October 19th, 2012 
Excited affianced couples and their cohorts swarmed into Benaroya Hall on Thursday, October 11, 2012 for this year’s Urban Unveiled event. The boutique wedding show’s theme this year was “At First Blush.” Ombré flowers of pinks, oranges and ivories stood out on vendors’ tables; even Trophy Cupcakes & Party’s triple coconut cupcakes took on hues from pink to white. More and more customers are ordering fancy, custom cupcakes on tiered displays for their weddings, or wrapped up in boxes as favors. What a delicious idea. Because Trophy custom tints their frosting, they can match just about any color that a couple could dream up.
Ombre Flowers (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Trophy Cupcakes (Photo Credit: John and Joseph Photography)
Seattle Bride’s Urban Unveiled event showcased everything from wedding planners to florists to jewelers to caterers. If you were looking for amazingly talented local wedding artists, waiting to make your biggest day’s celebration a success for all the eyes and tummies in attendance, this was the event to attend. Benaroya Hall is expansive and glamorous, with floor to ceiling windows on the ground and mezzanine levels. The dusky blue sky outside made each vendor’s setup feel that much warmer and cozier as the evening began. Adorable vintage dressers and cabinets held bottles of wine, wedding stationary, cakes, place settings and floral centerpieces. Everything was styled with a quirky antique edge meshed with a modern sophisticated palette. It was a beautifully styled event, thanks to Seattle Bride and True Colors Events.
Urban Unveiled’s Art of Giving Raffle at Benaroya Hall (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Vintage Dresser Display by True Colors Events (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
True Colors owners, Jesse Brix and Travis McBurney, are known for their professional event and wedding planning, specializing in catering to couples’ unique styles and sophisticated tastes. This year they brought Seattle’s finest wedding industry professionals together for Urban Unveiled. Folks present sipped cocktails and beers while mingling from vendor to vendor, taking notes, inspiration, and business cards to achieve their wedding dreams.
Fran’s Chocolate Gray Salt Caramels (Photo Credit: Outblush.com)
Stationed right by the entrance was the team from Fran’s Chocolate. A local company started in 1982, Fran’s focus is on pure ingredients, delicious flavors and meticulous care in each batch. Their salted caramel samples were depleted by the end of the night. It’s a good thing I had grabbed one as soon as I entered. I found the chocolate flavor to be rich and full, the salt noticeable and complementary to the sweet, smooth caramel. For weddings or showers the chocolates can be packaged in beautiful, simple white boxes and tied with ribbons. Of course, boxed assortments are also available at their University Village, Downtown Seattle, or Bellevue locations as well as on their website. I also tasted the pure dark truffle and was astounded by the velvetiness and the bold flavor. I love almost any kind of chocolate, but Fran’s were elegant and exquisite beyond my expectations.
Ink Fancy Invitation (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
I may be a chocolate lover, but I’m also a paper gal. I love paper; I love design; I love paper. The three vendors representing invitations were Ink Fancy Letterpress, izzy girl, and Kerri Efendi Designs. Each and every invitation, map, RSVP, envelope looked effortlessly wrought with impeccable design, printed on quality materials. I almost want to plan random events just so that I can send out invitations as magnificent as these.
Tere Mendez of INK FANCY (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Tere Mendez started Ink Fancy Letterpressafter she and her husband led an unfilled search for their own wedding invitations. She took a class, found a press and hauled it up to Seattle from San Diego: Ink Fancy Letterpress was born. If paper is something you’re attracted to or particular about, start here. Letterpress is a more labor-intensive, more expensive process, but the results are worth it. The tactile quality and beautiful designs invite you to touch them, to read and reread the print. Mendez offers different pricing packages depending on the number of colors desired, design (completely custom versus based on an existing design) and components. Whether you’re in the market for wedding invitations, baby announcements, or new business cards, this may be your final stop!
Izzy Girl Invitation (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
I can’t stop there, though. I also met Janet Maples of izzy girl, an invitation design company. Maples prides herself on custom work. Every invitation is custom designed and custom made. If you fall absolutely head over heels in love with a previous design, she can work with you to use it as a springboard, but she prefers to create everything from scratch after being inspired by a couple’s unique personality and aesthetic.
Kerri Efendi Invitation (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Kerri Efendi was another invitation designer showcased at Benaroya Hall. She loves to meet with clients, discover their personalities and click artistically with their vision. Interacting with clients to ensure quality and satisfaction, Efendi is happy to design whatever you’re looking for, from a super chic, simple invitation to a funky Plexiglas invite. It all depends on you, betrothed ones. Get custom and get creative with it! Check out here website here.
Christine Wakeman was extremely happy to win the Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics gift basket from Michael Bride, a $150 value. (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
One of the main events of the evening was The Art of Giving Raffle. As the raffle tickets were drawn, the crowd studied their numbers with rapt anticipation—and for good reason. Prizes ranged from dinners and weekend getaway packages to hair and cosmetic prizes to wedding planning services to a 10.5 carat rose quartz ring, set amongst a bed of pave diamonds, valued at $2,400. The enchanting ring was designed especially for Urban Unveiled by T. Anthony Jewelers. Specializing in couture bridal jewelry, Tyler Sholdt tailors each engagement ring, wedding band, or piece to fulfill his clients’ desires.
The finale was a Luly Yang Couture fashion show. Models donned striking gowns in a variety of styles and silhouettes. All the make-up was done by Michael Bride, who accentuates your natural beauty with a light touch. The models’ hair was styled by 7 Salon where the focus is to give cuts and colors that flatter and reflect you. Yang’s collection included floor length gowns and sassy dresses, some embellished with bling, some romantic and flowy. Her designs ran the gamut of modern bridal entreaties. The dresses moved well and looked gorgeous on the runway; they showed an incredible capacity from designer Luly Yang.
7 Salon Stylists (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Luly Yang Couture Fashion Show at Urban Unveiled (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Luly Yang dresses (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
Designer Luly Yang on-stage (Photo Credit: Michelle Kozlowski)
There were too many amazing artists and vendors to list them all, but you can explore the talent here. Be sure to visit next year’s event if you get engaged this year (or if you don’t)!
this looks phenomenal!