It's A Small World After All

Do you remember hearing about the "7 Degrees of Separation" theory? It is said that each of us can be traced back to each other with only seven people or less. In the 90s, there was a pop culture game called the "7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon". Am I dating myself? :)

Well, in the wedding industry this theory often times proves true!

In August, I had the pleasure of performing the wedding ceremony for Allison & Greg. They came to me via a co-worker, Miranda, who I served a few years ago as her wedding officiant. Allison & Greg had met at work and as fate would have it, would lead to a love connection of their own! They choose to celebrate their love and commitment in an intimate ceremony with their family and friends close by the beach to serve as their backdrop.

On my way to their Stanwood oasis, I happened to get a call from a friend of mine. She had asked if I happened to be doing a wedding for Allison & Greg, co-workers of her husband's. Amazingly enough I was! This isn't the first time that this has happened over the span of my seven year career. I have performed ceremonies for clients' cousins, co-workers (of course), classmates,, family members, and even ex-partners!

Ask me about my "friends & family" discount that is available.

Until next time,

Tiffani the upbeat wedding officiant

Dana Cakes!!

Wedding cakes are definately an important highlight of a wedding reception. There are many places who can provide you with your cake but do you really want to entrust just anyone to provide yours?

Let me tell you about a wonderful resource!! Dana Filer, of Dana Cakes (or sometimes referred to as "the Arlington cake lady" by her clients) has been creating masterpiece wedding cakes and grooms cakes for many years. She is personable and is fantastic at what she does. Pictured above is the four tier wedding cake that she made for my husband and I's wedding reception and let me tell you, it was the talk of our event!

As an officiant and planner, I have had the opportunity to taste many different wedding cakes -- from cakes made by bakeries, grocery stores, bride and groom's family members and friends and many are either run-of-the-mill in taste or look gorgeous but lack the flavor and the punch that I anticipated on tasting. Dana's cakes are moist, of high quality and just plain pretty to look at! (I actually have a photo of me wincing as my husband and I were preparing to cut into our masterpiece.) To be honest, after I had booked our wedding venue, Countryside Meadows in Arlington, I immediately contacted Dana to ask her to create our cake. I had my priorities set.

Even though I had tasted her cakes she offered to have us come to her home for our tasting. Waiting for us were flavors including a luscious lemon with lemon filling, a marble, traditional white and my personal favorite, chocolate. She also had binders and binders of photos that had different cakes she had created for us to look through. As we feasted on cake samples and sipped coffee with her, we discussed design, how many guests we would be feeding and even colors. Dana assisted us with coordinating colors and even upheld my husband's request to have no green on our cake (the Irishman was superstitious....). Dana came through with flying colors!

The day of our event, she arrived to set up her masterpiece. It wasn't like some cake companies who leave them to be assembled. Dana had requested that we have our cake topper left for her to add for us. With cake table ready, Dana carefully assembled our cake, added extra sugar flowers to match our wedding colors and voila! The proof is above. Dana also provides a cake topper box and instructions on how to preserve your cake until your anniversary.

You can see her other creations by visiting her link on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Danacakes/194221030626288. To make an appointment with her, you may contact her at 360 435 9583 or by email at dfiler64@gmail.com.

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.  

A Wedding At Camano Island Inn

Camano Island Inn was once rated "The Best Place To Kiss" and there's no secret as to why!

I have had the opportunity to perform several weddings at this retreat located on beautiful Camano Island. From an intimate gathering of a few guests to a reception dinner, Camano Island Inn can do it all!

They have an amazing view overlooking the beautiful Puget Sound. You can select from having your ceremony on the balcony off of your private suite, upon the upper deck, or down below near (or even on!) the beach. It's also a great location for a romantic getaway or honeymoon.

Congrats, Anthony & Vanessa!

On their five year anniversary, Anthony Beardsley and Vanessa Giaimo became husband and wife. This couple served as a reminder to me how much in love you can be even after all of those years.

Ironically enough, there was two degrees of separation from me and this wonderful couple. Anthony's mom owns Prohibition Grille, a fabulous restaurant in downtown Everett. So how is this relative? Well, his mom lives across the street from good friends of mine and I had known about her restaurant through them. Funny how small of a world we can live in.

Anthony and Vanessa married at Floral Hall in Everett. Their ceremony was a reflection of their love from the details of their bridesmaids to their friend who played the ceremony music (they are big music fans, with Anthony playing in a band) to their personal vows that they wrote. The vows, might I add, were a suprise to all of us -- they had selected to not have anyone including myself hear them until wedding day. Their words were enough to take my own breath away! I could feel tears swelling in my eyes and a lump forming in my throat. That hadn't happened for years during a ceremony but their words and their love were that moving.

Not only was I invited to join them at the rehearsal dinner the night before but I was also extended the invite to the reception. The food and the atmosphere was delish! Lots of fun and frolick was had by all.

Congratulations again, Mr. & Mrs. Beardsley!

A Photographer & Officiant For $1,000 ???

photo courtesy of marcusphotographyaz.com

Award winning photojournalist & Pacific Northwesterner Marcus Nichols is teaming up with Evening Magazine’s “Best Of Western Washington” Wedding Officiant finalist, Tiffani the Upbeat Wedding Officiant, to offer an amazing, recession-busting package.

(If you are planning a wedding from September through December 2010, we are talking to you!)

For $1,000 you can obtain the services and work of these two highly credited wedding professionals!

Services by Tiffani include:

• Planning session
• rehearsal conducted
• coordination with your wedding vendors for your ceremony
• arrival to your venue 1 hr prior to your ceremony
• a personalized ceremony written on behalf of you & your fiancée
• a keepsake copy of your ceremony
• filing of all completed marriage paperwork with the county

Services by Marcus include:

• photojournalistic approach to document your wedding day
• onsite photography of bride & groom as they “get ready”
• ceremony photography
• portrait photography available
• memorable, tasteful & fun reception photography
• photos placed on CD and you have all of the rights!

These services are available at a dramatic savings of over $1500. Inquire about our availability today. Call 425-508-8090 or email tiffani@upbeatweddingofficiant.com Please include wedding day & venue location in your email.

Martha Stuart's Next Competitor......Meet Karen (Sanders) Troughton

I love my job. Why? Well, not only is it fabulous to have the clients that I have but I get to know and meet wonderful people. Wonderfully, extremely talented people, too!
The first weekend in June, I had the privilege to marry off Karen & Jeff Troughton. These two have a great story as well. (I know, many of my couples do!) Karen did so much planning and really created a fantastic reception and wedding site. Karen and Jeff married at Blueberry Ridge Farm in Monroe, WA (http//www.visitblueberryridge.com). Throughout the grounds, Karen's creations could be found from the entrance of the farm, to the ceremony site, the patio area for cocktail hour and inside the reception area. I took photos of some of her fantastic (and as she claimed, easy to do) decorations.
Karen also has a blog with fantasticly easy recipes, design and decorating ideas and even some information about her husband and her dogs. Please consider visiting it at http://www.hazelboom.typepad.com
Congratulations Jeff! You are incredibly lucky to have a wife like Karen. :)