Jennifer gave Darren custom-made map cufflinks as a wedding gift. One cufflink shows a map of Jennifer’s hometown, Seattle, and the other shows a map of Darren’s hometown, Perth, Australia. They were custom-made by  Tomatomade (on Etsy.com)

Jennifer and Darren chose greens with accents of plum and incorporated native Australian flowers to reflect Darren’s home country. How much do you love that?! Jennifer explains more:  Our colors, flowers and passion for travel also translated throughout the event including table cards identifiable by favorite airport codes and photos from each destination (which we made ourselves), and our green suitcase wedding cake by Sedona Cake Couture. Afterwards, we realized one of our favorite take-aways from the wedding were the “GuestLibs” we created for our guests to sign instead of a traditional guest book. We prepared fill-in-the-blank cards for our guests to fill in blessings and wishes for us. They were overwhelmingly, unexpectedly thoughtful and creative in what they wrote. We plan to make a framed word collage of the key words and phrases to display in our home as a constant reminder of the good wishes and blessings from our friends and family

The thoughtful touches continue…since our ceremony location was naturally beautiful, we wanted everything else to be very simple so as not to detract from the view. We made our own, simple chuppah, topped with chofa at the corners for good luck (brought from Thailand by a friend especially for the occasion), and it was carried down the aisle by the wedding party. We wanted to include our immediate family and close friends in the ceremony and asked several of them to write blessings for us, which they read during the ceremony. We also performed a sand ceremony symbolizing our union, using beach sand from near Darren’s home in Perth, Western Australia, and Jennifer’s home near Seattle.

I asked Jennifer about the Ketubah in her ceremony: We signed a beautiful watercolor interfaith wedding ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) that we found on Ketubah.com. We read the ketubah to each other as our vows during the ceremony, and it will hang in our home as a piece of artwork and a reminder of our commitment to each other.

How much do you love this cake? Sedona Cake Couture always impresses me…

I’m not sure if you have noticed but beer, especially homebrew beer, is very popular in general but particularly at weddings these days. Jennifer and Darren cleverly incorporated beer at their wedding in a meaningful way: As part of our reception, we created a beer tasting with an interactive, multimedia slideshow telling the story of our journey together. We featured five beers that represented our travels: our favorite local beer (bottled for us by Jim from Oak Creek Brewery), a beer from the first place we traveled together (Jackson Hole, Wyoming), the national beer of Thailand (one of our favorite places), a custom wedding IPA made by a friend (who also grew the hops for the beer), and a stout from Western Australia (which was transported by Darren’s family).

KG: What was your favorite part if the day?

J/D: Our favorite part of the day was being able to share a very personalized reflection of us with our family and friends. This started with our choice of ceremony location, Spirit Song at L’Auberge, overlooking one of our favorite places, the red rocks of Sedona. With the help of our officiant, we created a very meaningful ceremony. It was not overly traditional, but every aspect of the ceremony had personal significance. We particularly liked our homemade chuppah (Jewish wedding canopy), seven blessings written and read by our family and close friends, and the sand ceremony.

KG: Did you go on a honeymoon?

J/D: Darren had several family members who traveled from Australia to be with us, so instead of a traditional honeymoon we took two weeks and traveled all around the west coast while Darren’s brother, sister-in-law, and parents were here. We hiked Yosemite, tasted wine in Napa, explored San Francisco and Monterey, drove the Pacific Coast Highway, and ended with a trip to Disneyland, including lunch at Club 33. We plan to take more traditional solo honeymoon in Thailand or elsewhere in Asia the next time we venture down under to visit family in Australia.

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

J/D: A bit of advice is to chose really good vendors, clearly convey the key elements about what you want, and let them do the rest! We chose really great vendors that all knew each other, worked well together and knew the venue. Prior to our big day we conveyed the most important elements to the vendors, allowing them the freedom to do what they do best and allowing us to focus fully on enjoying every aspect of our wedding.

Jennifer and Darren, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sharing your wedding day with us!

Jennifer and Darren’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Spirit Song

Reception Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Creek House

Photographer: Sedona Bride Photographers

Bridal Gown Store: Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique

Bridesmaids Dresses: Macy’s

Tuxedos: Jos A. Bank

Florist: Events by Showstoppers

Invitations: Minted

Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

Ceremony Music and DJ: Sedona Sounds

Jeweler: Diamond House

Make-up Artist and Hair Stylist: La Petit Spa, Patricia Vega

Officiant: Patricia Ballentine, family friend

Hotel Accomodations: L’Auberge de Sedona

Rehearsal Dinner Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Creek House

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

We simply cannot get enough of the sumptuous wine country setting at Alcantara. The newly constructed Vineyard Chapel, with a gorgeous bell tower and blooming roses, sets the stage for an Arizona wine country wedding like no other.

Vineyard Chapel, complete with sanded plank seating and charming archways, is an ideal place to exchange vows.

A rustic farmhouse, which doubles as a tasting room for the vineyard’s outstanding wines, sits just beyond the vines. Day or night, this setting is absolutely breathtaking.

Set at the confluence of Oak Creek and the Verde River, Alcantara is quickly becoming established as the destination winery in the state. We can’t think of a more romantic way to celebrate your new life together than in a natural setting, complete with picturesque rows of vines, Tuscan-style architecture and local wine in your glass.

Visit Alcantara for a personal tour, and make plans to stop by to sample the wines and the ambiance at the Pecan, Wine and Antique Festival on February 17-19.

 Special thank yous to the following vendors for their amazing work on this shoot:

Creative Director and Event Design: Sedona Luxury Weddings & Events

Photographer: Sedona Bride

Location: Alcantara Vineyards & Winery

Floral and Decor: Events by Show Stoppers

Stationery Design: Alisha Muhl

Catering: Perfection Catering

Helicopter Transportation: Red Rock Helicopters

Officiant & Shoot Setup: Reverend Shanandoah Sterling, Sterling Weddings

Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Invitation & Menu: Studio Grace

Makeup Artist: Liz Margin

Hair Stylist: Lindsey Hausch

Bridal Gown: Destiny’s Bride

Groom’s Attire: Saverio Clothiers

Favors: Verde Valley Olive Oil Traders

Models: Stephanie Larson and Karl Samter

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Stephanie

The 2012 Sedona Wedding Bootcamp, on February 18th,  promises to be even bigger and better. Since it was so fabulous last year, I’m not sure how they will pull this off but if anyone can do it, it’s the Sedona Wedding Studio crew.

Here’s a blurb from their website about what to expect: Brides will quickly discover that this is no ordinary wedding show. No typical booths here. Brides will stroll among gorgeously designed table settings, get creative ideas, sample great cuisine, taste sensational cakes, meet Sedona’s top experts, attend informative mini-seminars, take venue tours, win valuable prizes, and enjoy numerous displays and demonstrations… all in one fabulous day.

Oh, and they are featuring an “Inspiration Pavilion”. AND they are taking attendees by shuttle to visit wedding locations in Sedona. AND there will be samples of food and sweets galore. AND there are giveaways to boot! Can you tell I’m excited? I seriously want to go incognito as a bride.

Don’t miss this opportunity to canoodle with Sedona’s talented wedding vendors. To register, click here.

Want to earn a free ticket? Well…all right! We’ve partnered with the Sedona Wedding Bootcamp to offer free tickets to 3 people who leave a comment on this blog post telling us which Sedona Wedding Bootcamp sponsor you can’t wait to chat with. Three comments will be chosen randomly on February 3rd- you will receive an email notifying you that your comment was randomly chosen along with instructions telling you how to claim your free ticket.

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

The Bicycle Crawl Map is super clever and the Tangerine soda? Yeah, it’s inspired by 2012′s color of the year: Tangerine Tango!

The lobby at the Hotel Valley Ho is mod and hip

Here is the video with Victoria’s advice:

Style Central #2 from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Thanks to those who contributed to this photoshoot:

Stylist: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events

Location: Hotel Valley Ho

Photographer: Sedona Bride Photographers

Paper Products: The Event Essentials

Videography: Serendipity Videography

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

If the fog wasn’t rolling in, you would see the Golden Gate bridge on the left side. I’m pretty sure that it’s not possible to get married anywhere else in the city and have this spectacular view

The hotel offers the “Happily Ever After” wedding package featuring, “A 40th floor Sky Deck ceremony guaranteeing a unique, intimate and meaningful start to a happy marriage. Bride and groom are halfway to the stars as they exchange vows overlooking beautiful San Francisco Bay and its iconic landmarks. Reception and dinner follow in one of the hotel’s exquisite private rooms. Working with the hotel’s talented wedding coordinators, couples can personalize their ‘Happily Ever After’ package to ensure their desires are met and simplify the decision-making process.”

Another bonus to choosing San Francisco for your destination wedding is that you can stay there for your honeymoon too!  It’s a romantic and exciting city that you will surely fall in love with.

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog,

Kelly

(These cabanas are at Sandals Montego Bay , right outside my door!)

I recently visited this Caribbean island and although I don’t want to gush too much, I have to say, it is a near-perfect wedding and honeymoon destination. Of course we know Jamaica as a honeymoon escape but the island’s wedding market has blossomed and if you want a place that’s friendly, fun and delicious (hello jerk anything!), Jamaica is a place you will want to consider.

Homebase was Sandals Montego Bay, the first Sandals ever built, and I loved so many things about this resort. The staff was unbelievably friendly, the room had the perfect Jamaican feel and our beach access was amazing. It’s a place to party, to embrace romance and to find adventure.

(Above images courtesy of OneWed)

This is Scotchie’s where you will have the best jerk food experience of your life, guaranteed. Do not miss this place- and no it’s not on fire, the smoke is just part of the ambiance! I tried to find a way to bring back the Scotch sauce (made from scotch-bonnet peppers that made me joyfully weep with hard- core spiciness) but I just couldn’t find a way to get it through customs. Darn!

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

I can’t possibly tell you everything I did while “working” in Jamaica but I want to highlight a few notable options for destination weddings. The first is the heavy hitter- Sandals. This king of the all-inclusive vacation is known for its honeymoons but they have recently partnered with Martha Stewart Weddings to make your destination wedding in Jamaica a seamless event.  I was able to experience the Martha Stewart wedding themes in person and I can promise you, they are executed as precisely as if Martha were there on site herself. Each theme is impeccably designed from the ceremony flowers to the reception decor to the sweets.

Here are a few images from our “Chic & Natural” lunch at one of my top 2 Jamaica resorts, Sandals Royal Plantation. Along with the most gracious staff, this lemon and thyme cocktail greeted us and it was smooth sailing from there!

(Above Images Courtesy of OneWed)

The pistachio fondant cupcake was beautiful and delicious!

(Photo courtesy of OneWed)

The resort’s decor is beyond compare- I really took to the old world Jamaican charm of this resort

(Photo Courtesy of OneWed)

We experienced the  “Seaside Serenade” wedding theme at Sandals Montego Bay

(Images courtesy of OneWed)

The next resort  to consider escaping to is Tensing Pen in Negril. This boutique hotel is for those who want an intimate destination experience. Every room is a separate bungalow, the grounds feel like home and they have the sweetest dogs on site to greet you. Here are the puppies that I fell in love with:

In true hospitable Jamaican form, Tensing Pen served us a delicious lunch then treated us like queens by allowing us to take over a house on the property. This quiet but gracious and luxurious hotel is a Jamaican treasure.

(Above images courtesy of OneWed)

This bridge has absolutely no railings and if you think it was easy to walk across the first time, you would be wrong. It was scary, even if those gorgeous turquoise waters were below, waiting to break your fall. This is where couples can “Take the Plunge” in the destination wedding spirit.

We all got into the cliff jumping

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

This side of the island, in Negril, is known for its breathtaking sunsets and this one was no exception

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

My trip was spectacular in so many ways but the best was that we were hosted by 2 of the greatest guys, Adrian and Evon, who ate with us, showed us around town, and arranged for lots of daytime (and nighttime) fun. A few of my favorite places were Rick’s Cafe which is known for it’s insane cliff divers and Mystic Mountain.

At Rick’s, you are immersed in the local scene- it’s loud, the divers are flashy and the music is pumpin’ all day long. This guy only jumps when he has secured enough in tip money and although you can’t see it, he is actually wearing a werewolf mask. It’s his gimmick. There was another diver known as the Bird Man waiting to earn enough tip money to jump. He never jumped in the hour we were there- I’m guessing he gets paid very well.

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

We also had some fun at Mystic Mountain- we rode the Sky Explorer to the top and went on the Bobsled ride. If we had enough time we would have done the canopy zipline…next time!

It’s quite possible that your destination wedding dreams could land you in this tropical paradise and you will be so glad you chose Jamaica- you will explore colorful and noisy towns, eat flavorful homemade food (the patties are to die for) and lounge on the sultry beaches. Cheers!

Chatting Soon~ Kelly

L’Opéra at L’Auberge begins with a cocktail reception followed by a lavish dinner and entertainment provided by the lead principal cast members of Arizona Opera’s Nov. 11-20 production of Charles Gounod’s “Faust.”

The dinner menu sounds incredible; dessert is a walnut fig crostata with “Gina’s Homemade Ricotta, Salted Caramel Gelato”. Seriously, this will be a very special evening…I’m thinking this would be a great surprise to some parents as a “Thank You” for all they are doing for your wedding, no? (hint hint!)

Chatting Soon~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

I would like to show you my room…

This is called the “Top of the World Palapa” and it’s where you can find me should I ever run away from home

To entice you even more, here are some details on Casa Colina’s luxurious amenities:

- A secluded and private location perched atop a hillside in Isla Navidad.

- 360-degree views of the lush countryside and jewel-toned Pacific Ocean.

- Private outdoor pool and terrace where meals can be served or cocktails enjoyed at sunset.

- Expansive outdoor area with an infinity-edge pool, blue-tiled Jacuzzi, gourmet BBQ, and plush lounge chairs and umbrellas.

- Surround-sound home theatre with a 65” Panasonic plasma TV, satellite receiver, and DVD player.

- Fitness center with state-of-the-art machines, chilled towels and water, and fold-back windows with views of the ocean and mountains.

- Indoor/outdoor Top of the World Palapa with a custom-built Estrella chandelier, fully-stocked bar, and views of the mountains and ocean.

- Lagoon View Lounge with a hand-laid brick cathedral ceiling and Balinese furnishings.

- Private staff and chef on-site everyday to meet guests’ needs, including massages by the pool, personally tailored meals, and housecleaning services.

- Close proximity to the famous Isla Navidad Grand Bay Resort, an AAA four-diamond hotel with a 27-hole golf course; lagoon-side tennis courts; horseback riding; water sports such as kayaking and catamaran Hobie Cats; and deep-sea fishing available year-round at the Grand Bay Aquatic Club.

And of course, there’s a deal to be had, but it’s only for a few more months so get on it!

Now through December 1, 2011, guests who stay at Casa Colina six nights get the seventh night free. This is in addition to also offering guests some of the lowest summer seasonal rates of any private villa in Mexico – nearly 50 percent off its regular rates. Low season rates, which run through the end of September 2011, begin at $2900 compared to Casa Colina’s high season rates of $4900. But the savings don’t end there. Casa Colina is also offering a 5% discount per bedroom not used during your stay. For example, if you have four people in your party and require only two rooms, you would get a 20 % discount for not using the four other bedrooms. Rates include airport pickup and drop off, private chef and staff, and laundry services.

I can imagine that Casa Colina is going to book up pretty quickly so go on and get it!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

Here I am with the group- we really enjoyed each other and had a great time together!

We stayed at Sandals Montego Bay; this is the beach cabana situation…

A private dinner on the beach

The first night I was there we were treated to a “reception” dinner complete with cocktails, dinner and a steel drum band. The table decor is from the Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart Collection (more to come on this later!)

We enjoyed some tourist excursions; this was at Mystic Mountain and it’s a bobsled ride that is completely fun! My hair was lovin’ the humidity (I use “lovin’” loosely)

A Jamaican favorite- the pattie. This light and flaky goodness is filled with meat, cheese or seafood. Delicious!

We visited the Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios where we took a tour of the gorgeous property, sampled reception appetizers, listened to a Mento Band and had a lovely lunch

These sweet guys played “Here Comes the Bride” for us!

The Jolly Boys are the most famous Mento Band- we did not see them but I am sure their sound will be familiar to you:

We then had lunch at a table set with Martha’s “Chic and Natural” wedding decor. This was my favorite!

We also went to Tensing Pen which is a boutique hotel in Negril; it has a more secluded feel to it, beautiful water, a scary bridge that would be totally illegal in the states and cliff jumping. Yes, I walked the bridge AND jumped at the cliffs!

Jamaica has some of the most entertaining signage I have ever seen!

Sunset at Tensing Pen…

That’s it for now! I have so much to share with you so watch for our official Destination Monday post featuring Jamaica.

Many thanks to the Jamaica Tourist Board for hosting us- it was simply wonderful!

Chatting Soon~Kelly