All the ingredients for a fabulous wedding are right here on the North Olympic Peninsula.
That point will be illustrated at two wedding shows today (Saturday, March 1).
Combined, the free shows in Port Townsend and Port Angeles will showcase the talents of 55 area vendors.
In Port Angeles, the Red Lion Hotel at 221 N. Lincoln St. is hosting 18 vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in its upstairs ballroom during the “Love . . . Locally Inspired” 2014 Wedding Show.
Sipping mimosas, bellinis and sparkling cider, guests can sample Red Lion appetizers and An Elegant Touch’s chocolate fountain while learning about photography, florist and other services, and examining Black Diamond Bridal gowns or having a complimentary 20-minute massage or on-site teeth whitening by Panacea Spa.
In Port Townsend, Fort Worden State Park and Bon Appetit are collaborating on a Wedding Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nora Porter Commons Building at Fort Worden. No Discovery Pass is needed to park.
In addition to 37 wedding professionals, the Port Townsend expo will feature a wedding dress fashion show, a sampling of Bon Appetit chef Mark Manley’s wedding menus and tours of Fort Worden accommodations for guests, receptions and ceremonies.
Fashion show
The fashion show, set from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., will highlight some 18 dresses, said Beverly Michaelsen, owner of Wandering Wardrobe of Port Townsend.
Some are vintage, some are “just fun,” and “all are fabulous,” Michaelsen said.
Posh of Port Townsend will style models’ hair and provide makeup.
From noon to 1 p.m., wedding and rehearsal menu tastings are planned.
Guests can tour Fort Worden and visit with vendors from 11 a.m. to noon as well as after the fashion show.
“We have a lot of destination weddings here,” said Rochelle Prather, Bon Appetit general manager.
“Local people can come and have their weddings here when they have people from out of town,” since the fort offers both lodging and receptions halls as well as a variety of settings for ceremonies, she said.
“I hope that they see that when they have a wedding here in Jefferson County, they don’t need to bring vendors from across the Sound,” Prather said.
“They have everything they need here. And it’s unique.”
Charlea Johnson, Red Lion Hotel catering sales manager, also made that point.
Local vendors
“We wanted to tap into the local vendors that we have here on the Peninsula to provide brides an opportunity to meet with them face-to-face in a fun atmosphere,” Johnson said.
“We want to bring in as many of the excellent local vendors as we can” to make it clear that “brides don’t have to go to Seattle to plan a great wedding,” she added.
The Red Lion Hotel show will showcase the ballroom, site of about a dozen wedding ceremonies or receptions annually.
The hotel works with the city of Port Angeles to promote ceremonies outside on City Pier, in view of Port Angeles Harbor, followed by receptions inside the hotel — where arrangements for a ceremony can be made quickly in case of rain.
The Port Angeles show “is meant to be a local intimate wedding show,” Johnson said.
“We can appreciate the vendors and make the brides feel special in ways that they would not find at a larger show.
“We’re going all out to make it a special and fun day.”
Brides will be greeted at the door with welcome bags full of coupons, discounts and treats.
Door prizes will be awarded at three times during the show. It will not be necessary to be present to win.
The final drawing will be for a grand prize to be used by a couple planning a reception at the Red Lion Hotel.
The winning bride can choose 75 percent off a rental of the Red Lion ballroom, a savings of $750; chair covers in wedding colors for up to 100 guests, about a $600 value; or an hour of chef’s choice appetizers served butler-style on trays at the reception.
Scott Fijolek of www.AskDJScott.com will serve as the master of ceremonies, playing music and announcing vendors and prizes.
PA vendors
Vendors are Black Diamond Bridal of Port Angeles, Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles, Danielle Designs of Sequim, Nancy Bowen Photography of Port Angeles, Fleur de lis Photography of Sequim, Adrian Craven Photography of Sequim, Red Lion Hotel & Catering of Port Angeles, Harbinger Winery of Port Angeles, An Elegant Touch Chocolate Fountains of Sequim.
Also, Necessities & Temptations gift shop of Port Angeles, www.ignitethebox.com weight loss, It Works Global body contouring and skin-care supplements, www.AskDJScott.com, Panacea Spa of Port Angeles, Skin Care Suites Spa of Port Angeles, Love Note Wedding & Event Planning of Sequim, Olympic Peninsula Celebrations of Sequim and Fern Hollow of Sequim.
For more information about the Red Lion Hotel wedding show, phone 360-417-5710 or email charlea.johnson@redlion.com.
PT vendors
Most vendors at the Fort Worden show are from Port Townsend.
Those include Bon Appetit, Daily Bird Pottery, Deja View Photography, Dockside Cleaners and Peninsula Tux, Fort Worden, Friends of Fort Worden, Gerald Braude’s solo acoustic guitar, Glow Natural Skin Care, Holly’s Fine Flowers, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Jes Klein Photography, Nerium.
Also, Petals Flower Shop, Poems of Life and Creations, Port Townsend Brewing Co., Port Townsend Chocolate Co., Posh, Puget Sound Coastal Artillery Museum, Queen Bee Event Planning, Safeway Florist & Bakery, Seashell Cakes, harpist Shannon Ryan, Sweet Laurette Cafe & Bistro, Sweet Pea Stationery, Wandering Wardrobe and Willow Wind Farm and Gardens.
Also at the show will be Finnriver Farm & Cidery of Chimacum, Heartfelt Ceremonies of Port Hadlock, harpist Paula Lalish of Nordland, That Takes the Cake of Sequim, American Rose Bridal Fashions and Thermal Body Scan of Poulsbo, Independent Candle Consultant-Party Light of Hansville, Oddly Small’s Photo Booth, The Bremerton Letter Press, Vehr’s Wines and Viral Booth CRV of Silverdale.
For more information, contact Jill DeCianne at 360-344-4403 or jill.decianne@parks.wa.gov, or email Rochelle.Prather@cafebonappetit.com.
