hats on the NYTimes.  Some of the hats look like they come from Yves St. Laurent via Dr. Seuss. Some went in for height. Others for brim. Don't get many events on Orcas where hats like this show up. Our loss.

Most everyone here dresses as my friend Nikki says, 'prepared for a Hiking Emergency'. Polar Fleece, tired jeans, rugged shoes and earrings. You get the image. Another friend tells the story of how she and her husband were going to an evening party and it wasn't a potluck. She came out feeling very pretty,  lovely pants and top, a bit of girl frill, jewlery and makeup. Her husband came out in pants and a polar fleece and rugged shoes, sans jewlery. They looked as if they were going to different events.

So what do you wear to an Orcas Island wedding? Unless specified for black tie or aloha party, an outfit that makes you feel very pretty, that you can where with out tugging at it to put it back in place, is the right thing. Shoes are of course a challenge. I have sadly missed several seasons of shoes that I would have loved to wear because I live here. I see a lot of women in heels twisting ankles as they chase their 3 year old off the path into the forest. I've seen Christian Louboutins aerating lawns while ruining heel and toe. Ca-ching! It is distressing to say but low heels and flats work for the grass and the dance floor. Leave the polar fleece in the hotel room. Bring a sparkely sweater or wrap. It is chilly at night for sure.

And if the mood hits and style works, wear a great hat. There are those of us here who would be so very grateful.

R&R

Back from the hot sun of the caribbean. Back into the soggy saddle of the Pacific Northwest. Hmm...Going to Chicago and NYC next; feeling gratefu since I am not quite ready to come back in full time.

Guadaloupe FWI. Lots of people think we went to Mexico but no, we went to the island known as isle de papillion(as the butterfly island) because of how it is shaped. It is between St. Martin and St. Barths.

Cases et Jardin where we stayed is a collection of the sweetest bungalows set in a lush garden. Our friends built this up as a business adjacent to their home. So we got the best of all worlds. Our own private space and the proximity to them, their glorious pool and remarkable pets. Oh and proximity to great food and gallons of Petit Ponche. A beverage that is best sipped slowly in a pool when one has no where else to go.

Some pictures might be in order here for your viewing pleasure. The pigeon is now a house pet and is unaware of the fact that he is a bird. Champi believes his dna lies somewhere between the humanoid and cannine....

 

 

Designing Your Wedding

You've been looking through magazines since  you got engaged, seeing the things you like and the things that you MUST do at your wedding. You've been looking at dress colours for your bridesmaids, ties for the groomsmen, flowers that are in season. Slowly, slowly pieces and bits, parts and pics are piled high into a stack of "this is what I want for my wedding, well sort of". Because really, you want all these things but you want it to be yours, signature to you. And therefore there is no photograph to reference because it is going to be created for you! So you worry, you ask your self, " What is it going to look like?" You have the grey silk with the yellow bits over here from Martha and you have the bouquet of peonies you pulled off of "what was that blog"? You have these candle holders you think are stinking cute and that escort card design idea you think is so sweet, but you worry what is the big picture? You want your guests to be  delighted by the wedding world you are creating and you hang on each detail as if it will make or break the experience.

Short of going out and actually securing all the props and materials, flowers and containers and doing a test drive in the reception space, you can ask your designer for what Snippet & Ink does regularly and does very well, an Inspiration Board.  These boards show colour, mood, texture, props, flower ideas, sometimes dress and jewelery, paper and favours.  The boards communicate the direction the designer is taking your wedding from Modern to Vintage from Country Farm to Woodland glade. Sometimes it is a signature prop that is the unifier - a nest of blue eggs or a minaret pillar candle holder. Sometimes it is a bowl of lemons and a white flower that captures it. Placed side by side, one snugged up against another you feel you have entered into the neighborhood of your wedding. And that would be enough to please.

But were you to let go of having a hand in each and every detail, relax into it just a bit, put yourself in her capable hands, you will allow for the most important ingredient to be brought to bear, Surprise. Allow for the surprise. It is what will make it really yours.

Been Gone

Been gone off the rock for a week.

Getting my island legs back underneath me.

Will post something new for your amusement soon.

Thanks for the patience and the willingness to check back.

SPRING IS HERE!!!! (well compared to Chicago it is!).