The Sedona Weddings and Corporate Events Guide

On June 3rd, the most wonderful event took place at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix.  It was the 10th Anniversary Gala for Phoenix Bride and Groom magazine.  Please visit the magazine here:   It all began in a photo shoot with the renowned artists, Katrina Wallace and Andrew Mejia, of Sedona Bride. See: SedonaBride.com. Everything just seemed to click and came together really fast.  Don’t miss the slide show of the photo shoot and the gala!  All the images really tell the story how everything evolved in such a special way.  See the SLIDE SHOW HERE:  One of the shots made the cover, which inspired the colors of the event.  Show Stoppers was asked to design the festivities.  The unbelievably talented event and wedding coordinator, Victoria Canada, worked with Show Stoppers and the results were over the top.  Visit Victoria here:

We began this project with a 16,000 square foot empty room at the wonderful Arizona Grand Resort.   Please visit:  arizonagrandresort.com

Our job was to transform the space with the use of fabric draping, painted backdrops, lighting effects and, of course, flowers.  The first thing was to draw a floor plan to scale.

Victoria came up with the brilliant idea of dividing the room into two parts so the guests could gather in the first third of the tent and watch interviews on large screens while having cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.   A wall of sheer, white, billowing fabric was erected with an entry to the rest of the tent constructed of truss and fabrics in the middle of the fabric wall.  The entry doubled as a stage where Fran Samuel, her staff, Victoria, Ken and I were introduced to the crowd.  We used a black and white theme in the gathering room.  The idea was to have guests in a temporary but elegant black and white setting.   Then, after the program, follow the juggler and stilt walker into the main room through the entry portal into a world of amazing color…. sort of like Dorothy opening the farmhouse door and stepping into the wonderful world of OZ.  It worked!

Below is the view from the black and white room looking through the entry. As guests entered, they could go to the right or left around the colorful arch backdrops at which time the magnificent room was revealed.  Notice the incredible matching floral displays Ken designed in the entry with submerged golden barrel cactus and vividly colored tropical flowers.   They were a hit to say the least.   As guests walked around the backdrop, this is what they saw.

We love this shot of Ken’s centerpiece with the room in the background. Notice the rose petal carpet under the ariel performer’s rigging!

The rose petal carpet was 20 feet in diameter and required 2000 roses in three colors.  It took 5 people 2 hours to make.  It took the ariel entertainer only minutes to muss.

Our friend, Andrea Blaut, owner of Sedona Cake Couture designed the cake and matched my color scheme perfectly.  This cake was a stunning 5 ft. tall multi-flavored masterpiece.  Visit Andrea at: sedonacakes.com

Here is a really fun shot of Fran and Victoria cutting the cake.  Everyone had such a great time!

….. including me!

I can’t close this post without this shot of all those incredibly gorgeous girls on Victoria’s staff.  Thank you Brenna for helping us lay down the rose petal carpet!The 10th Anniversay Gala celebrating Phoenix Bride And Groom Magazine really was the the greatest show on Earth.  Ken and I want to personally thank everyone involved with this very special event.