Introducing Sassafras Catering!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Tricia of Sassafras Catering. She is upbeat, fun and loves to cook! We're excited to have her join the Simply Chic Blog crew and look forward to tips and advice about catering from her.

Let's start with a some Q & A with Tricia to learn more about her.

Q:When did you first realize you loved to cook?

A: "When I was 6 and learned how to make meringues by myself."

Q: How long have you been catering events?

A: "I've worked for other caterers since I was 15, but have been doing it myself for the past 2.5 years."

Q: Describe your style of cooking?
A: "Unique, Southern inspired, healthy and local."


Q: Is there a limit to how may guests you can serve?

A: "No, but we prefer to keep it under 300 to be as personal as possible without sacrificing quality."

Q: What is one of your favorite dishes to serve at a wedding?

A: "Tomato pie. This is a unique southern dish from Lowcountry (coastal region) of South Carolina. It's a savory pie filled with tomatoes and topped with cheese, herbs and carmelized onions."



Images copyright Jasmine Photography 2008.

Wedding Gown Trends.

Wedding gowns are changing, for the good. They have more embellishments, details with the fabric and a splash of color. Stray away from the basic strapless gown to find something that showcases your style and personality. Add color with a bright sash that echoes the colors of your flowers or make a statement with colored shoes.

More and more brides are taking the time to find their dream dress. That means it doesn't have to be white anymore. This is your party, so rock it!

I love the layering and flowers made of fabric on the gown below. Great for a garden or back- yard party.

Try the one shoulder look below, which can be elegant.

The look below adds a pretty bow with a modern silhouettes.

Shorter dresses are becoming more and more popular as well. I love that you can wear a short dress for a daytime wedding or an evening event.


By adding silver beading to the sleeves and waist line, a short dress is instantly cute & modern. Great for a cocktail event.

Try a velvet sash instead of the classic satin to add some texture.

The pale yellow gown below is an easy way to stray away from white but still make a bold statement. Simply lovely!

If you really can't stray away from a white gown, why not get two? Wear your wedding gown for the photos and ceremony, then make an entrance by changing into a fabulous cocktail dress.
How do you know when you've found the perfect one? This may sound silly- I thought so when others said the same thing to me- but you'll just know! I tried on A LOT of dresses and even though they were all beautiful none of them felt right on.

Then I slipped into an empire waist gown with a square neckline and fell in love! It was the weirdest thing...

Day After Sessions.

What exactly is a "day after" photo session? It is a portrait session of just the two of you in your wedding attire. It's fun, relaxed and stylish. These sessions are becoming more and more popular.

One reason to book a session for the day after your wedding is to keep the event flowing. You won't have to cut into the reception time on the actual wedding day to take photos. This might happen if the two of you plan on not seeing each other before the ceremony and have a large family. Leaving your guests waiting for over an hour while you take family, wedding party and your pictures can be a bit rude. Your guests have flown, drove hours and taken the time to visit with the two of you...don't leave them hangin'.

Another reason to choose a day after session is for the opportunity to change your look. Get more funky with your hair and make-up, add a bright coat or chunky jewelry to your gown. This is your chance to look like the models in the magazines...have fun with it! 

This is so popular in China that there is a Chinese company that runs group tours to spectacular sites just so the soon-to-be-married couples can shoot their wedding photos. Can you imagine riding across a lake on a horse back like the bride below?  Push your imagination to the next level with ideas for your shoot. Do you love golf? Head out on the greens. Do you love wine? Take a tour to local vineyards. Whatever you do you'll have an experience and images to remember for a life time.

Image above from Time. Pictures of the Week.

All other images copyright Jasmine Photography.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Some girls will say they don't care for diamonds but we all know if any of us are given a little box with something sparkly inside you are not going to say no! Let's get honest with ourselves, we like a little bit of bling and we like it when our friends notice it. "Ohh, let me see your ring!" It's fun, makes us feel special and it's a whole lotta love wrapped around one little finger. 

So let's chat about engagement rings. It is good idea for the two of you to go to a few jewelers together so you can get an idea of what styles you like. Browsing magazines is another option. If you don't wear rings be sure to get your finger sized when you are at the store as well. It's a big purchase and something you will have forever so talk about what design aspects appeal to you so your fiance has a better chance of picking out a winner. 

 

Think about the shape of the diamond you prefer and the type of setting. You may want a ring where the stones are set in the metal, such as channel-set or pave. These are great since the stone is not sticking up from your finger and will not catch on your clothing. It's also a good style if you are active outside or at the gym. These styles of rings are being created in amazing designs from flower motifs to a braided pattern. Since they are smaller diamonds but the same carat weight as a single large diamond they tend to be more affordable rings.

Common shapes, clockwise from top left: round, asscher, pear, princess, heart, cushion, emerald, marquise.

The type of metal your ring is made out of makes a big difference on how much the ring will cost. Platinum is very expensive where white gold and gold are less. Titanium is becoming popular as well for its strength and how lightweight it is. 

Take your time with this and find a ring that fits your personality and style. Also consider passing down a piece of family history such as your grandmother's ring. Another great idea is to look for vintage rings, you'll be recycling in a fun way!   Gilt on NW 23rd Ave, is a great spot for vintage rings. (sorry- they don't seem to have a website to link to.)

To support designers try Twist Jewelry store in Pioneer Place or on NW 23rd Place. How about the classic and always welcomed blue box from Tiffany & Co. Find amazing rings in the pearl district at Judith Arnell that will bring her to tears! 

Photos from the wonderful Martha Stewart wedding site.

New Seasons for Catering.

I don't really enjoy grocery shopping, but it's one of those things that has to get done. If you time it right and head over to your local New Seasons Market, then the whole experience just got a bit better.

The other day while picking up a few items with my husband (we were getting desserts) I noticed a flier that read "Catering". Hmm, I never even thought about New Seasons as being an option for catering. 

Their menu has some great hors d'oeuvres, such as mini salmon cakes and mozzarella skewers with a basil dipping sauce. My appetite is growing...How about the simplicity of a fresh fruit platter, grilled veggies or a meza platter with hummus, falafel and other middle eastern foods.

They also offer a variety of main entrees. The parmesan crusted chicken breast is one of our fav's for dinner. A roasted pork loin with an herb coating sounds delish, as does the grilled flat iron steak. You can buy dips such as hummus, spinach or caramalized shallot by the pound. 

I see this being a great option for the couple who are having a small, afternoon event such as a bbq in the park. It would also work great for a backyard event where you can pick everything up the day of and store it at your home. 

Of course they offer desserts...yum! Tiramisu is always a hit but you know the chocolate truffle cake will steal the show. Go to their website for info and pricing. I'm heading to the store now to get something eat!

Wax On, Wax it Off!

Women do a lot to make sure they look their best for others and most importantly ourselves! There's the hair stylist to keep your color fresh and your cut looking new. There's the nail tech who makes sure your nails are buff and shiny. Your massage therapist to release the tension and to tie it all together the painful but worth it waxing!

When it comes to waxing you certainly want to make sure you find someone who is experienced and detail orientated. I asked my good friend and aesthetician, Stephanie, some questions about it.

If it's a new aesthetician make an appointment 3-4 weeks before your wedding date to have your brow's waxed and make sure you like the shape. They should look natural but cleaned up. Then, she recommends having them waxed 1-2 days before your wedding day so you don't have that bright red glow on your skin!

If you're there already, how about getting your legs waxed as well? I'm a new leg-waxer and must say I was nervous that is was really going to hurt! It wasn't pain free but the results were totally worth it. Smooth legs for over 2 weeks-enough said. Perfect to do right before the wedding so you won't have to worry about shaving every day on the honeymoon.

You can contact Stephanie at 503.750.0799 or email at stephyrisley@yahoo.com to make an appointment.