There’s a great website with terrific wedding tips called Blog-O-Rama. This week they are featuring:
Preston Bailey is an internationally celebrated event designer and wedding planner with clients that include Donald Trump, Middle East Royalty and Oprah Winfrey. Watch as Preston gives us his specials tips on how to make your own flower centerpieces! For more Preston inspiration check out this link on flowers.
I love how Preston Bailey shows you how to turn a rose into a beautiful centerpiece for your reception table. Adding a few candles to something like this will not only look beautiful and elegant, but save you money as well.
Download the video Here
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I don’t know why but a lot of newly married couples gain 10 or 15 or 20 lbs of weight during their first two years of marriage. The bad news for them is every year the weight keeps going up. This doesn’t just apply to women, but also to men. I don’t want to talk about all the various reasons for this weight gain, but if you are not in this group, bless you.
AskMen.com was asked why women change after marriage and it pertained to weight gain. It might be slightly offensive to some so don’t click the link if you don’t want to read what they say, but the weight gain applies to both men and women after marriage.
Ludwig Borne put it best when he said, “A sweetheart is milk, a bride is butter and a wife is cheese.”
Now before everyone sends hate mail and death threats, let me add that my theory applies to both genders. To a woman a boyfriend is like wine, a groom is like cocktails and a husband is like flat beer.
I’m sorry to say Rebekah and I’ve also gained about 15-20 lbs in our 2 years of marriage. We joined a health club last year when we started to notice our weight going up and our health level going down, but with our different schedules it was difficult to go together and honestly, we weren’t motivated.
We quit the gym membership because it was a waste. We’ve been trying to control our diet a little more and taking walks together. As for me, I need a little more of a high impact workout to feel like I’ve really worked out. When I saw the new Nike + Ipod Nano workout program I got very interested. Basically, a little sensor chip goes into your Nike shoes and another part fits into your Apple Ipod Nano. They sync with each other and calculate your progress as your take your run/walk in real time. It is very well integrated and using ITunes and Nike.com software, it graphs your workout for you. Pretty amazing stuff and for a guy like me, it can get addictive and serve as real motivation. I just did my first run and it was so sad because I realized how out of shape I was right now. I didnt even do a full mile and I felt like throwing up after wards.
Anyway, this is also a great tool for those who are planning to get married. You can use it to get in shape so you look perfect on your wedding day!
If you don’t have an Ipod Nano, you need to buy one. I would recommend getting a reconditioned model from Apple. A 2 gig model currently costs $99 versus $149 new.
You also need the sport kit that includes the sensors and some running shoes. If you just bought some new running shoes that aren’t Nike, you can still use the kit with a work around. Here’s to staying healthy before and after marriage!
PS After I do a few more runs, I’m going to add a widget on the right side of my blog that keeps track of my runs. You’ll see what I’m talking about in a few days…
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There was a time when I was in the fine jewelry business. That was about 12 years ago in Tacoma and I learned all you can about diamonds and wedding rings. I even took some courses with the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). When I bought my wife a wedding ring (pictured below), I fell in love with the design of the ring from one of Simon G’s wedding ring collection.
Today, I went shopping for wedding rings all over again because my wife’s cousin is planning to purchase an engagement wedding ring and he wanted my help. First, we went to EE Robbins in Seattle because we’ve heard so many good things about them. They were totally professional, offered us drinks and things to eat and explained everything about the 4C’s of a great diamond. You know what they are… cut, clarity, color and carat weight. They carry the Simon G collection as well as designs from other well known wedding ring designers. Ask for Chelsea if you go in to the downtown Seattle store, she has a wonderfully bright personality and of course she is very knowledgeable about diamonds.
Next we went to Tiffany and Co. in the Pacific Place Shopping Center. The sales consultant had slightly more of a we’re the best attitude [nose level slightly higher =], but he was very accommodating and helpful. I really couldn’t complain and there’s a reason why he was that way. Tiffany rings are absolutely beautiful. My wife’s cousin fell in love with one of their rings right away until he saw the price tag. Fortunately, Tiffany’s offers all kinds of various combinations of diamond quality and size so the sales consultant was able to locate one with the same design in the price point he had in mind. We’re supposed to go see it on Tuesday when they ship it here from the East coast.
Following that, we went to Cartier to see what engagement rings they had to offer. Wow, this time we saw security guards right next to the sales consultant. A wonderfully proud lady helped us out and she was very helpful too. She was very proud of Cartier. We also stopped by Nordstrom’s fine jewelry department, but their collection was limited.
I have a feeling my wife’s cousin will go with either the Tiffany engagement ring or go with a design we found at EE Robbins. By the way, going from white gold to platinum raised the price by $1000. What in the world? Something only a woman can appreciate I guess.
Oh… so if you want a custom made engagement wedding ring of the highest quality you should check out J. Lewis Jewelry in Bellevue, WA. Our wedding clients, Alice and Kevin, had their wedding ring custom made there and it turned out wonderful. It’s pictured below… It’ll cost you though so be prepared.
Photos by Todd Kim
Susie Hamidi of Susie Hamidi Photography told me about Urban Unveiled. It’s a premier wedding event, organized by Sharlane Chase, Clare Marie, Della Chen, and Sandra Coan, to showcase top local wedding vendors in the Seattle area. Susie’s a VIP so she invited me to come =) It took place on Thursday March 8th at the Palace Ballroom in downtown Seattle. We have a wedding reception in April at the Palace Ballroom so I wanted to check it out. The highlight of the evening, besides talking with my PUG friends (Jeff La Plante and Brian and Jennifer Hartman) was seeing the exquisite wedding gown collection of Luly Yang. Aren’t they wonderful. I was watching the “soon to be brides” that were in attendance watch the beautiful models and I really started to understand how brides must feel in anticipation of their wedding day.
A picture of Luly Yang - top designer for sure.
Thanks Susie… You’re so cool!
Photographer: Todd Kim
Copyright 2007 Todd H Kim Photography All Rights Reserved
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Wedding Lore and Traditions
by Elizabeth Olson
Have you ever wondered why the bride stands to the left of the groom, or why the wedding ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand? The origins and meaning behind some of our most cherished wedding traditions may surprise you. There are, of course, multiple explanations for each piece of wedding lore, and few can be definitively traced back to their roots. Below are some of the more common and popular stories behind these traditions.
Tossing the Bouquet
Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that stems from England. Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.
Giving Away the Bride
The tradition of the father giving away his daughter has its roots in the days of arranged marriages. Daughters in those times were considered their father’s property. It was the father’s right to give his child to the groom, usually for a price. Today a father giving away his daughter is a symbol of his blessing of the marriage.
The Wedding Ring
The wedding ring has been worn on the third finger of the left hand since Roman times. The Romans believed that the vein in that finger runs directly to the heart. The wedding ring is a never-ending circle, which symbolizes everlasting love.
The Best Man
In ancient times, men sometimes captured women to make them their brides. A man would take along his strongest and most trusted friend to help him fight resistance from the woman’s family. This friend, therefore, was considered the best man among his friends. In Anglo-Saxon England, the best man accompanied the groom up the aisle to help defend the bride.
Bride on Groom’s Left
Because grooms in Anglo-Saxon England often had to defend their brides, the bride would stand to the left of her groom so that his sword arm was free.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in Your Shoe
“Something old” represents the bride’s link to her family and the past. The bride may choose to wear a piece of family jewelry or her mother or grandmother’s wedding gown.
“Something new” represents hope for good fortune and success in the future. The bride often chooses the wedding gown to represent the new item.
“Something borrowed” usually comes from a happily married woman and is thought to lend some of her good fortune and joy to the new bride.
“Something blue” is a symbol of love, fidelity, and purity of the bride.
“A sixpence in her shoe” is to wish the bride wealth in her future life.
The Tiered Wedding Cake
The origin of the tiered wedding cake also lies in Anglo-Saxon times. Guests would bring small cakes to the wedding and stack them on top of each other. Later, a clever French baker created a cake in the shape of the small cakes and covered it in frosting. It is now known as the tiered cake.
Wedding Bouquet
Flowers are incorporated into the wedding ceremony as a symbol of fertility. The first bouquets consisted of herbs and, later, orange blossoms.
The Bridal Veil
The bridal veil has long been a symbol of youth, modesty, and virginity and was used to ward off evil.
Bridesmaids
The bridal party is a tradition that has been established for many centuries. For a long time the purpose of the bridal party was to fool evil spirits. The bride’s friends dressed similarly to her in order to confuse any virulent presences that might be lurking about. Today bridesmaids are there to support the bride in the stressful times during the wedding.
You want to hire the best people and locations for your wedding. Hiring the best / trusted / experienced people / vendors can influence how smoothly your wedding day goes so we will update this list from time to time. Remember this is only our personal OPINION so your personal experience could end up different, but we’ve been a part of enough weddings to “know” when we see quality. I’m very tempted to also include a DO NOT HIRE list for wedding vendors, but we will hold off on that. I don’t have time right now to make a complete list, but we will keep this POST updated from time to time.
Outdoor Wedding Locations
Outdoor weddings are so romantic and intimate. They can be in the backyard of a home, on a romantic beach, up in the mountains or at a park. These are some of my personal favorite outdoor wedding locations:
Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, WA is one of my favorites! The surroundings are beautiful with lush gardens, very green lawns, plenty of flowers, trees and decor for beautiful pictures. It’s also right on the beach so you can have pictures of the water as well. If it happens to rain, which is a good possibility in WA state, they have a very nice lodge for indoor weddings and their reception hall is amazing. The thing that really sets Kiana Lodge apart though is the staff. They are very helpful and professional. The food they serve there is wonderful - especially the oysters. I can’t wait for our next wedding there!
Pictures above by Todd H Kim photography
The Manor in Everett is another wonderful location for outdoor wedding ceremonys. They also have a nice indoor area for the reception. Click here to see a video from a wedding we videographed at The Manor in Everett/Lynnwood, WA.
Kubota Gardens in South Seattle is another wonderful location in Seattle for outdoor weddings. If you like beautiful flowers, ponds with reflection, bridges and trees than Kubota Gardens has it in spades. I highly recommend Kubota Gardens. You can view some images from a wedding we photographed at Kubota Gardens by clicking HERE.
Top Hotels for Weddings in Seattle
Fairmont Olympic Hotel - Luxury Hotel for extravagant weddings
Sorrento Hotel in Seattle - lots of European charm and romance
As Seen on Komo TV’s Extravagant Weddings
The Emerald Star - Private luxury yacht for weddings by Waterways Cruises and Events
Canlis Restaurant - Enjoy the marvelous food in a private setting
Columbia Tower Club - Luxurious wedding and reception setting inside Seattle’s tallest building. Click HERE to see video footage from the top of Columbia Tower Club.
Wedding Rings | Engagement Rings | Fine Jewelry
EE Robbins in downtown Seattle provides a genuinely good experience when it comes to shopping for wedding or engagement rings. Their customer service is excellent and they have a good selection of settings and diamonds. Ask for Chelsea at the downtown EE Robbins store. She offers excellent knowledge and service; Her bright personality will win you over!
If you want a custom made engagement wedding ring of the highest quality you should check out J. Lewis Jewelry in Bellevue, WA. Our wedding clients, Alice and Kevin, had their wedding ring custom made there and it turned out wonderful. It’s pictured below… It’ll cost you though so be prepared.
Photos by Todd Kim
Wedding DJs
Choosing the right Disc Jockey for your wedding is so important for your wedding reception. Most DJs that we have run into do a good job of making sure music is good. Music is only a part of their jobs though. They are also responsible for microphone sound quality and sometimes the flow of the party. At one wedding we worked at in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, the DJs microphone/speakers kept squeaking throughout the reception. It was a big distraction to an overall beautiful wedding. Having the right personality and what you desire from your wedding DJ is very important so when you interview your DJ ask them questions and think about how you want your DJ to perform on your wedding day. You may prefer a very laid back DJ who plays music and only announces information when they are supposed to. On the other hand, you may be nervous that your reception will be boring and want a DJ who can entertain and liven up the party if it needs it.
Sound Sational Music - Ken and Jae Shoemaker were the DJs for a wedding we did in Edmonds in 2006. They were totally professional and I was impressed by how they were able to carry the party. They got everyone to dance and just have a blast. They also make sure to communicate well with the wedding photographer and videographer. If you want a DJ who can liven up the party in a professional and fun way, I recommend Sound Sational Music. No website. Office: 253.847.4387 Cell: 253.376.4674
Click the picture above to see a clip from the reception that Sound Sational DJd and we videographed.
Custom Frames for your Pictures | Art Work
Aaronbrothers Art & Framing offers an excellent selection of frames in all kinds of styles and sizes. If you need custom made frames they will be happy to offer their expertise in creating something you love. If saving money is priority they have a nice selection of pre made frames as well. You can sign up to be on their email list for special offers and news HERE.
Wedding Limo and Transportation Services
Having a nice limo or Bentley isn’t the only requirement to being a good wedding transportation company. We’ve been to plenty of weddings where the limo driver got lost on the way to the reception, didn’t know how to turn on the A/C or music, or just seemed like they were drinking and driving. Here’s to good drivers with nice cars:
British Motor Coach - Matt Lau (Driver) - This is a personal recommendation from our friend Me Ra Koh. The following are her words:
If you need to rent a limo for your wedding, you have to call British Motor Coach! And ask specifically for Matt Lau to be your driver!
Matt was the driver for Mark and Angela’s winter wedding, and he was amazing! He not only made GREAT suggestions of where to take us for good photos, but he knew ALL the in’s and out’s of where to park in downtown Seattle, how to get the car in and out fast, and where the best brick alley is!
Matt’s personality was great! He poured Angela and Mark champagne and treated Angela like a princess. Honestly, he was a huge part to making their day wonderful.
The number to call is 206-283-6600. Tell them you heard about us on our blog! I told Matt I’d do this because of how much I loved working with him, but I don’t think he believed me! 
Seattle Bride magazine is taking their votes for BEST VENDORS in 2006, and you can bet we’re voting for British Motor Coach! If you’ve experienced how great they are, you can vote for them too! (no, they’re not paying me to say all this, I just LOVED working with them, and loved how much joy they brought our couple!)
I’m telling all our Seattle brides to use Matt! Trust me, we’ve seen a lot of drivers, and Matt Lau was AMAZING. Plus, the British Motor Coach is so classy, you can’t go wrong!
Great Churches for Weddings
St. James Cathedral in Seattle has got to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the US. When the choir sings, it sounds like Angels are singing and the whole experience is pretty special. The church wedding staff aren’t the most flexible people, meaning no movement by photographers/videographers during the ceremony, but I got along with them just fine.
Bastyr University Chapel at the Kenmore campus of Bastyr University is a grand location for weddings.
Photographer: Todd Kim
Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle (below) is a historical landmark in Seattle. It is also a beautiful Catholic church to be married in.
Reception Locations
This list of terrific wedding reception locations will be updated from time to time.
The Palace Ballroom in downtown Seattle offers fine food, drinks and great atmosphere. For pictures from a wedding at The Palace Ballroom click HERE.
Other wedding locations reviews in WA state coming soon:
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