It would be an understatement if I said this month has been busy. It’s been busy and out-of-the-norm for us, but in all the best ways. I had plans to post all kinds of other stuff on the blog this month, but truthfully, my mind has been elsewhere…with this family who has weathered one of the most turbulent stretches I’ve ever heard of. The Schaubs are relatively new friends for us, but new friends often find their way into my heart very quickly. It makes no difference to me that before October, I didn’t even know who they were. In the last three weeks, their 6 year old son Jacob was diagnosed with Pre-B Cell Leukemia ALL with cancer found in his stomach, kidneys, brain, and spinal cord and spent almost two weeks in the hospital getting started on treatments, their son Simon turned 4 years old, and their newest addition Lucas made his entrance into the world (last Friday, actually). That’s a lot for anyone! We pretty much suspended everything around here in order to help them figure out logistics, communications, fundraising, documenting the unfolding events, and so much more. It’s been a lot of work, but so worth it, and I have a feeling we’ve happened upon friends that will be our friends for life. I’ve felt so privileged to journey beside David & Sofia (the parents) as they navigate all of this new territory with grace. I’d love for you to follow their journey on the website we created for them. Here are some of the photos I’ve captured of their little guys, starting with the kissable wee babe, of course!

Rebecca Grant of New Creations Weddings created this Chinese-Inspired Tabletop in celebration of Chinese New Year and for those brides who are planning a traditional Chinese Wedding in Seattle this year. Read more about her thoughts behind this tabletop design on her blog.

The girl had captured his heart, and the ring was burning a hole in his pocket. It was clearly time to pop the question! I’m especially excited about the news that Ben & Jaime are now engaged to be married because we have spent the past six months enjoying their company for dinner and games at our house every so often! I met Jaime in college, and we were roomies during our Junior year at Seattle Pacific University. It’s been amazing to see the love between her and Ben start from a chance meeting in an Eastside Starbucks and blossom into what it is today. We’re so excited to celebrate with them, and this past weekend we captured these photos of them at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Congratulations Ben & Jaime! Just wait until our next re-match at Catan…

I recently had the opportunity to stop in at From the Gown Up, a quaint and exclusive bridal shop in the Downtown Historic District of Snohomish. I was able to catch up with shop owner Zerlinda Lochtie, who is a fellow member of the Snohomish Wedding Guild, and she offered a few tips concerning the search for the perfect wedding dress.

Keep an Open Mind
Many brides arrive to a bridal appointment with very clear ideas about what they will and won’t like in a dress. It is great to have vision for what you’re after, but it is also important to keep an open mind until you’ve tried on a few different looks to determine what silhouettes and shapes best reflect your personality and enhance your unique beauty as a bride. You might be surprised what you like best once you’ve tried on some gowns!

Be Choosy About Who You Invite Along
Searching for the perfect wedding dress is a time-honored tradition that is best shared with your closest, trusted friends and family who will give you honest feedback about gowns as you try them on. It is great to have another perspective to consider in your search, but be wary of having too many people with you. If there are too many voices and personalities in the mix, you might feel overrun by their opinions and you might not have the special dress-shopping experience you were hoping for. The lesson: be choosy! Invite only those who will support you and keep you smiling as you search for the perfect dress.

When You Find a Dress You Absolutely Love, Stop Searching
Let’s be real…There are thousands upon thousands of dress styles and designers out there, and if you wanted to you could keep searching for the perfect gown indefinitely. Your wedding day is incredibly important and it’s reasonable to want to be ‘sure that you’re sure’ that you’ve found the right dress, but if you find a gown that you absolutely love…stop searching! Don’t settle for something that is not what you want, but if you’ve found one that fits your vision and budget, it makes no sense to try on dozens more!

If you’re still in search of the wedding dress of your dreams, it would definitely be worthwhile to stop in at From the Gown Up. They have a terrific selection of exclusive gowns you will not find anywhere else in Washington. Check them out at these upcoming events: Seattle Wedding Show, Northwest Bridal Showcase, and Weddings in Woodinville. They are also having a Trunk Show on January 22nd and 23rd that you don’t want to miss!

A new year is upon us, and with it, many new things! What is new for you? Are you newly engaged? Do you have some new resolutions for the year? Are you looking ahead to the surprises this year will hold? We are! We have been working hard to bring you an all-new online Solace Arts experience…one that captures the heart and soul of who we are and effectively communicates what we’re up to with our treasured clients and friends. See how it sparkles and shines!

In all seriousness, we hope our new website is helpful for you! We are gearing up for a busy year, and we’re excited to meet new couples, network with great industry professionals, and see what beautiful things await when we all work together in 2011. Be safe this New Year’s Eve! We would love to hear about your fun holiday adventures from December as well as your goals & resolutions for the coming year. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think of the new website! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!