Today is the start of the final bridal show of the season, YAY!!  What a great way to finalize all your wedding plans & book your vendors today & tomorrow at the bridal show.  Come find vendors you have met before as well as new vendors waiting to show you just what they have to offer.  We hope you find just the right wedding vendors to make your dream wedding complete.

Pre-registration closes today at 1:00 pm, so register online today while you still can.  If you miss the online registration you will be able to register at the door, but it is less expensive to register online.

Pre-registered brides $3.00, brides at the show $5.00

All Guests $8.00

PRE-REGISTER FOR THE SHOW HERE!

Show times:

Today (Friday), January 27th from 4:00-8:00 pm

Tomorrow (Saturday), January 28th 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

REMEMBER ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 1:00 PM TODAY!! (If you miss the online registration, you will be able to register at the show)

Don’t miss out on meeting incredible wedding vendors to plan your day, here are a few reasons you won’t want to miss it:

Special Bridal Show Offers by wedding vendors for those attending the bridal show

Fashion Shows

Lots of Prizes& giveaways

Yummy tastings

Wedding Inspirations

Wedding Experts to help you plan your dream wedding

One Lucky Couple Will Win A Dream Honeymoon To The All Inclusive Barcelo Resort in Puerto Vallarta

PRE-REGISTER FOR THE SHOW HERE!

Photo Courtesy of Magnifique Photography

If you are a bride in the state of Utah or anywhere for that matter you probably attended a bridal show or two or ten.  There were a lot of them this month and the crazy wedding show season will wrap up this weekend with Utah’s longest running wedding showcase for over 30 years, The Wedding Festival.

We have been fortunate to be a part of many of these shows and have been able to meet some amazing brides over the months.  We have heard some incredible stories and witness some great things.  One of our favorite stories was the groom that drove over 500 miles to surprise his fiance at The Grand America Show on January 14th.  She was in tears when she saw him and it was a great moment.  Thanks for letting us be a part of it.

If you have not attended any wedding shows, we HIGHLY recommend you attend this weekends.  There are over 115 wedding professionals, many of which have not been in any other shows this moth, who will be on hand to help you make your day perfect.  If you are attending this weekend we suggest you read our tips and ideas blog for attending shows.  The blog was written before The Grand America show but everything (aside from the part about parking) pertains to this weekends show and all other shows for that matter.  You can read that blog here.

Photo Courtesy of Magnifique Photography

We also would like to give all brides whether you have attended a show this month or not some tips for getting what you want for your wedding.  We highly recommend these things as we have been in the wedding industry for over 15 years and have seen many bride disappointed because they didn’t have the wedding they were hoping to have.

1 – Follow up – If you found a particular vendor that you are interested in working with follow up with them.  It is likely that they could be contacting you but with thousands of brides who attended shows you may want to contact them sooner rather than later. Remember there are certain dates that are more popular than others (10-11-12, 12-12-12, any weekend between late April and September etc) and vendors can only handle so many weddings in one day, so if you are set on working with a particular professional make sure to follow up with them and lock them down for your date.  The most popular dates book quickly so make sure to get the professionals you want secured.

2 – Research - Make sure to research the professionals you spoke with, see if any friends or family have done business with them in the past.  Make sure to see work they have done that could be similar to what your wedding would look like.  Example, if you are considering a certain photographer and you have a winter wedding, make sure to see their winter work so you can get an idea as to how your photos would look.

3 – Flexibility – If you are set on having a certain professional working with you on your wedding you might have to be flexible as to the date or time of your wedding.  If you MUST have a certain decorator and they are booked on your date then a little flexibility on your part could get you what you want.  FYI – sometimes having a mid week wedding can save you money and get you what you want because some professionals charge more for weekends than they do weekdays.

3 – Back Up Plan / Referrals – If a professional you want to work with is completely booked and you can’t change your wedding date, then ask them for referrals.  The wedding industry is a tight knit industry and professionals are constantly referring each others services.  Chances are likely that if you are interested in a certain professional and they aren’t able to work with you because of conflicting schedules they would only refer out a vendor who is very similar to them in quality of work.  In other words a videographer is only going to refer out another videographer they trust will give you the results you are looking for, same with photographers, floral designers etc etc.

4 – Don’t Stress and Have Fun – We constantly ask brides who have recently been married what the one piece of advice is that they would give to soon to be brides and almost inevitably they say the same thing.  “Don’t stress over the day.  While it is one of the biggest days of your life, it isn’t the pinnacle of your life by any means.  Have fun with it. Too often brides tend to stress over little things that don’t really matter.”  One way you can avoid this stress is to plan ahead, that is why it is important for you to start looking for the wedding professionals you want now rather than putting it off to the last minute.  The most stress free brides will give themselves plenty of time to put their wedding together.

5 – Remember You Get What You Pay For – There is absolutely nothing wrong with being frugal, there is nothing wrong with not spending a lot of money on your wedding.  There is nothing wrong with cutting a little here and there.  It is very important to stay within your budget.  With all that being said, remember “You get what you pay for.”  If your wedding pictures are very important to you then you probably don’t want to hire “Uncle Rico” (no offense to anyone named Rico) to shoot your wedding pictures.  If entertainment at your wedding is a MUST then you DO NOT want to simply hook up an ipod and play music.  If you  want your wedding to look like a fantasy then it is critical you hire a professional designer/decorator rather than go down to the dollar store and do it yourself.  Your wedding is a one time thing, make sure to make a list of priorities for your wedding and what is important to you and spend the money on that. You aren’t going to get a second run at it so make sure you know what it is that YOU want and what your priorities are.  Wedding professionals are just that, professionals, they have studied their craft, they know what they are doing, many of them have been doing it for years and years and years.  As with anything you do in life make sure if it is important to you that you look for a professional who can guide you, inspire you, give you advice and help make your wedding your dream wedding.

We wish you the very best of luck in your wedding planning.

Make sure to visit the blog regularly as you will see some amazing weddings, advice and tips and ideas for you as you plan your dream wedding.
Best of Luck

TBG

CLICK HERE TO PRE REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS WEEKENDS WEDDING FESTIVAL

located at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy this Friday, January 27th (4:00 pm til 8:00 pm) & Saturday, January 28th (11:00 am til 6:00 pm).

Photo Courtesy of Magnifique Photography

Photo Courtesy of Magnifique Photography

Photography by~Swensen Photography

With all of the fun currently going on with the Sundance Film Fesitival, we thought this wedding would be the perfect one to showcase today.  Kelsey & Jason were married on November 11, 2011 at the fabulous Sundance Resort.  This gorgeous, rustic wedding was classy & simply fabulous.  Kelsey had some gorgeous feminine touches to her wedding that made it hers & really showcased her sweet side.  She has style & grace.

Special thanks to Swensen Photography for sharing these beautiful images with us.  Their expertise in capturing weddings is truly stunning.  To see more images from Kelsey & Jason’s wedding, be sure to check out their featured wedding page HERE.

Photography by~Swensen Photography

Be sure to come visit both Swensen Photography & Sundace Resort at the upcoming bridal show this weekend, Friday, January 27th from 4:00 pm til 8:00 pm & Saturday, January 28th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at
The South Towne Expo Center.

PRE- REGISTER FOR THE SHOW HERE!

Tiffany Peacock Ring

Photo credit~Carlton Davis

As you know, Tiffany & Co. is coming to Salt Lake City on March 21, 2012. This is a unique time for Salt Lake City to welcome Tiffany & Co. since this year marks the company’s 175^th anniversary and will be celebrating it with Utah at its grand opening. A new 2012 collection will be coming out in March to coincide with the 175^th anniversary of Tiffany & Co.  Make sure you keep your out of for their new collection.

Photo Credits~

Jessica Biel~Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Natalie Portman~Steve Granitz/WireImage

Did you see Celebs Jessica Biel and Natalie Portman radiated glamour in Tiffany & Co. jewelry and accessories at the 2012 Golden Globe® Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2012. Natalie Portman held a Tiffany Morgan clutch while Jessica Biel wore Tiffany stud earrings, opera-length necklace and rings.  Jessica & Natalie both looked incredible with their perfect Tiffany accessories.

Tiffany & Co. not only offers incredible accessories but their engagement rings are to die for.  (Not literally, but truly stunning. )  Any woman would be ecstatic to receive their engagement ring from Tiffany & Co.  The unique Tiffany Setting has been the world’s favorite engagement ring and was introduced in 1886. It features an innovative, six-prong setting that lifts the diamond away from the band to permit a more complete return of light and generate a stunning radiance. Tiffany’s diamond standards are far more stringent than those established by the industry. Only two percent of gem-quality stones are accepted by Tiffany.

Photo Credit~Carlton Davis

Be sure to spread the word about Tiffany & Co.’s grand opening & watch for their new 2012 line coming in March.  We can hardly wait to see all the goods. If you simply can’t wait until March you can check out their website HERE.

Attention Brides!! – The wedding show season is coming to a close this weekend and Utah’s longest running wedding showcase, The Wedding Festival, is a fantastic way to finish up your wedding planning.

Located in one of Utah’s most convenient locations, The South Towne Expo Center, over 115 of Utah’s premier wedding professionals will be on hand to help you finalize your wedding planning.

The Wedding Festival is Utah’s longest running wedding showcase, over 30 years, and is currently being produced by the team at Bride and Groom Marketing who also produces The Bridal Extravaganza shows.

If you have attended other bridal shows this month you will want to make sure and attend The Wedding Festival because you will find a whole bunch of new professionals that you probably have not seen at other shows.  Some of these professionals have deep roots in the local wedding industry and you will find some incredibly unique ideas.

The Wedding Festival runs for two days – Friday, January 27th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm and Saturday, January 28th from 11:00 – 6:00.

Here are a few other reasons to attend the show.

• Over 115 of Utah’s Very Best Wedding Professionals Will Be On Hand
• Four Fashion Shows (One of Friday, Three on Saturday)
• Food sampling from Utah’s best Caterers
• The First 75 Brides Through The Door Each Day Receive a Complimentary Two Night Get Away
• Thousands of Dollars in Gifts and Prizes Will Given Away At This Show
• No Running Around Town, Wrap Up Your Wedding Planning In One Location

PLUS

One Lucky Couple Will Win A Dream Honeymoon To The All Inclusive Barcelo Resort In Beautiful Puerto Vallarta.

Barceló Puerto Vallarta, More Than You Imagine

“Located at the most romantic destination: Puerto Vallarta, between the Pacific Coast and a tropical jungle, this resort is made up of 316 luxurious Suites, each with a private terrace offering breathtaking views. Four pools, Spa, Fitness Center and tennis courts. There are four Restaurants, three of them a la Carte, and three bars. Enjoy the activities including water sports and nightly entertainment.“

The Wedding Festival

Friday January 27th – 4:00 – 8:00 pm

Saturday January 28th – 11:00 – 6:00 pm

SAVE TIME AND MONEY PRE REGISTER TO ATTEND!!

CLICK HERE TO PRE REGISTER

The All Inclusive El Dorado Royale, The Dream Honeymoon Location of The Winter Bridal Extravaganza

Our Bridal Extravaganza Sponsor, All Points Travel in Salt Lake City has just been designated as one of Karisma Resorts “Gourmet Inclusive Honeymoon & Anniversary Consultant” agencies! There are only a few hundred of these agencies in the U.S. and All Points is the only one in Utah. They’ve earned this preferred status because of their extensive training with Karisma properties and their commitment to providing the highest level of service and knowledge to their romantic travelers. The best part is what’s in it for YOU, their honeymoon or destination wedding client! Lowest available pricing .. exclusive upgrade opportunities .. exclusive monthly offers .. and the following great NEW Honeymoon package included in every Karisma Resort honeymoon booking for 5 nights or more in any room category! When booking through a GIHAC, you also have 90 days from the time of the wedding to travel and get the benefit of the honeymoon package. These added benefits are only available through your local preferred agency, All Points Travel!

New Gourmet Honeymoon & Anniversary package at Karisma Resorts in the Mayan Riviera:

ü  Chilled bottle of champagne delivered to room upon arrival

ü  Fresh tropical floral arrangement in room

ü  Private gourmet four course romantic candlelit dinner on the beach

ü  Romantically decorated suite with rose petals, aroma therapy and candles following private dinner

ü  Chef’s gourmet champagne breakfast in bed

ü  Beachfront sky massage for two

ü  Complimentary use of WIFI

ü  15% discount on spa services

ü  One night anniversary return stay voucher

ü  Book through a preferred agency and min of 5 nights can be in ANY category and you have up to 90 days from the wedding date to travel!

Be sure to also check out the amazing wedding opportunities at the resorts. All Points Travel’s experienced wedding consultants can help you plan the perfect destination wedding and make sure that all the arrangements for you and your guests run smoothly! All Points has great group discounts of up to 30% off on rooms and wedding packages along with the opportunity for the bride and groom to stay FREE! Check out pictures of the perfect weddings and honeymoons at their new Facebook page or online HERE.

The El Dorado Royale is The Location of The Dream Honeymoon Give Away at The January 21st Winter Bridal Extravaganza at The Davis Conference Center in Layton and All Points Travel is the only preferred agent in Utah.  Make sure to attend this show where you could win this amazing honeymoon.

PRE REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND

The Winter Bridal Extravaganza

January 21st 2012

The Davis Conference Center in Layton

11:00 – 4:30

PICTURE YOURSELF HERE!!!

Photography by~Envy Foto

Having engagement pictures is an important part of the wedding planning.  Not only does it give you a chance to be in front of the camera before your big day but it also gives you a chance to get your photographer to know you  & your fiance.  That time together will allow you the chance to get comfortable & let your photographer know who you are & what your style is.    At Envy Foto we like to share a few tips & ideas to help you plan your engagement session.

Schedule your engagement shoot early~ It is important to schedule your engagement shoot at least 3 weeks prior to the date you want to mail out your announcements to prevent rush charges & stress.  Talk with your photographer about their turnaround time to be sure you allow enough time for editing & picking pictures for your invitations.

Hair~ Before you make a drastic change such as a new color or new haircut make sure you give yourself enough time to make the changes necessary in case you aren’t particularly fond of it.  Also when deciding how to do your hair think about how you normally wear it.  We often times have clients wish they would have done something different with their hair as they don’t think they look like themselves when they have a new hair style that they normally wouldn’t wear. For example if you normally wear your hair down you may not feel like you look like yourself.   Hiring a professional for your hair & make up is always recommended.  Hire someone you trust & be sure to do a test run prior to your wedding or photo session to be sure you are both on the same page & loving your look.

Let your photographer know what you like & what you don’t like~ Communicating with your photographer is extremely important.  Everyone is unique & likes different things.  Some couples prefer more traditional, posed shots and others like a creative approach with different angles, fish eye shots, candid shots & special effects.  If you have a preference or want something specific let your photographer know.  The shoot is about you & what it is you want.  A good photographer will be able to do what it is you ask & can shoot various styles.  If you see something you like or want to recreate let your photographer know & show them what you want.  We want you to get the most out of your photography session so let us know what you want.

Bad Weather~ Unfortunately we can’t control the weather. We do our best to inform our clients of the possibility of inclement weather but ultimately it is up to you if you want to continue with your shoot or reschedule.  Keep in mind that if you choose to keep a scheduled shoot during inclement weather your pictures will have rain or snow in them and that your hair may go frizzy or flat & you could have rain spots on your clothing.  There could be snow spots on the camera & some locations may not be as beautiful.  Ultimately we try to discourage photo shoots during inclement weather so that you can get the best images possible.

Locations & Times~ Listen to your photographer about the best locations & times for your shoot.  If you have a specific place in mind let them know about it & get their opinion.  Having good lighting and a variety of scenery will make a huge difference in having your images turn out the way you like them.  It is ultimately up to you on where you want to go but keep in mind we need to have good light & scenery to make the images turn out fantastic.

What to wear~ This is such a personal choice as it is important for you to choose clothing that you are comfortable in & that reflects your style & personality.  Here are just a few simple tips to keep in mind: Cap sleeves & baby doll shirts typically aren’t flattering.  Depending on the location, the color red can wash people out.  Stay away from heavy patterns as they can become distracting.

Photography by~Envy Foto

To see more images by Envy Foto visit their website HERE.  You can also meet Envy Foto this Saturday, January 21st, 2012  at the upcoming Bridal Extravaganza at The Davis Conference Center in Layton.

They will join over 70 wedding professionals all wanting to help you plan your wedding.  Be sure to come visit them in their booth along with the other incredible wedding vendors.

Pre-register for today HERE. (Pre-registration closes Saturday morning at 4:00 am so be sure to register today to save on tickets.  Pre-registered brides are $3.00 Brides that register at the show are $5.00 & all guests are $8.00. )

Have you dreamed about the wedding cake you want yet?  There are so many gorgeous options out there.  Wedding Dreamer shared a few of their gorgeous & fun cakes with us.  If you haven’t heard about Wedding Dreamer yet be sure to check them out.  They offer a ton of services & they have great prices too.  Their most popular cake is their 6″‘, 9″, 12″ cake for $250.00 & pricing goes up & down from there.  To see their price list for their cakes go HERE.  They have received many compliments that their cakes taste the “Best of the Best”.

For more information about Wedding Dreamer & the other services they offer visit their website HERE.

Be sure to visit Wedding Dreamer this weekend at the upcoming Bridal Extravaganza, Saturday, January 21st at The Davis Conference Center.  You can Pre-register for the show HERE.

If you are involved in the wedding industry at all in Utah (meaning you are either a bride, groom or a wedding professional) you have probably noticed there are a lot of wedding shows out there this month.  But there are very few shows that compare to the show this weekend in Layton at The Davis Conference Center.

This weekend The Bridal Extravaganza is producing a show that vendors and brides from Northern Utah have been asking for.  This truly is a unique show as it is The Largest Show in Northern Utah featuring some of the states very best professionals in one location.  Over 70 wedding experts will be on hand to help brides not only from Northern Utah but from all over the state plan their dream wedding.

The Davis Conference Center is conveniently located right off of I-15 in Layton (CLICK HERE FOR MAP AND DIRECTIONS), the facility is not like a traditional expo center as it is extremely classy and has a nice elegance to it.   Brides from all over Utah are welcome to attend this event as they will not only get some fantastic ideas for their weddings they will also have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

WHY ATTEND THE  BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER?

• Conveniently Located Off I-15 In Layton, Just 20 Minutes From Salt Lake City and 10 Minutes From Ogden + Free Parking
• Over 70 Wedding Professionals Will Be On Hand
• Smaller Crowds Than The Bigger Shows, Gives You More One on One Time With Wedding Professionals
• Thousands of Dollars in Prizes Will Be Given Away Throughout The Day
• The First 150 Brides Who Arrive Will Receive a Complimentary Two Night Get Away
• One Bride Will Win A Nights Stay At The Hilton Garden Inn
• Utah’s Best Wedding Professionals Participate In Bridal Extravaganza Shows
• Fashion Shows, Food Samplings, Entertainment and More

PLUS

One Lucky Couple Will Win A Dream Honeymoon To The ALL INCLUSIVE EL DORADO ROYALE In The Mayan Riviera – Compliments of All Points Travel.

Actual Photos of The El Dorado Royale

With Smaller Crowds Than Other Bridal Extravaganza Shows your odds of winning prizes are greater at this show than any other wedding show produced in 2012.

SAVE TIME AND MONEY, PRE REGISTER TO ATTEND TODAY

CLICK HERE TO PRE REGISTER

ALSO,  MAKE SURE TO STOP BY THE SHOW AND VISIT THE CASTLE’S BOOTH SO YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU AND YOUR FIANCE CAN WIN A WEDDING VALUED AT $15,000.

SEE YOU THERE!!!

The Castle is putting on an awesome wedding contest that you need to check out out.  One lucky couple will win The Castle’s $15,000 “I Do” Wedding Giveaway.

You could be the lucky couple to win an amazing $15,000 wedding package for your special day! All you need to do is submit a short 30 second video of your romantic proposal story and receive the most votes to win! Check out The Castle for details – with even more details coming to their site soon and videos being posted to their site starting next week too! The winning couple will be announced on Valentine’s Day

Good luck to all those who enter.  This will be a fun contest & I can’t wait to see all the videos.

For more information about the contest be sure to visit The Castle this weekend at The Bridal Extravaganza held this Saturday, January 21st at The Davis Conference Center in Layton.  Northern Utah’s biggest & best bridal show of the season.  We can’t wait to see you there!!

Be sure to pre-register for the show HERE!