Recently, I have been finding it difficult to help brides understand the value of a wedding planner, especially the value of my services. There are so many wedding planners in Seattle its crazy! So how do you determine which one is best for you?

Well, what sets me apart is my fee for planning. Because I am relatively new to the industry, my fee is VERY LOW! With my track record so far, I have saved each couple $1000 more than my planning fee.

For example, I charged a couple $2,000 for my planning services. After all vendors were negotiated and contracted, I has saved the couple $3,000. They wouldnt have been able to get the savings from all those vendors themseleves because they don't have the relationships with them that I do. Now, you ask "what does that mean?" Well, it means that not only did the couple save $1,000 overall, but they also got my help with EVERYTHING, which saved them so much time, energy and stress. AND they knew everything would be taken care of on the wedding day, so they didn't have to worry about a thing!

So I ask you, PLEASE consider hiring me as your wedding planner! I will have a free consultation with you in order to get to know you and your wedding desires. Please contact me at paulinetuohy@gmail.com or call my office at 425-454-4817 if you would like to set-up a time to talk.

Wedding Weekend in Seattle

Tomorrow is Tara and Stephen's wedding and I couldn't be more excited :) I've been helping them plan their wedding since February and the day has finally come! So I'm off to get all the final details in order. Hope you all have a wonderful, sunny weekend!!!

Wedding Location Site Visits in Seattle, WA

I spent almost the entire day yesterday in Seattle. It was a gorgeous day, I couldn't have asked for better weather, and I had so much fun checking out new wedding venues!

Actually, my first stop of the day was not a venue, and it was not in Seattle, it was a floral shop in downtown Issaquah! I met Jon, one of the designers, at A Countryside Floral and Garden. Its a fantastic little floral shop and accessory store. The name doesn't do it justice at all! Inside, it is very modern and colorful, not country-like at all.

The store is bigger than most floral shops. They have lots of home decor items, and cute little purses too.

In the back corner of the store, they have this little nook, where brides can sit down and have a consultation with one of the designers.

They do amazing work! Their flowers are all high quality and they have limitless ideas for arrangements. All designers are AIFD certified, so you know you are getting quality when you book with them.

Thanks Jon for meeting with me! I had a wonderful time checking out your store!!!

Next I was off to the Seattle Yacht Club near the U District to look at their space for weddings.

Above is the front of the Yacht Club. Below is looking at the back side of the Club from the lawn.

Covered stairway down to the lawn (nice to have for the bride in case it's raining)

If you are having your ceremony out on the lawn, this is a great space because the lawn is pretty big, right next to the water, and they have a very nice tent to go with it (usually the supports are covered in nice white drapes).

My next appointment wasn't for another hour and a half, and I didn't want to drive all the way back across the bridge to Bellevue just to drive back into Seattle again, so I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and Mike and I met up for lunch at Joey's on Lake Union. We ate outside on the water and it was so nice! I'm so happy he is finally over here now that he graduated from WSU.

So after lunch I had a site tour at Pravda Studios on Capital Hill. And what did I think of it?? I LOVE the space! Its one, big, 5000 sq ft open room with huge windows as the walls.

Above is about half of the room, empty. You can see how it can really transform to anything you want it to be. Tables, chairs, decor, drapes, and lighting can all be set-up however you want.

Below are a few pictures from events they have hosted. The space picks up any color you put in it. The white really makes the colors pop.

It was definitely a great day in Seattle for me! I love going on venue tours and meeting the event staff at each. Its helpful to put a face to a name, and it helps me build a relationship with the venue, which is my goal for going to them!

A Great Washington Wedding Location

If you haven't been to Novelty Hill-Januik winery in Woodinville, you should! I went there a few weeks ago just to check the place out, and I have been meaning to post these pictures ever since!

Its a very cool, modern winery with lots of straight lines. They have a great indoor facility as well as lots of outdoor space. This winery is great because it can be used for both weddings and other special and corporate events.

Entrance of the winery

Inside the front doors, looking out to the outdoor wedding space

This is the main room you walk into from the front entrance. The bar in the middle is for wine tastings and you can sit and enjoy the wine you buy at the tables. They can also clear off the tables and install a dance floor in this area, which is right outside of the indoor event area below.

This is the indoor event space. You can hang anything you like from the ceiling beams, so it makes for great atmosphere. This room seats 100 people in rounds and the kitchen is on the far back wall.

They have 3 of the huge barrel rooms side-by-side. The can transform the space for events with carpeting, soft furniture, tables, lighting and music.

This is an amazing room, located downstairs. The table is one HUGE piece of wood (I imagine it cost a fortune!) Along the baseboards, on the perimeter, are LED lights that can be changed to any color you like. It looks amazing with the blue, doesn't it? This room can seat about 30 people at the table.

This is one of the outdoor spaces used for wedding ceremonies. It is directly in front of the main entrance. Between the row of trees is the isle and folding chairs can be placed on either side for seating. At the end is a beautiful, tall, red fence. Its a lovely backdrop for the alter. Along with the isle space, you get the patio in front as well.

The red fence

It was a really sunny day, so I didn't get the best picture, but this is the second event space, taken from outside of the indoor event space, looking down to the red fence (above).

This is a picture of the same space, taken from the bottom, looking back up to the winery. That is a fountain (below) on the right hand side of the picture.

My New Picture!

I have been meaning to tell everyone about my new profile picture for a while now and am just now getting the chance!

One of my good friends, Julian Michael, shot them for me on a nice sunny day a few months ago in Seattle. He does some great work! I have never had my picture professionally taken before, so it was all new to me. He was fun to work with and helped me relax and get some great shots.

We are also in the process of creating something that I am very excited about. I will have more updates soon so keep checking back!

Take a look at Julian's website www.julian-michael.com.

Wedding Planners Save You Money!

This weekend was extremely productive for me. I had a meeting with one of my couple's at a floral shop and saved them a lot of money. She is very simple and just wants white and maroon Calla Lillies for her bouquet, white Calla Lillies for her 3 bridesmaids, and simple corsages for both mothers. No boutonnieres are needed because of the grooms outfit.

(The bouquet will look like this, but with a few maroon ones in there as well)

I guess the florists she had gone to before hiring me, were quoting her $500 more than what I got her this weekend. I just couldn't believe it! I guess that is another reason why brides should hire wedding planners! Afterwards, the bride told me that she was so thankful to have me and didn't know what she would do without me.

Wedding Website

It's becoming quite popular for couples to make their own website to announce their engagement and for all the details on their wedding. Well, I just thought I'd let you all know that I can set up a couple's wedding website for them, update it regularly with the details and pictures, and even add the couple's favorite music to the page, so the couple doesn't have to worry or stress about it.

A website is a nice detail to have. It allows your friends to learn more about your engagement and wedding planning process. Its a nice way to recognize your bridal party and groomsmen. Many people attending your wedding might not know who everyone is, and this is a great way to introduce them. You can also give more information on the ceremony and reception sites, as well as a running update on where you are in the process of planning.

My Weekend of Wedding Planning at Snoqualmie Falls

On Saturday I had the pleasure of taking a groom and his mother up to the Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualmie, WA for consideration of their reception venue. Its a beautiful lodge on a cliff overlooking the Snoqualmie Falls. The view is breathtaking.

The bride wasn't able to make it because she lives in another state and had to fly back, so unfortuntely she could not see the place herself. But the groom and his mother really liked it, and they are going to tell her all about it. Now, all I am waiting for is her approval and it's good to go! (I'm crossing my fingers!)

The couple was looking at the Falls Terrace Room with the outside deck and tent for their reception.

Inside: has built-in bar, fireplace and double doors to outside deck

Outside Deck: overlooks the Falls

Tent with dance floor on deck

I do this for every couple that needs to find a venue for their ceremony or reception. It's one of my favorite parts of the planning process.

Common Photo Questions for Your Wedding

1.) Should I hire two photographers or is one enough? I believe you should always have at least two photographers for your wedding. One photographer cannot be in all places at once, and cannot get every angle or capture every moment. Having two photographers makes sure not only you are covered, but also your wedding party and guests.

2.) When should the photo shoot be held? Its always best to do it before the ceremony. Your makeup is fresh, you haven't cried yet (hopefully), you're excited about the wedding, you aren't tired or feeling overwhelmed yet and you will have more time to party at the reception. But if you don't want your groom to see you in your dress beforehand, you can do part of the photos beforehand and part after the ceremony. Take the pictures of you getting ready, your bridal party, the bride with the groomsmen, the groom with his groomsmen and so on. Then do the rest after the ceremony with everyone together.

3.) What if the photographer misses a moment? Should I re-stage it later on in the evening? If you give the photographer a list of key moments you absolutely want them to capture, you will decrease the chances of them missing the moment because they will already know they need to get it. But, even the best photographer can miss a moment. If the moment is very important to you, you can ask all parties involved to re-create the scene. It shouldn't take too long.

4.) What can I do to look my best in the photos? I would suggest giving the photographer a few good pictures of yourself and a few bad pictures of yourself beforehand. This will let the photographer know and get the feel for what your good and bad angles are. Also, when posing, place your weight on your back leg, and slightly extend and stretch the other leg out in front. Make sure you have powder and lip gloss ready. You don't want to be shiny in the pictures. Consider some black and white photos, because they help hide skin imperfections and tend to make everyone look flawless.

5.) How can I tactfully ask what the photographer will wear? Its fine to ask them to dress appropriately for a wedding. You don't want them sticking out like a sore thumb, and neither do they! But do remember that they need to be comfortable in order to take pictures. Don't ask them to wear a tuxedo or ball gown. Usually, photographers will wear all black so they can blend into the background and not stand out.

Wedding Videos

One of the most important things to any bride is securing the right photographer to capture everything on the wedding day. Well, have you ever thought about having a videographer? If not, you should. They can capture the wedding and reception better than pictures. You get the sounds, the movements, the emotions and the energy of the entire day.

The video above is taken from a longer video my company made for the couple. We can do some amazing things with editing and after effects. Check it out, we can do this for anybody, for any style you like or any theme you want. We do everything in-house so it keeps the cost waaaaay down :) Let me know what you guys think about it, I would LOVE the feedback, good or bad!

My Wedding Services

Whether you’re planning a traditional wedding on a budget or a special event where the sky’s the limit, my company and I can help you personalize it and help you create what you have always dreamed.

No matter what, this is your day, and needs to be representative of who you are. We have many ideas to get you started, and have worked closely with many different vendors for over 40 years, to help you get the style you want for the best price. I am confident that I will help you create an event you will be extremely happy with.

After an initial meeting, where we talk about your vision and needs, I can customize your package to ensure you get exactly what you want from us. Here is a list of the most popular services:

Full Production: My company, AMP, and I will help you plan the entire wedding, from start to finish, and be there the day-of to let you enjoy the day and not worry about a thing. You can relax from the very beginning knowing that we have everything taken care of. I can help you manage your budget, make all the necessary calls to different vendors and venues, set meetings, and take care of not only your wedding rehearsal, but the rehearsal dinner as well. Your only job is to help me understand what your vision for the day is, then relax and enjoy the day of your dreams.

Month-of/ Week-of Wedding Coordination: You already have the ceremony and receptions cites, have your caterer and cake baker, have sent out invitations, and signed contracts with your entertainment and décor companies. Now, you just want to sit back and relax while I help coordinate all the details and bring everything together for you big day. It’s that simple. I will need your contracts with vendors and then can handle the rest and make sure everything comes together. The stress is off of you because I will coordinate everything. All you have to do is show up!

Day-of-Wedding Coordination: You want to feel like a guest at your own wedding, without having to worry about all the little details and time lines of the day. I can help make everything run smoothly and stay on-time the day of the wedding. I will be at your ceremony rehearsal to make sure that everything runs smoothly, as well as the entire day of your wedding. I'll stay in constant communication with your venue and caterer, and help you stay on track with your timeline of the evening so nothing goes forgotten. You, and your closest family and friends can simply relax and enjoy themselves at the wedding.

Initial meeting to brainstorm ideas: We want to help you have the wedding of your dreams. But it can seem like a huge task with thousands of different options to choose from. If you don’t even know where to begin, I can help you come up with ideas. We have a plethora of venues, caterers, bakers, entertainment, photographers, and décor companies that we work with on a regular basis. We can help you get going in the right direction.