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signage

culinary cuesDessert bars and edible favors are staples at many weddings, but several local brides are also cleverly including edible elements to act as helpful guides, from seating charts to programs. Beth and Kevin Dillon found inspiration for their reception centerpieces in a colorful apple display at Madison Market, where organic-loving Beth worked at the time. The Wallingford couple, who tied the knot at the Golden Gardens Bathhouse on October 16, named each of their 12 tables after an apple variety, from Braeburn to Fuji; guests’ names were inscribed on a chalkboard seating chart to guide them to their apple-laden table. West Seattle couple Emily and Travis Peterson doubled up snacks and programs at their September 17 wedding at the Farm Kitchen in Poulsbo. For a welcome full of country-fair charm, the pair gave arriving guests lemonade in Mason jars and freshly-popped popcorn (seasoned with sea salt, butter and herbs) in pint-size cartons printed with their ceremony program. M.P.

unveiled i nspir ation f rom r e a l w eddi ngs

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invitations

post scriptThe first chance to wow your guests comes when they spy the invitation in their mailbox, so set aside the chicken scratch in favor of West Seattle–based Perch Paper Company’s (perchpa-perco.com) whimsical and playful hand-addressed envelopes. A former graphic designer, owner Heather Burns turned her love of doodling into a full-time custom-calligraphy gig two years ago. Perch Paper’s oversize, quirky characters are available in a variety of styles, from romantic curly cursive to our favorite, which the self-taught calligrapher has dubbed “flirty, fun and

fab,” a modern, loopy and bold script that sprawls across the entire front of each envelope. Though she spends most of her time elbow deep in ink working on com-missioned calligraphy (brides provide a full guest list and their envelopes), Burns also creates beautifully inscribed “thank you” and “just married” signs ($25), and custom-made calligraphy return-address stamps for those post-wedding thank-you notes ($48). Calligraphy starts at $3 per envelope; expect, on average, a three- to four-week turnaround; order at perchpaperco.etsy.com. Kate Calamusa

Brideideasreception trends

Local Liquor BuzzWhile having a signature cocktail at your recep-tion may be slightly “2000 and late,” the deluge of new distilleries opening in Seattle has inspired brides to reintroduce the trend using locally-made artisanal vodkas, like those made at Sound Spirits in interbay (drinksoundspirits.com). The new Black label Spirits (blacklabelspirits.com) tasting room on capitol Hill offers 2-ounce tastes for couples looking to craft their own mix (a great wedding party get-together before the big day). Or let the experts take charge. For redmond couple john and chani Doggett’s august 21 wedding, lisa Dupar catering created two locally fueled vodka drinks for the cocktail hour: a rosemary-laced greyhound and a pretty pink raspberry martini. “We love the fun cocktails at Pomegranate Bistro and wanted to include a personal touch,” chani says. “We received a ton of positive feedback; people had no clue there were local vodka options!” For Lisa Dupar’s cocktail recipes and a list of local distelleries, visit seattlebridemag.com. Megan Phillips

To contact these vendors, see Resources starting on page 144.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

LEFT: Foodie programs;

a locally-laced vodka

cocktail; Perch Paper’s

modern envelopes

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Bridal Basics

reception sites

utina wardroomcity catering owner lendy Hensley was on the lookout for a bigger kitchen for her burgeoning catering business; she got it, plus the ownership of a new venue to boot. in january, city catering opened charming jewel-box venue utina Wardroom in the built-out front end of their new digs in South lake union. With exposed piping and rolling garage doors that open to the street, the industrial-chic space (named after a historic regional naval warship) holds an intimate 70 to 125 guests, depending on furni-ture arrangement. The clean lines and minimal décor make utina a versatile space for rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions or day-after brunches, plus it’s a foodie bride’s dream. Guests are a sliding metal door away from city’s expansive new kitchen, which continues to serve fresh, inventive northwest fare with a modern touch, such as water-melon and tobiko atop seared scallops or wild mushroom strudel with goat cheese and black truffle oil. Event rentals available in seven-hour blocks, $900 Sunday–Thursday, $1,100 Friday–Saturday; fall and winter dates available. K.C.

dresses

Something Diamond, Something Blue it’s been a banner 10 years for luly yang couture, Seattle’s premier bridal gown couturier. This year, in addition to debuting a shoe line and an ocean-inspired ready-to-wear collection with much aplomb, the designer also launched two new bridal gown lines, luly Blue and luly yang Diamond, which bridge the gap between ready-to-wear and couture. inspired by the palatial estate, fountains and gardens at versailles, the Blue collection includes simple, elegant silhouettes set in organza and tulle. Prices hover in the affordable $1,500 to $2,700 range, and gowns are available in sizes 2 to 18 from a template designed by yang. also inspired by versailles, the 2011 Diamond confections exude a soft femininity with oversize metallic taffeta f loral appliqués, voluminous skirts set in layers and layers of chiffon and hand-stitched freshwater pearl details. Diamond gowns range from $3,000 to $7,500, with add-on design options available to help brides tailor their dream gown to their real-life budget. additional accoutrements include custom design changes (adding straps or editing a neckline) as well as split sizes to f it top and bottom; brides who want the custom couture f it for a

Diamond design can do so for an extra $1,000. yang will continue to craft couture gowns, but the new lines cut down on wait time (dresses can be ready in as little as three months), while still allowing the designer to personally touch each design. “i want to be involved in the romance of each dress we make,” yang says. next up: She’ll take inspiration from the intricate, pristine cuts of diamonds for her 2012 Blue and Diamond collections, which will be avail-able to order by mid-October. K.C.

To contact these vendors, see Resources starting on page 144.

unveiled n ews+note s for th e n e a r ly w ed

Pictures of

perfection:

Luly Yang’s

ethereal 2012

Luly Blue

and Diamond

designs

save the date! The 40-piece 2012 Luly Blue

and Luly Yang Diamond

collections will make their

debut October 12 at the

Urban Unveiled wedding

show at Benaroya Hall; full

details at urbanunveiled.com.

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local online resources

twitter tipsFollow these go-to local experts on Twitter for helpful wedding ideas, from gown tips to advice on getting in shape for the big day. Shameless self-promo-tion alert! also, be sure to follow @Seattlebridemag for the dish on real local weddings, upcoming events and more. M.P.

playlist picks and

reception tips: @austinBeaver Downtown-based Dj austin Beaver tweets “Wedding Wisdom” on innovative ideas seen while Dj-ing a myriad of receptions

Fresh makeup advice: @SureshBeauty Practical, helpful makeup tips (like which eye shadow goes best with your coloring) from downtown makeup artist Suresh Seneviratne

invitation inspiration:

@PaprPassionista Owner Gayle O’Donnell doles out stationery tips, while also regularly posting local wedding event information

Wedding planning 101 :

@taylordevents Woodinville wedding planner jennifer Taylor’s planning tips, countdown checklists and craft ideas

exercise tips: @Thehealthybride advice on getting in shape from downtown fitness expert christi Masi

i - do hoW-to: @annejuhlian Wedding officiant annemarie juhlian’s super-sweet tweet advice on finding the right officiant

daily Fashion notes: @lulyyangcouture Fashion tips, helpful advice about when to order your dress, plus sneak peeks at downtown-based designer luly yang’s new collections

unveiled n ews+note s for th e n e a r ly w ed

diy aid

craFt servicesIt has happened to many a crafty bride: it starts with the best intentions to design and create a DIY invitation. Fast-forward to a paper explosion across the kitchen table, bits of tape stuck in hair and just one finished, (not nearly) perfect invite. Need some help? Turn to the new local go-to DIY resource, The Herban Design Studio. Launched in January within Sodo Park, the functional 1,800-square-foot space was created by Herban Feast owner BJ Duft in response to brides’ requests.

“Clients often asked for additional help,” Duft says. “Now we can enhance this support with a beautiful space to plan, create and visualize.” The studio offers planning consultations ($45/hour) and hands-on help for projects both teensy and those that have turned cata-strophic. The studio also offers full-service event styling, and Herban’s more popular décor items, such as ceramic cake stands ($10–$135), glass vessels for dessert bars ($4–$25), and luxe linens (prices vary) are also available for rent. The spot hosts evening DIY wedding workshops, which include materials, guided instruction and bites from Herban Feast Catering ($50 and up). Led by creative director Chad Burnworth, an upcoming class on terrarium centerpieces will guide participants in creating naturally embellished, succulent-filled terrariums ($65). Food, wine and full, hands-on instructions for DIY party favors? Martha Stewart, eat your heart out. For a list of upcoming workshops, visit herbanfeastdesignstudio.com. M.P.

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