TheBrideandGroom.com Blog » Wedding Advice

Highlights From The Winter Bridal Extravaganza At The Grand America

Melissa — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:31:27 +0000

Wedding show month has now ended and we had a great time participating in three of Utah’s Best Shows. It was great meeting so many brides and grooms and hearing about their wedding plans.

We will be posting pictures from each of the shows over the next little bit. Here are some of the photo highlights of The Winter Bridal Extravaganza at The Grand America.

Almost 1000 brides and over 3000 people came through the doors at this show. The Grand America is second to none when it comes to class and elegance. This was a beautiful show, there were thousands and thousands of dollars in prizes given away and one lucky bride, Tessa Karrington, won an amazing dream honeymoon to The All Inclusive El Dorado Royale in The Mayan Riviera – Compliments of All Points Travel.

Here are some of the highlight photos.

ALL PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF MAGNIFIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY

Make sure to check them out if you are still in need of a fantastic photographer.

Thanks again to all the wonderful brides, grooms & guests who attended the show and the 133 marvelous wedding professionals who were a part of it as well.

Also, thank you again to Magnifique Photography for these great photos.

We wish all you brides and grooms out there the best of luck as you plan your wedding and as you begin your new lives together.

Open Bar or Cash Bar~To Do or Not To Do at Your Wedding by Barbara Wallace

Melissa — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:30:57 +0000

Photo by~Swensen Photography

To Do or Not to Do?:

Q: If I serve alcohol at my wedding, shall I have an open (i.e. hosted) bar or a cash bar?

A: A full open bar can be a wild card as you won’t know until the end how much it will cost – not good if you’re on a strict budget. It can be an expensive proposition especially for top shelf brands but there are ways to host the alcoholic beverages without breaking the bank.

Before I begin to answer this question however, I would like to ask. “If you invite people to your home for a party or dinner and you serve them alcohol, do you ask them to pay for their drinks?” I’m pretty sure that the answer is “no” so using that line of reasoning I would tell you that a cash bar is not really optimal at a social event for which you have issued a formal invitation (and also expect gifts.)

So let’s assume you are hosting the bar- here are a few ways that you can save money.

One is to have beer and wine only which is called a “soft bar.” That will always be less costly than a full bar and you can select the varieties of each that are within your budget.

If you decide on a full bar you can limit the brands that will be poured to the less expensive ones. Depending on your wedding venue there is usually about one or two dollars difference per drink as you go from standard to moderate to top shelf drinks.

Skip Champagne toasts- many people take one sip and the rest goes down the sink (a sad thing when it’s an expensive vintage). They can toast with any beverage they happen to have in their glass. If you must have a sparkly toast, pour a lower priced brand.

Avoid serving specialty drinks such as martinis- as they tend to be much more expensive than a regular mixed drink.

Also, ban shots- they go way too fast (and your guests get inebriated faster which can result in them losing track of the amount they are drinking which is not great on several levels.)

Generally, the bar tab is charged “on consumption” which means the house keeps track of all drinks served (including wine poured at the meal) and you are charged per drink or bottle (any opened bottle of wine is charged as a full bottle.) If your group is not a heavy drinking crowd this might be the best choice.

Some venues offer bar packages by the hour which can be a good solution but it may not always be the least expensive in the long run. Here’s why: The first hour- which is generally the cocktail hour, most guests will have a drink or two to begin the celebration. This will probably be the heaviest consumption hour. Once seated for dinner, many people may drink wine with the meal and when the dancing begins some will have a drink then stop as it is not their habit to drink more than two or three drinks in an evening. So this means that a smaller group will have more than three drinks overall but may not warrant having a pre-paid package. For that reason, perhaps the first hour package is a good idea then go to an “on consumption” bar. Keep in mind that your venue is not in the business of giving away alcohol so whatever their package price, it was designed to cover their costs.

As a rule, younger guests will drink more while the older guests will drink less so be sure to consider your guest mix when figuring out your expected consumption

If you wish to set a definite dollar limit on the bar total you can ask the venue to watch your tab and when it reaches the pre-set dollar figure (be sure to make is realistic based on your guests’ habits) they can notify you (or your planner) and you can stop serving alcohol or go to a cash bar at that point if necessary.

Whatever you decide, make sure you are comfortable with the decision and enjoy your wedding day.

About the Author:

Barbara Wallace- Wedding Planner

Barbara Wallace is an award winning wedding planner located in California and is a Master Bridal Consultant ™. She has twice won the coveted Gala Award for Best Wedding and has been a winner or nominee of four other Galas. Her work has been featured in numerous publications and on the TV shows “Platinum Weddings” (WE) and “Extreme Weddings” (TLC). She was the real wedding planner on the Bravo TV show “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (Season 3.) Barbara is also the author of the “Wedding Vendor Handbook: Get to the Top and Stay There.”

Barbara is also the co-author of “Beautiful Bride From Every Angle: Look Great in Every Photo…and in Life”.

To get more tips, ideas & inspiration from Barbara you can order her book HERE.

NOTE: TheBrideandGroom.com wants everyone to have a safe and wonderful wedding. When serving alcoholic beverages, please make sure guests consumptions are being monitored by the bar tender and that no one leaves the wedding with impaired judgement. We believe that weddings are a wonderful time for you to celebrate with those closest to you, but we also want everyone to be careful and cautious and make sure all attending drink responsibly and if needed designated drivers are appointed.

Barbara Wallace Wedding Inspiration~ St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point California

Melissa — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:03:41 +0000

Hello and Happy New Year- both western and Lunar! I hope 2012 has started off very well for you. I just feel like it’s going to be an all around good year and I send best wishes for that.

After you enjoy the above photo of this wedding’s couple on the staircase at the St Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa I want to give you some ideas for creatively using the space in the venue you’ve chosen for your wedding and reception. It’s important as well as fun to give your guests several interesting experiences and offer them an element of surprise as they see each space throughout the event. Give your guests a new and interesting experience every hour or two and they’ll never get the least bit bored.

Generally weddings have the ceremony, followed by a cocktail hour (or mocktail hour if you prefer not to serve alcohol) which then segues into the dinner and dancing reception. Even if you have the ceremony in a different location than cocktails and dinner I suggest having the latter two in separate spaces. If there are not two clearly defined spaces, you might think of using screens or pipe and drape supplied by your rental company as an affordable way to divide a room to get that element of surprise. Plants, trees and hedge boxes can also be used indoors and out to screen and wall off spaces. Many cities have plant rental companies that specialize in special events. If you can’t find plant rentals in your area think of approaching a local nursery to see if they’ll rent plants for a day – anything is worth a try.

The wedding featured in this post was held at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California which is a sprawling, upscale resort. It was a small wedding with about 75 guests and this was a wedding weekend as many of the guests at this wedding were from out of town- even the bride and groom had come from their home city in the Midwest

This couple chose the Botanical Garden, an intimate space out of the main area of the hotel, for the ceremony and an adjacent, ocean view lawn for the cocktail hour. Guests were then invited to a lovely California-style building known as Club 19 for the reception.

You’ll see from the photos how we divided Club 19 into a dining patio then revealed a hip and cozy lounge for dancing after dinner. We had a method to our madness with the lounge- the area surrounding the hotel is partially residential and has a 10:00 PM curfew for outside activities but once we moved inside for the dancing we could go longer and really party. That was important to the groom as he had been a DJ in college so he wanted to be sure to have a great party- and even took a turn at the sound board during the dancing.

The ceremony started at 6:00 PM and it was still light in mid-summer. As the guests approached the charming Botanical Garden they were treated to gorgeous views of the Pacific in the distance.

This was an interfaith marriage with the groom being Jewish and the bride Christian so they honored both traditions and had a rabbi as the officiant but had the existing, permanent gazebo stand-in for a chuppah (the canopy under which Jewish marriages are traditionally performed.) The gazebo was decked in pink flowers and that color theme was carried into the dining table centerpieces.

Following the ceremony the guest strolled to an adjacent ocean view lawn for cocktails and tray passed hors d’oeuvres. A lovely floral monogram of pink rose petals graced the grass.

The Banquet Captain rang the chimes to signal that the guests were invited onto the patio of Club 19 which was just another short stroll away. For dining the guests were seated at round tables of 10 draped in gold colored crinkled silk linen with gold Chiavari chairs. The gold rimmed glass charger plates and crystal glasses fairly sparkled in the sunlight and the varying shades of pink in the centerpieces made for a gorgeous table- feminine enough for the bride without being too girl-ish- which is often a fear of the groom when he hears “pink flowers”.

As the guests enjoyed their dinner, the sun departed and the candles began to glow in the summer evening. The cake was ceremonially cut and served as the toasts were offered by the best man and maid of honor and other guests.

And then we had a surprise for the guests- we quickly threw open a couple of sets of French doors and invited the guests into an adjoining room that had been draped and lighted and turned into a dance lounge and the party really started.

The father-daughter, and groom- mother dances followed the bride and groom’s traditional first dance and then all guests joined in to dance the night away. The bride and groom provided a basket of various size dancing slippers for the ladies who wanted to kick off their high heels and dance in comfort. A hint if you decide to do this – order more pairs that you need by about 20 percent to cover the range of sizes (extras can be given to a women’s shelter) and be sure to get enough larger sizes – I found that there are a lot of ladies who wear a size 10 or 11 shoe.

LED lighting is just an amazing invention. The colors can be changed literally at will, the light fixtures are smaller than traditional fixtures and they burn cool- best of all they are less costly to install. Most of my couples love having their monogram on the dance floor, too and that is done using a gobo (that stands for “go between” or” goes before optics”) that is a small metal cutout placed in front of the light source and projected on a wall or dance floor.

We could have used the entire Club 19 for the whole evening and people would have been moving in and out of the two rooms all evening via the French doors and having a fine time. But by dividing it we got so much more bang when we revealed the lounge after dinner. We took what might have been kind of a ho-hum large room into two very cool spaces that I’m sure the guests remember far more. When you are considering your venue and decor, keep an open mind and don’t let people talk you in to doing what they always do. For example, you don’t have to use the middle door to enter, you don’t have to even use the front door to enter. (Remember the Ice Wedding from January’s post- we brought the guests in through a little-used door on the back side of the ballroom so w could have faux-snow falling on them?) Be inspired by the now cliché statement “think out of the box.” Take your wedding from great to sensational!

Vendors for This Wedding:

Venue: St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa, Dana Point, CA www.stregismb.com

Flowers: Marcia Johnson Floral Artistry, San Clemente, CA www.marciaLjohnson.com Photographer: Lauren Hillary Photographic Artist, www.laurenhillary.com

Videographer: Parallel Media Productions, Costa Mesa, Ca www.parallelmediaproductions.com

Linens, lounge furniture, Chiavari chairs, room draping: Fusion Linens, Lake Forest, CA www.fusionlinens.com

Dance Floor, charger plates: Classic Party Rental Santa Ana, CA www.classicpartyrentals.com

Ceremony Music: Angelica Strings, Newport Beach CA www.angelicastrings.com

Reception Music: DJ Martin East Los Angeles CA

Invitations: Jill Parkin Designs, Anaheim Hills CA www.jillparkindesigns.com

Cake: St Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point CA

Bridal Gown: Bergdorf Goodman, New York NY

Tuxedos: Friar Tux Shop Laguna Hills CA www.friartux.com

Hair and makeup: Vogue Salon at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point CA

About the Author:

Barbara Wallace- Wedding Planner

Barbara is also the co-author of “Beautiful Bride From Every Angle: Look Great in Every Photo…and in Life”.

To get more tips, ideas & inspiration from Barbara you can order her book HERE.

Be sure to check back soon as Barbara has shared more great tips & ideas to help you plan your wedding.

Wrap Up The Wedding Show Season With Utah’s Longest Running Wedding Showcase – The Wedding Festival

Melissa — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:33:23 +0000

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

Tips and Ideas For Brides Attending Upcoming Bridal Extravaganza Shows

Melissa — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:49:57 +0000

2011 A Wedding At The Grand America Display

Winters biggest and best wedding show is this weekend at Utah’s most elegant and classy location, The Grand America. With over 130 wedding professionals on hand, fashion shows and live music this is the show you do not want to miss. That being said here are some tips to help you get the most out of the show. There will also be some amazing hair and makeup professionals available to give you a quick little make over or updo. You will be able to sample food from some of Utah’s best cake decorators and caterers. You will be able to chat with the states best photographers and wedding gown designers and see so many other things you may never have thought of for your wedding You will also be able to see what A WEDDING AT THE GRAND AMERICA looks like as they set up a room for brides to see first hand. Here are a few key things we HIGHLY recommend you do when attending the Bridal Extravaganza.

1. Arrive early

Those that arrive first to the bridal shows automatically receive some of the coolest prizes. Many Utah Bridal Shows offer discounts and incentives for arriving early to the show. The Upcoming Bridal Extravaganza at The South Towne Expo is giving away a 2 night get away to the first 150 brides who arrive. Not a bad deal for just showing up early. Many times brides show up towards the end of the show thinking they will just check it out. Little did they realize there is so much to do and see that they wish they would have arrived earlier.

Parking - The Grand America is conveniently located downtown but it isn’t in the middle of all the confusion. There is plenty of parking in The Grand America’s parking garage. However, you can also avoid the parking garage and its parking fees by parking across the street for FREE at the Little America. Another suggestion is to take Trax. The Trax line stops directly in Front of The Grand America. Even better if you were to go somewhere else downtown The Grand America stop is part of the FREE FAIR zone in down town Salt Lake. So if you wanted to park at The Gateway and then come on over, you could do so at no cost on TRAX.

2. Pre-register before the show

Save time by registering before the show. Registration only takes a few minutes and will save you from having to fill out a registration form at the show. While the line to get in may seem long before the show starts, once the doors open, those who are already registered and checked in are simply able to walk in. Make sure those attending the show with you pre-register online as well. There are separate check in tables for those brides and guests who are pre-registered and those who still need to register and pay. Click Here To Pre Register.

3. Bring your friends

Bringing your friends to the bridal show will help them feel involved and also give you a chance to bounce ideas back and forth. Many brides bring their maids of honor and their brides maids to help them with decisions. Many others will bring their mothers or mothers-in-law as this helps them feel more a part of the planning process. Plus, in many cases they are the ones paying for it all.

4. Contact info labels

Wedding vendors will often have drawings for prizes at their booths. Instead of having to fill out multiple forms with your contact info, prepare some electronic labels before the bridal show. Information to include: your name, address, phone number, wedding date and email address. This is something that will really help you as you go through the show. Trust us on this one, you will be so glad you did this.

5. Bring a notebook and pen

Bring a notebook and pen so you can take notes. Write down contact info of vendors you talked to or thoughts you have while attending the bridal show. You will visit with a lot of vendors. Make sure you write down things that really jump out and impress you. Realize that if you don’t write it down you could likely forget something important. There are many times where we get phone calls from brides after the show asking who the vendors were in the show because they didn’t take down any notes.

6. Bring a digital camera

Bringing a simple digital camera will allow you to quickly remember some of the great things you saw at the show. Did you see a great dress during a bridal fashion show? Maybe there is a great cake from a wedding cake designer. This will allow you to go back and see some of the things that impressed you the most.

7. Know your budget

Setting your wedding budget and knowing who is responsible for each thing will help you make decisions and know what you are looking for while attending the show. Shows tend to feature vendors of all kinds that fit into many different wedding budgets. While one vendor could be more expensive than your budget allows, the next one you meet with could meet your needs just fine.

8. Bring your checkbook – Extra Incentives to Book With Vendors Day of Show.

Many wedding vendors will offer a special day-of-the-bridal-show-only discount. This will help you save even more money if you are able to find your vendor at the bridal show.

The Bridal Extravaganza also gives you an additional incentive for booking your vendors at the show –Extra entries into the Grand Prize Drawing! Most vendors will require a deposit to secure your wedding date. Please be aware that certain dates fill up very fast so if you find a vendor you want to work with, put the deposit down because chances are if you don’t someone else will book them. For every vendor you book with at the show you will receive 1 entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. This is a great way for you to not only solidify your wedding vendors but to also give you a better chance at the Dream Honeymoon.

9. Do your research

Know which wedding services you need before the show. Also try to find out which wedding vendors will be exhibiting. This will help you know what questions to ask and allow you to visit those vendors you are particularly interested in.

To see a list of participating vendors for this show go here.

10. Take part in the prizes offered during the show

Many shows offer prizes that are given away throughout the day and a grand prize drawing at the end of the day. I know of one bride at a recent show who won three different prizes provided by the show vendors. Because of it she was able to save almost $1000 on her wedding. Money she said she used to pay for a honeymoon they didn’t think they would be able to take. Grand prize drawings at the end of the show are an exciting thing for the brides, imagine having your wedding in a location you never dreamed of or taking a honey moon trip to an all inclusive resort that you never thought you could afford. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given away at The Winter Bridal Extravaganza. Many brides will leave with some incredible gifts. It very well could be you. Not only will one lucky bride win the honeymoon of her dreams but the upcoming Bridal Extravaganza also offers a 3 day trip to an all inclusive resort for the brides mother or mother-in-law, all they have to do is register for it. Pretty great way to say thank you to your mother or your fiance’s mother.

All Points Travel provides us with the amazing Dream Honeymoon to The All Inclusive, Adults Only, El Dorado Royale in the Mayan Riviera. This incredible resort was recently named one of the top 100 Resorts in the World AND one of the Top 10 Relaxation Resorts in Mexico.

We are excited to see you at the show this weekend. A reminder to register early, it will save you money and it will also save you a lot of time. Brides and Guests that are pre-registered are able to just walk in once the show opens.

Go HERE to print your FREE printable Wedding Planner

We are excited to see you this Saturday at the Grand America for Utah’s biggest & best bridal show of the YEAR!!

2012 Wedding Trend Tips & Ideas ~Hot Wedding Trends for 2012

Melissa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:25:24 +0000

The Perfect Dress

(Allure Bridals)

We asked some of our wedding vendors what hot wedding trends they are aching to see this year. We had some fantastic responses & wanted to share of few of them with you to help you get excited for your own 2012 wedding.

Lorna with Design Elite shared:

“In 2012 we will see a continuation of the vintage theme which started making a strong comeback for the past few year. The great thing about this trend is that every bride interprets it differently. “Vintage” can reflect 60-70 boho style to classic 40-50 Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly, so it really adds to the unique quality of each wedding. I have no doubt that we’ll continue to see timeless influences inspired by Kate Middleton, Edith Head (my all time favorite designer) and the Princess bride, for quite some time. Unique Collections and antique papers inspire this decor. Be influenced by your grandmothers wedding dress, or really embrace your vintage diva and use your great-grandmother as your muse. The basic rule of thumb keep it is a soft almost monochromatic color pallet. Choose a basic neutral such as white, black ,ivory, taupe or beige and and add a soft accent color such as the palest blue, lavender,

sea-foam green, or dusty rose. Don’t fall victim to one of the classic blunders! “The most famous is Never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well known is this:” Don’t be matchy matchy! This is a look that longs for a pallet of neutrals, and a range of color intensity.

In the words of the great Miracle Max: “true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT”- The key is to reflect romance, and your feeling for each other.”

Lorna Reid with Design Elite

Michelle with Utah Events by Design Shared three things she is watching for in 2012:

1- Custom, personalized (even hand-crafted) wedding favors that reflect the personality of the bride and groom and are related to their unique story.

2- Unconventional bouquets including everything from jewels, feathers, fruit, grasses, and natural, earthy greenery imitating English garden styles.

3- Tangerine Tango is the Pantone color of the year so I imagine we’ll see a lot of weddings utilizing this fun color within the color pallet. Other popular color combinations include reds, purples, and “romantic color” pallets. Also, I may be going out on a limb here but I feel like we are going to see some bright, bold color pallets that include the metallics such as copper, gold, silver, and pewter colors.

Michelle Cousins with Utah Events by Design

The Perfect Dress shared:

The owner Robyn Dunn of The Perfect Dress gave this quote in reference to trends for wedding gowns in 2012:

“No matter what trends are in or out this season remember you always want to be timeless! The Perfect Dress offers the latest, most fashion forward trends. From jeweled belts; to lace; to bolero’s; jewelry with turquoise, pearls, and crystals; headpieces; and veils. We all want to be an individual and include the latest trends, however, remember this is a timeless moment in your life and you want to reflect that elegantly in years to come.”

The Perfect Dress also shared these gorgeous images with us to help you visualize some of these timeless pieces that will be perfect for 2012 weddings.

The Perfect Dress

(Tammie Coburn)

Photo by Jessica Janae Photography

The Perfect Dress

(Belts from Enzoani)

The Perfect Dress

(Lisa Flannigan)

Photo by Alixann Loosle Photography

The Perfect Dress

(Pearl belt is from Pronovias)

The Perfect Dress

(Sheer beaded bolero is from Rosa Clara)

The Perfect Dress

(lace and ruffle bolero is Stephanie Fox)

Photo by Photography by Harmony

The Perfect Dress

(Lisa Flannigan)

Photo by Alixann Loosle Photography

Remember it is YOU, the BRIDE who creates new wedding trends. Are you going to be a trend maker & create your own fabulous, new, fresh & fun wedding trend for 2012? If you are remember to keep it simple, fun, elegant & most importantly be YOU!! You can’t go wrong if you are staying true to your own style & look. This way it really doesn’t matter if you are keeping up with the latest trends. All that really matters is what you want & how you feel about it. Good luck in all your wedding plan. We wish you all the love & success not only in your wedding plans but in your soon to be marriage.

If you have a fun trend idea to share with us you can email us at melissa@brideandgroommarketing.com. We would love you to share your ideas, images & input with us.

For more tips & ideas for 2012 wedding trends, be sure to visit the upcoming Bridal Show this Saturday, January 14th at The Grand America Hotel.

Pre-register HERE for the upcoming bridal show!

A special thank you to Lorna Reid with Design Elite, Michelle Cousins with Utah Events by Design & Robyn Dunn with The Perfect Dress for sharing these great wedding trend tips & ideas for 2012.

Destination Weddings to St. George, Utah~ Weddings at Zions National Park

Melissa — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:22:15 +0000

Photo by~Posh Photography

Destination Weddings~St. George (Zion’s National Park)

Written by~Taylor Proctor of Taylor Made Weddings & Events

St George Utah is the perfect backdrop to your special day. With fantastic weather and several different types of locations (red rocks, orchards, forests, Zions National Park, etc…) it is the perfect location to pull off your dream wedding. While St George is first appealing with its fantastic scenery and weather, it is also appealing to brides because of the wonderful vendors and style that can be found here. For anyone looking to St George UT for a close to home but destination wedding there are a few things you need to know and do first!

The first thing to do is to hire a local planner! Hiring a planner in the area can help your planning process immeasurably. A planner in the area, of course, knows the area, the venues, the vendors and even what the typical weather may be for the day of your wedding! Instead of searching and researching tons of different vendors in an area you don’t know, hire a planner who you trust; they already know and work with vendors who are trust worthy and can suit your style.

The second thing is to know your budget and what it includes. This may seem rudimentary but with destination type of weddings you must ask yourself what you are paying for. Planners are great for helping with budget management but some questions to ask yourself are these: Are you paying for guest’s rooms and activities? Are you paying for any travel expenses of the bridal party? Are you remaining in the area to honeymoon and if so, is that included in your budget? Is it part of your budget to travel to the area at least once before your event?

One of the coolest things about St George is it is an inexpensive trip to stay here and to have a wedding. Just four hours from Salt Lake City, guests can enjoy that destination wedding experience without the hours and hours of what seems like endless traveling. And as far as cost goes, weddings in St George do not cost more than those in SLC, therefore you can spend the same amount as you would in SLC and get a great location, great weather and look like you spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a destination wedding.

The third thing is to be very aware of just how much time you really have. Destination weddings can be pulled off in a remarkable amount of time but to remain stress free and happy, be sure to plan things out in advance and give your planner plenty of time to work with you on creating your special day. If you have not hired a planner, and do not plan on it, give yourself plenty of time to research and find vendors and venues in the area. And always plan on meeting with your chosen vendors at least once (if not more) before the wedding day.

I have helped brides with complete planning from afar as well as coordination with services similar to what’s typically called a “day of.” When I’ve worked with “day of” clients, I often find they are still planning and working on things up to a month before, which is where I come in and we work together to make sure you are not stressed! But believe me, you want to spend up to a month before your big day, relaxing and getting ready to look beautiful, not stressing! So If I can leave you with one very sound piece of advice in planning you destination St George wedding, it is to hire a planner.

Photo by~Bronson Bailey Photography

Photo by~Gideon Photography

Photo by~Bronson Bailey Photography

Photo by~Posh Photography

Photo by~Mikki Platt Photography

Photo by~Envy Foto

For more information about Taylor Proctor & Taylor Made Weddings & Events be sure to visit her website HERE. She has a vast knowledge & connections to the Southern Utah Wedding community. We have had the privilege of working with Taylor & love watching her in action. She does great & beautiful work & we enjoy working with her. ~Love The Bride and Groom.com

5 Reasons To Hire a Professional Hair & Makeup Artist For Your Wedding Day!

Melissa — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:05:28 +0000

Photography by~ Pearson Photography

5 Reasons To Hire a Professional Hair & Makeup Artist For Your Wedding Day!

Written by~Annette Wassom with Fairytale Hair & Make Up

Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the most important days of your life and will leave you with an album full of memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

Ask any wedding photographer and you will hear a quick and loud “YES, hire a hair and makeup artist!” They will then explain to you that you simply do not want to risk looking blotchy, shiny or just one color for your wedding photos.

Certainly you can go into a salon on your “wedding day” that will provide hair and makeup and you may possibly find a salon at a reduced price. While this plan may save you a few dollars, this is a sure path to disaster that you will only realize weeks after your wedding when you see the finished photos.

Why you ask…..

Professional Makeup Application & Hair Style?

1) Your local hair salon will generally only have a licensed cosmetologist on staff, who may or may not specialize in updos/style, make-up and lash extensions. This can only ADD stress at a time that is already very stressful. The benefit in hiring someone who specializes in weddings will bring peace of mind to you on your wedding day, knowing that the artist you have hired specializes in bridal beauty, and has worked with brides and will cater to your needs.

2) Camera Ready Products: a professional makeup artist is trained in the color science of makeup application. Applying makeup that will be photographed is MUCH different than applying makeup for day-to-day wear. A professional makeup artist not only considers your skin tone, hair color, and eye color, but also factors in the colors of your dress, your bridesmaid’s dresses and even more importantly the types of light sources that will be present when your photos are taken.

3) Package deal: A salon does not typically offer a discount on makeup services when there are several members in the wedding party. A professional makeup artist will usually offer a discount on makeup services for a large group or a special discount for the bride who will be booking a package deal.

4) Convenience: freelance Makeup Artists have the ability to travel to your location. This saves you the time, trouble, & stress of getting to a salon. A professional makeup artist can also stay with you throughout your wedding day to be available for any touch ups or look changes.

5) NO Regret You’ve spent hundreds if not thousands on your beautiful wedding dress, your location is set and you have your photographer…. Now to be beautified and see the jaws drop from your guest on how stunning you look on your wedding day will
complete the magic that only a princess can feel on her special day!

Ask any bride who did not hire a professional hair & makeup artist, and they will most likely tell you that was the one thing they wished they had done! YOU WILL HAVE NO REGRETS!

Before Fairytale Hair & Make Up

After Fairytale Hair & Make Up

Photography by~ Pearson Photography

Wedding Planner Tip~ Escort Cards VS. Seating Chart~Wedding Planning Tip

Melissa — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:03:15 +0000

Planner Tip
Escort Cards versus Seating Chart

By Barbara Wallace~Wedding Planner

My favorite way to present seating cards, often called escort cards, is in mini-envelopes with the guests’ names in hand calligraphy on the front and the table number on a small card inside the envelope. The reason I like this method so well is that if the need arises to move seats around at the last minute (and it often happens) you can just switch the little number card from one envelope to another. Of course, you do not seal the little envelopes which can be found in all kinds of beautiful colors to match your décor. I love to display them alphabetically on a round table in a wagon-wheel shape with sheer ribbon to hold them in place. Guests can walk around the table and find their escort card very easily this way. This is only one way to display them- you could hang them, put them on pick in wheat grass nestle them among flowers or any way that fits your wedding décor or theme.

Photo by~Jon Nickson Photography

If you use a tent card and have the name on the outside and the table number on the inside of the tent you cannot change a seat without having to re-write the whole card and when done in calligraphy, it is almost always impossible to make that change quickly- how many people invite their calligrapher to their wedding and ask them to bring their pen?

I have never been fond of seating charts that are posted on an easel outside the ballroom – even if presented in a pretty frame and with calligraphy. First, I think people having to cluster around a list to find their table is very inconvenient and unless they have great vision, they are going to have to get up close to see their name which creates a bottleneck at the ballroom door.

I have seen lists done in two ways- one is having a list sorted by table numbers with the names of the guests grouped under their assigned table number. This has never made sense to me as it necessitates having every guest read through every table to find their name- talk about having a bottleneck. The second way I’ve seen framed charts is alphabetically by the guests’ last names with their table number beside their name. While this makes more sense to me it will create a minor bottleneck at the ballroom door as each guest stops to find their name.

But the main thing about these lists is that you have to re-do the entire list if you have any last minute changes or additions to the guest list. This is inconvenient, potentially costly and stress creating at a time when you need less stress rather than more.

About the Author:

Barbara Wallace- Wedding Planner

Barbara is also the co-author of “Beautiful Bride From Every Angle: Look Great in Every Photo…and in Life”.

To get more tips, ideas & inspiration from Barbara you can order her book HERE.

Be sure to check back soon as Barbara has shared another one of her fabulous weddings we will be showcasing on our blog.

Ami & Greg~Featured Utah Wedding at La Caille~Utah’s $100k Dream Wedding Winners

Melissa — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:55:32 +0000

Photography by~Swensen Photography

On July 16th, 2011 Ami and her fiance Greg were the winners of the Dream Wedding Give Away at the Summer Bridal Extravaganza at LaCaille. Their wedding was held October 7th at the beautiful La Caille. As you can see by the images this wedding was incredible. Beautiful design & implementation by Utah Events by Design. Amazing Utah Wedding Professionals to help make this wedding incredible. And a fantastic couple who are so in love. Helping Ami & Greg create their perfect dream wedding was nothing short of spectacular.

TheBrideandGroom.com wants to wish them the very best in their their new life together. We also want to thank all the fantastic wedding professionals that helped put this wedding together for them.

We spoke with Michelle at Utah Events by Design & asked her to share a little bit of where she came up with the incredible design & vision for this wedding. Here is what she has to share:

“Working with Ami and Greg was a true joy and this couple had amazing taste! Utah Events by Design was thrilled to be a part of such an amazing wedding.

A little bit about Ami and Greg’s wedding design:

The couple selected a beautiful color pallet of tiffany blue, champagne, ivory, and soft pinks. This color selection was inspired by a French Vintage inspiration shoot Utah Events by Design created which was featured here: French Vintage Wedding Inspiration on The Bride and Groom. Ami immediately fell in love with this French Vintage look and thus Utah Events by Design used it as inspiration to create the perfect look for their $100,000 wedding.

Photography by~Swensen Photography

The Ceremony Design

Although the couple had hoped to marry outside on the gorgeous garden patio of La Caille, the weather was not cooperating so the ceremony was pulled indoors. But thankfully, La Caille’s lovely pavilion was a stunning room in which to create an equally beautiful setting, fit for an elegant ceremony.

White resin ceremony chairs were dressed up with draped ivory sashes while floating candles in tall glass cylinder vases lined the rose petal-covered aisle. And the bride and wedding party gracefully glided down the wedding aisle with classical music provided by the amazing guitarist of the Daniel Day Trio. Ami’s selection of wedding-appropriate music helped create the perfect ambiance while guests waited for the ceremony to begin.

Photography by~Swensen Photography

Due to the nature of the French Vintage inspired design, a soft, delicate color pallet was selected for the floral arrangements. Utah Events by Design worked closely with the Chic Design Studios to establish color-appropriate florals to pull off this look. Both bride and bridal party carried stunning bouquets consisting of a variety of garden, spry and standard roses, dahlias, hydrangea, lisianthus, ranunculus, and china berry. These flowers and the variety of colors made for gorgeous arrangements against the soft colored dresses that Ami’s brides maids wore.

Photography by~Swensen Photography

Since the ceremony had to be pulled indoors, a backdrop was needed to create the perfect alter for Greg and Ami. Therefore, Utah Events by Design was careful enough to create something intimately stunning but not overwhelming for the ceremony. In doing so, four antique silver candelabras full of rich florals and greenery rested upon cabaret tables draped in champagne linens and arranged in a horseshoe shape under the stunning pavilion chandelier.

The Reception Design

Because the Pavilion at La Caille is a large, long room, it was important to create a variety of different heights to best utilize the space. Both round and cabaret tables were sprinkled throughout the room and draped with champagne linens. In addition to the heights of the tables, the floral centerpieces were also designed with a variety of heights. From tall antique candelabras to short glass vases and tiffany blue mason jars, the floral arrangements brought the room to life and created a visually appealing scene. And in addition to the lovely floral, each table also displayed a lovely photo from Greg and Ami’s engagement session captured by Swensen Photography.

Other elements at the reception played an important part in design as well. Greg and Ami’s cake was a decadent focal point draped in soft pink dahlias and ivory-patterned fondant while the dessert buffet provided a variety of tasty options in a fun, color-coordinated candy display.

Photography by~Swensen Photography

Overall, the design of this wedding came together perfectly and complimented the style of Greg and Ami. Their personal selections as well as their willingness to trust Utah Events by Design with their wedding design made this event a huge success.

A special thanks from Utah Events by Design to Greg and Ami for being such a sweet, sincere couple to work with. We enjoyed every second of designing and planning their big day!”

Photo above by~Shutterbooth

Photography by~Swensen Photography

The Amazing Vendors who made this day happen: (Without their expertise this day would not have been as successful & stunning.) Thank you to the amazingly talented Utah wedding professionals who participated in this wedding.

To see more images from Ami & Greg’s Wedding be sure to visit their Featured Wedding Page HERE.