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April 3rd, 2009
First you found the man. Romantic candle-lit dinners came next, quickly followed by long lazy Sundays in bed, and then the two of you got a puppy together. Things were perfect, and then came the ring—in a box from Tiffany, no less—and those five little words most girls dream of hearing from the time they are oh, about five years old—Will. You. Marry. Me. Now comes the fun (but let’s face it, sometimes hard and stressful) part: planning the nuptials. There are so many details to remember and plan for—the cake, the dress, the band, the rings, the officiant, the location; the list seems to be never-ending—and those are just the big details. In order to avoid becoming a total bridezilla, we suggest reading on—Seattle Picks has put together our first ever Wedding Guide as your go-to resource for some of the finest services, vendors and gifts in our fair city. Whether you are a bride, a maid, a guest or a mother of the bride, there are totally brilliant ideas here for everyone. Enjoy! Oh, and congrats on finding Mr. Right! Seattle Picks’ Wedding Guide: |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 |
Wedding cakes are so last year. A savvy bride knows the only way to go these days is with custom cupcakes from Trophy Cupcake and Party (just ask Martha Stewart—she is a huge fan). Made from scratch every morning, these little bites of heaven, made with nothing but the finest ingredients from all over the world, are perfect for weddings, rehearsal dinners and bridal showers. In flavors like Fresh Lemon, Snickerdoodle and Triple Chocolate, we literally cannot get enough—if only every day was our wedding day. Trophy Cupcake and Party |
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| 2 |
We subscribe to the philosophy that the flower selection at a wedding can make or break the entire event. Well, okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but seriously, who wants to risk a bad arrangement or wilted petals on their big day? When it comes to our special day, we only trust willow and bloom. They are experts in color palette and floral pairings, and their arrangements are creative, couture masterpieces. For unique, truly custom flowers, they are the crème de la crème. willow and bloom |
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| 3 |
They are so many details to attend to for your wedding day—it gets overwhelming. When it gets busy, it’s nice to be able to find multiple things you need in one place—like at Essenza. This gem of a shop offers customized perfume consultations to help you find the perfect fragrance for your special day, personalized makeup sessions and a stunning selection of soaps, jewelry and more for the bridesmaids gifts. Plus, they carry the ultra-hot collection of Jamie Joseph wedding rings. Natch! Essenza |
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| 4 |
We have a big, extended, crazy family with what seems like hundreds of cousins, aunts and uncles. We want them to have an outstanding Seattle experience, so we are planning put everyone up in the artful Hotel Max. They offer discounted rates if you book 10+ rooms for a wedding block – plus the bride and groom get a complimentary room on their wedding night when 20+ rooms are reserved. With everyone we love under one roof, it’s the perfect set-up Hotel Max |
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| 5 |
There are far too many cute, eligible bachelors at weddings to not look your absolute stunning best. Who says the bride is the only one who gets to have all the fun? Being a guest is just as fun as being the bride when you get dressed with Sandylew. This darling boutique is full of cute dresses for all the spring and summer weddings coming up. We love the dresses by ART and plan on buying a couple. We’ll be turning every groomsman’s head all summer long. Sandylew |
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| 6 |
Finding the perfect wedding venue is no easy task. We want something that isn’t too stuffy, fits our Northwest vibe, has great food, and of course, great cocktails. Imagine our delight when we stumbled on BalMar in Ballard. It’s a perfect location for engagement and bachelorette parties, wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners all rolled into one stunning space. The exposed brick provides ideal ambience, and with signature cocktails and food like mini lamb sliders, roasted duck spring rolls and artisan cheeses, our search is over! BalMar |
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| 7 |
One of the things we look forward to most about getting hitched is the bridal pampering that takes place in the weeks leading up to the big day. We need to be buffed, bronzed, polished and manicured from head to toe, and the pre-wedding transformation begins at The Spa at PRO Sports Club. They can accommodate groups of all sizes, and even have a bridal coordinator to personalize a seamless and results-oriented plan of salon and spa services to ensure we look like the best possible version of ourselves while saying “I do.” The Spa at PRO Sports Club |
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| 8 |
We’ve pondered over what to get our future hubby as a wedding present—something sentimental but not sappy–to remind him of this special time in our lives forever. Then we found it: stunningly beautiful, intimate, tasteful fine art photographs from Seattle Boudoir Photography. The team is skilled at finding the pose that makes you look sexiest - no matter what your size or shape. Done mainly in lingerie or partially nude, we are positive he will be head over heels for it—and for us, too. Seattle Boudoir Photography |
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| 9 |
These days, more than ever, a bride’s gotta be careful with her moo-lah and spend smartly when it comes to her big day. Besides, don’t we all want a fair amount left over to decorate our new home? A Grand Wedding.com is a brilliant resource where brides can find high quality vendors, products and services priced at $1,000 or less. Plus, there is a Buy, Borrow or Share™ section for everything from centerpieces to dresses and sometimes even rings. Totally recessionista-chic. |
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| 10 |
Nothing calls for the perfect dress like a wedding—whether you are the bride or a guest, weddings are the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a cute new dress for all to admire. Frock Shop has a great selection of reasonably priced (score!) dresses for both bridesmaids and guests, plus dresses for the more casually-inclined bride. In fact, there are so many cute frocks in this store, we may have to buy a few for regular occasions as well. Frock Shop |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | No More Mr. Nice Guy We’ve all dated the Jekyll and Hyde type of guy in the past, but hopefully now we know to just go see “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at ACT instead of experiencing it first-hand. ACT’s retelling of the classic thriller is dramatic and has four different actors playing Jekyll’s depraved alter-ego—just what the doctor ordered for the weekend. What: “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at ACT |
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| 2 | The Smart Way to Work Out We like to look good working out, so cute yoga and spining outfits are important. That means, this weekend, you will likely find us at the SportsWise Spring Warehouse Sale where premium active-wear and footwear is being offered at deep discounts (50-70 percent off!). We will stay fit and stylish, and our wallet will stay fat. Perfection What: SportsWise Spring Warehouse Sale |
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| 3 | Just a Quickie We enjoy taking a long lunch break, but being as busy and important as we are these days, at lunch we need to get in and out in a hurry. So noshing at Tulio is the solution—go for (a delicioso) lunch and the valet parking is on them. Just mention Drive and Dine when making your reservation! What: Drive and Dine at Tulio |
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A toast to all you recently engaged ladies—Seattle Picks couldn’t be happier or more excited for you! Keep an eye on us for more great ideas for your wedding—and if you have any great wedding ideas and tips for us, lay ’em on us! Cheers! |
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