A favorite of mine...

She is by far one of my favorite photographers and I love seeing every wedding she shoots. For those of you who know her and those of you who don't, I would like to introduce you to Michèle M. Waite! She has such a great eye and I check-in with her blog regularly just to see her amazing work. Not only did she shoot my own wedding, but when the daughter of Colleen Smiley, the owner of Creative Celebrations, got married in Late Summer of 2008 who was the "must have photographer"...Michèle M. Waite! She has such a great eye and can capture your wedding day in a way you could only imagine. Here are a few of my new favorite photos and please take at look of her blog for yourself.

Photographs By Michèle M. Waite Photographer

16th Annual Ultimate Bridal Faire

Whether your the bride-to-be, mother of the bride or just along for the ride come see us on January 11th, 2008 at the 16th Annual Ultimate Bridal Faire. Northwest Special Events puts this bridal faire on and you wont want to miss it. With over 60 of our area's top wedding-related vendors displaying their products and services you must come see for yourself. Plus there will be a Fashion Show for you to check out all the new bridal trends! We'll be there so come say "Hello" to us at Creative Celebrations, we would love to help you with all your wedding needs!

When: January 11th 2009

Where: Skagit Valley Casino
(map it)

What Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Fashion Show starts at 2 p.m.!

Something for the Boys....Proposal Ideas!

The holiday season is here and what a great gift to the women you love....an engagement! Did you know that approximately 1/3 of all engagements occur around the holidays? With the advice from Elegala, your proposal can be well prepared, memorable, and special. Below is a list of Elegala's favorite proposal ideas for the season. Their website is also full of other useful information for brides, grooms, and almost anything related to weddings. Click here for your ultimate guide for engagement rings, and here for more proposal advice.

Silent Night
With blanketed countryside catching the glow of the twinkling lights and stars above, the season’s natural landscape sets the perfect ambiance for a romantic marriage proposal. Take a moonlit stroll through the new fallen snow, and ask her to be your wife.

Jingle Bell Rock
Arrange for the two of you to put up the holiday decorations together. Carefully attach a sparkling rock to her favorite ornament, and give it to her once all the rest have been placed on the tree.

And a Happy New Year
Ringing in the New Year goes hand in hand with a glass (or two) of the bubbly. Make hers extra sweet by dropping a dazzling diamond in her glass, and present it to her at the stroke of midnight.

Let it Snow
Ask her in a winter wonderland; write “Will You Marry Me” in fresh snow.All She Wants for Christmas If you suspect she may be on alert for a marriage proposal this holiday season, throw her off track during your gift exchange. Give a typical present, and when she starts to think that it’s not happening this time, suddenly remember another gift – and surprise her with the ring.

Home for the Holidays
Dreading the annual day of airport mayhem required to visit your families for the holidays? If you’re traveling together this season, make it a trip to remember. Stow the engagement ring in your carry-on (un-wrapped of course), and have the boarding attendants announce a message for passenger (her name). Then pop the question just before you’re about to board. Hey, they may even bump you up to first class.

Caroling, Caroling
Have carolers come to the door and sing her favorite holiday tune – modifying one of the verses to say “will you marry me.”

Hooray for “Christmas Vacation”
Plan a night in to cuddle up and watch your favorite holiday film. Make a bowl of popcorn and place the ring at the bottom. When the popcorn’s almost finished, grab the ring and propose. (just don’t eat the ring!)

Santa Baby
Arrange to play Santa at a family or social Christmas party you’ll be attending with your honey. Have one of your friends convince her to sit on Santa’s lap. Be sure to tell her what Santa wants for Christmas – for her to be your wife!

Sleigh Ride
Many towns and cities offer carriage rides or tours to view the festive holiday regalia. On a particularly chilly evening, take your sweetie on a ride under the holiday lights. Propose while snuggling together under a blanket on a romantic “sleigh ride” through town.

Festive & Fun Holiday Drinks!

Festive drinks are always a big hit at any holiday party. Whether you go with a classic drink like homemade Eggnog and spiced cider, or want to mix it up with more complex blend like a Pumpkin Pie-Tini, holiday drinks are fun to experiment with and to serve to your guests. Here are a few festive drink recipes to try this season.

Happy Holidays Everyone ...from Creative Celebrations!

Winter White Cosmo

1 1/2 ounces Stoli Cranberry vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce white cranberry juice
3 frozen cranberries, to garnish
Combine ingredients over ice in a shaker. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Float 3 or 4 frozen cranberries on top.

Poinsettia

1 scoop ice
1/2 ounce Triple Sec
4 ounces champagne
2 ounces cranberry juice
Squeeze of lemon
Build in a cylindrical or stemmed glass, in above order. Just before serving, top with the cranberry juice so it will float to the bottom of the champagne and Triple Sec. Garnish with large straw and lemon squeeze.

Naughty Milk

¾ ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
¾ ounce coffee liqueur (Starbuck’s preferred)
2 tablespoons hot chocolate mix
4 ounces hot water
Whipped cream
Chocolate sprinkles
Peppermint stick (optional)
Use an 8 ½- or 9-ounce stemmed coffee mug (such as one you’d use for Irish Coffee). Add first four ingredients. Stir to mix. Top with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a peppermint stick for the holidays.

Pumpkin Pie-Tini

Honey
Graham cracker crumbs
1 ounce milk
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 1/2 ounces Three-O Vanilla vodka
1 1/2 ounces crème de cacao
Using a small amount of honey, rim martini glass with graham cracker crumbs.Shake milk and pumpkin puree over ice to combine. Pour in remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain into the martini glass.

If They Don't Make the Bridal Party

Do you have any close friends or family members who didn't make the bridal party list, but you still would love them to be apart of your special day? Why not ask them to help with something special either on your wedding day or in the preparation process so they can still be involved?

Here Are Some examples...

Wedding Day Tasks:

1. ask them to do a reading at your ceremony

2. maybe they could even officiate your wedding

3. they could serve as a greeter at the ceremony and hand out programs

4. maybe you have a friend or relative that can sing at your ceremony or reception

Pre-Wedding Tasks:

1. they can accompany you when trying on wedding dresses

2. they can help with either favor or invitation assembly

3. maybe they have ideas of places to hold your reception

M&M's Wedding Weekend

I just got back from an amazing wedding in one of my favorite little towns Old Town Alexandria, VA. We couldn't have asked for better weather and a more romantic place to see two of my favorite people get married. They went with a very Autumn filled event with rich colors of yellows, auburns, reds and golds. The flower girls had baskets full of autumn leaves which added to the Fall feel. They had a bagpiper at the ceremony site to welcome the guest which was such a fun little detail.

Wedding Cake Styles

The wedding cake has always been such a big part of a wedding, but now it's so much more then just flour and frosting. The wedding cake is almost the center piece of the reception. You can design a cake to be pretty much anything you would want. There are so many styles to choose from, you could do the traditional cake with fresh flowers to the totally fun & funky cake with bright colors and jewels. Another fun addition to your reception is a Groom's Cake. With its roots in Southern tradition, the Groom’s Cake has been around for many years and is back in fashion on the wedding scene. Today, the cake is meant to be a reflection of the groom’s interests, hobbies, favorite sports, alma mater, profession, or anything else he enjoys.Your wedding cake is something you should have fun with so whether you do classic and simple or custom and crazy just have fun...it's Your Wedding Day!