Venue Spotlight: Gray Bridge Wedding Venue

June 22, 2020

It’s time for another venue spotlight! Today we are sharing one of our favorite Sky Valley venues, Gray Bridge Wedding Venue! We sat down with owner Stacy to learn more about this incredible venue. We also got the scoop on some exciting 2020 wedding packages they are offering. Let’s dive in!

The Space

Gray Bridge is a 16-acre outdoor garden estate that was previously a private residence until 2018. There are many things we love about this venue, but the big one has to be their private big water features. While many venues offer small water features, Gray Bridge has large private ponds that are exclusively theirs, making for the most gorgeous water backdrop for photos.

Their pond-side ceremony site includes a picturesque dock and a built-in amphitheater with seating for 250+ people.

Photo by Lisa Girvens Photography

Their namesake feature is a gorgeous gray bridge that spans the west pond. It’s the perfect location for a first look, processional arrival, or final send-off!

Other venue highlights include a large grass reception wedding tent, a built-in bar, a fire pit with S’mores bar, and a pool deck perfect for appetizers and dancing. They also have a 1200 square foot swanky suite and stag shack for the wedding parties to get ready in.

What’s Included

Another thing we absolutely love about this venue is that everything is included! Pricing gives you access to all of the unique spaces and features of the Gray Bridge Venue. From farm tables and cross-back chairs to the tent and clean up, absolutely everything is included. The owners even do the initial furniture set-up for you!

COVID-19 Small Event Packages

Gray Bridge has put together unique wedding packages for intimate 50-person small ceremonies for 2020. This is perfect for couples who have had to reschedule their event but still want to have a small ceremony this year, or anyone experiencing planning fatigue! The package includes amazing pre-vetted vendors for all of the open 2020 dates, with additional discounts available for July events.

The venue covers over 3 acres and is designed to allow for social distancing during the ceremony and reception. Over 100 guests can be seated for dinner with social distancing under the tent and still have space for dancing and entertainment during inclement weather. The pool deck dance floor can be configured with plenty of space for social-distance dancing and lawn games.

Visit their website to learn more about the special small event packages!

Venue Spotlight: Twin Willow Gardens

May 4, 2020

We are proud to be part of the community of wedding vendors in Snohomish and the greater Seattle area. From the couples who have had to postpone weddings, to the venues, planners, and wedding vendors that have pressed “pause” on business for the time being, all of us in the event space are navigating this uncertain time together. It hasn’t been easy, but a bright spot has been the tremendous sense of community that we have felt throughout it.

We want to continue building up this amazing support system of local businesses, and we are excited to do that by sharing some of our favorite venues and vendors over the coming weeks with you all.

Today we are thrilled to highlight Twin Willow Gardens, one of our favorite wedding venues in Snohomish County. We sat down to talk with new owner Rebecca to learn more about this incredible venue.

Rebecca and her husband Brian are the new owners of Twin Willow Gardens, which has been a staple wedding venue in the community for the last 12 years. They are no strangers to hosting weddings and events though, as Rebecca has been a wedding planner for 16 years and is the owner of New Creations Weddings. After searching for a property for three years, Twin Willow Gardens was just the venue that they were looking for. The previous owners made some upgrades before selling, and Rebecca was excited to take these upgrades to the next level by leveraging her insight as a wedding planner.

Ceremony Space

This garden wedding venue sits on six acres in Snohomish County. Twin Willow Gardens is located just a few minutes from downtown, but you would never know it once you enter this beautiful forest and garden oasis.

The venue is most well-known for their outdoor ceremony space that is tucked away in the woods. Ceremonies are surrounded by old-growth cedars and pine trees and housed under the enchanting tree canopy. It provides a gorgeous wedding backdrop and is very protected from rain. It is truly a dream come true for a pacific northwest woodland-inspired wedding!

Reception Space

The amazing thing about this venue is the combination of forested wonder and gorgeous lush gardens. Receptions are held on the large lawn, which is made of synthetic grass that is always pristine and perfect! There are two large tents that house the reception and a bar/lounge area, and guests can stroll through the winding paths through the gardens. There are also two tiny homes which offer the perfect dressing rooms for couples to get ready in.

If you are looking for a romantic and magical wedding venue in the Snohomish area, Twin Willow Gardens just might be for you! This outdoor venue is available from May through October. We are so excited to see how Rebecca and Brian take this incredible venue to the next level in the years to come! Contact them to learn more about this incredible space.

Aperol Spritz

February 10, 2020

We are in the mood for something light and refreshing, which is why we are sharing our Aperol Spritz recipe with you all!

This classic cocktail reminds us of summertime vacations, relaxing away on a beach somewhere. We know it is still February, but a girl can dream, can’t she?

The Aperol Spritz is easy to make with only four ingredients, but don’t let the simplicity fool you! It is bubbly, full of flavor, and oh so pretty to look at.

For this recipe, you’ll need Aperol, an orange-flavored apéritif, that you can usually find near the liqueurs. Its unique flavor is described as being derived from a “secret and original recipe, that has remained unchanged over time”. We told you this was a classic.

You’ll also need prosecco, club soda, ice, and a slice of fresh orange or lemon.

The Aperol Spritz is traditionally made with equal parts Aperol and Prosecco, and just a splash of club soda. Aperol is slightly bitter, so depending on your preference you may want to tweak the ratios slightly. Adding slightly more Prosecco will result in a sweeter drink.

This Spritz is incredibly easy to make, and is a great choice to serve at weddings or other events. If you make this recipe, tag us on Instagram at @partyontherocksseattle!

Ingredients

Ice
3 ounces Aperol
3 ounces Prosecco
1 ounce club soda
Orange slice, for garnish

Directions

Fill a wine glass with ice
Add Aperol, Prosecco, and Club Soda to the glass
Stir and top with an orange slice for garnish

Moscow Mule Recipe

April 24, 2019

What’s better than a cool, refreshing Moscow mule on a warm summer night? The answer is … nothing! This classic vodka cocktail is a crowd pleaser with freshly squeezed lime juice, slightly spicy ginger beer, and of course – a copper mug.

Mules are one of our favorite specialty cocktails to serve at events. They only require three simple ingredients, and the combination of fresh citrus paired with spice from the ginger beer leads to a perfectly balanced cocktail.

Today we’re sharing with you the classic Moscow mule recipe, plus ideas to customize your mule and scale it up for a party!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Like all cocktails, the quality of ingredients leads to the quality of the cocktail. For a Moscow mule, that starts with a great vodka. For a standard mule go with an unflavored vodka like Tito’s or our new local favorite, Oola Vodka made from organic wheat.

Next up is ginger beer. People are pretty particular when it comes to their preferred brand of ginger beer. We suggest trying out a few to find the one you like as they will vary in their level of sweetness and spiciness. To get you started, we love: Rachel’s Ginger Beer from Seattle, Gosling’s Ginger Beer, and Reed’s Jamaican Ginger Beer.

Finally, you will need freshly squeezed lime juice (no concentrate please!), ice, and if you have one, a stainless steel lined copper mug. The copper mug keeps your drink super-chilled, and is the quintessential Moscow mule accessory!

Classic Moscow Mule Recipe

Serving size: 1 cocktail

2 oz vodka
5 oz ginger beer (about half of a can or bottle)
Ice
Juice of 1/2 of a lime (plus more to garnish)

Instructions

Fill your copper mug with ice
Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice directly into your mug
Garnish with a lime wedge (voila! It’s as easy as that!)

CUSTOMIZE YOUR MULE

Once you have the classic recipe down, the Moscow mule is the perfect cocktail to customize. When you’re first experimenting, pick one of the customization ideas below to find out what you like! Here are three easy ways to customize your mule:

Flavored Ginger Beer

Easily add a twist to your mule with a flavored ginger beer. Rachel’s Ginger Beer comes in 10+ amazing flavors, we love the blood orange!

Infused Vodka

You can do the same with vodka by swapping for a flavor-infused option. We suggest staying away from overly sweet vodka (like whipped cream), but an infused blueberry or jalapeno vodka makes a killer mule!

Garnishes

Garnish your mule with fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or basil. You can also add fresh fruit to complement the flavored vodka or ginger beer if you used it. One of our favorite combinations is blueberry-infused vodka with a basil garnish. Go wild!

MAKE IT FOR A GROUP

Moscow mules are one of our go-to signature cocktails to make ahead for events. Make a big batch for your next party using our recipe below.

Batch Moscow Mules
Serving size: 12 cocktails

One bottle vodka (750 ml)72 oz ginger beer (i.e. six 12oz cans)
6 limes (plus 3 more for garnish)
Ice for serving

Instructions

Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice in a pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate.
When ready to serve, pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a lime slice, herbs, or fresh fruit.

Let us know if you make this cocktail! Post your perfect mule photo and tag us at partyontherocksseattle. Happy cocktail-ing!

Element 79: Seattle’s Newest Swanky Event Center

April 11, 2019

There are so many amazing venues for events in and around Puget Sound. One of our favorite parts of bartending and staffing events in the area is being able to travel and get to know all of the unique venues and the people behind them.

Today we’re highlighting one of our favorite newest venues – Element 79 Seattle! Element 79 launched in November of last year, and they have quickly become a hot spot for a wide variety of events. They are conveniently located in Georgetown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle.

Decor

What we love the most about this venue is their unique and funky vibe. They marry an intimate speakeasy feel with a spacious and modern footprint. From their beautiful reclaimed wood to their gorgeous vintage bar to their live green wall – they have a ton of amazing pieces to work with that make for truly special events. On top of all of the built-in details, the space is a perfect canvas to add your own touch.

Space Options

There are two space options to pick from – Element 79 and the vault. Element 79 is the larger of the two. With 3000 square feet to play with, it’s perfect for wedding receptions, photo shoots, or large private parties. It has a fully equipped kitchen and plenty of room to customize the space to your needs.

The vault is 800 square feet and is the ideal space for smaller, intimate gatherings and business meetings. It also makes a perfect bridal suite for getting ready! You can rent each space on their own, or combine them together for a larger event.

Rates

Element 79 Seattle has superb rental rates for Seattle, we love the affordability they offer with a ton of value! And, they share their rates directly on their website, so there is no guessing involved when you book with them.

Diverse Events

Another main perk of this venue is that it suits so many different types of events. We have done corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, fundraisers, and a vow renewal with Element 79 so far – and each event was perfectly suited to the venue. They make it so easy to customize to your liking and are great at working with outside vendors to bring in unique elements.

Amazing Staff

Melissa and Kori make up the dream team for this woman-owned business, and we just love working with them! They are professional, friendly, fun, and eager to think outside of the box to help customize to the needs of different events. They have also created great relationships with other vendors, making event set up and coordination a breeze.

We are so excited to have Element 79 Seattle as a new event staple in the community. Visit their website to get to know more about them or follow them to see some of their recent events!

Photos by Tori Dickson