What in the world could we be discussing today? Is it guest etiquette during a first dance? No! Is it wedding guest cell phone taboos? Nope! Today we are talking about our teeniest, sweetest and often noisiest guests…the kids!

(Photo By: Eyes2See Photography)

(Photo By: Chris Richards Photography)

Many couples plan for children to be at their weddings and I am all for it. Families are blending, flower girls and ring bearers have wedding duties and children love a party just as much as adults do but how can you keep kids happy and entertained so they don’t become unruly? You must be very clever and plan ahead.

(Photo By: Marriott Photo)

(Photo By: Chris Richards Photography)

During my years in the wedding world, I have seen couples plan fabulous fun for the kids and I have seen couples shun this idea (only to pay the expensive broken vase price later). Check out these ways to keep kids (or even adults) busy:

1. The kids table! I loathed being banished to the kids table at Thanksgiving but if you make it a fun and kid-friendly table, I’m sure you won’t hear any complaints

(Photo By: Phyllis Lane Photography)

(Photo By: Jennifer Bowen Photography)

2. Activities are key; even the littlest ones can play I Spy (with the help of someone who can read of course), Word Finds and Wedding Word Scrambles

(Photo By: Jennifer Bowen Photography , Concept By: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events)

(Photo By: Marriott Photo)

Crossword puzzles keep all ages occupied

(Photo By: Sergio Photographer)

3. Go super-creative and set up a kids’ game station. This Tic Tac Toe game from our Seven Canyons photoshoot in Sedona can easily be modified to fit any wedding decor.

(Concept By: Sedona Luxury Weddings and Events and Dalish Events, Photo By: Sedona Bride Photographers)

If you plan to entertain several children over the age of 6 and you want to go down is history as the VERY best wedding hosts, bring in a portable Game Truck. The kids will go in to play all kinds of games but I must warn you: you probably won’t see them the rest of the night!

(Photo Courtesy of Games2U)

4. Instill a little competition: by posting trivia games at the table, you are appealing to kids’ competitive natures. This is appropriate for older kids and adults depending on the trivia. Include a prize for the most correct answers and you will really get them going!

(Concept By: Butterfly Petals, Photo By: Ten West Photography)

5. Set up a separate kids dance floor. You can use your own ipod pepared with kids dance music or even bring someone in to be the kids’ DJ- they can do the chicken dance, hokey pokey, etc. Don’t be surprised if some of the adults wander over to “check on the kids”!

(Photo By: Something Blue Photography)

6. And finally, keep them fed! You know how cranky you get when you are hungry? Kids are the same way! You can offer easy to eat kids’ food like mac and cheese or chicken fingers but if you want to really keep the kids happy, set up kid friendly food stations like a taco bar, hamburgers and hot dogs or a pasta bar. And of course, don’t forget a sundae bar.

(Photo By: Jennifer Bowen Photography)

Surely these happy kids had some fun at the wedding…and behaved too!

(Photo  By: Chris Richards Photography

Chatting Soon~Kelly

 

 

 

 

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We all know that the real fun of weddings is hanging out with the bridal party- these are the people you hand-picked to stand at the ready whenever you need assistance, to take the heat, to tell you how gorgeous you look and give you honest but extremely kind opinions on wedding matters big and small. So you want to treat them well, right? Usually this means a spa day for the girls and golfing for the guys. It’s tried and true and I will never knock this approach but today I want to share with you some alternative things to do with your besties to get them ready for your big day.

First, let’s talk airbrush tanning. Come on, we all know you do it or want to do it! Is it a good option for your pre-wedding prep? Absolutely. But do you know who to go to so you don’t end up looking like a creamsicle? Check out this properly airbrushed gal:

Who’s work is this, you ask? Sarah Sanmarco, professional makeup artist, who’s work has been seen all over town, especially at weddings. Now, did you know there is an organic airbrushing option? I had no idea so Sarah and I had a little discussion. Here’s what you need to know about Organic vs. Non-Organic Airbrush Tanning:

SS: The whole reason I started Tanning with Organic Solution was to offer everyone, including myself, a safe way to have a nice & natural tan w/out harmful UVA/UVB rays that are damaging to our skin & without using harmful chemicals. I was just in a tanning salon this morning & asked the owner a few questions about his solution & his take on Organic vs Non. He said, “the only difference is there are no preservatives in Non- Organic Solutions & are the same other than that.” This is simply not true.

Organic Tanning Solution does not contain alcohol, perfume or preservatives which some people can have a reaction to. This type of solution is primarily odorless, eliminating that smell you detect when using self tanners. The natural ingredients are plant derived, containing no artificial chemicals. Also this type of solution is safe for the face.

Regarding Non- Organic Solutions, the government regulates DHA and they allow several contaminants in the solution: lead, arsenic and mercury. According to a news organization, arsenic and mercury are allowed because they were originally approved to apply topically. It was not meant to be in contact with your lungs, membranes (which will get the contaminants into your bloodstream), and lips.

Sarah makes a pretty good case for Organic, doesn’t she? She is mobile so she can come to you and your bridal party, you will want to book her 1-3 days prior to the wedding day, each person takes about 10 minutes total, and she customizes the color so you will look naturally tan, not orangey. At $45 per tan, this is an excellent way to treat your bridal party and get them picture ready!

Another option that is totally guy and gal friendly is teeth whitening. Your bridal party is sure to smile bigger and with more confidence when they know their teeth look great so offer a treatment that will brighten their teeth and remove stains immediately. Denis Belusic, who uses the DaVinci Teeth Whitening System, runs a mobile operation so you can relax at your own place, whether it be a resort or a home, while he works his magic! Call Denis for more info and to book your appointment: 623.322.5029

Is your bridal party a group that likes hands- on activites? How about scheduling a cooking class for the entire group? We are so lucky to have AndyFood  right here in Arizona. It’s a demonstration kitchen where you get food talk, hands-on kitchen time and tastings all under the guidance of Andy Broder. I have taken several classes at AndyFood and the delights that come out of Andy’s kitchen are amazing! Besides, cooking can be a bonding experience so it’s great for bridal parties or families that may not know each other well. Andy tells me “we customize each event and make suggestions that are specific to a group. For example – if everyone is coming from the east coast a Southwest theme is nice.  At a rehearsal we can suggest a plan that gets opposite sides of the family working on the same recipe.”

 

And this next activity should be mandatory for any bridal party: yoga. Everyone is busy with wedding stuff, you are preparing for the biggest day of your lives, emotions are running high…who couldn’t use some downtime? Yoga studios such as Zenergy Yoga offer private yoga classes for all skill levels so there is no need for anyone to be intimidated. Center yourselves and reflect on what lies ahead…

One more thing that visitors to Arizona should experience is hiking so why not do a guided group hike? The person you need to know for this is Suzi DeMaio-Donovan. This personal trainer and fitness instructor hosts group hikes anywhere in AZ and trust me, she is the person you want to show you the trails. Suzi is an avid outdoorsman and offers a range of  hiking packages for 2-10 people. She meets you at the start of the trail and provides water, snacks and backpacks if needed. A favorite feature of mine: she does sunrise, sunset or even MOONLIGHT hikes! Can you imagine how beautiful that would be (and great for summer)? She says you don’t even need flashlights because the moon is so bright during these hikes. And if you are really into adventure, she even does moonlight Stand-Up Paddling.

It’s a given that you are going to spend some time with your bridal party before the wedding so why not do something different? When you offer activities, your besties get to hang out together and bond a little. Besides, they need some pampering too!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

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