Throw on your boots, don your cowboy hats, and come on down to Get Hitched Give Hope’s very first beer tasting event, Hope Brew!!!! As if raising nearly $85k last month at our yearly wedding charity auction wasn’t enough fun, we want to bring it down a notch, open it up, and throw a couple back with some local brewers!

Join us for an evening of beer tasting for a great cause! We’re super excited to shoot you in our Wild West Photobooth, taste some beer by four local home brewers (Filthy Beer, to name one!!!!), listen (and dance?!) to some bluegrass music by Pickled Okra, admire some purdy western centerpieces by Willow and Bloom, raffles, doorprizes, and much, much more!

• Who: Get Hitched Give Hope presents Hope Brew
• What: A home-brewed charity brew fest
• When: Thursday November 17th, 6:30-9pm
• Where: EM Fine Art Gallery, 410 Dexter Ave N., Seattle, WA
• Why: Because we like beer. And granting wishes to folks who have been given a terminal diagnosis.
• How: Tickets: $15-40. The $40 one gets you a Golden Mug… an ACTUAL beer mug with unlimited beer and four raffle tickets. Dude….

Help us spread the word: share the Facebook event page!
Buy tickets here : http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207865

p.s. I’m wearing spurs. Yep. spurs.

Pinch me. I can’t believe this is happening.

Four years ago, we dreamed big. What we never really grasped was the extent to which our families, clients, and businesses across the country would come together, so excited to participate and raise so much for those who don’t have enough time left on this Earth.

Join us in our happy cyber celebration! We’re screaming it from the rooftops: we’ve come together to raise $84,700 AND COUNTING for those whom the cure can’t come soon enough; granting final wishes and providing support through Dream Foundation and the Young Survivors Coalition. We couldn’t have done it without YOUR support and attendance, so THANK YOU!!

Check out all of the awesome sponsors and amazing images  from this October’s bridal auction event at Four Seasons Seattle (images by La Vie Photography)! If you didn’t come, boy did you miss out. The speakers. The music. The food. The models. The auction items. Oh, and the spontaneous dance party after the final amount was announced!!!

It was the BEST Get Hitched Give Hope yet, and we’re not even done yet. Stay tuned for another big announcement Thursday!

Amazing images by my super AWESOME pals Kim and Adam at La Vie Photography. Thank you both for putting such a glamorous face to our event-baby!!!!

It’s that time of year again!!!!! Get Hitched Give Hope is in T-minus 3 weeks!!!! And I’m giving away a FULL engagement session package!!!!

What is Get Hitched Give Hope, you ask?? Well, lemme tell you. It’s a volunteer-run non-profit organization that I co-founded in 2007 with some lovely pals in the wedding industry. Among other FUNdraising activities, we throw a yearly cocktail gala in downtown Seattle where brides and grooms can “get gorgeous goods for their wedding by giving back.”  The money that is raised that night and throughout the year not only raises awareness for breast cancer and supports survivors, but also GRANTS WISHES for those whom the cure can’t come soon enough, no matter what the illness may be! A truly worthy cause funded by a really INCREDIBLE event! (check out last year’s event, it was too amazing for words, and we raised over $64,000! SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND!!!) The support from the wedding industry, professional community, AND our community is truly amazing (thank you, friends, clients, and colleagues!!!).

Now, I know you’re thinking, “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” Not only are there drinks, great LIVE music, and fun little surprises throughout the event, nevermind the heart-pumping live auction and exciting silent auction, but I’m auctioning off a FULL ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGE! It includes a photography adventure for us 3 (think: picnic in the park. wine tasting in woodinville. urban exploration downtown. game night and cookies at home.), an online proofing gallery, disc of high resolution images, and a beautiful lil’ guest book album where your wedding guests can write little love notes to you! Normally, this would be well over $1,250, but since silent auctions start at a fraction of retail prices, you could get lucky. REAL lucky. (and yes, you can parlay this into a wedding photography package, or this can be used for a baby or family shoot!)

Let’s recap:

1. You’re granting wishes simply by BEING there.
2. Free drinks and fancy finger foods. YUM.
3. Live auctions are pretty dang exciting. BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS.
4. You could win some REAL awesome stuff, but mostly want to bid on my engagement package! PHOTOGRAPHY!!!
5. It’s October 27th, at the swanktastic Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle!!!! FANCY PANTS.

So what are you waiting for? Buy tickets here, and if you’re uber lucky, there still might be swag bag tickets available!!! There is something there for everyone, whether you’re a bride, groom, or friend! (I once won a magnum of wine. Let’s just ponder that for a second…) Just by looking at the sponsors, you KNOW it’s gonna be good!!

(event photos courtesy our good friends at La Vie Photography)

As always, if you’re unable to attend but still want to support, we’d be ever-so-grateful for your donation online, and if you want to get involved as a volunteer for this month’s event or get on the sponsorship list for future events, PLEASE DO!!! Info can be found through our website HERE. If you know someone who is losing their battle with a life threatening illenss and is in need of a wish, please visit our recipient organization, Dream Foundation.

See you there with your party shoes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is big news. Like “pee-your-pants” big news. Like the kind of big news that makes you whisper four letter words under your breath. You know that little ol’ wedding auction non-profit project we started a few years ago called Get Hitched Give Hope? Well, yeah. We just had our 3rd annual event last week, and um, we NAILED IT.

A few fun facts:

• The Four Seasons Hotel Seattle sponsored the event by providing a SUPER GORGEOUS location and food that I’m still dreaming about. THE FOUR SEASONS!!!! Pinch me.
• Over 500 attendees came to shop & give
• Over 100 sponsors donated products & services
• Over 80 raffle prizes and auction packages were given away
• The biggest shopper spent $4,105… THAT’S what I call a GIVER!!!
• The highest live auction item was the gorgeous Tiffany Necklace that went for $2,200. I was totally set on fighting for that one…. dangit.
• Brides got GREAT deals on wedding services and products, even up to 65% off of the retail value through the silent auction! Hellloooo smart wedding shoppers!!!
• Amount raised to grant wishes: OVER $64,000 AND COUNTING!!!!!!! That’s right! It’s only November. And I know a few of you who didn’t come, and still want to support the cause (click here to donate)!

It’s been a long & hard road filled with sooo many late nights and sooo much research, but here we are. Our goal this year was to raise $50k. The first two years we hit just under $30k and just under $40k. This year? We hit this one out of the park at $64,000 to grant wishes, and we’re still counting.

Look at all of these GORGEOUS images that our wonderful friends Kim and Adam of La Vie Photography captured!!!!! I literally SCREAMED when I received them from Kim this weekend!!!!

These dresses were just some of the ones that could be won during the auction.

Our emcees, Brook & Kel from MOViN 92.5 and our auctioneer Mark were awesome at helping new bidders learn how to participate in a live auction to get the stuff they wanted to win!

Another one of our beautiful models with makeup by Erin Skipley from Bellatrix and gown & accessories from La Belle Reve.

Look at this amazing hand cut paper by artist Celeste Kooning (hint: you can rent her art for your event!!!!)!

Okay, this next part was so scary. You know that feeling you get when you are planning a party, and all of a sudden, you think no one is going to come? That was me. I donated a lifestyle session that was packaged with personal shopping from Seattle Metropolitan Magazine editor Laura Cassidy and makeup & hair styling by Erin Skipley from Bellatrix Studio. There we were, Laura and I, on stage gripping each other’s hands, hoping and praying that SOMEONE would want us…. and then the bidding began. It was so exciting, I could hardly see- our package went for ABOVE retail value!!!! I had to summon every ounce of strength to keep from jumping off the stage and tackle-hugging our winning bidders. I can’t wait to plan with them– thank you to Heidi and her fiancee!!!! And one of the best parts? The winners of ALL of the live auction items got fresh crisp fancy-pants champagne delivered right to their seats!!!

Brenda from the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation shared what wish-granting means and entails. A wonderful woman named Michelle also shared her own personal story of living with breast cancer. People were giving just to give. It was really really touching to see all of our friends, colleagues, and clients opening their hearts and pocketbooks.

And this. This was the BEST moment of the night. This was when Barbie and Holly-Kate jumped up on stage at the very end to tell everyone our first tally. The room exploded with cheers and dancing while Seattle Parties played the perfectly whimsical Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s “Home.” It was a truly-excitingly-emotionally-blissful-moment to see the celebration and think about all of the final wishes this money would grant. All that hard work paid off. I’m not gonna lie… there were tears, and maybe a few f-bombs. It was really, really exciting.

But wait! There’s more!!!!!!!!!!! Wanna see cute cupcakes, amazing custom cakes, beautiful graphics, amazing florals, crazy cool lighting, those hot new apparition chairs, and read more about what went down?? Check out the full event recap here!!!!!

A huge super big thanks to sooo many wonderful volunteers and sponsors and brides and grooms and friends who believed in our cause and mission. It’s been so wonderful working with all of you over the years, and I’m so proud to be associated with such generous people who really get what life is about. Cheers!!

See you again next year!!!

p.s. if you want to sponsor or volunteer for next year, fill out the application here!!

p.p.s. super thanks again to La Vie Photography for ALL of these wonderful images. Their enthusiasm and eye for fashion are true assets to the organization and we are so proud to have them on our team!!!!

We’ve kept under wraps the exciting news about what Laurel McConnell Photography’s donation would be for this year’s bridal & breast cancer charity auction Get Hitched Give Hope. And with GHGH 2010 ONE WEEK away, it’s time for the big reveal!

Oh, we’re so excited!

Drumroll please………..

So so excited. We can’t wait to tell you! (wow!)

{continue drumroll}

Here it comes. Get ready.

{cymbals clash, big bang, a little boom}

The auction gurus have put together a fabulous LIVE AUCTION PACKAGE called “A Brand New You,” and have included my photography services alongside fashionista Laura Cassidy and beauty stylist Erin Skipley!!!!! (wow!) A little more about this package:

• First, go shopping for some new digs with fashion expert and Seattle Metropolitan style editor Laura Cassidy. I mean, have you READ her style blog?
• Then, get all prettied up with a pre-wedding makeup and hair consultation over at the super in demand Bellatrix Studio with Seattle’s sweetheart Erin Skipley. One word: airbrushing.
• Your final destination is a photography session with yours truly! Engagement portraits. A Swanky Couple Shoot. A Baby session. BUSINESS PORTRAITS. We’ll even finish things up with a studio credit or high resolution file so you can go make some save-the-dates or have a new headshot. You choose what fits you best since it’s for such a great cause, and we want to have a GREAT time during the live auction (they’re so exciting!). This is your chance to get some AMAZING fashion advice, high end beauty styling, and some fun professional photography at a GREAT deal and a great cause.

To read the full details on this package and pre-shop some of the other AMAZING things that will be up for bid on Thursday October 28th, head on over to preview the BRAND NEW e-program and don’t forget to get your tickets now! This year is bound to be the best yet with more sponsors and a few surprises all at the Four Seasons Seattle (wow!).

See you with your party shoes on!!

p.s. sorry for all the buildup, excitement, and exclamation points. It’s 2am. Friends shouldn’t let friends write articles in the middle of the night.

Get Hitched Give Hope’s annual charity bridal auction is back! It’s only 2 weeks away, and I’m giving away 2 pairs of tickets!!!

:: WHAT :: You will truly be able to get gorgeous goods for your wedding by giving back. Seattle’s top wedding professionals have been personally invited to exhibit their services and products, with silent auctions, raffles, and a final, show-stopping live auction! The items up for grabs are not just limited to pre-wedding prep, day-of services, and newlyweds, there are some great goods for moms, dads, grooms, and friends!

:: WHEN :: October 28th, 2010. Doors at 6pm with raffles, auctions, and live entertainment beginning shortly thereafter.

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

:: WHY :: To grant wishes to stage 4 breast cancer patients for whom the cure can’t come soon enough.

:: HOW TO WIN TICKETS :: Enter by simply leaving a comment below on this blog and do your part to spread the word about a GREAT cause & FANTASTIC event (facebook/tweet/email/repost/talk about it around the water cooler today!).

We’ll randomly draw a name at 6pm on Friday October 15th (PST) and contact you via email, so don’t forget to fill in your email.

Or…would you rather just buy your tickets now? or make a tax deductible* donation online instead?

*Get Hitched Give Hope is a 5013(c) organization run by volunteers. Consult your tax professional so you do it right and the gov’t doesn’t get irritated.

Calling all photographers!!

Over at Get Hitched Give Hope, we have had an overwhelming response from photographers far and wide asking how they can be involved and help grant wishes for stage 4 breast cancer patients, so we’ve come up with our September fundraiser made specially for YOU!!

Here’s how it works ::

1. Hold an engagement, belly, baby, family, boudoir, pet, or lifestyle session (or two or three! or heck do a marathon or giveaway!) during September.
2. Donate $100 from that session to Get Hitched Give Hope (either by mailing a check to PO Box 17406, Seattle, WA 98127, or by donating online)
3. Email 2-3 {{tasteful}} images & sentence or two about you/your shoot to hello@gethitchedgivehope.com  (don’t forget to include a link to your blog post!)
4. Be ready for some blog/facebook/twittering love from our lovely blog writer, Christopher!!

Voilà! You’re a {photo}Giver!!

Please feel free to forward, tweet, and repost this to any of your friends/families/photogs. It takes an average of $4000 to grant just ONE wish. Let’s grant 10!!!

Tweet: @beagiver

Face: www.facebook.com/GetHitchedGiveHope

Blog: www.gethitchedgivehope.com/blog