We're thrilled to introduce you to another of our wonderful 2011 sponsors, Nancy Storment of Bella Bridesmaid, returning for her second year participating in GHGH! Nancy told us, "The Seattle Bella Bridesmaid store opened almost two years ago.  I opened the store with my friend, Meredith, shortly after my own wedding.  In searching for an alternative bridal gown for myself I found Bella Bridesmaid in San Francisco (the original store).  I immediately loved it and the gorgeous “un-bridesmaid-y” dresses.  I was surprised that there wasn’t already a Bella Bridesmaid in Seattle (there are 40 across the country) so I jumped at the chance to open a store here to help all those brides, who, like me, want beautiful dresses their bridesmaid might really wear again."

Nancy, what do you love about your work?

I love helping brides and bridesmaids find the perfect dress!  The look on their face when they find “the one” is priceless.  Plus, I LOVE weddings and talking with the brides about their plans.  So fun!   What drew you to Get Hitched, Give Hope?  It’s a great cause!   How are you participating in GHGH this year? We are donating gorgeous Nina wedding shoes to the live auction this year!

What makes your business stand out? Bella Bridesmaid stands out because we focus on bridesmaid dresses – chic, sassy, designer bridesmaid dresses.  We schedule one-on-one appointments with the bridal party in our intimate boutique and really listen to what the girls are looking for.  Plus, many of the designers we carry are exclusive to our store.   If you could pass on your advice to an engaged couple, what three tips would you give?  1.  Relax.  Wedding planning is supposed to be fun!  2.  Don’t sweat the small details, it always works out in the end.  3.  Love, love, love.   How can we stay in touch? www.bellabridesmaid.com www.facebook.com/bellabridesmaid www.twitter.com/bellabridesmaid  

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  New to GHGH this year is another fabulous vendor, Thrilled For You Video Guestbook!  Jenny Lam, Chief Designer, and two co-founders started this company four years ago after leaving Microsoft. Jenny, what do you love about your work? We think that software is the new canvas of creating exciting things that can make people’s lives better, easier and more beautiful. We’re excited to be in the movement of creating beautiful digital goods. Thrilled For you Video Guestbook was a product idea that came from my own wedding in 2009. My husband and I wanted something to capture the intimate messages from guests that flew all the way around the world to be with us. We knew a traditional guestbook wasn’t going to cut it. So my 2 co-founders, coded the software that I designed and it debuted as a prototype at my wedding, Our guests recorded hundreds of video messages. Some sweet, funny, and silly. Guests loved it so we ended up launching it as a product after we got back from our honeymoon.   What drew you to GHGH? I attended Get Hitched, Give Hope as a bride in 2009. Loved the energy, the attention to detail, and the passion around the cause. It immediately resonated with our company values.   How are you participating in the event? We are donating 3 customized Video Guestbooks (software for the Mac, iPad, or iPhone). Thrilled For You video guestbook is kiosk software for Macs, and now for iPad2s and iPhones with front-facing cameras. Your wedding guests can record an unlimited number of personal video wishes. You can even incorporate the clips into your official wedding video.  Winner of the auction item can choose from a Mac App, iPad2 app or iPhone app.  We’ll also have a bistro table at the event where attendees can try out the guestbook for themselves.

 

What makes your business stand out? Too often technology feels so complicated and cold. We’re in the business of changing that by making technology feel handcrafted and special. We’d like to think of ourselves as artisan software makers.   If you could pass on your advice to an engaged couple, what three tips would you give? It’s probably the same ones you’ve heard before: focus on the stuff that is authentic to you as a couple, Quality over quantity, and SAVOR and capture all of it!!!   How can we stay in touch? www.thrilledforyou.com and www.jacksonfish.com (the parent company)

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  We are excited to introduce another of our wonderful sponsors,  A Princess Bride Couture Bridal Salon.  A Princess Bride caters to brides from all over the Northwest as well as the world to find them their dream gown for the biggest day of the their life!  They’ve been in business for 20 years, working with a passion for design and fashion, starting with veils designed and created by the owner, Kathy, which they still have in the store.  They have expanded to provide everything a bride would need for a gorgeous bridal gown, from accessories to alterations. What do you love about your work? Everyday we get to help women pick out the most important item she will ever wear. A wedding dress is so much more than that. It is a reflection of the couple, their personalities, who they are together and individiually, and it sets the tone for their entire big day. Being a part of something that special is amazing and fulfilling.   What drew you to Get Hitched, Give Hope? Everyone has their moments where they forget how lucky they are to be blessed with everything life has given them. Being able to give back in such a big way is something that each and every vendor should feel lucky to be a part of. Creating excitement for the charity, love for the brides and all others, and drive to make a change is such a huge thing and GHGH does it in such an amazing way!   How are you participating in GHGH this year? We will be donating a gorgeous Pronovias ball gown to be auctioned off at GHGH. Pronovias is an amazing bridal company with exquisite attention to detail and every dress makes a bride feel like a queen. It is truly a statement making gown. Being able to wear a Pronovias on your wedding day really is amazing. They fit so well, make you feel amazing, and give that kind of jaw dropping reaction every bride is looking for. It truly is simple elegance. We will also be donating coupons to the swag bags so brides can have a chance to save some extra money on the bridal gown purchase. We know that this purchase is one of the biggest purchases they may ever make and we like to make it just a little easier however we possibly can.

What inspires you? The brides we work with every day inspire all of us. Each and every story they have to tell is different and special in it’s own way and seeing all of the love in the world is inspiring. It makes us all want to help and give that bride that key piece of her wedding that makes it HERS.   Why do clients choose your services/products? We have been around for 20 years and pride ourselves in being experienced in all different facets of bridal planning. We can give opinions on vendors, venues, and more. We specialize in giving a complete bridal experience for each and every bride from her one-on-one consultation when she first comes into the store, to giving her a personalized timeline of her gown as well as her bridesmaids and anything else she may have ordered. We know that when you order a gown, it’s more than that. You will be spending the next 9 months to a year with us and we love creating and keeping strong friendships with each and every bride we have.   If you could pass on your advice to an engaged couple, what three tips would you give? 1. Remember that everything else is just “fluff”. The most important thing about that day is it’s about you and celebrating the love you share. No one will remember the chairs, but they will all remember the love you share. 2. Don’t put off the small stuff. When it builds up to the last minute, you will be too stressed during the final days to actually ENJOY them. 3. At the end of the every day, no matter how stressful, say I love you to each other.   Thank you!! How can we stay in touch? www.princessbridecouture.com www.princessbridecouture.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/princessbridewa www.facebook.com/A-Princess-Bride-Couture-Bridal-Salon

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  Another of our wonderful sponsors is .m.Glam Designs -- Muriel Kao has donated a fabulous item for the silent auction as well as gorgeous goodies for our Elite Swag Bags!!  .m.Glam will be donating an exquisite set of Crystal-draped Manzanita Tree Centerpieces to help make someone’s event that much more special and glamorous. As an added bonus, each individual who bids will receive a beautiful silver clutch which will be the same ones found in this year’s Elite Swag Bag.  Amazing -- thank you so much, Muriel!!   Here's a peek at these beauties...

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If this raffle item doesn't get your heart racing, you'd better check your pulse.  True Colors Events and Vatne Designs have teamed up to donate a stunning Vera Wang dress and gorgeous Swarovski Bauble Pearl and crystal bracelet & pearl and rhinestone earrings!!  This is a raffle item, people!  For a $10 donation, you'll get a very good chance to win this or one of the other amazing raffle items from our fabulous sponsors.

The Details::

Vera Wang "Daphnie" gown, size 10 (style #115610), valued at $1,950, from Marcella's la Boutique, donated by Jesse and Travis of True Colors Events.

Donated by Neallie of Vatne Designs, a lovely mix of Swarovksi pearls in shades of white and ivory mingle together with Swarovski crystals to form this bubbly bracelet. Accompanying this piece is a stunning set of Swarovski rhinestone and pearl earrings. Each earring hangs 1" from a sterling silver enclosed cubic zirconia ear wire.  The bracelet ends with a toggle clasp closure, and she is happy to customize the bracelet to fit your wrist.

Thank you!!

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I would like to introduce you to Laurel McConnell, one of Get Hitched Give Hope's co-founders!  She is the gifted photographer behind Laurel McConnell Photography and is one of those people who is beautiful both inside and out.  We love Laurel at GHGH and are so blessed to have her on our team for this year's event!!!   [caption id="attachment_3040" align="aligncenter" width="179" caption="Photo by Barbie Hull"][/caption]   Laurel, how long have you been a photographer and what do you love most about it?   I have been a photographer, since 2001 - going on 11 years!  I love... the people. The love. The excitement. The emotions. The flowers. The fashion. The fun. And sometimes the cake.   [caption id="attachment_3041" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo by {Laurel McConnell Photography}"][/caption]   Why did you get involved with Get Hitched Give Hope?   I’m a co-founder ;) We wanted to create an opportunity for all types of wedding industry businesses to participate in a great cause, while giving brides and grooms something awesome in return!   [caption id="attachment_3042" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Photo by {Laurel McConnell Photography}"][/caption]   How are you helping out this year?   I am a board member, marketing-consultant-on-demand, and sponsor via an awesome auction item.  I will be auctioning off a two-hour engagement session on location complete with editing of the images.  Your 20 best images will be retouched and showcased in a sweet guest book with lots of room for your guests to write little love notes to you.  How cool is that?!   [caption id="attachment_3043" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo by {Laurel McConnell Photography}"][/caption]   What inspires you?   Fun people!!!! And great light, of course!   If you could pass on your advice to an engaged couple, what three tips would you give?   1. Allow more time than you’d think for photography, you might just have a blast exploring and hanging out with your main squeeze!  Let your photography time be an experience because this may be the only time you get to spend together before guests arrive and you’re pulled in 18 bajillion directions.   3. Choose a venue that has some great photo locations in the immediate vicinity. Changing locations multiple times wastes time that you could be spending having a ball and gives Trouble an opportunity to come over for a cocktail.   3. Hire a wedding planner and coordinator. They will be worth their weight in gold with the knowledge they bring and stress they extract!   [caption id="attachment_3044" align="aligncenter" width="222" caption="Photo by {Laurel McConnell Photography}"][/caption]   Thanks Laurel!  How can we stay in touch?   Website:  www.mcconnellphoto.com Facebook: facebook.com/LaurelMcConnellPhotography Twitter: @laurelmcconnell      

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We are super excited to have T. Anthony Jewelers as one of our event sponsors for the third year in a row!  They will be donating a gorgeous one-of-a-kind piece to the live auction at Get Hitched Give Hope plus they might have some bling for you to try on if you stop by their bistro table! Tyler Sholdt from T. Anthony Jewelers shared with me a little about his business and their stunning auction item for this year...     Tyler, tell me a little about your job and how you got started in jewelry design...   I design and create gorgeous jewelry!   I would consider myself a jewelry designer, diamond broker and depending on the client… a therapist.  Though I don’t have a degree in therapy or counseling, I do have the privilege of being one of the first people in the wedding industry that a couple visits before all of the fun starts.  I value people and I value marriage and I think that comes out in the way I work with my clients.   I’ve been involved in the jewelry industry for over 12 years and have been the owner of T. Anthony Jewelers for the past four years.   I absolutely love this industry and being able to use the talents I’ve been blessed with is truly an amazing opportunity.  Not only that but jewelry runs deep in my family’s blood.  My great-grandfather purchased a failing jewelry repair business in 1935 and turned it around to be one of the most prestigious jewelry repair shops in Washington.  The history of jewelry has been past down through generations and the passion still runs deep.   It sounds like you are really passionate about your work!  What do you love most about it?   I love meeting new people, creating relationships and designing them beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry that they will wear for a lifetime.     What drew you to Get Hitched Give Hope?   Right off the bat the GHGH team was sincere, warm, fun and good hearted.  Then I learned more about the event and what the money was going towards.  From there it was a no brainer and we’ve had a great relationship ever since.   What will you be donating to the Get Hitched Give Hope auction?   This year like the past two years, T. Anthony Jewelers will be donating to the live auction.  I will also have a fun selection of other jewels at my bistro table for people to try on.  The item up for auction this year will be a gorgeous pair of white pave diamond earrings with black diamond briolettes. These earrings are absolutely stunning!  The best part is that you can dress them up or wear them with a pair of jeans.     What inspires you?   Oh man!  I’m inspired by a lot of different things.  My amazing and talented wife, family, my ever-changing 10 month old son, the commitment of marriage, any type of art… you name it, modern architecture with clean lines and unique design, natural landscapes.  The list goes on.   What makes your business stand out?   I’m able to offer a ton of flexibility for clients who want to design a custom piece of jewelry.  Since I’m a one-man show, I’m the only one calling the shots.  You’re only ever dealing with me and you’ll never be passed along to another salesperson.  Even better than that, the final product and the cost of the final product will speak for itself!   If you could pass on your advice to an engaged couple, what three tips would you give?    1.  Enjoy the time you’re engaged!  Yes, it can be stressful at times but it can also be very bonding.  Make the best out of that rare time you have together. 2.  Get away.  Travel.  Explore the world. 3.  Kiss!  Be affectionate.  Especially in front of your kids (when the time comes). 4.  Bonus advice:  Learn your spouses love language.  Whether it’s buying them gifts, cleaning the house, positive and affirming words or just spending time with them.  Make the extra effort to continuously learn more about your spouse.   Thanks Tyler!  How can we keep in touch?   Website:  www.tanthonyjewelers.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Anthony-Sholdt/108534137537 Twitter: @tanthonyjeweler    

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