Many of the key players are naturally members of Sedona’s renowned Sedona Wedding Studio, Northern Arizona’s largest and most comprehensive wedding organization and resources guide.  Find them on our LOVE LINKS listing or visit the fabulous Sedona Wedding Studio website.

Australia Meets Seattle in Sedona Arizona

Jennifer and Darren’s Sedona wedding story is one of many miles…this couple who likes to travel incorporated many personal touches into their day as well as a few nods to the geography they love so much!

Jennifer gave Darren custom-made map cufflinks as a wedding gift. One cufflink shows a map of Jennifer’s hometown, Seattle, and the other shows a map of Darren’s hometown, Perth, Australia. They were custom-made by  Tomatomade (on Etsy.com)

Jennifer and Darren chose greens with accents of plum and incorporated native Australian flowers to reflect Darren’s home country. How much do you love that?! Jennifer explains more: Our colors, flowers and passion for travel also translated throughout the event including table cards identifiable by favorite airport codes and photos from each destination (which we made ourselves), and our green suitcase wedding cake by Sedona Cake Couture. Afterwards, we realized one of our favorite take-aways from the wedding were the “GuestLibs” we created for our guests to sign instead of a traditional guest book. We prepared fill-in-the-blank cards for our guests to fill in blessings and wishes for us. They were overwhelmingly, unexpectedly thoughtful and creative in what they wrote. We plan to make a framed word collage of the key words and phrases to display in our home as a constant reminder of the good wishes and blessings from our friends and family

The thoughtful touches continue…since our ceremony location was naturally beautiful, we wanted everything else to be very simple so as not to detract from the view. We made our own, simple chuppah, topped with chofa at the corners for good luck (brought from Thailand by a friend especially for the occasion), and it was carried down the aisle by the wedding party. We wanted to include our immediate family and close friends in the ceremony and asked several of them to write blessings for us, which they read during the ceremony. We also performed a sand ceremony symbolizing our union, using beach sand from near Darren’s home in Perth, Western Australia, and Jennifer’s home near Seattle.

I asked Jennifer about the Ketubah in her ceremony: We signed a beautiful watercolor interfaith wedding ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) that we found on Ketubah.com. We read the ketubah to each other as our vows during the ceremony, and it will hang in our home as a piece of artwork and a reminder of our commitment to each other.

How much do you love this cake? Sedona Cake Couture always impresses me…

I’m not sure if you have noticed but beer, especially homebrew beer, is very popular in general but particularly at weddings these days. Jennifer and Darren cleverly incorporated beer at their wedding in a meaningful way: As part of our reception, we created a beer tasting with an interactive, multimedia slideshow telling the story of our journey together. We featured five beers that represented our travels: our favorite local beer (bottled for us by Jim from Oak Creek Brewery), a beer from the first place we traveled together (Jackson Hole, Wyoming), the national beer of Thailand (one of our favorite places), a custom wedding IPA made by a friend (who also grew the hops for the beer), and a stout from Western Australia (which was transported by Darren’s family).

KG: What was your favorite part if the day?

J/D: Our favorite part of the day was being able to share a very personalized reflection of us with our family and friends. This started with our choice of ceremony location, Spirit Song at L’Auberge, overlooking one of our favorite places, the red rocks of Sedona. With the help of our officiant, we created a very meaningful ceremony. It was not overly traditional, but every aspect of the ceremony had personal significance. We particularly liked our homemade chuppah (Jewish wedding canopy), seven blessings written and read by our family and close friends, and the sand ceremony.

KG: Did you go on a honeymoon?

J/D: Darren had several family members who traveled from Australia to be with us, so instead of a traditional honeymoon we took two weeks and traveled all around the west coast while Darren’s brother, sister-in-law, and parents were here. We hiked Yosemite, tasted wine in Napa, explored San Francisco and Monterey, drove the Pacific Coast Highway, and ended with a trip to Disneyland, including lunch at Club 33. We plan to take more traditional solo honeymoon in Thailand or elsewhere in Asia the next time we venture down under to visit family in Australia.

KG: What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding?

J/D: A bit of advice is to chose really good vendors, clearly convey the key elements about what you want, and let them do the rest! We chose really great vendors that all knew each other, worked well together and knew the venue. Prior to our big day we conveyed the most important elements to the vendors, allowing them the freedom to do what they do best and allowing us to focus fully on enjoying every aspect of our wedding.

Jennifer and Darren, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sharing your wedding day with us!

Jennifer and Darren’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Spirit Song

Reception Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Creek House

Photographer: Sedona Bride Photographers

Bridal Gown Store: Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique

Bridesmaids Dresses: Macy’s

Tuxedos: Jos A. Bank

Florist: Events by Showstoppers

Invitations: Minted

Cake: Sedona Cake Couture

Ceremony Music and DJ: Sedona Sounds

Jeweler: Diamond House

Make-up Artist and Hair Stylist: La Petit Spa, Patricia Vega

Officiant: Patricia Ballentine, family friend

Hotel Accomodations: L’Auberge de Sedona

Rehearsal Dinner Site: L’Auberge de Sedona, Creek House

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

After a year in production, the new Events By Show Stoppers website is up and running.  Please visit the website here. It has stunning galleries, slide shows, videos, and tons of features.  Show Stoppers is located in Sedona Arizona and is one of Arizona’s hottest floral companies.

This is a great blog post that appeared on the Events By Show Stoppers’ website.  So many Sedona wedding vendors also work in Phoenix.  Hope you enjoy seeing this spectacular wedding.

Sometimes a wedding comes along that is simply beyond words.  The incredible images from Phyllis Lane Photography say so much more than a description ever could.  Her staff captured our designs with sensitive attention to detail and stunning composition.   Still, we will try to capture the essence of this fabulous wedding by attempting to put into words the incredible experience Events By Show Stoppers had at the famous Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix.

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!

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is quickly becoming America’s newest holiday.  This fun holiday celebrates the lives of the dearly departed.

Loved ones create alters called ofrendas and honor their deceased loved ones by displaying their photos, favorite foods, objects and possessions that they enjoyed in life.  Even the lives of our furry friends are celebrated with thier favorite toys, treats and photos.

The holiday occurs on November 1st when it is believed that the deceased come back to visit their loved ones.  Various Katrina’s, playful skeleton people made of paper mache, wood or ceramics, decorate homes and doorways along with flowers, candy and lots of candles.  Traditional flowers include orange marigolds, white fever few, red cockscomb, roses and purple status.  Here are some great images of last years’s day of the dead event at Tlaquepaque by Sedona Bride Photography.

The huge fountain in Tlaquepaque’s Patio del Norte is decorated for dia de los muertos with pumpkins, squash, cactus, persimmons and berries.  Fun katrinas sit around the edge of the fountain with tons of candles and fruit.

Here is an overhead shot of the fountain.  The backdrops were painted by Show Stopper’s own, Tracey Downes, and are inspired by the old sideshow banner art typically seen along the midways at State fairs and circuses.

Here is one of the ofrendas showing the alter decorated with katrina’s, fruit, cake, candy skulls, candles, flowers and a dia de los muertos backdrop.

Paper mache katrinas

This is a great image of a niche in Tlaquepaque’s Patio del Norte decorated with fresh flower ristras, candles, rose petals, katrinas and fruit.  Don’t miss this very special and colorful event.  Be sure to bring your own ofrenda, candles, flowers, photos etc. to honor those you love and contribute to the dia de los muertos display at Tlaquepaque on the evening of November 1 beginning at dusk.

Show Stoppers’ favorite Flagstaff venue is Forest Highlands.  Many of our clients, their families and friends live at this incredible property.  We love the Meadow Club House with it’s rustic charm, wooden interiors and beautiful lawn that serves so well for lovely ceremonies with views of the peaks.  The Canyon Clubhouse is totally different with the traditional, elegant feel of an East coast country club.

The veranda that surrounds the dining room provides a unique outdoor dining experience by allowing guests to be on the outside looking in.  Yet, with a few steps, guests can be dancing away in the gorgeously appointed dining room.

If you’re looking for the perfect setting for your upcoming wedding or have a special occasion that needs a spectacular location, Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff will create the ultimate catered event.  Every special occasion deserves the best.  Forest Highlands will provide customized catering with elegance and stylish options to suit any need.

Contact Forest Highlands at 928-525-5200 Ext. 127, or use the links in this article to request more information about catering a wedding or special occasion in Flagstaff .

Sedona Bride Photography is known for their quality, style and ability to capture a moment in time that many of us never really see.  It is a real talent to capture the emotion of the moment and turn it into art.  Andrew Mejia of Sedona Bride does just that.  Watch a lovely slideshow of his work here: Often Andrew is the, all so important, second shooter for the husband and wife team Sedona Bride Photography. But Andrew is just as likely to be the primary shooter at smaller weddings as well.  The scope of a wedding has no bearing on the quality of photography coming from Sedona Bride Photography.  Andrew is just as concerned about a bride’s elopement or her lavish affair.  He understands that every wedding is someone’s special day and he makes sure it is beautifully captured forever.

Andrew has a gift for seeing detail, as well as overall documentation.  Many of the outstanding images coming from Sedona Bride Photography are Andrew’s. He wallows in the grass, balances on rocks, climbs up hills, tip toes and squats but always gets his shot.  So many of the images of grooms and groomsmen getting ready are Andrew’s images.  While Katrina may be shooting the bride and groom at special moments during the ceremony, Andrew is shooting the guests and those all-so-sweet teary eyes.  It takes two great photographers to capture all the moments and that is exactly why Sedona Bride is so great.

Show Stopper’s loves Sedona Bride because they totally get how to shoot flowers and decor.  Andrew makes sure the lighting is perfect while Katrina gets the shot.  We all have learned so much from each other and can second guess what needs to be done to get the images.  They have learned to think like decorators and we have learned to think like photographers.  It works.

Andrew is doing many of the packages offered by resorts and hotels.  His reputation is growing fast because of his quality and charming personality. He is being seen more and more at L’Auberge, Tlaquepaque and other major wedding destinations.  His packages are outstanding.  Brides still receive that oh-so-important post production detail which is so tedious and time consuming.  Many laymen think that images are taken and just returned on a disc.  Unfortunately, in many cases that it true.  The exceptional images, however, are always achieved through thoughtful consideration during the post production phase.

It’s all Sedona Bride Photography.  It’s all Katrina and Andrew.  Sedona Bride is simply a terrific choice and brides are never disappointed.  We are true fans.