The Royal Palms staff could not have been nicer and more wonderful to Ken and I and our staff.   One after the next, staff members commented to us how rarely they ever see anything like this wedding.  Many were taking pictures. What a nice compliment!  Ken and I and our staff want to thank Jessica and all the great people we met and worked with at the Royal Palms.  It is a fabulous property only surpassed by the wonderful people who work there.

Scottsdale’s own Amy Mancuso brought Ken and I into this project.  Amy’s skills at producing some of the most gorgeous weddings and events are legendary.  Our first project with Amy was not only lots of fun but the chemistry was almost like we had been friends forever.  The entire experience was just great.  Thank you Amy!!  Be sure to visit Amy Mancuso here:

We will begin by introducing the stunningly beautiful bride, Carina, in this lovely portrait by Phyllis Lane

This is Drew, the handsome groom.  What a lovely couple.

Ken made a splendid bouquet of pinks and white.  Carina requested a pale pink and white color palette.  Pink and white peonies, white David Austin roses, pink and white sweet peas, lisianthus, delicate white allium, pink roses and ivory spray roses were incorporated into the design.  Touches of rhinestones were used to complement the lace and trim from her gown which was furnished for the handle wrap.

There were four lovely bride’s maids.  Each girl carried a bouquet similar to the bride’s.   There were peonies, roses, lisianthus, and various shades of pink and white sweet peas that were tied with a simple ribbon.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was held in the charming Allegro Garden.  This arch is one of the most impressive Show Stoppers has ever created.  It took 6 designers to complete.  We began at 9:00 am and finished about 3:30.   Thousands of blown ivory roses in various shades were used in the design, along with dozens of Casablanca lilies, blush dendrobium orchids, pink jasmine vines and  hundreds of white hydrangeas.  English Ivy was attached to the stucco behind the arch to appear as if it was growing on the wall. Even more ivory roses were used for the rose petal carpet below the arch along with hundreds more pale pink roses for the steps.

Four gorgeous cascading floral displays were placed on the balustrade on each side of the arch.

These designs incorporated hundreds of ivory roses, with genestra, pussy willow, snap dragons, blooming cherry branches, white wax flower, blush dendrobium orchids, pink jasmine vines and pink campanula arranged in antique wrought iron planters.

Here is a detail shot of one of the displays.  You may click on any image in this feature to enlarge.

This is a great detail shot of one of the legs of the arch.  This piece just kept devouring roses and got more beautiful as every bloom was attached.  In all, more that 2000 water tubes were used to design this piece.  Just filling the tubes took an entire day.  We used a custom, reinforced steel frame to support the weight.  Constant misting was required to keep the display comfortable.

Finally, this detail shot gives a front row seat as to how the top of the arch was designed.  Now for the aisle leading up to the the arch.

The aisle was a beautiful path that complemented the arch perfectly.  Several shades of ivory roses were used to created this 25 foot carpet.  A slightly darker pink was used to mimic a detail we found in the invitation.  It is always such fun to see guest’s reaction when they see one of Show Stopper’s carpets.  Even more fun is when they see the bride as she steps into the lush carpet and makes her way to the alter.  Even though the design is mussed and swirled as her dress glides across the petals, the effect is breathtaking and exciting to watch.  Forty of the chairs had cones that we fashioned of hand-made paper.  We trimmed each cone with pink tulle and ribbon, then filled them with rose petals for guests to toss.

As chair markers, pomanders were designed for every chair along the aisle. The melon sized pomanders were make of white carnations garnished with two blush cymbidium orchids at the top.  To finish, we used pink jasmine vine wound around the pomander.  This is a great image of one of the 12 pomanders with the aisle ribbon tossed around the chair.

As the newly married couple were introduced, Phyllis Lane captured this extraordinary black and white image of the pair just before they headed down the aisle towards the cocktail party and reception.  This is a great image, as it shows the scale of the arch with the lovely bride and groom as a point of reference.

As the bride and groom headed down the aisle to make their exit, Phyllis Lane captured this image of the back of Carina’s incredible gown.

The Cocktail hour And Reception

The patio outside the Palmera Salon was turned into a fun cocktail lounge. White leather furniture and illuminated plexiglass tables were brought in for furnishings by Creative Event Rentals.  Show Stoppers designed sheer white drapes with large pink tassel tie backs.  Fabric draping was also swaged across the existing overhead beams, then up-lighted with pink.  We appreciated the assistance of Quest Drape with the installation of the fabrics. The area was detailed with pink florals.

The Reception

Nearly every surface of the room was transformed.  First, the existing floor was covered with white carpet.  All the walls were draped with hundreds of yards of sheer fabrics.  Each 10 foot section required 42 yards of fabric to get the fullness we wanted!  The ceiling was draped with even more fabric.  The existing iron chandeliers were replaced with 3 giant sparkling ones. More free standing drapes were layered in front of the walls and tied back with gorgeous custom pink tassels.  Service entrances and unneeded doorways were screened with yet more fabrics.  In all, fabric lengths equivalent to over 6 football fields were used!  We have included this gallery without captions. Phyllis Lane’s exquisite images say it all!

Please take the time to see a time lapse video of the entire transformation in the next post down, along with credits of everyone involved in this exceptional wedding by Amy Mancuso

Our sincerest congratulations to Carina and Drew!

Sedona Wedding Planners,

Venues, Vendors and Services

The Sedona Wedding Studio

Over 75 Leading Sedona wedding professionals, including wedding planners and venues have joined to become the unsurpassed, SEDONA WEDDING STUDIO. HERE, brides can find fantastic information and links to an elite, “invitation only” membership of the best Sedona wedding professionals available today, all represented under one roof in a beautiful West Sedona studio and showroom.  Brides can save time and money, avoid worry and have the confidence of knowing that they have found the ultimate source for the best Sedona wedding services.  The SWS membership list reads as a who’s who in the Sedona wedding industry.  The SEDONA WEDDING STUDIO is Northern Arizona’s most comprehensive wedding professionals network with the largest membership represented in 20 great categories.

The most stringent stipulations and standards are required before being invited to join this exclusive group of award winning experts and wedding planners.  Members are pre-screened for excellence in their field.  S.W.S. members are consistently the busiest, simply because they are among the most popular, trusted and referred experts in Sedona.

Among the many qualifications considered are at least 5 years of experience. Peer and industry recognition is extremely important. Exquisite talent, dependability and value of services is mandatory.  Publication in recognized industry magazines is also taken into account.

The standards required of members involve much more than simply paying dues to be on a listing.  The Sedona Wedding Studio does not restrict membership to only those vendors who live in or around Sedona.  The S.W.S is a private membership and is not modeled after any other organization.  Quality is priority at The Sedona Wedding Studio.

By selecting Sedona Wedding Studio vendors, Sedona brides can go straight to the best and avoid long, unreliable, confusing lists.  A Sedona Wedding Studio bride can plan her wedding in an unbelievably appointed showroom.  Brides can arrange meetings and discussions in lovely conferencing areas and meet vendors in person.

Helpful resources are everywhere in the SWS.  Video, slide shows  and photography showcase the talent of all the SWS members.  Brides can listen to music selections by talented Sedona Wedding Studio musicians and even have make-up trials by studio make-up and hair artists.  Catalogues, fabulous displays, merchandise, samples and more complete the Sedona Wedding Studio experience.

Sedona’s Top 75

Wedding Professionals

With this exciting group of talented Sedona artists and professionals, The Sedona Wedding Studio has become the hub of the Sedona wedding community!  The SWS is much more than just an on line resources guide.

The SWS has an actual location as well. Stop by and see why no wedding will be complete without a visit to The Sedona Wedding Studio, located in beautiful West Sedona at 1710 West State Route 89A. Suite # 2. Brides now have the convenience of having the most celebrated Sedona vendors coming to them in pre-arranged consecutive appointments instead of spending their limited time traveling all over town seeking meetings and information.

Tlaquepaque Chapel

By Sedona Bride Photography and Events By Show Stoppers

Events By Show Stoppers has made another magazine cover!  This absolutely gorgeous image of the charming Chapel at Tlaquepaque was taken by Sedona’s own Katrina Wallace of SedonaBride.Com and will be published on the cover of Arizona’s Finest Wedding Sites and Services September issue!

The magazine is one of Arizona’s most comprehensive sources for brides planning their weddings anywhere in the state. Show Stoppers designed another one of our popular rose petal carpets for the aisle.  Old rusted candelabra, wax luminaries, tons of candles and a fabulous old alter piece were used in the shoot.  Terra cotta cherubs holding cornucopias filled with autumn flowers flank the sides of the alter.

The Chapel at Tlaquepaque is one of Show Stoppers very favorite ceremony sites.  Show Stoppers can provide service or brides can use Show Stoppers second store, Nectar Designs, to provide flowers.  Nectar Design is located at Tlaquepaque in Suite A. 114.  Nectar offers discounted packages exclusively for Tlaquepaque brides and is Tlaquepaque’s “in house” floral service. Visit Nectar Designs here: Nectar Designs:  928-203-4749  / Tlaquepaque Chapel:  928-282-4838 /  Show Stoppers:  928-203-9096

More Images Of The Tlaquepaque Chapel

Our friend, Shy Kahn, was a joy.  Shy is one of the producers of the show and saw to our every need.  We learned so much from Shy and appreciated her allowing Events By Show Stoppers to be one of the sponsors.  Between her shows in Chicago and Scottsdale, she is quite busy year round. Congratulations, Shy, on an incredible show!!!

The Dulhania Bazaar was held at the spectacular J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.  The J.W. Marriot astounded us with their efficiency and the way they accommodated us with literally everything we needed.  Ken and I give our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Connie Thibault and her staff. Everyone was a pleasure to work with.  The entire experience was just the best.

This year’s Dulhania Bazaar will again be held at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort on October 31st.  Don’t miss the incredible show.

Here are some images from Katrina Wallace, Sedona Bride Photography:

The runway for the fashion show was 36ft. long.  We designed one of our vivid rose petal carpets for the models to stroll through, strike poses and show their unbelievably intricate and stunning saris.  We used colors that coordinated with the fuchsia, pink and orange color palette used in the lighting and stage fabrics.  The models entered through the hand-carved, antique Indian archway shown at the rear of the stage.  They proceeded under the traditional Mandap and continued down the runway to the pulsing beat of current rock music remixed in the different languages represented at the show.  Absolutely incredible!

This image shows the details of our Mandap.  We purchased old hand-carved teak columns that were once in the entry of a lavish estate in India and used them for the columns of our Mandap.  Exotic fresh flowers were placed on top of the columns.  Yards of gorgeous embroidered sari fabric was draped around the columns and over the top.  The iridescent sheer fabric shimmered in the spotlights.  Finally, sparkling jeweled tassels were used as fabric tie backs.

Palm trees up-lighted in orange flanked each side of the stage.  Paisley patterns were projected onto the air walls behind the stage in orange and fuchsia.

Here you can see another view of the Mandap.  Tangerine fabrics were used to  screen the dressing room behind the stage.

We love these images of the gorgeous models stepping through our rose petal carpet!  The boisterous crowd expressed their approval over and over in ever increasing enthusiasm.

If you get a chance, don’t miss the Dulhania Bazaar.  It is a real treat for brides of all nationalities!

Sedona Wedding Professionals

Create Magic

  Ken and I are thrilled that Events By Show Stoppers has made the cover of Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine!  Our dear friends Katrina and Andrew, SedonaBride.com captured this intimate moment through the sensitive eyes of their exceptional photography.  This charming image embodied everything the magazine wanted to say about romance, innocence and style. Congratulations Katrina and Andrew, you are true artists and the best kinds of friends to have.  Congratulations to Ken for designing such a fashion forward and colorful centerpiece and bouquet.  What a team!  See the incredibly gorgeous SLIDE SHOW HERE:

Phoenix Bride

And Groom Magazine

  Be sure to get a copy or visit PhoenixBrideandGroom.com and see the lovely 10th Anniversary issue.  Congratulations to Fran, Stephanie, Jennifer, Renea and the entire Phoenix Bride and Groom staff.  This edition is stunning and we are so honored to be so well represented in this historical issue.  The Show Stopper’s team wishes the Phoenix Bride and Groom staff continued success and kudos for consistently bringing fashionable images and valuable information to the forefront of the bridal industry through this important publication.

     Here is a cover to whet any appetite.  More of these fabulous images can be found in the Sedona Section where the floral work of Events By Show Stoppers and the photography of Sedona bride is featured in a lavish two-page spread.  Don’t stop there!  

   In still another section, readers will find an exotic Moroccan style wedding where every detail was overseen by Show Stoppers and photographed by Katrina and Andrew at L’Auberge de Sedona.  Visit L’Auberge HERE:

  Don’t miss Show Stopper’s ad featuring another stunning rose petal carpet inspired by Navajo weavings.  Here are some other wonderful images.

Ken’s centerpiece is jaw-dropping gorgeous.  He used mounds of orange pin cushion protea, lavender stock, gold cymbidium orchids and deep red roses. If ever a floral design could be called sexy, this is it.  HOT.

L’Auberge de Sedona…..  Perfect for Rose Petal Carpets

Here is our latest rose petal carpet.  We were inspired by patterns seen in jeweled Egyptian collars.  ( An idea picked up by watching old movies.)

  Guests are always intrigued when they enter an area and come upon designs like this for the first time.  From a distance they can’t often relate to just what the design is.  When they get closer and realize it is thousands of rose petals, they are astonished.

This close up is so cool.  Katrina said it looks like a road of rose petals going around a bend.

Sedona Wedding Shoot at L’Auberge…  Fabulous Bridal Bouquet

Here is the exquisite bouquet.  Ken’s creation features gloriosa lilies, bougainvillea, pin cushion protea, heather and hypericum berries.  Ken’s signature designs spill with texture, depth and color.

We love this image.  Katrina got it all.  What color, composition and intimacy. 

    Wait until you see what’s next!  Jim was inspired while watching one of his favorite movies, “The Ten Commandments.”  He got this idea during one of the opening scenes.  Princess Nefertiti, while reclining on a balcony, plucks flowers from a lovely garland of acacia and anemones to shower her Prince as he entered the city among the adoring crowds shouting ” Moses! Moses!  This boa sports 1000 daffodils.  Outrageous.

 Katrina thought it would be fun to let the groom wear the boa too. What a sport.  Blake was eager to comply.  Everyone comments how wonderfully the golden yellow pops against the beige color of the winter grasses in Oak Creek Canyon.  

This was actually the second daffodil garland Jim has made. The first was designed years ago for a sculpture in the courtyard of the Jr. League building in Houston. He made it for a wedding reception and brunch honoring the Duchess of  Windsor the following day.

We will close with this shot of several of us on the Show Stopper’s team installing the carpet.Oh, one more thing.  People always ask what happens to all those rose petals…Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine was so inspired by this shoot that they honored Show Stoppers by asking us to design their 10th Anniversary Gala held at the Arizona Grand Resort on June 3rd.  We were thrilled to be working along side Victoria Canada Weddings and Events who oversaw every detail to perfection.  Here is another chance to see the SLIDE SHOW HERE:     

Recently I was inspired by a program I saw about a festival in Tibet where thousands of flower petals were used to create an intricate carpet for seekers to trod upon as they entered a holy site.  Being a seeker of new things to do in my field, I decided to put my own spin on this idea and incorporate it into our weddings in Sedona. These great shots were taken by Katrina Wallace, Sedonabride.com, and really give an idea as to what can be done limited only by imagination and budget.  This bride from Manhattan wanted a carpet of yellow and green.

From above you can see the subtle crisscross pattern of peach roses against the yellow.  A space was left in the green grass and dotted with yellow craspidia and apple green Yoko Ono mums.  A yellow row of rose petals finished the border.

This detail shot gives a good idea how tedious one of these designs can be.  All of the flowers have to be right side up and spaced perfectly for the best effect.

Rose Petal Carpets Get Raves

Here is another special carpet we enjoyed designing.  This carpet was designed for a wedding reception at Seven Canyons.  The Sedona family owns one the the largest Navajo rug showrooms in the Southwest.  We thought it would be appropriate to design a piece inspired by the beautiful patterns seen in Native American rugs.  The pattern was first drawn onto graph paper then translated onto the grass inside the tent.  Pin spots with the palest pink gels popped the design.

We incorporated eagle feathers for the corners and added traditional Navajo crosses outside the perimeter.  Care had to be taken to choose pointed white rose petals to form the sharp lines of the concho design in the center.  Also, colors had to be selected that would contrast against each other to get the crisp lines of the piece.  In all, the petals of about 1000 roses were used for this carpet.

The bride and groom were announced.  They entered the tent walking through the carpet of petals to the astonishment and delight of all the guests.  Everyone was stunned.  If you would like to see more of this reception, please see a wonderful SLIDE SHOW HERE:  ( Notice our custom sewn and painted tent walls )  This became a Sedona Wedding to remember.

We have created dozens of these innovative carpets and have been overwhelmed with their popularity.  We will be featuring more in the future so please visit us often.  We would love to hear your comments and become acquainted.

This luscious carpet was designed for one of our New York brides.  We used Sterling Silver roses and a combination of ivory toned petals.  Jenawa wanted green incorporated somewhere so we narrowed the width of the piece to show more of the green lawn.  We used a champagne glass shape to keep within the spirit of a celebration.

You can see more of Jenawa and Adam’s wedding under our featured Weddings category.

This rose carpet was created for a autumn wedding at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff.  We used two colors of red roses and deep orange roses to get the effect.  Petals were sprinkled along the outside edge to soften the reflections of light streaming in from the glass windows at the end of the aisle.  Photography by Cameron Clark,  www.cameronkellystudio.com

Return to Show Stopper’s website HERE:

Tlaquepaque Weddings Are So Romantic 

Patio Campanas is one of the most popular patios for wedding ceremonies in Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. This summer, Show Stoppers created one of our popular rose petal carpets for the first time in Tlaquepaque. We used lemon yellow roses with a contrasting rusty orange border.Corner details were made of sunflowers, one of the bride’s favorites.

Petals from 700 roses were used in this colorful carpet. Our friend Wendy, who is the resident partner and manager of Tlaquepaque, and her husband Max wanted something very special as their gift to Alan and Jessica.  The early morning wedding was lovely with the warm and sunny summer colors.

 The nuptials were held in the beautiful arched walkway that divides the patio.  It serves as a perfect place for lovely ceremonies.  A gorgeous custom garland was attached to the arch.  We used whole and sliced lemons, yellow roses, sunflowers, gourds, rain tree seed pods, curly willow and assorted foliages.  Chocolate brown fabrics were draped in the arch to prevent guests from seeing into the patio beyond.

Tlaquepaque…  Perfect for outdoor Sedona Weddings

Everyone always has such a good time scooping up the thousands of rose petals and showering the newly weds in sheets of celebratory “rain.”  Pam really captured the moment in these wonderful images. 

  You can see more of Pam’s work  HERE

 Tlaquepaque Weddings for special Brides

Jessica was a lovely as well as charming bride.  This image is particularly effective with the Mexican tile picking up the colors of Jessica’s bouquet perfectly.  You can see why Tlaquepaque is one of our favorite wedding venues in Sedona.  Our second store, Nectar Design, is located in Tlaquepaque and offers a special package exclusively for Tlaquepaque brides. Being located at Tlaquepaque, our brides have the convenience and confidence of knowing their wedding will be perfect.