Jun

Sedona Wedding Studio’s Bridal Bootcamp!

categories: for your ceremony, from the consultants, health and beauty, Meet Our Friends, open houses, photography, Tips and Advice, Trends

A few months ago I couldn’t stop tweeting and facebooking about Sedona Wedding Studio’s Bridal Bootcamp. I went, I gushed, I took copious notes. Today I am sharing with you what I gleaned at the bootcamp and some of my not- so- great images. It turns out my Blackberry doesn’t take the best pics and SWS co-founders and photographers, Sedona Bride Photographers, were busy teaching people stuff to take very many; here’s a game for you: see if you can discern between my pics and theirs (haha)!

In case you haven’t been there, Sedona Wedding Studio is a charming place where you can meet all the vendors you would want to meet for your wedding. You can browse samples of vendors’ work, schedule meetings with vendors and be inspired by the sites and smells. OH, the smells! Sedona Cake Couture is in the space adjacent to the studio and there is always something that you just have to try. Look at this irresistable sweets case:

Guests of the bootcamp received invaluable advice from professionals such as Liz Margin, make up artist; Dana DeLuz, Dance Instructor; Andrea Carusetta-Blount, cake artist; coordinators Margaret Van Damme, Judi Bloomfield and Karen Lynn; Bobby Russell, DJ; Katrina and Andrew, photographers and co-founders of Sedona Wedding Studio; and Ken and Jim, floral designers and co-founders of Sedona Wedding Studio.

They also set up some cute vignettes throughout the space for wedding inspiration:

The macarons were a big hit:

I am pretty sure Sedona Wedding Studio is going to host another Bridal Bootcamp in the future and if you didn’t go, I urge you to do so. They are the nicest people around, the bootcamp is intimate and personal, Sedona is gorgeous, and every single Sedona Wedding Studio vendor travels, especially to Phoenix.

Here are a few tips that I think would be helpful to anyone planning their wedding, brought to you by the members of Sedona Wedding Studio:

Liz Margin Makeup: stay away from blue undertones since red/pink on the eyes can make you look tired; avoid super bright lips

Dana DeLuz Dance Studio: practice your wedding dance in different surroundings so that the wedding floor surroundings don’t throw you off

Sedona Cake Couture: add crunch to your cake! Use pralines, coconut, etc. for texture

Van Damme Weddings: define your style by gathering materials, pictures, etc. then see what color palette emerges. Once you determine the colors, don’t change! Huge trends: grey suits/dresses, 40′s inspired details, shades of blue, honeysuckle, Hollywood Glam

Sedona Wedding Planner: seek a variety of venue options and determine your priorities.The Forest Service properties are beautiful but you cannot bring anything onto them, including chairs; B&B’s are great for intimate weddings; Resorts offer guest convenience; Private Properties are beautiful but may have noise curfews; Vineyards are great, etc.

Events by Showstoppers: Be open to suggestions about flowers since the time of year determines what looks best; have an idea of what you want and the style you are looking for but be open to the designer’s professional opinions- they are not necessarily trying to get you to spend more money, but they do want the floral to be the best it can be.

Sedona Sounds: Make sure your DJ is professional and practices the pronunciations of names well before the wedding day. Bobby Russell actually tapes the way you pronounce names and practices them!

Sedona Bride Photographers: it’s best to have 2 photographers; consult with your photographer before sending out the invites- time/lighting are important factors; if possible, choose a prep area with lots of natural light; candles and up- lighting are really important; meet wiht the photographer- do not base your decision on website alone.

And my tip, that I humbly offered to the bootcampers: listen to your gut. If you meet with a vendor and you just don’t feel like you are connecting well, don’t hire them. They may not be connecting with you either. Often, the best weddings are not those where the most money was spent but those that are made up of a team of vendors who really get you and your style.

I will be sure to keep you posted on the next Sedona Wedding Studio Bridal Bootcamp- those who did attend had a blast!

The food was catered by Heartline Cafe and it was delicious!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

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tags: Sedona Bridal Bootcamp, Sedona Wedding Studio
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May

Real Wedding: Lisa and Glenn

categories: fabulous reception sites, floral inspiration, from the consultants, real weddings, Scottsdale Weddings

Paradise Valley’s Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa is nothing short of grand. The expansive grounds and stylish Medittereanean design beautifully embrace weddings and Lisa and Glenn’s wedding was no exception. Their coordinator, Cicely Rocha-Miller of Life Design Events, shared their day with us and I am so excited for you to ooh and ahh over the prettiness that’s coming.

Lisa has an amazing range of expressions- I can imagine photographer Chris Richards’ job was especially fun this day!

Cicely made my job super easy today because she asked Lisa all the questions I would have asked her about the wedding day! The Q and A between Lisa and Cicely:

C: What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

L: Seeing Glenn’s smiling face waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Also, sitting with both of our families at the reception at the family table. It really meant a lot to both of us to be sitting next to our parents.

This is quite possibly one of my favorite “just married” shots ever!

C: Tell me about your floral

L: Our florist was a great family friend from Tucson who I have known for years. She is a very talented florist. I told her the colors that we wanted and certain types of flowers, and she tool care of the rest.

C: Why did you choose Montelucia Resort and Spa to have your wedding reception?

L: The beautiful view of Camelback was exactly what we were looking for the cocktail hour. We wanted to have a classy reception, but still show off the beauty of Arizona. It is a gorgeous resort that offered us everything that we wanted: great food, beautiful scenery, a warm and romantic inside venue, and a great hotel for our guests to enjoy.

C: Why did you pick the ballroom for your reception?

L: We knew it would be cold once the sun went down, so we decided to have the reception inside. The Montelucia does not have a standard, boring ballroom like most other resorts. We were looking for something different in a ballroom…we loved the candle sconces and chandeliers; it made the atmosphere very romantic and cozy.

I love the soft glow and the touches of purple used throughout

C: Are their any details you would like to share about your wedding reception?

L: Everything went very smoothly (thanks to Cicely). We had just the right amount of guests that we could make it around to everyone to thank them for coming, yet still enjoy the evening. The band was awesome and everyone was dancing to every song, even after a long break. All of our guests commented on how yummy the food was; we chose short ribs, which is not your classic wedding meal. It was soooo good, and we both definitely ate all that we could! Everything from the candles, the flowers, and the ballroom set a very romantic mood for the evening. The speeches were all very heartfelt and showed how important our family is to both of us.

C: Anything else you would like to share?

L: I highly recommend a day-of planner. I was happy to do most of the planning beforehand, but it was very helpful to have someone else in charge that day and make sure that everyone was where they were supposed to. I got to relax the whole day and hang out with my family and friends without worrying about decorating myself or delivering things. It was great!

C: Looking back what is one thing you would have done the same and differently?

L: I would not change one thing. It truly was a perfect day: beautiful weather, everything went very smoothly, food was great, music was awesome, and the ceremony was very meaningful and memorable.

We are so happy for you, Lisa and Glenn- Congratulations!

Cicely, thank you for sharing this wedding with us- it was truly a beautiful day!