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

To celebrate the  release of their newest colors (mustard, raspberry and indigo), we’ve partnered with Urbanears to give a set of Raspberry Bagis Headphones to one of our readers!

When you check out the Urbanears website, play around with the color selector, it’s pretty cool! Here’s a screenshot of the 3 newest colors (mustard, raspberry and indigo) and the 4 styles available:

For your wedding, I’m thinking these headphones would  make great bridal party gifts since you can either chose your attendants’ favorite colors or choose colors that match your wedding AND they are one of those gifts that people really want (as opposed to the default gifts: a flask and flip flops).

Urbanears Giveaway Details:

* Go to Urbanears to browse the colors and styles

* Click on this giveaway entry link to enter to win by December 31, 2011

Before you know it, you will be rockin’ out with the most stylish headphones on the block!

 The giveaway period has ended for this giveaway

We can all appreciate pictures of a bride with a flowing veil but when the wind kicks in, it gets a little out of control. Since you can’t have someone stand with you at all times to tame your veil, you are stuck with a crazy veil situation . Check out this bride (I have to say, she’s handling the weather and her unruly veil pretty well):

(Image by: Eyes2See Photography)

Brides used to be out of luck if their wedding happened to be on a windy day but now you can actually tame your veil in a pretty way. Save the Veil is a set of 6 magnetic veil weights, in either Mother of Pearl or Swarovski Crystal (oval or round), that simply hold your veil in place. This is the kind of thing you buy and have on hand just in case; in other words, a Great Find! Check out the video:

 Think of how smart you are going to feel if your wedding falls on a windy day and you whip these out!

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog,

Kelly

So what’s in my lap today? A few goodies that are not really related to each other but should please you nonetheless (and please your besties should you be looking for bridal party gifts).

First is a clutch I am DYING for. This is monumental because I am not necessarily a purse girl. I have a few but they’re not sexy or particularly flashy. These reversible luxe babies from Hammocks &  High Tea (a luxury eco-friendly textile company) are a game changer for me:

I covet the black and white one the most (says the non-purse girl…)

Do you see why I’ve been in sort of a tizzy over these? They’re smart and stylish- a combo that gets me every time. Browse Hammocks & High Tea’s website and be ready to pounce because these are available starting today and have hit the stores just in time for gift giving season!

The next product you need to check out is perfect for your ENTIRE bridal party, not just the gals. Urbanears came to me via Stephanie Gandy-Riley, our editor, and I knew they were special from the get go. These ultra-hip headphones come in 4 styles and so many colors; surely you’ll find your bridal party’s favorite colors or a set to coordinate with your wedding colors. If you are into music, like to make music, or want the coolest aisle dance in the history of aisle dances, get yourself some Urbanears. Here are the Raspberry Bagis headphones:

And here’s a screen shot of the new Fall color choices (I played around with the very fun color chooser feature which you will find irresistible):

Just so you know, although the colors are a really tempting and important  feature of Urbanears, they are also a high quality product; the Urbanears founders are known for their passion for style and function. Lucky us!

Now that I have shared 2 fabulous gifts to bestow on your bridal party, it’s your turn to class up the wrapping a bit with these cuties from Lisa Leonard Designs. The “Grateful Tags” are hand-stamped pewter tags that up the charm factor of any gift.

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

A friend told me about Susan Woodward  and I knew instantly that I needed to be the friend who tells YOU about her work. They are simple and powerful at the same time.  Check out Susan’s paintings:

Here’s a bit about her process: I start with either taking the photo myself or using a photo that the client submits to me. I draw the image with pencil onto cotton fiber watercolor paper. I lay in light washes of watercolor paint and build up to heavy darker tones. It usually takes 1-5 hours to complete a painting. I sign the bottom with the name of the subject,the year and of course, my signature.

Here’s a really sweet one of a father and daughter…perfect Dad-of-the-Bride gift, no?

I would be remiss if I didn’t steer you towards Etsy, the fantastical wonderland of all things creative. I found these really cool and modern wall art pieces in the Etsy shop NiceDay4AWhiteWedding ; they make a lovely backdrop to an altar, can be used as reception decor and will ultimately be part of your new home decor. They also make a perfect anniversary gift. It’s impossible for me to choose which I like best- I’ll leave the hard work up to you!

Idea #3 is to combine artwork and your wedding vows. Art Vows has a ton of design options so no matter what your decor, you can probably find a design that fits in with your style. I think this makes a great housewarming gift to give the newlyweds. Here are just a few of the designs available:

(Katagami- Indigo, Artist:  Temma Gentles)

(Gustav Glimt’s “Fulfillment” , Artist: Michelle Rummel)

(Argyle-Precious Metals)

(Love’s Mosaic: Marble and Sandstone, Artist: Robert Saslow)

Part of the planning involved with your wedding is planning to preserve your memories from the day and I see these ideas as beautiful and heartfelt enhancements. Enjoy!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

This year’s theme was “The Four Seasons” so naturally there were 4 categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall

Winter

Seville Golf and Country Club won 1st Place for their elegant and sparkly Winter Wonderland table:

2nd Place Winter was designed by The Buttes; it’s icy, cool and glam all the way:

3rd Place for Winter was designed by Rendezvous Catering; turquoise is a very trendy color right now and I love how it’s paired with a dark taupe linen:

The Winter category also included cakes. 1st Place went to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge  for this whimsical winter scene (they also won the People’s Choice Cake Award):

2nd Place for Cakes went to Arizona Grand Resort:

Spring

Happy and bright is how I describe the tables in the Spring section of the competition. David Twigger took 1st Place for this lovely and impressive table design. He also earned the People’s Choice Award for tabletop decor.

2nd Place by Cake Hole Project is clever- yes those are carrots used as decor!

Summer

Winning 1st Place for Summer is the Lemonade Stand by YKnot Party Rentals. It’s so fresh and happy!

The Rock Candy Stir Stick is just awesome!

2nd Place in Summer was designed by Encore Creative; it’s like a sunset and I am loving the use of warm and inviting orange

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year so it’s fitting that my very favorite table was in the Fall category. Butterfly Petals went wayyyyy above and beyond for this table and I am loving the grey/orange color combo. The mismatched chairs kinda rock my world too (this table won 1st place for Fall):

Trivia at the table for guests to keep themselves busy with…genius!

2nd Place went to J. Starr Events for this warm table- there was actually a TV in the background displaying Fall scenes!

THANK YOU Andy of Ten West Photography for sharing these images with us- great job!

I think we can agree that orange and blue are the stars of this show! These tables are beautiful because of the well-planned designs so if you are trying to be creative with your reception decor, start with color and build!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

I have been using Meeble Mail for about a month now and am shamelessly smitten. I was lost in Email Stationery Heaven for a good hour over at Meeble Mail’s site and I am pretty sure you will be too. The concept is super clever and simple: anyone who has web-based email (yahoo, gmail, hotmail, AOL) can purchase a custom stationery design for a mere $4.99 per year. Go to their site where they have a multitude of design options, create your own stationery, add the bookmarklet to your bookmarks toolbar and voila! You are ready to send emails in style. YOUR style. Here’s a sample of a brand new wedding design that is customized with a monogram:

And since I cannot contain my love for this product, here’s one of my own stationery designs

 As far as I’m concerned, this is a perfect wedding party/best friend/MOB gift. It’s low cost and you can purchase gift certificates too! Best of all, there are so many designs to choose from everyone will find something that suits their style; you will see some big name designers featured at Meeble Mail such as Trina Turk, Lela Rose and Hammocks and High Tea. Have fun emailing…

Another beautiful and elegant way to add a personal touch to your wedding  is with Lisa Leonard Designs- she makes bouquet charms, hand-stamped tokens,  hand-stamped forks and more.

What I especially like about the forks is that they are something you can use on your anniversary or simply for every single meal for the rest of your happily married life!

And finally, for the most welcome and practical gift of all: money! But why give a standard gift card when you can customize a VISA gift card at Gift Card Lab? These make  perfect wedding party gifts (customize the cards with a wedding party pic), thank you’s (give parents a thank you gift card with a picture from the wedding on it- they will LOVE this) or as a tip for your wedding vendors who went above and beyond to make your day fabulous. Here are just a few samples of customized cards:

Gift Card Lab CEO Dave Jones shares his “3 Tips for Giving Cash Tastefully”:

1. Use Photographs- Take your gift to the next level by including photographs with the cash or giftcard. Photographs bring meaning to the gift and communicate that you put thought into a gift above and beyond writing a check. CardLab allows you to add a photo of you and/or the bride and groom to a giftcard.

2. Personalize- Give a gift that truly means something through personalization. Gift CardLab allows wedding attendees to personalize a giftcard, leaving the bride and groom with both cash and a gift that means so much more.

3. Pair the cash with something else– Come up with a creative way to present the cash outside of the typical “card and cash” combo. Affix it to a bottle of wine or stick a check inside of an “Advice for Newlyweds” book.

As a wedding guest, you can purchase a gift card that is wedding themed since most likely you won’t have their images to use before their wedding. If you still want to customize a gift card for the bride and groom, how about using a picture of the couple’s honeymoon destination or your own wedding picture?

I am loving these ways to make wedding gift giving personal- hope you are too!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

IKEA is known for their smart designs, eco-friendly thinking, and most importantly, insanely reasonable prices. Savvy shoppers know that IKEA is the go-to place for all things home so naturally I was intrigued when they recently hosted a Wedding Event in Tempe. Experts shared design ideas, new decor options and smart tips and trends for newlyweds.  Today, I get to share some of their designs with you.

Here are the 3 settings the design experts showcased as table options for your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or even reception:

The total to create the “Black Tie” table is about $163 and that includes the entire set of glassware, plateware and napkins which is more than you need to set the one table so it definitely fits into the “budget friendly” category. The bonus is that whomever purchases these items is able to reuse them so nothing goes in the trash! If you are a newlywed, by creating this table (or  those that follow), you have cleverly decorated your event tables AND started your plateware, flatware, wine glass and decor collections for your new home!

The total for the elegant and beachy “Tiffany Blue” table is $183.  Again, look at how every item on the table can be used in your new place after the wedding! I personally love the blue bowls and the centerpiece. Also, if you are having a Candy Bar at your reception for guests to dig into, IKEA is clearly the place to purchase the candy vessels needed to hold the candy. I use jars like the one above to decorate during the holidays- candy corn makes a great filler at Halloween, small ornament balls or even old-fashioned striped candy is pretty at Christmas- you get the idea! 

The “Rustic Charm” table speaks to me since I am always drawn to browns and earthy colors.  I also love that the total to make this table happen is only $150!  If you want more color, you can always have your florist add pops of color with fresh flowers.

Want proof that these table are on- trend for weddings and fashion in general? Look at Pantone’s Fall 2011 Color Chart below- quarry, cedar, bamboo and orchid hush are used in IKEA’s Wedding Event tables:

Clearly, IKEA is a place to consider for your decor needs, whether for your wedding events or your new home and I hope you are inspired to make your next event beautiful, no matter what your budget!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

You know how it’s practically required that you change your purse when you are going out with your girlfriends or to a formal event? (ahem, like a wedding)

It’s time to extend your impeccable sense of style to your phone case. We are positively smitten with Madison, the beautiful luxe cases from Case Mate.

When I received my gorgeous leather case with Swarovski crystals, I immediately realized what I had been missing. This phone cover is a beauty, and perfect for your girls. I can’t think of a better bridesmaid gift. Imagine how you all will look when you pull out your matching phones.

So much better than whipping out that hot pink and turquoise number which doesn’t go with that pewter dress at all!

Here are some other options from Case Mate that might suit your wedding fancy:

I know my mom would have LOVED one of these. And my girls? They would have swooned over the Madison cases. Wedding stuff is so fun…

Chatting Soon~Kelly

It makes no sense to schlep your beautiful rehearsal dinner dress, perfect wedding day shoes, or brand new honeymoon threads in a cheapy thin plastic dry cleaner’s garment bag. I can almost guarantee it will rip and your precious clothing will not fare well. Jendarling Bags founder Jen Bennett is an environmentalist at heart so she wanted to create a line of bags that were made from eco-friendly fabrics but still had chic appeal. I think she’s succeeded!

These gorgeous bags are also a perfect bridesmaid gift- they are pretty enough that your gals will want to pack their bridesmaid dresses in them and they’re practical enough that they will get many many years of use out of them too. There are also shoe bags to compliment the garment bag fabrics:

Here’s a video for you to watch, from Jendarling founder Jen Bennett:

Jendarling from Amy Plemons on Vimeo.