Found this while just being bored:

Adorable Engagement Session

I really liked the look of this session…Just thought I would add it here.

On the news side, just thought I would let everyone know that….

WE BOOKED THE ZOO!!!!

How exciting! AND…we might have an interesting option for photography…more on that later!

Some photography choices

Here are a few of the photography places I’m looking at, biding my time until Portfolio Day this month. Check them out and give opinions pretty please!

1. Sandy Choe Photography – She graduated from AIS, and is located here in Belltown.

2. Renee Vanni Images – I found her by chance on craigslist. I like her style.

3. James Moes of Holy, Holy Matrimony – Decidedly indie style – I like the contrast between the type of photography, and the subject’s modern style.

4. Scott O’Malley Photography – My friend Amelia from school referred me to her friend. I like his work – it reminds me of my own.

5. Lily K Photography – Referred to me by Katy – the WP

Katy also referred me to another, but there was something I didn’t like about his…I guess it’s good that I can at least identify the things I DON’T like, right?

-K

One down, fifty million to go!

So, we are signing the contract for the Zoo at some point in the near future, deposit and all! So the Zoo will be OURS 10/9/11 – Got it right that time Andrea!

As for what’s next? Well, about a trillion million things, but we are focusing on choosing photographers, because we want to work with one for engagement and wedding photos. We are considering some great professional in Seattle, but we are also going to try something else first: A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT FROM AI!

In fact, I really like this idea, so much that I’m going to look at the photography portfolios on Portfolio day on 3/25 – which is also Chris’ portfolio day. I mean, I’m going to be there as it is, so I may as well, right?

Just keepin’ it up to date!

-K

P.S. http://tenthousandonly.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html – I found this blog last night (this is the first archive), about a bride who did a “$10,000 or less wedding” blog. I was a little surprised, because I think that number – which is VERY similar to ours – is HUGE. I don’t understand the American preoccupation with ridiculous price tags. But we are going to do it, so I thought this might be something interesting to read, for the time being.

Seattle Tennis Club Visit

I went to the STC today. It was such a beautiful morning, and I met Amy at 11, and we toured the facility. It was foggy and just barely sprinkling, but the view of Lake Washington was absolutely breathtaking. Getting here was awfully difficult, it was definitely off the beaten track.

I loved the traditional details and the large quantities of windows. The people, aside from Amy, were a little snooty though. The outdoor ceremony space is a bit of a walk from the actual building, which could cause issues for some of the guests. I think it would be gorgeous, and although we can afford this space for the ceremony and the reception, I’m not sure that it is worth 90% of the budget.

While I think it was great, I am still completely and totally set on the Zoo! Plus, it just makes more sense, regarding the budget, what we can with the space both indoors and out.

So, regarding the venue, I think we are going to go with…..WOODLAND PARK ZOO! HOORAY!

Random Winning!

I forgot to mention that I won a great prize from the Wedding Show! Instead of disposable cameras for the reception tables, we get to have insured, digital cameras! I won a half off deal! Better for the environment, and we get to have ALLLLLLL of the pictures!

Venue Visits

So far, I’ve visited 4 venues:

1) Woodmark Hotel – Gorgeous, but waaaaaaaaay pricey.

2) Sodo Park – Rustic and beautiful, however the woman who I talked to was rude, once she discovered that my budget was not up to their “minimums.” Plus, it’s in a seedy, loud commercial district of Seattle, so I’m not sure why they would want a wedding venue there anyways. When I asked her about the many trains and loud trucks, she simply replied, “Yes – that’s just part of the ‘character’ of this district. We’ve had a few ceremonies that were blessed with a train horn.” She also tried to convince me that I didn’t want to have a cocktail style reception, because in her eyes I couldn’t “afford those luxuries.” Yea, seriously.

3) The Chinese Room at the Smith Tower – fantastic views, great details, however, it doesn’t seem like it would go well with our decided Pacific Northwest theme. Really intimate though and the man that gave me a tour was sooooo nice!

4) Woodland Park Zoo/Rainforest Pavilion – This is definitely my favorite so far. The menus sound delicious, it’s definitely within budget, the space is both easily accessible and secluded. The space is also completely open and we can have both ceremony and reception here. Oh – and we get to have an outdoor patio as well. Windows, natural light….it was just perfect! They also have the date we most want available: 10/9/11 (Fixed it Andrea..whoops!).

I was very tempted to just tell Katy (the planner) that this was it, but I decided that I would see at least one more before I settled there….So Friday, I’ll be going to the Seattle Tennis Club, the last of my top 5 first choices.

I’ll let you know how that one goes!