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

You are just going to love the quiet elegance and modern styling of this Arizona Biltmore Wedding

I love Samantha’s bouquet for it’s simplicity but also for it’s femininity

And the bridesmaids bouquets are so gorgeous too- the shades of pink and coral with greenish-gray flora balance nicely with the gray dresses

You would never know it, but the weather put a damper on Samantha’s outdoor wedding plans and what you see here is “plan B”!

Originally, I had envisioned a romantic outdoor “garden party” theme for the reception, complete with a tent structure and al fresco lighting to set the mood. To our great fortune, the Arizona Biltmore had perfect outdoor spaces and was able to accommodate both our outdoor ceremony and reception requests. Usually, April weather in Arizona is pretty reliable, with warm temperatures and sunny skies. The weather gods had a different plan for us, however, as it decided to pour the day of our wedding and was freezing cold (ok, it was in the 40s, but that’s freezing for us Arizonans!)

We made the decision to move everything indoors the morning of the wedding and I was a little concerned that our Plan B back-up space would end up looking like a generic ballroom. However, through sheer determination and incredibly hard work, our design team, Avant-Garde Studio, and our event planner, Rhonda Rush, were able to “recreate” my garden party theme indoors. Avant-Garde even built the entire tent structure inside the ballroom and draped all of the walls. They made the ballroom incredibly unique looking and beautiful.

We moved the ceremony into the architecturally stunning Aztec Ballroom and it turned out better than we could have ever imagined.

Samantha and Christopher, thank you so much for sharing your day with us and CONGRATULATIONS!!

Samantha and Christopher’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Impact Events

Ceremony and Reception Site: Arizona Biltmore

Photographer: Elyse Hall

Bridal Gown Store: Monique Lhullier, Mon Amie

Florist: Avant Garde Studio

Invitations: Bella Figura

Cake: Arizona Biltmore

DJ: Power Now Entertainment

Band: The Hamptons Band

Ceremony Musicians: String Serenade

Make-up Artist: Barney’s, Maureen Cosovich

Hair Stylist: Spark Studio Salon, Mandy Samford

Officiant: Rev. Jody Krantz

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

The Grand Prize winner will enjoy a comprehensive wedding ceremony and reception package from Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak and Phoenix Bride & Groom Magazine, complete with food and beverage, photography by Sierra Blanco Photography, flowers and décor by Simply Elegant Event & Wedding Design, videography by Princess Bride, entertainment by Ray the DJ, wedding invitations from The Event Essentials, and wedding cake from Honey Moon Sweets, and the groom’s tuxedo from Mr. Formal and much more valued at $13,205.

The First Place winner will receive a sit-down, three-course plated rehearsal dinner for you and up to 40 guests in the Arizona Room – a private dining space in Rico’s American Grill or in Rico’s Backyard Patio.

The Second Place winner will enjoy an unforgettable one-night stay in a Grand Suite at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and dinner for two at Rico’s with a bottle of champagne.

Visit the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort website for entry details and official rules but what you really want to know is that what you have to do to enter, right? It’s as simple as submitting a video of no longer than three minutes telling Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak the story of your engagement or how you met and why you would be an exceptional candidate to receive the grand prize. You can do this!

Oh, one more detail that you will want to make note of- the deadline to submit your video is March 23, 2012 so get those ideas flowing! Good Luck!

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

This table is from the Binns-Boughan wedding. Why we love it: the succulent floral boxes are perfectly matched to the Desert Botanical Garden’s natural surroundings and the pops of color add a touch of drama.

(Image by: Hollye Schumacher Photography, Floral Design by: Petal Pusher )

This table is from the Fienberg- Cutler wedding. Why we love it: the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North has a ballroom of grand proportions that needs substantial centerpieces to anchor the tables. These beauties from The Flower Studio are just right.

(Image by: Eyes2See Photography)

This  table is from the Gong-Wong wedding. Why we love it: fresh lemons stand out against the white decor and the blue compliments the yellow nicely to create a cheery but modern look.

(Image by: Melissa Jill Photography, Floral Design by: Petal Pusher)

That’s it for now…the new issue hits stands next week!

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

Lauren had 2 rings for the day: the square ring (her wedding ring) is from Jesse- it’s from the Frank Gehry collection at Tiffany’s. Jesse scored big points with Lauren for choosing this ring since she is an interior designer and Gehry is her favorite architect. Good job Jesse! The rectangular ring is one from her mother- when Lauren was a little girl, she loved it and apparently asked her mother for it. It only took her mom a few years to part with it! This special memento served as Lauren’s “something old and something blue”. Lucky girl!

The couple, who is creative to the core (Jesse is also artsy- he’s a video game designer), took matters into their own hands and designed the day to suit their style. Lauren handmade many of her wedding details including the boxes that contained the gifts for her bridesmaids, the boutonnieres, the flower girl basket, the invitations, and the centerpieces. Phew! Lauren was a busy bride-to-be!

Lauren tells us, “My favorite part of the day was finally seeing Jesse for the first time. We spent the night before apart and spent all morning and afternoon the next day preparing for the wedding so I definitely missed him. I was so excited to have him see me in my dress so when the time finally came I suddenly felt at ease. Emily created a “first look” moment for us before the ceremony and I’m so happy we went this route. I had to walk down the corridor of Inspirador with Jesse’s back to me, then I tapped him on the shoulder so he could turn around and see me. It was very romantic and personal.”

The reception tables are so sweet- the small pumpkins and simple centerpieces with rich fall colors are elegant and inviting

Lauren and Jesse chose to forgo the cake for donuts. Lauren tells us, “We really wanted our wedding to be unique, casual and most of all fun. I read about a wedding that did coffee and donuts and was instantly in love with the idea because not only was it way more affordable than a cake, but we both love coffee and donuts–who doesn’t?”

Lauren and I chatted a bit…

KG: Tell us about your honeymoon

L: The only place we registered for our wedding was Honeyfund, so we were able to enjoy our honeymoon and not have to worry about expenses! Our honeymoon was in San Francisco. I had only been to California two times before, one of which was a year before our wedding when he proposed to me on the Port of San Francisco. I fell in love with SF and it seemed like the perfect place to spend our honeymoon. We stayed in the same hotel as our time when he proposed to me, which is my absolute favorite! Hotel Des Arts is right by China Town and The Irish Bank-an Irish Pub which we love. Every room is designed/painted by a different artist, and with Jesse and I both being artists it’s the perfect choice. (Lauren loved using Honeyfund but advises that couples explain the process to their guests; some of her guests were confused about how to use it)

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

L: The best advice I can give for the actual wedding day is to forget about all the little worries in the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your big day! I was positive there were little details I had forgotten, but I finally told myself — if I really did forget something, what the heck am I going to do about it now?! The day goes by so fast you really have to stop and soak in all the little moments as much as possible.

Planning the wedding can definitely be stressful, and in my case the expenses were the only stressful parts, so I honed in on my creative side and utilized it! I love being crafty and to me it gives more of a personal touch, not to mention it’s much less expensive in most cases.

KG: What is your favorite thing about each other?

L: My favorite thing about Jesse…It’s hard to pick just one thing…I love that he can ALWAYS make me laugh, but most of all I knew he was the one when I realized that being with him made me feel that I could be myself 100% of the time, and I was, and he loved me for it.

J: My favorite thing about Lauren is that not only does she laugh at all my jokes, but she is the sweetest, kindest, and most lovable person I know. That’s a couple things but for me it’s all part of the same beautiful package.

Congratulations Lauren and Jesse and thank you for sharing your beautiful day with us!

Lauren and Jesse’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Inspirador

Photographer: Emily Snitzer Photography

Florist: Avant Garde

Bridal Gown: Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Tuxedos: Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique

DJ: Direct Sounds DJ’s, Jeff Jones

Officiant: Ed West, family member

Make-up Artist/Hair Stylist: Allison Houseman, family friend

(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