What are you doing Thursday?

Get Hitched, Give Hope from Edit 1 Media on Vimeo.

The amazingly talented and oh so generous Edit 1 Media created this one of a kind video highlighting last year's Get Hitched Give Hope. With only 4 days left until the big event I thought I would share it with you. If this video doesn't make you want to come then I don't know what will!

BUT... just in case I will also mention that we will be auctioning off an Edit 1 Media Love Story/Engagement Music video, designer Anne Barge couture dresses (not just 1 but 5), T. Anthony Sholdt diamond wedding bands, spa packages, and much much more! There is something for everyone. I'll be buying up the raffle tickets by the dozen! I'm married and in the industry, but there is soooo much good stuff I want a chance to win (and donate) of course!

Tickets are on sale now. Buy one here!

Details:

What: Get Hitched Give Hope - Swanky cocktail wedding show and charity auction

When: Thursday 10.29.09 - That's THIS Thursday!

5:30 - 9:30 PM

Where: The swanky Arctic Club Hotel

Why: All proceeds raised go to grant wishes for stage 4 breast cancer patients and their families through the Making Memories Foundation. And, it feels SO good to give back! Come be a GIVER! Buy your ticket and save time at the door. I look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Wendi Wednesday...Wedding Dress?

Dear Wendi,

Where is the best place to get a wedding dress?

-Bride in need of help, Seattle

Dear Bride in need of help,

This is a great question! A wedding dress is a HUGE part of your wedding. It is your signature piece! It tells everyone everything about you and your style. With my clients I can tell/plan everything about a wedding based on her engagement ring and dress choice(s). A fabulous dress is a MUST have! I know that budgets have gotten a little tighter this year than in years past, so to answer this question I have a fabulous suggestion:

Get Hitched Give Hope has given us another sneak peak at one of the awesome items that will be auctioned/raffled off at the bridal event on Oct. 29th!!

"The Gown Diva Package!" It includes not just ONE dress... but your choice of FIVE couture Anne Barge gowns!!! In addition, Liz Navarro, personal stylist to the most fashionable brides, will help you pair one of these gowns to best fit your body type and style. She will pair it with Grace shoes and a Madina Vadache veil (courtesy Voletta Couture!) to bout! And if that weren't enough, she will also act as your style consultant for accessories!

This package would normally be well over 4 Grand... but of course... anything goes when a live auction begins! The bids will start WELL below retail value (like WELL BELOW!). This is an opportunity any bride would dream about, but at auction prices it is a Dream Come True! So, buy your tickets, get there early, check out the gorgeous models who will be roaming around the Dome Room, and ask plenty of questions- Liz will be there all night!
Tickets and more here!!! http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/

p.s. Did I tell you that proceeds from the event will go to grant final wishes for Stage 4 breast cancer patients? Well, they do. So go get your ticket. Like now! Go on. Do it. BE A GIVER ;)

I hope this helps you (Bride in need of help) and every other Seattle, Portland, Spokane, etc. bride out there. This event is worth the drive!

- Wendi Hroncich

ethereal events

Fantastic image: Laurell McConnell Get Hitched Give Hope

Diamonds are a Girls best friend!

Diamonds really are a girls best friend, along with her spouse, dog, and maybe a girl friend or two! At Get Hitched Give Hope, October 29th, 2009 His and Her diamond rings could be a Groom's best friend too!

The Get Hitched Give Hope team is proud to announce that at this year's event we are auctioning off His and Hers wedding bands. This generous donation is from the fabulous local Queen Anne Jeweler T. Anothy Sholdt! He and his jewelery are amazing. We're so honored to have him participating. And what a treat for every bride & groom!
His: Tungsten wedding band with a palladium inlay.
Hers: Diamond eternity band set in palladium with 43 (count ‘em! 43!) round brilliant cut diamonds (.22 carat total weight)

If haven't already, mark your calendars and BUY your tickets! You don't want to miss this party!

Photos: The incredibly talented Laurell McConnell!

Real Wedding Friday - Angela & Nathan Alanis!

I met Angela & Nathan last October after Angela saw me nominated on King 5's Best of Western Washington. She came to me with a few ideas of what she wanted for her and Nathan's wedding, but was mostly a clean slate willing and wanting my help and advice! I love working with clients like this! It gives me a chance to really work with them to figure out what makes their relationship special and how to best showcase their personalities in their wedding. I had such a great time working with Angela & Nathan for the 7 months prior to their wedding! They are such a fun, loving, and sincere couple.


I have the greatest job in the world! Here are a few images from their amazing day:

All Photos by the amazing Chris Gendron!

The Countdown has begun!! 29 days...

Today marks the 29 day countdown to Get Hitched Give Hope! For those of you who ask "What is Get Hitched Give Hope?" I will tell you, it is the amazing charity event coming up on October 29th, 2009 at the Arctic Club Hotel. The beneficiary being the Making Memories Foundation through Bride's Against Breast Cancer. This organization grants wishes for Breast Cancer patients and their families whom the cure won't come soon enough. Inspiring, I know! But, if that is NOT reason enough to come, then for the next 29 days the Get Hitched Give Hope blog will be giving a different reason every day to attend!

Tickets are very affordable, starting at $25. They are on sale now! So, Click here and get yours! Can't make it, you can still donate to the wonderful cause here. Be a GIVER! You know you wanna!

I can't wait to see you October 29th! You won't want to miss it!

Corinna & Jason, by Wendi Hroncich

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Voting has begun!!

Hi All,

The voting for Best of Western Washington has begun. We are honored to be nominated again this year in the wedding planner category! With our top 5 finish last year, we are hoping to pull out a victory in 2009!

It is because of all of you that we will be able to do so. Please vote for all your favorites! Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to us!

Click here to vote for Ethereal Events!

Voting ends October 10th.

Here's the Story

Yesterday I shared the copy of a news story for Q13 Fox I was a wedding consultant on. Click here for the video clip.

ALL the information in the story was provided by myself or my client Angela Alanis, used by reporter Dana Rebik.


Photo by Kurt Smith Photography

Weddings on a Budget

I work with clients that have budget's of $20K to $500K and everywhere in between. One thing about them is the same, they want to get most for their money while keeping it elegant and beautiful. So, the other day when asked to be the wedding consultant by Q 13 Fox's Dana Rebik for a story she was doing on Bride's on a Budget I couldn't pass it up. The story ran on this morning's news program! If you missed it, here is the copy:

How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget
Local wedding planners say a majority of brides are slashing budgets due to the tight economy.
Dana Rebik Staff reporter
August 10, 2009

Seattle - Planning a wedding on a tight budget is stressing out many brides right now.

For some, the tough economy means no elaborate ceremonies or receptions, but there's a lot you can do to plan a frugal yet fabulous wedding.

Angela Alanis got married on May 30, 2009 in Seattle and says she was stressed for months about paying the bill.

"It was a shock when the venue and catering bill was going to be the entire budget! We really had to prioritize," says Alanis.

Seattle wedding planner Wendi Hroncich of Ethereal Events says she saw a slight decline in wedding planning budgets in 2008, but in 2009, it's a demand among most brides. In fact, a recent survey shows 40% of brides have cut their budgets this year because of the economy.

So where do you start when it comes to cutting costs? One easy way is decor, and skipping elaborate centerpieces. If you have a wedding of 200 guests at 20 tables of 10, having a large elaborate centerpiece at each table could cost you 200 dollars on the high end per centerpiece. That's a total of $4,000! If you choose to use colored linens at about $15 dollars a piece, and a smaller arrangement like floating flowers and candles, you could be paying about $600 dollars for your centerpieces. That is a savings of $3,400.

Some other ideas include bringing your own alcohol and caterer to your reception, assembling your own invitations and using an iPod for dinner and cocktail hour, and only hiring a DJ or band for dancing afterwards.
Copyright © 2009, KCPQ-TV

All the information in the story came from myself and my wonderful bride (married May 30th) Angela Alanis!

Here are a few additional budget saving tips Dana's story didn't mention:

1. Double use your flowers:

Using the flowers from ceremony to reception is not only green, it is also smart and budget friendly. If you're having aisle posies attached to chairs or pews, or on stands lining the aisle of your ceremony you can transfer them to table tops of your reception for an easy and elegant center piece. The brides maid's bouquets can be used as extra decor on the guest book table, cake table, head table, buffet, and anywhere else you like a little something extra. The bridal bouquet makes a wonderful centerpiece for the sweet heart table. If you double use the flowers from ceremony to reception there is so much more to work with and less money spent.

2. Use items other than flowers or perishables for decor. Feathers and colored glass stones are really popular right now. You rent them from your florist or designer, and since they reuse them over and over the cost is far less then flowers.

3. Having a cocktail style reception not only elevates your swank factor, it is also a huge savings from a formal sit down meal. You are paying for finger foods rather than a huge meal. Many cocktail receptions have ample amounts of food, just in smaller portions so guests never go home hungry and you aren't spending beyond your means.4. Get Hitched Give Hope is a great way to save money on your wedding. It's coming up on October 29th, 2009! There are incredible deals to be had on your dress, Coordination, DJ, live music, flowers, and so much more! Bride's last year got as much as 70% off high end vendors! This will save you HUGE amounts of money! Write it on your calendars now, 10.29.09.

5. Last, but not least: Hire a Wedding Coordinator. This is the most important piece of advice I'm giving to you today! We save you time, money, stress, mistakes (like losing your deposit on a bad vendor), headaches, etc. We will work with in your budget and find the best vendors available to you in your price range. We are not looking to make you spend more money. If we were so limited to only a small set of the highest end vendors WE WOULD NOT BE VERY GOOD AT OUR JOBS! We are here to find the perfect fit vendor for you, and you alone!

If it's not in your budget to have a coordinator plan the whole wedding, that is okay. Hire one to sit down with you to get you started. Many coordinators especially myself are available on an hourly or package consultant basis. Mine is called 'Jump Start to Planning!' It has been so helpful for so many clients!

Best of luck planning! Really try to enjoy this magical time in your life!

If you have a tip on how you saved money please send it to me. I'll post it on my next blog. I love to hear from you!