Caprice and Bill were married last weekend at the Royal Palms. It was such a beautiful day. And I am super impressed at Serendipity Videography for getting he sneak peak out so quickly! Go you guys! Thank you to all vendors who helped make this day amazing. I can’t wait to see more!
Hair: Ruca at Hautie Hub
Make Up: Linda Wagner
Dresses: Lillian Lottie
Floral Design: Showstoppers
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Hula Dancers: Applause Entertainment
Jazz Band: Mike Krill Ensemble
DJ: Sedona Sounds
Groom’s Cake: Sedona Cake Couture
Bride’s Cake: Sedona New York Bagels and Deli
Photography: Sedona Bride
Videography: Serendipity

Caprice & Bill at The Royal Palms from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

I have to blog this wedding.  Jennifer Bowen just did a fabulous job shooting it, Suzanne is simply a doll face, and since we got this published in Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine I have had three brides bring these pictures to our design meetings.  So obviously people like it!  Gretchen did a great job and I am kind of jealous that her and Suzanne now “lunch” when she is in town.  So here we go.  Thank you to the following vendors:  Jennifer Bowen Photography, SKM Entertainment, Suzanne Taussig floral design and Classic Party Rentals.  You all are great!

Happily Ever After you two!!

Hey brides!  Twirl is the cutest darn dress place in the East Valley.  So check out their upcoming event and coupon.

Here is what they say:

As you know, I am a huge fan of the internet.  HUGE!  I love being able to sit in my jam jams and look for chic stuff for my clients.  Recently I was reminded that paper products are one of the areas that really catch people’s budget off guard.  There are so many things to order besides invitations that you just don’t think about how much money you can spend on this one area.  As a result, Save the Dates are generally one of the items that gets cut.  But, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are quite a few options to provide your guests, especially out of town guests, a heads up on when you have scheduled your wedding.  Wedding Paper Divas is one of those options.

And as you can see from the samples below, I am a big fan of sending pictures in the save the date.  For two reasons mostly.  First of all, you will be inviting lots of different people to your wedding.  They might be the neighbor friend who watched you grow up but hasn’t seen you since you left for college.  They might be friends or family on your fiance’s side who have never even met you.  Whoever they are, it is nice for them to get a mental image of what the bride and groom look like, today.  The second reason is it gives you another opportunity to use your engagement photos.  And it is just fun!  I guess that is three.  Whatever…  I am just a fan.  But the site has plenty of non-picture options as well that are super adorable.  So either way, check them out!

This past weekend was an amazing wedding at the Firesky Resort in Scottsdale.  Laura and her bridesmaid were super high fashion, which you will see when I post the wedding later.  But, I wanted to show you what her bridesmaids wore.  They are the coolest dresses I think I have ever seen!  They are essentially all the same dress.  Full skirt that drapes to flatter all body types and two larger pieces of fabric that tie and knot to make whatever top you want.  I was amazed when I saw this in person!  Such a cool design.  The maker says it is inspired by a vintage dress she had that worked similarly.  And it is very reasonably priced.  Check it out!

Traveling to an out-of-town wedding isn’t always easy.  The expense can be high, the convenience low, and the accommodations are just never like home, but still we all do it to celebrate the special days of our loved ones.  Here are some tips and nice ideas in helping your out-of-town guests feel at ease, as they make the kind gesture of traveling just for you!

Traveler Ambassador

Delegate one person on each side of the family as the contact point for out-of-towners.  You are going to have enough to do before your Big Day, the last thing you need to be worrying about is the scores of people filling up the airport on your behalf.  Give the contact information of one reliable person for each side, (dads and brothers are pretty good at this job) to be the point of contact for your travelers.  This person can answer the questions, take the calls, and arrange the last minute details of anyone coming into town confused and trying to figure out where they’re going and what they’re doing.

Welcome Bags

Of course your budget is already straining, and the last thing you want to think about is another cost, but this one can be very small and very kind.  Think of it almost like a goody bag at a child’s birthday.  Include contact information of people in town, maps of the city, maps to the event, itinerary of the wedding, hotel information, and a couple little cute things like a sleep mask and some candy. Of course you can add in fun things like a “Reception Remedy” for a hangover, spa products, and snacks for immediately off the plan consumption. It will only take a few minutes to make these, but what a nice, functional thing to receive upon traveling to a wedding where everyone is very, very busy.

Sleeping Arrangements

Hopefully you’ve already talked with a hotel/resort about blocking a set of rooms if you have a lot of out-of-towners, but if you’re also having people stay with other friends and family, put someone in charge of double-checking those accommodations.  Just a quick stop at the host’s home to ensure that they have clean sheets on the bed, and a good space for your guest to stay while in town.  If you have a friend or family member traveling, try to find a good place for them to stay, keeping their budget and expenses in mind.  Yes, you are very busy right now, but they are your guest and deserve treatment as such.  Your Traveler Ambassador could also be in charge of this if you trust their judgment!  Your guest’s comfort is important, and this is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

A Really Big Hug

Lastly, don’t forget to really show these people your appreciation and love upon seeing them.  It wasn’t easy for them to get to your wedding, and they are doing it for one reason- they love you!  Make sure you introduce them to everyone, hug them a lot, and make them feel very welcome and appreciated at your event.  What a lovely thing, to travel for love and receive even more of it upon your arrival!  Hugs all around!

It is all about the dinner party vibe.  Recently we did a wedding at the Royal Palms with a very chic bride from good ‘ol  Philly.  Her exquisite taste and down to earth personality was very refreshing to work with.  She was so considerate of her guests flying in from all over the country that we spent a lot of time thinking about ways to make the weekend extra special.   With a day trip to Sedona, a cocktail party at Olive and Ivy and a golf outing behind them, it was up to the wedding day to put the crowing mark on a weekend full of fun, family and friends.  One way we decided to “treat” her guests was to focus on the food.  Food is such a memorable part of the wedding day.  And eating around a dinner table can make for such wonderful memories.  A couple things to keep in mine when planning a dinner focused reception:

1.  Be aware of the timing of the night.  You do not want your guests eating at 9:00 if you plan to serve them an intense meal.  Ceremonies generally last about 30 minutes.  Then with a cocktail hour, grand entrance, first dance, and toasts, you are possibly looking at eating dinner two hours after guests arrive to see you tie the knot.  Think about this especially if you are planning a sunset ceremony.  You might be cutting things pretty close.

2.  Also, be conscious that the guests will be sitting for a long period of time. Try to do all of your “events” while people are sitting during the dinner.  Special dances, toasts, cake cutting, things like that, should all happen while guests are enjoying their meal.  Then when the meal is over, they can dance and mingle.  Not have to stop and sit down again.

3.  Play around with your room diagram.  Dinner parties are great when there are eight people sitting around a dining room table.  Conversations can get involved and people have a good time.  But to create this intimacy with a large group of people consider long banquet style tables.  That way your guests can talk to multiple people, those sitting by them and those sitting across from them.  Believe me, it is easier than talking across a round table. This also means the table arrangements need to be conversation appropriate.

4.  Get personal.  It is imperative to remember that everyone attending your wedding may not know each other.  Try creating conversation pieces.  That will help break the ice and get people comfortable, faster.  One idea is to have pictures at everyone’s place setting.  The pictures can be of the bride or groom with that particular guest.  These are fun for everyone to view and show a little insight into how that guest knows the bride and/or groom.  Quick tip: the older the picture, the more conversation is sparked.  Believe me!

5.  Think about the meal.  It is easy to come up with things to eat.  It is much harder to create a dining experience.  Try a wine pairing, or dining around the world type of menus.  This will automatically place a stronger emphasis on the food.  Whenever we do these types of dinners, we always provide our guests with a functional menu.  Not just listing the foods they will eat, but we ad brief explanations on why those foods are being served.  With the rise in celebrity chefs and food shows, everyone likes to pretend they are a foodie for one night.  Your menus will equip them in pulling off this persona.

I have been in love with letterpressed paper items for quite some time now. Lucky us, the letterpress train is quickly catching on. Here are some great sites for letterpress stationery.

Elum Designs

Papeterie