Floral Hall in Everett, WA is a long standing favorite city park venue of mine. Over the years, I have done events there. From a reception only to a family reunion or even a celebration of life Floral Hall is an affordable rental option.

The wood features are beautiful. It definitely can give off that older, rustic feeling or a Pacific Northwest vibe. I have had couples who have done a country chic theme to rustic and almost nothing but country theme while other times, the rich wood features have complimented a room full of stringed white lights or delicate paper lanterns.

The location is close off of the freeway and has access to a neighborhood Safeway at the bottom of the hill, should you need any last minute or forgotten items. It is very popular venue so I suggest giving yourself plenty of time to schedule your event. If you would like to have a chance to view Floral Hall, you can attend a free open house on the first Tuesday of every month (except for holidays).

Wedding Expos....... What Are They All About?

It seems like the wedding industry doesn't limit itself to the traditional month of June or to summertime. Wedding expos are being held in the fall and the spring. Often, I am asked if I attend these shows either as a vendor or to check out my competition. The short answer is no & no.

As I enter my 9th year in my field, I have been featured at an open house and as a guest vendor at the Tulalip Resort hosted bridal expo. At my mother's urging many years ago, I attended as a visitor with her. (She had gotten free tickets and I buckled under pressure.) Most often they are held on the weekend. As you can imagine, this is a conflict in scheduling if you offer services to a client base who more often than not get married on the weekend.

Although it can be seen as a great way to be exposed to brides & grooms to be, it also can seem like a day at the market. Generally, there are booths lined up elbow to elbow with each other while mesmerized guests, willing or unwilling, walk to and fro while vendors offer their pamphlets and samples. The cost to these events is also an expense, for all who are attending. Did you know that it is not uncommon for a wedding vendor to have to pay upwards of $400-$1000 a day at a booth? Yes! The venues which host these events are literally making money hand over fist. That kind of advertising is a bit rich for my taste.

With the exposure and power of the internet, it makes wedding expos almost seem like a thing of the past. The number of customers I can reach at the touch of a few key words can help me drum up business quicker than I could toss my business cards out. I like to work smarter, not harder. Don't mistake this for me being lazy -- there's only so many hours in one day. I am all about maximizing my time and my resources. I just find investing my money into advertising throughout the year to be a bit more effective than a weekend shot.

For the first time brides, eager mothers of the brides or grooms, and for those who want to "check out the competition" wedding expos can serve their purpose. Afterall, you can't hear the music from the different DJ booths live or taste cake samples when you are online!!

The End of Summer

What seemed to be a summer filled with fall-like weather is over. Can you believe it? The kids are back to school and the rest of the state seems to be trying to get back into a rhythm. But the fall is another wonderful time of the year for wedding bells!

There are some wonderful wedding themes and venues that are just waiting to be discovered! Some clients stage their wedding venue at a family or friend's home while others explore the options that await them. In the PNW, it's a must to have an indoor venue during the fall. Some great ideas to consider are your local Parks & Rec departments (if you're a resident of that city, ask about the reduced resident rate aka a discount!!), a restaurant that can accomodate a ceremony and a reception, or not to forget a hotel! My personal favorites include Floral Hall or Legion Hall in Everett; Tulalip Bay inside of The Tulalip Resort in Tulalip (Marysville); Countryside Meadows in Arlington; the Medallion Hotel in Arlington; and Hillcrest Lodge in Mt. Vernon.