Shaken, Not Stirred

While signature or personalized cocktails have been a wedding trend for years, many are taking that concept in a new direction. Since these cocktails are usually served in addition to a bar stocked with wine and beer, this is a great way to cut the costs of a traditional open bar, where your guests can drink you dry.

Taking inspiration from hit shows like Mad Men, craft cocktails specifically look like something out of the sixties, and generally reflect the theme of the wedding. In addition, these cocktails can symbolize something that’s important to the special couple, be christened with a name referencing an inside joke or a beloved pet. You can even have a few of these signature drinks — one for him and one for her.

While creating your own drink might be daunting for some, ask for advice from your bartender friends. They’ll make your craft cocktails a wedding hit.

Dressing for the White Tie Wedding

Next in our series of wedding dress codes, we’d like to give some tips on the types of attire expected at a white tie affair. As one of the most specific dress codes in the wedding tier, the best thing to keep in mind while shopping for a white tie celebration is “prim and proper.” For our ladies, this means a floor-length gown, preferably without slits or plunging necklines. White ties are called such for a reason, so male guests also must adhere to the rules as well. An actual white bowtie is expected here, in addition to a traditional tuxedo with tails. Keep in mind that when the couple specifically calls for a white tie wedding, this means they care what their guests wear. While shopping for the white tie wedding can be a pain, as a guest, you will feel classier than ever before, and you can expect an equally classy party.

Glitz and Glamour

Glitzy golds and soft rose hues are the go-to choice for incorporating metallics in the ceremony and reception. If you’re going for that ritzy feel, consider shimmery shoes for your bridesmaids or metallic ties for your groomsmen. Add a few pops of color in the reception by adding a glimmering tablecloth to every other table, or dipping the stems of champagne glasses into a gold paint. While this trend is hot right now, make sure not to go overboard with the glitter. This new metallic craze could go from glitzy and glam to drab real fast. Be expertly conscious of what gets glitter and what doesn’t.

Be One with the Water

If Kiana Lodge is the setting for your company’s corporate meetings, consider a few water sports to to facilitate team bonding. Well into the summer, Poulsbo has plenty to offer in this area, as Kiana Lodge sits right at the meeting points of Liberty Bay, Port Madison, and Port Orchard. Opportunities to get out on the water abound in our prime location. If you’re feeling a little daring and know your team is up to the challenge, utilize the many waterskiing companies close to the Lodge. Whether members of your team are experienced skiers or have never been behind a boat in their life, this experience will be fun for all. If you want something a little slower pace, rent kayaks and take a self-guided tour through Liberty Bay or get to know the water on a paddle boat. These activities will be fun for your employees and also encourage great memories for them to bond over for months to come.

A Winning Wine and Dine | Wine Dinner at Kiana Lodge

Summer has come to our beautiful Seattle-area lodge, and this July, guests celebrate the advent of sunny days and warm seasons with by wining and dining at our fabulous Wine Dinner. On July 27th, guests can enjoy drinks from the bar, which opens at 5pm, before heading in to diner, which begins at 6pm. Expect an amazing four course meal, with each course paired with the perfect wine for each. The dinner is a Northwest themed meal, using local ingredients and the wines are Washington grown, from Maryhill Winery located in Goldendale, WA. Tickets are $45 per person and seating is limited, so be sure to get them before they’re gone by either purchasing them on Brown Paper Tickets or by calling 866-738-4307. So come join us for a wine dinner that’s a perfect salute to summer!

Be Where the Brews Are | Seattle-Area Lodge

Warm summer days are just around the corner and there’s no better way to kick off a beautiful summer in the Pacific Northwest than by heading to our 3rd Annual Kiana Brewfest! On Sunday, June 5th, from noon to 6pm, visitors can enjoy craft beers from a dozen different local breweries, including Silver City Brewing Co., Hale’s Ales Brewery, Port Townsend Brewing and more! Tickets are twenty-five dollars a person and include not just entry into the event but also a commemorative tasting glass, five different 4oz tastes to try and live music and games on our gorgeous event lawn. You must be twenty-one years or older, and there are no pets allowed, but otherwise there’s nothing to stop you from kicking back with some of the highest quality beer the area has to offer while enjoying the beautiful views that surround our Seattle-area lodge.

Photo Booth Bomb | Weddings at Kiana Lodge

Here at Kiana Lodge, we love putting new twists on classic weddings, and sometimes, one of the best ways to put a new twist on the typical wedding guestbook is to rent a photo booth! The companies that offer this option usually provide lots of props for your honored guests to use, such as the "Team Bride!" signs, funky hats, and oversized sunglasses. This is a great way to commemorate your special day; not only do you get a scrapbook full of photos of your guests, where they can write sweet notes, but your guests also get to keep their own mementos.

Luckily, if you’d rather spend money on the open bar, or a live band, you can pull together a DYI version of this as well. Grab a swatch of fabric and pin it to a bare wall, or you can even just use the natural background of our beautiful gardens. Put dollar store props—like feather boas or homemade signs—in a basket and set a camera on a tripod beside the guestbook. This way, your guests can let their true personalities shine through and provide you with some great laughs when you look back on your special day at our Seattle-are lodge.

Tossing Out The Rules

Most typical bridal parties are entirely composed of women, around the same age and with cute little flower girls, but now, more and more those traditional rules are being put to the side.

More often, men are partaking in their sister’s bridal parties, and women are standing alongside their brothers as they get married. Non-traditional bridal parties are taking over, and there is no rule about how your party should look.

Many brides are having their best male friends included in their parties or even having grandmothers as flower girls for a cute twist on the ceremony. Another new trend this year is forgoing bridal parties altogether and just having all your best friends get ready with you on the big day. Many brides and grooms are embracing this trend, and if there's one thing we love at Kiana Lodge it's new trends and traditions, so come start one with us!

Give the Gift of Brunch

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, consider showing your mom just how much you appreciate her by treating her to a savory brunch with us at the lodge. On May 8th, guests can take a fifteen minute seaplane ride from Lake Union over Seattle and Puget Sound.

After arriving at our Seattle-area lodge, enjoy brunch in our Garden Atrium where guests can dine under our skylight windows, with views of our garden and the shores of the Agate Pass, while sampling our Kiana signature salmon, oven roasted pineapple glazed ham, baked mac and cheese, and much more. Choose from our assorted desserts and pair that with Seattle’s Best Coffee and Tea. Reserve a spot now before it’s gone by calling 1-866-738-4307.

Summer Dreaming

We’re so excited for summer and summer weddings that we can’t stop thinking about them, even if it’s technically not spring yet, (hey, it never hurts to plan ahead!). In order to get it out of our systems, here’s a look at a few upcoming summer wedding trends that are sure to delight!

-Bridal crop tops! As the weather warms up, the bride doesn’t want to overheat in a long-sleeved dress, so try this chic alternative by showing a sliver of midriff, a look that’s been steadily gaining popularity, and is perfect for an outdoor summer wedding at our Seattle-area lodge.

-Seasonal wedding cakes are another great way to embrace the summer season. Take inspiration from some of the summer flavors you loved as a child and go for fruity, refreshing choices like fresh strawberries and blueberries, or Key-Lime, lemon and other citrus-y flavors.

-Summer means fun colors that you might not be able to get away with during other seasons! It means fun fuchsias and magentas, vibrant pinks and pastels and even neon accents on your invitations, menus or programs for that extra fun pop of color.

Wondrous Wines

As temperatures finally begin to rise a bit and winter draws to a close, celebrate the coming of spring at our Kiana Lodge with our Wine Dinner on March 23rd, where our guests can enjoy four amazing courses paired with wine from a wide range of locations around the world.

At 6pm, the dinner begins and sample everything from our duck confit salad, poached prawn crostini or even a chocolate chip ice cream sandwich, paired with wines from South Australia, France, California and more! Tickets are on sale now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2513383, so make sure to get a seat before it’s gone!

Wedding Tech

Technology is on the rise in weddings! While plenty of couples are still hiring professional photographers, an increasing number are either supplementing or going completely DIY with their own techie touches, like drones, which are easy to pilot and can provide versatile shots of your special day, whether it’s your entire wedding in one shot from above or hovering in place to catch interesting angles or the walk down the aisle.

Go Pro cameras, once the companions of extreme sports enthusiasts, are now finding themselves stuck in bouquets to capture intimate wedding moments from surprising new angles. Some couples are even live-streaming their wedding using the Periscope app so that family and friends who can’t make the ceremony can watch along on their own devices.

It’s DIY we L-O-V-E!

Hop into Easter

It may not quite feel like it yet, but spring is just around the corner. With spring comes Easter and the Easter Buffet and Egg Hunt at our Seattle-area lodge! At 11am on March 27th, guests can enjoy a delicious Easter brunch with cream cheese and bagels, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, crab mac and cheese, sausage and other tasty brunch items.

At noon, kids can visit the with Easter Bunny and get their picture taken and then go on our egg hunt throughout our spacious lawn, which is sure to delight! Nothing beats spring in the Pacific Northwest and nothing beats the Easter celebration at Kiana Lodge!

Everything Old Is New Again

Wedding tradition has always called for a "something old," but recently, couples are incorporating vintage-inspired style into their weddings, whether it’s dress styles, makeup or hair, brides are borrowing from decades past, from the Gatsby-era of the Roaring ‘20’s to the Bohemian feel of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.

This also extends to themes, like "Vintage Garden" with Victorian-style china, brass accessories and intricate glassware. This fits in well with the rustic aesthetic, which is still going strong into this wedding season, and is just one more reason to have your wedding at our Seattle-area lodge, where our garden atrium and main lodge can feel like a romantic step backwards in time, sure to blend with whatever era you plan on weaving into your wedding.

It’s Not Just a Wedding, It’s Your Wedding!

Of the emerging trends for 2016 weddings, one major theme has been individuality. No longer following the crowds, couples are doing weddings in ways that are unique to them, including more unconventional bridal gowns with dramatic detailing, long sleeves, even some appliques.

Bridesmaids are also getting in on it, instead of all having to fit into the same-shaped dress, more weddings are opting for bridesmaids choosing their own dresses that share a cohesive color palette with the rest of the wedding party.

This trend continues to into elements like refreshments as well, with the food and beverages reflecting the couples’ history or interests, like craft beer and sliders for the sports tailgaters or even sandwiches from a favorite deli. No matter what you decide for your wedding, at Kiana Lodge, we’ll work with you to make sure your wedding day is uniquely your own.

Ring in the New Year in Style

End the old year and start the new one on a high note at our gorgeous Seattle-area lodge! On December 31st, the doors and bar open at 7pm, with dinner at 8pm and the party kicking off at 10pm and running until 1am.

Guests can enjoy dancing, a DJ, all kinds of party favors, a buffet dinner with a range of delicious options like steak, salmon, salads and seasonal veggies, and later on, yummy late night snacks like scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and more.

There will also be a champagne toast at midnight, and to cap it all off: an incredible fireworks display. So don’t let the new year pass you by, bid farewell to 2015 and jump into 2016 with a night to remember!

Eat, Drink and be Trendy

While we may currently be in a winter wonderland, wedding trendsetters are looking ahead to the spring and summer wedding seasons for hot upcoming styles and ideas, especially when it comes to the food and drinks.

In order to avoid the cost of an open bar as well as highlight the bride and groom’s personalities, more couples are instead choosing to serve their favorite unique and delicious cocktails. They can reflect your personality, your heritage, or even just your favorite flavors.

Once things start warming up, another expected trend, especially for outdoor weddings, is the "grown-up" popsicle, using fresh fruit juice to turn your favorite cocktail into a whimsical frozen treat, perfect as a mid-dance refresher! When it comes to cake, the new trend is "less is more," with "naked" cakes that eschew the outer layer of frosting and instead are simply adorned with berries or fresh flowers, creating a homey, rustic look that fits right in with the aesthetic of Kiana Lodge, from our main lodge to the gorgeous waterfront area.

Winter Wedding Wonderland

Temperatures and leaves are falling, and winter weddings aren’t far behind. And while a wintertime wedding might sound chilly, there’s plenty of ways to warm it up, with fun wintertime ideas. Like cute pumpkin centerpieces, a horse-drawn sleigh and a s’mores bar where you can even do little heart-shaped marshmallows!

If you’re doing outdoor photos with a beautiful snowy backdrop, bridal gowns can be accessorized with a pretty cape or a fabulous pair of snow boots. An especially adorable idea we’ve seen is if it snows on the big day, you can bottle it forever as a timeless memento to your special day. No matter what the season, your wedding, and our Seattle-area wedding lodge, will look amazing!

Give Thanks

This Thanksgiving, visitors to our Seattle-area lodge have even more of a another reason to be thankful at our traditional Thanksgiving buffet dinner! On November 26th, guests can treat themselves to a delicious array of Thanksgiving favorites, like slow-roasted turkey, pineapple-glazed ham, candied yams, cranberry chutney and more, with an assortment of pies and cake for dessert. There will be mulled cider and a cash bar will be made available as well.

Space is limited and tickets go quickly for such a fun and fantastic event, so be sure to get your tickets now! them now before they’re all gone! This November, make Thanksgiving at Kiana Lodge a tradition for you and your family!

It Pays to Plan Ahead

We may be just beginning to enter the fall season, but the bridal fashion world is already looking to Spring 2016 and what new trends the season will bring with it. For wedding dresses, predicted trends include soft, blended watercolors rather than just a flat color, subtle feather adornments, and – most surprisingly – pants!

White tuxedos are proving to be just as formal, chic and impactful as a flowing ball gown. No matter what trend you decide fits your style best, or if you want to make one of your own, you can guarantee it will be a picture perfect event at Kiana Lodge.

Wedding trends change, but our fantastic service and beautiful grounds remain constant.