Wedding season is right around the corner…(no, really)

Hi, we are Hannah Brownlee and Marisa Coleman, and are excited to finally be announcing the launch of Double-Checked Weddings.  Though we have both been involved in this industry for a number of years, this marks the beginning of an official partnership! If attending the same high school, attending the same college, being housemates, working for the same nonprofit organization after graduation, and starting our families at the same time wasn't enough, we are now business partners. Thankfully, we like each other. We get along. We work well together. What makes us such a good team? We each bring a slightly different work style and a lot of experience to the table. We strongly believe in the “two heads are better than one” philosophy and we work together to sort out all of the last-minute details of each wedding we take on. And we believe our clients benefit from this symbiotic relationship in a big way.

We are based out of the Portland area and specialize in day-of wedding coordination, providing expert facilitation of a couple's rehearsal and wedding day. We are day-of wedding coordinators, not full-on wedding planners. Don't get us wrong, though: we do love each and every detail that goes into wedding planning, but since our families come first, we assign them the priority of our time. Rather, we leave the bulk of the initial arrangements to each couple (offering assistance and vendor recommendations when needed) and then come alongside during the final few months to make sure that we learn the full scope of their vision. On the day of the wedding, we are there to execute that vision, freeing our clients to focus on and enjoy the big picture. Limiting the number of weddings we do take on enables us to best focus our full attention on each bride!

Speaking of what we do for each bride, here are a few examples:
*We create a comprehensive portfolio of documents specific to each wedding - including a master contact list and wedding day itinerary.
*We confirm details with each vendor.
*We facilitate the wedding rehearsal.
*We oversee preparations, photos, ceremony, reception and send-off of the couple at the wedding site.
*We serve as point person and act as liaison for all parties to ensure smooth communication, event flow and event execution across all aspects of the wedding.
*We make available a comprehensive wedding day emergency kit for the bridal suite.

We've tackled all sorts of weddings: we helped out at each other's nuptials, we've braved early morning set-up in chilly, rainy weather…and we're looking forward to working with Mapel's own Staci Stevens as our client this summer!
So if you are planning a wedding and want to ensure that no detail is missed on your big day, give us a call. We would love to sit down and meet with you. Our initial consultation meeting is complimentary as we well understand the need and desire to get to know your wedding coordinator prior to hiring her. Just don't be surprised if your two coordinators are finishing each other's sentences.
Thanks to Staci {with whom we also go way back!} for this opportunity to introduce ourselves to her reader base. It's a unique and fulfilling thing to able to support one another's small business ventures, and Staci has proved herself with a very lucrative one! We are looking forward to visiting the Very Engaging Bridal Event  this Sunday at Bridgeport Village, and will be popping into Mapel to meet with brides (and any grooms who are being dragged along). If you are in the area, drop in to say hello. We would love to meet you!

Hannah Brownlee & Marisa Coleman
Double-Checked Weddings

Lovers Do It in February

It's been encouraging to see how many Oregon customers love that Mapel is locally owned & operated. We've received an equally positive response to our product assortment of local designers. The same was true for Leavenworth (locally owned and local designers)- but I think in such a small town like Leavenworth most business are locally owned- that includes Dan's Grocery (Dan actually works at the store on a regular basis).

So I didn't think much of the "local" origin of Mapel when I opened the Bridgeport location. It was actually our graphic designer's idea to add a small clause on our sandwich board "locally owned". Out of all the "interesting" facts on our sandwich board (FREE Gift wrapping, Daily Happy Hour specials) it was the "locally owned" clause that got the most feedback. I had customers walk into the store telling me that their co-worker, sister, friend, etc. etc. told them to come in because we were locally based.

You know how my brain gets to thinkin and turnin (and maybe a glass of wine or two helps enable the "turnin'"); Brandon and I came up with an idea. Since Mapel is a local business (and we exist within a very corporate shopping environment) we wanted to find a way to connect with other local entities.
                        -pour more wine & further turnin' ensues-

Eventually we reached our "ah.... Huh" moment and we came up with "Lovers Do It in February" and by "do it" we mean support their local community. During the entire month of February Mapel will donate one of our best selling designer scarves to local womens shelters for every purchase made. Any and Every Purchase (online, in store, on sale, etc. etc.) will equate to a scarf donation to either Raphael House or Salvation Army West Womens Shelter.

As a local business we believe it's important to support local causes and this month we are excited to collaborate with Raphael House & Salvation Army for our "Lovers Do It in February.... by "do it" we mean support their local community".

For further info about our philanthrophy co-sponsors please visit their links listed below:

Raphael House: http://raphaelhouse.com/

Salvation Army West Womens & Childrens: http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_test2.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/E9460610A3010ED2882575D00077A162