Back in February, my friend Leila from Be Inspired PR sent an unexpected email asking if I'd like to do a feature for Bride and Bloom magazine.  The catch was that we had two days to produce and shoot it and we had a big wedding the same week. Naturally, we said yes.

I always seem to have different favorite photos than the ones chosen for print, so I wanted to share some more of the photos from the shoot here and want to explain a little about our thought process that went into creating this tablescape.

We were assigned the color yellow (my fave) to work with, so my thoughts immediately went to a light and breezy picnic-type vibe.  I also wanted to create something that could be easily recreated in every day life.  Many times, magazine shoots are over-the-top and opulent and while they are fun to design and create, they tend to be unattainable in real life.  After all, you shouldn't have to choose between paying your mortgage and throwing a beautiful bridal shower for your best friend. 

I enlisted the help of the super talented Kelly Ashworth to design the needed stationery items.  She created the invitations, menus and place cards.  The direction I gave her was basically: yellows and accent colors, picnic-y, cute and left it at that. She decided to do the invitations as mini accordian style books.  They are probably my favorite part of the entire shoot:




Next, Jeannie from White Poppy Floral came up with the flower arrangements and the direction I gave her was basically the same as what I had given Kelly.  She used different vases of varying heights and used flowers she was able to get locally to create simple arrangements:



I opted for a simple table runner because I felt that a full tablecloth would detract from the outdoor look and the table was pretty enough on it's own.  I originally wanted to do picnic benches with throw pillows for the seating, but given the short time frame, opted for chiavari chairs from Tri-Rentals instead.  The buttercup yellow chair ties are from BBJ Linen (we're spoiled that Phoenix has one of the warehouses and I can pickup at will call and don't need to have them shipped) and the table runner is actually a chair tie as well.  Planning tip: most linen companies don't stock separate table runners, so when you see them in photos or at weddings, they are actually always the chair ties unless they've been custom-made. 


I am typically not a fan of wedding favors; I cannot tell you how many get left on the tables at the end of the night and I always get a little sick to my stomach when they wind up in the garbage.  I do, however, love the idea of taking the money budgeted for favors and donating it to a charity that is important to you. I serve on the board of directors for Pink Initiative, an organization focused on breast cancer, so I chose to showcase them for the favors needed for the shoot. Kelly made little tags that denoted the gift made in each guest's name and we tied them to small lemonade bottles.  Instead of setting the bottles at each seat, we grouped them in trifle bowls and incorporated them into the table's decor.


Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we used a lemon tart that Danielle from Sweet Pea Bakery in downtown Phoenix made for us.  We placed the tart on a cake stand and also incorporated it into the table decor as well.  Sweet Pea is one of my favorite bakeries in the Phoenix area and all of their baked goods are to die for. They are also fantastic to work with on weddings.


Thanks to everyone who helped us pull this together and for being flexible on such short notice.  Also, special thanks to Darby Elizabeth for taking all the photos. 




Photos by Darby Elizabeth

This past week I spoke at a wedding business conference called Engage!09 in Grand Cayman. I know, my job takes me to really difficult places, but hey, somebody has to do it.  Engage!09 is a conference for wedding professionals who work in the luxury bridal market and brings together the best of the best for education and networking.  As usual, I am terrible at remembering to pull out a camera (or even bring one), so here are some photos of this year's event as seen through the lens of some of the other people there:

Harmony Walton, founder of the Bridal Bar and I in front of the welcome banner Rebecca and Kathryn had arranged to have at the airport as everyone arrived.  Harmony and I only get to see each a couple of times a year, so it was fun being able to catch up with her on our flight from Houston to the islands:

On Sunday evening, there was a welcome party on the beach so that everyone could meet and greet before the sessions began on Monday.  The party was designed by the uber talented and incredibly down-to-earth Michelle Rago. It was the perfect mix of chic and casual and if you're having a beach wedding, this would be a great event to draw inspiration from. Here is part of the set up before:


And with people enjoying it. I was so excited when Heather Crabtree and Jennifer Thinnes of Outstanding Occasions (facing the camera) and Teresa Wilson (in pink) from Camelback Flowershop decided to attend this year and it was fun bonding with them and staying up chatting by the pool until 3 am . . . .



On Monday I had lunch with Laura Novak, a photographer and brilliant business woman (we've decided it is now our tradition to eat lunch together at every Engage! event) who spoke on a panel on Tuesday and Darcy Miller from Martha Stewart. No photos of our lunch, but here is a shot of Darcy speaking:


Celebrity Eventiste Marcy Blum spoke on "Everything but the Wedding", but perhaps the most interesting part of her talk was the question and answer session when the topic of kickbacks and commissions came up.  Bottom line: you can make a lot of money taking kickbacks in the short term, but they hurt you in the long run. It's best just to avoid the situation all together.  Sean Low wrote a great post about the compromises wedding professionals may be tempted to make here.


Here is another shot of Marcy to better show off her yellow stilettos. I have no idea how she walked in heels that high:


I don't have any photos yet of the second day or of my sessions.  The attendees were split into four groups and rotated to four different sessions, which meant that I, along with my fellow panelists Bee Kim of Weddingbee and Lara Casey of Southern Weddings, spoke four times in a row. It was interesting to see the varying dynamics of each group and how that shaped the questions asked (which were quite different each time).

On Tuesday afternoon we had the afternoon off and what was meant as a short twenty minute swim may have turned into five hours of ocean time chatting with new and old friends. The beach is totally my zen-like happy place and quality time is my love language, so I am so grateful that I was able to have that afternoon to combine both.

That evening, Jo-Anne Brown and her team from Celebrations Ltd turned the main ballroom at the Ritz into an island themed glam party. They used draping to cover the four large chandeliers that would have detracted from the look they were going for and to also create a natural flow in the room for the food stations and lounge areas for everyone to relax in:



Here is a photo of the lovely Stacey Kane, a photographer from Maine (and the person responsible for all the photos in this post, minus my mediocre iphone shot at the top) and Linda Murray, a fellow Pink Initiative board member:


Here is a video that Bee Kim from Weddingbee took of cake designer Sylvia Weinstock and Randy Fenoli, from TLC's Say Yes to the Dress fame and fashion director at Kleinfeld Bridal busting a move on the dance floor . . . at the beginning of the night:



On Wednesday, Sylvia spent about twenty minutes trying to talk me into using match.com because, and I quote, "where else are you going to meet anyone these days? I buy my groceries online from Whole Foods and they deliver them right to my door. You can get anything on the Internet today, even a husband." Thanks, Sylvia, I'll keep that in mind. You can now follow Sylvia and all of her wit and wisdom on Twitter here.

And here are the brains behind the Engage! events - Rebecca Grinnals (right) and Katherine Arce (left) of Engaging Concepts doing introductions on Monday morning:


These two ladies are quite possibly some of my favorites in the entire industry and I will forever be indebted to their foresight and on a personal note, their faith in me and my vision for my companies.  I owe much of my career thus far to Rebecca as she opened doors for me that would have been near impossible otherwise.  They have shaped much of the wedding industry as we know it today and have done so quietly from behind the scenes (Disney's Fairytale Weddings, anyone? Rebecca co-founded it).  Of anyone in the industry who deserves to have an ego - it's them, and yet they don't.  They are gracious, humble, and are truly people to learn from and admire. If you are a wedding professional and ever have an opportunity to work with them or to attend an Engage! conference, please don't hesitate to do so.  They are worth every penny.



Photos by Stacey Kane; top photo provided by my phone (Stacey better watch out, she may have competition soon); video from Weddingbee

Two years ago I wrote a post called Behind the Cost of Weddings which explained some of the reasons weddings are expensive and what goes into the pricing of the vendors you hire.  You can read that post here. 

A recent conversation I had with a bride brought up a common misconception in regards to hiring wedding vendors and I wanted to expand a bit on that here since it wasn't covered in that first post.  While we were discussing options for which band the couple was going to hire, the bride remarked that the price split evenly between the band members was a great salary for them to walk away with. 

Please know that the price you are paying your wedding vendors is NOT their salary.  The fee they are charging doesn't go directly into their pockets - it includes overhead (rent, utilities, business licenses, equipment, postage, etc), taxes, employee salaries and benefits as well as other costs of running a business.  So, for example, if your photographer is charging $7000 to document your wedding, that total amount is not going into their personal account.  Their full fee is not their full paycheck - not even close. 

If you're planning a wedding in Scottsdale and are still on the hunt for your dream dress, be sure to stop by Mariee Gallery at the Shops at Gainey Village this weekend, June 5th-7th for their Champagne, Cake, Tapas and Fashion sample sale.

Every gown in the shop will be on sale to make room for their new arrivals, which means that you can potentially find your dress for 40-80% off! Some of the lines Mariee carries include Romona Keveza, Nicole Miller, Adele Weschler, and Elie Saab, among others.

To reserve your appointment, contact Mariee Gallery via phone at 480.946.4343. 




Photo of bride at Mariee Gallery by Jane Zarzynski Photography.

Two exciting things happened in the wedding world this week that you should know about:

First, Once Wed relaunched their site yesterday with a new focus.  While they will still be featuring once worn wedding gowns for brides to purchase (yes, you can even list yours to sell as well if you're not into preserving it in your closet forever), founder Emily (in the photo above) has expanded the site to be a highly edited resource for brides to find the best of the best as they plan their wedding.  Bonus: Once Wed donates a portion of their proceeds to International Justice Mission, a social justice organization that is near and dear to my heart. 

Check out the newly designed site here.



Next up, Christy and the lovely ladies at Junebug Weddings have been working diligently interviewing and researching the Southern California weddings scene in order to find the best to feature as they expand their directory services.  They launched yesterday with their new directory for So Cal and you can find it here.  If you're planning on tying the knot in the Seattle or California area, be sure to check out their online directories, and be sure to check out their now-daily blog regardless of where you're getting hitched.

I've personally met the ladies behind both Once Wed and Junebug Weddings and they are some of the sweetest, most genuine people you'll meet.  I stand behind them 100% and am so excited for what they are doing. Congrats, ladies!




Photo of Emily via Once Wed, photo of Carissa of JL Designs by Jasmine Star.

One of the things I love about weddings is that they are so personal and unique and that they can truly reflect who the bride and groom are as people.  Here are five wedding dresses that may be the perfect fit for the bride who still wants style but doesn't want the traditional look:

Silver ruffled wedding dress; $1280 from Etsy seller Ouma:

Fitted ruffle dress; $260 from Etsy seller Liza Rietz:



Striped tutu wedding dress; $168 from Etsy seller Ouma:



Red wedding dress; $1125 from Etsy seller Rubypearl:



Short wedding dress; $375 from Etsy seller Sarahseven:



What's your wedding dress style? Would you ever wear a non-traditional dress?

If you're hosting a bridal shower any time soon, be sure to check out these cute invitations from Invitation Consultants.  There are three invites that were designed by the fab people over at Invitation Consultants specifically for Pink Initiative, a non-profit organization that funds awareness, outreach, education and research for breast cancer.  All the profits from this special line of wedding shower invitations will be donated to Pink Initiative.

So, to recap: you get brownie points for being the best BFF a bride could ask for, some cute invitations for your soiree, and you'll be helping a good cause to boot.  Could being a hostess get any better? We think not.

You can check out the other designs for the bridal shower invitations here. 



PS: Full disclosure - We don't get paid for these posts in any way, but I do serve on the board for Pink Initiative.  If you'd like to be involved in this organization or simply want to learn more about it, you can find more information here.

New to the Blue Orchid Designs blog?  Welcome!  Here are two of our most popular series from the archives that you may find interesting as well:

30 Days to Plan a Wedding - Practical and professional advice on almost every aspect of wedding planning. 

Wedding Vendor Hiring Guide - Real questions to ask your wedding professionals before you hire them. 

Happy planning!

If you're tying the knot in the New York area, or want to create a small destination wedding, be sure to check out the Pop Up Wedding Chapel put on by Brooklyn Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and The Wedding Library.  Here is some more info from Brooklyn Bride:


What it is:
The Martha Stewart Weddings Pop-Up Chapel. Six days to walk down the aisle in a custom-designed chapel, with décor and styling by Martha Stewart Weddings, featuring DIY Style ideas from our Summer 2009 issue, Wedding Library members, local artisans and Etsy vendors. It’s not as cheap as the local courthouse, but for a mere $500 you get a full package deal, including the officiant, cake, photography, bouquet, and a champagne toast for the bride and groom! The Martha Stewart Weddings Pop-Up Chapel can seat up to 20 of your closest friends and family. Also - it’s a chance to have your wedding featured on marthastewartweddings.com

For more information, check out Brooklyn Bride!



Image created by Ice Cream Social

Having a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower in the Scottsdale area?  Here are some fun restaurants that offer up stylish ambiance (so you don't have to spend your budget on decorating) and delicious food that is sure to wow your guests:

Asia de Cuba inside the Mondrian Scottsdale
With a private dining room (and adjoining patio), Asia de Cuba is perfect if you're looking for a hip vibe with modern style.  With its mostly white decor, it can easily be dressed up with some bright florals or left alone.  And the food (not to mention their mojitos) is phenomenal. 



Bloom
Also modern in style is Bloom, from the Fox Restaurant Concepts family.  Their private dining area is fabulous for a more intimate group and the restaurant has an upscale yet updated vintage vibe.  Think Mad Men with a modern twist and without the depressing yet brilliantly written story line.  I had lunch there recently with the forever talented Kelly Ashworth and seriously there was not one thing on the menu that looked unappealing.



Frank and Lupe's
One of my fave places for Mexican food and a staple in Old Town Scottsdale, Frank and Lupe's is perfecto if you're looking for a more casual atmosphere but don't want to settle for casual service or quality.  Their private dining area can accommodate larger groups and if that weren't enough, their menu is full of yummy margarita options.

What are some of your favorite places for a rehearsal dinner or wedding shower in your area?

One of the surprise areas of a wedding budget is often the vendor meals. A vendor meal is, quite simply, the meal your wedding vendors eat during a break. Here are some questions that commonly come up about vendor meals from brides:

Why do the vendors need to eat?
Most wedding professionals who are there on your wedding day are usually on their feet for hours at a time: wedding planners for 12+ hours, photographers and videographers for anywhere from 6-10 hours, and the band for 4-6 hours. Since most are there over a meal hour, they need to take a break to refuel. A vendor passing out from not eating is probably not the way you want your wedding to be remembered.

Which vendors do I need to provide a meal for?
A good rule of thumb is to provide a meal for anyone who will be there over a meal hour or for longer than five hours. For example, if your wedding photographer is scheduled to start at noon, they can (and should) eat lunch before they arrive, but dinner should be provided since they will most likely be there until 8 or 10 pm.

Why do I have to pay for the meal when I am already paying them?
This is where it can get tricky. Many vendors have contracts that outline meal requirements. If yours doesn't, then technically, you don't have to feed them. However, this means that your vendor will need to leave your wedding venue, find something to eat, and then come back. The amount of time this takes means that they will miss a part of your reception that they need to be present for. Bringing their own meal (like a sack lunch) is often not an option since most venues do not allow any outside food on property.

What does a vendor meal normally consist of?
Vendor meals vary from location to location, but the standard "boxed lunch" (a misnomer since it is usually not served at lunch) generally consists of a sandwich and some chips, and maybe some fruit.

Why do vendor meals cost so much?
Good question. The aforementioned sandwich/chips combo averages about $35 per person in the Phoenix area (hot meals cost more). And no, those chips do not hold the cure to any diseases. 

Other things you should know:
If you're not hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, find out ahead of time when and where the vendor meals will be served and communicate that to the professionals receiving them. Most wedding professionals prefer to eat at the same time the guests do because it is the time when their attention is least needed.  For example, your guests don't want photos of themselves eating and your DJ usually isn't doing much emceeing during the main course.

Also make sure that you find out from your vendors how many staff they will have with them on their team that day. Many photographers and videographers have additional people shooting (commonly referred to in the industry as "second shooters") and possibly assistants.

Find out when you are interviewing venues or caterers how much the vendor meals cost and be sure to include them in your budget from the beginning.  This will save you from the surprise of the expenditure later. 

One of the items in my wedding emergency kit that I use the most is one of those "As Seen On TV" products - Wine Out. 

Forget the Tide sticks, Shout wipes or any other stain removing product - this is the one that will work on almost anything.  I've used it time and time again to remove both red and white wine stains, blood, dirt, lipstick and more from brides' dresses (and from some groomsmens' suits).  It is sold in several sizes and I get mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  We carry the one ounce purse size shown in the photo ($3.99) in our emergency kits and we use it at almost every wedding. 

Whether you're a bride or bridesmaid, be sure to tuck some of this into your wedding day bag.  You will be an instant hero when you whip it out and save the day by saving the dress. 

What are you planning on packing in your wedding emergency kit?

One of the gifts in our swag bags from The B-List Conference a few weeks ago was a headpiece from the one and only Jennifer Behr.  If you've been in the throes of wedding planning for a while, then you've seen her name all over the place (including being recently named as a Modern Bride Trendsetter).  If you're recently engaged, however, allow me to introduce you.

Jennifer Behr is a ridiculously talented designer out of New York who creates hairpieces for the bride who wants something different from the traditional veil.  From simple headbands to understated birdcage veils, Jennifer's fashion-forward pieces add the perfect detail to your wedding ensemble.

You can see more of Jennifer's talents on her website.

Are you wearing a veil or headpiece for your wedding?  If so, what style are you aiming for?



photo from Jennifer Behr

I am totally loving these chalkboard removable wall decals from Off The Wall Expressions and at only $15, they are a steal!

These would be the perfect addition to a DIY photobooth at a wedding, rehearsal dinner or even an engagement party.  You could also use these in lieu of a guestbook by setting some chalk out in cute tins or baskets and a note letting your guests know to snap a photo with their "thoughts" of glad tidings.



Photo from Off the Wall Expressions

Tucked inside each of our swag bags at The B-List Conference this past weekend was, well, another bag.  More specifically, a handmade evening clutch from Nelle Handbags. 

Commence swooning now.

These bags come in a variety of colors and styles (I received the Be Baubled evening bag) and are simply gorgeous in person.  The photos are fantastic, but they really don't do them justice.

While these handbags are perfect as gifts on their own, they can also play double duty.  If tons of florals aren't a priority for your wedding plans, consider having your bridesmaids carry one of these handbags instead of individual bouquets.  Your photos will still look stunning, you'll stretch your budget further and your bridesmaids will receive a gift they will actually use again.

I don't recommend that every bride skip bridal flowers, but I am also not an advocate of doing something for your wedding just because "that's how it's always done".  If flowers just aren't your thing, there's no reason to why you can't have your bridesmaids carry an alternative.

Check out the Nelle Handbags site to see more of the evening clutches and be sure to subscribe to her blog, which is chock full of eye candy and sure to inspire. 

Would you ever have your bridesmaids carry something other than flowers?