Vendor Spotlight: Port Gamble

Let’s face it – we couldn’t be who we are, without our fabulous vendors. Over the years we’ve met so many wonderful individuals in the wedding industry. We decided to reach out to some of our vendors from the past and present, and ask them what fuels their business and what they're all about! So, sit down and relax with us as we sit down with our vendors to discuss what is at the heart of their business. We are so excited about this week’s vendor:



Port Gamble Weddings & Events

The Port Gamble Weddings office has been established for over 20 years! However, our team is made up of individuals who have all chosen the world of weddings because we feel like we can make a difference in someone's experience and make their special day that much more 

Our company is Port Gamble Weddings and Events and we have been an event venue in the industry for over 20 years. We offer two great venues for your wedding or special event that can accommodate 150-185 guests. St. Pau's Church is our historic 1800's church with waterfront views and classic northeastern charm. Our second venue, the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion is located on the Hood Canal with waterfront views that truly encompass what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Our team is made up of passionate wedding professionals who are here to help you throughout your planning process, walk you through the space prior to your event, create your custom floorplans for your reception, and much more memorable.

A couple on their wedding day in front of St. Paul's church in Port Gamble.

We’re dying to know – what made you dive into the world of weddings?
The Port Gamble team says…
“After planning my own wedding and working with such an amazing group of wedding vendors (who honestly have become family at this point) I decided that I wanted to be able to do for other couple's what they did for me. Working with people on one of the most exciting and special events of their life, making them run smoothly, and seeing the happiness that they experience is why I work in the wedding industry!” - Elizabeth

Kristen-
“I've always been drawn to the magic of weddings & how special they can be for each person. I had my start with catering and bartending and had fun seeing guests and the newlyweds have a beautiful experience. It truly is magical and I look forward to every opportunity to see new visions with every couple.” - Kristen

“I was never the girl who played "wedding", or imagined what my wedding would be. However, when I was in college friends and family started getting married. They reached out because of my organizational skills, crafting ability, and vocals. Once I began helping to plan, decorate, and organize weddings...I couldn't stop. There is so much joy and personality that goes into creating a couple's wedding day; I can't help but love being a part of it all.”- Amber

A couple saying I Do during their wedding ceremony inside of St. Paul's church.

Tell us about how you started your business.
In the early 2000s, we had a team who worked in Port Gamble take a look around and think that the beauty of the town could be an amazingly unique backdrop for someone's special day. A couple of years later in 2002, our historic St. Paul's Church became the home to only a few weddings. Fast forward 21 years later, and Port Gamble is now hosting almost 100 weddings each year in St. Paul's Church or overlooking the water at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion. Our wedding team is incredibly honored to be part of this historical town and contribute to it's unique history.

Our company is Port Gamble Weddings and Events and we have been an event venue in the industry for over 20 years. We offer two great venues for your wedding or special event that can accommodate 150-185 guests. St. Paul's Church is our historic 1800's church with waterfront views and classic northeastern charm. Our second venue, the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion is located on the Hood Canal with waterfront views that truly encompass what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Our team is made up of passionate wedding professionals who are here to help you throughout your planning process, walk you through the space prior to your event, create your custom floor plans for your reception and much more!

A couple saying I Do outside on the lawn  of the Hood Canal Pavilion.

What's the secret sauce behind bringing that touch of elegance to your projects?
Port Gamble Weddings’ secret sauce is definitely our team! As a venue, your building will sell because it's beautiful, fits someone's budget, or can accommodate a certain guest count, but it's the people behind the scenes that really make the magic happen. We have a group of venue coordinators who are very enthusiastic about ensuring our client's experience is beautiful and memorable. When you have a team behind your with that kind of love for their job, you can't lose!

A couuple on their wedding day on the water in Port Gamble.

Advice you want to give couples about the wedding planning process?
The best advice I think couples can have is to hire vendors that you can put your trust in and get along with. Although magical, wedding days can also be extremely long and stressful for some. If you have a team of vendors who you can trust to solve problems that may arise, make a couple of day of decisions for you, etc. it will make all the difference in how you remember your wedding day.

A couple on their wedding day in Port Gamble.

What trends do you hope to see or want to see in 2024?
The one big thing that we have noticed is that couple's seem to prioritize their guests overall experience at their wedding. We have seen couples focus more on what they can do for their guests to have a unique experience at their wedding. We have seen things from interactive guests books to couple's hiring artists to draw their guests pictures during the reception. We would really love to see this trend continue throughout 2024, so we can see even more awesome ideas from our couples!

A wedding reception in the tent at Hood Canal Pavilion in Port Gamble.

Spill the tea – what's the next big thing in weddings that has you buzzing with excitement?
We just love seeing all of our couples think outside the box and try new things. However, we have loved seeing our couple's use their grandparents as ring bearers & flower girls! It's just too sweet. If this is the next big thing in weddings, we are so ready for it!

A couple and their wedding party on the steps of St. Paul's Church in Port Gamble.

We love working with you, why do you love working with Elegant Affairs?
We love working with Elegant Affairs because when they are part of any event, you know that everything is going to go off without a hitch! The their team is always so passionate about making every couple's wedding experience so special and perfect. Couples can head into wedding day knowing that the Elegant Affairs team is going to bring their wedding visions to reality.

Reach out to us today!
Port Gamble Weddings & Events
Portgambleweddings@raydient.com
360.297.8074

A couple on their wedding day in front of a balloon garland and lit marquee letters spelling LOVE.

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Vendor Spotlight: Essence of the Thymes

Let’s face it – we couldn’t be who we are, without our fabulous vendors. Over the years we’ve met so many wonderful individuals in the wedding industry. We decided to reach out to some of our vendors from the past and present, and ask them what fuels their business and what they're all about! So, sit down and relax with us as we sit down with our vendors to discuss what is at the heart of their business. We are so excited about this week’s vendor:



Essence of the Thymes

Essence of the Thymes provides food and service for the most memorable days of people's lives. We have PNW style and are creative with menus. We are full service which means that we can also manage your rentals and handle full set up to final clean up.

 We’re dying to know – what made you dive into the world of weddings?
My friend asked me (knowing that I wanted to cater) to cater her wedding.  It started out for 200 people.  What? Of course I said yes and knew I would figure it out.  I kept getting phone calls from this friend the month prior telling me her guest count was going up to 225, then 250 and finishing at 295 as her final count.  I loved it and started advertising at Wedding Shows the first chance I got.  

Tell us about how you started your business.
I originally planned to have a restaurant. I was working as a corporate restaurant trainer. We would train the crew before the restaurant opened. It was challenging and unpredictable. Then when I had someone ask me to cater an event it felt similar and good. I knew what I wanted to do!

What's the secret sauce behind bringing that touch of elegance to your projects?
Essence of the Thymes team is the BEST! The whole team has passion for the events we serve. It makes all the difference when people care. When we pair that up with great food, it is the perfect recipe.

Any wild, funny, or heartwarming tales from your wedding adventures?
We see all the amazing, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have experienced couples using the rented dishes for their ceremonial breakage, guests getting in fights, couples singing to each other, the most heartwarming speeches, generation tables with family wedding pictures dated back to the 1800s, and cakes built upside down, This is just to name a few.

Advice you want to give couples about the wedding planning process?
Breathe! And enjoy, don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions to feel comfortable with your vendors. Then, you can trust their processes for success.

What trends do you hope to see or want to see in 2024?
We predict that couples will want more out-of-the-box menus and step away from traditional menus. We also see menus that foster interaction! 

Spill the tea – what's the next big thing in weddings that has you buzzing with excitement?
We are SO excited that more clients are wanting to feature food throughout the day. This means food can begin before the ceremony, interaction, and fun food choices, and end the night with snacks to go!

We love working with you, why do you love working with us?
The style of Elegant Affairs events is top-notch.  Some of our most beautiful weddings have been serviced by them.  And I will add, these weddings feel smooth. 

Anything else we must know about you?
Reach out to us today! 
Essence of the Thymes LLC
360-876-9200
www.essenceofthethymes.com
EssenceoftheThyme@hotmail.com
























Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Vendor Spotlight: By Captivate

Let’s face it – we couldn’t be who we are, without our fabulous vendors. Over the years we’ve met so many wonderful individuals in the wedding industry. We decided to reach out to some of our vendors from the past and present, and ask them what fuels their business and what they're all about! So, sit down and relax with us as we sit down with our vendors to discuss what is at the heart of their business. We are so excited about this week’s vendor:

BY CAPTIVATE

Our mission is to serve our couples beyond the “I do” by capturing in-the-moment memories that last a lifetime. Through story-driven filmmaking, we’ll make documenting your day easy, carefree, and couple-focused so every detail, every moment, and every emotion can be re-lived for years to come.




 We’re dying to know – what made you dive into the world of weddings?
As life partners and parents, we know the feeling of “life passing you by” all too well. When we held our firstborn in our arms for the first time, we knew we couldn’t let one moment go by undocumented. From then on, we wanted to capture every single milestone, all while making sure we weren't sacrificing mindfulness and living in the present moment. That's exactly how we discovered our passion for filmmaking. Our heartbeat is to serve couples through filmmaking to help them remember and cherish the moments that matter the most forever, while allowing them to soak up every minute of their wedding day with ease.

Tell us about how you started your business.
A little over 10 years ago, we launched our videography venture. We've always been drawn to the camera, capturing the genuine moments that make life special. Throughout the past decade, we have filmed just about everything – from real estate and small business commercials to family photos. And now, we're excited to bring that touch to weddings!

What's the secret sauce behind bringing that touch of elegance to your projects?
What sets us apart is our unique approach. Our aim is to ensure you relish every moment of your wedding day, surrounded by your favorite people, without it feeling like an extended photo session. We assist in creating a serene atmosphere, allowing you to be fully present in the moment, while we seamlessly capture every detail for you to cherish later on.

Any wild, funny, or heartwarming tales from your wedding adventures?
One of our favorite heartwarming moments was from a wedding in Bonney Lake. The bride had a four-year-old son, who was beyond excited for his mom to get married, and to welcome his new dad into the family. The bride planned a special First look with her son. As soon as he saw her, he squealed with joy and exclaimed “Mommy you look so pretty!” We will never forget that moment, and the happy tears shared by all in the room!

Advice you want to give couples about the wedding planning process?
You’ve spent valuable time planning the perfect wedding day, but with every piece of planning advice you always seem to hear, “The day will fly by!” This day is a culmination of thoughtful decision-making, hours of planning, and your personal love story, and it should be documented as such. It’s not enough to capture stills. It’s time to document your day in a living way.

What trends do you hope to see or want to see in 2024?
We love seeing more and more private last dances. It’s usually the last moments of the night when the couple can share a special dance. It’s the perfect time to soak in the beautiful celebration and all the memories made from the day.

Spill the tea – what's the next big thing in weddings that has you buzzing with excitement?
We are so excited to see all of the new colors, trends, and vibes that are coming to the wedding world. It truly is an ever-evolving space, and we are so excited to see what comes next!

We love working with you, why do you love working with us?
We love working with Tiffany and Lori from Elegant Affairs. The work they do is truly so detail-oriented. No stone is left unturned in the planning process. They also come ready with three years of experience to navigate elegantly through any unforeseen circumstance on the day of.


Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.