This is everything we envisioned a party at Bob Dylan's house to be. Huffington post calls Dylan's holiday music video of Must Be Santa "so strange that it has to be considered a masterpiece." At Shine Event Design we've been shouting along with the lyrics for weeks of rambuncious party prepping. Finding and watching the video is the icing on the party cake! Enjoy....

School supplies have hit the shelves! While we're still in the thick of Seattle's summer, with it's sun filled skies and cool evening breezes, my mind regularly wanders to those shelves filled with supplies. As a kid, I loved picking out new pencils, folders, and a planner for the year ahead. So, while I may not be tied to an academic calendar any longer, my mind still longs for a new, paper planner. I have used my electronic based calendar for so long and found that I really missed cracking open the binding and having the ability to doodle notes into a calendar's squares. I'm on the hunt for a new one. So, for all of you planners out there, here are a few stylish options to pack into your handbag or display on your desk.

The Shibori Collection from May Designs.
May Designs planners (and notebooks) are all really special pieces of art. But, their new Shibori Collection features the ancient Japanese technique of cloth dying. (And, if you hurry over to May Designs site, you can download a free Shibori wallpaper for your phone!)

New York Medium 17 month agenda in Gold Haven by Kate Spade
Kate Spade's planners offer a clean layout, with room for notes. I love this modern take on rattan, with a gold finish. This is classic with a twist of the brand's fun personality.
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The Happy Planner by Create 365
Enjoy the little flip through above to really appreciate all of the fun elements in this customizable planner (perfectly named The Happy Planner by the way!). Often packaged with stickers, matching sticky notes, stamps and pens, this calendar is perfect for someone who wants their planner to be a creative record keeper of memories as well. 


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Our studio's floral design calendar is full for the summer. We're designing all sorts of gorgeous, custom pieces for this summer's clients. As we're doing so, I thought I'd reveal one of our in-house inspiration sessions leading us down the path to what will be a beautifully designed wedding later in the summer. 

Every event designer has their unique process. During the first few meetings with a client, I strive to create some key words that act as my guiding design theme. As I get deeper into the design process I find myself using these words to make sure the whole look and feel of the day is pulled together and well coordinated. After some descriptive words are established, I begin pulling together inspiration from a variety of sources-- art, fashion, color, travel, places, scents and textures. Often, these images have nothing to do with classic wedding or event design. That step evolves next as we think about lighting, floral, floor plans, flatware, escort/usher cards, welcome signs....

Later this summer, I have the privilege of working with a #faveclient whose guiding descriptive words are exotic, lush, unexpected. We're using Frida Kahlo's art and style-- full of rich, warm, coppery tones; vibrant full floral; and references to tropical, wild, jungle elements-- to create her event's overall look and feel. I thought you'd enjoy one of our inspiration boards (above). Stay tuned for more details on how this event materializes later in the summer!

It's engagement season! (Congratulations to everyone who has already celebrated and an early 'YAY!' to everyone hoping to celebrate their engagement soon.) 

After the question is popped, answered with an exuberant "YES" and the news is shared with family and friends, the first thing many couples do is set a date for your wedding day. Let's stop right there. If you have made your way through the early bliss of engagement, don't choose a specific wedding date. Instead, begin thinking about where you would like to hold your wedding. What venue will your day take place at? Will it be an intimate casual affair in a family member's yard? Will it be in a historical building of the city you live in? Or, maybe it will take place in a beautiful restaurant under a gorgeous chandelier, in a secluded, forest-canopied park, a familiar house of worship,, an industrial loft, bare bones event space or favorite museum? A venue is a major starting point. It is usually one of the largest expenses in your wedding budget and is key in providing the look for the day you want. The venue possibilities are defined by your budget, what's available near your location and.... a selection of available dates. If you start with a set wedding date, you've already limited the venue possibilities. 

At Shine Event Design, we have a huge list of favorite venues (secret: there's a small assortment of our faves in the Pacific Northwest on one of our pinterest boards!). And, we love providing our clients a variety of options. So, while we strongly suggest not locking into a specific date and begin by thinking about your venue. Soon after your engagement, we also recommend giving us a call and getting us on board for your wedding planning. We'll help you select the perfect venue and do the legwork of securing the best price available, negotiating the contract and making sure your wedding day planning is off to a great start.