{Photo: Wikimedia Commons}

There’s nothing like a beautiful beach wedding. There’s just something romantic about that nice breeze, sand between your toes and the sound of waves crashing in the background. If you’re a beach bride,your overall wedding style will be a bit different than traditional brides–and it should be! Forget the stuffy dresses and overly formal look and instead, get inspired by some of these beautiful beach wedding ideas.

For a totally gorgeous, pin-worthy beach wedding, try these 5 tips:

1.  Pick a dress that suits your venue. For the beach, something easy, breezy and flowy is better than a Cinderella ballgown better suited for a ballroom.
2.  Go easy on the hair. If you still want a more formal dress, ditch the formal updo and embrace some natural, loose waves.
3.  Choose more casual attire for your bridal party; think shorter dresses for the ladies and consider going barefoot!
4.  Don’t make your Groomsmen wear stuffy tuxedos; shorts and button ups, linen pants and cream-colored suits look quite dapper, too.
5. Incorporate nature into your decor! Seashells and sea-colored accessories all make beautiful beach wedding decor.

Are you thinking of having a beach wedding?

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

Photos: 1/2/3/4/5/6

Keren at Keren Sarai Photography recently shared with me this absolutely gorgeous Great Gatsby-inspired wedding photo shoot her team, The Photography Stylistas, put together. This group of 10 Chicago-based photographers gets together to shoot stylized wedding shoots twice a year. Lucky for us, their most recent endeavor was this Great Gatsby-inspired wedding shoot. And it’s everything you’d expect a Daisy Buchanan + Gatsby wedding to be: Romantic, Glamorous and filled with gorgeous details. Enjoy.

Thank you, Keren, for sharing these gorgeous photos with us!

Vendors: 

Concept + Design: The Photography Stylistas (Christine Brizendine of Dabble Me This + Dominique Strom of Dominique Strom Photography & Design + Heather Hart of Heather Hart Studio + Jenny Chavez of Hope Faith Love Photography + Jill Tiongco of Jill Tiongco Photography + Katrina Mather of BKM Photography + Keren Chookaszian of Keren Sarai Photography + Nikole of Nikole Marie Photography + Robyn Schwab of Robyn Photography + Zipporah Kapambwe of Zipporah Kapambwe Photography) | Styling : Whitney Middleton Gruber of Whitney Ambition | Venue : RPM Italian | Invitations + Details: Molly Jacques Illustration | Desserts : Biere Chocolates | Cake: Kim Smith: KJ’S Cupcakery | Floral Design : Nancy Krause Floral Design & Garden Antiques  | Wedding Gown: Diane von Furstenberg via Rent the Runway | Bridesmaid Dress: Trina Turk via Rent the Runway | Clutches: Diane von Furstenberg Handbags via Rent the Runway | Jewelry: Siebke Hoyt Jeweler | Suits: Urban Offering | Headpieces: Carly Reynolds: Mata Hari’s Daughter | Bride’s Hair: Jillian Koch | Bride’s Makeup: Gigi (gigi.2bhealthy@gmail.com) | Bridesmaid Hair, Makeup, and Groom’s Styling: Shaundria Blythe (shaundriarae@yahoo.com) at Solo Salon | Models : Noelle Lynch + Ryan Dunn (Bride + Groom), Shaundria + Luke Blythe (Bridesmaid + Groomsman)

Where or where was this Scottsdale wedding boutique when I was planning my wedding last year??

It wasn’t the dress. It wasn’t the venue. For me, one of the hardest things to shop for when planning my wedding was the accessories. Sure, there are plenty of wedding stores that sell accessories. But white Dyeables and cheesy rhinestone jewels weren’t exactly what I had in mind. It was shocking to discover the shortage of beautiful, trendy bridal-appropriate accessories. Which is why I wish De Noce Ferrer was open sooner!

This very glamorous Scottsdale wedding boutique has your accessory needs covered; you’ll find glitzy shoes, clutches and accessories from lines like Badgley Mischka, Judith Leiber and Sondra Roberts. Trust when I say there is plenty to lust after!

And don’t discard this Valley spot if you aren’t a bride; whether you’re planning your wedding, are a bridesmaid or looking for some glam accessories for that charity gala, De Noce Ferrer has a great selection of elegant accessories, sans the over-the-top cheesy bridal feel. See for yourself.

I love the idea of pairing glamorous yet unexpected accessories for your wedding day look. So don’t pigeon hole yourself into shopping for a white wedding shoe! Mine, in fact, were a quite beautiful pair of royal blue Badgley Mischka bridal shoes. 

{Jane Z Photography}

And yes, you can get these at De Noce Ferrer!

De Noce Ferrer is located at the Shops at Southbridge. You can also find them on Facebook, too.

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

Pink? Red? Hearts? Romance? These Valentine’s Day wedding ideas are full of that and much more. From whimsical cakes to heart-stopping candy stations, there are plenty of Valentine’s Day wedding inspiration ideas here to help you plan that wedding or Valentine’s Day party. Cupid definitely left his lovestruck footprints all over these soirees! Enjoy. And Happy Valentine’s Day!

 How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year? 

 For constant style and beauty chatter, connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, too.

Photos: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11

If you’re having a destination wedding or have plenty of non-local guests, an out-of-towner’s welcome bag is a nice touch. Just a few simple things can really show how much you appreciate them making the journey for your wedding.

Here are a few ideas on what you should include:

1.  A local city guide/magazine. They’re a great resource for guests to find things to do, places to see and restaurant ideas. Hint: you can usually score these at local hotels, restaurants or your visitor’s bureau for free.
2. A personal note. Always include a personal note thanking your guests for traveling to come to your wedding! It will make them feel extra special.
3. Weekend agenda. Even if you have a wedding website include maps, times and dates for the wedding weekend. Don’t forget things like Welcome Cocktails, the Rehearsal Dinner and Day After Brunch.
4. Survival necessities. A bottle of water and a few snacks are thoughtful things to include. I’ve also seen plenty of bags complete with hangover remedies! Bloody mary mix, mini bottles of vodka, and Tylenol are cute ideas to include, too.
5.  Something local. For our wedding, we included a bottle of Arizona Iced Tea. Be creative and share something local with your guests!

Your welcome bag is your guest’s first impression of your wedding weekend! Match the bag to your colors/feel of your wedding. If you’re having a rustic wedding, for example, an over-the-top glamorous bag wouldn’t exactly feel right. And though it’s fun to get quirky, keep it simple. There are many more wedding details to attend to.

Are you or did you create a welcome bag for your wedding? What things are you including??

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

 Photos: 1/2/3/4/5

Picking your wedding flowers is no easy task. First, there’s Pinterest to blame. Over-the-top displays can give you unrealistic expectations about what most weddings really look like and what flowers actually cost. But, it’s also a good thing, too. I put together a wedding flower inspiration Pinterest board and with that and a million other photos saved on my iPad, met with the owner of Community Florist, Shelli Walker.

We walked around my venue, the Montelucia Resort & Spa (which was also named one of the top wedding venues in the WORLD by The Knot! How cool is that?!), and I described to her in detail what I was looking for. For me, it was much more than being set on one particular flower, it was a “feel” I was looking for. I wanted people to literally feel the romance when they entered the space. Soft, romantic, beautiful and lots of creams and blush tones to match my wedding colors.

For the bouquets and centerpieces, we went with dahlias, hydrangeas and roses as I truly love the look of bigger flowers. The colors looked beautiful against the girls’ blush dresses.

I was inspired by an ombré rose petal flower curtain for our ceremony space I found online and kept things simple yet romantic there. And for our aisle, I let Shelli take the lead. I was so overwhelmed by wedding decions at that point, I didn’t want to make one more! I let her know I wanted flower petals and candles and she could decide the rest. It turned out gorgeous.

We saved the drama for our reception space…

I got lucky because Shelli just happened to get in those gorgeous crystal bases just weeks before our wedding. They were exactly what I had envisioned, even though I didn’t know it! Elegant, glamorous yet classically gorgeous.

Photos: Jane Z Photography

Sponsored by: Community Florist

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too. 

{Photo: Natalie Williams}

Sponsored by: Samara James Jewellers

What’s more fun than getting all dressed up to go to a wedding? Getting all dressed up to go to wedding that’s on New Year’s Eve! A New Year’s Eve wedding is a bit more formal and flashy, so yes sequins are allowed. When going to a New Year’s Eve wedding there are a few things to keep in mind on this very special night.

First, when it comes to New Year’s Eve weddings it’s safe to say that formal is the best choice for this event. The wedding will begin later than typical weddings, therefore these events tend to be a bit more formal than a daytime affair. Try not to come off too sexy though, because it is still a wedding.

{Photos: Neiman Marcus, Elisabeth Millay,  White Lace and Cotton via Pinterest} 

A New Year’s Eve wedding is the one time when guests do not have to worry about outshining the bride. Long party dresses are very appropriate, but please no trains as this is never acceptable. Long and ball-gown style, however, is not the only option; short and strappy is also a great choice for the festivities. If wearing a short cocktail dress remember not to go too short, and to keep cleavage to a minimum. As for color, be careful not to pick anything too bright or flashy, looking like a disco ball should never be the objective. It’s also perfectly fine to pull out that little black dress from the back of the closet. Typically, black is not the best choice when going to a wedding, but for New Year’s Eve it can be both classy and elegant if you accessorize it appropriately.

As for the material of the dress, don’t be afraid to try something new. Bold metallics, fancy sequins, or even lush velvet are all perfect for such a special occasion. Any dress can be jazzed up with the right high-heeled shoes and accessories like scarves, shawls or pashmina and a glitzy clutch bag.

{Photo: BreakfastatYurmans via Pinterest}

Shoes can never be too sexy so don’t worry about going overboard in this department. Since New Year’s Eve is in the winter, adding a lovely faux fur shawl, a pretty sequin cardigan, or some warm winter tights will ensure that the midnight toast is fun-filled and cozy.

Men should wear either a tuxedo or a dark suit. If the invitation says black tie, opt for the tuxedo. If the invitation, however, does not state what attire should be worn then either one is acceptable, just keep the color of the suit dark.

When going to a New Year’s Eve wedding, just remember to have fun with it. It is a time to celebrate both a new love and a new year. Whether dressed in a stunning long gown, or a chic cocktail dress, this New Year’s Eve wedding will be one to remember.

About the author:

Rebecca is writing on behalf of Samara James Jewellers dealing with everything that sparkles for the big day in terms of jewelry and engagement rings. Rebecca is currently studying fashion and design at college and aspires to eventually own her own bridal boutique and has plenty of tips on outfits, hair, jewelery including diamond jewellery information and everything else you will need to make the day extra special.

When it comes to weddings, the focus tends to fall so much on the bride and finding The Dress. I’m not complaining (really) but we need to make sure our handsome groom’s have their attire, too! And for that, we went to Tux-Xpress in North Scottsdale.

When we went to the bridal show, there were Men’s Warehouse ads everywhere. But I love to support a locally-owned business whenever possible. Especially one that specializes in tuxedos.

Tux-Xpress has extremely affordable tuxedo and suit rentals. The owner, Jim, was knowledgable, friendly and dispelled many of the myths surrounding tuxedo rentals. Did you know, for example, that at many of these “Big Box” places, the guys can’t even try on the tuxedo jacket? They are actually trying on suit jackets in store, which are sized differently.

We were in the market for something a bit more modern yet classic so went with the The Clyde Shadow Stripe Tuxedo for the entire bridal party. And, I must say, they looked quite dapper.

I decided to forgo the matchy-matchy bridesmaid-groomsmen thing and instead, went with classic black ties for the gents and ivory for my groom to match my dress. Dressing up the groomsmen in blush-colored ties probably would have made them cringe! If you are, however, looking for matching vests and ties, there are more than 70 colors available at Tux-Xpress!

Tuxedo rentals at Tux-Xpress include everything the guys will need for the Big Day: Jacket, pants, shirt, bow tie, cummerbund, cuff links, suspenders and a choice of silver or gold metal studs. Vest rentals are only $5 extra and, as I mentioned, there are sooo many colors to choose from. Our ring bearer looked oh-so-handsome in his mini tux, too, which we had match the groom.

Photos: Jane Z Photography

Sponsored by Tux-Xpress

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

Unless you’ve shopped for invitations before or really done your homework on Pinterest, I found wedding invitation design to be one of the hardest parts of wedding planning. Our Save the Date was fun and cheeky, but your wedding invitation should really communicate the feel of the event. It sets the expectation for your guests and for that, I worked with Kim from The Event Essentials.

Kim creates all custom, luxury stationary suites for her clients including everything from your wedding invitations to menu design, place card settings, save the dates and more. She has a number of gorgeous, designs on her website to start with or, you can talk to her about your custom needs. Shopping for stationary can feel overwhelming so it’s best with start with something basic and then embellish from there. And that’s where all the fun begins…

From pearls and rhinestones to lace, gemstones and pretty ribbon, there are virtually endless possibilities for how to add that touch of glamour to your wedding invitations. For ours, I simply told Kim this: I want something elegant, chic and classic, without being over-the-top. Our wedding colors were white, cream, blush with black as just an accent so I wanted those incorporated. Lace and pearls were my chosen embellishments as those were also being used throughout the wedding decor and I wanted the font itself to serve as the design element.

They turned out gorgeous.

We chose two inserts for our invites: Our RSVP postcard and an “Information & Details” card since half of our guests were coming in from out of the country. It was held together with elegant, ivory lace.

Kim works with plenty of brides who aren’t local and is great at finding the perfect design that works within your budget. If you are ordering online, I would highly recommend ordering a few paper swatches so you can best compare the colors. Plus, another benefit of working with a Pro is it’s always great to have a professional on hand as well who can help you out with decisions such as wording and proper invitation etiquette.

For more gorgeous stationary ideas by The Event Essentials, check out the gallery below!

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

Sponsored by: The Event Essentials 

I honestly don’t even know where to being when it comes to summarizing our wedding. I can really only think of one word: Magic.

{Photo: Jane Z Photography}

As most of you know, throughout the wedding planning process we partnered with Rolfs Salon and Arizona Weddings Magazine for the “Behind the Veil” video series, a  project near and dear to all of us that showcased some amazing local wedding vendors and a behind-the-scenes peek at how to plan a glamorous desert wedding. There were plenty of moments showing what wedding planning is really like, and some fun DIY projects, too. None of that would have been possible without some of the amazing people we hired to make our wedding come together, and I’d like to introduce you to them over the next few days.

Of course, the wedding festivities always begin with the Rehearsal Dinner and for ours, we chose Millenium Scottsdale Resort & Villas.

I won’t lie, choosing your rehearsal dinner venue can be tricky business. Some people end up with something just as elaborate as the wedding itself. For us, I wanted to keep things simple, nice yet intimate.

We met with the staff at Millenium and told them about what we were looking for. Since our wedding was in October, lakeside dining on the patio sounded amazing. The chef recommended a family-style dining experience so guests could interact more, chat and really get to know each other. After all, a wedding is about the joining of two families so the rehearsal dinner is not a moment to be standoffish and shy!

Since we were traveling from our actual rehearsal at the Montelucia Resort & Spa, we chose to have passed hors d’oeuvres before dinner was served. And the dinner, well, I’ll let you see for yourself. All of our guests were raving.

{Dress: Bebe. Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent.}

As you can see, our menu was pretty extensive.

For starters, we had shrimp tacos, ahi tuna ceviche and chicken empanadas. Next, the servers brought out three salads to choose from: chopped salad, watercress & endive salad and a baby arugula salad. Grilled beef tenderloin with roasted fingerling potatoes,  grilled chicken on a bed of arugula and grilled salmon topped with pineapple salsa and cilantro couscous were the main dish stars for the evening. There were good laughs, plenty of wine and our closest friends and family ready to kick off our wedding weekend.

And even though I’m not a dessert person….these did not disappoint! Crême brulé, chocolate lava cake and although I typically don’t care for coconut, the coconut cheesecake happened to be my favorite and was outstanding!

The chef was superb in working with us to finalize our menu. We were able to schedule tastings beforehand where he asked about out cultural background and any dietary restrictions to best tailor the menu to reflect us as a couple. We even added an order of truffle fries at the last minute because, well, who doesn’t love truffle fries?!

Sponsored by Millenium Scottsdale Resort & Villas.

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.