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A supplement to the Whidbey News-Times, South Whidbey Record and The Whidbey Examiner hidbey eddings 2016 W W Destination

Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

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Page 1: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

A supplement to the Whidbey News-Times, South Whidbey Record and The Whidbey Examiner

hidbey

eddings2016

WW

Destination

Page 2: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Page 2 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

The Shortest Distance to Far Away®

Free maps and guides plus lodging and event info atWhidbeyCamanoIslands.com

Visitor Information Centers:For in-person help and detailed information, call or stop by one of the many visitor centers located throughout the islands.

The Shortest Distance to Happily Ever AfterCross over by bridge or ferry and find yourself in a different world. This is the ideal place for your perfect day. Life is less complicated here. You’ll find everything you need for your gathering or group getaway.

Congratulations to Jen and Scott, married on July 27, 2013 at the Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island. Photo by Jason Koenig with JKOE Photo.

Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce 32630 SR 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277OakHarborChamber.com(360) 675-3535

Coupeville Chamber of Commerce905 NW Alexander StreetCoupeville, WA 98239CoupevilleChamber.com(360) 678-5434

Greater Freeland Chamber of Commerce 5575 Harbor Avenue, #101 Freeland, WA 98249Freeland-WA.org(360) 331-1980

Langley Chamber of Commerce 208 Anthes Avenue, Langley, WA 98260VisitLangley.com(360) 221-6765

Clinton Chamber of Commerce, c/o Dalton Realty 9546 Hwy 525, Clinton, WA 98236 DiscoverClintonWa.com(360) 341-3929

Camano Island Chamber of Commerce848 N. Sunrise Blvd, #4 Camano Island, WA 98282CamanoIsland.org(360) 629-7136

Page 3: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 3

THE BEST OF

WHIDBEYREADERS CHOICE AWARDS

Best Western PlusHarbor Plaza & Conference Center

Bridal Packages Available« Complimentary Bridal Suite with any of our Bridal Packages »

** Mention this ad for a discount **

Contact Ashlie Bird for Pricing and [email protected] • 360-679-456733175 State Route 20 • Oak Harbor, WA 98277

EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER | Keven R. Graves

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Kimberlly Winjum

EDITOR | Megan Hansen

COPY & PHOTOS | Ron Newberry, Ben Watanabe & Staff

MARKETING | Nora Durand, Teri Mendiola & JoAnn Baker

CREATIVE | Jen Miller, Rebecca Collins, Michelle Wolfensparger &

Caitlin Frost

Additional copies of this publication may be available by calling:

WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES | 360-675-6611SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD | 877-316-7276P.O. Box 1200, 107 S. Main Street, Suite E101

Coupeville, WA 98239

On the coverThe cover photo was shot on Whidbey Island by photographery Michael Stadler of Stadler Studio Photography, www.stadlerstudio.com

So the question has been popped and joyfully accepted. Now you both have to start thinking about what needs to get done to make sure this special day runs smoothly and that nothing is forgotten. Dear brides and grooms, here are the top 20 essentials to consider for a memorable wedding.

1. GUEST LIST. This is your day, so only invite the people with whom you actually want to share the moment.

2. INVITATIONS. Would you pre-fer to send out lavish printed invita-tions or simple virtual invitations? Whatever your choice, send them out as soon as you’ve set the date.

3. WEDDING PLANNER. This service can take quite a load off your shoulders so you can focus on the important stuff.

4. GROOMSMEN AND BRIDESMAIDS. Choose people you like and who aren’t afraid of being in the spotlight.

5. CELEBRANT. Be sure that the person you choose to unite your destinies will allow you to personal-ize the ceremony.

6. LOCATION OF THE CER-EMONY. Do you prefer a church, city hall or a beach?

7. RECEPTION VENUE. You can opt for a reception hall in the coun-

try, a posh hotel or simply a family member’s home.

8. FLOWERS. Choose a bouquet that goes with the bride’s outfit — and choose one that all the single women will try to catch when the time comes.

9. RENTAL EQUIPMENT. For the sound system, tableware and even the tables and chairs, opt for a local company with a trustworthy reputation.

10. GIFT REGISTRY. By making this virtual document available to your guests, you won’t receive the same gift twice.

11. MUSIC AND ENTERTAIN-MENT. Choose an experienced DJ who will take into account your needs and preferences.

12. PHOTOGRAPHER. Look through a photographer’s portfolio and ask for references before choos-ing the person who will immortalize this special event.

13. CAMERAMAN. Watch videos made for previous clients before making your choice.

14. THE CAKE. Visit a few baker-ies to find a cake that makes your

mouth water and a baker skilled in cake decorating.

15. WEDDING FAVORS. Don’t forget to give your guests a person-alized me mento of your wedding.

16. TRANSPORTATION. Would you prefer a limousine, a sports car or a vintage car? Or maybe even a horse and carriage?

17. RINGS. Be sure to visit more than one jewelry store before mak-ing your choices, and don’t skimp on the quality of these precious symbols.

18. THE GROOM’S SUIT. The future husband should choose an outfit that shows him off to advan-tage without eclipsing the star of the day.

19. THE BRIDE’S OUTFIT. This is the most beautiful day of your life, so you have a legitimate right to the dress of your dreams — and shoes and jewelry and veil.

20. HAIR AND MAKEUP. The bride should take this part of her preparations very seriously. Just think about all the photos that are going to be taken throughout the day.

TOP 20 ESSENTIALS

for a successful wedding

Page 4: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

By RON NEWBERRYIt's been a mission of Gloria Mickunas

to change conventional thinking about destination weddings in the Puget Sound region.

Through her experience as a wedding and event planner, she learned quickly that the first destination that often comes to mind from her Seattle clients are the San Juan Islands.

Enamored with Whidbey Island ever since she moved there 15 years ago, Micku-nas has worked to open more eyes about what the island offers and has been happy to see interest rise.

"The San Juans are gorgeous and stun-ning," said Mickunas, owner of Coupe-ville-based Whidbey Party Girls! "but we have everything they offer and so much more. Not only is it more cost effective

to have a wedding here, we're closer to Seattle. We're just a 15-minute boat ride (from Mukilteo)."

The reasons that make Whidbey an attractive option to consider for a des-tination wedding run much deeper than

the island's scenic beauty and rural backdrop, according to Mickunas.

The island features a growing number of unique wedding venues. Other island assets include dedicated professionals in the catering and rental business and a shuttle service

that runs regularly to and from SeaTac Airport, among other things.

"We're not just barns and fields," Mickunas said. "That's been a big mis-conception."

Yet, it's those barns, fields, woods and water views that give the island its scenic country charm and al-low Whidbey to easily pass the eye test to be considered for one of life's biggest celebra-tions.

And word has gotten out beyond the Seattle market.

The number of desti-nation weddings on the island from out-of-state parties has risen considerably in recent years, according to Paula Spina, who owns the Crock-ett Farm, a popular wedding venue in

Central Whidbey that features a historic barn and bed and breakfast.

Spina has owned the farm for 11 years and watched the wedding business on the island boom since the time she started.

“Whidbey’s becoming a tre-mendous wedding destination,” Spina said.

“When we started, only two or three of us were doing weddings around town. Now there are dozens of people (in the wed-ding business).”

An increase in elaborate and scenic event centers across the island that depict the Northwest seem to be part of the force behind the momentum.

Former restaurant owners Dave and Dawn Noble moved to Langley in 2003 from the Midwest and purchased an old farmhouse and barn on 10 acres in the woods that they ultimately turned into Fireseed Catering.

Initially starting as an off-site caterer, the Nobles transformed their barn and grounds into an events center where they could host and cater their own weddings and even pick produce from their own garden.

Since starting out with four weddings in 2006, Fireseed has become one of

Page 4 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

3531 Resort Road, Greenbank, WA 98253360.678.1912

www.meerkerkgardens.org

Marry Me at MeerkerkINTIMATE • BEAUTIFUL • UNIQUE

WHIDBEY ISLANDA premier wedding destination

Michael Stadler photos

There are many locations options for weddings on Whidbey, from rustic historic barns to chic, upscale event properties.

Page 5: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 5

having yourwedding and/or reception at the

Historic Island County Fairgroundsin Langley on beautiful Whidbey Island!

Two commercial kitchens, small hall for intimate diningand a large, historic pole building for the main event.

If you are considering an outdoor wedding — enjoy thebeautiful barns for your backdrop!

Contact the Property Manager for reservations and pricing at 360-221-7950 or [email protected]

Planning Your Wedding?

having yourwedding and/or reception at the

Imagine...

the island’s premier destina-tion wedding sites, averaging between 40-45 weddings a year with wedding parties and guests coming from as far away as Pennsylvania, New York and Florida.

“The Northwest is what we show off,” said Dave Noble, whose property features an outdoor ceremony location that looks out over a lake and vast open space.

“The ceremony space is sur-rounded by lush Northwest gardens and big trees. The menu has that (Northwest emphasis) and the craftsmen have put their local Whidbey Island theme and touches on everything that’s in here.

“A lot of people book with us because this shows off everything good about the Northwest and it shows off in more detail Whidbey Island.”

The Nobles said they’ve seen a large increase in wed-ding professionals who live on the island than when they started.

“There are more florists, more photographers and

more caterers on the island,” Dawn Noble said. “There are more venues now. More people have started going down that venue road and trying that and are finding various degrees of success.”

Jessica and Jon-Paul Dowdell, owners of the South Whidbey catering company known as the Roaming Rad-ish, recently purchased a

unique piece of property near a private airport in Langley where they plan to open their own restaurant and also hold weddings.

They are converting an old airplane hangar into the restaurant.

Jessica Dowdell said she’s also seen an increase in wed-ding parties from out-of-state in the past five years.

“Another trend I’ve noticed in the last two years is the welcome party,” she said. “Instead of having a rehearsal dinner, we’re doing welcome parties for the entire wedding party.”

Aside from private venues, Whidbey Island also features its share of outdoor weddings held in public locations with stunning views, particularly Fort Ebey, Fort Casey and Deception Pass state parks.

Jack Hartt, manager of Deception Pass, said about 25 weddings are held at his park every year.

But the growth in Whidbey weddings has created at least one recurring problem par-ticularly during the wedding season from spring until fall.

It can be hard for guests to find enough lodging.

“We used to refer clients to inns in Langley and they’d book them no problem,” Dave Noble said. “Now, I refer them a year or more out and sometimes they’re already booked up by someone else who’s having a wedding.”

Ron Newberry photo

Wedding and events planner Gloria Mickunas meets with a client at the Captain Whidbey Inn, one of many unique venues on the island for wedding events.

Page 6: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Page 6 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

engagement events•

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•rehearsal dinners

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Five tips for finding the perfect wedding dress

As the bride, you will be the focus of everyone’s attention on your big day, including all the guests as well as your beloved, of course. But in order to be the most beautiful woman in the room, the star of the celebrations must choose her dress carefully.

Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Think before you shop. It’s exhausting trying on dozens of dresses at random in the hopes of finding the perfect one. Before going shopping, be sure to browse some magazines and search the Internet to narrow down the styles you prefer.

2. Shop well in advance. Most people get married in the summer, so dress-makers’ agendas soon fill up and the prettiest dresses fly off the racks quickly. Make sure you plan enough time for the fittings.

3. Choose carefully who you shop with. Don’t shop with a crowd of friends who will confuse you with all their comments and diverging opin-ions. Choose one or two people who know you well and who have good taste. You’ll want them to be able to give you some honest feedback.

4. Choose a dress that you like. Your dress should make you feel good and allow you to be yourself. You also want to be comfortable walking up the aisle and dancing. Naturally, you’ll also want to choose a model that flat-ters your figure.

5. Bear in mind the general atmo-sphere. Your outfit should harmo-nize with the wedding theme and the reception hall. For instance, a formal sequined dress is not really appropriate for a country setting.

One last tip: decide how much you want to spend on your dress before you begin your search. That way you won’t ruin your whole wedding budget by splurging on an expensive dress.

Michael Stadler photo

Choosing the right dress for you is an important part of your big day.

Even though the love of your life will be the star of the show at your wedding, you, as her future hus-band, must also look great. Need a hand? Here are some rules for look-ing your best and being stylish on your big day.

1. Take into account the wedding theme. Romantic, retro, country, glamour: once you’ve decided on the style and theme of the day, you’ll be able to choose between a suit and a tuxedo.

2. Imagine your total look. Don’t just focus on the type of suit, but rather on the general impression you want to give. Don’t forget that what you wear around your neck will set the tone for your outfit. Also think about the combination of fabrics and colors.

3. Choose the right fabric. Adapt your outfit to the season. Cotton or lightweight wool is appropriate for summer weddings. Linen, on the other hand, is perfect for a country wedding.

4. Don’t forget the accessories. Tie, suspenders, pocket handker-chief: your accessories should reflect the mood of the wedding. Choosing them before your outfit will give you an idea what color the latter should be.

5. Don’t clash with the dress. Shop for your outfit with either your future wife or a person who has seen her dress. A swatch of her dress fabric could also come in handy.

6. Make the most of your build. A checkered pattern makes you look bigger; black slims you down, and a long jacket lengthens the torso.

7. Make sure you feel comfortable. Choose an outfit that suits your per-sonality. Above all, you don’t want to give the impression of being in disguise.

Happy shopping!

Choosing your groom’s outfit

Page 7: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 7

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15 Coveland St ~ 10 to 5 daily

Learn the art of choosing flowersFrom the bridal bouquet

to the decorations, flow-ers are going to be a major feature of your wedding. Not only do they create an atmosphere that is both festive and harmonious, they have to do it without breaking your budget. But don’t worry; it’s possible to achieve that goal with a bit of ingenuity.

Choose your wedding dress first; it will influ-ence the creation of your bouquet. A patterned dress, for instance, will require a fairly discreet bouquet. You should also take into account your figure: if you are petite, you should avoid cascading bouquets, which are more suitable for tall, slender brides. And make sure your bouquet isn’t too heavy, as you’ll be carrying it for a long time.

You have a limited bud-get? Choose native flowers that are in season or exotic flowers that are readily available. Think foliage; it will add volume to your bouquet and it’s inexpen-sive. When choosing flow-ers, you may also want to consider their meanings. For example, you may pre-fer red roses (love) or white roses (pure love) rather than yellow roses (infidelity) and daffodils (coldness).

Choose flowers that don’t wilt quickly, that don’t stain and that don’t have an over-powering scent.

Once you’ve decided on your bouquet, it’s time to consider the buttonholes, bridesmaids’ bouquets and the reception hall decora-tions. All these elements should take inspiration

from your bouquet. You could use one of the flow-ers from your bouquet for the groom’s buttonhole and similar but smaller bou-quets for the bridesmaids and table centerpieces.

Need some inspiration? A professional florist is sure to have many great ideas to help you.

Has the time come to pay a visit to a jew-eler in preparation for your wedding day? Be sure to do your homework first, because several factors have to be taken into account if you want to make the right choice.

Wedding bandsWedding bands are the symbols of your

union and must be chosen carefully. When searching for the perfect rings, your first step should be to set a budget and determine your preferences.

n The type of ring: solitaire (one stone); three stones set side by side; eternity or semi-eternity (stones set around a portion or the entire circumference of the ring).

n The metal: gold; platinum; silver; titanium.

n The stone: diamond; sapphire; ruby.n The cut of the stone: square; elon-

gated; heart; oval.You’ll be wearing your wedding band for

a long time to come, so above all, make sure it’s comfortable.

AccessoriesYour choice of jewelry will depend on the

style of your dress, but don’t forget that the first rule of wedding jewelry is not to overdo it. If you’re wearing a rhinestone-encrusted bustier, you’re better off opting for earrings rather than a necklace.

If you decide to wear earrings, the style you choose will depend on your hairstyle, the shape of your face—long earrings for a round face, for instance—the stones that adorn your dress and your hair ornament (wear small earrings with a big diadem).

If you want to wear a bracelet as well, be sure to choose something discrete. Your dress is a simple one? An extravagant neck-lace could look great, as long as it goes well with the shape of your neckline.

Michael Stadler photo

Choose a bouquet that not only complements your dress, but also your figure.

Wedding bands and accessories

Page 8: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

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olor

.

1 W

EE

K B

EFO

RE

G

ive

rece

ptio

n si

te/

cate

rer

� nal

gue

st h

ead

coun

t. In

clud

e ve

ndor

s, s

uch

as th

e ph

otog

raph

er o

r ba

nd m

embe

rs,

who

will

exp

ect a

mea

l. A

sk h

ow

man

y ex

tra

plat

es th

e ca

tere

r w

ill

prep

are.

S

uppl

y lo

catio

n m

anag

er

with

a li

st o

f ven

dor

requ

ests

su

ch a

s a

tabl

e fo

r D

J or

set

up

spac

enee

ded

by �

oris

t.

Pla

n re

cept

ion

seat

ing

char

t.

Pri

nt p

lace

and

tabl

e ca

rds,

or

� nal

ize

list w

ith th

e ca

lligr

aphe

r

you

have

hir

ed to

do

so.

C

all a

ll w

eddi

ng v

endo

rs a

nd

con�

rm

arr

ange

men

ts.

G

ive

cere

mon

y an

d re

cept

ion

site

man

ager

s a

sche

dule

of

vend

or d

eliv

ery

and

setu

p tim

es,

plus

con

tact

num

bers

.

Gro

om: G

et y

our

hair

tr

imm

ed.

A

ttend

bac

helo

r/et

te p

artie

s.

2-3

DA

YS

BE

FO

RE

B

ride

: If y

ou n

eed

to, h

ave

your

gow

n pr

esse

d or

ste

amed

.

Gro

om: G

o fo

r � n

al �

tting

and

pi

ck u

p yo

ur fo

rmal

wea

r.

Gro

om: A

sk th

e be

st m

an to

m

ake

sure

all

groo

msm

en a

ttend

� t

tings

and

pic

k up

thei

r ou

t� ts

.

Det

erm

ine

wed

ding

-par

ty

posi

tions

dur

ing

cere

mon

y an

d th

e or

der

of th

e pa

rty

in th

e pr

oces

sion

al a

nd r

eces

sion

al.

H

and

off p

lace

car

ds, t

able

ca

rds,

men

us, d

ispo

sabl

e ca

mer

as, f

avor

s an

d an

y ot

her

item

s fo

r se

tting

the

tabl

es to

th

e ca

tere

r an

d/or

rec

eptio

n si

te

man

ager

.

Rec

on� r

m �

nal d

etai

ls

with

all

vend

ors.

Dis

cuss

an

y ne

cess

ary

last

-min

ute

subs

titut

ions

.

Cal

l the

lim

ousi

ne-

or c

ar-

rent

al c

ompa

ny fo

r pi

ckup

tim

es

and

loca

tions

.

Arr

ange

for

gues

ts w

ithou

t ca

rs to

be

pick

ed u

p fr

om th

e ai

rpor

t or

trai

n st

atio

n. A

sk

frie

nds,

atte

ndan

ts o

r re

lativ

es to

he

lp.

D

eliv

er w

elco

me

bask

ets

to

the

hote

l con

cier

ge; m

ake

sure

to

incl

ude

nam

es a

nd d

eliv

ery

inst

ruct

ions

.

DA

Y B

EFO

RE

P

rovi

de a

ll w

eddi

ng

prof

essi

onal

s w

ith a

n em

erge

ncy

phon

e nu

mbe

r to

cal

l on

the

day

of th

e w

eddi

ng.

W

rite

che

cks

and/

or ta

lk to

w

eddi

ng h

osts

(usu

ally

you

r pa

rent

s, if

not

you

) abo

ut a

ny

� nal

bal

ance

s to

be

paid

at t

he

end

of th

e re

cept

ion.

NIG

HT B

EFO

RE

R

ehea

rse

cere

mon

y. M

eet w

ith

wed

ding

par

ty, c

erem

ony

read

ers,

im

med

iate

fam

ily a

nd y

our

of� c

iant

at t

he c

erem

ony

site

to

rehe

arse

and

iron

out

det

ails

.

Bri

ng a

ll sp

ecia

l cer

emon

y ac

cess

orie

s to

the

site

.

Giv

e yo

ur m

arri

age

licen

se to

yo

ur o

f� ci

ant.

A

ttend

reh

ears

al d

inne

r.

Pre

sent

atte

ndan

ts w

ith g

ifts

at th

e re

hear

sal d

inne

r. Yo

u’ll

wan

t to

do th

is e

spec

ially

if th

e gi

fts a

re a

cces

sori

es to

be

wor

n du

ring

the

wed

ding

.

DA

Y O

F

P

rese

nt p

aren

ts a

nd e

ach

othe

r w

ith g

ifts.

G

ive

wed

ding

ban

ds to

the

best

man

and

the

mai

d of

hon

or

to h

old

duri

ng th

e ce

rem

ony.

G

ive

best

man

the

of� c

iant

’s fe

e en

velo

pe, t

o be

han

ded

off

afte

r th

e ce

rem

ony.

I

ntro

duce

you

r re

cept

ion

site

m

anag

er to

you

r co

nsul

tant

or

mai

d of

hon

or fo

r qu

estio

ns o

r pr

oble

ms

duri

ng th

e re

cept

ion.

A

ssig

n a

fam

ily m

embe

r or

atte

ndan

t to

be th

e ph

otog

raph

er’s

cont

act s

o he

kn

ows

who

is w

ho.

PO

STW

ED

DIN

G

P

rear

rang

e fo

r so

meo

ne to

re

turn

any

ren

tals

.

Pre

plan

for

atte

ndan

ts to

take

th

e br

ide’

s go

wn

for

clea

ning

an

d re

turn

the

groo

m’s

tux

to th

e re

ntal

sho

p.

Wri

te a

nd s

end

than

k-yo

u no

tes

to g

ift-b

eari

ng g

uest

s an

d ve

ndor

s w

ho w

ere

espe

cial

ly

help

ful.

JU

ST H

OW

MU

CH

W

ILL T

HIS

DA

Y C

OS

T?

Whe

n it

com

es to

� na

ncin

g a

wed

ding

, you

sho

uld

� gur

e ou

t ho

w m

uch

you’

ll ne

ed to

spe

nd

to g

et w

hat y

ou w

ant.

Her

e is

a

basi

c br

eakd

own

of w

hat y

ou c

an

expe

ct to

pay

:

Rec

eptio

n: 4

8%-5

0%C

erem

ony:

2%

-3%

Atti

re: 8

%-1

0%Fl

ower

s: 8

%-1

0%E

nter

tain

men

t/Mus

ic: 8

%-1

0%Ph

otog

raph

y/V

ideo

grap

hy: 1

0%-

12%

Stat

ione

ry: 2

%-3

%W

eddi

ng R

ings

: 2%

-3%

Park

ing/

Tran

spor

tatio

n: 2

%-3

%G

ifts:

2%

-3%

Mis

cella

neou

s: 8

%

* To

avo

id s

tres

s, a

llot a

bout

5%

of

you

r bu

dget

for

a “j

ust-

in-c

ase”

fund

. If

you

’re p

ayin

g fo

r yo

ur h

oney

moo

n yo

urse

lves

, rem

embe

r to

bud

get f

or

thos

e ex

pens

es a

s w

ell.

NO

TE

S:

Page 9: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Wedd

ing P

lannin

g Chec

klist

Wedd

ing P

lannin

g Chec

klist

Just e

ngag

ed?

Won

deri

ng

abou

t all

of th

e th

ings

yo

u’ll

need

to d

o an

d w

hen?

H

ere’

s a

mon

th-b

y-m

onth

sn

apsh

ot o

f all

you

r w

eddi

ng

to-d

os.

12+

MO

NTH

S B

EFO

RE

E

nvis

ion

your

wed

ding

and

dr

aw u

p a

budg

et.

A

ssem

ble

your

“pl

anni

ng

team

.” C

onsi

der h

irin

g a

wed

ding

co

nsul

tant

.

Pic

k a

wed

ding

dat

e an

d tim

e. S

elec

t sev

eral

opt

ions

, the

n ch

eck

with

you

r ven

ues,

of�

cian

t, im

port

ant g

uest

s be

fore

� na

lizin

g.

Sta

rt p

lann

ing

the

gues

t lis

t.

Loo

k fo

r and

boo

k ce

rem

ony

and

rece

ptio

n si

tes.

A

sk fr

iend

s an

d re

lativ

es to

be

in th

e w

eddi

ng p

arty

.

Opt

iona

l: H

ave

an e

ngag

emen

t pa

rty.

You

may

wan

t to

regi

ster

be

fore

hand

for g

ifts.

8-1

0 M

ON

TH

S B

EFO

RE

B

ride

: Thi

nk a

bout

, sho

p fo

r an

d or

der

your

gow

n.

Env

isio

n re

cept

ion

food

.

Dec

ide

wha

t typ

e of

en

tert

ainm

ent y

ou w

ant.

A

pian

ist f

or th

e co

ckta

il ho

ur,

stro

lling

vio

linis

ts, a

DJ

or b

and?

T

hink

abo

ut y

our

� ora

l dec

or.

R

esea

rch

and

book

you

r w

eddi

ng p

rofe

ssio

nals

. Int

ervi

ew

vend

ors:

pho

togr

aphe

r, vi

deog

raph

er, r

ecep

tion

band

or

DJ,

� or

ist.

R

esea

rch

a w

eddi

ng in

sura

nce

polic

y to

pro

tect

you

r de

posi

ts.

R

esea

rch

and

rese

rve

acco

mm

odat

ions

for

out-

of-t

own

gues

ts.

R

egis

ter

for

gifts

.

Con

tact

ren

tal c

ompa

nies

if

you

need

to r

ent a

nyth

ing

for

cere

mon

y/re

cept

ion,

suc

h as

ch

airs

, tab

les

and

tent

.

6-8

MO

NTH

S B

EFO

RE

B

ook

cere

mon

y m

usic

ians

.

Ord

er b

ride

smai

d dr

esse

s.

Sta

rt p

lann

ing

hone

ymoo

n.

Sen

d sa

ve-t

he-d

ate

card

s.

This

is a

par

ticul

arly

goo

d id

ea if

yo

u’re

mar

ryin

g du

ring

a to

uris

t or

hol

iday

sea

son

or h

avin

g a

dest

inat

ion

wed

ding

.

4-6

MO

NTH

S B

EFO

RE

A

ttend

pre

-wed

ding

co

unse

ling,

if r

equi

red.

S

hop

for

and

orde

r in

vita

tions

an

d w

eddi

ng r

ings

.

Sho

p fo

r fo

rmal

wea

r.

Ren

ew o

r ge

t pas

spor

ts, i

f ne

cess

ary.

E

nvis

ion

your

wed

ding

cak

e an

d re

sear

ch, i

nter

view

, and

bo

ok a

cak

e de

sign

er.

3 M

ON

TH

S B

EFO

RE

O

rder

wed

ding

cak

e.

Hir

e a

calli

grap

her,

if yo

u w

ant y

our

invi

tatio

ns

prof

essi

onal

ly a

ddre

ssed

.

Atte

nd y

our

show

er. (

It m

ay

be e

arlie

r, de

pend

ing

on w

hen

host

s de

cide

to h

ave

it.)

G

room

: Ren

t the

men

’s fo

rmal

wea

r.

Hir

e w

eddi

ng-d

ay tr

ansp

ort:

limou

sine

s, o

ther

car

s. L

ook

into

tr

ansp

orta

tion

soon

er if

you

’re

cons

ider

ing

rent

ing

stre

etca

rs o

r ov

er-t

he-t

op tr

avel

.

2 M

ON

TH

S B

EFO

RE

M

ail y

our

invi

tatio

ns.

W

rite

you

r vo

ws.

P

urch

ase

gifts

for

pare

nts,

at

tend

ants

, and

eac

h ot

her.

B

ook

your

sty

list a

nd tr

y ou

t bi

g-da

y ha

irst

yles

.

Boo

k m

akeu

p ar

tist f

or a

tria

l ru

n.

1 M

ON

TH

BE

FO

RE

A

pply

for

a m

arri

age

licen

se.

Che

ck w

ith th

e lo

cal b

urea

u in

th

e to

wn

whe

re y

ou’ll

wed

.

Bri

de: H

ave

� nal

gow

n � t

ting.

B

ring

you

r m

aid

of h

onor

alo

ng

to le

arn

how

to b

ustle

you

r dr

ess.

H

ave

the

dres

s pr

esse

d an

d br

ing

it ho

me.

C

all a

ll br

ides

mai

ds. M

ake

sure

they

hav

e th

eir

gow

ns r

eady

fo

r th

e w

eddi

ng.

M

ake

last

-min

ute

adju

stm

ents

w

ith v

endo

rs.

C

reat

e a

wed

ding

pro

gram

to

hand

out

to g

uest

s.

Ord

er a

nd p

lan

in-r

oom

w

elco

me

bask

ets

for

out-

of-t

own

gues

ts.

2 W

EE

KS

BE

FO

RE

R

evie

w �

nal R

SVP

list a

nd

call

any

gues

ts w

ho h

ave

not y

et

sent

a r

espo

nse.

D

eliv

er m

ust-

have

sho

t lis

ts to

ph

otog

raph

er a

nd v

ideo

grap

her.

Incl

ude

who

sho

uld

be in

form

al

port

raits

and

det

erm

ine

whe

n po

rtra

its w

ill b

e ta

ken.

D

eliv

er �

nal s

ong

list t

o yo

ur D

J or

ban

dlea

der.

Incl

ude

spec

ial s

ong

requ

ests

and

son

gs

you

don’

t wan

t pla

yed.

B

ride

: Get

you

r la

st

prew

eddi

ng h

airc

ut a

nd c

olor

.

1 W

EE

K B

EFO

RE

G

ive

rece

ptio

n si

te/

cate

rer

� nal

gue

st h

ead

coun

t. In

clud

e ve

ndor

s, s

uch

as th

e ph

otog

raph

er o

r ba

nd m

embe

rs,

who

will

exp

ect a

mea

l. A

sk h

ow

man

y ex

tra

plat

es th

e ca

tere

r w

ill

prep

are.

S

uppl

y lo

catio

n m

anag

er

with

a li

st o

f ven

dor

requ

ests

su

ch a

s a

tabl

e fo

r D

J or

set

up

spac

enee

ded

by �

oris

t.

Pla

n re

cept

ion

seat

ing

char

t.

Pri

nt p

lace

and

tabl

e ca

rds,

or

� nal

ize

list w

ith th

e ca

lligr

aphe

r

you

have

hir

ed to

do

so.

C

all a

ll w

eddi

ng v

endo

rs a

nd

con�

rm

arr

ange

men

ts.

G

ive

cere

mon

y an

d re

cept

ion

site

man

ager

s a

sche

dule

of

vend

or d

eliv

ery

and

setu

p tim

es,

plus

con

tact

num

bers

.

Gro

om: G

et y

our

hair

tr

imm

ed.

A

ttend

bac

helo

r/et

te p

artie

s.

2-3

DA

YS

BE

FO

RE

B

ride

: If y

ou n

eed

to, h

ave

your

gow

n pr

esse

d or

ste

amed

.

Gro

om: G

o fo

r � n

al �

tting

and

pi

ck u

p yo

ur fo

rmal

wea

r.

Gro

om: A

sk th

e be

st m

an to

m

ake

sure

all

groo

msm

en a

ttend

� t

tings

and

pic

k up

thei

r ou

t� ts

.

Det

erm

ine

wed

ding

-par

ty

posi

tions

dur

ing

cere

mon

y an

d th

e or

der

of th

e pa

rty

in th

e pr

oces

sion

al a

nd r

eces

sion

al.

H

and

off p

lace

car

ds, t

able

ca

rds,

men

us, d

ispo

sabl

e ca

mer

as, f

avor

s an

d an

y ot

her

item

s fo

r se

tting

the

tabl

es to

th

e ca

tere

r an

d/or

rec

eptio

n si

te

man

ager

.

Rec

on� r

m �

nal d

etai

ls

with

all

vend

ors.

Dis

cuss

an

y ne

cess

ary

last

-min

ute

subs

titut

ions

.

Cal

l the

lim

ousi

ne-

or c

ar-

rent

al c

ompa

ny fo

r pi

ckup

tim

es

and

loca

tions

.

Arr

ange

for

gues

ts w

ithou

t ca

rs to

be

pick

ed u

p fr

om th

e ai

rpor

t or

trai

n st

atio

n. A

sk

frie

nds,

atte

ndan

ts o

r re

lativ

es to

he

lp.

D

eliv

er w

elco

me

bask

ets

to

the

hote

l con

cier

ge; m

ake

sure

to

incl

ude

nam

es a

nd d

eliv

ery

inst

ruct

ions

.

DA

Y B

EFO

RE

P

rovi

de a

ll w

eddi

ng

prof

essi

onal

s w

ith a

n em

erge

ncy

phon

e nu

mbe

r to

cal

l on

the

day

of th

e w

eddi

ng.

W

rite

che

cks

and/

or ta

lk to

w

eddi

ng h

osts

(usu

ally

you

r pa

rent

s, if

not

you

) abo

ut a

ny

� nal

bal

ance

s to

be

paid

at t

he

end

of th

e re

cept

ion.

NIG

HT B

EFO

RE

R

ehea

rse

cere

mon

y. M

eet w

ith

wed

ding

par

ty, c

erem

ony

read

ers,

im

med

iate

fam

ily a

nd y

our

of� c

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Page 10: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Page 10 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

101 NW Coveland Street • Coupeville360.678.6603

www.bayleaf.us

Tray & Wine Catering • Wine Discounts

Paella Catering!25-200 people

By BEN WATANABE Adaptability, familiarity and range

abound with catering companies on Whidbey Island.

Everything, from barbecue and com-fort foods to an abundance of salmon and shellfish, is available from more than a dozen caterers that stretch from the Clinton ferry to Deception Pass.

One of the recurring staples for several companies operating on Whidbey is the availability of salmon. Given the schools that pass the island every year and the Pacific Northwest’s reputation as a salmon destination, it’s no surprise that many offer it as a meat/protein choice.

“People love the Pacific Northwest cuisine, which I can’t fault them form,” said Tim Cammermeyer, owner of Blue Dog Catering, based in Langley.

Tim and his wife, Meredith Crosby, have taken their passion for food and serving into the culinary world for the past few years. Since starting, they have catered more than 30 weddings, plus a host of other large-scale events such as

business grand openings. Blue Dog Ca-tering has served for events with as many as 200 guests, but Cammermeyer said he has experience catering East Coast events with upwards of 8,000 guests.

Another caterer is Midnight Kitchen, also run by a husband-and-wife team. Run out of their certified commercial kitchen adjacent to their Freeland home, Scott and Steph Pendell showcase a wide range of styles and tastes.

A handful of seasonal menus allows the trained chefs to tailor dishes to pro-duce that’s available and fresh.

“We’re not trying to come up with a style, so much as being the medium,” Scott Pendell said during an interview in their kitchen.

“People don’t want it to be too eccen-tric, but not too boring,” he added.

Kababs, one of Midnight Kitchen’s signature dishes, was based on input from engaged couples. They anchored it to Whidbey-raised meats from 3 Sisters beef and offer vegetarian kabobs as well from seasonal vegetables, accompanied

by fresh, baked-from-scratch whole wheat pita. All of their breads are done in-house, thanks to Steph Pendell’s acu-men with the oven.

“We do utilize a lot of local farmers,” she said.

WEDDING FEASTOptions abound with caterers

Ben Watanabe photo

Salmon is becoming a frequent request of wedding parties on Whidbey Island.

Page 11: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

They offered a few bits of advice for prospective customers when shopping for catering. Know where the wedding will be; that helps identify the actual cooking capabilities because not every venue has a commercial kitchen. Have at least a rough estimate of the number of guests; this further sets a framework of which dishes are available and which may be unrealistic. Tell them your budget; steaks are nice but can get costly in a hurry when offered for 200 people.

Finally, the Pen-dells said couples should shop around at several companies — everything from florists and venues to caterers and DJs.

“Look at caterers like any craftsman,” Scott Pendell said. “Look at their prior work.”

A common feature for Whidbey’s catering companies is to offer a tasting, that way the customers know what to expect first-hand.

Blue Dog Catering has a menu in-formed by Cammermeyer’s vast travel experiences. He’s lived abroad in Central America and Sweden, and those loca-tions make themselves apparent in some of the sample menus like European

infused dishes and Central and Latin American inspired menu suggestions. The sample menus are just that, sam-ples, and are meant to be tweaked and adjusted to suit customers’ tastes.

“I’d like to be known for cus-tomizing literally everything,” Cam-mermeyer said, adding that most of their foods are 98 percent made from scratch, including breads. He recalled a wedding this past summer that used a

pig raised in Greenbank. “Since we’re so customized, I’m able to

use everything that Whidbey Island has to offer,” he added.

Someone looking for a different

experience can look to Front Street Grill in Coupeville, which now offers onsite catering in the banquet room above the restaurant.

Overlooking the wharf, the banquet room seats 35, or the restaurant can be rented entirely for seating 60. Known for its seafood, Front Street Grill gets plenty of product from local waters and takes that philosophy to its other dishes as well.

Or for catering with a bit of a show, the gourmet food shop, bayleaf, will prepare and serve paella at your event lo-cation for your special day. The meal-in-one pan can be customized to your taste.

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 11

Local, Fresh & Thoughtful Catering for your Special Day!

Off-site services in all of Island and Skagit Counties

[email protected]/ 360.914.6181

Fsgcoupeville.com

(360)321-2796 www.cateringwhidbey.com

Page 12: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

With everything that goes into your wedding day, those once-in-a-lifetime moments will go by in a blur, which is why hiring a professional wedding photographer is a must.

After all, the last thing you should be worrying about is whether your photographer will be able to capture your big day.

The key? Prepare yourself so that you can accurately evaluate the “right” photographer for you.

Six tips to help you plan your wedding photos like a pro:

1. Book far in advance. The best photographers get booked quickly — sometimes as much as a year in advance — so don’t wait until the last minute to book your photographer.

2. Show them the money. Now is not the time to skimp on your photo budget. Call around and get a price range for services, and remember: after the cake is long gone, and the dress is stored away, your wedding photos will be the only things left to share and enjoy for years to come, so don’t cut too many corners on your photography budget — you’ll end up regretting it.

3. Make sure your photographer is a real pro. Only hire someone who has liability insurance, experience taking the style of photos you want, backup equipment and a plan for when things go south.

4. Request to see a full gallery of real weddings. Look at full wedding cover-age (not just a small selection of each wedding’s best moments) to see a pho-

tographer’s true style and get a sense of how he or she might tell your “story.” Do you prefer more artistic or traditional poses? Would you rather have a photo-journalist approach or a mix of all styles?

5. Work with your photographer to cre-ate a detailed shot list. Wedding photog-raphers can also help you create that shot list, as they know what key moments

tell a wedding story and can prepare for those. But talk about your must-haves, and walk through the entire program with your photogra-pher ahead of time. Share your expecta-tions ahead of time to ensure that he or she captures the key shots, while remain-ing attentive and available to catch the best candid moments.

6. Plan your post-wedding photo strategy ahead of time! Almost as soon

as the festivities are over, you’ll be eager to look at the photos so you can relive your big day over and over again. Ask your photographer for teasers or a “sneak peek” and a timeline for when the rest of the pictures will be available. Will they give you an online gallery for family and friends to choose the im-ages they want? Again, knowing these things ahead of time will make things easy on the back end, sparing you any heartache.

Page 12 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

FORT CASEY INN

10 historical offi cer’s houses. Lodging for up to 45.Meeting space available and outdoor pool in the summer.

www.fortcaseyinn.com • 866-661-6604

Stay with us

Planning wedding photos like a pro

Michael Stadler photos

Creating a photography plan ahead of time, creating a detailed shot list and a timeline for photos during the event.

Page 13: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Do you dream of a fairy tale wed-ding? A party that features vibrating disco rhythms? Or a cultural-themed wedding? If you haven’t chosen a theme yet, that’s okay. But if you’d like a little pizzazz on your big day, choosing one will certainly help.

A common threadOrganize your wedding with a spe-

cific theme in order to have a common thread throughout all the elements. That includes centerpieces, decorations, bride and groom outfits, menu, recep-tion hall and music—the possibilities are endless.

A theme also helps you choose from among all the ideas you’re thinking of, not to mention that your suppliers will be able to make more appropriate sug-gestions.

You don’t need to choose an extrava-gant theme; you can simply choose a color that sets the tone for your wed-ding, from the flowers to the brides-maids’ dresses, cake, invitations and wedding favors.

You’d like a more elaborate theme? Think about something you both like. It can be an era, a country, a passion, a decorative style or a mood. You might also be inspired by the season of your wedding or by the reception hall. In fact, the hall should be taken into con-sideration when choosing the theme, and vice versa—let’s just say that orga-nizing a wedding with a western theme in a fancy hotel could pose a few prob-lems. And don’t forget to make sure that your theme fits with the budget that you’ve set.

So, will your wedding theme be coral and lime green, eco-friendly, disco, medieval?

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 13

WHIDBEY ISLAND DISTILLERY

Celebrate your wedding day with our Island distilled and produced spirits in

a signature cocktail or addedto champagne.

We offer free tastings and tours daily from 11:00-5:00 or by

appointment.

3466 CRAW RD, LANGLEY(360) 321-4715 • whidbeydistillery.com

You want the most amazing wedding possible? Working with experienced professionals will help you make sure that everything is perfect on the big day.

To look beautifulMakeup artist, hairstylist,

beautician, manicurist—make an appointment now to be breathtak-ingly beautiful on your big day. Don’t forget to plan test sessions to ensure that the results live up to your expectations.

For a great atmosphereWho will get your guests out

on the dance floor: an orchestra, a string ensemble, a brass quintet or a DJ? For a successful evening, hire musicians and an MC as soon as possible. Don’t forget the recep-tion hall; a decorator will be able to set the tone for the evening.

A mouth-watering feastYou’ll need to feed your guests,

of course, so which caterer will you do business with? This profes-sional can suggest different formu-las and menus depending on your budget and the type of wedding reception you want. A talented pas-try chef will take into account your tastes and your theme and make a cake as beautiful as it is delicious.

To immortalize the big dayDon’t leave your wedding photos

to chance; after all, you’ll want to keep them for the rest of your life. Take a look at the portfolios of several photographers before deciding which one will create these beautiful memories for you. If you want to be able to relive the highlights of this special day, hire a videographer as well.

You’re rushed off your feet with your busy schedule and a wedding to organize? A wedding planner will be able to give you all the help you need and ensure that every-thing is perfect on your big day.

Does your wedding have a theme?

Michael Stadler photo

Choosing a theme for your wedding can help you organize and make decisions.

Consider using professionals

Page 14: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Page 14 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings

Destination Whidbey Weddings

2016AccommodationsDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com

Fort Casey Inn360-678-5050www.fortcaseyinn.comfacebook.com/fortcaseyinn

Guest House Log Cabin24371 State Route 525, Greenbank360-678-3115

Marty’s Place atStrawbridge Farm877-814-0503www.martysplace.com

ActivitiesDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com

Cateringbayleaf101 NW Coveland Street, Coupeville360-678-6603www.bayleaf.us

Fireseed Catering6051 Coles Road, Langley360-321-4748www.� reseedcatering.com

Front Street Grill20 Front Street NW, Coupeville360-682-2551www.frontstreetgrillcoupeville.com

Midnight Kitchen360-321-2796www.whidbeycatering.com

Sho’Nuff Foods618A Oak Street, Oak Harbor360-473-7399360-471-7780info@shonu� foods.comwww.shonu� foods.com

DistilleryWhidbey IslandDistillery3466 Craw Road, Langley360-321-4715www.whidbeydistillery.com

Event PlanningVases WildTobey NelsonLangley360-221-1013www.VasesWild.com

Whidbey Party Girls!360- 969-0337www.WhidbeyPartyGirls.com

FloristsVases WildTobey NelsonLangley360-221-1013www.VasesWild.com

GiftsLavender WindWedding Toss Plus More!15 Coveland Street, Coupeville360-544-4132www.lavenderwind.com

JewelryLinds Jewelry1609 Main Street, Freeland360-221-6111www.lindsjewelry.com

MusicThe Hot Club of TroyGypsy Swing JazzKristi O’[email protected]

Directory

Page 15: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 15

Trio NouveauLyrical Swing MusicKristi O’[email protected]/trio-nouveau.html

PhotographersStadler StudioPhotographyMichael Stadler, Photographer222 Anthes Avenue, [email protected]

S.Y.E. PhotographyDesmond [email protected]

RentalsDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com

TransportationWhidbey Sea-TacShuttle & Charter 1751 NE Goldie St, Oak Harbor360-679-4003www.seatacshuttle.com/chartersEvents

VenuesBest Western Plus Harbor Plaza and Conference Center33175 State Route 20, Oak Harbor360-679-4567www.bestwesternwashington.com

Dancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com

Grand Willow Inn17926 Dunbar Road, Mount Vernon360-428-5071www.grandwillowinn.com

Langley Chamber of Commerce208 Anthes Avenue, Langley360-221-6765www.visitlangley.com

Meerkerk Gardens3531 Meerkerk Lane, [email protected]

Oak Harbor Yacht Club1301 Catalina Drive, Oak [email protected]

Port of South Whidbey1804 Scott Rd, Suite 101, Freeland360-331-5494www.portofsouthwhidbey.com

Useless Bay Golf & Country Club5725 S. Country Club Drive, Langley360-321-5960www.uselessbaygolf.com

Whidbey Golf & Country Club2430 SW Fairway Lane, Oak Harbor360-675-5490www.whidbeygolfclub.com

Wine & Spiritsbayleaf101 NW Coveland Street, Coupeville360-678-6603www.bayleaf.us

________________

Coupeville Chamber of Commerce905 NW Alexander Street, Coupeville360-678-5434www.coupevillechamber.com

Page 16: Weddings - Whidbey Weddings 2016

1609 E. Main Street, Freeland | lindswhidbeyisland.com | (360) 221-6111

Make your dreams come true…Register your favorite itemson Linds wishlist.

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Wedding Rings

Wedding rings are custom designed and created on Whidbey Island by Linds goldsmiths Patrick Koughan and Carrie Saunders

Come in to Linds today to shop from animpressive collection of Wedding Party Gifts

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