Weddingbee Blog

I’ve been a busy bee since I started my own business in Seattle. Working from hard is home, and can be isolating…so instead of being a hermit, I decided to see how I could get involved with the community and give back to the industry that inspired me to take charge of my career for myself! It wasn’t hard: one of the first things I learned about was a homegrown wedding charity and fundraiser gala called Get Hitched, Give Hope, and I got involved right away. For the last two years I’ve been working with a fabulous team to make this amazing event possible, and I’m pleased as punch to announce that the 2010 Get Hitched, Give Hope is coming up this week! (Eep! So soon??) If you’ll be in Seattle this Thursday evening and don’t already have plans, I’d love, love, LOVE to see you there. It’s going to be a blast.

What is Get Hitched, Give Hope, exactly? Well, it’s kind of like a cocktail party crossed with a boutique wedding show. Over 100 of Seattle’s top wedding vendors have donated their goods and services (not to mention their time!) to help raise money for a good cause by passing on amazing deals to local brides and grooms.

The evening features food, music, dancing, a mini-fashion show, raffles, and of course, fabulous silent and live auctions for all things wedding related. It’s a great opportunity to snap up those wedding luxuries and necessities at great prices—often up to 50% off retail—all while giving back to others.

All proceeds from Get Hitched, Give Hope are donated to the Making Memories Foundation to provide Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families with the funds for a final, memory-making experience together. It can take up to $4k to grant the wish of one family, and our goal with Get Hitched, Give Hope is to raise $50,000 for Making Memories this year.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it’s especially important to remember that breast cancer can strike anywhere and anyone (men included!). One in eight people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and for some, help won’t come in time. So dust off your dancing shoes and cocktail attire and join us to help make a difference!

There’s definitely something for everyone at this year’s event: The silent auction will showcase everything from jewelry to stationery to photography. For brides, the silent auction tables also provide a great chance to meet with some of Seattle’s finest vendors and ask plenty of questions. On the main floor, there will be lovely models showing off gorgeous dresses, flowers, rings, and more. Attendees will have the chance to sample cupcakes, cocktails, and other libations in the lap of luxury. The evening will conclude with a show-stopping live auction that features fabulous items & packages anyone would love to win: A Tiffany’s Necklace; a Guy’s Night Out with limo, beer, and sports bar lounge; a Get Fit package with personal training, yoga, and trapeze lessons; and a his & hers Pamper package with services at the Four Seasons, to name just a few!

**Photos by Jeff LaPlante Photography from the 2009 GHGH event at The Arctic Club Hotel**

Tickets are on sale online through Wednesday night and may be purchased at the door starting at 6PM on Thursday evening. Please stop by to say hello if you come!! I’ll be making the rounds with press, but you should be able to spot me: I’m the tall one with short hair. Mr. Cherry Pie will be there, too!

To recap, here are the quick-n-dirty details:

WHAT: A swanky soiree with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, shopping, swag bags, silent and live auctions, and fund-raising for the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation

WHEN: The evening of Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 6PM onward

WHERE: The Seattle Four Seasons Hotel: 99 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101

WHO: For brides and grooms, hosted and sponsored by Seattle’s top wedding professionals

WHY: To raise money for breast cancer patients and their families while completing your wedding planning