~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!