Brianne tells us about the monogram inside her dress: The patch in my dress is from my middle sister to serve as a reminder that while I am marrying the man of my dreams to always remember where I came from, stay true to myself and remember that my family will always love me

One of Brianne’s favorite details from the day is her custom aisle runner from Cycling4aCure on Etsy- I like how each design element has an undeniable feeling of Fall, my favorite time of the year!

Brianne and Zachary’s fathers worked on the trellis together and Brianne’s dad made the wooden heart. This will eventually be placed in Brianne and Zachary’s backyard to serve as a reminder of their special day- what a sweet touch.

More details from Brianne: For the placecards my florist made a tree out of willowbranches then I made different color leaves to hang from the tree that had our guests’ names and table numbers on them. For the guest sign in, our photographer made a book with all of our engagement pictures and on each page it had a question about us for our guests to answer instead of just signing their names. 

For the envelopes our guests gave us as gifts, I made a three tiered box that looked like a cake to put the envelopes in with the colors of our wedding. Our cake was something that hadn’t been done before by our cake lady. I thought of the concept of a pumpkin cake and each pumpkin was a different flavor. The largest pumpkin was a spice flavor, the second was chocolate and the top almond. The cake was three- tiered and each pumpkin sat on a clear plastic base to better showcase the cake. Each pumpkin had handmade sugar flowers on top so it looked like one of the two centerpieces.

We had two different centerpieces; one was willow branches with orange orchids and candles hanging from them in a wooden square box with moss at the base. The second centerpiece were live pumpkins that were spray painted gold and had flowers coming out of the top, the pumpkins sat on the same box as the other centerpieces.

We had a custom drink that was purple in color and as an accent it had a sugar rim around the top of the cup and an edible rice paper leaf as an accent floating in the drink to continue the tree/fall theme.

Isn’t this such a pretty wedding? Brianne definitely has a passion for weddings!

Thank you Brianne and Zachary for sharing your day with us and CONGRATULATIONS!

Brianne and Zachary’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Heather Tutor

Ceremony and Reception Site: Reflections at The Buttes

Bridal Gown Store: A Tailor Tuxedo and Bridal Shop

Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Posh Petals

Photographer: Priddy Photo

Invitations: VO Handmade

Cake: Ambrosia of Tucson

Make-up Artist: Source Salon and Spa, Joolie Bustamante

Hair Stylist: Source Salon and Spa, Shannon Jones

Officiant: Sam Partain

Spring in Arizona is decidely the most lovely time of year here and Rebecca chose to highlight the gorgeous surroundings of the Arizona Inn by using bright and airy florals throughout her day.

Sweet Flower Girl and Ring Bearer!

I love the look on Rebecca’s face during the first look:

The historic Arizona Inn is a pretty venue that offers green landscapes, mature trees and interesting niches for photos.

Dinner sounds scrumptious: filet mignon, lobster, mashed potatoes and asparagus followed by white chocolate cupcakes from Maribelle Cakery and Patisserie. Yum!

After the wedding, the couple headed to St. Lucia for some much needed R&R in the sun. Rebecca scuba dived for the first time and had a blast!

Now that Rebecca is married, she tells us that her favorite thing about being married is coming home and making dinner with Michael. They are enjoying each other’s company and reveling in their newlywed status, as it should be!

Congratulations Rebecca and Michael and Thank You for sharing your special day with us!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

REBECCA AND MICHAEL’S WEDDING TEAM:

Coordinator: Rebecca’s Mom who was invaluable!

Ceremony/Reception Site: Arizona Inn

Florist: Inglis Florist

Photographer: Studio Z Photography

Cupcakes: Maribelle Cakery and Patisserie

Entertainment: Desert DJ’s

Ceremony Musicians: La La La Studios

Hair Stylist/Make-up Artist: Carmen Spears at The Village Salon

Officiant: Judge Virgina Kelly

Bridal Gown Store: Priscilla of Boston

Bridesmaids Dresses: JCrew

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Now that I have dogs and see how unruly they can be, I personally would not have dogs at my wedding, but only because they are just another piece of the wedding puzzle that needs to be coordinated. Regardless, many couples are increasingly incorporating their furry babies into their special day, and that’s OK (hear my group therapy style acceptance?).

(Image courtesy of Hollye Schumacher Photography)

Dog lover and animal expert Heidi Ganahl, CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow and Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow, offers some insight for those of you planning to include your pooches on your wedding day. Camp Bow Wow® is a premier doggy daycare and overnight camp that has grown to include over 100 Camps across North America so I am thinking she knows her stuff!

Heidi weighs the pros and cons: The image of Fido walking down the aisle as a ring bearer is a memorable occasion for pet lovers. Before proceeding, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of having your pet at your wedding. Unfortunately, very few religious and indoor venues will allow dogs on location other than service animals. If you are open to an outdoor wedding, including your pet is more realistic.

Additionally, it is important to consider your pet’s personality. If you have a free-spirited animal, he may not abide to walk down the aisle on his own. Also, be cautious of guests with pet allergies; warn them in advance that your dog will be attending.

However, the benefits are endless. Since proud pet owners consider their dog as part of the family, Fido’s attendance will add a special touch to your day.

How to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding Ceremony

1. Training Day: Weeks, then days, before the wedding, take your pup to the location so that he is well acquainted with the area. Have him practice walking down the aisle and reward him with a treat.

(Image courtesy of Stephanie Fay Photography)

2. A Doggy Makeover: A fresh bath and a trip to the groomer is necessary the day before the wedding.

(Image courtesy of Michelle Burley)

3. Dress Up Your Pup: Everyone in your wedding party will be dressed up and so should Fido! Consider buying a dog collar and leash that matches your bridesmaid dresses or a cute little bowtie to go with the groomsmen. This will make your wedding party more uniform.

(Image courtesy of Jennifer Bowen Photography)

4. Energizer Puppy: To avoid having an overly hyper dog at the wedding, take them to Camp Bow Wow to run, play and gets lots of energy out the days leading up to the wedding, or take your pet for a long walk or run before the ceremony, or hire Home Buddies by Camp BowWow to walk the dog and care for them before and after the wedding so you don’t have to stress about it.

(Image courtesy of Chris Richards Photography)

5. Stage Fright: If your pet is nervous around strangers, limit his role and have him leave after the ceremony. If you have a friendly dog, then let him stay for the reception.

(Image courtesy of Sergio Photographer)

6. Doggy Chaperone: Don’t leave your pet unattended. Designate someone as the dog’s sitter to make sure that he is taken out for bathroom breaks, or hire Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow to take the responsibility on.

(Image courtesy of Melissa Jill Photography)

7. Doggy Buffet: Make sure your pet doesn’t sample human food and have dog food handy at the reception to ensure that he is well fed. Don’t forgot to have a bowl with fresh water!

(Image courtesy of Kelly Rashka Photography)

8. Let Them Eat Cake: Since the wedding cake is strictly off limits, consider investing in a special cake from a dog bakery.

(Pupcake by Mackie’s Parlour)

Brides, if you are going to include your dog in your wedding, just follow Heidi’s advice… for everyone’s sake!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

I love the happy vibe of this setting- the cupcakes from Mini’s Cupcakes are as tasty as they are lovely and the shepard’s hooks provide the perfect opportunity to dress up the ceremony space. Pink and purple are a natural pair if you want a springy mood at your event.

I love this bouquet and the light captured by photographer Chris Richards Photography is beautiful

Cocktail and reception lounges are not just a trend- they are here to stay and why wouldn’t you want to linger in this chic lounge? The white couches are modern and comfortable while the pillows invite guests to hang out, mingle and  relax. The mirrored tables add a glam factor; imagine them at night underneath twinkle lights?

This deeper tone of purple is stunning with glowing golden yellow. The centerpieces by Elaine Taylor Fine Florals strike the right balance between rustic and elegant. Artichokes? Of course! Fruits and vegetables make for fabulous design.

Light purple and mint green inspire a whimsical tone

My favorite color takes the spotlight in this citron and amethyst table. Notice how the bouquet doesn’t have purple “flowers” but still incorporates the thought of purple with the fiddlehead ferns? This is one way to avoid being too” matchy matchy” (event designers wince at the thought of everything being exactly the same color, texture and shape!). I love how the pretty necklace and bracelet from Maya Palace glow in the sun.

Museums such as the Tucson Museum of Art are hip places for weddings! Embrace the surrounding art rather than avoid it- this is a museum after all and if you choose to have your event here, you are choosing a modern design angle, which we think is way cool. The metallic pillows and sexy martinis invite your guests to chill out and have a great time.

Special Thanks to those who contributed to make our latest Style Central photoshoot our prettiest yet:

Tucson Museum of Art :: The Stillwell House and Garden:: El Charro Cafe and Rehearsal Dinners :: Copper Hall at the Historic Hotel Congress :: Creative Events LLC :: Chris Richards Photography:: Elaine Taylor Fine Flowers:: Ambrosia:: Pro Em Party Concepts:: Frostings Furniture:: A Fine Line Stationary and Gift Boutique:: Maya Palace:: Mini’s Cupcakes

I so enjoyed sharing purple with you today!

 Chatting Soon~ Kelly

Tucson’s feet have seen some beautiful shoes- the girlfriends below are the solid classics, the type who will  help you pick out your perfect LBD:

(Images courtesy of Chris Richards Photography and Ted Hewitt Photography)

The polar opposite: unconventionally bold shoes representing that friend that will drag to you to Las Vegas at the last minute!

(Images courtesy of Something Blue Photography (1&2) and Ted Hewitt Photography (3))

Some “girlfriends” who guarantee a good ol’ time:

(Images courtesy of (clockwise from top left) Something Blue Photography, Ted Hewitt Photography, Chris Richards Photography and Something Blue Photography)

And I think these are my favorite- the subtly different but not show-stealing gal pals:

(Images courtesy of Chris Richards Photography) 

Do you have the perfect friends to walk you down the aisle? If not, you better go buy some ASAP (and bring your girlfriends along)!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

My wedding flowers were so-so but I cannot complain. My MIL graciously gave me a chunk of change and told me I could spend it all on flowers or not, it was up to me. How lucky am I? I chose to spend very little on my floral and I actually regret it a bit because my centerpieces were forgettable (literally, I have no idea what they looked like nor do I care since they were probably…lame).

The type of bouquet you choose has a significant impact on the mood of the wedding. If you are going for a traditional feel, you can go in the “tightly constructed” direction like these where the flowers are more uniform:

(Image courtesy of Something Blue Photography, Floral by Elaine Taylor Fine Flowers)

(Image courtesy of Chris Richards Photography)

Hand-tied bouquets lend themselves to a more natural or “organic” feel but they can also be hip and dramatic. This style bouquet is extremely popular these days. The range of flowers, shapes and heights in hand-tied bouquets definitely varies.

(Image courtesy of Ted Hewitt Photography)

This bouquet is just…beyond.

(Image courtesy of Amanda Rockafellow Photography, Floral by Mayfield Florists)

(Image courtesy of Chris Richards Photography, Floral by Sauliz Floral Dezigns)

More pretties for you- I love the fall colors on this one:

(Image courtesy of Ted Hewitt Photography)

(Image courtesy of Michelle Burley Photography)

(Image courtesy of Chris Richards Photography, Floral by Sauliz Floral Dezigns)

I love the simplicity of this arrangement- the natural beauty of the flowers is all this bouquet needs.

(Image courtesy of Something Blue Photography)

You can also explore different bouquet shapes- cascade, arm-sheaf (I loathe that name, can’t we find another name?? It sounds like armor), crescent or pomander to name a few.

(Image courtesy of Ted Hewitt Photography, Floral by SavOn Flowers)

(Image courtesy of Something Blue Photography, Floral by Floral Art by Rachel)

(Image courtesy of Something Blue Photography)

And finally, some stunning bouquets that are completely unique (yes, those are artichokes and I love them!)

(Image courtesy of Something Blue Photography, Floral by Butterfly Petals)

(Image courtesy of Amanda Rockafellow Photography, Floral by Sauliz Floral Dezigns)

Here is what floral expert Carl Shaw of Carl Alan Floral Designs has to say about matching bouquets with different types of brides:

Most brides usually have an idea of their perfect dress and bouquet long before they get engaged. With that said, it is important for the two to work together in terms of size, style, and shape. The experts from Carl Alan Floral Designs offer the following advice to brides who want to look their best on their big day:

For the taller bride in a form fitting gown, a sphere shaped hand tied bouquet works the best. Or a taller bride in a mermaid gown can carry a tailored waterfall bouquet to accentuate the shape of their gown and their height.

For the petite bride in an A-line or empire style gown, a free form gathering of smaller blooms works best (mini callas, sweetheart roses,delphinium,spray orchids, freesia, stephanotis etc.).

For the shorter bride in either an A-line or column style gown, a linear cascading bouquet can elongate your overall look with a variety of spray flowers (spray orchids tuberose, freesia, etc.).

So brides, my sage advice today is to be involved and knowledgable when it comes to flowers, even if you are not a “flower” person. I have gained a huge appreciation for what flowers can do for a wedding; the perfect bridesmaids dress is 10 times better when paired with a pretty bouquet, agroomsman stands just a bit taller when he is comfortable with his boutonierre and a reception can go from merely “decorated” to gorgeous with the right floral.

Chatting Soon~Kelly

(Color palettes from Real Simple)

Whether you want to embrace a specific theme or not, you have to choose some sort of color scheme for your big day and we all know that weddings have, more than ever, plugged into the fashion world for insight. Although couples continue to turn to the wedding experts, magazines, television and blogs for guidance, brides and groom are also seeking inspiration from graphic design based sources as well. It all shapes up to be a huge sphere of wedding influence and I like it.

With that being said, I dialed up my go-to graphic designer friend, Kelly Ashworth, and talked color. Not only does she create amazing custom designs for save-the-dates, invitations, and anything else one might need for a wedding, she has the 411 on all sorts of things. She’s one of those people who would  know exactly where to send you if you needed a nautical inspired serving tray for a dinner party that very evening. We live in the desert- she’s that good.

 Click here for the colors to seriously consider incorporating into your wedding within the next year or so according to the color experts at Pantone.

See how gorgeous orchid is? Not scary, gorgeous!  Real Simple and I are in love. Well, I am in love with them, I am positive they don’t  know I exist!. For more inspiration from the gurus of life, click here.

More perfect Fall color:

(Floral images from Real Simple- see how much we love each other?!)

And to tie it all together, purple and orange grounded by neutrals

(Pantone has partnered with Dessy Group where you can browse inspiration boards and create a board of your own based on Pantone colors. Pure wedding fun!)

Here’s what expert custom designer Kelly Ashworth has to say about color and what she has been creating for brides recently:

“I have noticed a lot of neutral shades replacing the blacks and browns that have been prevalent the past few years.   If you look at the fall forecast, you’ll see oyster gray and rose dust – shades like that in addition to taupes, and brownish greys. In combination with more traditional palettes, these neutrals are really versatile and produce a softer look.”

Special thanks to Kelly Ashworth for the insider info! Kelly has been featured numerous times in Phoenix Bride &Groom Magazine. Click here, here and here to see just a few of her creations.

Chatting soon~Kelly

These products have an organic quality to them that whisper authenticity. Maybe it’s the elegant design. Maybe it’s the understated hue. Whatever it is, we are positive you will thank us for sharing Paloma’s Nest with you. Here are some of our favorites:

OK, so now that you’ve seen this, you probably don’t need it but tell a friend’s boyfriend about it so that he can propose in style and you can be a hero!

I’ve been married 10 years and this still produces a tiny lump in my throat.

Sentimental idea, modern approach: Bouquet Text Tile (totally customizable, by the way!)

And can you stand it? These customized hangers are so perfect for a new baby (we’re always thinking ahead)!

Now that you have properly joined us in our adoration, go to Paloma’s Nest- you will probably find something you can’t live without!

Today’s Tip: You will want to clue your photographer in if you have customized details or sentimental trinkets such as these. Sometimes what may seem obviously important to you might not be apparent to those behind the lens. Photographers eat this stuff up so communicate with them!

Chatting soon! Kelly

We present to you our current favorite, a silk satin Lazaro dream,  beautifully modeled by October bride Jessia Tsai. The front of the gown, is stunning, but the back of the gown is equally breathtaking.

It’s so rare that we get the opportunity to show off the backs of gowns–but isn’t that what the guests see during most of the ceremony?

The wedding of Jessica and John Tsai will be featured in the June issue of Tucson Bride & Groom. We know you will love the way the new Tucson couple brought sophisticated Southwest elements to their celebration.

These photos are shared with us courtesy of Ted Hewitt Photography, who shot the Straub-Hewitt wedding at the Hacienda del Sol. Jessica purchased her gown at Destiny’s Bride in Scottsdale.

I do! There’s something so magical about that moment when vows are exchanged and the bride and groom’s lives become instantly changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoKqjtqSZCc

Check out this link to Sara and Cullen’s wedding trailer and see if you don’t find yourself smiling as broadly as we do every time we watch it. (Yes, once in not enough!) We just love the conviction in Sara’s voice as she says, “I do!”

Our friends at Beyond Video captured the fun and frolic of Sara and Cullen’s celebration at The Westward Look Resort.

Wedding coordination by Creative Events, floral by Villa Feliz Flowers. Still photography by Chris Hinkle at MiRA Weddings. You can read more about Sara and Cullen’s wedding in the Winter/Spring 2010 issue of Tucson Bride & Groom!