TheBrideandGroom.com Blog

Wedding Bouquet Fun~Bridal Bouquet Ideas & Images

Melissa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:22:55 +0000

Finding the perfect bridal bouquet is have of the fun. There are so many choices when it comes to bouquets. It goes far beyond the flowers & the ribbon. Many brides are using sentimental embellishments in their bridal bouquets. It is a great place to add the perfect touch from your mom, Grandma or even your new in-laws. It might be a broach or some jewels adding the perfect touch. Brides aren’t just having them added on the outside on the ribbon either, you can have them placed right inside the bouquet. A flash of bling is always a great touch especially when it comes to your bridal bouquet.

Enjoy some of these gorgeous bouquets & come up with your own creative & fun bridal bouquet. Don’t forget to make it personal, sentimental & of course beautiful. If you are needing help finding a florist be sure to check out our website HERE for some talented florists. Don’t forget to hire a professional as they will be able to share the latest trends & ideas to help you with your own bridal bouquet.

For more bridal bouquet ideas & images be sure to check out the bridal bouquet gallery HERE.

Images by~Swensen Photography

Let’s Get Real About Airbrush~By Flavia with Versa Artistry

Melissa — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:18:10 +0000

Written by~Flavia Carolina Owner of Versa Artistry

I have one purpose with today’s blog post and that is to simply educate. First of all you should know that I am not “for” or “against” airbrush makeup, I do use it sometimes.

I get approached by brides constantly that ask before anything else “do you do airbrush?” my response is always the same, “Yes, why are you looking for airbrush?” I like to ask because I find 99% of the time they ask because they have been trained to ask and yet have no idea why. They either respond with “because it’s flawless” or “because it lasts all day” both are true AND false.

This conversation has lead me to this point to give an unbiased opinion to help you know the “why”.

I have found that most of the brides asking about airbrush have a big misconception that airbrush is a special type of make up. The reality is that airbrush is just a tool used to apply makeup.

There are 3 types of makeup that you can use with an airbrush a water base, a silicon base, and an alcohol base (used more for body paint).

As a bride you will more commonly find with make up artists a water or a silicon based makeup. So which on is better?? This can be a debate between makeup artists similar to Republican or Democrat.

I’m a silicon fan… just sayin’

Water based makeup is great in its own ways it dries quickly and sets. It also has less of a “makeup on my phone” kind of effect. Water based has a more matte effect and in my opinion leaves your face felling a bit tight (as in dry) but It looks great. The MAJOR down side to water based makeup is that it comes off with water so if you’re a bride and think you might cry, or sweat, then this is a really bad option. A tear will leave a track down your face and is a nightmare to touch up.

Silicon based make up works more like the way wax works in hair, keeps put but is pliable and naturally water resistant. Cry all you want dab & dry those tears and your foundation still looks perfect. Another huge benefit to silicon based makeup is that a silicon molecule is round. What does that mean to you? High definition of course. Because the molecule is round it reflects light back evenly. In simpler terms it is more camouflaging to wrinkles, gives of a radiant glow, and photographs so much better. The questionable down fall to silicon makeup is some people say that silicon makeup can cause break outs to acne prone skin. I question this because I have never had a client break out from it. My response to that is people break out if they don’t wash their face at night no matter what makeup they use.

Now back to the Airbrush…. What’s the big to do???

An airbrush sprays the makeup on to the face in little dots or in other words pixels. We live in a digital world that works in pixels. Your television, camera and even the way we print things all read, transmit, or print in pixels. In this sense its speaks the same language so it can appear more flawless. Now in my opinion unless you are printing a billboard size picture of yourself a manual application with brushes, at least from me, can look just as amazing!

I tend to stick more to my brushes not because I don’t like airbrush but because the way I like to sculpt the face is not as convenient with an airbrush. Simple as that! However, if you want me to airbrush GREAT! I’ll sculpt your face an alternate way and rest assure you will love the way you look which ever way you choose.

So, now you have some information to answer your question and you can decide for yourself if you want airbrush but more importantly what type of makeup to use.

Photograph by Josh Rossi Photography

Special thanks to Flavia with Versa Artistry for sharing this informative blog about airbrushing with us. For more information about Versa Artistry & what services they can offer you on be sure to check out their website HERE.

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.

Pro Vs. Joe ~ Advice on Hiring Professionals For Your Wedding

Melissa — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:16:11 +0000

By Brian Barney – CEO Bride and Groom Marketing

With my apologies to anyone named Joe (especially if Joe is a professional in his industry) I would like to address the issue of hiring a professional vs hiring your uncle, aunt, friend, neighbor, or average Joe to help with your wedding in one way or another.

Having been in the wedding industry for over 15 years in one capacity or another I have seen my fair share of horror stories when it comes to not using a professional. Now I need to preface what I say by stating that if you don’t really care what your pictures look like or what your decor looks like or what the food tastes and looks like etc etc then it probably doesn’t matter if you read this or not. However, if you do care about those things when it comes to your wedding day then I can’t strongly emphasize this enough, GO WITH A PRO!

Your wedding isn’t a trial run, this is a day that you hope to keep with you for years and years to come. The wonderful memories of a day filled with friends and family is a once in a lifetime thing. For that reason I want to share with you some of the things I have observed over the years.

Cake Decorated By Mom Giving it A Try

Professional Cake By Sugar Kisses Cakes By Design

1 – For the most part your wedding day is a complex day with a lot of moving parts. Professionals do this for a living. They know how to handle the complexities of the day. A professional photographer has more than likely shot at the location you are at and knows the ins and outs of the best place to get photos. A caterer is licensed and understands the proper times to have food ready. A professional DJ has a back up plan if there are problems with the system. Professionals are prepared issues arise. Your uncle/aunt/friend more than likely doesn’t know these things or isn’t ready.

I can’t tell you how many times I was at a wedding and it was obvious that a non professional was shooting the pictures, or working on the video. Again, if it doesn’t matter to you then it isn’t a big deal, if it does matter to you then make sure you do it right.

2 – Peace of Mind and Good Memories – Professionals know where to be and when to be there. They are dedicated solely to making your day memorable. If you are waiting on your aunt to get her kids ready and then come photograph your wedding you might have to hang on for a bit and keep everyone else waiting too. If you have to stress over whether something will be done right, then you are not going to be having any fun at your wedding. One of the best business minds that I look up to was asked why his business was so successful, his reply was very simple, he said, “I hire good people who know what they are doing and then I get out of their way and let them do it.” For your wedding that couldn’t be any more appropriate. Let the professionals do their jobs, let your friends and relatives have fun.

3 – Quality – Lets face it, you get what you pay for. I can’t stress it enough. If having fantastic pictures is important to you then don’t skimp on the photographer, if having great food is important than make sure your caterer has been around the block, if music and entertainment are a must then don’t bring an ipod, the list goes on and on. As someone who is close to so many wonderful wedding professionals I have heard horror story after horror story of someones friend or relative messing up their part of the wedding.

4 – Problems – No one is perfect. Even the best professional can not be on his/her A game. However they typically have a back up plan or can correct problems if there are any issues. If your aunt/uncle/friend messes up not only are there hard feelings afterwards there could be resentment for a long time. Don’t put the pressure on someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.

5 – Cost – There are professionals for all budgets, obviously you don’t want to break the bank, but I can’t tell you how many times I have seen brides contact a professional photographer after the wedding to have pictures retaken, some times the fact that you are trying to save money can in the long run cost you more money.

6 – Industry knowledge/connections – I remember a wedding I was at where the uncle photographer couldn’t make it because of a sick child. I was able to get on the phone and immediately get a photographer there. Reason being is those involved in the wedding industry are very well connected with each other. It is a tight knit industry and for the most part all your wedding pros have people they know and trust. If someone “drops the ball” then these people will know and most likely have others they can contact immediately to help you out of a pickle.

7 – Get Samples, Examples and References – This is very important. Reason being is because there are many “professionals” who I would not consider professional. Make sure to see samples of their work, taste samples of their food and get references from others in the industry as well. I can’t tell you how many “professionals” are just amateurs in disguise. Just because someone takes money from you does not make them a professional.

It is your wedding, it is supposed to be a wonderful day for you to celebrate with those who are closest to you. I can’t tell you how to do it, but I can tell you that after having participated in and attended hundreds of weddings over the years that I have seen my fair share of problems and almost always it has been because an amateur was doing something that they shouldn’t have been doing.

Remember you get what you pay for

It Takes An Expert To Make Your Wedding A Masterpiece – Photo By Tiny Comet

Photo By Swensen Photography

Make Sure To Hire A Professional For Such An Important Day

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.

DJ Fun For Your Wedding Day~Vendor Spotlight~Laughing Gravy Entertainment & Production

Melissa — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:55:44 +0000

If you have been to one of the Bridal Extravaganza’s then you might have met the awesome Laughing Gravy Entertainment & Production team. Their expertise & professionalism is just what you would want to ensure you get the right entertainment for your wedding.

Laughing Gravy Entertainment provides DJs, Emcees, music, lights and karaoke for corporate events, parties, fundraisers and their favorite is weddings. YAY for us!!

Laughing Gravy is the only Utah DJ service featured in Modern Bride Magazine’s NATIONWIDE list of the 150 hottest bands and DJ’s two years in a row. This accolade was based on recommendations from venues, wedding planners and industry professionals.

Laughing Gravy Entertainment have been sponsors for many wedding giveaways including the $100k Dream Wedding Giveaway at La Caille as well as many other fantastic wedding giveaways. They love giving back to our community.

Laughing Gravy Entertainment provides the music and emcees for: all of The Bridal Extravaganzas, The Wedding Festival, as well as other wedding shows throughout the valley.

Durven, the company’s founder, was voted “Best Dance Club DJ in Utah” in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah reader write in poll.

Here are a few more reasons why Laughing Gravy Entertainment & Production sets the standards for other DJ’s:

30 years of DJ experience, 16 years of doing weddings and corporate events. The experience provides them with their unique advantage. Over the years they have developed numerous “tricks, tools and secrets” to maximize participation. Instead of hoping people become involved, they guarantee it. Involvement is the measure of a successful event.

Music is only one key ingredient to a successful event and they can provide much, much more. Their staff of entertainers is hand selected and trained to be the consummate blend of the following attributes. This is what makes a Laughing Gravy DJ.

-Personality (fun, interactive and spontaneous)

-Microphone skills (They utilize the power of the microphone to make the evening beautiful and elegant, yet fun and entertaining, while keeping your guests informed and involved)

-Technical expertise

-Music selection

-Event coordination and protocol (decrease stress and orchestrate a perfect event)

-Customer service

-Tricks, tools and secrets

-Insight and creativity

-Dependability

They never bait and switch. Brides and grooms meet with their individual DJ who helps them to realize their particular dreams.

They set the standard of professionalism for mobile Entertainment and zealously work to maintain our stellar reputation. On a wedding day…there is no second chance.

For more information about Laughing Gravy, be sure to visit their website HERE. Thank you Laughing Gravy for doing such a great job & ensuring guests are having a fabulous time. TBG LOVES Laughing Gravy!!

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.

Final Bridal Show of the Season Starts TODAY!!!

Melissa — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:06:54 +0000

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!

Tips For Brides After Attending A Wedding Show~Bridal Show Tips & Ideas

Melissa — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:22:47 +0000

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

Kelsey & Jason’s Wedding at Sundance~ Featured Utah Wedding

Melissa — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:38 +0000

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!