Planned to Perfection's Blog

Happy St. Patty's Day - DIY Project

2010-03-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day I went in search of some wedding inspiration. I wanted to find something along the lines of green, whether it be the color green or eco friendly "green", didn't really matter I was on the lookout... Anyway, I came across this DIY Project on Style Me Pretty. Oh, how I can get lost on this blog for hours, upon hours, upon hours... Oops, oh yes back to it!

Anyway... When it comes to wedding favors, the absolute best option would be an edible favor and this little gift of Irish Cream would be perfect for the St. Patrick's Day wedding or if you wanted to infuse a little of your Irish culture into your wedding... you know add some personality!

So check out all the deets courtesy of Style Me Pretty...

Have fun and wishing you the luck of the Irish!

All the best & 'til next time,

Bridal Bouquet - What style is right for you?

2010-03-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Bouquets just like the bride's gown come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes, each having it's own personality. As a bride you need to think of your bouquet is an accessory to your wedding day attire. When visiting with your floral designer be sure to keep your wedding gown's style, color and embellishments in mind when speaking about the design of your bouquet. If you have a favorite flower, mention that to your florist, consider bringing along photos clipped from a magazine for design inspiration. If possible, be sure to bring along a photo and fabric swatch of your gown to your first consultation, this will give the florist a clearer picture of your personal style.

Classic Hand-Tied Bouquet - This style bouquet is by far one of the most popular types of bridal bouquets. Consisting of either a single flower variety for impact or a grouping of flowers arranged for a more "just picked from the garden" feel, the stems are stripped of all foliage and tied with a ribbon, leaving the stems exposed. The advantage to this type of bouquet for brides here in Arizona is the extreme heat can quickly ruin the most beautiful bouquet. With the stems exposed your bouquet can be left in a vase of water, keeping your flowers hydrated for as long as possible.

With hand-tieds being the most popular bouquet, if you would like to add a little flair, speak with your florist about adding some interest to your bouquet by adding feathers, crystals, a unique stem wrap, brooch or buckle to your stems as showcased in this head turner created by Tamara at Petal Pushers. Isn't it gorgeous!

Cascade Bouquet - This style bouquet may also be referred to as a waterfall, teardrop or trail bouquet. The flowers are arranged in a hand held base, rounder at the

top and gracefully "spilling" out over the bride's hands and downward to a point.

Made popular in the 1920's these bouquets could be quite large! Fortunately, today's cascade bouquets have taken on a more sophisticated and stylized version.

This cascade bouquet was designed by Jacque Dearing, owner of Endearing Floral Design. Consisting of a variety of colors, the flowers along with that touch of ivy, gave our bride the traditional bouquet she dreamed of.

Arm Sheaf or Presentation Bouquet - Typically seen in a more modern styled wedding, this type of bouquet is comprised of long stemmed flowers and is cradled in the arm. The most popular flower for a presentation bouquet, would be the very elegant Calla Lily as seen here in this beautiful bouquet designed by Shawna & Kevin Reed of Your Event Florist. This bouquet paired with a sheath gown, chandelier earrings and you have an absolutely stunning ensemble!

Posy Bouquet - A small, rounded bouquet, that can easily be held in one hand. The posy typically consists of smaller flowers that can be wired or tied tightly together by their stems and then wrapped with a ribbon.

This simple, yet elegant bouquet of Lily of the Valley was created by Artistic Surroundings. If Lily of the Valley is one of your favorites, this is the perfect bouquet style for you. This flower is very fragrant and somewhat on the pricey side. But you know what they say about good things come in small packages!

Although, this style of bouquet is not quite as popular for the bride, it is gaining in popularity for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom, who do not want to wear a corsage.

We've only talked about a few of the different styles of wedding bouquets, if you are wanting something different from the norm, ask your floral designer about a beidermeier or a crescent bouquet, if you are having a winter wedding, check into a muff bouquet or for the princess bride ask about a sceptor bouquet.

Whatever your choice, be sure your bridal bouquet not only complements your gown but be sure it reflects your personality.

What style bouquet are you incorporating into your wedding day ensemble?

All the best & 'til next time,

Wedding Inspiration Board: Purple Passion

2010-03-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

One of the hottest colors for 2010 is purple, its a color that can be used no matter what the season. In the spring and summer use shades of lilac and lavender, in the fall and winter use the deeper, more regal tones of eggplant, plum, and royal purple. Compliment that with silver tones and you have a winning color combination.

Now the trick to using any of the cool colors such as purples and blues is to have plenty of lighting. In low light situations, the eye has difficulty distinguishing the colors and your deeper purples may appear black and the lighter tones may appear gray, so be sure to include a professional lighting package to your decor budget.

What colors are you incorporating into your wedding?

All the best & 'til next time,

Maggie Sottero Trunk Show

2010-03-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

Call, text or tweet your besties, because beginning this Friday, March 12th Suzanne's Bridal Boutique is hosting a trunk show showcasing current season gowns from Maggie Sottero®.

In case you aren't familiar with a trunk show, they are exciting events where authorized retailers present a designer's latest styles. This isn't a show you're going to want to miss! Appointments fill very fast.. don't miss out on your chance to try on that Maggie Sottero gown you've been dreaming of.

Call now for an appointment: (480) 926-9106.

The show runs:
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 10:00am
through
Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 4:00pm

Suzanne's Bridal Boutique is located at:
645 N. Gilbert Rd.

Gilbert, AZ 85234

An added perk of the trunk show... you'll save 10% on select Maggie Sottero gowns paid in full during the show, if you have any questions be sure to call them at (480) 926-9106 for complete details!

Have fun and good luck finding that once in a lifetime gown!

All the best & 'til next time,

Our Readers Want to Know: Describe your ideal wedding (to plan of course!)

2010-03-09T05:09:00.001-08:00

That is a good question and one that I ask all of my clients. Sometimes they know exactly what they want and other times they have no clue and we have to dig in and find out who they are as a couple. But for me the ideal wedding to plan would be a celebration that completely reflects the couple's personality, style, family traditions... you name it from the vows that are said to the last dance of the night... As the guests are leaving, I want to hear... "that was so them!"

Ask me anything... Well, almost anything

All the best & 'til next time,

Oh Boy!!! Have we been busy...

2010-02-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

We've been busy, busy, busy... So, I'll be giving you a summary of the last couple of months here in the next couple of posts.

Right after Shannon & Clay's wedding, we had a huge event for Halloween... along with running Planned to Perfection, I am also the Special Events Director for Ridgeline Church. We transformed the park in Cortessa into a carnival, complete with games and inflatables for the little ones, a "Rock Band" Stage and paint ball range for the teens and tons of CANDY!!! We offer a safe alternative to trick or treating door to door. This was our second year, we had close to 80 volunteers pull this event off for over 1200 attendees. It took months of planning, organizing, building, painting, marketing and a little smoozing to get the number of volunteers needed. Just before we opened the gates, I muttered "I'm never doing this again", with less than 20 hours of sleep that entire week before the event, I was ready to hand over the reigns to another committee member, I was exhausted...

But by the end of the night I was exhilerated, a renewed spirit, I was functioning on pure adrenalin, seeing all of our hard work come to fruition. The event turned out better than anyone could have imagined. The community really appreciated it, the results were phenomenal! After seeing all of the kids smiling faces and their parents thanking us for the safe, fun, well lit environment, I was ready to do it all over again. I went back to my office, made my post event notes and we'll be gearing up in a few more months to do it all again!

Check out the video...

All the best & 'til next time,

It's Wedding Day...

2009-10-24T12:57:00.001-07:00

It's wedding day for Shannon & Clay, they will be celebrating their nuptials at the Buttes Resort in Tempe.

Tracy Kreck from Photographic Passions did their e-session as well as will be our photographer for today. I can't wait to see this wedding thru her lens.

Well off to the festivities!

All the best & 'til next time,

Upcoming Bridal Shows in the Phoenix Area this Week...

2009-10-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

We've got a busy, busy week ahead with bridal shows here in the valley, check out:

Phoenix Bridal Show
Sunday, October 4th
10am to 3pm
Cardinals Stadium

East Valley Bridal Affair™
Sunday, October 4th
11am-4pm
The Windemere Hotel and Conference Center
5750 E. Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85205

OR Plan ahead for next week…..

Tre Bella Open House
119 W. Main Street
Mesa,AZ 85201
Wednesday, October 7th
6:30pm-8:30pm
For more information call (480) 677-1387

Please RSVP by Monday October 5, 2009. Come and tour our beautiful venue and enjoy cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.

Here are some tips for attending a bridal show:

Register and purchase your tickets before the show in order to save a few $$$
Wear comfy shoes, resist the urge to wear your cutest and go for the comfort factor
Bring along a few friends or close family members, not the entire bridal party, you want to have the opportunity to chat with the vendors in order to get a feel for their personality and style (you get to see the vendors after a long day on their feet, possibly a rough load in and set up and with a lot of people up in their grill - potentially similar to the conditions on your wedding day - how do they present themselves?)
Bring along a larger tote bag - of course you will most likely get the standard paper bag at the door or from one of the tuxedo rental companies, but often these tear after being loaded down with all of the marketing material you will pick up and the handles can seriously cut into your hands after a while!
Come prepared with labels that include your Name, wedding date, complete address and e-mail address
Bring along a pen and note pad, as well as post it notes, if you see a florist's designs that you like or taste a wonderful cake, make a note or put a post it on that vendor's brochure, that way when you get home and you are perusing the mounds of postcards and flyers you will be reminded of your likes and dislikes
Don't bring along your checkbook - I know every vendor is probably going to hate me for this one, but as a wedding consultant I want you to make sure that you are choosing the right vendors for your wedding. Take the time after the show to visit with a few vendors from each category, check out their websites, ask around and educate yourself on each vendors offerings and qualifications before signing on the dotted line.

If you want to stop by and say "Hi", I will be camped out in the Arizona's Finest Wedding Sites & Services booth on Sunday, October 4th at the Phoenix Bridal Show, helping Terri hand out some magazines. I also hope to catch the open house at Tre Bella on Wednesday evening, hope to see you somtime this week!

All the best & 'til next time,

Profound Words...

2009-08-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

Freakin' Fabulous Friday - Soup

2009-08-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Well we are almost to the end of our dining etiquette portion of our Freakin' Fabulous Fridays series, where we are highlighting some of the key points from Clinton Kelly's book Freakin' Fabulous.

Next on the menu, SOUP!

First tip: Hold your soupspoon, with the handle resting on the tops of your fingers and held in place with your thumb, NOT with all fingers grasped around like you were holding a baseball bat. Now you probably wonder why I would mention that??? And the answer is - because I have seen it done!

Secondly: Next the spoon enters the bowl closest to you, scooping away from you. You then sip (NOT slurp - that tip is from the Mom in me, sorry! Once a Mom, always a Mom) from the side of the spoon. Lather, rinse, repeat - oops wrong lesson. Anway repeat the process until the soup is gone.

Third Tip: If you want to get every last drop (BTW totally acceptable and a huge compliment to the host/hostess/chef) you will tip the bowl away from and scoop up the last tasty drop.

Lastly: If your soup is served in a soup plate (a very wide rimmed, shallow bowl with a plate underneath - typically used at a formal dinner) it is acceptable to leave the spoon resting in the bowl as it would be difficult to place the spoon on the plate underneath. If you are at a luncheon where a soup bowl is used when you have finished this course, you would rest the spoon on the plate below.

So, now that you have been following along for a few weeks, Are you feeling more confident and Fabulous?

All the best & 'til next time,

Featured Resource:

Paloma Blanca Trunk Show

2009-08-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

Paloma Blanca has been servicing brides since 1937, offering expert fit, high quality fabrications, and attention to detail. Each of their gowns show their long-standing commitment to providing each bride with her dream dress. Visit Destiny's Bride and view the newest collection from this design house as they begin their first ever trunk show season.

This event is by appointment only.

Where:
Destiny's Bride
6166 N Scottsdale Rd.
Suite 609
Scottsdale AZ 85253

When:
Aug 28, 2009 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(3 day event)

All the best & 'til next time,

Lora & Dane's Black & White Damask Wedding - Part 3 "The DIY Details"

2009-08-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Lora was such a crafty bride, there were so many DIY projects that I needed to devote an entire blog entry to cover all of them. So I am going to keep the boring words to a minumum and let you enjoy all of the details that made their wedding a personal labor of love. As with Part 1 "The Ceremony" and Part 2 "The Reception", all of the photos are courtesy of Michelle Meyer Photography, she did such an amazing job of catching all of the little details. Thanks Michelle it was such a pleasure working with you!

The ring bearer's bow tie and pillow.

The garters & her own bouquet.

Dane's tie, all of the boutonierres and corsages. Lora also painted the damask design on the black tub that contained their personalized water bottles.

This is probably my favorite of all the details that Lora incorporated, instead of a plain index card, she even included the damask motif and the words "I Do" on the cards that contained their personalized vows.

The fan ceremony programs and all of the table runners.

If she didn't paint the damask motif on one of the candles, she embellished it with ribbon. Lora even made her own veil which she removed after the ceremony and replaced it with her DIY fascinator and I'm sure saved a bundle on that little number alone.

I have to admit when Lora told me in our initial meeting that she was making a lot of the décor herself, I cringed just a bit. You see sometimes when brides take on so many of these details and DIY projects, they occasionally will get stressed, not finish and have a meltdown as the day appoaches. But that was not the case and to my delight everything turned out amazing. It was like Christmas morning as I opened box after box of all of the decor items! If she wasn't going to Med School, I would probably try to hire her to help out around here, she truly made their wedding gorgeous with all of the details.

I'm gonna miss you Lora & Dane, good luck to both of you in Med School and I wish you all the blessings this life has to offer!

All the best & 'til next time,

Lora & Dane's Black & White Damask Wedding - Part 2 "The Reception"

2009-08-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well we are continuing with Lora & Dane's June 12th wedding celebration, if you haven't already read it, check out Part 1 "The Ceremony".

They started off their reception with all of the customary special dances on the black and white dance floor. Everyone loved that it was a welcome departure from the dated parquet dance floor, a BIG impact for just a few dollars more.

Here is Lora with her Dad, Tom, they had some really special moments just the two of them, both on the walk down the aisle as well as during their dance to Rascal Flatt's "My Wish". In fact, I found myself needing to go find something else to attend to, as I started to get a little emotional myself!

Dane and his Mom, Christy, had a little more fun with their dance. I don't think their was an inch of the dance floor that they didn't cover. While the Father-Daughter dance was really touching and emotional, the Mother-Son dance was upbeat, fun and what a way to get the party started!

In order to keep costs down, instead of a full dinner reception they had a dessert reception with all of the goodies you could imagine! Chocolate covered strawberries, fruit & cake kabobs, cream puffs, cheescake bites, chocolate truffles, as well as a family recipe of a frozen Torte that I was told was too die for, not to mention a ton of other sweets. Good thing I was too busy to nosh on some of this delectable goodness, I think I put on 10 pounds just looking at the dessert buffet.

The pièce de résistance was the absolutely gorgeous white & black damask cake provided by Monica with Sugar and Bliss Bakery.

Thanks to Steve with FX Entertainment the dance floor was full the entire night.

To add more entertainment and lots of smiles to the evening's festivities Lora & Dane brought in a photo booth provided by Phoenix Photo Booths. There was a line all night long!

Lora and Dane planned almost everything, she was so organized and made my life so easy. I came in as her Day of Coordinator, but one of the things she was having difficulty finding was a unique form of transportation, they didn't want the standard limo. After chatting with Dane about the slim number of choices of classic cars (especially in the summer), I suggested London Luxury Car and to my delight found out that Dane's family would get a kick out of the choice due to their occasional trips to London. So, the evening finished off with Lora & Dane being chauffered off by none other than Miss Lisa Schifano.

Come back tomorrow, as we feature all of the DIY projects and amazing details that Lora incorporated into her Black & White Damask Wedding!

All the best & 'til next time,

All photos provided by Michelle Meyer Photography.

Lora and Dane's Black and White Damask Wedding - Part 1 "The Ceremony"

2009-08-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are going to flashback to June 12th and the wedding celebration of Lora and Dane.

I know, I know wasn't that a while ago? Well, yes it was, I like to make sure I give plenty of time to devote to writing these pieces, after all it is hard to summarize a wedding celebration in just a few words and photos. Plus, I have been swooning over all of Michelle Meyer's photos as well as Lora's DIY fabulousness and contemplating which details to showcase and the answer is a BUNCH!!!

Here is Lora (aka Bean) with Jacob, the ring bearer. They had such an amazing bond, at one point in the evening Jacob told Lora, "Bean, I'm gonna love you no matter how far away you live" OMG - there wasn't a dry eye within ear shot, luckily it was after the ceremony 'cause it took a few minutes for everyone to gain composure and fix their eye makeup, me included!

Instead of traditional bouquets each of the bridemaids carried a beautiful candle. The romantic wedding ceremony was performed by Jerry Law, From this Day Forward and in honor of Dane's Celtic heritage, here the couple is participating in a Hand Fasting Ceremony.

To further capture the theme of the wedding decor, in their wedding invitation, they asked all of their guests to wear black & white, don't they all look sharp!

This silhouette photo is probably one of my favorites, after the ceremony and the group photo (which was a must have for Lora) the lighting was perfect. Lora and Dane headed back up the hill, while their guests settled into the reception and Michelle caught this amazing shot! I just love how the sunlight is peeking thru the trees, as the new Mr. & Mrs. capture a moment to reconnect.

Well that is it for the ceremony, watch for our next couple of posts, as we recap the reception and all the fabulous DIY details (too much for one entry)!

All the best & 'til next time,

Arizona Bridal Week is Coming!

2009-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Arizona Bridal Week has teamed up with the best bridal designers and top local wedding vendors to create a week of events devoted to the brides and grooms-to-be. Events are designed for engaged couples to talk personally with vendors, view high-end runway fashion shows and win numerous give-a-ways all week long.

There are 8 amazing days chocked full of eye candy and wedding planning goodness planned all across the valley, so if you can't attend every event, try to catch one or two in your area.

If you buy a ticket valid for all 8 days you increase your chances of winning a Cornelis Hollander gift certificate valued at $500-$1,000 ! They'll be giving away one gift certificate at each of the 8 events and you must be present to win!

All the best & 'til next time,

East Valley Bridal Show

2009-08-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

If you are still in need of some vendors for your upcoming wedding, there is a new bridal show in town, The East Valley Bridal Show will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2009 from 9 AM - 3 PM at the

Mesa Convention Center
263 N. Center
Mesa, AZ 85201

*FREE PARKING AT THE MESA CONVENTION CENTER*
Please visit the convention center's website for directions

Tickets are available at the door for $10.00 each or in order to save a few bucks purchase tickets on-line for $8.00 and pick them up at Will-Call on the day of the show.

Here are some tips for attending a bridal show:

Register and purchase your tickets before the show in order to save a few $$$
Wear comfy shoes, resist the urge to wear your cutest and go for the comfort factor
Bring along a few friends or close family members, not the entire bridal party, you want to have the opportunity to chat with the vendors in order to get a feel for their personality and style (you get to see the vendors after a long day on their feet, possibly a rough load in and set up and with a lot of people up in their grill - potentially similar to the conditions on your wedding day - how do they present themselves?)
Bring along a larger tote bag - of course you will most likely get the standard paper bag at the door or from one of the tuxedo rental companies, but often these tear after being loaded down with all of the marketing material you will pick up and the handles can seriously cut into your hands after a while!
Come prepared with labels that include your Name, wedding date, complete address and e-mail address
Bring along a pen and note pad, as well as post it notes, if you see a florist's designs that you like or taste a wonderful cake, make a note or put a post it on that vendor's brochure, that way when you get home and you are perusing the mounds of postcards and flyers you will be reminded of your likes and dislikes
Don't bring along your checkbook - I know every vendor is probably going to hate me for this one, but as a wedding consultant I want you to make sure that you are choosing the right vendors for your wedding. Take the time after the show to visit with a few vendors from each category, check out their websites, ask around and educate yourself on each vendors offerings and qualifications before signing on the dotted line.

If you want to stop by and say "Hi" or "Holla", I will be camped out in the Arizona's Finest Wedding Sites & Services booth helping Terri & Suzi hand out magazines and drumming up attendees for next weeks Bridal Tour.

All the best & 'til next time,

Freakin' Fabulous Friday - Patience is a Virtue!

2009-08-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it just be Freakin' Fabulous if all waiters were as efficient as this guy! Well as much as we could hope and dream that most likely is not the case.

Proper dining etiquette, not to mention just plain old good manners, dictate that when you are at the dining table whether it is at a restaurant or a wedding reception or even the family dinner table, you want to be patient and wait for everyone seated at your table to be served before starting to eat.

If for some reason one of your dining companions has not been served, just wait patiently, if the diner with the absentee meal mentions "Please get started before your food gets cold", assure them that is fine and you can wait. If they become insistent, then eat slowly, you don't want to finish too early, making the last to be served feeling awkward as they are the last to finish eating. Keep the conversation flowing, being careful not to exclaim how delish the food is or that you thought you would starve if you waited a second longer. That would just be RUDE!

So hopefully you have been following along on our journey to a more Fabulous You!

All the best & 'til next time,

Featured Resource:

Independent Wedding Coordinator Or On-Site Coordinator - What's the Difference?

2009-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Many times when I visit a hotel or a wedding venue for a tour of their property, I hear from the on-site coordinators pretty much the same thing... "I am so happy [or excited or pleased] when an independent wedding planner or coordinator is involved." You see many times a couple may misunderstand what the venue's on-site coordinator or on-site liaison's role is. Well rather than tell you myself, you can read for yourself...

This article was written by Natasha Miller, the on-site liaison for Boojum Tree and reprinted with her permission.

There are many times when a bride books a wedding site and misinterprets what the site affiliated coordinator does or is responsible for. The planners that are included with your venues are merely there to assist you with questions that you may have and act as the communicator between vendors the day of the event.

They may go above and beyond for you by helping with the setting up (centerpieces, favors, guest book, and other details like that), getting the bridal party lined up for the processional, moving your gifts and helping with the clean up. This is something that you want to go over with your liaison from your selected wedding site. If they don’t do it, then guess who does… a friend, family member or even worse you! Trust me when I say you do not want that stress the day of your wedding. Give yourself the ability to enjoy and relax that day. So hire a professional coordinator!

A coordinator will work with you in a close partnership for all phases of your wedding. They will guide you through your decisions and help you plan from A to Z. These wonderful professionals will also attend vendor meetings, assist with ordering supplies and contacting vendors. They can keep you calm and organized so you will not stress on the happiest day of your life.

Believe it or not but a wedding coordinator may also be able to save you money. They already know, have worked with and have created a strong relationship with vendors. So they will be able to get the best deals and steer you straight to what you are looking for.

Thank you so much for your insight and information Natasha and remember if you are looking for an absolutely gorgeous venue for your nuptials, be sure to give Natasha a jingle or visit their website!

All the best & 'til next time,

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Gutierrez

2009-08-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

On May 16th, Guy & Myriam along with their combined six children by their side, tied the knot at Cibola Vista Resort. When Myriam first called me in March, she had just come from placing her order for their invitations at the mall and with only about 2 months remaining, she was a little stressed at the thought of pulling together the rest of the details. The intimate backyard wedding that they originally started to plan, bloomed into a slightly larger event, but they didn't want to loose the intimacy and coziness of a celebration at home with family and friends.

They had already booked the event lawn at Cibola Vista, ordered their invitations, lined up a band and Myriam had bought her gown, so we just helped to pull together the remaining details and here are the results through the lens of Kate Wall Photography .

Guy & Myriam wanted to include all of the children in their ceremony, so a blended family sand ceremony was planned. Here (photo to the right) is Vanessa, Myriam's oldest daughter, helping Anna, Guy's youngest daughter pour her sand.

The entire family!!!

Here is a closeup of Guy & Myriam enjoying a few minutes to

themselves. You can also see the earrings designed by Lani

McEvers of Customer Jewelry by Lani. You can also read a

previous post to see why Lani was in the Spotlight and why

these earrings were so special, thanks Lani you were a lifesaver!!!

Guy & Myriam only wanted a photographer for the most important part, the ceremony, so we don't have any photos to share of the reception, but trust me, Guy, Myriam and their guests had a blast. They kicked off their shoes and danced late into the night on the soft grass to the tunes of Artifax, a local band from one of their hang out spots. The band belted out tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s, in fact you could even see some of the resort guests rocking out by the pool as well.

Even though we were smack in the middle of the resort, Guy and Myriam still got the intimate, backyard wedding ambiance they were looking for.

Congratulations, Guy & Myriam, I wish you all the blessings this life has to offer!!!

All the best & 'til next time,

Freakin' Fabulous Friday - Elbows on the Table???

2009-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

After a brief hiatus from our weekly series, we're back at it with another little dining tip from Clinton Kelly's book Freakin' Fabulous.

If you're like me you were always taught to keep your elbows off the table while you eat and that is true when food is present. If you are engaging in conversation, before, after or between courses it is acceptable to place your elbow on the table, BUT once food is served your elbows should be down at your sides.

Now I have to admit this one took me a little by surprise, so, I did a little research and went to my fall back Etiquette Queen, Emily Post. It was confirmed by Lizzie Post, the great-great granddaughter and author of How Do You Work This Life Thing? and in her Top Ten Table Manners.

So there you have it another dining tip towards a more fabulous you!

All the best & 'til next time,

Featured Resource:

Jenny Packham Trunk Show at Mariee

2009-07-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Jenny Packham, one of London's couture bridal designers, will be sending dozens of gowns to Mariee for their customers to see, try, and order from July 23rd thru August 1, 2009.

Ms. Packham's gowns ranging from $1800 - $7000 are known for their ethereal aesthetic and as is customary during a trunk show a 10% discount will be given.

Please be sure to call (480) 946-4343 for an appointment.

Mariee is located at:

The Shops at Gainey Village
8787 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253

All the best & 'til next time,

Freakin' Fabulous Friday - The Salt & Pepper

2009-07-03T13:43:00.001-07:00

We are continuing our Friday series based on Clinton Kelly's book "Freakin' Fabulous - How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better..." Now I don't care for the last three words of the title, but I have to admit that is what caught my eye and caused me to pick up the book in the first place!

So back to it, we have begun our series on dining etiquette and this is a minor point and an easy one to implement...

...the salt and pepper just like the bride and groom on their wedding day, should never be seperated! If your dining partner requests that you pass the salt, be sure to pass them as a pair.

So, there you have it a very simple and easy tip towards becoming a more fabulous you!

All the best & 'til next time,

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Win an Engagement Session

2009-07-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

This just in... Exciting news from a wonderful friend and super talented wedding photographer Marcia with Marcia, The Art of Photography here in the Scottsdale area!

Freebie Friday - Win An Engagement Session

Ok, spread it around to all your soon to be married friends...It's Freebie Friday!

The first couple to comment on my blog (that is Marcia's Blog) wins an engagement session from Marcia The Art of Photography...now here's the fine print:

Engagement Session location is Scottsdale, AZ only.
Engagement session must be completed by August 15, 2009

What you get:
Pre-Session Consultation
Engagement Session
Viewing Session to select your images
Personal Website 3 Artist Choice watermarked images to use on to share with your family and friends
1 5x7 of your choice.

Book your wedding with us with in one week of viewing and receive a very special bonus.

So there you have it all the deets, now hurry and go comment!

All the best & 'til next time,

It's Wedding Day for Alexandria & Matt

2009-06-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today is the big day for our newest couple, Alex (short for Alexandria) & Matt!!!

Alex's mom came to us just a little over 5 weeks ago after moving here from Pennsylvania, a challenge in itself. Matt and Alex live in California and wanted to have their wedding ceremony here in Phoenix. Basically they had the reception venue booked, invitations sent, Alex's gown in process and that was just about it. Needless to say we had some work ahead of us, so we stepped in and helped pull all the pieces together for an intimate and cozy celebration with their family and friends.

Congratulations to you both, we wish you all the blessings this life has to offer!!!

All the best & 'til next time,

Freakin' Fabulous Friday - Formal Place Settings

2009-06-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Formal place settings can offer up some challenges when you are at an extremely crowded table. So you sit down and the place settings are all crowded together and you just aren't quite sure who's is who's, right??

Well it happened to me, I was at a high brow dinner with a couple of attorneys, a motivational speaker, their wives and a few other assorted guests and I've gotta tell you I was a tad nervous. So as I'm attempting to be on my best behavior and trying to remember all of the rules of dining etiquette, I started to reach for my water glass. Fortunately before my hand came above the edge of the table, I noticed that my glass was half full. What?? How can this be? I hadn't taken a drink yet, in my nervousness did I start to reach for the wrong glass? So I placed my hands back in my lap and then followed the advice that I was given from an etiquette coach.

Taking the tip of each index finger, touch the tip of your thumb, do this for each hand. What you get with your left hand forms the letter "b" for bread and with the right hand forms the letter "d" for drink. (I'd love to share a visual, but it's kind of hard holding the camera and taking a photo of your own hands - Sorry!!!)

So can you picture me with my hands under the table forming the letters with my hands (I know, pause for a little giggle) and sure enough, the guest seated next to me did not know this little tidbit of information and was drinking from my glass instead.

Now that wasn't the only thing my etiquette coach taught me... Another rule of etiquette is to never point out that someone is in error, so I reaaallly needed a sip of water and not wanting to share with my neighbor, who I wasn't extremely familiar with, I whispered to my husband and asked if I could partake of some his water and that I would explain later. He glanced over my way and gave me the little nod, no explanation necessary. Whew, no one was the wiser and I got my drink of water. Oh Happy Day!

This newest tip didn't come from Clinton Kelly and his book Freakin' Fabulous, but I thought that since we had been sharing dining etiquette from his book in our Freakin' Fabulous Friday series, I just had to share my lil' story and yes I giggled too, thinking of me with my hands under the table!!!

So, there you have it another tip towards becoming a more fabulous you!

All the best & 'til next time,

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