A Look Back | Spring Elegance Wedding | Hotel Sorrento, Seattle, WA.

Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs | Venue: Hotel Sorrento | Photographer: Jon + Moch Photography | Videographer: Crocker Creations | Florist: Flora Nova | DJ: SG Mobile DJ | Dessert: The Sweetside | Officiant: Doug Crocker (Bride's Uncle) | Paper Products: Girl Friday Studio | Calligraphy: Letters by Ellen Hair: Rachel Perez | Make-up: Gaylinyet Wedding Dress: Vera Wang from Nordstrom | Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom Men's Attire: Macy's | Transportation: Seattle Town Car

Josh + Casey were first introduced/set-up by the groom's cousin during a Fourth of July party and quickly fell in love causing Josh to move up to Seattle from California to begin his life with Casey.

We began working together after a great referral from our friend and fellow vendor Jamie from Girl Friday Studio a few months after they got engaged and really got down into the details of their big day. With a blush, white with gold accents color palette it was well represented in the bridesmaid dresses, flowers, and even down to the bride's incredible Badgley Mischka shoes.

It was those little details that were the most fun to work with. We loved how the couple wanted to incorporate their love of French Macaroons from The Sweetside as their place cards. Letters by Ellen hand-painted each guests's name on each delicate dessert in gold and surprised guests when they made their way to seat for the reception.

One challenge we had was with a wall that guests saw when they exited off the elevator. It was decorated with beautiful local artwork, however, it didn't match the theme of the wedding. So instead, we replaced all of their artwork with photos of the bride and groom that provided a beautiful and personal backdrop for their guest book, the perfect entrance for their wedding.

With a beautiful ceremony, performed by the bride's uncle, the couple exchanged their vows and rings under a stunning arbor with hanging crystals and flowers by Flora Nova. After our couple sealed their union with the most perfect kiss, our team was tasked to quickly transform their ceremony room into an elegant and romantic reception.

My highlight from this day (which was very hard to choose just one) was then we gave our bride + groom a first look into their reception room. It was such a rewarding moment, where the whole team of vendors came together to execute this couple's vision. Casey + Josh's reaction was the best thank you, anyone, could have ever asked for.

EA Vendor Spotlight: Breanna Plus Kevin

Tell us about your business!
We are a husband + wife photography team in Seattle! I (Breanna) have been shooting for over 10 years, and the last 6 years have been mainly weddings and families! Kevin and I met our freshman year in college and got engaged in 2016. Since then, we’ve shot all of our weddings together, and just had our 100th wedding at the end of 2019!

Why did you want to get into the wedding industry?
Your wedding is one of the best days of your life, and probably the biggest party you will ever throw. To be a part of so many “best days” is such a blast, and we couldn’t ask for better jobs. Also, the vendors we get to work with are one of a kind, and coming together to serve our couples is so rewarding.

What makes your company stand out?
As a husband and wife team, our couples know that we have been in their shoes. We have so much experience working together as a team, and can capture the day well because we know what one another is focusing on! We are there to help the day go smoothly, and capture the moments as they come!

Tell us about your personal style when it comes to your craft!
When we are shooting engagements or weddings, we have a good balance of helping direct the couple and capturing candid moments as they happen! Some of the best photos come from natural interaction, so we do a lot of movement-based prompts, but make sure to get some classic portraits for Mom’s fridge, too! In terms of our editing style, we want the photos to look like how the day did - so we don’t alter the images too drastically, just enough to enhance the beauty of the day!

Favorite part of working with couples?
Our favorite part about working with couples is the relationships we are able to form. We will often meet up beforehand to get a chance to know each other, which makes taking photos that much more fun! Every year, we get new friends for puppy play dates, board game nights, and happy hour! It’s incredible to be a part of their lives during such important seasons, and for some, follow along as they start a family.

Favorite part of the wedding day?
We have different favorites! Mine are the speeches, they get me every time! It’s so great to hear how loved the couple is from their friends and families, as well as the quirky stories about how they met. This group of people probably won’t ever be in the same room, so being included is such an honor. Kevin, on the other hand, loves the dancing and has such a blast capturing the energy – you’ll definitely find us on the dance floor!

Advice to couples in selecting a vendor in a wedding photographer!
Our advice for picking a photographer is to not only find someone’s work you love, but also their personality! You spend the majority of your day with your photographers, so having fun with them is so important. Also, check out reviews from past couples – I’m sure you do the same for Amazon purchases!

Business Name: Breanna Plus Kevin
Phone Number: 206-245-7198
Email: hello@breannapluskevin.com
Website: www.breannapluskevin.com
All Social Media Handles: @breannapluskevin

Organize like a Boss: Bachelor Party Edition!

Okay, you have the idea about what the groom wants to do for his bachelor party…but now what? If you’re anything like most groomsmen, the planning process can get a little hazy and blurry, induce excessive perspiration, and may even cause you to faint. That’s completely okay, because that’s what we’re for and here are some step-by-step instructions on how to execute your mission are listed below.

Confirm where and when with the groom. After the groom decides what he wants to do, figure out where you’ll be going and where you’re going to stay. If this is a one day activity, then obviously there’s no need for lodging decisions. Otherwise, figure out if you’re staying at a hotel, cabin, lake house, treehouse, yurt, cottage, etc. then specifically choose which hotel, cabin, lake house, treehouse, yurt, cottage, etc. it will be.

Approximate general expense. After you have the lodging nailed down, calculate the average cost it will be for everyone to stay there. Have a general sense of what everyone can afford and what everyone will want to pay. The bachelor should be covered in his costs for this, so divide his dollar amount across the groomsmen as well. Also, include any extra-excursion costs into the general total per each attendee. They’ll appreciate the heads up of what’s to come.

Pick a date. Unless you’re looking to plan this party on a super busy weekend in hopes of spicing up your trip with a bunch of tourists and/or children, try to book around major holidays and national events. Also, consider who out of the attendees has children and will need notice of the date as soon as possible to make sure their family life is in order before they retreat to the wilderness with no cell service for roughly 48-72 hours. DO NOT plan the party the night before the wedding!

Alert the troops. Send an email or round everyone up via conch shell horn and include the details of the party and/or trip. When translated into the male dialect, it should go somewhat like this;

TITLE (i.e. Brad’s Bachelor Party)

We’re doing (chosen activity), so bring (items necessary for chosen activity). We’re going on (date of departure) and coming back (date of return). Bring $(trip/activity expense estimation). 

Then maybe include something about getting your affairs in order before the trip, any flight details if you’ll be going somewhere exotic like Lake Tahoe, then finish it off with a nice photo of Brad (or whoever the groom is) last Halloween performing a full whip & nae nae in his Stormtrooper costume.  

Once you have everything in order, you’ll feel less panicked about logistics, and therefore, fully able to freely take part in all the hilarity and manly bonding that will ensue during the bachelor party. Just make sure to keep tabs on the groom (he will be needed shortly thereafter for the wedding ceremony and marriage to follow) and you’ll be golden.