~Happy New Year! (+ Guest Post)~

Oh 2011 you have been a doll!

You were a great year of "making it happen"

Turning my passion into my little blossoming business has been SO MUCH FUN. I'm kind of obsessed with weddings . . . 

Let's rewind . . .

In January on a fun happy hour with the hubby (after a few cocktails) we were discussing our future, my passion and my craft business at the time (an Etsy shop here). I love anything and everything creative so I loved crafting it up, but I was working so hard with little benefit and a room full of crafts.

I also work a full time job, but I knew there was something MORE, somehow a way to tie my love for helping people, creativity, making things pretty, where I knew I could shine and be successful. I was always the first one my friends and family would ask to help them with their wedding, or the first to claim planning anyone's shower or party of any kind!

I HAD thought about wedding planning but thought no b/c a good friend of mine just started her own wedding planning business (shout out to Editt!) so I didn't want to "copy".

BUT after talking and talking with my hubby he gave me that last little push to just put all caution to the wind and DO IT!

I went right home and started this here little blog, a website and ordered business cards right away.

Looking back this one of the BEST DECISIONS I have made 

(beside marrying this amazing man in 2008)

Thank you everyone that has been supportive, believed in me and all of the freaking fantastic people I have met on this journey!!! So ridiculously fun and it just feels like me, just feels right!

This year:

I have planned and coordinated 7 weddings:

and made some great friends!

~Corey and Kyle~

(Amy Walton Photography)

~Megan and Justin~

(M Kippen Photography)

~Brooke and Andy~

(Joielala Photographie)

(What a gorgeous couple, so full of love for life and each other it was adorable! Sad story.  Read here. And here.  I was honored to help them with their big day, and shed many tears when I heard the news 10 days after their big wedding Andy had a heart attack while working out and passed away 10 days after marriage at the age of 27, and just a few days after moving to FL with Brooke.  Such a crazy sad story but I know they were meant to get married and glad I could witness such strong and amazing love. Brooke my heart still goes out to you and I am so proud to see you being strong!)

~Destiny and Fili~

(Maxine Toh Photography)

~Lindsay and Mike~

(Hendricks Kim Photography)

~Abiade and Ernie's 2 day wedding extravaganza~

(Lin and Jirsa Photography)

I have done my first styled shoot

(featured over at Bow Ties and Bliss)

~Vintage Glam Inspiration Shoot~

(Simply Sonja Photography)

And met the lovely Mariah Gentry and have started our

new wedding show producing company NW Budget Brides 

and we produced an amazing wedding show/fashion show in September in Seattle.

Over 450 guests, 30 vendors, a fashion show and tons of prizes, not too bad for our first show!

 (cake by Baked)

  (cake by Baked)

 (Modern Mood Designs Vendor booth)

 (Salsa N Seattle Performance- amazing!)

 One of the gorgeous models

 "Here Comes the Bride" cute flowers girls starting off the fashion show

(Photography by Tanmay Ganacharya)

2011 you have been grand! 

But I do have to say 2012 seems even bigger and brighter!

Here's to a fabulously happy NEW YEAR 

and an even better 2012 full of making wishes come true, success, happiness, balance and feeling complete.

Life is good, Enjoy!!!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

Psssst . . . more good stuff today, go visit A Northwood Wedding's blog and check out my guest post and leave some love!

~Vendor Love: Adam's DJ Service~

I got a super sweet endorsement from Adam at Adam's DJ Service in Seattle.

What a great guy and talented DJ he is!

We worked together on Lindsay's wedding on October 1st held at DeLille Cellars.

(Hendricks Kim Photography)

(go DJ, that's my DJ! On the left)

Everything was perfect and went off without a hitch thanks to our amazing team.

More to come on this wedding soon:-)

Adam: 

"I recently had the pleasure of working a wedding with Tamara and of all the new planners I got an opportunity to work with in 2011, Tamara is my new fav! She is very thorough, very easy to work with, she's totally cool and simply gets it done from all angles! I would recommend her in a heartbeat for anyone looking for a planner/coordinator for their BIG DAY!"

Thanks Adam, can't wait until the next wedding!

Oh and he is like one of the best in the Seattle area and has awards to show it up on his website:

Adam's DJ website

Blog

Twitter

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Lin and Jirsa Sneak Peek~

Ohhh yes I had the honor of working on a 2 day wedding extravaganza with the amazing Lin and Jirsa Photography.  Super excited to see the rest of the photos, but here are 2 recent sneak peeks to tie us all over . . .

Can't. Hardly. Wait

for the rest of these. . . 

Abiade and Ernie it was so fun working together on your wedding weekend!!!

More to come soon!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Wedding Colors for Spring 2012!~

Here they are!

(from the Perfect Palette)

Hmmm I am loving the sweet lilac and starfish combo.

Which one is your fave?!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!!! 

We spent all day today cleaning house, getting rid of the old to make way for the new!

Enjoy your day!!!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~LOVE~

Just a quick post right before the crazy Christmas weekend.

Today I will not be showing the adorable details that normally grace these pages.

Today is about LOVE.

The reason behind my job (wedding planning).

The meaning behind life.

TRUE LOVE.

(source)

No matter how cute your wedding decor is, how trendy or trend setting your ideas are.

It's all about one big thing . . .  LOVE!

Let's try to really focus on what's truly important.

Forget the little things that cause arguments.

Forgive and forget and truly just LOVE.

"True love is not about the hugs and kisses, the 'I love you's' or the 'I miss you's', but about the chills that hit every part of your spine when you think about him."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Simple White Bouquet~

I am so drawn to simple bouquets right now (shocked right?! Usually I am all over the place)

LOVE the look of this simple white bouquet found on Style Me Pretty.

Love jewels on bouquets!

Peonies and calla lillies= perfection!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Show Off Your Back!~

Ohhh I am so in love with this style, the open back wedding gown.

Swoooon!

Marchesa wedding dress via NYMag.com

Alix & Kelly bridal collection

Jim Hjelm

There is just something sexy and romantic about an open back gown.

For sure requires a confidant bride:-)

"I’ve always loved the lines and contours of a female back.  While men hold their strength in their arms or chests, I feel that a woman holds all her strength in her back."

from the artist Diana Eastman

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Wedding Shoe Shot~

We all can agree that every bride needs a shoe shot.  A fun pic of their wedding shoes.

This one is perfect! The heels and the happy couple in the background.

(can't find original source! Anyone know? Found on Pinterest)

Love.

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Inspirations for your Monday: Peach and Gold~

Happy Monday everyone!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

We sure did! Family time, cooking, baking, date night, and I submitted a few weddings I did this year to some big blogs, crossing my fingers!

Some beautiful wedding inspiration for you:

Peach and gold, what a lovely soft, girly combination that I have been drawn to over and over again.

Of course add in some glitter and bling, soft flowers, and a pair of Badgley Mischkas and it's perfect!

credits: 

1) Desserts: found on tumblr here (artist unknown) 2) Glitter lips: here 3) Gown: Versace, Fall 2011, Atelier Versace Couture Collection here 4) Pink Sapphire and rose gold ring here 5) Dresses seen on Love and Lavender by Jason and Anna Photography here 6) Macaroons in glitter by Sweet and Saucy here 7) Gorgeous aisle decor found on bravobride here 8) Sequin vase seen on Decor8  9)  Garter by Mamie and Jaimes10) Badgley Mischkas found here 

Enjoy your week!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~New News and Reviews~

Happy weekend lovelies!!!

I have a few updates this week:

I have received 2 fabulous new reviews from past clients.  These always make me teary eyed and super giddy to receive.  I spend a lot of time with these people, planning their biggest day.  We work hard together, cry, laugh, stress, smile, plan plan plan together.  We bond and become good friends. Soooo love them all!

Here are my 2 newest reviews this week:

Lindsay

 (married 10/1/11)

Hendricks Kim Photography

"Tammy was absolutely amazing! I hired her as my day-of-coordinator for my October wedding and she went above and beyond my expectations! She was always so organized and met with me on multiple occasions with and without my wedding vendors. Tammy has a very sweet personality and she is definitely a people pleaser. She listens to your vision and has really good feedback and ideas that fit with your style. On the days leading up to my wedding she sent me multiple reassuring messages and knew just the right words to calm me down and to know it was all going to turn out great...and it did! Tammy goes above and beyond and I definitely recommend her!"

Justin 

(married 7/22/11)

M Kippen Photography

"Tamara was a great wedding planner and was very helpful with the planning, organizing and coordination on the wedding day. We have a family emergency that happened a couple weeks before the wedding and had to put a lot of responsibility on Tamara and she came through."

Love them!!!

Also more BIG NEWS!!!!!

I'm sure all of you have heard of BRIDES magazine.

You know, the BIGGEST wedding magazine ever.

Well I got a message from them yesterday that they wanted a few items from my  Etsy shop by Monday for a potential inclusion in their April magazine!!!

Ohhhhh Emmmm Geeee

I am beside myself.

Sent it overnight on them today and will keep my fingers crossed.

Maybe cross your fingers for me too?

Will keep you all posted!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Calligraphy Swoooon!~

There is just something romantic and beautiful about some good calligraphy!

Saw these invites by 

over on Snippet and Ink.

Stationery by Holly Hollon Design and Calligraphy
Photos by Jessica Wright

When we were planning our wedding I tried so hard to get a fun map for our wedding, but it just didn't work.  

I think it adds so much to have a hand drawn one like this.

Perfection!

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~

~Sealed With a Heart!~

Have you seen this idea?!

(source)

Seal your wedding invitation envelopes with your combined heart!

Just grab a stamp pad, have the fiance help and stamp your hearts.

Super cute and simple.

(on Etsy)

Cute cute cute.

(Martha Stewart Weddings)

~Simply by Tamara Nicole~