weddings - whidbey weddings 2016
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A supplement to the Whidbey News-Times, South Whidbey Record and The Whidbey Examiner
hidbey
eddings2016
WW
Destination
Page 2 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
The Shortest Distance to Far Away®
Free maps and guides plus lodging and event info atWhidbeyCamanoIslands.com
Visitor Information Centers:For in-person help and detailed information, call or stop by one of the many visitor centers located throughout the islands.
The Shortest Distance to Happily Ever AfterCross over by bridge or ferry and find yourself in a different world. This is the ideal place for your perfect day. Life is less complicated here. You’ll find everything you need for your gathering or group getaway.
Congratulations to Jen and Scott, married on July 27, 2013 at the Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island. Photo by Jason Koenig with JKOE Photo.
Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce 32630 SR 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277OakHarborChamber.com(360) 675-3535
Coupeville Chamber of Commerce905 NW Alexander StreetCoupeville, WA 98239CoupevilleChamber.com(360) 678-5434
Greater Freeland Chamber of Commerce 5575 Harbor Avenue, #101 Freeland, WA 98249Freeland-WA.org(360) 331-1980
Langley Chamber of Commerce 208 Anthes Avenue, Langley, WA 98260VisitLangley.com(360) 221-6765
Clinton Chamber of Commerce, c/o Dalton Realty 9546 Hwy 525, Clinton, WA 98236 DiscoverClintonWa.com(360) 341-3929
Camano Island Chamber of Commerce848 N. Sunrise Blvd, #4 Camano Island, WA 98282CamanoIsland.org(360) 629-7136
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 3
THE BEST OF
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER | Keven R. Graves
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Kimberlly Winjum
EDITOR | Megan Hansen
COPY & PHOTOS | Ron Newberry, Ben Watanabe & Staff
MARKETING | Nora Durand, Teri Mendiola & JoAnn Baker
CREATIVE | Jen Miller, Rebecca Collins, Michelle Wolfensparger &
Caitlin Frost
Additional copies of this publication may be available by calling:
WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES | 360-675-6611SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD | 877-316-7276P.O. Box 1200, 107 S. Main Street, Suite E101
Coupeville, WA 98239
On the coverThe cover photo was shot on Whidbey Island by photographery Michael Stadler of Stadler Studio Photography, www.stadlerstudio.com
So the question has been popped and joyfully accepted. Now you both have to start thinking about what needs to get done to make sure this special day runs smoothly and that nothing is forgotten. Dear brides and grooms, here are the top 20 essentials to consider for a memorable wedding.
1. GUEST LIST. This is your day, so only invite the people with whom you actually want to share the moment.
2. INVITATIONS. Would you pre-fer to send out lavish printed invita-tions or simple virtual invitations? Whatever your choice, send them out as soon as you’ve set the date.
3. WEDDING PLANNER. This service can take quite a load off your shoulders so you can focus on the important stuff.
4. GROOMSMEN AND BRIDESMAIDS. Choose people you like and who aren’t afraid of being in the spotlight.
5. CELEBRANT. Be sure that the person you choose to unite your destinies will allow you to personal-ize the ceremony.
6. LOCATION OF THE CER-EMONY. Do you prefer a church, city hall or a beach?
7. RECEPTION VENUE. You can opt for a reception hall in the coun-
try, a posh hotel or simply a family member’s home.
8. FLOWERS. Choose a bouquet that goes with the bride’s outfit — and choose one that all the single women will try to catch when the time comes.
9. RENTAL EQUIPMENT. For the sound system, tableware and even the tables and chairs, opt for a local company with a trustworthy reputation.
10. GIFT REGISTRY. By making this virtual document available to your guests, you won’t receive the same gift twice.
11. MUSIC AND ENTERTAIN-MENT. Choose an experienced DJ who will take into account your needs and preferences.
12. PHOTOGRAPHER. Look through a photographer’s portfolio and ask for references before choos-ing the person who will immortalize this special event.
13. CAMERAMAN. Watch videos made for previous clients before making your choice.
14. THE CAKE. Visit a few baker-ies to find a cake that makes your
mouth water and a baker skilled in cake decorating.
15. WEDDING FAVORS. Don’t forget to give your guests a person-alized me mento of your wedding.
16. TRANSPORTATION. Would you prefer a limousine, a sports car or a vintage car? Or maybe even a horse and carriage?
17. RINGS. Be sure to visit more than one jewelry store before mak-ing your choices, and don’t skimp on the quality of these precious symbols.
18. THE GROOM’S SUIT. The future husband should choose an outfit that shows him off to advan-tage without eclipsing the star of the day.
19. THE BRIDE’S OUTFIT. This is the most beautiful day of your life, so you have a legitimate right to the dress of your dreams — and shoes and jewelry and veil.
20. HAIR AND MAKEUP. The bride should take this part of her preparations very seriously. Just think about all the photos that are going to be taken throughout the day.
TOP 20 ESSENTIALS
for a successful wedding
By RON NEWBERRYIt's been a mission of Gloria Mickunas
to change conventional thinking about destination weddings in the Puget Sound region.
Through her experience as a wedding and event planner, she learned quickly that the first destination that often comes to mind from her Seattle clients are the San Juan Islands.
Enamored with Whidbey Island ever since she moved there 15 years ago, Micku-nas has worked to open more eyes about what the island offers and has been happy to see interest rise.
"The San Juans are gorgeous and stun-ning," said Mickunas, owner of Coupe-ville-based Whidbey Party Girls! "but we have everything they offer and so much more. Not only is it more cost effective
to have a wedding here, we're closer to Seattle. We're just a 15-minute boat ride (from Mukilteo)."
The reasons that make Whidbey an attractive option to consider for a des-tination wedding run much deeper than
the island's scenic beauty and rural backdrop, according to Mickunas.
The island features a growing number of unique wedding venues. Other island assets include dedicated professionals in the catering and rental business and a shuttle service
that runs regularly to and from SeaTac Airport, among other things.
"We're not just barns and fields," Mickunas said. "That's been a big mis-conception."
Yet, it's those barns, fields, woods and water views that give the island its scenic country charm and al-low Whidbey to easily pass the eye test to be considered for one of life's biggest celebra-tions.
And word has gotten out beyond the Seattle market.
The number of desti-nation weddings on the island from out-of-state parties has risen considerably in recent years, according to Paula Spina, who owns the Crock-ett Farm, a popular wedding venue in
Central Whidbey that features a historic barn and bed and breakfast.
Spina has owned the farm for 11 years and watched the wedding business on the island boom since the time she started.
“Whidbey’s becoming a tre-mendous wedding destination,” Spina said.
“When we started, only two or three of us were doing weddings around town. Now there are dozens of people (in the wed-ding business).”
An increase in elaborate and scenic event centers across the island that depict the Northwest seem to be part of the force behind the momentum.
Former restaurant owners Dave and Dawn Noble moved to Langley in 2003 from the Midwest and purchased an old farmhouse and barn on 10 acres in the woods that they ultimately turned into Fireseed Catering.
Initially starting as an off-site caterer, the Nobles transformed their barn and grounds into an events center where they could host and cater their own weddings and even pick produce from their own garden.
Since starting out with four weddings in 2006, Fireseed has become one of
Page 4 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
3531 Resort Road, Greenbank, WA 98253360.678.1912
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There are many locations options for weddings on Whidbey, from rustic historic barns to chic, upscale event properties.
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 5
having yourwedding and/or reception at the
Historic Island County Fairgroundsin Langley on beautiful Whidbey Island!
Two commercial kitchens, small hall for intimate diningand a large, historic pole building for the main event.
If you are considering an outdoor wedding — enjoy thebeautiful barns for your backdrop!
Contact the Property Manager for reservations and pricing at 360-221-7950 or fairgroundsmanager@portofsouthwhidbey.com
Planning Your Wedding?
having yourwedding and/or reception at the
Imagine...
the island’s premier destina-tion wedding sites, averaging between 40-45 weddings a year with wedding parties and guests coming from as far away as Pennsylvania, New York and Florida.
“The Northwest is what we show off,” said Dave Noble, whose property features an outdoor ceremony location that looks out over a lake and vast open space.
“The ceremony space is sur-rounded by lush Northwest gardens and big trees. The menu has that (Northwest emphasis) and the craftsmen have put their local Whidbey Island theme and touches on everything that’s in here.
“A lot of people book with us because this shows off everything good about the Northwest and it shows off in more detail Whidbey Island.”
The Nobles said they’ve seen a large increase in wed-ding professionals who live on the island than when they started.
“There are more florists, more photographers and
more caterers on the island,” Dawn Noble said. “There are more venues now. More people have started going down that venue road and trying that and are finding various degrees of success.”
Jessica and Jon-Paul Dowdell, owners of the South Whidbey catering company known as the Roaming Rad-ish, recently purchased a
unique piece of property near a private airport in Langley where they plan to open their own restaurant and also hold weddings.
They are converting an old airplane hangar into the restaurant.
Jessica Dowdell said she’s also seen an increase in wed-ding parties from out-of-state in the past five years.
“Another trend I’ve noticed in the last two years is the welcome party,” she said. “Instead of having a rehearsal dinner, we’re doing welcome parties for the entire wedding party.”
Aside from private venues, Whidbey Island also features its share of outdoor weddings held in public locations with stunning views, particularly Fort Ebey, Fort Casey and Deception Pass state parks.
Jack Hartt, manager of Deception Pass, said about 25 weddings are held at his park every year.
But the growth in Whidbey weddings has created at least one recurring problem par-ticularly during the wedding season from spring until fall.
It can be hard for guests to find enough lodging.
“We used to refer clients to inns in Langley and they’d book them no problem,” Dave Noble said. “Now, I refer them a year or more out and sometimes they’re already booked up by someone else who’s having a wedding.”
Ron Newberry photo
Wedding and events planner Gloria Mickunas meets with a client at the Captain Whidbey Inn, one of many unique venues on the island for wedding events.
Page 6 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
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Five tips for finding the perfect wedding dress
As the bride, you will be the focus of everyone’s attention on your big day, including all the guests as well as your beloved, of course. But in order to be the most beautiful woman in the room, the star of the celebrations must choose her dress carefully.
Here are a few tips to help you:
1. Think before you shop. It’s exhausting trying on dozens of dresses at random in the hopes of finding the perfect one. Before going shopping, be sure to browse some magazines and search the Internet to narrow down the styles you prefer.
2. Shop well in advance. Most people get married in the summer, so dress-makers’ agendas soon fill up and the prettiest dresses fly off the racks quickly. Make sure you plan enough time for the fittings.
3. Choose carefully who you shop with. Don’t shop with a crowd of friends who will confuse you with all their comments and diverging opin-ions. Choose one or two people who know you well and who have good taste. You’ll want them to be able to give you some honest feedback.
4. Choose a dress that you like. Your dress should make you feel good and allow you to be yourself. You also want to be comfortable walking up the aisle and dancing. Naturally, you’ll also want to choose a model that flat-ters your figure.
5. Bear in mind the general atmo-sphere. Your outfit should harmo-nize with the wedding theme and the reception hall. For instance, a formal sequined dress is not really appropriate for a country setting.
One last tip: decide how much you want to spend on your dress before you begin your search. That way you won’t ruin your whole wedding budget by splurging on an expensive dress.
Michael Stadler photo
Choosing the right dress for you is an important part of your big day.
Even though the love of your life will be the star of the show at your wedding, you, as her future hus-band, must also look great. Need a hand? Here are some rules for look-ing your best and being stylish on your big day.
1. Take into account the wedding theme. Romantic, retro, country, glamour: once you’ve decided on the style and theme of the day, you’ll be able to choose between a suit and a tuxedo.
2. Imagine your total look. Don’t just focus on the type of suit, but rather on the general impression you want to give. Don’t forget that what you wear around your neck will set the tone for your outfit. Also think about the combination of fabrics and colors.
3. Choose the right fabric. Adapt your outfit to the season. Cotton or lightweight wool is appropriate for summer weddings. Linen, on the other hand, is perfect for a country wedding.
4. Don’t forget the accessories. Tie, suspenders, pocket handker-chief: your accessories should reflect the mood of the wedding. Choosing them before your outfit will give you an idea what color the latter should be.
5. Don’t clash with the dress. Shop for your outfit with either your future wife or a person who has seen her dress. A swatch of her dress fabric could also come in handy.
6. Make the most of your build. A checkered pattern makes you look bigger; black slims you down, and a long jacket lengthens the torso.
7. Make sure you feel comfortable. Choose an outfit that suits your per-sonality. Above all, you don’t want to give the impression of being in disguise.
Happy shopping!
Choosing your groom’s outfit
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 7
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Learn the art of choosing flowersFrom the bridal bouquet
to the decorations, flow-ers are going to be a major feature of your wedding. Not only do they create an atmosphere that is both festive and harmonious, they have to do it without breaking your budget. But don’t worry; it’s possible to achieve that goal with a bit of ingenuity.
Choose your wedding dress first; it will influ-ence the creation of your bouquet. A patterned dress, for instance, will require a fairly discreet bouquet. You should also take into account your figure: if you are petite, you should avoid cascading bouquets, which are more suitable for tall, slender brides. And make sure your bouquet isn’t too heavy, as you’ll be carrying it for a long time.
You have a limited bud-get? Choose native flowers that are in season or exotic flowers that are readily available. Think foliage; it will add volume to your bouquet and it’s inexpen-sive. When choosing flow-ers, you may also want to consider their meanings. For example, you may pre-fer red roses (love) or white roses (pure love) rather than yellow roses (infidelity) and daffodils (coldness).
Choose flowers that don’t wilt quickly, that don’t stain and that don’t have an over-powering scent.
Once you’ve decided on your bouquet, it’s time to consider the buttonholes, bridesmaids’ bouquets and the reception hall decora-tions. All these elements should take inspiration
from your bouquet. You could use one of the flow-ers from your bouquet for the groom’s buttonhole and similar but smaller bou-quets for the bridesmaids and table centerpieces.
Need some inspiration? A professional florist is sure to have many great ideas to help you.
Has the time come to pay a visit to a jew-eler in preparation for your wedding day? Be sure to do your homework first, because several factors have to be taken into account if you want to make the right choice.
Wedding bandsWedding bands are the symbols of your
union and must be chosen carefully. When searching for the perfect rings, your first step should be to set a budget and determine your preferences.
n The type of ring: solitaire (one stone); three stones set side by side; eternity or semi-eternity (stones set around a portion or the entire circumference of the ring).
n The metal: gold; platinum; silver; titanium.
n The stone: diamond; sapphire; ruby.n The cut of the stone: square; elon-
gated; heart; oval.You’ll be wearing your wedding band for
a long time to come, so above all, make sure it’s comfortable.
AccessoriesYour choice of jewelry will depend on the
style of your dress, but don’t forget that the first rule of wedding jewelry is not to overdo it. If you’re wearing a rhinestone-encrusted bustier, you’re better off opting for earrings rather than a necklace.
If you decide to wear earrings, the style you choose will depend on your hairstyle, the shape of your face—long earrings for a round face, for instance—the stones that adorn your dress and your hair ornament (wear small earrings with a big diadem).
If you want to wear a bracelet as well, be sure to choose something discrete. Your dress is a simple one? An extravagant neck-lace could look great, as long as it goes well with the shape of your neckline.
Michael Stadler photo
Choose a bouquet that not only complements your dress, but also your figure.
Wedding bands and accessories
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exp
ect a
mea
l. A
sk h
ow
man
y ex
tra
plat
es th
e ca
tere
r w
ill
prep
are.
S
uppl
y lo
catio
n m
anag
er
with
a li
st o
f ven
dor
requ
ests
su
ch a
s a
tabl
e fo
r D
J or
set
up
spac
enee
ded
by �
oris
t.
Pla
n re
cept
ion
seat
ing
char
t.
Pri
nt p
lace
and
tabl
e ca
rds,
or
� nal
ize
list w
ith th
e ca
lligr
aphe
r
you
have
hir
ed to
do
so.
C
all a
ll w
eddi
ng v
endo
rs a
nd
con�
rm
arr
ange
men
ts.
G
ive
cere
mon
y an
d re
cept
ion
site
man
ager
s a
sche
dule
of
vend
or d
eliv
ery
and
setu
p tim
es,
plus
con
tact
num
bers
.
Gro
om: G
et y
our
hair
tr
imm
ed.
A
ttend
bac
helo
r/et
te p
artie
s.
2-3
DA
YS
BE
FO
RE
B
ride
: If y
ou n
eed
to, h
ave
your
gow
n pr
esse
d or
ste
amed
.
Gro
om: G
o fo
r � n
al �
tting
and
pi
ck u
p yo
ur fo
rmal
wea
r.
Gro
om: A
sk th
e be
st m
an to
m
ake
sure
all
groo
msm
en a
ttend
� t
tings
and
pic
k up
thei
r ou
t� ts
.
Det
erm
ine
wed
ding
-par
ty
posi
tions
dur
ing
cere
mon
y an
d th
e or
der
of th
e pa
rty
in th
e pr
oces
sion
al a
nd r
eces
sion
al.
H
and
off p
lace
car
ds, t
able
ca
rds,
men
us, d
ispo
sabl
e ca
mer
as, f
avor
s an
d an
y ot
her
item
s fo
r se
tting
the
tabl
es to
th
e ca
tere
r an
d/or
rec
eptio
n si
te
man
ager
.
Rec
on� r
m �
nal d
etai
ls
with
all
vend
ors.
Dis
cuss
an
y ne
cess
ary
last
-min
ute
subs
titut
ions
.
Cal
l the
lim
ousi
ne-
or c
ar-
rent
al c
ompa
ny fo
r pi
ckup
tim
es
and
loca
tions
.
Arr
ange
for
gues
ts w
ithou
t ca
rs to
be
pick
ed u
p fr
om th
e ai
rpor
t or
trai
n st
atio
n. A
sk
frie
nds,
atte
ndan
ts o
r re
lativ
es to
he
lp.
D
eliv
er w
elco
me
bask
ets
to
the
hote
l con
cier
ge; m
ake
sure
to
incl
ude
nam
es a
nd d
eliv
ery
inst
ruct
ions
.
DA
Y B
EFO
RE
P
rovi
de a
ll w
eddi
ng
prof
essi
onal
s w
ith a
n em
erge
ncy
phon
e nu
mbe
r to
cal
l on
the
day
of th
e w
eddi
ng.
W
rite
che
cks
and/
or ta
lk to
w
eddi
ng h
osts
(usu
ally
you
r pa
rent
s, if
not
you
) abo
ut a
ny
� nal
bal
ance
s to
be
paid
at t
he
end
of th
e re
cept
ion.
NIG
HT B
EFO
RE
R
ehea
rse
cere
mon
y. M
eet w
ith
wed
ding
par
ty, c
erem
ony
read
ers,
im
med
iate
fam
ily a
nd y
our
of� c
iant
at t
he c
erem
ony
site
to
rehe
arse
and
iron
out
det
ails
.
Bri
ng a
ll sp
ecia
l cer
emon
y ac
cess
orie
s to
the
site
.
Giv
e yo
ur m
arri
age
licen
se to
yo
ur o
f� ci
ant.
A
ttend
reh
ears
al d
inne
r.
Pre
sent
atte
ndan
ts w
ith g
ifts
at th
e re
hear
sal d
inne
r. Yo
u’ll
wan
t to
do th
is e
spec
ially
if th
e gi
fts a
re a
cces
sori
es to
be
wor
n du
ring
the
wed
ding
.
DA
Y O
F
P
rese
nt p
aren
ts a
nd e
ach
othe
r w
ith g
ifts.
G
ive
wed
ding
ban
ds to
the
best
man
and
the
mai
d of
hon
or
to h
old
duri
ng th
e ce
rem
ony.
G
ive
best
man
the
of� c
iant
’s fe
e en
velo
pe, t
o be
han
ded
off
afte
r th
e ce
rem
ony.
I
ntro
duce
you
r re
cept
ion
site
m
anag
er to
you
r co
nsul
tant
or
mai
d of
hon
or fo
r qu
estio
ns o
r pr
oble
ms
duri
ng th
e re
cept
ion.
A
ssig
n a
fam
ily m
embe
r or
atte
ndan
t to
be th
e ph
otog
raph
er’s
cont
act s
o he
kn
ows
who
is w
ho.
PO
STW
ED
DIN
G
P
rear
rang
e fo
r so
meo
ne to
re
turn
any
ren
tals
.
Pre
plan
for
atte
ndan
ts to
take
th
e br
ide’
s go
wn
for
clea
ning
an
d re
turn
the
groo
m’s
tux
to th
e re
ntal
sho
p.
Wri
te a
nd s
end
than
k-yo
u no
tes
to g
ift-b
eari
ng g
uest
s an
d ve
ndor
s w
ho w
ere
espe
cial
ly
help
ful.
JU
ST H
OW
MU
CH
W
ILL T
HIS
DA
Y C
OS
T?
Whe
n it
com
es to
� na
ncin
g a
wed
ding
, you
sho
uld
� gur
e ou
t ho
w m
uch
you’
ll ne
ed to
spe
nd
to g
et w
hat y
ou w
ant.
Her
e is
a
basi
c br
eakd
own
of w
hat y
ou c
an
expe
ct to
pay
:
Rec
eptio
n: 4
8%-5
0%C
erem
ony:
2%
-3%
Atti
re: 8
%-1
0%Fl
ower
s: 8
%-1
0%E
nter
tain
men
t/Mus
ic: 8
%-1
0%Ph
otog
raph
y/V
ideo
grap
hy: 1
0%-
12%
Stat
ione
ry: 2
%-3
%W
eddi
ng R
ings
: 2%
-3%
Park
ing/
Tran
spor
tatio
n: 2
%-3
%G
ifts:
2%
-3%
Mis
cella
neou
s: 8
%
* To
avo
id s
tres
s, a
llot a
bout
5%
of
you
r bu
dget
for
a “j
ust-
in-c
ase”
fund
. If
you
’re p
ayin
g fo
r yo
ur h
oney
moo
n yo
urse
lves
, rem
embe
r to
bud
get f
or
thos
e ex
pens
es a
s w
ell.
NO
TE
S:
Wedd
ing P
lannin
g Chec
klist
Wedd
ing P
lannin
g Chec
klist
Just e
ngag
ed?
Won
deri
ng
abou
t all
of th
e th
ings
yo
u’ll
need
to d
o an
d w
hen?
H
ere’
s a
mon
th-b
y-m
onth
sn
apsh
ot o
f all
you
r w
eddi
ng
to-d
os.
12+
MO
NTH
S B
EFO
RE
E
nvis
ion
your
wed
ding
and
dr
aw u
p a
budg
et.
A
ssem
ble
your
“pl
anni
ng
team
.” C
onsi
der h
irin
g a
wed
ding
co
nsul
tant
.
Pic
k a
wed
ding
dat
e an
d tim
e. S
elec
t sev
eral
opt
ions
, the
n ch
eck
with
you
r ven
ues,
of�
cian
t, im
port
ant g
uest
s be
fore
� na
lizin
g.
Sta
rt p
lann
ing
the
gues
t lis
t.
Loo
k fo
r and
boo
k ce
rem
ony
and
rece
ptio
n si
tes.
A
sk fr
iend
s an
d re
lativ
es to
be
in th
e w
eddi
ng p
arty
.
Opt
iona
l: H
ave
an e
ngag
emen
t pa
rty.
You
may
wan
t to
regi
ster
be
fore
hand
for g
ifts.
8-1
0 M
ON
TH
S B
EFO
RE
B
ride
: Thi
nk a
bout
, sho
p fo
r an
d or
der
your
gow
n.
Env
isio
n re
cept
ion
food
.
Dec
ide
wha
t typ
e of
en
tert
ainm
ent y
ou w
ant.
A
pian
ist f
or th
e co
ckta
il ho
ur,
stro
lling
vio
linis
ts, a
DJ
or b
and?
T
hink
abo
ut y
our
� ora
l dec
or.
R
esea
rch
and
book
you
r w
eddi
ng p
rofe
ssio
nals
. Int
ervi
ew
vend
ors:
pho
togr
aphe
r, vi
deog
raph
er, r
ecep
tion
band
or
DJ,
� or
ist.
R
esea
rch
a w
eddi
ng in
sura
nce
polic
y to
pro
tect
you
r de
posi
ts.
R
esea
rch
and
rese
rve
acco
mm
odat
ions
for
out-
of-t
own
gues
ts.
R
egis
ter
for
gifts
.
Con
tact
ren
tal c
ompa
nies
if
you
need
to r
ent a
nyth
ing
for
cere
mon
y/re
cept
ion,
suc
h as
ch
airs
, tab
les
and
tent
.
6-8
MO
NTH
S B
EFO
RE
B
ook
cere
mon
y m
usic
ians
.
Ord
er b
ride
smai
d dr
esse
s.
Sta
rt p
lann
ing
hone
ymoo
n.
Sen
d sa
ve-t
he-d
ate
card
s.
This
is a
par
ticul
arly
goo
d id
ea if
yo
u’re
mar
ryin
g du
ring
a to
uris
t or
hol
iday
sea
son
or h
avin
g a
dest
inat
ion
wed
ding
.
4-6
MO
NTH
S B
EFO
RE
A
ttend
pre
-wed
ding
co
unse
ling,
if r
equi
red.
S
hop
for
and
orde
r in
vita
tions
an
d w
eddi
ng r
ings
.
Sho
p fo
r fo
rmal
wea
r.
Ren
ew o
r ge
t pas
spor
ts, i
f ne
cess
ary.
E
nvis
ion
your
wed
ding
cak
e an
d re
sear
ch, i
nter
view
, and
bo
ok a
cak
e de
sign
er.
3 M
ON
TH
S B
EFO
RE
O
rder
wed
ding
cak
e.
Hir
e a
calli
grap
her,
if yo
u w
ant y
our
invi
tatio
ns
prof
essi
onal
ly a
ddre
ssed
.
Atte
nd y
our
show
er. (
It m
ay
be e
arlie
r, de
pend
ing
on w
hen
host
s de
cide
to h
ave
it.)
G
room
: Ren
t the
men
’s fo
rmal
wea
r.
Hir
e w
eddi
ng-d
ay tr
ansp
ort:
limou
sine
s, o
ther
car
s. L
ook
into
tr
ansp
orta
tion
soon
er if
you
’re
cons
ider
ing
rent
ing
stre
etca
rs o
r ov
er-t
he-t
op tr
avel
.
2 M
ON
TH
S B
EFO
RE
M
ail y
our
invi
tatio
ns.
W
rite
you
r vo
ws.
P
urch
ase
gifts
for
pare
nts,
at
tend
ants
, and
eac
h ot
her.
B
ook
your
sty
list a
nd tr
y ou
t bi
g-da
y ha
irst
yles
.
Boo
k m
akeu
p ar
tist f
or a
tria
l ru
n.
1 M
ON
TH
BE
FO
RE
A
pply
for
a m
arri
age
licen
se.
Che
ck w
ith th
e lo
cal b
urea
u in
th
e to
wn
whe
re y
ou’ll
wed
.
Bri
de: H
ave
� nal
gow
n � t
ting.
B
ring
you
r m
aid
of h
onor
alo
ng
to le
arn
how
to b
ustle
you
r dr
ess.
H
ave
the
dres
s pr
esse
d an
d br
ing
it ho
me.
C
all a
ll br
ides
mai
ds. M
ake
sure
they
hav
e th
eir
gow
ns r
eady
fo
r th
e w
eddi
ng.
M
ake
last
-min
ute
adju
stm
ents
w
ith v
endo
rs.
C
reat
e a
wed
ding
pro
gram
to
hand
out
to g
uest
s.
Ord
er a
nd p
lan
in-r
oom
w
elco
me
bask
ets
for
out-
of-t
own
gues
ts.
2 W
EE
KS
BE
FO
RE
R
evie
w �
nal R
SVP
list a
nd
call
any
gues
ts w
ho h
ave
not y
et
sent
a r
espo
nse.
D
eliv
er m
ust-
have
sho
t lis
ts to
ph
otog
raph
er a
nd v
ideo
grap
her.
Incl
ude
who
sho
uld
be in
form
al
port
raits
and
det
erm
ine
whe
n po
rtra
its w
ill b
e ta
ken.
D
eliv
er �
nal s
ong
list t
o yo
ur D
J or
ban
dlea
der.
Incl
ude
spec
ial s
ong
requ
ests
and
son
gs
you
don’
t wan
t pla
yed.
B
ride
: Get
you
r la
st
prew
eddi
ng h
airc
ut a
nd c
olor
.
1 W
EE
K B
EFO
RE
G
ive
rece
ptio
n si
te/
cate
rer
� nal
gue
st h
ead
coun
t. In
clud
e ve
ndor
s, s
uch
as th
e ph
otog
raph
er o
r ba
nd m
embe
rs,
who
will
exp
ect a
mea
l. A
sk h
ow
man
y ex
tra
plat
es th
e ca
tere
r w
ill
prep
are.
S
uppl
y lo
catio
n m
anag
er
with
a li
st o
f ven
dor
requ
ests
su
ch a
s a
tabl
e fo
r D
J or
set
up
spac
enee
ded
by �
oris
t.
Pla
n re
cept
ion
seat
ing
char
t.
Pri
nt p
lace
and
tabl
e ca
rds,
or
� nal
ize
list w
ith th
e ca
lligr
aphe
r
you
have
hir
ed to
do
so.
C
all a
ll w
eddi
ng v
endo
rs a
nd
con�
rm
arr
ange
men
ts.
G
ive
cere
mon
y an
d re
cept
ion
site
man
ager
s a
sche
dule
of
vend
or d
eliv
ery
and
setu
p tim
es,
plus
con
tact
num
bers
.
Gro
om: G
et y
our
hair
tr
imm
ed.
A
ttend
bac
helo
r/et
te p
artie
s.
2-3
DA
YS
BE
FO
RE
B
ride
: If y
ou n
eed
to, h
ave
your
gow
n pr
esse
d or
ste
amed
.
Gro
om: G
o fo
r � n
al �
tting
and
pi
ck u
p yo
ur fo
rmal
wea
r.
Gro
om: A
sk th
e be
st m
an to
m
ake
sure
all
groo
msm
en a
ttend
� t
tings
and
pic
k up
thei
r ou
t� ts
.
Det
erm
ine
wed
ding
-par
ty
posi
tions
dur
ing
cere
mon
y an
d th
e or
der
of th
e pa
rty
in th
e pr
oces
sion
al a
nd r
eces
sion
al.
H
and
off p
lace
car
ds, t
able
ca
rds,
men
us, d
ispo
sabl
e ca
mer
as, f
avor
s an
d an
y ot
her
item
s fo
r se
tting
the
tabl
es to
th
e ca
tere
r an
d/or
rec
eptio
n si
te
man
ager
.
Rec
on� r
m �
nal d
etai
ls
with
all
vend
ors.
Dis
cuss
an
y ne
cess
ary
last
-min
ute
subs
titut
ions
.
Cal
l the
lim
ousi
ne-
or c
ar-
rent
al c
ompa
ny fo
r pi
ckup
tim
es
and
loca
tions
.
Arr
ange
for
gues
ts w
ithou
t ca
rs to
be
pick
ed u
p fr
om th
e ai
rpor
t or
trai
n st
atio
n. A
sk
frie
nds,
atte
ndan
ts o
r re
lativ
es to
he
lp.
D
eliv
er w
elco
me
bask
ets
to
the
hote
l con
cier
ge; m
ake
sure
to
incl
ude
nam
es a
nd d
eliv
ery
inst
ruct
ions
.
DA
Y B
EFO
RE
P
rovi
de a
ll w
eddi
ng
prof
essi
onal
s w
ith a
n em
erge
ncy
phon
e nu
mbe
r to
cal
l on
the
day
of th
e w
eddi
ng.
W
rite
che
cks
and/
or ta
lk to
w
eddi
ng h
osts
(usu
ally
you
r pa
rent
s, if
not
you
) abo
ut a
ny
� nal
bal
ance
s to
be
paid
at t
he
end
of th
e re
cept
ion.
NIG
HT B
EFO
RE
R
ehea
rse
cere
mon
y. M
eet w
ith
wed
ding
par
ty, c
erem
ony
read
ers,
im
med
iate
fam
ily a
nd y
our
of� c
iant
at t
he c
erem
ony
site
to
rehe
arse
and
iron
out
det
ails
.
Bri
ng a
ll sp
ecia
l cer
emon
y ac
cess
orie
s to
the
site
.
Giv
e yo
ur m
arri
age
licen
se to
yo
ur o
f� ci
ant.
A
ttend
reh
ears
al d
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.
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P
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nt p
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ts a
nd e
ach
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ive
wed
ding
ban
ds to
the
best
man
and
the
mai
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to h
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duri
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oble
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atte
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turn
the
groo
m’s
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nd s
end
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tes
to g
ift-b
eari
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uest
s an
d ve
ndor
s w
ho w
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espe
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ly
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JU
ST H
OW
MU
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ILL T
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DA
Y C
OS
T?
Whe
n it
com
es to
� na
ncin
g a
wed
ding
, you
sho
uld
� gur
e ou
t ho
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uch
you’
ll ne
ed to
spe
nd
to g
et w
hat y
ou w
ant.
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e is
a
basi
c br
eakd
own
of w
hat y
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an
expe
ct to
pay
:
Rec
eptio
n: 4
8%-5
0%C
erem
ony:
2%
-3%
Atti
re: 8
%-1
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ower
s: 8
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tain
men
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spor
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cella
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* To
avo
id s
tres
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llot a
bout
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a “j
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in-c
ase”
fund
. If
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’re p
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g fo
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ur h
oney
moo
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, rem
embe
r to
bud
get f
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thos
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s w
ell.
NO
TE
S:
Page 10 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
101 NW Coveland Street • Coupeville360.678.6603
www.bayleaf.us
Tray & Wine Catering • Wine Discounts
Paella Catering!25-200 people
By BEN WATANABE Adaptability, familiarity and range
abound with catering companies on Whidbey Island.
Everything, from barbecue and com-fort foods to an abundance of salmon and shellfish, is available from more than a dozen caterers that stretch from the Clinton ferry to Deception Pass.
One of the recurring staples for several companies operating on Whidbey is the availability of salmon. Given the schools that pass the island every year and the Pacific Northwest’s reputation as a salmon destination, it’s no surprise that many offer it as a meat/protein choice.
“People love the Pacific Northwest cuisine, which I can’t fault them form,” said Tim Cammermeyer, owner of Blue Dog Catering, based in Langley.
Tim and his wife, Meredith Crosby, have taken their passion for food and serving into the culinary world for the past few years. Since starting, they have catered more than 30 weddings, plus a host of other large-scale events such as
business grand openings. Blue Dog Ca-tering has served for events with as many as 200 guests, but Cammermeyer said he has experience catering East Coast events with upwards of 8,000 guests.
Another caterer is Midnight Kitchen, also run by a husband-and-wife team. Run out of their certified commercial kitchen adjacent to their Freeland home, Scott and Steph Pendell showcase a wide range of styles and tastes.
A handful of seasonal menus allows the trained chefs to tailor dishes to pro-duce that’s available and fresh.
“We’re not trying to come up with a style, so much as being the medium,” Scott Pendell said during an interview in their kitchen.
“People don’t want it to be too eccen-tric, but not too boring,” he added.
Kababs, one of Midnight Kitchen’s signature dishes, was based on input from engaged couples. They anchored it to Whidbey-raised meats from 3 Sisters beef and offer vegetarian kabobs as well from seasonal vegetables, accompanied
by fresh, baked-from-scratch whole wheat pita. All of their breads are done in-house, thanks to Steph Pendell’s acu-men with the oven.
“We do utilize a lot of local farmers,” she said.
WEDDING FEASTOptions abound with caterers
Ben Watanabe photo
Salmon is becoming a frequent request of wedding parties on Whidbey Island.
They offered a few bits of advice for prospective customers when shopping for catering. Know where the wedding will be; that helps identify the actual cooking capabilities because not every venue has a commercial kitchen. Have at least a rough estimate of the number of guests; this further sets a framework of which dishes are available and which may be unrealistic. Tell them your budget; steaks are nice but can get costly in a hurry when offered for 200 people.
Finally, the Pen-dells said couples should shop around at several companies — everything from florists and venues to caterers and DJs.
“Look at caterers like any craftsman,” Scott Pendell said. “Look at their prior work.”
A common feature for Whidbey’s catering companies is to offer a tasting, that way the customers know what to expect first-hand.
Blue Dog Catering has a menu in-formed by Cammermeyer’s vast travel experiences. He’s lived abroad in Central America and Sweden, and those loca-tions make themselves apparent in some of the sample menus like European
infused dishes and Central and Latin American inspired menu suggestions. The sample menus are just that, sam-ples, and are meant to be tweaked and adjusted to suit customers’ tastes.
“I’d like to be known for cus-tomizing literally everything,” Cam-mermeyer said, adding that most of their foods are 98 percent made from scratch, including breads. He recalled a wedding this past summer that used a
pig raised in Greenbank. “Since we’re so customized, I’m able to
use everything that Whidbey Island has to offer,” he added.
Someone looking for a different
experience can look to Front Street Grill in Coupeville, which now offers onsite catering in the banquet room above the restaurant.
Overlooking the wharf, the banquet room seats 35, or the restaurant can be rented entirely for seating 60. Known for its seafood, Front Street Grill gets plenty of product from local waters and takes that philosophy to its other dishes as well.
Or for catering with a bit of a show, the gourmet food shop, bayleaf, will prepare and serve paella at your event lo-cation for your special day. The meal-in-one pan can be customized to your taste.
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 11
Local, Fresh & Thoughtful Catering for your Special Day!
Off-site services in all of Island and Skagit Counties
Alena@fsgcoupeville.com360.682.2551/ 360.914.6181
Fsgcoupeville.com
(360)321-2796 www.cateringwhidbey.com
With everything that goes into your wedding day, those once-in-a-lifetime moments will go by in a blur, which is why hiring a professional wedding photographer is a must.
After all, the last thing you should be worrying about is whether your photographer will be able to capture your big day.
The key? Prepare yourself so that you can accurately evaluate the “right” photographer for you.
Six tips to help you plan your wedding photos like a pro:
1. Book far in advance. The best photographers get booked quickly — sometimes as much as a year in advance — so don’t wait until the last minute to book your photographer.
2. Show them the money. Now is not the time to skimp on your photo budget. Call around and get a price range for services, and remember: after the cake is long gone, and the dress is stored away, your wedding photos will be the only things left to share and enjoy for years to come, so don’t cut too many corners on your photography budget — you’ll end up regretting it.
3. Make sure your photographer is a real pro. Only hire someone who has liability insurance, experience taking the style of photos you want, backup equipment and a plan for when things go south.
4. Request to see a full gallery of real weddings. Look at full wedding cover-age (not just a small selection of each wedding’s best moments) to see a pho-
tographer’s true style and get a sense of how he or she might tell your “story.” Do you prefer more artistic or traditional poses? Would you rather have a photo-journalist approach or a mix of all styles?
5. Work with your photographer to cre-ate a detailed shot list. Wedding photog-raphers can also help you create that shot list, as they know what key moments
tell a wedding story and can prepare for those. But talk about your must-haves, and walk through the entire program with your photogra-pher ahead of time. Share your expecta-tions ahead of time to ensure that he or she captures the key shots, while remain-ing attentive and available to catch the best candid moments.
6. Plan your post-wedding photo strategy ahead of time! Almost as soon
as the festivities are over, you’ll be eager to look at the photos so you can relive your big day over and over again. Ask your photographer for teasers or a “sneak peek” and a timeline for when the rest of the pictures will be available. Will they give you an online gallery for family and friends to choose the im-ages they want? Again, knowing these things ahead of time will make things easy on the back end, sparing you any heartache.
Page 12 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
FORT CASEY INN
10 historical offi cer’s houses. Lodging for up to 45.Meeting space available and outdoor pool in the summer.
www.fortcaseyinn.com • 866-661-6604
Stay with us
Planning wedding photos like a pro
Michael Stadler photos
Creating a photography plan ahead of time, creating a detailed shot list and a timeline for photos during the event.
Do you dream of a fairy tale wed-ding? A party that features vibrating disco rhythms? Or a cultural-themed wedding? If you haven’t chosen a theme yet, that’s okay. But if you’d like a little pizzazz on your big day, choosing one will certainly help.
A common threadOrganize your wedding with a spe-
cific theme in order to have a common thread throughout all the elements. That includes centerpieces, decorations, bride and groom outfits, menu, recep-tion hall and music—the possibilities are endless.
A theme also helps you choose from among all the ideas you’re thinking of, not to mention that your suppliers will be able to make more appropriate sug-gestions.
You don’t need to choose an extrava-gant theme; you can simply choose a color that sets the tone for your wed-ding, from the flowers to the brides-maids’ dresses, cake, invitations and wedding favors.
You’d like a more elaborate theme? Think about something you both like. It can be an era, a country, a passion, a decorative style or a mood. You might also be inspired by the season of your wedding or by the reception hall. In fact, the hall should be taken into con-sideration when choosing the theme, and vice versa—let’s just say that orga-nizing a wedding with a western theme in a fancy hotel could pose a few prob-lems. And don’t forget to make sure that your theme fits with the budget that you’ve set.
So, will your wedding theme be coral and lime green, eco-friendly, disco, medieval?
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 13
WHIDBEY ISLAND DISTILLERY
Celebrate your wedding day with our Island distilled and produced spirits in
a signature cocktail or addedto champagne.
We offer free tastings and tours daily from 11:00-5:00 or by
appointment.
3466 CRAW RD, LANGLEY(360) 321-4715 • whidbeydistillery.com
You want the most amazing wedding possible? Working with experienced professionals will help you make sure that everything is perfect on the big day.
To look beautifulMakeup artist, hairstylist,
beautician, manicurist—make an appointment now to be breathtak-ingly beautiful on your big day. Don’t forget to plan test sessions to ensure that the results live up to your expectations.
For a great atmosphereWho will get your guests out
on the dance floor: an orchestra, a string ensemble, a brass quintet or a DJ? For a successful evening, hire musicians and an MC as soon as possible. Don’t forget the recep-tion hall; a decorator will be able to set the tone for the evening.
A mouth-watering feastYou’ll need to feed your guests,
of course, so which caterer will you do business with? This profes-sional can suggest different formu-las and menus depending on your budget and the type of wedding reception you want. A talented pas-try chef will take into account your tastes and your theme and make a cake as beautiful as it is delicious.
To immortalize the big dayDon’t leave your wedding photos
to chance; after all, you’ll want to keep them for the rest of your life. Take a look at the portfolios of several photographers before deciding which one will create these beautiful memories for you. If you want to be able to relive the highlights of this special day, hire a videographer as well.
You’re rushed off your feet with your busy schedule and a wedding to organize? A wedding planner will be able to give you all the help you need and ensure that every-thing is perfect on your big day.
Does your wedding have a theme?
Michael Stadler photo
Choosing a theme for your wedding can help you organize and make decisions.
Consider using professionals
Page 14 January 2016 Destination Whidbey Weddings
Destination Whidbey Weddings
2016AccommodationsDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com
Fort Casey Inn360-678-5050www.fortcaseyinn.comfacebook.com/fortcaseyinn
Guest House Log Cabin24371 State Route 525, Greenbank360-678-3115
Marty’s Place atStrawbridge Farm877-814-0503www.martysplace.com
ActivitiesDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com
Cateringbayleaf101 NW Coveland Street, Coupeville360-678-6603www.bayleaf.us
Fireseed Catering6051 Coles Road, Langley360-321-4748www.� reseedcatering.com
Front Street Grill20 Front Street NW, Coupeville360-682-2551www.frontstreetgrillcoupeville.com
Midnight Kitchen360-321-2796www.whidbeycatering.com
Sho’Nuff Foods618A Oak Street, Oak Harbor360-473-7399360-471-7780info@shonu� foods.comwww.shonu� foods.com
DistilleryWhidbey IslandDistillery3466 Craw Road, Langley360-321-4715www.whidbeydistillery.com
Event PlanningVases WildTobey NelsonLangley360-221-1013www.VasesWild.com
Whidbey Party Girls!360- 969-0337www.WhidbeyPartyGirls.com
FloristsVases WildTobey NelsonLangley360-221-1013www.VasesWild.com
GiftsLavender WindWedding Toss Plus More!15 Coveland Street, Coupeville360-544-4132www.lavenderwind.com
JewelryLinds Jewelry1609 Main Street, Freeland360-221-6111www.lindsjewelry.com
MusicThe Hot Club of TroyGypsy Swing JazzKristi O’Donnell360-969-3275kristio@whidbey.netwww.TheHotClubofTroy.com
Directory
Destination Whidbey Weddings January 2016 Page 15
Trio NouveauLyrical Swing MusicKristi O’Donnell360-969-3275kristio@whidbey.netwww.kristio.com/trio-nouveau.html
PhotographersStadler StudioPhotographyMichael Stadler, Photographer222 Anthes Avenue, Langley360-221-6030mail@stadlerstudio.comwww.stadlerstudio.com
S.Y.E. PhotographyDesmond Crusoe360-969-9125syephotography@gmail.comwww.syephotography.com
RentalsDancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com
TransportationWhidbey Sea-TacShuttle & Charter 1751 NE Goldie St, Oak Harbor360-679-4003www.seatacshuttle.com/chartersEvents
VenuesBest Western Plus Harbor Plaza and Conference Center33175 State Route 20, Oak Harbor360-679-4567www.bestwesternwashington.com
Dancing Fish Farm1953 Newman Road, Freeland425-802-7730info@dancing� shfarm.comwww.dancing� shfarm.com
Grand Willow Inn17926 Dunbar Road, Mount Vernon360-428-5071www.grandwillowinn.com
Langley Chamber of Commerce208 Anthes Avenue, Langley360-221-6765www.visitlangley.com
Meerkerk Gardens3531 Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank360-678-1912meerkerk@whidbey.netwww.meerkerkgardens.org
Oak Harbor Yacht Club1301 Catalina Drive, Oak Harbor360-675-1314theyachtclub@comcast.netwww.ohyc.org
Port of South Whidbey1804 Scott Rd, Suite 101, Freeland360-331-5494www.portofsouthwhidbey.com
Useless Bay Golf & Country Club5725 S. Country Club Drive, Langley360-321-5960www.uselessbaygolf.com
Whidbey Golf & Country Club2430 SW Fairway Lane, Oak Harbor360-675-5490www.whidbeygolfclub.com
Wine & Spiritsbayleaf101 NW Coveland Street, Coupeville360-678-6603www.bayleaf.us
________________
Coupeville Chamber of Commerce905 NW Alexander Street, Coupeville360-678-5434www.coupevillechamber.com
1609 E. Main Street, Freeland | lindswhidbeyisland.com | (360) 221-6111
Make your dreams come true…Register your favorite itemson Linds wishlist.
CUSTOM DESIGNED
Wedding Rings
Wedding rings are custom designed and created on Whidbey Island by Linds goldsmiths Patrick Koughan and Carrie Saunders
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