So what are you going to do with this information? You are going to listen to the wedding coordinators who know best. I asked Arizona’s top wedding coordinators what they would pair this lively color with and here’s what they said:

Jennifer Thye of Imoni Events: I would probably pair it with a peach or something soft yet orangey like that. Since Tangerine is such a bold color, you don’t want too many bold colors competing for attention. Or I would get all Cuban on ya and do a bunch of bold colors paired with rusts and browns.

(Photo from: Project Wedding.com)

(Photo from: BHG.com)

Victoria Canada of Victoria Canada Weddings and Events: Pinks would look great….. Greens- go vibrant. For the daring- I would go with a bold black and white pattern with it- NO, not for the faint of heart but it’s like wearing an all black suit and then popping with some red shoes. Could be fab!

(Photo by: Austin Gros Photography)

(Photo from: Ashley’s Wedding Guide.com)

Amy Mancuso of Amy Mancuso Events: So many choices. Probably a Tiffany Blue with Gold accents, or a really Hot Pink!

(From ZenadiaDesigns.com)

(Photo from: WeddingsontheFrenchRiviera.com)

Margaret Van Damme of VanDamme Weddings: Love this color and love it with slate and turquoise!

(Photo by: (l) Elizabeth Messina, (r) f8 Photo Studios)

Monica McQueen of Tres Chic Events: My immediate thoughts are pale yellow and blush. Feels summery. OR turquoise for a fall feel.Would love it!

(Photo from: WeddingWire.com)

(Photo by: Emily Snitzer Photography)

 Heather Crabtree of Outstanding Occasions would pair it with Pewter, like this:

(From Snippet and Ink via Modern Romance)

Of course I have my own favorite color combos for Tangerine- I love it with purple…yes, purple! Here’s how to do it without making it look Halloween-y.

(Photo from: TheWeddingGuy.com)

(Photo from: ElementsofStyleblog.com)

And for a less bold more elegant look, olive green is a great choice

(Photo from: ElementsofStyleblog.com)

OK, now that you know what we like with Tangerine Tango, what would you pair it with?

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

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

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

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

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

As far as I’m concerned, this floral concept is the #1 way to impact the look of your ceremony and Events by Showstoppers specializes in them. Ken and Jim, Showstoppers’ founders,  consistently design spectacular carpets and never stop innovating with their designs. It’s cutting edge floral that rocks my world!

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Phyllis Lane Photography)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Phyllis Lane Photography)

(Photo by: Phyllis Lane Photography)

Events by Showstoppers creates carpets for corporate functions as well- fashion shows, photoshoots, etc. This carpet may look familiar since it was designed for our 10th Anniversary Issue cover (and our 10th Anniversary Gala)!

 (Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo by: Sedona Bride Photographers)

This is from Wildflower Linen’s Arizona warehouse debut  fashion show (see more from the Wildflower Linens Show) :

Now do you see why I love these? Rose petals will never be the same again!

As you can imagine, the process of designing and executing these very special carpets is labor intensive but I think Events by Showstoppers founders Jim and Ken really have a passion for it. Here’s what they had to say when I asked them a few questions about their work:

KG: You always seem to be on the cutting-edge when it comes to floral design. Where do you get your inspiration from?

J/K: We get our inspiration from all kinds of sources. One source is from our love of old classic movies. We love to incorporate, for example, lighting effects we see in old ” film noir ” movies from the 40s and 50s. Some of our best inspiration comes from the old classic biblical movies where we get great ideas for fabric draping, unusual color schemes, and other lighting effects. The half circular rose petal carpet we produced for a PB&G shoot at L’Auberge ( a few issues ago ) was actually inspired while watching Cleopatra. I designed the carpet like an Egyptian jeweled collar. When I explain the inspiration for this design, people immediately ” get it .”

KG: How long have you been doing rose petal carpets and what do you love most about them?

J/K: For about 4 years. I especially love the process of drawing the concept, selecting the colors and calculating the quantity. Seeing the final result and how it pleases the onlookers is very fulfilling.

KG: What challenges do you face when creating rose petal carpets and how do you overcome them?

J/K: Wind. You don’t overcome it. You have to go with it.

KG: If you could create your dream rose petal carpet, what would it look like?

J/K: A kaleidoscope. Lots of interesting things can be done.. especially indoors.

KG: What floral trends are you seeing for Winter ’11/Spring ’12 weddings?

J/K: I don’t know about other designers but we are interested in one color ( monochromatic ) color schemes with multiple, muted derivatives of that color, combined with various tones of grey. Like muddy mustard colors combined with charcoal and lighter grey. Also interested in complimentary and split-compliment schemes like mustard colors against raspberry and fuchsia with grey or silver.

Events by Showstoppers just launched their new website too- it’s full of their gorgeous floral designs. And yes, the Rose Petal Carpets have a dedicated section!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

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Event Designer Kimberly McDowell of The Event Essentials tells us about the flowers: Each girl carried blush roses that were stemwrapped to match their dresses and pinned with a rhinestone brooch keepsake (which also matched the brooches on the cake). The moms wore white roses wrist corsages that were attached to a beautiful rhinestone keepsake bracelet. The bride carried a stunning bouquet adorned with a blue brooch (something blue).

Gina and Drew, mid-ceremony, surprised both of their parents with a vow renewal. What a special way to honor their parents’  marriages and add a very personal touch to a ceremony

The couple chose pink and ivory for their reception decor which glowed beautifully in the candle light. The fireplaces were framed with raspberry uplighting and a custom designed monogram framed the wall behind the vintage lace sweetheart table.

The couple had their guests use these custom sparklers for their send-off

Gina’s aunt made the biscotti favors, yum!

KG: What is your favorite memory from the day?

GK: I can only pick one?! I loved everything about our wedding but I think the reaction our parents had to their vow renewal was amazing. It was a complete surprise to them and it meant so much to both Drew’s parents and mine.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

GK: Hiring Kim McDowell of The Event Essentials! She was phenomenal and when people compliment the beauty and elegance of our wedding I always credit her. Our day would not have been as beautiful or stress free without her

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

GK: Drew planned the entire trip to St. Lucia for 10 nights and we stayed at Ladera . This place should be on everyone’s bucket list! It’s like a five star resort tree house style with only 3 walls in every room and a private pool looking out at rainforest and ocean views. The resort is situated 1,000 feet above sea level. As the sunset, we sat in our pool swing and saw more stars in one night than we had seen in our entire lives and fell asleep to the sounds of the breeze and the rainforest. So amazing!

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

GK: Take your time and tackle one thing at a time. Planning your wedding should be an enjoyable part of the experience as well

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

GK: What’s not to love? I get to spend everyday with my best friend and everyday is better than the last. I know it sounds like the things fairy tales are made of but I love and appreciate every moment we get to be in each others lives.

Congratulations Gina and Drew and thank you so much for sharing your beautiful day with us!

Gina and Drew’s Real Wedding Team:

Invitations and Event Design: The Event Essentials

Ceremony and Reception Site: Sassi

Photographer: Justine Miller Photography

Videographer: Legacy HDV

Florist: Your Event Florist

Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

Band: Easton Ashe

Ceremony Musicians: Sweetwater Strings

Officiant: Father Jim Husek

Rentals: Premier Events

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

Well preparing for a fight and a wedding are very similar, it starts off with finding out who you are going to fight/marry. I had that down so that was no trouble. I had found the perfect opponent : )

Getting an actual date in the future is the next step, it seems far away, but you never have enough time to prepare.

Look at gorgeous Daisy!

In the months preparing for a fight/wedding there is a ton of work to put in. This is what no one sees behind the scenes. The sacrifices, the sweat, tears, and even some blood from time to time. As the day approaches, there are a plethora of different emotions running through you, excitement, nervousness, fear, fear, fear. This last emotion is really reserved for one of the events, and I can tell you I do not bring fear into the cage.

Fight day/wedding day is the worst day, especially in the morning as far as nerves go. You can’t really eat, everything is running through your mind. I like to keep friends and family around to calm down a bit and to keep it light.

I especially love the girls’ dresses and how shades of purple were embraced throughout

Then the event starts and it your time, you worked so hard to get here and put in all the work. You walk in front of the crowd and face your opponent, and this is where the two differ. Usually I am facing ugly cavemen, and this time I am facing my beautiful bride, and where I am usually looking to knock my opponent out, on this day at the wedding, I am the one knocked out by how gorgeous she is and that I will be able to spend the rest of my life with my favorite training partner, my wife.

Daisy chose for her bridal bouquet plum color calla lilies and the stems were wrapped with a beautiful crystal rosary that her mom found in Santa Fe, New Mexico- love this special touch

The couple was married in front of a custom altar. An antique French Cross along with a Virgin Mary Relic from the Bride’s Family’s personal collection were a sentimental focal point.  The flowers for the ceremony rotunda were natural twigs, grapevine, angel vine with accents of green dendrobium orchids and hypercum berries. The guests and family walked down the aisle to the ethereal music from harpist VeeRona and the Bride walked down to Beyonce’s version of Ave Maria sung by a beautiful vocalist.

A beautiful antique candle altar was offered to guests that wished to say a prayer or a wish for Daisy and Ryan

Seating cards were on silver and gold mini- pumpkins painted by the bride’s niece

Three different table linens were used in shades ranging from lilac to plum. Coordinator Victoria Canada used an abundance of candlelight; gold mercury glass accents were found throughout. The elevated centerpieces were placed upon custom made wrought iron that had an elegant Southwest feel. Lush green and lavender hydrangea, scabiosa pods, bells of ireland, cool water roses, dendrobium orchids, calla lilies, lisianthus, hypercum berries, dahlias and stock were used in the centerpieces and other decor throughout the beautiful Encanterra Golf and Country Club

Action stations featured sumptious food such as Sushi, Kobe sliders, Potato Martinis and more

The big panty surprise is a hilarious take on the garter toss!

It was the night before Halloween so the photo area included many fun props for the guests to use their imagination! And there was a “Man Cave” car lounge with numerous luxury cars and trucks for guests to ooh and ahh over from the Bride’s family dealerships. The music at this area was customized to be more “masculine” artists- Led Zepplin, Springsteen, etc. Cigars were placed out for the gentlemen and ladies.

Daisy changed from her beautiful gown to a gorgeous, sparkly moss color dress to continue the party

Late night mac & cheese and cookies & milk were served as guests were safely transported back to their hotels

Can you see why I was so excited to share Daisy and Ryan’s Real Wedding with you? I would say Ryan won this match!

Check out their wedding video here:

Ryan & Daisy at Encanterra from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Daisy and Ryan’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events

Photographer: Hollye Schumacher Photography

Ceremony and Reception Site: Encanterra Country Club

Florist: Jan Dekker Designs

Bridal Gown Store: Uptown Bridal

Videographer: Serendipity Videography

Invitations: Definitely Debra

Caterer: Encanterra Country Club

DJ: Desert House Productions

Ceremony Vocalist: Katy Brady

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Make-up Artist: Jenn White

Officiant: Father Mike DuPre

Linens: Southwick Linens