We have excellent recommendations or choose your own vendors
We recognize that most of our couples have never planned an event for more than 50 people and it can be pretty daunting! We are here to help. Our recommended list includes vendors we enjoy working with and those we have spoken to and who come highly recommended by people we trust. Based throughout the greater Seattle area, the vendors we recommend recognize they are a integral part of the team that will make your wedding day work seamlessly. We will go over some of our recommended caterers on your tour and provide a very extensive list that meet your specific needs once we have you sent up in our planning portal.
ALL OF OUR PREFERRED VENDORS ARE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES STAFFED WITH PEOPLE WE LIKE TO WORK WITH! Gray Bridge NEVER accepts a vendor kickback or charges a vendor fee.
Catering
We have an open catering policy allowing you to bring in the full-service caterer of your choice (we do have a "never again" list--please contact us prior to booking a caterer). We require your caterer be licensed and insured and can recommend a carefully curated list of great caterers in a variety of price points.
We require the use of a full-service catering company or staffing company if the caterer does not provide full-service.
Bartending & Liquor
We allow beer, wine, champagne, hard cider and seltzer for up to 5 hours of continuous bar service and hard alcohol in the form of signature cocktails (1 1/2 ounce per drink) for up to a 90 minute cocktail hour. No shots or individually ordered drinks are allowed. All alcohol must be served by your Class 12 licensed and insured bartender.
We require the use of Party on the Rocks if not using one of our recommended caterers.
DJ/MC
A great DJ will keep your event on schedule, your guests will stay informed, and everyone will have a great time dancing the night away! We feel that a professional DJ is money well spent!
Successful DJ's do so much more than spin some tunes. They run your timeline, keep your event on track, excuse tables, introduce the wedding party and work closely with your wedding planner to execute your vision.
Gray Bridge is a large property and requires multiple kits. A DJ without adequate gear means your event goes "quiet" while they move locations. A DJ with poor quality equipment cannot adequately meet Snohomish County noise ordinance as their speakers aren't directional.
We require the use of one of one of our recommended DJ's.
Day-of Coordination/Wedding Planner
Day-of Coordinators/Wedding Planners manage your wedding day according to your vision. They will bring your vision into reality, develop and manage your timeline, coordinate with your vendors, and verify you meet your contractual requirements. They give your friends and family who want to help as much of a role as they want while giving them the flexibility to be a guest and not have to worry about anything.
We have recommendations for day-of wedding coordinators and full-planning and event design wedding planners.
We require the use of a professional day-of coordinator or wedding planner.
Staffing
Staffing helps your event run smoothly. Grandma, friends, and family are often assigned the task of professional staff to save some money during an event. They are guests at your party--please let them enjoy your day. For a relatively small cost, you can have professional staff to bus tables, clean up cups and napkins left around by your guests, set out your appetizers or desserts, and manage the marshmallow stickiness at the s'mores bar. Some Seattle area staffing companies will assist with childcare, decor, and packing up at the end of the night!
If you have not hired a full-service caterer who will bus your tables and scrape your dishes, you will NEED a staffing company.