How did you both meet?

“Zach and I met at the University of Utah’s Marriot Library. Being the studious student that I am, I went to the library in between classes to squeeze in some extra studying. I walked in and noticed a really cute guy sitting at one of the tables. He just so happened to look up when I walked into the room, so a gave him a big friendly smile! After a few minutes of sitting at my own table, Zach came over and used the infamous, “Do I know you from somewhere?” line. I smiled and said, “Nope, I am pretty sure you don’t! This is my first semester at the U.” After an hour of talking, Zach asked me if I wanted to go to the gym with him, and I of course obliged. It is really funny for us to look back at it now because we were both so silly about the whole situation. ”

What made you decided to have your wedding in Southern Utah?

“Zach grew up in St. George, and ever since we started dating one of our favorite things was to escape the cold weather and stress of school and work by going to visit his family in Southern Utah. We both love the beautiful red rock background and the unique matching architecture of Entrada. We wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding location! ”

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

“Our cake was probably my favorite part-it was exactly as I envisioned! Zach loved the dancing and spending time with all of our family!”

What advice would you give to future brides getting married?

“As horrible as it sounds, something will go awry on your special day! I thought I’d planned every minute detail, but there with so much going on it is easy to miss something. On your special day there are two things that matter: first, that you mary your best friend and true love, second, R.E.L.A.X. All of the planning is over with. Take this day to make memories you’ll never forget, and for those tiny details that don’t go as planned-they don’t matter! ”

St. George Weddings.com Professionals
Wedding Planning & Rentals: Middle Aisle Weddings
Venue & Catering: Entrada
Cake: Sweet Cakes by Karen

Photography: Jason McGrew Photography
Floral: Botanicals
Dance Floor: Wedding Décor & More
Invites & Signage: One Memory at a Time

The theme of this inspiration shoot was Alice in Wonderland. It is the perfect inspiration for  Easter and spring with the white rabbits and soft pastel colors. The flower detail gave this inspiration shoot a beautiful fresh garden feel while the furniture pieces perfectly accent the vintage feel this shoot gives.

We hope this shoot will inspire you for any upcoming spring weddings.

 California Vendors involved in this shoot:

Coordination: Couture Events
Photography: Joielala Photography
Stationary: Delphine
Florist: The Floral Department
Cupcakes: Cupcake Love
Make up Artist: Think Pink, Dana Marie
Hair: Shawna Messner- shawnanana1@yahoo.com
Gowns: M Bride
Cake: The French Gourmet
Linens: The Floral Department for La Tavola Linen
Bracelets and paper florals: The Vintage Rabbit
Hair Accessories: Radokri
Model: Ari Cover
Bunnies: Ashli Hurst – ashlihurst@yahoo.com
Creative Director: Krystel Tien

Photo by: Brooke Keegan Weddings and Events

When using pastel colors, you can choose to use just a few or use them all. This makes a fun and interesting color palette. Even though each color is so different, each color has a white undertone making it so  they compliment the others and creates a coordinating look. Using multiple pastels can give  lots of depth and detail to an event.

Photo by: Mike Colon

Sunny Ravanbach, of White Lilac Inc and Jeannie Savage, of Details Details, put together the above adorable pastel wedding dessert table in all different shades of pastels. The color scheme made this shoot gorgeous to look at and so eye catching. Each shade coordinates with the other shades creating that spring look. The balloons made it especially fun, and show that even balloons can look ever so elegant in soft pastel colors.

Photo by: Rodeo and Co

A great advantage of using pastels is that they coordinate with about any flower color. Pastels are colors naturally found in nature like in beautiful light pink peonies and classic roses in all soft colors.

Photo by: Alixann Loosle

What are your favorite pastel color pallets?

Alright couples…here comes a little “soap box” moment. As a girl who attends quite a few weddings, I have been able to be a part of some very fun, full of energy weddings. Weddings that left me wanting more and hoping the night would never end. I have also been to some that just didn’t have that same energy and fun factor.

And I think the defining factor to the exciting energy and feel of these weddings was ONE THING….A DJ!!!! 

In our area, it is very typical for weddings to consist of a receiving line where you greet all your guests for a set amount of time. And I think that is a necessary part of weddings here. You want to be grateful to all your guests that come and show that gratitude to them. Because most Utah weddings consist of hundreds of guests, a receiving line is really the only way to accomplish that. But that should not be your whole wedding…again, I repeat, having just a receiving line should not be your whole wedding. I challenge every bride out there right now to find 3 brides who have been married for 5+ years and ask them what their one regret was about their wedding and I can almost guarantee you what it will be. It will either be that they didn’t hire a photographer they loved (but that is another soap box moment) or that they just stood in line all night and didn’t have any fun. I can think of so many of my friends right now who if you asked them would say, “My wedding was so boring, all I did was stand in line all night.”

Now you don’t want to have that same feeling do you? This is your wedding! It is supposed to be the most amazing day of your life…so I think you should do everything you can to make it that! Brides spend so much time finding the perfect dress, planning the perfect decor, choosing the perfect cake, but maybe don’t spend enough time thinking about how to create the perfect mood for your perfect day. Even if you aren’t a couple who loves to dance, chances are your guests do. And it is amazing how much a DJ, even if for most of the night are only playing music in the background will set the tone for your wedding and can add an energy to your wedding that your Ipod just can’t achieve.

Are you a fun loving, party rockin’ type couple? Are you a classic love song type duo? When you think of your favorite song, does country music make your heart flutter? Just as much as your decor and photography can show your guests who you are, so does the music that you choose.

There is also an amazing secret bonus to hiring a DJ, which is another reason I feel like they are a wedding must-have!!! A DJ will keep you on schedule and make sure you get to do all the things you want to do while your guests are still there. I can’t tell you how many weddings I have attended where a couple cuts their cake to only a handful of people, a bride throws her bouquet to the one 8-year old niece who is still there, and who dance their first dance to less than 10 guests. In my opinion, these are the most memorable moments of your wedding, so you should do them while you have the most guests there. Make these moments something that will become a memory to last a lifetime, not a rushed after thought before you head out the door to your honeymoon.Having a DJ can accomplish this in a polite and classy manner. Many brides are afraid to cut the line, but a DJ can do it tactfully and let your guest know that you will be back to greet them but that you want to share these moments with your guests while they are still there!!!

And if you are looking for a local DJ who can get the job done and do a great job at it! I would love to suggest FESTIVAL SOUND! The guys at Festival Sound do an amazing job and turn your wedding into the best night of your life! They are amazing at working with a couple to make sure they are able to do all the things they want to do, and also to create the perfect playlist for your wedding. If I were planning my wedding right now, here is the PERFECT PLAYLIST that they suggested for me…And can I just say, they got it perfect! And you can click on each song and get a feel for the kind of party it would be!!! You would so want to come, right!!!

1. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
2. Rhiannon – We Found Love
3. Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
4. Justin Bieber – Baby…and really I would actually love for my hubby to do something like THIS GROOM DID for me to this dance….C’mon babe…you know you want to!
5.  Cobra Starship – You make me feel
6. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
7. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline…this one will get everyone in the room going!!!! My parents LOVE Neil Diamond!!!
8. Glee Cast – Tik Tok (C’mon…I gotta have at least one Glee song!!!)
9.  Taio Cruz – Dynamite
10.  The Black Eyed Peas – The Time (Dirty Bit)…perfect song to wrap up the evening!

And of course don’t forget to add in there your favorite daddy-daughter dance, and mother-son dance…and maybe some slow songs. And you have to have a great song for the bouquet (Do I hear a little Beyonce Single Ladies) and your garter toss (I am a huge fan of Def Leopard Pour Some Sugar On Me). I also have to share a few of my current favorite love songs that I have seen at weddings lately for the couples first dance…or that I am hoping to see soon

I bet as you started down this journey of putting together your perfect day one of the first things you did was start scouring the internet for ideas. Did you instantly create a Pinterest account? And I bet you started to ask yourself all sorts of questions. What are the perfect colors? The perfect theme? What are all the special details you want to include? What should you wear? What should everyone else wear? and so on, and so on, and so on…

In this day and age of wedding planning, one of the most perfect ways to find ideas is online! And there are some great resources out there full of ideas {including this blog..haha!}. You can find everything from color palettes, centerpiece ideas, bridal beauty, and every little detail in between. I remember when I was planning my own wedding it seemed like the only choice I really had to make was what my colors were (and I haven’t been married that long). But now, there are so many choices to be made. And instead of doing what your best friend and sister did at your their weddings, brides are searching out their own unique ideas to showcase their style and give their guests a glimpse of their love.

So today, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite stops on the bridal blog trail…So sit back, grab your Diet Coke {I will be drinking Mtn Dew} and let’s enjoy some yummy wedding loveliness!!! Better clear your afternoon. Peeking at all these wedding blogs is better than Pinterest!

One of the things I loved most about this wedding was that every inch had a personal touch to it. The location, a family friends ranch, was total perfection and gave an amazing scenic background for the ceremony and reception. With wildflowers, red rocks, and amazing scenery, it could not have been a better setting. Don’t you just love how amazing the lighting was. I know I was in heaven!

The ceremony which was performed by the grooms father, was full of personal moments that made it unforgettable. The guests were totally taken by a ceremony full of happy emotional moments as sweet stories of the couple and their amazing love story were shared.

From the gorgeous bridesmaids dresses, to the brides unique turquoise necklace, all the way to the table decor, every detail had been well thought out and perfectly planned for this rustic affair. Wildflowers added the perfect touch. One detail I thought was so creative was that as part of their centerpieces, the couple included a different wine choice on each table. The beautiful bottles definitely were a unique touch. Mason jars, wood stumps, and many more rustic details could be found throughout that added texture and color to the gorgeous setting of this wedding. And don’t you just love the pops of bright purple against all of the natural scenery?

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple opted for homemade pies that were provided by a family friend. I loved how they integrated a personal touch by carving personal messages in each pie. Togetherness, Love, Happiness, each one had a personal message. Such a fun and creative idea! And definitely a unique touch for the couple who isn’t leaning toward doing a wedding cake.

There were not only decorative details that made this wedding unique to the couple, but also many special moments that made it unforgettable. One of my favorite, and the most touching, was when the brides father read a letter from her brother, a solider who is serving over seas. What a special way to include this brother who could not be with them, and it definitely made for a very personal and special moment. One of my favorite parts of being at a wedding are seeing these types of personal touches that make for unforgettable moments. When brides look back on their weddings, these are what will become their most precious memories. Another of my favorite moments from the wedding was when the groom danced with his mother he surprised her by choosing a lullaby that she had sang to him as a child as the song they would dance to. His mother was so emotionally overcome and it was hard for anyone there to hold back the tears.

Another of my favorite moments of this wedding, and any wedding really, was when the party really got hopping! Festival Sounds did an amazing job of keeping everyone dancing, and there was quite a fun bunch at this wedding! One of the most essential vendors, in my opinion, to take your wedding to the next level and make it a real party is a great dj. It makes such a big difference when you hire a dj, they can not only keep a wedding on schedule, but integrating any type of entertainment brings a totally different atmosphere to a wedding and makes it a real celebration. I loved watching this crowd get going line dancing, doing the conga, and rocking the night away!

And what better way to wrap up a perfect day than with an amazingly gorgeous fireworks show! It was breathtaking! This really was one of my very favorite weddings ever, and I think one of the keys to success was that they hired a great planner to help them pull off all the details perfectly, and they made all those details so unique to themselves. This day truly was about them and their love. Congrats Michael & Rhiannon!

Event Design & Coordination: Forevermore Events
Photography: AK Studio & Design
Catering: Marvelous Catering
Floral: The Flower Market
DJ Services: Festival Sound

Serve It Up

In times passed, it used to be that every guest was served a piece of the wedding cake when they attended the wedding or reception. This tradition is something that is not seen as often today. It is becoming more and more common to see that the bride and groom are the only ones enjoying a piece of the wedding cake. The guests are able to enjoy a larger variety of foods, often provided by a caterer. But, don’t be afraid to serve your cake. If that’s what you want to do…I say do it! Afterall, have you ever heard anyone complain about being able to indulge themselves in a thick slice of yummy, moist wedding cake?

There are several ways to serve your wedding cake and in all reality, it’s up to you. You could have part of your catering staff be stationed at the wedding cake so that they may cut, plate and serve the cake. Another option is to save your cake until later on during the event and have your bridal party help serve it to the guests. The possibilities are endless!

The big question that often accompanies your choice to serve your cake is how much cake will I need? This is something that your cake decorator will be able to help you decide, but to give you an idea of what you will need, HERE are some helpful charts.

Decor Piece

You have hired an amazing caterer who will be providing your guests will some of the best food you can find. You still want a wedding cake but, because of the catering, you will not be serving it to your guests. So what do you do?

It’s not a well-known fact that wedding cakes don’t have to be made from “real” cake. There are many options to make your cake become a realistic looking decor piece. Cake decorators will often have their preferred method of doing this but, the most common is to use a styrofoam dummy cake. In this instance, a styrofoam round is used as a base to be covered in your choice of frosting. Because the styrofoam is covered with a buttercream, fondant or other frosting, you still maintain the look of a true wedding cake. This is when your cake becomes a decor piece at your event!

Decor cakes can also be topped with a layer of real cake that is exclusively made for the bride and groom. This still gives the couple the opportunity to cut and feed one another a piece of their wedding cake…and, you still have the remainder of that layer to save for the one year anniversary.

Another popular trend for decor pieces is the rental of a wedding cake. There are a few cake decorators who provide this service. If it’s something that you’re interested in you may have to talk with your decorator. The idea of this is that your decorator has a select number of decor cakes that are made up and available for minimal customization and rental. The cake may be a simple design where you can add your color of ribbon or artifical flowers to help add some customization for you. This is a much less expensive way to provide the bride and groom with a wedding cake. The trend seems to be growing…it may just be something that explodes over the next couple years! There are two cake vendors in our area that provide rental cakes, along with custom wedding cakes.  Irresistible Weddings & Sweet Cakes…pick up your phone and call them!

Your cake is a big part of your wedding. Whether you decide to serve it up or use it as a decor piece is up to you. You can’t make a wrong decision. Enjoy it!

Photography By AK Studio & Design

Candles

Candles are making a huge comeback. They are integrated into decor and are seen in many types of centerpieces and miscellaneous decor pieces. Candles are becoming part of a take-a-part centerpiece where guests can take pieces of the table centerpieces as their favor from the wedding. This allows your centerpieces to do double duty and makes your budget go twice as far.

 Little Trinkets

While little trinkets make pretty favors, they are often thrown to the trash, never to be seen again. Give your guests something useful – something that they will be able to use over and over or display in their homes.  Photo frames, coasters and note pads are some useful favor ideas. Resist the urge that you might have to engrave your name and wedding date on the item. Chances are your friends and family members will not display that in their homes if your names are plastered all over it.

 Go Green

Couples are now choosing to spread the message of a clean environment. From elegantly packed seed packets to little potted herbs, these green ideas are making waves in the wedding industry.

 Rustic & Vintage

One of the most popular wedding themes this year as relied on rustic and vintage touches. Going along with this theme you could do mini lanterns, watering cans, or homemade soaps and jams.

Monogramming

Consider personalizing your favors by embossing or monogramming the guest’s names or initials on the favor. There are a lot of websites that will allow you to monogram your gifts. One of my favorites is HERE from Martha Stewart Weddings!

 More Cake

It is becoming increasingly more popular for the guests to take home a slice of cake or a cupcake. There are many cute cake boxes to choose from, so start looking and find one that fits your personalities and wedding theme!

 Keep With Tradition

Suprisingly, one of the most commond weddings favors is still the traditional one – a cute little box with candy inside. Tied up with a pretty ribbon around the box, this traditional favor is always a pleasing one.

Skip It

Weddings favors are not a necessity. If you decide that it is not in the budget or you just can’t come up with an idea that you really like, your guests are not going to leave the wedding feeling slided.

Favors can be displayed or left in many places throughout your reception. At a sit down dinner reception your favors will typically be left at each guest’s place setting. For a more informal reception, the favors may be displayed at the guest book table or at their own display table. Whatever your favor is and however you decide to display it is completely up to you. There is no set standard! Have fun with your favors and let the creative side of you out. Let the personality of you, as a couple, shine through and your guests will enjoy their favor that much more!

Photos Courtesy Of:  Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Bee, Etsy, Favor Ideas, Lisa Takao Blog, Smart Bride Boutique, Pretty Chicky, The Green Girls, The Candybar Wrapper, Manolobrides & The Paper Invitation Cards.

Decide right now that you are going to take this one step at a time. Take it all in stride, even if that does mean that you are juggling a list of twenty things that have to be completed by tomorrow! First things first, decide whether your budget allows you to hire a wedding planner and/or other professionals. If you are going to hire a wedding planner, begin shopping around. Schedule appointments and consultations with some of the most recommended planners in your area. Talk to your friends and family members about it. Don’t be afraid to get their opinions. Oftentimes people who have been through this experience before will be able to tell you who you should hire, or better yet, who you should stay away from. Schedule your appointments as soon as possible so that you leave your planner enough time to get to know you and start organizing the affairs of your big day. If it’s not in your budget to hire a planner, I would suggest purchasing a good organizer and/or software program. There are many websites that will offer review of these types of products. This will help you find a system that works best for you and your needs.

 Now that you have decided on your method of planning, it’s time to jump on in.  Compile a checklist of items that need to be taken care of, along with a timeline of when each item needs to be completed. Most wedding planners will have a generic checklist of the appointments and events that need to be taken care of during the planning process. If you have one of these lists, sit down and cross off anything that may not apply to you. For instance, if you are choosing to have friends and family help with the catering of your event, you will be able to cross off anything that pertains to tasting, menu planning or meeting with the caterers. In exchange, you may need to add to your list. If you choose to have your family help with the catering you may have to make a list of who-brings-what to the event.

Going through a generic checklist will often trigger other ideas and items that you may want to add in order to customize your planning checklist. It’s a good idea to add those things as you think about them so that you don’t forget about it when you sit back down with your checklist tomorrow.  This is also a good time to start working on a budget. Decide, along with your fiance and parents, what your budget is. When you start meeting with your vendors you will want to know exactly what you are willing to spend with them. That way you don’t go into a consultation with your cake decorator and look at cakes that are way over your budget. Or, you don’t go to the bridal shop and try on a $7500 gown, fall in love with it and then realize that it’s way more than you are willing to spend. Don’t set yourself up for failure or disappointment…decide ahead of time! By using your budget and checklist together, you can now get a firm idea of what you are looking for and expecting for your big day. Use your customized checklist to start planning away. And, don’t forget to check back to our site often for tips, tricks and ideas to help you along the way!

Pinterest is an online system that lets you organize and share all the beautiful pictures and ideas you find on the web. Think of it as you “pin” when you find something “interesting” to you.

This online resource of picture eye candy has become extremely popular for wedding inspiration. Instead of ripping pages out of magazines and saving jpg’s on your desktop, brides can jump online and save files to different boards in one easy-to-navigate place. It helps you stay organized by always showing the original source the picture was found on. Essentially, it is a more organized way to bookmark pages you like online.

You can also download this application on your phone, becoming a mobile obsession on the go.

All of us here just adore Pinterest and invite all our readers to come follow us and take a look a all the exciting projects and boards we have going on.