It’s possible that when you think of flowers on a cake, you think of a late ’90s cake with traditional floral design but there are so many options for cakes that allow you to ramp up the style factor- just align yourself with a creative professional and the result with be beyond your wildest dreams.

You can go with real flowers as seen in these cakes:

(Image courtesy of: Hollye Schumacher Photography)

(Cake designed by: Piece of Cake)

(Image courtesy of: Style Image Studios, Cake designed by: Let Them Eat Cake)

(Image courtesy of: Stephanie Fay Photography, Cake designed by: Let Them Eat Cake, Floral by: Petal Pusher)

(Image courtesy of: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Cake designed by: Julia Baker Confections)

(Image courtesy of: Hagerty Photography)

(Image courtesy of: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Cake designed by: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale)

(Image courtesy of: Sierra Blanco Photography)

(Image courtesy of: Hagerty Photography)

Or you can have your cake designer make sugar flowers like these

(Image courtesy of: Melissa Jill Photography, Cake designed by: Julia Baker Confections)

(Image courtesy of: Sedona Bride Photographers, Cake designed by Sedona Cake Couture)

(Image courtesy of: Chris Richards Photography, Cake designed by: Julia Baker Confections )

(Cake designed by: Julia Baker Confections)

(Image courtesy of: Jason+Anna Photography, Cake designed by: Julia Baker Confections)

(Image courtesy of: Eyes2See Photography)

And you could even go the really artistic route and do graphic flowers like this

(Cake designed by: Piece of Cake Desserts)

Remember to bring pictures of cakes that you like to your designer and be able to explain why you like them. You can even bring pictures of cakes you don’t like! Other items to bring, depending on what you want for your cake, include a picture of your dress, your invitation, the colors of your wedding, or even your floral design sketches. The more information you give, the more unique and personal your cake will be. But most of all, trust your cake designer. If you hire someone who has a solid reputation, you are sure to love the result, even if it’s not what you imagined it would be!

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog,

Kelly

I could have shared about 15 photos of the dogs with you. They are just luscious! Scott tells us about these adorable babies: Dillon aka Dilly is the all white bulldog and Rachel’s pride and joy. The two of them are inseparable and have an incredible bond. Payton is my brindle bulldog and is more special to me than I know how to convey over email. These girls are basically our children and we couldn’t imagine not having them as a part of our big day.

Consider your stationer a person to make friends with. Since both Rachel and Scott’s families traveled from out of state for their Arizona wedding, Stephanie at Celebrations in Paper created a custom invitation suite that included boarding passes, luggage tags as place cards, hand-drawn postcards from the towns they had visited when they were dating and corresponding table names. What a fun way to incorporate travel into your wedding!

The reception decor is simply exquisite. Somehow, Rachel and Scott (and of course their florist, Table Tops Etc.) were able to design an understated yet dramatic aesthetic. The colors are not super bright but by using tones of pink, purple and white, they managed to make the elegant arrangements anything but boring. In a large room like the Valencia Ballroom, you need to have statement centerpieces and I think these tall, airy and lush designs do the trick. Also, notice how the linens work to create a seamless palette for all those gorgeous flowers to shine. Can you tell I’m just a little bit in love with these tables?

This bridal party was super fun…their entertaining entrances crack me up

In response to my question, “What’s with the gloves?”, Scott graciously answered: “My side of the family is very musically talented and put together a slide show and choreographed a remix of Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. Each family member had one sequined glove and sung a part of the song to both Rachel and I. It was more of a “welcome to our family” moment. We were both so overwhelmed and surprised. The gloves made their way around to the dance floor and made for great photos.”

Love these sweet custom forks

I had a little post-wedding chat with this lovely couple…

KG: What was your favorite part of the day?

R/S: There really wasn’t one favorite part for either of us- every second was very humbling and special. If I had to pick my favorite moment-it was the part of our ceremony in which our Officiant, Mark Culbertson, read “I love you because” phrases that Rachel and I wrote weeks before. Some were funny. others sentimental. Neither of us knew what each other wrote until they were read aloud.

KG: What are your plans for a honeymoon?

R/S: Rachel and I are taking our honeymoon in May of 2012. We will be taking a Mediterranean cruise for 10 days!

KG: What advice would you give couples planning their weddings?

R/S: It is completely normal to not have every detail worked out, and plans will change! Surround yourself with vendors that you feel comfortable with and that see your day as you do. We were so incredibly fortunate to have found the vendors that we did. From the venue, to our stationery, to the band, to the florist to our photographers- we truly walked away with a group of new friends that will always be a part of our lives. Each one of them made our day that much more amazing.

 KG: What are your favorite things about each other?

S: My favorite thing about Rachel is how sweet, honest and funny she is each day.

R: My favorite thing about Scott is his desire to achieve, grow and be something every day, he makes life so important and memorable.

Rachel and Scott, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Rachel and Scott’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: Montelucia Resort and Spa, Valencia Lawn

Reception Site: Montelucia Resort and Spa, Valencia Ballroom

Photographer: Jason + Anna Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Vera Wang

Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Table Tops, Etc.

Invitations: Celebrations in Paper, Stephanie

Cake: Julia Baker Confections

Band: Nate Williams Band

Ceremony Musicians: Got You Covered Music

Make-up Artist: Joya Spa at Montelucia, Glenda

Hair Stylist: Joya Spa at Montelucia, Demitria

Officiant: Mark Culbertson

Linens: BBJ Linen

Rehearsal Dinner Site: Patsy Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Old Town Scottsdale

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

Jessica’s eye for design is unmistakable- you can see that she successfully blended light blue, white, eggplant and fuchsia to create an elegant yet exciting feel. I love how the paper products, dresses, flowers and reception decor are not matchy-matchy but all come together in a uniquely beautiful way.

Jessica explains her color palette: The colors were a combination of the light blue and whites that remind me of a classic “Hamptons Wedding” – we began dating after running into each other in the Hamptons in New York and then got engaged on the beach in East Hampton a year later and had our engagement there so I wanted to incorporate that into the decor. On the other hand, I wanted to embrace the desert setting with the bright fuschia pinks and eggplant purple shades that we used throughout the floral design, invitation suite and the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids dresses. The sun setting over Camelback while the guests entered the reception space really brought out the vibrant colors and mirrored the shades of blue, pink and purple of the sunset.

Dave’s blue eyes are stunning

The Sanctuary Resort is chic, no matter where you are!

The gorgeous Jessica

The girl’s shoes add the perfect pop of color against the deeper shade of the dresses

You don’t get many churches that look like this in Arizona!

The table numbers are images of New York locations that are dear to Jessica and Dave (for example,  the Third and Long building picture is used for table number 3- very clever!). The reception decor blended warm and cool tones seamlessly….I’m just a little teensy bit in love!

During the cake cutting, Jessica’s cousin sang “At Last” by Etta James-  a special touch that Jessica really loved

Jessica tells us: The best part about our day was having a great party with all our friends. The Walkens were unbelievable! They remembered songs we requested when we saw them at a bar 9 months prior to the wedding, they knew my mom’s favorite song and played it twice for her, they were seriously outstanding! They made the party ~ I would have kept dancing for three more hours!

Jessica surprised Dave with an ice cream bar from SubZero Ice instead of a traditional groom’s cake. They offered a “Bride’s Choice” and a “Groom’s Favorite” combination for guests to try, sort of like the signature drink idea but sweeter! The guests could also build their own sundaes using several toppings and flavors and the dry ice added a bit of fun  

Jessica and I talked wedding recently and here’s what she has to say now that she’s officially a newlywed:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

J: I think my favorite part was the cocktail hour and intro to the reception. After the ceremony and portraits were over it was so great so just enjoy everybody and relax and get the party started!

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

J: Honestly, hiring great vendors! Between The Sanctuary, Rhonda, Melissa Jill… we never had any worries about things not running smoothly on our wedding day and since we don’t live in Phoenix (even though it is my hometown Dave and I are in New York) that was a HUGE plus!

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

J: We went on a two week honeymoon to St. Lucia and Barbados immediately after the wedding weekend. We chose to go to a place we’d never been but that was relaxing and low key at the same time and not too far to travel. We were able to fly Jet Blue right there from Phoenix so that was great! We spent a lot of time reading and hanging out on the beach – a great way to recover from all the wedding chaos!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be?

J: First of all, stick to your vision (you don’t have to please everyone and they might not see the vision you have for that day… don’t let it dissuade you), don’t over think the decisions, and don’t sweat the small stuff… once the day arrives… there’s no use worrying about the little things… just enjoy it! Also, hire great vendors… especially the planner and don’t skimp on photography… you will regret it! Get a cheaper dress and spend money on great photos… you’ll have them forever! I also highly recommend videography… there are so many great options out there at all different price points. The day goes by so fast and it’s over before you know it… the video is a great way to relive all of the moments and especially the speeches from all the important family and friends. We added videography to our rehearsal dinner as well for all the great speeches that happen the night before.

KG: What has surprised you most about being married?

J: I don’t know if there have been any big surprises about being married… I think it’s just a big adjustment to reconcile 2 people’s daily habits from the laundry to cleaning to food and cooking… you can’t just leave your stuff around and get to it another day since someone else is living in the same space… those little things are always comical to navigate together!

Jessica and Dave, congratulations and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Jessica and David’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Impact Events, Rhonda Rush

Ceremony Site: Saint Mary’s Basilica

Reception Site: Sanctuary Resort and Spa on Camelback Mountain

Photographer: Melissa Jill Photography

Videographer: My Wedding Film

Bridal Gown Store: Destiny’s Bride

Bridesmaids Dresses: Twirl

Tuxedos: Tom James

Florist: Avant- Garde Studio

Invitations: Jessica for MJ Paperie

Caterer: Sanctuary Resort and Spa on Camelback Mountain

Cake: Julia Baker Confections

Ice Cream Bar: SubZero Ice

Band: The Walkens

Ceremony Musicians: Saint Mary’s Basilica, Gordon Stevenson

Cocktail Hour Musician: Miguel de Maria

Make-up Artist: Barney’s, Maureen Cosovich

Hair Stylist: Spark Studio Salon, Mandy Samford

Officiant: Father Michael Muhlen

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Linens: Wildflower Linens

Transportation: Lexani Limo

Once you see their wedding day pictures, I think you’ll agree they achieved a beautifully romantic look!

Could you just DIE at the sweet look on Brent’s face as he sees Susannah for the first time? Swoon!

This is one of my favorite recent bridal party photographs

The Aztec Room at the Arizona Biltmore features a dramatic gold leaf ceiling which worked perfectly with Susannah’s candlelit cream decor; the ceiling and lighting create the perfect glow.

The cake from Sedona Cake Couture is completely elegant and I LOVE it!

Susannah and I exchanged a few thoughts about her gorgeous day. Here’s our Q & A:

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

SO: the best thing I did for the wedding was

a) investing in a wedding coordinator that was someone I liked doing business with. Karen listened to our vision for the day, helped to enhance our vision with her expertise, kept me very calm, and importantly respected our budget

b) I kept Brent, my husband,involved…not in every detail but with core decisions and ensured I asked what he thought/wanted. This made the wedding day really special and about us both

KG: Can you tell me about your honeymoon?

SO:  We honeymooned in the South Island of New Zealand and Fiji – it was great. I think it helped us enjoy the wedding even more that the next day we stepped on the plane and went away together. It also kept things in perspective that our getting married was more than just about only planning the wedding, we had something to look forward to after, and we could decompress together after a year of planning and excitement.

KG: What advice do you have for couples planning their weddings?

SO: Prioritize and focus on what is important to you. Do invest in planning before your wedding, spend time getting your ideal wedding day together BUT the day of don’t stress… you can’t change the weather and you can’t change anything that has not been done. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy; if the bride is happy and having a great time, her guests will too which makes for the best celebration of all!

Susannah and Brent, thank you so much for sharing your special day with us and congratulations on your new life together!

Susannah and Brent’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Karen Doan Events

Ceremony and Reception Site: Arizona Biltmore Resort

Photographer: Hollye Schumacher

Bridal Gown Store: Destiny’s Bride

Bridesmaids Dresses: J Crew

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Angelic Grove

Videographer: Esthetics in Motion

Invitations: The Paper Place

Caterer: Arizona Biltmore Resort

Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

Ceremony Musicians: Apperson Strings

Trumpet Soloist: Arizona Brass, Kurt

Cocktail Hour Music: Gustavo (classical guitar)

Band: Shining Star Band

Make-up Artist: Deanna Rene

Hair Stylist: The Green Room at Salon Sachi, Meaghan Gingrich

Officiant: Arizona Ministers, Jay Whittaker

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Hello hot shoes!

The balconies at the Valley Ho make for some great photo ops

This is in the lobby where there are lots of bright colors and warm nooks

Many couples choose to get married “in the round” at the Valley Ho. The ceremony space lends itself well to this shape and couples like it for the intimate atmosphere you get from being surrounded by your loved ones

The bride’s bouquet, composed of anemones, had the right colors and vintage flair

To make their ceremony extra special, Krissy and Mike placed a bottle of wine and letters written by each of them and their parents in a wine box to be opened on their 5th Anniversary. They plan to open the box, enjoy the wine, read the letters and do it all again for the next 5 years. LOVE this!

The reception was on the rooftop of the hotel; it has spectacular city and mountain views

Inspiration can be found anywhere and Krissy and Mike prove this to be true- the vases were spotted by Krissy at Z Gallerie and nothing else would do. They dictated the color scheme and retro vibe for the entire day!

The couple wanted to keep things simple but this sweets table is anything but simple! Look at the fun candies, chic decor and tufted 3 tier cake

Krissy and Mike, thank you so very much for sharing your day with us and congratulations!

Krissy and Mike’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Hotel Valley Ho

Photographer: Sedona Bride

Videographer: Cine Verite Films

Bridal Gown Store: J Crew

Bridesmaids Dress: J Crew

Tuxedos: Mr Formal (dads and brother), Groom’s suit was his own

Florist: Table Tops Etc.

Invitations and Paper Products: Celebrations in Paper

Cake: La Dolce Pesca

Make-up Artist: Azure Schaffer, MAC

Hair Stylist: Hotel Valley Ho Spa

Officiant: Pastor Herb Isenberg, the Bride’s Father

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

Our recent Moulin Rouge inspired event at The Venue Scottsdale was nothing short of fabulous, just like the real Moulin Rouge,  thanks to the many people who helped to make it an evening to remember. We are so anxious to share our adventures with you!

It all started with a buzz about the invitations from Celebrations in Paper… the red feather, vintage aesthetic and fishnet detail made them gloriously flirtatious. The RSVP’s came rolling in!

The Venue Scottsdale was the ideal location for our event since it has distinct areas- we used the main courtyard for the large and raucous party, the bar nooks (otherwise known as the catacombs) for the more intimate entertainment and the Billiards room for dining . This is the main party hall with a dramatic high ceiling and a stage we couldn’t resist.

This is Ashley Richardson of Ashley Gain Weddings and Events. This gal worked her tail off to make our event as spectacular as it was and we are so grateful to her. She always looked at ease which is quite a trick when planning an event of this magnitude!

Here are the girls- this is probably the ONLY time they sat all night! Aren’t they a gorgeous crew?

On to the party!

The linens and centerpieces elicited oohs and ahhs- you can see why!

Here is our much admired Publisher, Fran Samuel, alongside our Marketing and Sales Director Jennifer Rabito, who is always a crowd favorite. Below them is Bob Messinger of Applause Entertainment who acted as MC for the night and provided us with the entertainment for the entire evening. It was quite spectacular- the catacombs of The Venue Scottsdale were occupied with all sorts of eccentric talents such as Lip Readers and Tarot Card Readers. And of course, not to be forgotten, we had an aerialist, can can dancers and a crooner in the main courtyard!

Of course there was food…oh the food!

Photographer Sarah Hagerty of Hagerty Photography was able to relax a little, then it was back to work capturing more beautiful scenery and people!

We ended the night the best way we know how- with chocolate! Bedazzle my Bon Bons made these decadent and sparkly delights especially for our event and they were completely sinful…

Here we all are! The Phoenix Bride and Groom Team thanks all of the vendors who gave so generously of their time and talents to make the Moulin Rouge Event a success. It was wonderful connecting with so many wedding industry professionals and we can’t wait for the next party!

We also enjoyed a Live Photobooth by Keith Pitts- these are always so fun!

Here is a slideshow from Hagerty Photography that shows even more pictures!

If you enjoy time lapse videos, you are going to like this quick one of our set-up created by Serendipity Videography:

Phoenix Bride & Groom Timelapse by Serendipity Videography from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

We could not have enjoyed ourselves and entertained our guests without the following people/companies. Their contributions and hard work made this THE event of the year!

Thank You…

The Venue Scottsdale/ Ashley Gain Weddings and Events/Hagerty Photography/Serendipity Videography/Celebrations in Paper/BBJ Linen/Wildflower Linen/Quest Drape/Sound Lighting F/X/ Events by Showstoppers/ Classic Party Rentals/Designer8* Furniture Rental/ Applause Productions & Entertainment/ Encore Creative/Heidi’s Events and Catering/Fabulous Fine Food Catering and Events/Santa Barbara Catering/Marcellino Ristorante/Creations in Cuisine Catering/Ciao Baby Catering/Bruce Brown Catering and Events/My Goodness Cakes/La Dolce Pesca/ Creative Cappucino/Honey Moon Sweets/ Bedazzle My Bon Bons/Live Photobooth by Keith Pitts/Lip Story

It’s the sentimental touches that elevate weddings to another level…let’s have a look at this dream wedding!

Jennifer’s bouquet featured tones of red, terra cotta and lavender and included a special good luck charm passed down from her great grandmother — a simple pink crystal stone in the shape of a heart

See the breathtaking backdrop? Only at Sassi do you get this view, and the bright flowers add a dramatic pop of color

The candle lit reception in the Sassi Room set a perfectly romantic mood.  This room is known for it’s wood-beamed ceilings and two fireplaces; Jennifer and Todd wanted to work with the warm tones so they chose gold and champagne decor, decorated with centerpieces of  lavender larkspur, red roses and James Story orchids, created table cards with names such as: Romance, Harmony and Amour, and chose a specially-crafted “Heavenly Dreams” linen. It all came together beautifully.

The cake by Let Them Eat Cake is exquisite and the topper is by artist Kim Lawrence. Jennifer explains:  I fell in love with the uniqueness of it. It’s called the “Circle of Love” because there is a circle in the middle of the sculpture between the couple- showing everlasting love between one another. I just wanted something slightly different yet romantic at the same time. I still have the piece. It is in our formal dining room in a glass case overlooking our dining room table.

Here’s my post-wedding Q&A with Jennifer:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

JP: My favorite memory at my wedding was seeing my husband-to-be for the first time. Actually it was twice. We did a sneak peek before the ceremony, and then I got to have the same feeling again as I walked down the aisle. This is permanently marked in my mind for the rest of my life. Having the adrenalin go thru my body 2X was way better then once.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

JP: The smartest thing I did was involve my family on all the decisions I made along with Todd. I felt like not only was it “my day” it was their day too since I am their only daughter. I am sure it was just as important to them as it was for me. I am glad they were there for every move I made.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

JP: We went to St. Lucia. Actually, we stayed where the “Bachelor” was filmed (The one with Jake and Vienna- where he proposed). The hotel is called Jade Mountain. We never knew that we were staying where this was filmed because we booked our rooms months before the show even aired on TV, but it was a treat to see it again on TV. We chose Jade Mountain because it was tropical and exotic yet VERY private. All the rooms are only 3 walled.

 Oh, and one other bonus, Todd and I renewed our vows again alongside the beach. He surprise me. I felt very lucky marrying him twice!

KG: What advice would you give brides-to-be?

JP: I would tell the Brides to be, to enjoy every second of it! Take pictures of everything! You get this one day to make it about you. I would also say- don’t forget to thank your parents because if they’re anything like mine, they were just as excited as I was!!!!

KG: Tell us what you love best about being married!

JP: The best thing being married is that I married my best friend.

Thank you Jennifer and Todd for sharing your day with us and CONGRATULATIONS!

Jennifer and Todd’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Bernice Hertzfeldt, Sassi

Ceremony and Reception Site: Sassi

Photographer: David DeDios

Videographer: One Love Wedding Cinema

Bridal Gown: Felicity Couture Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses: Twirl Boutique

Florist: Your Event Florist

Invitations: Francis Orr

Cappuccino Bar: Creative Cappuccino

Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

Ceremony and Cocktail Musician: Gustavo

DJ: Mancini Entertainment

Make-up Artist/Hair Stylist: Deanna Rene

Linens: Southwick Linens

Transportation: Aries Limousine

Let’s take look at this most lavish and elegant celebration

The gazebo for the ceremony was designed by Events by Showstoppers…it’s the most beautiful ceremony canopy I have ever seen. The handmade ribbon flowers were created by Andres Barron, an Events by Showtoppers designer. You can read more about these flowers that have started a sensation here.

The completely gorgeous celebratory dinner table

Time for some fun- first whoopie pies by Sedona Cake Couture, then a sweet game of shell tic- tac- toe  (can you imagine this for a kids table? It’s creative and relatively quiet)

Editor Stephanie Gandy-Riley suggests: Use the scrolls to write your wedding nuptials. Save one scroll to write new promises to each other one year later for your 1st anniversary. Save your “messages” in a bottle for years to come.

Caviar…how cheeky

And my favorite part of any wedding day, the cake!

Only in Sedona do you get a backdrop like this

Here is a cool time-lapse video from Sedona Sounds of the gazebo set-up:

A huge THANK YOU to Sedona Wedding Studio for sharing your unbelievable talents with us- it’s always a pleasure!

The Seven Canyons Elopement Photoshoot Team:

Location: The Club at Seven Canyons

Photographer: Sedona Bride Photographers

Design and Coordination: Sedona Luxury Weddings & Events

Set Stylist: Alisha Muhl

Floral Design and Decor: Events by Show Stoppers

Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

Catering: Seven Canyons Chef Joseph Wickham

Gown: Gigi Bridal Boutique

Tuxedo: A Tailor Tuxedo & Bridal Shop

Rentals, Tabletop: Classic Party Rentals

Linens: Wildflower Linen

Videography: Sedona Sounds

Hair Styling and Makeup: Patricia Vega, Le Petite Spa de Sedona

Jewelry: Nectar Designs

Models: Danielle and David, The Agency Arizona

See what I mean? Let’s take a look at Lyndsey and Hugh’s pretty day:

Lyndsey tells us: Hugh LOVES interesting ties, so we purchased ties for all the men. Since he’s a Second Lieutenant in the Army, he also wore Army cufflinks; we were not having a military wedding but I wanted him to have something Army with him that night.

We were traditional and waited until the ceremony to see each other; walking down the aisle towards him and seeing each other for the first time is something I will never forget! I could not stop smiling the entire time and when I saw the way Hugh was looking at me it made me smile even bigger. We had a quick ceremony, only about 15 minutes (we wanted to get to the party!), and when Chaplain Oxendine pronounced us husband and wife I have never been happier, it was the most amazing few seconds of my life.

I love photobooth photos of the bride and groom- they are in party mode and photographers usually get some cool shots of them in the booth together, Here’s what Lyndsey says about the booth: We had a photobooth that printed out two strips of pictures, one for the guest to keep and one for the guest to put in a memory book with a note from them for us to keep. We used this in lieu of a guest book and had such a great time reading all the comments the next day. The photobooth was on the patio outside the ballroom all night and had a constant line. 

Lyndsey shares some of her favorite moments: My Maid of Honor gave the best speech and was the only person who made me cry that day; when I heard her list the reasons why she knew Hugh and I were meant for each other (including the fact that he is the only man who could love my 5 pound yorkie-poo almost as much as I do) I could not help but tear up. Then we hit the dance floor; dancing with all of our friends and family was one of the highlights of the evening for both of us. There were so many people that we loved and loved us all in one room and being able to spend that time with them was amazing!

Here’s my post-wedding Q and A with the couple:

KG: Looking back, what was the smartest planning decision you made?

Lyndsey: The smartest decision I made was the fact that I found vendors I truly trusted and that shared my vision. Knowing that all my vendors would come through and I could trust them to do their jobs and do them well made my life so much easier! The day of the wedding I did not stress over the details because I knew that they would handle everything!

KG: Did you and Hugh go on a Honeymoon?

Lyndsey: Yes, we spent 8 nights in Costa Rica! We actually waited about a month before we left because of our schedules, and I am so glad that we waited. We had the opportunity to relax after the wedding and it also gave us something to look forward to. I feel like we spent so much time looking forward to the wedding that I was a little sad when the night was done, but knowing something else exciting was coming was great! While in Costa Rica we relaxed at the beach, at a ton of great food, went zip lining, white water rafting, horse back riding, hiking through the rain forest and so much more! It was the most amazing trip!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you give brides- to- be?

Lyndsey: The biggest piece of advice is not to worry about things the day of. Trust your vendors and the planning you have put into it and then just let go. If something goes wrong, and chances are something will, relax and know that you are probably the only one who realizes that small detail is not what it should have been. Also, before you start planning put together a detailed budget and guest list, you really can not plan the other details without knowing those things. Know what is important to you and what you are willing to spend more money on, for us it was the venue/food/beverage and the photography/videography and I was willing to not spend as much money in other areas to make sure I had the best possible vendors in those areas and I knew specifically what the dollar amount was because of the budget I put together before I started planning.

Lyndsey and Hugh, Congratulations again and Thank You for sharing your day with us!

Lyndsey and Hugh’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Troon North Golf Club

Florist: Butterfly Petals

Photographer: Sandra Tenuto

Videographer: Serendipity Videography

Cake: La Dolce Pesca

Bridal Gown Store: Alfred Angelo

Bridesmaids Dresses: White House Black Market

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Entertainment: Ray the DJ

Ceremony Musicians: Allegro Quartet

Photobooth: A2Z Photobooth

Make-up Artist: Steven Paul Salon, Naomi Cadena

Hair Stylist: Steven Paul Salon, Kandi Palmer

Officiant: Army Chaplain Frankie Oxendine

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals (formerly Tri Rentals)

First, we have whoopie pies-  a traditional New England treat that originated in the 1930′s. These pies have been making a steady comeback as sugar fans are looking for new treats with trendy flavors such as this Salted Caramel Whoopie Pie from Pin-Up Pastries

(Image Courtesy of: Sara Strom Photography, Whoopie Pie: Pin-Up Pastries)

In keeping with the pie theme, I came across these pies from a wedding where I gather the couple wanted their guests to feel the love

 (Images Courtesy of: Something Blue Photography, Pies: Village Bakehouse)

You could also do individual pies like these cuties

(Image Courtesy of: BQ Photography)

The opposite of a homemade pie is the ultra-glam bon bon. These glittery orbs from Bedazzle My Bon Bons can be made in any color and are super sparkly

(Image: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Bon Bons: Bedazzle My Bon Bons)

I love the idea of coordinating your sweets to the wedding decor and design; these candy apples graced a huge sweets table at a red and black Vintage Glam Hollywood wedding reception. I think they are the perfect choice!

(Image Courtesy of: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Apples: The Phoenician Resort)

These also look luscious!

(Image Courtesy of: Something Blue Photography)

How about homemade Peanut Butter Cups? Yum…

(Image Courtesy of: Something Blue Photography)

Of course cake pops are always pretty, delicious and portable  

(Image Courtesy of: Sara Strom Photography, Cake Pops: Pin-Up Pastries)

Cake Shooters are a grown up take on Push Up Pops; I love how they are self-contained- no plate necessary!

(Image: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Cake Shooters: Sprinkles Custom Cakes, Stationery:  The Event Essentials)

Petit Fours are the perfect size bite- small enough to have a few!

(Image: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Petit Fours: Honey Moon Sweets) 

Anything that looks this good just has to be eaten

(Images Courtesy of: Amanda Rockafellow Photography, Sweets: Passion Pastry)

(Image Courtesy of Amanda Rockafellow Photography, Eau Claires: Annette Hartman Catering )

And you do not have to convince me partake in a creme brulee trio

(Image Courtesy of: Cosey Photography, Creme Brulee Trio: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa)

Here’s another good idea: a custom sign for your sweets table…how cute!

   (Image Courtesy of: Lyn Sims Photography) 

Chatting Soon~Kelly