Punch Recipe from The Seattle Wedding Show

This punch was a huge hit - and super simple!

2 Two Liters of Gingerale

1 frozen White Grape fruit juice tube (mixed with water per the instructions

1 frozen Dole Pineapple/Mango/Banana fruit juice tube (mixed with water per the instructions)

Serve!

Graphic Design Internships at TIH

We're looking for two Graphic Design Interns to assist a Lead Designer with the creation and production of wedding and social event related collateral as well as assist in researching and crafting for our Trophy Cupcake Design Studio.

Office hours are uncompensated, but there are income opportunities via deliveries (required) on the weekends $50-$180 a weekend.

To view the post, click here.

Job Posting for The Invisible Hostess HQ

We're looking for a college student who is qualified for the WA State Work Study Program for this Office & Event Assistant position. Effective immediately.

View the Job Description Here.

Please send resumes and cover letters to resumes@theinvisiblehostess.com and cc sheena@theinvisiblehostess.com

Deciphering Online Reviews

{People don't hate us on yelp. I just want to clarify!}

Looking to third party sites for reviews about vendors is smart. You can see the unfiltered true feedback from past clients. But, what if you see a bunch of positive remarks and there are a few irritated clients in the mix? Who do you believe?

Keep in mind that businesses, especially service related businesses, are run by humans. Imperfect humans. We've even had the few and far between unhappy client. Sometimes it's an off day, sometimes factors out of a company's control effect its performance, and sometimes you just can't please a person.

So, how do you use these reviews to your benefit?

My recommendation is, when calling up your chosen company or venue, refer to the positive reviews, but also some of the negative comments you saw and ask what the company learned from that situation and how they've improved since then.

Pay attention to how a company responds.

Endless excuses are a red flag.

If it was only the client's fault and never the company's, this is not a good sign. A good service based company should always recognize where it could improve. In one of our "negative review" scenarios, the client's friend was Day of Coordinating. Her inexperience was a large source of the conflict, but we performed the job to the best of our ability. How we could have improved the situation was by setting better expectations with the "coordinator" as well as communicated our staying-late policy in advance. Since this experience, we try to lay out exactly what we're expecting our job to be on site as well as explaining our operational policies to not only the client, but the acting coordinator. No surprises = happy client!

Can they guarantee this won't happen to you?

If something goes wrong, what will they do for you? A company that believes in its service should be able to guarantee its quality. Ask what would happen if your expectations aren't met.


The moral of this story is to pay attention to reviews, but don't let a few negative comments deter you without asking the company about it first. You might find what went wrong with that particular client wouldn't even apply to your event. Call with questions and you should get a good feeling either way after speaking with the company in question.

Reasons to Not Be Cheap!

Top 6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Cheap with Your Event Staffing

Pretty blunt, right? Well, this has been weighing on my mind these past few months and I felt I had to address it. I’m seeing too many brides and grooms cut corners in their staffing because it’s not the “fun pretty stuff.” A pretty wedding is nothing if the event falls apart! I realize this list has a tinge of skepticism and negativity, but it’s time to stop sugarcoating and get to the source of many wedding issues. You don’t have to have a stressful wedding day. You’ve spent too much time and money to worry. If you’re not already convinced, read on…

A professional has a profile, a track record, past clients. You can research his or her work and be certain he or she will deliver to your standards. If they’re sloppy, late, rude, or just lazy – you can learn from other’s misfortunes and not repeat the mistake at your own event.

A professional follows the law. Sure your brother’s buddy will bartend, but does he have a license? Is he insured if an accident happens? Does he know he’s required by law to cut off over intoxicated guests? Is he prepared if the Liquor Board shows up to the party? If you’re not having a house party, you can’t drink like it’s a house party. End of story. Do you not care? You should. The consequences of irresponsible bartending are too great to gamble on.

A professional knows his or her craft. Flowers, photography, bartending, staffing, coordination, catering…these are all professions that get better over time. The longer a person has worked in his or her industry, the fewer mishaps or drama. You might find a coordinator for $600, but how many weddings has she done? Does she know she should track down the photographer because the bride and groom are having a special moment? Has she thought ahead about how you’re going to get your leftover cake and food home? Do you have a plan? A seasoned professional always has a plan for everything.

A professional doesn’t stop working when the bar opens. Your friends and family, however, will. This sounds a bit harsh towards the people who are graciously offering help, but we see it at every single event we’ve worked. Remember, your friends and family are guests first, volunteers last. Let them enjoy this day too!

Quality professional staff is your event foundation. Just like a house needs a solid foundation, events need a solid staff. Staff are behind the scenes and are the catch-all of anything that goes awry. If you don’t have a team that can anticipate problems or troubleshoot quickly, then your event will fall apart.

And finally…

You get what you pay for. Bumbling and rude bartenders, slow and careless staff, a caterer who bails the month of the wedding, a coordinator who missed important moments in the wedding day… These are Craigslist “professionals” our past clients have regretfully gone with because the service was cheap. If someone is cheap, there’s a reason. Pay the extra money for the peace of mind.

Will you share some love?

Click here to see how you can do us a solid.

We're Five!

Just a little bit of fine print... see it here

Make Your Own Photobooth Station

Photo booths are a rightfully popular entertainment staple at parties. For big events, I highly suggest leaving it to the pros, but, if you're like me and just needed a simple set up for a house party, then here's how to do just that. The main thing you'll need to accomplish a pro-like quality photo is a light softbox.

What does a softbox do? It creates soft light on your subject. This is great for eliminating harsh shadows when using your traditional flash (which you'll still need to use for proper lighting). I positioned my softbox below my camera to create soft up lighting.

DIY Softbox Materials:

• Cardboard Box
• Tin Foil
• Scissors
• Tape
• White Fabric/White Gift Tissue Paper/White Garbage Sack
• Small Lamp (I used a desk lamp)
• Digital SLR camera with flash (small digital camera will work too, but not as effective)
• Tripod
• Remote Control ($15 on amazon.com)
• A plus, but not required, Adobe Light Room (find a screaming deal on the software here)

And Here are the INSTRUCTIONS on how to make your softbox.

Unfortunately, I did not have the foresight to take step by step photos, but here's my finished product. Note that I wrapped it in Christmas paper as well as my box props. It was a Christmas party after all...


I took a lot of trial and error shots to figure out the right combination of lighting and distance. There's such thing as too close and too far, so take pictures until you're happy with what you see in the screen.

I'm a photo hobbyist, so I wanted to edit the final pictures in LightRoom. The effect was better than the original shots. (this is why I say for important events, leave this to the pros). Here's a comparison of edited and un-edited:



So there you have it! If you've got the right tools, this is a really fun activity to offer at your party. If you don't have the tools, here are some of my favorite photo booth pros:

• Laura Marchbanks Photography
• Red Fish Blue Fish
• Phototainment

Paper Zone Deal THIS WEEKEND!

Click here for the event details!

A Big Thank You!

Thank you to all the vendors who participate, and then all the guests who made this party a smashing success!


Click here to view our photo booth shots hosted by patrick lennox wright photography


Party photos by Red Fish Blue Fish coming soon!

Bamboo Beats + The Invisible Hostess

And of course, visit our event website for information about all the participating vendors.

Choosing Live Music for your Event

Live music is a ton of fun for any celebration. If you budget allows (or if you make your budget allow) for it, it's worth every penny and a complete hoot! My favorite larger scale live band is The Michael Benson Band. Visit our facebook page to see a video from a wedding Sheena did on New Year's Eve. The covers they played were awesome. When Michael started singing Eminem's "Lose Yourself," I thought, "no way this will work." It was amazing!!




If you need a smaller band, the two man group, Kennedy Brothers, is a family favorite. We rock out to them at Fado's on the weekend and have had them at family weddings. Playing covers of hits from the 60s to the 90s, these guys are fantastic. A more casual vibe, but equally fun and fantastic.

Tallant House Tasting

One of our favorite pastry chefs, Tallant House, is offering a few different tasting dates. If you're still in the market for wedding cake or desserts (macaroons, smore's, etc!), Judy is great!!

From Judy...

Sun, Feb. 13, 11pm-2pm at Alexis Hotel, 1007 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98072

Sun, Feb. 27, 11pm-3pm at Novelty Hill Winery, 14710 NE Woodinville - Redmond Road NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
Sun, Mar. 27, 11pm-3pm at Novelty Hill Winery, 14710 NE Woodinville - Redmond Road NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
Sun, Apr. 17, 11pm-3pm at Novelty Hill Winery, 14710 NE Woodinville - Redmond Road NE, Woodinville, WA 98072

For the tasting at Alexis Hotel, enjoy a brunch or happy hour special, at Library Bistro - while also getting to see what a beautiful space the bistro is for rehearsal dinners, bridal teas, or other private events.

For the tasting at Novelty Hill, please feel free to join the winery in their intimate, relaxed tasting room to sample a selection of featured wines from Novelty Hill and Januik, hand-crafted by award-winning winemaker Mike Januik. Customize your tasting according to your wine preferences and cellar interests by selecting any four wines from one of the daily tasting experiences; the Columbia Valley tasting is available for $5 or the Limited Edition/Single Vineyard tasting for $10. Rustic, handmade Brick Oven Pizzas are also available every weekend for just $12 each. You will also get to see what a beautiful space the winery has for private events.

Please RSVP so that I and my hosts are adequately prepared.

For those of you not yet familiar, I create wedding cakes based on the French artisan style cake - or entremet. Additionally, I create dessert buffets of everything from whole tarts and entremets, to individual portion desserts, and mignardises. I also do myriad special requests, and will work with your caterer to develop a customized plated dessert.

Everything I do is based on a fine, old world French craftsmanship tradition and is custom. My ingredients are predominantly organic - local, fair trade, and sustainably produced where possible - and my methods are based on respectful stewardship of resources. Additionally, my kitchen is licensed.

Please don't hesitate to email me with questions or special requests.

In terms of menu, everything I do is custom. I am a pastry chef, rather than a cake decorator, and I think in terms of themes and flavor profiles:

Summer fruits

Chocolate with acid fruits like orange, lemon, raspberry, passion fruit

Berries

Citrus fruit

"Browns" - Kahlua, espresso, mocha, caramel, hazelnuts, pecans

Tropical fruit

Chocolate and lots of it

A favorite beverage like pina colada, Margarita

Favorite dessert like bananas foster, creamsicle, strawberry shortcake

Ethnic flavors, such as French, Middle Eastern, Italian, etc.

Desserts paired with wine and beer

If there is something special you want me to include that I might miss in the above list, please let me know. I will have a limited number of gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options. Please bring your ideas, photographs, and anything else you would like to talk about regarding your dessert.

Do you have your permits?

Information for WA State Food Handler Permit Classes

Information for a MAST 12 permit taught by ACT

Armadillo BBQ

Imagine a vintage truck pulling up to your event or corporate meeting pulling a smoking cooker behind it and slinging REALLY good BBQ. Armadillo BBQ not only does this, but they're team is refreshingly cool and fun to be around. I experienced them at the July Wedding Network USA meeting held at Radar Lake and I hope the TIH team and Armadillo will work together a lot more in the coming years.

And if you're not convinced yet:
Dinner for $11.95 per person? Yes, they can do that.

Seattle Street Treats

Just 8 weeks into business, Diane Skwiercz's Street Treats, is serving up tasty 100% homemade desserts from her mobile rig. Follow them on Twitter to find the truck during the week, but you'll likely see them at an event since they're becoming a popular dessert option for weddings and parties.

Radar Lake - Woodinville's Hidden Gem!

Wedding Network USA’s July meeting was held at Radar Lake in Woodinville, WA. The moment you turn onto their driveway, you literally feel like you’ve left the city and have entered rural lakeside comfort. It was kind of unbelievable actually.

An amazing venue for weddings, reunions or if you want to live large and rent out the lake, you could perfect your wakeboarding skills. Their hill overlooks Duvall and Carnation- yes, the whole towns.

Tip: if you have an evening event here, provide LOTS of bug repellent for your guests. Those skeeters are pretty vicious when the sun starts to set.