CELEBRATIONS BY THE SEA

Wedding Economics 101

2010-01-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our current economy means not only that people want to spend less money, but that they want more for the money they do spend. A smaller more intimate destination event allows you to make more casual, less expensive choices elsewhere. For example, a picnic feels more appropriate at the beach than it would at a country club. Also a destination event conveniently combines not only the wedding and the honeymoon but also your special event with a vacation for your guests.

In some circumstances a gift registry is unnecessary, though many guests will still want to honor the couple with a gift. Some smart ideas could include a wedding/honeymoon registry where guest can donate to your event; a win win for everyone! Some couples specify a certain charity they would like their guests to donate to in lieu of a gift. This is a wonderful gesture and speaks volumes for the couple, whether you choose an urgent international cause like the Haiti Earthquake Crisis or a national cause like the American Cancer Society to honor someone you’ve lost or maybe choose a cause more regional to your hometown. What a beautiful foundation to begin building your life together.

Though wedding favors are an expense that's easy to eliminate, right now couples are especially grateful to guests who have incurred considerable expense to be a part of the celebration. The 2010 wedding trend is using homemade favors to express that thanks, and to send guests home with your love. Several of our couples have had us create beautiful favors from starfish (with or without ribbon). A beautiful meaningful gift when presented on the chairs of the ceremony for the guests to discover.

For years, brides have been selecting a bridesmaid dress designer and a fabric, then letting their bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies. But the 2010 wedding trend takes the idea further. Choose only a color, then let your bridesmaids find an off-the-rack dress of any designer that they like. Not only does this take some pressure off of you, but it also ensures that women are choosing a dress they like and they'll be likely to actually wear again. If you follow this trend, be sure to tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be – you don't want one bridesmaid wearing a casual sundress while another has on a beaded evening gown.

Note that I was inspired and have included many great ideas in this article from Nina Calaway’s “2010 Wedding Trends”. Thank you Nina!

01.10.10

2010-01-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

Our first wedding of 2010 happened early yesterday in Oceanside, Oregon. The couple with their children and closest of family from West Linn, Oregon and Seattle, Washington enjoyed a gorgeous vacation home overlooking the beach. One thousand cranes, all handmade by family were gifted to the couple; they were beautiful. The Thousand Cranes are considered powerfully lucky and wish a thousand years of happiness and prosperity upon the couple. Congratulations Patrick and Rebecca!!!

ONE FOR THE GUYS

2010-01-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

So my husband says to me… ‘Have you ever noticed that you gear most of what you say toward the Bride?’ Well that rocked me back on my heels. Could it possibly be true? (I think not!) He says ‘Guys don’t want to talk cake and flowers or where to get your toenails painted, they want something to DO’.

Hhmmm… Something to do? Along 25 miles of our gorgeous coastline lies Cannon Beach, Seaside and Astoria.
Deep sea fishing, clam-digging, whale-watching, beach bonfires, camping & hiking the coastal trails, surfing at the cove or Indian Beach, the eagle sanctuary, the Roosevelt elk, the sea lions at Mooring Basin, the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale, Ft. Stevens, Ft. Clatsop…

AND you are only 2 hours from the volcano Mt. St. Helens or 3 from snow skiing and snowboarding Mt. Hood!

An adventure wedding at the beach…
It’s like getting your cake and eating it too.

WIN A BEACH HOUSE IN SEASIDE, OREGON

2010-01-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Unbelieveable right? Its for real. I have my entry in :).
Would this make the best wedding present ever or what???
Below I have copied and pasted from the actual website:

This is a great opportunity to own a great little beach house, and income producing studios, for only $99 and a little creativity. In a real estate market that won't budge, and when the banks won't lend, this is the time and place to own a little piece of paradise in Seaside, Oregon. This is a short essay contest judged on your creativity, ability and desire. IT IS NOT A LOTTERY BUT A SKILL BASED CONTEST. And while it is not a charity fundraiser, when all 4000 entries are in, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to battle breast cancer.

SIMPLY ANSWER THE QUESTION -
WHY DO YOU WANT THIS BEACH HOUSE?
(You have to do it using 199 characters or less)

Here is the website: www.win99dollarbeachhouse.com
GOOD LUCK!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. We sure did. We spent the holidays with family and the weather was so pretty we also enjoyed the beach Christmas afternoon.
I have been updating the website www.beachweddings101.com and have added some fun stuff.
MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION... Keep the BLOG current! :) Help me out, let me know what YOU want to know. Add your own comments and meet other couples who are planning their big day as well.
A new name you'll be hearing this year at Celebrations by the Sea is "Holly". Holly and I met in 2002 when she was hired to be my assistant when I held a position with our local paper. She is a doll and keeps me ORGANIZED. She was born and raised right here in Seaside so she knows the area and vendors like the back of her hand. I am looking forward to having her valuable assistance as part of my wedding team and know you will all enjoy her as well.

Weekend Plans

2009-05-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Met one of my lovely brides at the beach this weekend for a walk through and logistics plan for the seating and 40'x40' tent she is having contructed for her reception (that's BIG folks!). She was accompanied by her Mom and best friend/maid of honor who are making sure this is the wedding of her dreams. We shared cupcakes compliments of 'Cakes by Jae' from a cake tasting the girls had been to. Absolutely wonderful!
I can't wait till July Jessica!

Also this weekend we 'just happened' to run into a happy couple on our favorite beach who were visiting the area from Seattle. When Michael asked my husband if he'd use his camera to take a photo for them I conveniently pointed my camera in their direction. Much to Caitlyn's surprise Michael dropped to one knee and proposed. This was all prearranged by this romantic fellow and ourselves. OF COURSE she said YES!!! We then proceeded to take some really cool engagement photos.
Michael YOU ROCK and Caitlyn you are one lucky gal! CONGRATULATIONS!

Puppy Love

2009-04-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

I have been a little preoccupied this week with a new litter of adorable Boston Terrier puppies joining our family. Born 04.20.09, These are the cutest things you ever seen! Check out the 'heart' on the head of this little one in the top photo. Tapanga did a great job ~ Check them out at www.beachbostons.blogspot.com

Craig who???

2009-04-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

Though hotels are the obvious choice when booking accommodations at your destination, don’t overlook the option of a vacation rental. Offering more privacy and lots more room for a family, I want to share a way of getting the best possible deal.
You know you can find vacation rentals in the area by searching through any number of websites as well as the local area Chamber of Commerce. What you might not know is many of these listings can also be found offering a terrific discount through the popular website CRAIGSLIST www.craigslist.com . Just choose the city or closest city to your destination and scroll. Listings are always up-to-date as they expire and must be relisted every seven days. I always use this site when I travel with my family. Like anything else, always make sure you are dealing with legitimate offers.
Pass this tip along to your guests as well as local campground and RV park information. Just another smart way to keep dollars in your pocket.

Family Blendings

2009-04-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

When people envision a wedding day the focus is on the bride and groom but many times a marriage is not always just about the couple. If the bride or groom (or both) have a child or children this is the perfect opportunity to include them as part of the celebration.
One of our unique favorite ways to include the children in the ceremony here at the beach is with a Sand Unity Family Blending. Scripted into the latter part of the ceremony, the child(ren) are brought forward and recognized, the couple makes a vow to the children to be good parents and to symbolize the creation of the new family, the couple and each child takes the sand upon which they are standing and combines their sands together into a sacred vessel as they also blend their lives together as a family. This leaves the family with a wonderful keepsake and memory. A Sand Unity Vessel can be anything you choose that you would like to display in your home; a pretty vase, crystal dish, treasure box or maybe something you already have that has special meaning.
Though we like our version, traditionally Family Blendings are done with a family medallion necklace presented to the child. One bride who just happened to be a jewelry designer, designed each of the three children a different piece of jewelry; a ring, a necklace and a bracelet. It is not necessary to rush out and buy gold and diamonds especially for young children as it is the symbolism more than the actual piece of jewelry that matters. Another couple presented their small boys with surprise shark tooth necklaces, you wouldn’t believe how proud and cool those boys felt.
We also keep a selection of beautiful dichroic glass pendants, some heart shaped, starfish and more. The girls love these! Also chosen by brides to wear on their wedding day or honeymoon as well as presented as gifts for Family Blendings and bridesmaids. Just ask to see the selection, silver omegas also available as well as sand vessels.
Other ways to include your children in the ceremony; flower girl, ring bearer, the groom’s child(ren) walking with him, the bride’s child(ren) walking with her, the children as the groomsmen and bridesmaid, etc..

SMART Idea!

2009-03-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

To get your guests even more excited about the trip for your destination wedding. Whet their appetite by using the Chamber of Commerce at the destination to your advantage. Most have websites where you can type in a mailing address to receive a vacation planning guide / magazine. By entering your guests’ addresses you provide them with a preview of the area and information they can use to plan other activities. A very thoughtful and FREE courtesy you can manage easily and quickly from the comfort of your chair.
See how smart you are!

Destination Weddings

2009-03-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

Long distance planning made easy

2009-03-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

A few of the places our couples are planning their event from this year ~ Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Arizona, Texas, Canada and Switzerland…
To plan a destination wedding you have to have someone in the area you can trust and depend on with plenty of experience with local vendors/facilities/sites as well as long distance planning and on location (in our case on the beach) coordinating of the event. A successful trusted service such as Celebrations by the Sea llc is there to plan and coordinate your wedding with ideas that work and suggestions for smart financial options to make the most of your event.
Celebrations by the Sea llc is not affiliated with any hotel, travel agency, florist or any other entity and is exclusively a dedicated destination wedding planner and facilitator. We do not charge commissions nor do we accept commissions from any wedding services related vendors so we offer an objective, impartial, relevant and honest source of information about getting married in our beautiful area, based on our extensive experience and feedback from our couples.
For about the same price as it would cost to rent a generic, sterile hall in any hotel or convention center in the United States or Europe, you can instead have the beauty, magic, and natural wonder of the Northwest. The majestic Pacific Ocean, gorgeous sunsets, dramatic vistas, waterfalls, rainforests and Columbia River can serve as spectacular backdrops that will define your wedding as a truly unique and individual event.
If you're reading this post, it is no doubt because you have an interest in having a ceremony on the Pacific coast. If I can tell you one thing: “DO IT!”. Follow your instinct. I have no doubt that you are making the right decision. We have never had a couple wish they hadn’t done it :).

Elope at the beach!

2009-03-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Many couples decide to elope here on the coast. I really like elopements because they allow me to focus exclusively on the couple and to capture the most spontaneously intimate moments that unfold. Elopements are as easy, stress free, relaxed, and romantic as you might imagine. I like the flexibility of the schedule and prefer couples that have an open mind to whatever the day may bring.

Each year I see elopements becoming more popular with the couple sharing their adventure and photos with family and friends with a printed announcement, video and/or 'reception' back home. A financially smart option, definately a 'green' choice and with the total focus being only the two of you; a romantic stress-free event you will cherish.

I often wonder why anyone would prefer to marry in the sterile predictability of a rented hall where asphalt, cement, and other inorganic material dominates the landscape. These are not Vegas style weddings. The photos will be compelling evidence of that. I often have people question the backdrops, the settings, the locations. Is that real? Is the most common question. I assure you as I breathe the cool ocean breeze; it is real.

Whether it is a waterfall, a remote beach at low tide, the middle of the rain forest, or the edge of a cliff overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, there’s nothing like having the option to perform a ceremony in a truly unique and unforgettable setting.

Eco friendly GREEN Weddings

2009-03-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

Celebrations by the Sea always encourages the most eco-friendly approach to planning your wedding at the beach. The only footprints we want to leave behind are those in the sand.Luckily it is so beautiful here that not alot is needed to achieve a gorgeous ambiance.Here is a link to my online magazine for some great green ideas ~ www.openzine.com/beach