To Toss or Not to Toss

So... one of the really fun parts of your wedding is the bouquet/garter toss.. or is it?

Recently I was at a wedding where the bride very happily ran out on the dance floor to toss her bouquet and Lo and Behold... no-one joined her!!! She stood there looking at everyone thinking "OMG... this is awkward"....

Here's what I think: if you are a bride in her 20's who has lots of single girl friends who will go "running" to the dance floor to kill each other for the bouquet... toss it! However, if you are a bride who is a bit older (like me) with lots of married girlfriends not so willing to kill each other for the chance of the superstitious marriage bouquet (LOL) ...don't toss it!

It was so bad for me (married at 35) that my girlfriends used to say... ON THE MICROPHONE..." Hey Jacque I know you're here! Come out and catch the bouquet!" Oh ya,... can't wait to stand up there in front of 125 people alone! NOT!

So my advice? Consider your guest list, and if you don't have a ton of singles, research some other options. Talk to your DJ or your planner; they can help you to come up with some great alternatives, like the Anniversary Dance, where you give the couple who has been married the longest your toss bouquet and garter! It's really sweet and romantic and no-one looks like the fool.

The toss isn't something anyone will miss if you replace it with something wonderful. And trust me, your single girlfriends will love you for it! LOLOLOL

Rehearsal Dinner Location Ideas

Check out these fun rehearsal dinner location ideas for the West Valley.

Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
13319 W. McDowell Rd. Goodyear AZ
623-435-3793

Tiburon
16335 W Northern Ave Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 535-4249

Old Pueblo Café
102 N Old Litchfield Rd Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 935-5059

Blu Sushi
118 N Old Litchfield Rd Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 935-9730


The Grill at Wigwan Golf Resort and Spa

451 Old Litchfield Rd Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 856-1094


Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
9712 West Northern Ave. Peoria, AZ 85345
(623) 772-9463

Yard House
9401 W Westgate Blvd Glendale, AZ 85305
(623) 872-3900


My Big Fat Greek Restaurant
6922 N. 95th Avenue Glendale, AZ 85305
(623) 772-5667

Camarones
6970 N. 95th Ave Glendale, AZ 85305
(623) 772-1110

brides maids dresses and color

When you chose your brides maids dresses did you think about the flowers you would choose to accompany them first… or at all?

As brides and “girls” we spend hours looking for the right dress for our attendants.

Which one looks the best on my kind of chunky, brunette MOH and will still look good on my teeny tiny blonde sister!?! LOL But did you ever stop to consider what your favorite flowers were and what colors they came in? Did you ever imagine for a moment what all your girls (including you) would be holding in their hands in all your photos?


I believe in color and I am not afraid to say it!!! I love to meet with a bride who has “NO IDEA” what she wants!

That is the most fun! Because,… I love color! If you have chosen “plum” for your girls did you immediately think "Oh light purple and ivory”? If you did you are like most, it’s safe. But can you see deep Orangey yellows on there??? Or how about deep sage greens and cranberry reds with a touch of orange??? For spring what about rich orange, corally oranges and purples? There are so many fun options to choose from.





On chocolate brown… how about deep reds and burgundy’s? Or all shades of green?? MMM, I can just see it now…LOL

Coming in to see me will be one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding. I get to open your mind to possibilities and color schemes you may never have thought of! I will help you to pick the perfect bouquet for the dress you are wearing. And trust me there is the right bouquet for each bride and her dress! If you have tons of bead work, I suggest a simple and timeless bouquet. If your dress is very simple then maybe we go for a floral eye catcher!

We will look at tons of books, pictures and magazines. We will choose together the wedding flowers that are perfectly just yours! I can help you choose linens to add the perfect touch to your reception room too. (Linens are huge by the way)…

When you leave our store you will have had one of the best days picking flowers and decorations! I promise you that. We offer so many wonderful things in our store who even knows what you can accomplish in one day! And I promise that I have VERY reasonable prices for what we offer. I take great pride in the Bouquets that come out of Thee Wedding Warehouse home of EnDearing Floral design and each bride who carries them.

Come in and see us. Let us show you what planning your wedding should be…

Jacque Dearing
Co-Owner
Designer

Flower Workshop via @constantcontact

Flower Workshop via @constantcontact

"Let's Get Hitched"

Estrella Vista Reception Center offers a package called.. "Let's Get Hitched" See details below. I had a wonderful young couple that just picked this package for their August 1st wedding. Sandy and Jose wanted all of their friends and family that were already traveling to celebrate his degree completion to be able to come to the wedding. Reverend Giovanni officiated the eleven o'clock ceremony. Thee Wedding Fairy was there early to set up so the bride and groom could concentrate on enjoying her day. Cyndi of Cyndi Hardy Photography captured all the memories for the happy couple. We so enjoyed being able to be apart of their day and wish the both the best and years of happiness.

Sunday – Thursday


Up to 80 Guests

Bring your family and friends to share in the excitement and happiness of your special day. Just bring your smiles and let us take care of the details.

Our all-inclusive "Let's Get Hitched" package includes:

Ceremony

1 Hr. rehearsal
1 Hr. wedding ceremony
Decorated wedding arch & aisle runner
White garden chairs with aisle bows (seating up to 80)
Confirmation of ceremony officiate
Unity Candle table
Men & Women's dressing rooms
Sound System
Reception


10 passenger Limo service from Estrella Vista Reception Center to evening's destination

A 4-hour reception

Room set up and take down
60 inch round tables and banquet chairs for up to 80 guests
Floor length table linens (in black, ivory or white)
Colored table overlays (95 colors to choose from)

Chair covers with sashes
Elegant table decorations to include: Mirror centerpieces with votive candles and 40-inch high silk floral arrangements
Skirting and silk floral arrangements on the Bridal table, Cake table and Registry

Champagne (or Sparkling Cider) for the bride & groom and bridal party

Complete catered dinner (Catering provided by Estrella Vista Reception Center)
Disposible Napkins, dinner plates, flatware, and cake plates
7-gallon Silver punch fountain with complimentary lemonaide or punch for the reception

Two-tiered wedding cake (provided by Cakes by Lourdes)
Cake cutting service
Separate Men’s & Women’s Dressing Rooms
Bartender
Twinkle lighting set-up
On-site coordinator
Complete clean up following your event
Sales tax

$2,800 Total for Garden Ceremony & Garden Reception
$3,300 Total with Indoor Ceremony & Reception**
$4,000 Total with Garden Ceremony & Indoor Reception**

**Based on a guaranteed minimum of 50 people. $18.95 per person over 80 guests.

Photography from a recent brides Point of View

More tips from Summer School for Brides
hosted by Thee Wedding Warehouse



by Christine Valenzuela - KISS THE CAMERA


Even though I've photographed and been a part of dozens and dozens of weddings, being the bride gave me a different perspective on wedding photography.

My tips:
1) It's very important to have a timeline for not only yourself but also all the other people involved (especially if you have a large family and/or bridal party). You want to avoid getting a ton of calls from your family and friends on your wedding day.

2) Use timelines as a guideline and don't be upset if you run a little behind. Unexpected things will happen and may cause your timing to be a bit off. Make sure to pad your timeline with extra time to ensure you have the ability to take the photos you'd like.

3) Enjoy the day and especially the photography session. This is the first thing you will do with your husband. Relax and just have fun with the photographer. It will show in the photos.

4) Choose a photographer not solely based on their work, but also their personality. You have to genuinely like the person to be able to invite them into very intimate moments between you and your new husband. It will be clear in the photos if you are faking your emotions or are holding back your true feelings.

Photography from a recent brides Point of View
by Christine Valenzuela - KISS THE CAMERA

Images courtesy of
Kiss the Camera

Posing:

Turning your body at an angle and shifting your weight to your back foot while pointing your other foot forward can instantly help you lose 10-20 pounds through the camera.

Stick out your chin a little to avoid the appearance of a double chin in your photos.

Don't hold your breath during a pose. Stay relaxed and your photos will look as if you just happened to be sitting this way when the photographer walked up.

You don't always have to smile. You should have a good variety of smiling, laughing and serious looks.



Tips for looking good in your wedding photos:

Do a trial run with your hair stylist and make-up artist before the wedding. Having them do your make-up before the wedding gives you a chance to see if you enjoy working with them and makes sure there are not any unpleasant surprises. If possible, you should think about scheduling your engagement session on the same day as the trial. This will give you the opportunity to see how your make-up and hair will look in photos.

Remember to eat and stay hydrated! The better you feel, the better you will look in your photos.

Wear comfortable shoes. Make sure you wear your wedding day shoes around the house to break them in. Some brides bring a second pair of shoes to the reception so that they can change their shoes after the grand entrance, which I think is a great idea!

If you are having an evening wedding, consider taking your pictures before the ceremony to take advantage of the beautiful natural light outdoors.

Lighting is very important for photographs. If you are thinking about having an indoor ceremony or backyard wedding, make sure there is enough ambient light. Set up a meeting with your photographer and show them what the lighting is like. They should be able to tell you if more light is needed or not.

Be relaxed, smile and enjoy your day! Laugh and let loose in front of the camera, just be yourself and show off the wonderful love you have each other. The happiness and affection will show through in the photos that you’ll treasure for a lifetime!

By Cyndi Hardy
Cyndi Hardy Photography

CYNDI HARDY PHOTOGRAPHY
Using a "Real Life" approach combined with an artistic style, Cyndi will capture the true expressions and emotions of your big day.
623.640.4114