PNW Color Palettes You’ll Love

We are a proud company from the Pacific Northwest. We were created in the PNW and we are lucky enough to call it our home. There is SO much beauty the PNW has to offer and there is nowhere in the world quite like it. From the lush landscape of our rainforests, to the crisp cool air on the Snoqualmie pass. This location has so much to offer our clients. And depending on the season you choose to tie the knot in, there are so many options for theme and color palettes. We’ve selected some of our favorite places as inspiration to bring you four curated color palettes for any PNW bride or groom. So, grab yourself a cup of Pike’s Place Brew and let’s take a tour of this place we call home. 

PIKE’S PLACE MARKET

Our first stop is Pike’s Place Market. The market will forever be one of our favorite spaces. From the lively crowds, beautiful blooms, and creative arts – this place is truly one of a kind.

Our color inspiration that comes from the market can be summed up into one word: vibrance. The market is full of vibrance. No matter what time of day you arrive, or whether you’re there for a quick trip or all day, you’ll experience vibrant colors, food, and places. 

MOUNT RAINIER

On a clear day, you’ll be able to see majestic Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is absolutely stunning and we still are in awe of its beauty year round. Whether it is covered in snow, or full of wildflowers just in time for a hike, it’s always on our list as one of our top favorite places in the PNW. 

This location is serene and majestic. Even though we often forget that it is a dormant volcano, our community sure does love this place. The colors we’ve selected to represent this magical place represent the beauty it has to offer and a piece of serenity. 

RAINFORESTS AND FORESTS

One of our favorite locations to visit or coordinate in are our temperate rainforests or dense forests.. Rainforests make up a large part of our peninsula and Washington is home to the beautiful Olympic National Park. One of our most memorable weddings was nestled in a dense forest in Kitsap. 

Whether you choose to hold your wedding at a venue in the lush landscape, or just want to incorporate some colors from these locations, its natural beauty will sure shine. 

VIEW FROM QUEEN ANNE

Whenever we have guests that are new to the PNW, we always have to take a tour of the city. One of my favorite spots is this outlook that truly shows off what Seattle has to offer. It’s nestled in the heart of Queen Anne and the views are stunning. It shows off the beauty of Seattle, from the sound, to the sounds of the bustling city. 

The skyline of Seattle is breathtaking and the colors in our last palette represent the modern and diverse culture that Seattle has to offer. This is perfect for our city, modern brides, who want their wedding day to truly dazzle. 

The PNW has evolved over the decades, but there is one thing that stays the same - its beauty. From the downtown skyline at night, to the lush forests. We love the PNW and the communities that it fosters. We’ve had the pleasure of serving this community in the wedding industry for over a decade. It inspires us and our couples on a daily basis. We hope you found some inspiration in our beautiful home, too! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle 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.

Say No to a Playlist

We’ve all spent some time in our years creating our perfect playlist on Apple Music or Spotify. We rock out to our crafted playlist in the car, at the pool, or turn it up when we clean the house. But, should playlists make an appearance at your wedding, too? We all love a good playlist, but in the grand scheme of things, playlists are not a person. Playlists do not provide a fun ambience, bring lighting to brighten up the space and get your guests dancing, cannot take requests, or bring a sound system with them. DJs and bands play an important role in weddings. They are an essential vendor during the ceremony and the reception. So, let’s talk about why they deserve a line in your wedding budget. 

I’m not going to lie, myself and other wedding assistants have played the role of DJ for many weddings. Back in the day, and we’re talking iPod days, I’ve clicked playlists or had to wait for the right second of the song to stop and change music as the bride walks down the aisle. I’m going to be real with you, I get stressed out just thinking about it. It was stressful. Even with a playlist, I can feel myself scrambling and worrying if the song would play, or if the plug with give feedback in the system. I never liked playing DJ. There are too many mistakes to happen and you definitely don’t want your loved ones or guests to be in charge of a role that should be played by a professional. 

One of the biggest roles we play is coordinating the day of your wedding. This includes scheduling and accounting for each minute of your wedding day. One of the key people we coordinate with to create this timeline is your DJ or band. Your vendor in charge of entertainment will determine what kind of sound system set up is needed for the ceremony and the reception. We will discuss the exact portion of your songs, to the second, where to start, where to play, and your entertainment will handle it seamlessly. Once we coordinate the timing for your procession, recession, cake cut, first dance, mother daughter etc., your DJ will stick to the timing and ensure that your wedding runs smoothly with all of your must-have songs being played. You will not have to worry about when your music will play or how it will be executed. Your DJ or band will have it covered! 

Your hired DJ or band will also help keep your wedding lively and your guests engaged. Many entertainment vendors will have various options and extras that can add some spice to your wedding day! We’ve seen gorgeous uplighting that compliments our couples’ wedding colors, as well as their monogram in lights during their first dance. Your entertainment can fit your personality and your vibe. You will meet with your vendor prior to the wedding day to determine your must haves and your do not play list. And trust us, this do not play list is important. You can decide if you want guests to ask for requests, or if you want your DJ to select music based on the vibe of the crowd. Once we had a group of individuals that seemed to really love 90’s hip hop and the DJ felt their energy and adjusted his music with the approval of the bride and groom. They are professionals that contribute largely to the atmosphere of your wedding day. 

Now, you might be thinking that DJ’s and bands are outdated. Or perhaps you think, “I don’t want my reception to feel like a club.” Well, did you know that there are different types of DJs or bands? We like to think of DJs like a photographer. Photographers have different styles and editing. Some like their photos posed and crisp and clean, while other photographers prefer candid shots with warm tones. Much like you shop for a photographer, you’ll shop for a wedding entertainer. DJs and bands provide different experiences. Some offer a classic DJ experience, some mix songs as they go, others work on getting the crowd up and dancing. We’ve seen live bands that work on getting guests dancing and participating. There are a wide variety of DJs and bands out there and we have worked with so many fabulous vendors that create a stress free wedding day for other vendors and their clients. 

When you select a wedding entertainer, the first question you’ll want to ask is what kind of experience do you and your guests want to have. What do you envision for your wedding day? Do you want a live concert feeling? Or do you want a DJ that can keep the crowd up and dancing? Once you determine the style of DJ of the band you’d like, the next step is determining what role you want your vendor to play on your wedding day. Each company will have different packages and offer different skill ranges and extras. We suggest meeting with a few vendors and determining what each vendor can offer. You want to find a vendor that will be a good fit with your energy, personality, and wedding expectations. 

Once you’ve selected your DJ or band, you want to meet with them and determine what you style is for the ceremony and reception. Often your vendor can help you select your songs for the ceremony or first dance, but you are more than welcome to bring ideas to the meeting! Be sure to be clear on your don’t play list, what their systems are for the ceremony and reception, your view on requests, when the last song will be played, and how your wedding coordinator will incorporate your DJ or band into wedding day announcements. 

Although playlists may seem like the more affordable option, we hands-down recommend hiring a DJ or wedding band to entertain you and your guests on your wedding day. They are professionals that are able to ensure you will have a stress-free wedding day and be able to focus on your wedding and enjoy the company of your guests. Having the right wedding entertainment can make or break your wedding. They help create the energy for your wedding day and keep your guests dancing through the night. So, just say NO to the playlist… we promise you won’t regret it.

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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.

Creating the Perfect Ceremony Script

We live in a world where anything is just a click away. This includes becoming an ordained minister through the google. Even our fearless leader, Lori, is ordained and has officiated her fair share of weddings. Whether you decide to get married at a church, or have your grandfather or BFF marry you on the beach, there are many things to consider when creating your ceremony script. If you’re in the trenches of wedding planning, we highly suggest that you sit down with your partner and begin to build your perfect ceremony script. Today, we’re going to break down the creation of the perfect ceremony script - including what to add, what to leave out, and how to make it focused on you, your partner, and your beautiful relationship. 

#01: Talk about your Beliefs

First and foremost, this is hands down the most important topic in creating your ceremony script. You and your partner will need to determine what your beliefs are and what kind of ceremony you’d like to have. Do your beliefs require you to get married in a church setting or are you wanting to have a family friend become ordained and marry you. Determining the “how” and “why” you chose your ceremony location and officiant or pastor is the most important part of creating your ceremony. Sort out your mutual beliefs and make the decision on how you will incorporate this into your partnership and wedding day. 

#02: Religious and Cultural Traditions 

Many couples want to include religious or cultural traditions in their ceremony. Whether you’d like your bridesmaid to read a verse from the Bible, or you have a specific tradition that demonstrates unity from your culture, deciding what traditions are essential will help create the structure of your ceremony script. In addition, many couples like to add some sort of visual or testament to unity. Whether unity sand is your jam, or you’d like to find another visual to show a nod to your unity, decide what you’d like to have included. 

#03: Who will Participate? 

You and your partner will need to determine who will participate in your ceremony. Will you have your wedding party speak? Or will your wedding party sit down for the duration of the ceremony? You will need to decide who will be participants in your ceremony script and how. This includes ring bearers, flower girls, and even your parents. 

#04: What will the Length be?

The length of your script and ceremony will be determined on a few things. First, you’ll want to take account of your location and the weather. If your wanting an outdoor summer wedding at 5 o’clock, it’s probably best to keep your ceremony short and sweet. You want to keep your guests comfortable throughout the duration of the ceremony and that includes the processional, ceremony and recessional. Keep the length appropriate for your venue, time of year, and the beliefs that you have. 

#05: Select your Music!

You and your partner will want to select music that speaks to you and your relationship. Find songs that reflect the love you share for one another and determine what parts of the songs you want featured. You don’t have to feature the whole song, you may just select a short segment of the song. Most couples will select songs for the following: processional, introduction of the bride, first kiss, and recessional. 

#06: Tailor it to your Relationship!

We’ve saved the best for last. Your perfect ceremony script should reflect who you are as a couple and your bond together. The script you include, the readings you select, the songs and participants, should all be a reflection of who you and your partner are and the love that you share. 

Crafting the perfect ceremony script is not as scary as it sounds. You can truly design a script to be whatever you want it to be if you follow our six easy steps. Decide what you and your partner’s beliefs are, who you want to participate, select the songs you’d like during your ceremony and create a ceremony that reflects the heart of your relationship. We love hearing unique ceremonies that highlight the beauty of our couples’ magical relationships!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle 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.