Charger Plates

Charger plates have been our most recent favorite topic of discussion. We're currently expanding our rental inventory and are going to offer different styles of charger plates exclusively for our clients' use. Chargers are a nice addition to any event. They add a touch of formality and show your attention to detail when hosting special events. Your guests will feel like royalty when they show up to your exquisitly decorated event.

Photo Credit: lisarunolfson on flickr

Whether you're going for a soft or more dramamtic look, it can most definitely be achieved by using charger plates with other decor or even standalone.

Photo credit: Grand Tradition Estate on Flickr

Read Me! Confessions of a Bad Wedding Guest

Read on below...

Last month, on a flight to a friend's wedding in Chicago, I sat next to someone even more clueless about weddings than I was: one of my fellow bridesmaids.“I bought these great open-toed sandals,” she cooed. “They match the dress perfectly! How about you?”Hmm, didn't she get the e-mail from the bride insisting we wear closed-toe pumps? Turns out she hadn't gotten her dress altered either ("It'll be fine!"). Plus she'd forgotten to RSVP to some of the wedding-weekend events. And she was shocked to hear that I'd gone to the trouble of preparing a toast for the rehearsal dinner. In short, she was a disaster. But I had to smile. She was just like I used to be.

Before I got engaged last May, I'd broken every rule of wedding thoughtfulness. It wasn't that I didn't care about the bride and groom or that having good manners wasn't important to me. I consider myself a caring friend: I send thank-you notes promptly, I never show up to a housewarming empty-handed. But somehow, the world of proper wedding behavior had eluded meIt wasn't until I started receiving piles of lovely engagement presents (before we'd even decided to have an engagement party) that I realized I should have given some myself. And it wasn't until my own bridal shower, when friends who couldn't attend made sure they still had gifts waiting for me at the hostess' home, that I learned I should've done so, too. I'd actually arrived at one friend's "game theme" shower with a waffle maker. She'd opened it, paused, and politely said, “Well, this will be a lot of fun to play with.”

I never bought off the registry, reasoning that personal gifts like, say, monogrammed robes, were more exciting than china. "What an original idea," brides would write in their thank-you notes. Now, after spending hours selecting items for my own registry, I find myself slightly miffed when guests don't use it. Why do they think I've gone to all that trouble? And that idea that it's acceptable to send gifts up to a year afterward? No one told me that, though technically acceptable, procrastinating until months after the wedding is disappointing for the bride and groom.

Occasionally, I'd forget to send in the response card until the bride's mother followed up. At the time, I didn't see the big deal. After all, I'd told the bride a million times I was coming! Now, after eagerly awaiting the mail each day so I can tear open those little cards and begin table arrangements, I marvel at my thoughtlessness. With the wedding a month away, I can't remember my vows, let alone which friends told me what. And when guests ask to bring dates, I bristle. Our numbers are so tight I couldn't invite some of my cousins. How could I squeeze in someone's new flame? But then I recall how once, days before a wedding I was in, I begged the bride to let me bring my new boyfriend — of six weeks.“Fine,” she snipped. “If it's really that important to you.”I spent the entire wedding locked in his arms, neglecting my bridesmaid duties.

Soon after, the boy was history, but I'm reminded of him and my poor judgment whenever I see the two of us in my friend's wedding photos.Ultimately she got over it; perhaps she'd committed her own faux pas, too, before she was a bride. Or maybe she just preferred to focus on the ways her day was special. I'm mortified by my past behavior, but thankful that this friend and others let it all slide. And now that I'm in their position, I'm trying to do the same. Don't get me wrong:

Having to e-mail guests for their RSVPs makes my blood boil. But I know that someday they'll be brides and grooms themselves and discover that there are actually pretty good reasons behind those wedding rules we've all (cluelessly) broken.

This content was written by Zibby Right and first appeared in Modern Bride magazine. For more weddings information, visit Brides.com

Marriage Licenses

Marriage Licenses by County:

Pierce County

King County

Snohomish CountyPhoto credit: Bethanylee

What You'll Need In Order to Get a Marriage License
By Nina Callaway, About.com
If you're planning to get legally married, there is one thing you mustn't forget – the marriage license. A marriage license is sort of a permit, kind of like a driver's license. It says that you are legally allowed to marry, although obtaining one does not mean that you ARE married. The rules and requirements for obtaining a marriage license vary from state to state and from country to country. To make sure that you have all your ducks in a row, contact your city or town clerk's office who will direct you to the right information. Many towns now have websites with all marriage license requirements spelled out. Some things you will want to know:When: Find out if there is a waiting period, and for how long marriage licenses are valid. You'll likely need to apply in the week or two before your wedding. What documents you'll need: Most states require birth certificates, proof of citizenship and/or residence, and a driver's license or other photo id. If you have been widowed or divorced, you should bring along a copy of the death certificate or divorce decree. Fees and how to pay them If there is a fee, you'll probably need to pay it with a money order or cashier's check, although some states are cash only. Is a blood test required? Some states still ask for a blood test. If you are having a destination wedding, or getting married in a state other than where you live, you'll also want to find out about residency requirements (how long you must be in the county before you can apply).

Vendors, Vendors, and more Vendors!

One of the toughest things -when it comes to planning an exquisite event, is finding reliable vendors - who will do exactly as they promise, and do it all with a smile. Just because you will be paying them doesn't mean they will provide the best customer service and follow through on all the little details. Let's face it, the small details are what make the event! So therefore, screening your vendors is going to be the most time consuming, and sometimes not so pleasant part of the planning process. Our motto is: we trust that vendors we have worked with will deliver. Time and again, they've proved to be the best of the best...which is why we continue to refer clients their way...
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Please contact us to discuss the many options available to you when hiring your special event vendors. We have done the searching and screening and can help you to negotiate your contract so that you are only charged for services you feel you really need. Enhancement and enjoyment are favorite words of ours, let us help you take full advantage of what our vendors have to offer!

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If you like, here are links to some local planning resources that may help the DIY planner. We suggest that if you have any questions or are at all unsure about the performance of a vendor, call a professional (*like Envy Events*) and trust your gut instinct. If you have to call more than once for a price quote - the lack of accountability will probably show it's ugly face again later on down the road. Anyhow, happy hunting! Remember, we're here to help if you're ever feeling uncertain.

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Wedding Wire is a great resource site. They have attractive wedding website templates, that don't look outdated or like every other free wedding website. Their rating system will also help you to form your opinion of whether or not to contact a vendor. There are a lot of great vendors that have profiles on this site and whose clients provide ratings...both good and bad!

Who hasn't heard of the knot.com? They are the ultimate iconic wedding resource! I especially appreciate the wedding bulletin boards -they are very useful...post your questions and instantly receive feedback from other bride and grooms to be!

And last but not least: