Roche Harbor Weddings

New Roche Harbor Wedding Website!!!

2010-09-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's (almost) ready!

So, we're gonna get you a sneak peak and get some feedback.

Here's the link:

http://web.me.com/rocheharborweddings/Roche_Harbor_Weddings/Welcome.html

Also, Roche Harbor Weddings just started a separate Facebook page, different from the general page. We're hoping this will provide a better opportunity for brides and grooms (past, present and future) and RH to interact.

It's under Roche Harbor Weddings.

Hope to see some of you there!

New Wedding Blog Site

2010-08-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hi ladies (and gentlemen),

We're gonna be switching over to a new wedding area that we've been working on this month. We're happy with the new feel, content and function. Plus there's gonna be a lot more photos and videos.

Stay tuned for the change....

We guess that half of the site visitors are currently booked brides looking for updates and ideas for their weddings at RH, so be sure to check back for the new site in a couple of days. We'll include a link, but thought this might be a good heads-up for y'all!

Ceremony Rehearsals

2010-08-26T19:52:00.001-07:00

Why are ceremony rehearsals important?

Well, who ever heard of putting on a show without practicing?!?! Unless you've got an A+ in Improv, get your family and friends in early enough to walk through the ceremony rehearsal!

We say:

First time to learn.

Second time to practice.

Third time to perfect.

It should take about an hour to get through all three steps--and chatting it up with everyone.

Then, get yourself off to the rehearsal dinner--our favorite part of any wedding celebration!

Decorating the Garden and Courtyard

2010-08-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things to do for a garden ceremony is add to the already-amazing array of flowers and scenery.

Today, we saw a wonderful idea of posting thematic signs on the picket fence that surrounds the garden. Then, the couple tied it in to the reception in the courtyard with signs on that fence, near the entrance.

We're immediate fans!

Anniversaries at Roche Harbor

2010-08-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite parts about weddings at Roche Harbor is seeing happily married couples returning year after year for their honeymoons.

This weekend we have two in-house, staying with us in luxury suites and re-living their wedding celebrations.

What a great thing to have always as a place to come back, to remember all the wonderful memories.

For the happy couples renewing their love for each other on these special days:

Congratulations!

We'll let you know in the colors ceremony tonight...

Pavilion Fireplace

2010-08-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Just saw a new design for the Pavilion fireplace:

A bunch of wood (about 30 pieces) set up in a rustic-looking design--but NOT lit. It was pretty great to see the fire all set and ready to go...but nothing happening with the flame!

Thanks for the design inspiration from Rainee, RH bride (2005)!

August "Good" Weather

2010-08-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

When we get calls or emails from prospective brides, often the first question is, "What's the best time to get married at Roche Harbor?"

Good question.

The short, ambiguous answer is to get married when it works best for your family/friends, and, not insignificantly, your budget.

And the weather? Well, I got married at RH in April and the weather was 70 the day before the wedding and 55 the day of the wedding. Such is the weather in the NW. Regardless of the day at our wedding, though, the guests had an equally good time on both days. It's testimony to the weather not really mattering that much...

Yes, rain sucks. We won't deny it. But so does 90-degree sun. Personally, I'd take a chance of rain over a chance of too-hot sun.

We saw a few weddings during the recent heat wave this week. And, we saw a couple of weddings with rain in the week before. You never know what you're going to get!

If you're thinking of booking a wedding because of sunny weather, you'd best book in Yuca, Arizona. But then again, it's 100 degrees there today!

Melissa and Adam Video

2010-08-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

Wonderful video of our friends Melissa and Adam, who were married here on June 19, 2010. We can't wait to see the ceremony and reception sections when they come out!

Big thank you to Jeremy Almeda at Endless Love Productions for the amazing footage!

http://jeremyalmedavideo.com/?p=1

Urban Unveiled

2010-07-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

Our partners at Urban Unveiled are at it again!

Here's the link to our blog spot on their new planning tool for brides-to-be:

http://www.urbanunveiled.com/blog/roche-harbor-resort-it-must-be-something-water

If you haven't bought tickets to the show in October, you better get on it! They're likely to sell out fast...

Heather and Todd

2010-07-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Astounding photos from Heather and Todd's wedding June 4, 2010! I've seen a lot of wedding shots over the past five years at Roche Harbor, and there were a few places in the album that threw me a bit...It took me a minute or three to figure out where that tree was or the building sat. It's great to be surprised by what you find with a fresh set of eyes.

Thanks, Heather, for sending these over! We had a blast working you!

Urban Unveiled 2010

2010-06-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

Exciting news: Roche Harbor will be a part of the "Venue" category at this fall's Urban Unveiled event in Seattle! This is the first wedding show that Roche Harbor has been a part of since 2006, and w'ere just tickled to have the opportunity to share our experiences and information with prospective brides and grooms. And, we're really excited to connect with brides and grooms and their vendors who have already booked weddings at Roche Harbor.

If you can schedule a visit to come see us at the soiree, please do! We attended last year to see what all the buzz was about, and we had a tremendous time. The show this year is Thursday, October 14.

Hope to see you there!

Shipwreck Beach Site Now Hosting Dinners

2010-06-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

We had our inaugural welcome dinner at the Shipwreck Beach Site last weekend! What a tremendous success...sunny weather, great food, on-the-water views, and lots of smiles on everyone's faces. Couldn't ask for more than this!

We'll have pictures up on the blog and the website soon...

AMAZING Photos from Memorial Day

2010-06-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

WOW! Our good friend Victor Saidov has done it again.

http://victorsaidov.com/blog/

Check out Jessica and Derek...what a wonderful couple and incredible photographs! And that the wedding was in military dress on Memorial Day weekend was absolutely perfect.

The second to last photo is about as American as apple pie, Victor.

Nice work.

New Blooms in the Gardens

2010-05-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

Our fabulous gardeners have been working over the past week to prepare the grounds for early summer. They always do an amazing job filling the landscape with bright colors and textured arrangements! This year they've put out some really interesting stuff on the ledges in front of the gift shop...I've gotta find out what they're called!

Baskets in front of the hotel are next week, we think!

I love this time of year...

Spring Weddings

2010-04-02T19:57:00.001-07:00

There's something amazing about Spring time. Emerging from the long, dark winter into a new season, one filled with hope and possibility and energy. The sun seems to have a hold on people, drawing them outside into the outdoors for the first time in a while. Kids are run in the grass, families do simple things--like go on walks--together, couples remember why they're in love, and everyone seems to feel a sense of promise in the future.

Sure, January 1 is the beginning of the calendar year, but Spring is the real beginning of the seasonal cycle, no doubt about it.

Spring is always an interesting time of the year for weddings, and certainly one of the most sought-after periods for celebrations. The weather typically cooperates and can even surprise all of us with a stellar day of sun and warmth. Trees are leafed-out and flowers are blossomed, painting the gardens and baskets with color after the grey winter. The feeling of re-birth and new beginnings rings true in every sight around the harbor.

What I like most about Spring weddings is the types of weddings we commonly see: family and close friends spending time together over good food and drinks, enjoying the best accommodations on the island for a fraction of the price, and focusing on the experience rather than the aesthetics. It's really an enchanting experience to roam the resort as if it was your family's vacation home....

Roche Harbor is nearing the end of its offer to experience the resort for a night or two, including complimentary luxury accommodations and dinner in our dining room. If you're interested in seeing what we're so excited about, give us a call and come see the place with eyes wide open.

A Note on Weddings

2009-10-12T19:53:00.001-07:00

We've been busy these past few weeks talking to and touring around with prospective brides and grooms, and one thing keeps coming up every time they ask us for our take on weddings at the resort:

Weddings are about people, about creating opportunities for people to get together. Brides and grooms have a lot to be responsible for on the wedding planning, and NOTHING is more important than finding ways for friends and family--old and new--to spend time together.

Of course, weddings are about a celebration of marriage, of love, of commitment. The ceremony is the thing that inspires those who are not married to think about finding something as important as the bride and groom have found, and reminding those of us who are married what it means to be in a life-long partnership unique to any other we'll experience in our lives.

And all the other hours and days committed to the wedding celebration are about creating opportunities to get people to interact, to engage, to appreciate the un-sought-for moments in life when we find each other inexplicably.

At Roche Harbor, you find these experiences passing by a childhood friend and her family on the way back from lunch at the Lime Kiln Cafe. Or hanging out on the rooftop terrace around a firepit sipping wine for the first time with your brother-in-law. Or running into your bridesmaids at the bar when you finish polishing your wedding vows. Or a mani-pedi in the spa with your mama, talking about how her life changed after her own wedding.

Yes, people will remember the invitations, the flowers, the food...but what we all recall most affectionately is the time we were able to spend with loved ones.

My experience from my own wedding two-plus years ago at RH...It was the only time I've seen my best friend in 4 years...It was the first time in years that my divorced parents saw each other and made nice...I met my wife's best friends and mother for the first time...my brother and I had a brother-to-brother talk that had never happened before--or since...my wife brought together two sides of her family (brothers and sisters) that had never met...I won enough money in a poker game with the boys to pay for a week in our honeymoon house in Jamaica...we introduced our old friends from school with our new friends on the island...we showed everyone we care about the island that has been so important in our lives.

What ever your wedding venue, make sure that you're doing everything you can to help create these memories for yourselves...and your loved ones.

Okay. Enough mushy-ness.

I'm off to look at my wedding photos again...

Sam

Urban Unveiled

2009-10-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

The wedding season is starting to wind down, and we're already in the planning stages for another incredible season next year.

Our first stop in our quest to keep meeting new partners to make RH weddings even better is to visit with our friends who are hosting Urban Unveiled this Thursday at the fabulous Benaroya Hall in Seattle.

www.urbanunveiled.com

If you haven't checked it out, do so. It promises to give us all inspiration and partnerships on wedding planning and vendors, as well as creative ideas to imitate on our own.

Hope to see you there!

New Ceremony and Welcome Dinner Site

2009-08-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

WOW! I walked down to our new event site on the waterfront today and it...is...spectacular!!!!

The area is on the water, looking out over the harbor, can be covered with tents and represents all the dreams of an island wedding.

We'll have photos soon of the view...stay tuned!

Surfacing for Air

2009-08-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

I gotta say, August is a hard month. We have 28 events in 31 days. That's about as much as you could ask for if you want to give yourself a heart attack. (Muddling 15 gallons of mojito mix a few weeks ago, I thought, "Wow. I could actually cause physical harm to myself with how much pressure we're under.") The amazing part of it all is that our team is fully capable and 100% successful each time we host an event--wedding, meeting, retreat...what ever.

We had a bride say a few weeks ago that we're a "wedding factory." I had to laugh. On some levels, she's right: we do have the opportunity to host a lot of weddings. And what constantly amazes me is our ability to treat each one like it's the only wedding we'll work with that year. We don't "do" 60 weddings a year...we host one wedding 60 times a year. The subtle difference is what sets us apart.

This week we have seven weddings in ten days. Our front desk staff knows the name of the bride and groom for each wedding, and what day they're getting married. Our event planner, Laura, is tirelessly working to ensure each one exceeds expectations. Our banquet chef, Steven, can tell you the details of each event for each day, down to the special Vegan or allergy requests that we have for individual events.

We've heard from some wedding coordinators that other places struggle sometimes under the pressure or lose that personal touch on the day of the wedding. It struck me as odd to hear that...failure isn't part of our culture. The team is so tirelessly dedicated to the bride's wishes that it's too important to think of that as an option.

I go into this part of the wedding business because we want every bride, groom, mother-of-the-bride to know that you are the most important person we work with on any given day...and that all of our capable resources are working to exceed your expectations when the wedding arrives.

Now, I'm going to sleep. We have another wedding to prepare for tomorrow.

Nicole and Preben Martin

2009-08-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous wedding last week, one that grabbed the attention of everyone on the resort. Nicole and Preben Martin have been working with Roche Harbor for more than 17 months on their wedding, and last Saturday finally arrived the big day. It couldn't have been better weather, with a more elegant set-up, or filled with nicer people.

Here's a video clip from Mindcastle, a mind-blowing group of professionals that shot this video and then edited it during dinner and played it back to the wedding reception at the end. Wow.

http://mindcastlestudios.squarespace.com/blog/2009/8/3/prebennicole-sdefrom-past-to-present.html

Developing New Ceremony and Welcome Dinner Site???

2009-07-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

Roche Harbor has always been fortunate to have naturally beautiful ceremony and reception sites on-property for brides and grooms to use as venues for their wedding celebrations. The Pavilion and Courtyard, the Sunken Garden, Our Lady of Good Voyage and the Seaside Lawn offer spaces that require little to dress-it-up and make it suitable.

We're thinking of developing a new site to add to our portfolio of amazing locations for your wedding needs, tentatively titled "Shipwreck Beach." The harbor waters lap up against it, there's views of the sunset over the water, it's completely private to the rest of the resort yet close enough to walk to in a few minutes from the hotel center, and we expect it to have a covered area to squelch any fears of being rained on during a ceremony or welcome dinner. The site could be perfect for groups up to 150 people!

If you've already booked a wedding, let us know if you're interested in using it for the 2010 wedding season. Or if you're thinking about booking a wedding at Roche Harbor, let us know what you think would be essential elements for the site to make it enticing for you to use during your wedding celebration.

We're going to get started on development next week...stay posted for updates on our progress!

San Juan Island Weather

2009-07-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

From what we see in the "biggest fear" poll, weather is a big concern for most people. I talk a lot with people looking at booking weddings during July and August, because it's the best chance for good weather. Certainly these two months are the best weather we receive, but did you know:

The weather in September is EXACTLY the same as June: highs, lows, rainfall. I always assumed September was nicer than June. Surprise!

October is rainier and colder than May and April, and not far off of March.

Take a look for yourself at the weather norms for San Juan Island.

http://www.idcide.com/weather/wa/friday-harbor.htm

Wonderful 2007 Wedding

2009-07-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Found this oldie and goody searching out Roche Harbor weddings on the internet tonight. Paul and Alli planned and perfected a beautiful wedding in August 2007. Here's a link on junebug.com that gives you a few great pictures of the big day.

http://junebugweddings.com/real-weddings/PaulAlli.aspx

What an Amazing Wedding Slideshow

2009-07-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I cried. It's amazing. Erica and Matt were so wonderful, and the pictures are so great...what lovely images of a couple in love.

Thank you to 6 of Four, and Erika and Matt Skelton.

http://www.6offourcreations.com/SkeltonWedding/

Something I've Never Seen at a Wedding...Amazing

2009-07-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is about the greatest thing I've ever seen as a procession. It will make you laugh at first...then you'll get teary. My wife and I watched this tonight and we both agreed that it really represents what weddings are about: a celebration of love and fun and people having a good time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Roche Harbor Weddings in the News...Again

2009-07-23T19:16:00.001-07:00

The lastest issue of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom features another wedding we hosted and catered last fall. Laura and Bob Tindall married on a spectacular fall afternoon in our Sunken Garden, then moved over to the Seaside Lawn for the reception. The sun was warm and bright, the water washing into the nearby shore, the music elegant and timeless.

The wedding was a wonderful collaboration of Laura and Bob, Roche Harbor, and our favorite event planners on the planet: Travis and Jesse from True Colors Events. These two were absolutely amazing to work with, took care of every detail and no matter what happened you couldn't take the smile off of their faces. Quintessential professionals.

We're looking forward to working with them on a wedding next week, another grand affair on the Seaside Lawn. Who knows? Maybe you'll see us all again in Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom.

Check out the spread online, or pick up the summer issue yourself.

http://www.seattlemetbrideandgroom.com/2009/07/20/tindall-crocco-wedding/

2009-07-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

We have a new "real wedding album" with some AMAZING photographs of Erika and Matt Skelton. What a wonderful, down-to-earth couple who had a great wedding despite the intermittent rain on the wedding day.

As you can see from these photos, weddings still turn out well even if the weather doesn't cooperate.

New Member to Events Team

2009-07-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

We'd like to welcome the newest member of our events team at Roche Harbor!

Laura Westmiller is a long-time island resident with years of event planning experience. She has been involved with numerous island events, and has helped plan her son's wedding at Roche Harbor.

And, like me and Bill Shaw, or Food and Beverage Director (and wedding catering mastermind), she was married at Roche Harbor!

We're very happy she's part of our team and look forward to getting her involved with upcoming weddings as the weeks go by!

Wedding Fears

2009-07-02T18:39:00.001-07:00

Okay. We all have them. They keep us up at night worrying about the them.

I wanna talk a bit about them, just get'em out there on the table.

Wedding day fears.

No wedding would be complete without a list of fears about the wedding: Forgetting your vows. Tripping over the wedding dress. Saying the wrong person's name during the vows (yes, I've seen it!). Hair and make-up not working out. Rain. Band not making the ferry. The food tasting horrible. Whatever.

My wedding fear was that our families from different cultures--Argentina and the US--wouldn't be able to interact because of language barriers. Of course, everyone had a great time, and we still talk about how amazing it was to sit and talk with family and friends that we hadn't seen in years..even decades. Bringing together the four sides of our family (both of our parents are divorced and remarried) was so much fun, and everyone got along regardless of cultures or divorces.

I'm curious to hear what others fear(ed) about their wedding. I've even put a poll up on the sidebar for everyone to weigh in.

Don't be shy...weddings rank as one of the most stressful events we'll undergo in our lives, right up there with birth of a child, death of a loved one and buying a house.

A very special place...

2009-06-04T15:15:00.001-07:00

Having photographed a wedding this past year in Jamaica, and after having been to your venue this past weekend, I can't image why anyone would go to Jamaica when they could come to you. I'm serious... something really very special about it. Between the beauty of the area and your proffesional staff I'd say it is the perfect place for a perfect wedding. I only wish I had a weekend off in the next 5 months so I could come and just hang out. I swear I would face a chair towards the water, read a book and doze!

Have a wonderful summer...

Tasha Owen

Roche Harbor Weddings in the News

2009-05-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Look who turned up in Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine this Spring...Chesney and Andrew! Married up here last summer, this was a truly memorable event for us. SMBG captures the beauty and detail and the timeless feel of the attendees appearance.

What we remember is the wonderful way the entire party handled a rain delay with such class and poise.

I will always have the image of the groomsmen lined up with their hats along the Hotel de Haro balcony.

Check out the link to see the write-up:
http://www.seattlemetbrideandgroom.com/2009/02/03/morris-schmidt-wedding/

Decorating the Pavilion

2009-05-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions I get is, What are some ways to decorate the pavilion?

Good question.

I've seen about 150 different weddings, and I'm always surprised at the creativity I see from brides (and some grooms) and wedding coordinators when coming up with ideas on how to take our blank canvass and make it something wonderful.

One of the simplest, most appealing techniques I've seen is to take a tall, stem vase (there's probably some fancy, more accurate term) and fill it with colorful, tall stems like lillies and birds of paradise and other colorful, flamboyant flowers. The overall height of the arrangement is about 3-4 feet and reaches near the ceiling when placed as a centerpiece on the dinner tables. The stem vase has a round base, thin stem for about 18-24 inches, and then the vase itself is about 18 inches. The flowers sprout up from there. The thin stem allows people sitting at the table to see each other, and the height of the flowers drops the ceiling down. At eye level, it's a virtual explosion of color!

I love this idea because it combines a traditional element (centerpiece) and negates the need for additional decorations hanging from the ceiling. String up some twinkle lights in a long row or two and there you have it.

For my wedding we did something like this, without the fancy vases and with asiatic lillies. It was simple, elegant, and added the feel we liked most.

What's your thought on decorating the pavilion or fireside room, flower arrangements or otherwise?

Time of the Year to be Married

2009-05-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions I get asked when walking around with prospective brides and grooms is, When is the best time to be married?

Good question. The short answer is that no one time is better than the next on all levels. The date really depends on what you're looking for in the experience.

April is when Ale and I got married, because it was relatively good weather, rooms were available and inexpensive for my family and friends, and the flowers were in bloom all over the grounds. We also felt that it was quiet enough to feel like we had the place to ourselves.

I think May is about the same, with better weather and more flowers and colors.

September is another favorite month of mine, because it seems to have this air about it that conveys a wind down to the multitudes of summer. Ferries are easier to catch, rooms are still available and the prices for everything starts to become less expensive. The resort feels like it's holding on to summer still, but there's a new energy about, as well.

When did you get married and what did you think? Was it the right time? Would you have chosen another time, now that you've been through it? Why did you make your choice of that month or date?

Welcome!

2009-05-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

I notice that we're starting to get people joining in on the followers list--I'm really excited about this, you know!

To start off, I've given everyone who received an invitation the role of "Author," so you can start posts, rather than just comment on them. Anything you want to talk about is fine...

I'll start off a couple, because I see that we have such a wide range, already, of different weddings represented on the followers list.

Please chime in with your comments and new posts!

An Invitation to Brides to Share your Wedding...

2009-05-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Many of you know me. I'm Sam, Roche Harbor's Lodging Director. I've been involved with over 150 weddings in the past few years and have gotten to know almost all of the brides and grooms that've been married.

I'd like to invite all brides and grooms who've been married here to help us create a forum about Roche Harbor weddings...What worked for decorations in the Pavilion? Which is the best house to stay in with your family? What are good rehearsal dinner ideas? What florist or photographer was friendliest to work with during the planning?

Over the years I've heard dozens of times that brides get married here because they know someone who had or went to a fabulous wedding at Roche Harbor. A bride from this spring had a friend who got married here last summer. In September 2006, two brides met at a mutual friend's wedding and discovered that they were getting married at Roche Harbor on back-to-back weekends. I just received an inquiry from a prospective bride who has three friends who got married here.

This past week, I was talking with a bride who mentioned she did most of her wedding planning based on what her friend (who was married here) recommended. Also, pictures she found on the internet provided much of the inspiration for decorating. She thought we could do a better job providing wedding photos and recommendations.

She's right. And who better to help get information to brides planning weddings at Roche Harbor then brides who have already had their wedding at Roche Harbor?

So enjoy yourselves, swapping stories and experiences. My wife and I were married, here, too, in April 2007...you'll see Alejandra or me contributing to the forum!