Friday, May 29, 2009

Roche Harbor Weddings in the News

Look who turned up in Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine this Spring...Chesney and Andrew! Married up here last summer, this was a truly memorable event for us. SMBG captures the beauty and detail and the timeless feel of the attendees appearance.

What we remember is the wonderful way the entire party handled a rain delay with such class and poise.

I will always have the image of the groomsmen lined up with their hats along the Hotel de Haro balcony.

Check out the link to see the write-up:
http://www.seattlemetbrideandgroom.com/2009/02/03/morris-schmidt-wedding/

Monday, May 25, 2009

Decorating the Pavilion

One of the most common questions I get is, What are some ways to decorate the pavilion?

Good question.

I've seen about 150 different weddings, and I'm always surprised at the creativity I see from brides (and some grooms) and wedding coordinators when coming up with ideas on how to take our blank canvass and make it something wonderful.

One of the simplest, most appealing techniques I've seen is to take a tall, stem vase (there's probably some fancy, more accurate term) and fill it with colorful, tall stems like lillies and birds of paradise and other colorful, flamboyant flowers.  The overall height of the arrangement is about 3-4 feet and reaches near the ceiling when placed as a centerpiece on the dinner tables.  The stem vase has a round base, thin stem for about 18-24 inches, and then the vase itself is about 18 inches.  The flowers sprout up from there.  The thin stem allows people sitting at the table to see each other, and the height of the flowers drops the ceiling down.  At eye level, it's a virtual explosion of color!

I love this idea because it combines a traditional element (centerpiece) and negates the need for additional decorations hanging from the ceiling.  String up some twinkle lights in a long row or two and there you have it.

For my wedding we did something like this, without the fancy vases and with asiatic lillies.  It was simple, elegant, and added the feel we liked most.

What's your thought on decorating the pavilion or fireside room, flower arrangements or otherwise?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Time of the Year to be Married

One of the most common questions I get asked when walking around with prospective brides and grooms is, When is the best time to be married?

Good question. The short answer is that no one time is better than the next on all levels. The date really depends on what you're looking for in the experience.

April is when Ale and I got married, because it was relatively good weather, rooms were available and inexpensive for my family and friends, and the flowers were in bloom all over the grounds. We also felt that it was quiet enough to feel like we had the place to ourselves.

I think May is about the same, with better weather and more flowers and colors.

September is another favorite month of mine, because it seems to have this air about it that conveys a wind down to the multitudes of summer. Ferries are easier to catch, rooms are still available and the prices for everything starts to become less expensive. The resort feels like it's holding on to summer still, but there's a new energy about, as well.

When did you get married and what did you think? Was it the right time? Would you have chosen another time, now that you've been through it? Why did you make your choice of that month or date?

Welcome!

I notice that we're starting to get people joining in on the followers list--I'm really excited about this, you know!  

To start off, I've given everyone who received an invitation the role of "Author," so you can start posts, rather than just comment on them.  Anything you want to talk about is fine...

I'll start off a couple, because I see that we have such a wide range, already, of different weddings represented on the followers list.

Please chime in with your comments and new posts!

Friday, May 15, 2009

An Invitation to Brides to Share your Wedding...

Many of you know me. I'm Sam, Roche Harbor's Lodging Director. I've been involved with over 150 weddings in the past few years and have gotten to know almost all of the brides and grooms that've been married.

I'd like to invite all brides and grooms who've been married here to help us create a forum about Roche Harbor weddings...What worked for decorations in the Pavilion? Which is the best house to stay in with your family? What are good rehearsal dinner ideas? What florist or photographer was friendliest to work with during the planning?

Over the years I've heard dozens of times that brides get married here because they know someone who had or went to a fabulous wedding at Roche Harbor. A bride from this spring had a friend who got married here last summer. In September 2006, two brides met at a mutual friend's wedding and discovered that they were getting married at Roche Harbor on back-to-back weekends. I just received an inquiry from a prospective bride who has three friends who got married here.

This past week, I was talking with a bride who mentioned she did most of her wedding planning based on what her friend (who was married here) recommended. Also, pictures she found on the internet provided much of the inspiration for decorating. She thought we could do a better job providing wedding photos and recommendations.

She's right. And who better to help get information to brides planning weddings at Roche Harbor then brides who have already had their wedding at Roche Harbor?

So enjoy yourselves, swapping stories and experiences. My wife and I were married, here, too, in April 2007...you'll see Alejandra or me contributing to the forum!