All About Weddings

Ali Basye steps down as Editor-in-Chief at Seattle Bride.

  Ali Basye, Editor-in-Chief, Seattle Bride magazine

 The annual highly anticipated "Best of" issue of Seattle Bride
   

The following email sent out Friday to those who have had a long-standing relationship with Ali Basye, Editor-in-Chief at Seattle Bride magazine, came as a surprise to me, and struck me with the sad feeling of a dear friend and confidant saying good bye. 

She said, "I wanted you all to know that the upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 issue will be my last one as the editor of Seattle Bride Magazine. After 11 years on the team, with serving the past three-and-a-half as editor-in-chief, I've decided to hang up my Seattle Bride hat (veil?) to focus on other projects and, hopefully, adventures. Everyone who knows me well knows how much I love working on every issue of Seattle Bride, particularly due to the incredibly fun, creative and mutually supportive Northwest bridal industry I've had the pleasure of working with. The magazine has been my baby, and I'd like to extend my gratitude toward everyone who supported, encouraged and contributed to the magazine during my time on the staff."

I just wanted to go on record on behalf of myself and the rest of the staff at All About Weddings & Celebrations in saying that we will miss you greatly, Ali.  Your friendship and support to us and the Puget Sound wedding industry as a whole has been so special and rare, and we wish for everything wonderful for you in your next adventure. Please don't be a stranger.

Seattle Wedding Show is just around the corner!

The "Granddaddy of them all" and much anticipated Seattle Wedding Show is always the highlight of the year for brides wanting to find the best selection of the highest quality wedding vendors all in one place.  This year the Washington State Convention Center will again be home base for this two day extravaganza, Saturday and Sunday January 16 and 17, 2010. Admission for the show is $16 and is good for both days.  Discount coupons for $2 off admission and the Seattle Wedding Show magazine and show guide are now available at All About Weddings & Celebrations, a proud sponsor of the show for the third time.  We look forward to seeing you next month at the Seattle Wedding Show - we're straight ahead when you walk in the doors of the main showroom, so please come by and say "hi".

Save the Date 20% off special continues at All About Weddings & Celebrations

Just wanted to put out a quick reminder to those planning 2010 weddings.  While you're in the Southcenter area doing all your holiday shopping for others you can take a little detour and get an important item crossed off your wedding "to do" list.  All Save the Dates can be ordered 20% below normal retail prices at All About Weddings and Celebrations now through December 23. We figured you deserve something special for YOU while you're in the midst of thinking of others. So come on by our NEW STORE LOCATION at Parkway Square, 16864 Southcenter Parkway (Toys R Us and Jared's Jewelers are the landmark stores in our center). We're there Monday through Saturday 11-6 to help you look at all the wonderful options available to you, including photo cards, magnets, postcards, or anything else your heart desires.  Questions? Call 206.575.0050.  See you soon!

"Planning Your Wedding" is a fantastic new book from the creators of Junebug Weddings

What a treat it was when my copy of the newly published book "Planning Your Wedding" arrived last week! This "step-by-step guide to creating your perfect day" has been in the works for over a year and All About Weddings and Celebrations is thrilled to have several of our invitation lines featured in photos in the book.  "Planning Your Wedding" is part of a series of books by "Knack" called "Make it Easy".

Blair deLaubenfels, Christy Weber and Kim Bamberg are the amazing trio of ladies who make up the Junebug Weddings team and all their hard work created a beautiful end result. The goal of the book is to make planning your wedding stress-free, and they take you through all the details.  One thing that always gains points with me when looking at wedding books is if it's full of lots of pretty pictures, and this book has that criteria nailed with 450 beautiful photos of stylish wedding elements. It doesn't hurt a bit that all of the Junebug ladies are highly accomplished wedding photographers who have an eye for design and detail.

Congratulations, ladies.  I hope we'll be able to add your book to the titles sold at All About Weddings and Celebrations very soon.  In the mean time visit Junebug Weddings' wonderful site for more information.

Back by popular demand: 20% off Save the Dates

Dauphine Press letterpress Save the Date photo by Junebug Weddings

All About Weddings and Celebrations' very popular Save the Date special  ran for part of the month of November until our store's move caused us to be closed for nearly a week.  Many brides let us know they were annxious to purchase their Save the Dates before year's end but just needed a little more time.  So we've decided to bring back the promo, and now through December 23 you can come visit the new store and  take 20% off Save the Dates.  This is an "in store only" event.  Please call 206.575.0050 today to get your appointment on the books, and we'll look forward to seeing you at the new store, 16864 Southcenter Parkway, in the same shopping center with Toys R Us and Jared's Jewelers.  (We're so new that the sign isn't even up yet, but you'll find us right between "Instant Imprints" and "Pablano" restaurant.  Our name is in the window.)

All About Weddings & Celebrations new store opens today!

 
After much careful planning and anticipation, All About Weddings and Celebrations is open for business today beginning at 11 a.m. at 16864 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila.  The store's sales team have been busy preparing our "new digs" since the old store's closing a week ago, and now we're excited for the new store's unveiling.  This will be a soft opening as final tweaks continue throughout the month of December, and an official Grand Opening will happen in the new year.  Our new sign isn't up yet, but you can find us between "Instant Imprints" and "Pablano Indian Restaurant".  (Toys R Us and Jared's Jewelers are the anchor tenants in the shopping center.)  Come on by and say "Hi".  We look forward to a long stay in our new space! To schedule an appointment to order your wedding or celebration invitations, or holiday cards call 206.575.0050.

Today is the last day for All About Weddings at current location. We're moving!

All About Weddings will be locking up shop at our current location effective today at 6:00 p.m..  Then we'll be busy packing and moving to our new location just 1/3 of a mile away at 16864 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila.  This location is in the Parkway Square shopping center where Toys R Us and Jared's Jewelers are the anchor tenants.  When the new sign goes up on our new store we'll be expanding our product mix, Weddings & Celebrations, to serve those looking for invitations for all events beyond weddings.  Think monumental birthdays, baby showers and birth announcements, Quinceaneras, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, anniversaries, business grand openings, galas and holiday soirees, etc. We will also provide printing services for personal and business stationery and holiday greetings. We're excited to expand our customer base beyond weddings so once we begin a relationship with our clients we can continue providing our friendship and customer service for all of life's special events. Our hours of operation will remain the same, Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.  Monday, November 30 will be the opening date for us at the new location.  We'll look forward to seeing you at All About Weddings & Celebrations!

Preston Bailey shares DIY decor ideas for your Fall celebrations

Event designer Preston Bailey is so amazing.  With a whirlwind schedule like his, Preston could just stay immersed in all his projects, designing weddings and events for the rich and famous around the world, but there's such an appealing quality to this wonderful man.  He actually comes up for air to share his brilliance and eye for design with those of us who just appreciate beautiful things and might like some fresh ideas for holiday entertaining decor.  He has some great DIY ideas in his new book "Celebrations" that I discussed in a previous post, but if you haven't had a chance to pick up the book yet you can go to his web site right now and get some beautiful ideas for your fall themed table tops. He shows you how to Create Dramatic Fall Design Without Breaking The Bank. Enjoy!

         
 

For another DIY decor treat check out Preston's blog where he gives you instructions on how to make a fruit topiary for your Thanksgiving table.

Rotator cuff surgery to make blog writing a challenge for All About Weddings

As I write this post I'm busy preparing for a complicated rotator cuff repair surgery tomorrow morning. Makes one wonder if hoisting very large invitation albums from bookshelves to tables the last nine years has taken its toll. 

Never have I been without the use of my right arm and hand before so I'm about to venture into unknown territory.  I know I'll be in good hands, since my surgeon, Dr. Ed Khalfayan, is also the chief surgeon for the Seahawks and medical director for the Seattle Mariners.  But knowing you're in good hands, and losing the use of your own for awhile are two completely different things to think about. 

That's my doc., Dr. Ed Khalfayan (center) tending to Nate Burleson on the field during a Seahawks game.

Rest assured that during my recovery All About Weddings will continue to run smoothly under the able care of our store manager, Amber and our custom invite specialist, Valerie, so please continue to stop by and visit regularly.  Then watch for the new store, All About Weddings & Celebrations, to open on Monday, November 30 at 16864 Southcenter Parkway.  Amber and Valerie will be busy getting the store moved and set up at its new location over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Our last day open at the current location will be Monday November 23.)  I, on the other hand - the left one to be exact - will be busy sitting at home in my recliner eating bon-bons. (I wish!!!)

During the time I'm unable to compose blog articles due to restrictions from the surgery (and clouded thinking from pain meds) we may be running a series of articles from "The Best of All About Weddings". Hopefully you will enjoy some of our most popular topics which remain relevant.   Enjoy your Thanksgiving holidays everyone, and I'll look forward to sharing more wedding related news and delights with you soon.

Announcing the new home for All About Weddings & Celebrations

After weeks of negotiations and waiting patiently, All About Weddings & Celebrations finally has a new home.  We have a signed lease and it is finally safe to announce that our new location will be in Parkway Square at 16864 Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila.  A couple of the larger stores there you may be familiar with as landmarks are Toys R Us and Jared Jewelers.  We will be moving into the new location over Thanksgiving weekend, and if all goes well we'll be open for business there on Monday, November 30.  We're fortunate that this move will only require all our fixtures and inventory to travel 1/3 of a mile south of our current location, and some wonderfully kind and generous friends in the wedding industry have volunteered trucks and manpower to help us move so we should be in great shape.  We'll look forward to having you visit us at our new location soon, and we'll continue our operation at our current location through Monday, November 23.  Hoping his move will be the beginning of a long and stable future at our new location - this moving every three years stuff gets VERY old!