By: Lindsey Madsen

A whirl-wind romance, a magical night, the BIG question gets asked and before you know it- you are engaged to be married!! Hugs and kisses and congratulations are in order, but once the dust settles you realize that answering that ONE important question opened the flood gates for about a million other ones. What’s next? Where should you start? When can you go dress shopping? Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking, here is a bit of helpful advice to get you started~

ENJOY BEING ENGAGED

You have finally found that special someone, and are ready to start spending the rest of your lives together, but that doesn’t mean you have to start planning the wedding two minutes after the question is popped. Take time and enjoy being engaged. Celebrate it with friends and family, kiss each other a thousand times and find a fun and memorable way to announce this momentous occasion with the special people in your life. There will be plenty of time for choices and decisions and the stress that comes along with planning a wedding. Getting engaged is big and should be enjoyed and commemorated in a way that is as unique as you and your new groom.

ANNOUNCE YOUR ENGAGEMENT

That new ring on your finger will begin to feel like it weighs a hundred pounds, and you will find yourself wanting to shout the news of your engagement to every person that you have ever met. All of those feelings are completely normal, but if your soon to be Mother-in-law finds out about your engagement on Facebook—that might start things off on the wrong foot. First and foremost the parents should be told, and ideally both of you should be present when the big news is announced. It is then appropriate to tell the members of your immediate families, close friends and the candidates for your bridal party. After that, go nuts! Make a million phone calls; post it on Facebook, Text, Tweet or Blog about your proposal story. However the two of you decide to get the word out, be ready for a multitude of phone calls and texts filled with love and congratulations!

GET ORGANIZED… REALLY ORGANIZED

The first step on the road to planning a wedding is to get organized. Purchase a wedding folio: a three-ring binder or notebook that is dedicated to wedding business only! Purchase dividers and sheet protectors for each section, and begin figuring out what areas are important to you, your groom, (and ideally your parents if they will be a big part of your wedding). When you are picking your date, talk with your closest family and friends about prior engagements that might interfere with your wedding, (like having a baby, or moving for work or college,) and then pick a date that makes the most sense. Once you have your date, I always suggest meeting and hiring a wedding planner. The first consultation is usually FREE, and their years of experience and connections in the wedding industry can save you money and hundreds of hours of stress and running around throughout the planning process.

SET AN HONEST BUDGET

Money and Budgets….  Ugh!  Traditionally most of the responsibility to pay for the wedding falls on the bride’s family, but these days anything goes. Many Grooms and Brides pay for the wedding themselves or have relatives or friends that want to help with the expenses.  So talk with ALL the responsible parties about what they have set aside or what they are comfortable paying for. Get a realistic idea of what you have to spend and then try to stick to it as close as possible. I suggest getting a separate “wedding only bank-account” if possible.  Its sole purpose would be to keep the money for the wedding separate and track purchases, deposits and payments made for the wedding. I know that no one likes to talk about money, but it is undeniably the area that causes the most stress during planning a wedding and having a realistic idea of what you can spend on the different areas will help keep that stress to a minimum.

FIGURE OUT YOUR PRIORITIES

Once you have your budget – the next step is figuring out what is really important to you, the Groom and your parents if they are going to be involved in the planning. It is YOUR day, but knowing what is important to all those involved can help keep hurt feelings and disagreements to a minimum. A fun and easy way to get a clear idea of what the priorities are is to make a list of every area of the wedding you can think of.  Such as:  photography, invitations, catering, flowers, décor etc. and then give a copy to all the involved parties, including a separate one for you and one for the groom. Have them assign a number to each in order of importance. Once finished, review them together and divide the budget accordingly. Doing an exercise like this can open your eyes to a few things and help take some of the decisions and responsibilities off of your shoulders so you can focus on the areas that are more important to you and the groom. If the dress is on the top of your list but the food is on the top of your mother’s, let her do some of the leg work. She can collect menus, meet with caterers, get bids and then you can sit down together and make the final decision. Letting the right people help in the right areas can help keep you sane and free up time that can be better spent elsewhere.

KNOW YOUR STYLE AND DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK

Knowing what you like and don’t like will need to become second nature as questions about colors and looks and style are flung at you from every direction. Understanding your style is great, but understanding how to communicate your style to others is extremely important. Wedding vendors will usually ask about your colors or theme or style sometime during a consultation, and being prepared for those questions can give them a clearly defined idea of what you are envisioning for your wedding. Websites like Pinterest.com, Style Me Pretty and TheKnot.com (and countless others) can help you gather the ideas and visual aids you may need. Spend time before meeting with your wedding planner or vendor gathering ideas, pictures, color swatches, names of flowers, sketches and whatever else helps you define your ideas for a dream wedding. By going into a consultation with a clear idea of your Style, Priorities and Budget can help your vendor offer services and goods that are realistic, obtainable and meet all of the expectations for your dream wedding!

MEET WITH PROFESSIONALS

Once your friends and families are made aware of your pending nuptials help will begin coming out of the wood-work. You will find that everyone has a friend whose brother’s-roommate’s-aunt is happy to do your flowers or cake or photography, but let me caution you a bit. Using professional wedding vendors will save you stress and money… period.  I have been a part of hundreds of weddings, and the ones that (unfortunately) didn’t turn out how the bride had hoped were usually because they had assigned a large task to someone that wasn’t trained or prepared to do it. Having a friend do your flowers to save money is “in theory” a good idea, but the reality is that the stress of ordering flowers in bulk, figuring out how to keep them refrigerated without freezing them, buying all the vases, buckets, ribbons, wires and supplies needed, then putting them together the day before the wedding and transporting them in one piece will inevitably fall upon your already full shoulders. Then after the wedding, what do you do with all that stuff? It’s the little things that add up and you can see how quickly “doing it yourself” can become confusing, stressful and very expensive. Businesses that provide services for weddings on a daily basis are prepared for any and all of the possibilities that might come up. They offer services, supplies, advice and expertise that can save you money and multiple headaches.

 BE OPEN TO OPINIONS…. BUT NOT TOO OPEN

Advice, opinions and offers to help from your adoring friends and family are wonderful, but it can become overwhelming and quickly muddle your overall vision. Unfortunately, it takes the skill of a tight rope walker to not hurt someone’s feelings during the planning process, but we have a few ideas to help you stay out of hot water.  First, if you are asking for an opinion, make sure you are okay with getting one. If you are not the type of person that really wants advice, don’t go looking for it. Ask for advice from sources that are relevant. If your sister had an amazing caterer or D.J., that would be a good source to go to, but if you ask your unmarried BFF “how to pick the right wedding photographer?” she might not give you the results you were hoping for. In my experience, the brides that don’t share a lot about their wedding plans have fewer landmines to avoid. If you don’t bring it up, it won’t give people the opportunity to give their two-cents.  Having a professional wedding planner on your team comes with lots of perks, and can act as the perfect scapegoat when needed. If Auntie Jean wants to make you a cake in the shape of a unicorn, you can politely say… “I think my wedding planner has the cake covered, but I will keep that in mind!” Being gracious and polite and knowing how to navigate all that advice and opinions will become a lifesaver when maintaining those close friendships before AND after the wedding.

 MAINTAIN PERSPECTIVE

Your wedding day is a BIG DAY, one you will want to remember forever, but it is still only one day. Getting married and planning a wedding should be about celebrating your love and the beginning of your life together as man and wife. All too often, Brides put too much pressure on themselves and everyone around them to be perfect in every way. If you follow some of the advice above, it may help plan the perfect wedding, but life has a way of throwing you a curveball when you least expect it. Learn to be open to life, roll with the punches, and don’t let the little things ruin the big picture. In 10 years, will it matter if the shade of the napkins was off a bit, or if the salad plates were square instead of round? …no probably not. If you ask any past Bride what they remember most about their wedding I am sure they would say the same thing… that the little details were a bit of a blur, but they remember the people, the excitement and the overall feeling. That being said, if Brides are too focused and caught up in stressing about all of the little tiny things, they might miss out on what a big success their wedding really was.

 RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR BIG DAY

The BIG day is finally here! Family is in town, tuxes have been picked up and all of the final decisions have been made. It’s time for you and the groom to sit back and enjoy the fruits of all of your hard work. During the week of the wedding, make sure to schedule down-time for yourself and the groom, because if you don’t… it will fill up with something. Steer clear of stressful situations, expect that something will go wrong and know that it will still be okay. Eat well balanced meals, get lots of sleep and try not to let the little things ruin what can be the most memorable day of your young life~

By Katie Ellis

Red rocks contrasted with the bright blue sky, cacti and succulents dotting the terrain as far as the eye can see, the Virgin River gnawing through native sandstone, black lava rock jumbled along the sandy earth—these are the images of Southern Utah. The awe-inspiring landscapes create stunning backdrops for a wedding worth remembering.

Whether you’re born and bred in the desert or simply captivated by its charm, it’s time to embrace the beauty with a southwestern-themed wedding. And the best way to capture the allure of the desert, is to hold your ceremony or reception right in the middle of it.

There are many scenic locations in Southern Utah you could choose for your nuptials. Perhaps, you know someone who owns a home with a backyard hosting expansive views of Snow Canyon State Park or you could even get married in the park itself. The 7,400-acre desert park is a popular location for weddings. If that’s the area you choose, just keep in mind that you will have to obtain a Special Use Permit at least one month in advance. Also, there are some areas of the park that are not permitted for weddings.

Then there’s the park, which is considered one of the jewels of our nation—Zion National Park. You could gaze up at the impressive sandstone cliffs while saying your “I do’s”. The only drawback of having your wedding in Utah’s first national park is the rather long list of terms and conditions that must be followed. For example, only small affairs are allowed inside the park. At Zion’s Temple of Sinawava, your guest list could only include 35 people and that includes the wedding party. Also, your decorations would need prior approval in an effort to keep the area in its pristine condition. Forget about having amplified music or anything that exceeds normal speaking volumes. Regardless of the rules, there’s nothing holding you back from having the most picturesque wedding that you would cherish for a lifetime.

Once you have your location set, it’s time to think about all of the little details that will take in the essence of the Southwest. Perhaps your horse-riding, lasso-throwing uncle has a cow skull you could use as the focal piece of your wedding. Not only could the skull be displayed on a table, but it could also be sketched on the menu cards boasting of Southwestern tortilla soup, grilled chicken salad, and Baja shrimp tacos (No one said you couldn’t stretch your southwest theme down to the Peninsula.) Oh, and don’t forget your signature cocktail to loosen up your guests so they can have visions of “prickly pears” dancing in their heads (or is that sugar-plums?).

Then there’s your mother-in-law with her impressive collection of Native American jewelry, you could use to decorate your cake or at least pin to your bouquet full of succulents and other native plant life. As for your centerpieces, why not have them serve dual purpose? You could decorate your table with potted pepper plants, enough for each guest, and then have the guests take the plants home as their wedding favor.

With just a few details, you can achieve the perfect southwestern wedding in the beauty of the desert. Southern Utah is definitely the perfect backdrop for a perfect day, especially if you have always wanted to be a Southern Utah kind-of-girl.

Elizabeth and Taylors Real Wedding

Was there any personal element you incorporated into the wedding ceremony/reception?

I had the women that I love and brides maids wearing bracelets instead of corsages. The bracelets where made with pieces from my dress. So they could all have a part of “My day” to keep with them.

We also had a live jazz band. My groom has a passion for music and having a classy live jazz band playing all night really set the mood for our wedding.

For our cake topper, I had a man from Singapore paint and carve a wooden cake topper that resembled us down to my dress and flowers. Now we have the keep sake forever.

We decided to have our reception in Taylor’s back yard. There is  a large brick wall and I didn’t know what to do with it. My photography was one of my favorite elements about my wedding I decided to make a picture wall. All different frames and sizes. I displayed our love through pictures. With my homemade mason jar lights to top it off.

Share an idea that the groom had to have.

Taylor is pretty funny! He is completely laid back and let me design our wedding however I  wanted BUT- there was one thing he wanted- to wear chucks on his wedding day. Your wedding day is definitely no excuse to change who you are. So chucks it was!

What was a “must have” for your big day?

I decided that there was no way all of my ideas and plans would come together without a army of help. I didn’t want to have my family miss one thing- so I hired Laura of Forevermore Events to do my coordination and it was the best thing we could have done! When I arrived at my reception it was even better than I had dreamed. “Christmas Morning” and “Disneyland” had combined and Taylor and I were thrilled. They set everything up like I imagined and took it all down. We both agree it was the ” best reception we had ever attended” The details are what make your wedding yours. They are your personal touches. Although they are the most stressful part and time consuming-it’s worth all of it when you walk into your reception and it was everything you ever dreamed it would be.

Share a wedding budget splurge that made a difference?

The photography is the only thing you take with you and I am so thankful I took the time to look at different photographers and find the one that fit my style perfectly. Gideon Photography did an amazing job!

Did you have any “DIY” elements at your reception?

DIY is a great way to save money.  Much of my wedding was handmade. From my sign in, to my veil, to my hair piece, mason jar chandeliers, my banners , the list goes on and on.

Any advice you could pass on to future brides?

Pinterest will only get you so far. Look for blogs and tutorials on how to do it yourself. Etsy is a great tool. Use your vendors help too. They have ideas and look books. Bloomers is a great example of this. Kathy designed everything creatively and had so many books to look from. Last, but not least- enjoy it! Being a bride is like having a birthday everyday so just have fun!

By Kirsten Tyrrel

The first time a picture frame was hung from the branches of a tree, a sort of connection was made between two worlds. That of home, and that of the design world.  Slowly, bits and pieces of home life have eased into what we now see as a sweet and cozy wedding celebration.  As the styles in our homes change continuously, so do those of weddings. More often we are seeing bits of home decor at weddings- and why not? This day is all about you!

More and more the styles of home decor are paralleling that of wedding design. The patterns we use to paint walls are patterns we see on stationary for wedding invites.  The items we typically see resting on a bookshelf at home are now appearing as filler décor at receptions. Even the appearance of cupcakes as wedding appropriate food fit in with the ever- growing trend to bring part of home to weddings.

Whatever your style is: rustic, vintage, urban or something entirely different, find ways to let that inner style speak to your guests. There are many ways to do this!  From small ornamental items to large pieces of furniture, the sky is the limit.  It’s a great practice run for decorating your own home after the nuptials are over!

Begin by getting inspired. Browse the internet or go old school and check out some books and magazines from your local library. As fun as creating online pin boards can be, there’s something to be said about flipping through the pages of a book. This doesn’t have to feel like homework. Even a window shopping adventure can get your inner creativity flowing.  Make sure you are doing one very important thing- be authentic.  If what you love just so happens to be what’s trendy, then go with it. If you feel like your style is completely opposite of what you have been seeing at friend’s and family’s weddings, don’t take that as a sign that what you love is wrong. Your style is your own and people will love it!

Personal touches will be much more attractive if they are truly representative of who you are.  After you’ve decided what you envision for the big day, start hunting at home. Find household objects to display in addition to the standard wedding décor.  You have to display your wedding cake- why not do so on the beautiful end table in your grandmother’s home you’ve loved for years? Your reception will be at night so you need lighting fixtures. What about that great rustic chandelier you saw while window-shopping? Look around your home when you are setting out to find unique decor for the big day.  See if there are any pieces- old and new- that showcase who you are and what you love. Allow things to speak to you and allow your own pizzazz to be realized.

Once you’ve exhausted all your options for what you already own, send yourself on a shopping trip! Try renting things you might not be able to afford, and save up for a few things to buy. Renting is a great way to have some beautiful pieces at your reception without having to front the cost and store things later.  Have fun and find pieces you can use later in your home. What better way to remember the most perfect day of your life? If you’re feeling a little crafty and have some time on your hands before the big day arrives, find some inspiration on how to create your own masterpiece. This is a way to produce something truly original that will become a treasured memento for years to come. See a funky chair that totally fits your style, but you hate the color? If it’s fabric, re-cover it. If it’s wood, strip it and re-finish or paint it!  After the wedding you’ll have a fun chair to place in the corner under one of your wedding photos. Seeing that chair could bring back all the sights, smells and tastes of the sweetest day of your life.

There are many ways to bring home decor into your wedding design. Take advantage of what’s already around you and find a way to invent a unique experience for your wedding guests.  It will be personal and beautiful experience they will not soon forget.

By Lindsey Madsen

These days it seems everywhere you go you hear words like; organic, going-green, eco-friendly, carbon footprint, up-cycling and many more that 15 years ago would have sounded like a foreign language to most people. The “green” movement to protect the earth’s resources and reduce our impact on the planet has become as mainstream as sliced bread. Many people are making life changes in order to help take care of the earth anyway they can.  So how does this translate to the eco-conscious Bride and Groom wanting to have an “Eco-Friendly Wedding” without sacrificing any of the elegant details they have always dreamed about? Have no fear, with a little help and know-how from the right wedding professionals you can keep Mother Earth happy AND have everything on your wish list.

What is a GREEN WEDDING?

First things first, it’s important to know that having a “green-wedding” doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice anything. Many wedding vendors offer eco-friendly options, fine recycled papers for invitations, full organic menus loaded with delicious options and even compostable dishes and “plant-able” wedding favors. Just by being aware of your needs and requests, most wedding vendors will happily jump on board and offer you several earth friendly options. If they can’t, don’t be discouraged, just look at other areas of the event where you can make less of an impact on the earth, and then don’t forget…every little bit helps.

Go for Natural Elegance in a High-impact Location

When looking at venues for your event think about using a beautiful outdoor space. Nothing says ‘welcome to our earth-friendly wedding’ than being surrounded by Mother Nature herself. Talk to your wedding planner about looking for a location that speaks to your personality as a couple and the over-all design for your wedding. Perhaps a park surrounding a glistening pond or flowering backyard garden or grove of mature birch trees, even an apple orchard can become a natural and elegant location to host your wedding. As your guests arrive and are surrounded by nature they will be instantly transported to somewhere out of a story book. Mature trees and wildflowers can make a perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony, and then provide a lush (and free) canopy to dance under as the evening progresses. Just be careful that the location you choose is set-up to host an event or the damage caused by cars and guests can quickly undo all of the good you originally set out to do.

Unique Décor Using “Found” Objects. 

At the root of the green movement is the familiar mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle,” and its simplicity is really what it’s all about. Creating an ethereal ambiance using “up-cycled” and “found” objects can be both fun and rewarding. An afternoon hike into a local grove of trees can produce many useful natural elements. Fallen trees can be cut up into stumps and used for seating around your guest tables or dance floor.  If you are careful you can salvage the bark from the fallen trees and use it for unique table runners or even create birch bark chargers to complement each guest’s place setting.  Old dried out branches can be perfect for creating over-the-top table decorations, and with a little skill and the right tools, you can burn the table numbers right in to slices of tree trunk– adding immediate style to your guest tables. Repurposing fallen trees is just the wonderful beginning, “found” items like river rocks can become adorable personalized place settings, reindeer moss can be used anywhere a colorful accent is needed. Discarded deer antlers and dried pods can become beautiful additions to your floral decorations, and your florist will have a field-day incorporating something different and distinctive into your centerpieces and bridal flowers. Your wedding vendors will LOVE the opportunity to come up with earth-friendly designs.

Thinking Outside the Box can Save you a Bundle of “Green”

You don’t always have to go far to find fabulous recyclables. Family and friends can be a great source for one-of-a-kind items to incorporate into your wedding. Wearing a vintage veil, hair comb or unique jewelry can be a great way to showcase important heirloom pieces. Borrowed tea lights or mason jars can create soft natural lighting throughout the evening, and by mimicking individual lightning bug habitats, create a magical environment for your guests, especially the little ones! Using borrowed items is a great way to involve the loved ones in your life and anytime you have the opportunity to reuse over going out and buying NEW will help ease unnecessary waste and the pressure on your pocketbook.

Don’t Forget the Food & Organic Delicacies.

These days organic food is available pretty much everywhere. From grocery stores to restaurants, even many fast food joints carry a variety of organic menu items and wedding and event caterers are no exception. Many caterers work with local growers and farmers markets to provide the freshest organic ingredients. You might think that this would limit your menu options, but in fact it is quite the opposite. Allowing caterers to create delicious entrees using seasonal ingredients opens up their ability to create a unique menu tailored specifically to your event. Items like a quinoa cranberry salad with field greens topped with fresh goat cheese can start the meal, followed by an entrée using grass-fed, organic proteins and locally grown vegetables, finished with the earthly sweetness of a seasonal pear tart. How could even the pickiest of pallets complain about a menu like that? Why, even the bakers have jumped on board and offer many organic options in their bakeries. Wedding cakes are being made with organic flours and natural flavorings as well as artisan bakers choosing only the freshest organic ingredients to go into their breads and pastries. Using organic menu items can be a tasty and earth-friendly choice as well as provide income for local businesses and organic farmers.

Where to draw the line on “going-green”

The options for an eco-friendly wedding are truly endless. With internet access, options like recycled metal wedding bands, plant-able wedding invitations and stationary, bridal gowns made from sustainable natural fibers and even bridal registries set-up to plant forests instead of flatware are right at your fingertips.  So with endless possibilities available to earth-conscious Brides and Grooms you wouldn’t think there would be anywhere that we would suggest drawing the line, but once in a while tradition and etiquette trump being eco-savvy.  First, be aware that your views are not always the views of your guests and that a wedding is better left as a joyous occasion and may not be the best platform to get too preachy. Let them enjoy the atmosphere you have created and see for themselves that in no way did SOPHISTICATION or STYLE have to be sacrificed.  Second, you may think that after the event is done a quick email is the earth-friendly way to thank your guests, but tradition and etiquette still say that a handwritten note is the most appropriate form to give thanks. This is a tradition that shouldn’t become lost. Talk to your stationer about creating thank you cards from recycled paper or the possibility of using one of the many tree-less options.

A “green wedding” requires couples to think about choices and alternatives at each step of the planning process. Being earth conscious isn’t a FAD or a TREND, people world-wide are focusing their efforts on trying to save the environment and becoming more eco-friendly in everything they do. This focus has raised the bar in the wedding industry, designers and wedding vendors are coming up with new and exciting ways to “GO GREEN” without sacrificing any of the luxury or opulence of a customary wedding. Stick to your convictions and with all the amazing options available to you the outcome will be both elegant and earth-friendly.

By Lenni Stratton

Many brides and grooms don’t think to hire a wedding planner because they don’t know what a wedding planner can do for them. Yes, a wedding planner can help you run your event from start to finish, but what does that really mean?

A wedding planner can help in any manner of ways, from the smallest request to the biggest dream. Many event planning companies offer a range of services, from simple rentals to full-service event coordination.

One of the biggest benefits to hiring a wedding coordinator is their ability to help you create a cohesive event from start to finish, from the invitations to the send-off, and everything in between. A great wedding planner will help you keep the bigger picture in mind while still maintaining all the details.

A wedding planner is a great liaison between you and all of your vendors. Chances are, you are doing more with your life than planning a wedding. Juggling a job, school, family, and friends, and trying to plan a wedding at the same time can be beyond stressful.

With a wedding planner to help you, many of the important meetings with vendors can be taken care of while you worry about the rest of your life. Once your wedding planner knows your vision and has helped you set down the main details of the event, she can help answer questions for you wedding vendors even when you might not be available.

During the planning process, a wedding planner can help you with crucial decisions that could otherwise be quite stressful. Most brides are entering into the wedding planning process for the first time, and having a planner to guide you along the way can help relieve a lot of that stress.

Beyond knowing all the details essential to a flawless event, from where to rent chairs to having enough restrooms to including a vegetarian option on the menu, an experienced wedding planner will know what combination of great vendors will help you accomplish your unique vision, and can help you with all the steps to book those vendors for your wedding day.

On the wedding day, the benefits of a wedding planner are fairly obvious. Imagine spending your wedding day knowing that every tiny detail you’ve spent months planning is being taken care of… without you having to think about any of it or lift a finger.

A well-prepared wedding planner will be able to answer any vendor’s question, solve any problem, and address any issue throughout the day, without having to bother you with any of it. You (and your mom) will be free to enjoy your day, knowing that everything will go smoothly and everyone will have a great time.

Your wedding day, though arguably the most important day of your life, is one day. The wedding planning process can take months. Having a wedding planner along for the entire process will ensure that every part of the experience, from booking vendors to ensuring they show up on time on the big day, is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

10 Amazing things to do on your Hawaiian Honeymoon

By Bailey Leclerc

1. A day on the North Shore. The North Shore of Hawaii is famous for it’s big wave surfing in the winter months. Many of Hawaii’s most well known beaches are located on the over seven-mile stretch of shoreline. Pipeline, Sunset and Waimea Bay to name a few.
2. There are only a few places on earth where you can see a live volcano. One of those unique places is on the Big Island of Hawaii. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park you can see actual lava flow into the ocean. A pretty spectacular sight.
3. Hiking and water falls go hand in hand in Hawaii. There are several to choose from throughout the islands. A favorite of many is the Pools of O’heo or the Seven Sacred Pools on Maui. After the long drive on the Road to Hana cool off with a dip in these beautiful pools.
4. Feeling a little adventurous? Kauai Backcountry Adventures gives tubing expeditions that run you through old irrigation canals from the Lihue Sugar Plantation. It takes you through lazy stretches, dark tunnels and even a few rapids.
5. What’s more romantic than a beautiful sunset? Mt. Haleakala (Big Island) is well known for it’s sunrise but a little known secret is that sunset is where it’s at. Drive up in the late afternoon and pack a picnic dinner. Go ahead and stay for a bit of star gazing while you’re at it.
6. Go for a glider ride. Honolulu Soaring located on Oahu will take you on a highflying adventure that you will never forget. If you’re feeling like a dare devil sign up for the Aerobatic flight that will take you to zero gravity, loop-d-loops and much more.
7. A trip to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete with out some snorkeling. Hands down the best place to do it is Molokini off the shores of Maui. This partially submerged crater is home to over 250 different marine life species. The best viewing is in the morning and it’s only accessible by boat. So arrange plans in advance.
8. Are you a movie buff? Several movies such as South Pacific, Blue Hawaii & the blockbuster hit Jurassic Park were filmed on the Island of Kauai. Sign up for the Alii Movie Excursion to see over fifteen movie locations.
9. Have you ever wanted to swim with dolphins? What if you had the opportunity to swim with dolphins in the wild? There are several different dolphin excursions off the coast of Oahu that allow you to get in the water and swim with spinner dolphins.
10. Last but definitely not least visit the black sand beaches of the Big Island. Or maybe the green sand beach which is a little more challenging to get to. If you are on Maui go discover the red sand beach. There is a beach of every color in Hawaii and they are all breath taking. Perfect for swimming, soaking in the sun and exploring.

By Haylee Jones

Picture this: scenic blue spruce swaying in a slight breeze behind you and your soon-to-be spouse creating a night where your guests are transported on a first class flight to any place they can imagine. Whether it be the romantic Pontine Islands of Italy or the sparkling beaches of Doha, Qatar, anywhere will be possible if you include the right props, venue, and food items creating the mood of one of the most cherished pastimes of the 1920s: traveling.

It can be difficult to bring your guests to imagine themselves floating on a serene cruise ship as they sit in a ceremony room with the closest ocean being 400 miles away. But the best route to take to help get those creative juices flowing is incorporating different props throughout your wedding that symbolize the very essence of traveling. Guests will be ready to embark on your journey as they receive cleverly designed train tickets sent out as save the dates and enjoy memories brought back with old post cards created for thank you cards. Globes, maps, trunks, old travel magazines, and beautiful natural floral placed perfectly around your reception area will keep the image alive to your guests throughout the night.

Your friends and family will feel as though they had stepped onto the Queen Mary as they are gracefully welcomed by waiters in formal wear politely ushering them to their allotted seats. Keys can be used as place holders upon layers of white cloth over black skirting with red napkins and delicate silver vases filled with elegant roses. In honoring this treasured leisure from the 1920s, why not consider setting the mood of this golden age by including a live jazz band to play familiar tunes from Louis Armstrong and Jimmie Rogers creating feet tapping of youngsters and adults alike.

Southern Utah is an ideal location to host any travel style themed wedding because it has it all from bold black lava rocks to luscious green fields. Not to mention majestic red rock hills and snow covered mountaintops. You can tie all of these elements together to host a diverse trip conveniently accessible at many Southern Utah locations. Other techniques to place your wedding in an otherwise far off land are the display of photographs from some of the most sought after places for vacation.

One detail to keep in mind: you want to put your guests on a first class flight and not the ordinary couch flight. Your catering decisions should include gourmet meals while also incorporating different cultural options to keep with your travel theme. Toss out the peanuts and consider selections from Italian, French, Chinese, and Indian style cooking.

Now you’ve got your locomotive running, your jet engine turning, and your cruise line floating. It’s time to set sail for the beginning of your lifetime journey with your loving spouse-to-be. With a little wedding planning help and creative ideas, your guests will be left with a night to remember full of laughter, love, and adventure.

By Lenni Straton

The music accompanying your event will be one of the most memorable aspects of your wedding day, not just for you and your new spouse, but for your guests as well. Live music on your wedding day can help you create a truly unforgettable experience. Hiring live musicians for any portion of your wedding day can help create an ambiance that simply cannot be achieved through recorded music. Musicians have the capability to interact with and react to the needs and wants of you and your guests in ways that recorded music simply cannot.

Some classic options that you could consider for live music before and during your ceremony are a classical pianist or guitarist, a string quartet, or perhaps even a harpist. This type of music is beautiful, timeless, and soothing and works well as soft background music

while your guests find their seats. Choosing a popular or recognizable song to escort you down the aisle, but played by a classical instrument, is a great way to create lasting memories for your guests. They’ll know the song, but experience it in a completely new way, unique to you.

To choose music for your reception, you’ll need to think about the type of event you want. Do you want a wedding reception that gets your guests on the dance floor grooving to the beat? Or maybe you want something a little more traditional and classic, with guests doing the foxtrot and the waltz. Or perhaps you simply want background music that will allow you to mingle with your guests, and enjoy the food and company with your new spouse. Any of those things can be accomplished by finding the right musicians to accompany the event.

Your musicians can help engage your guests, and help you direct the flow of your event. They may even be able to help introduce certain traditions throughout the reception, like the first dance, bouquet toss, or cake cutting. It is always helpful to have someone letting guests know what events are coming up, and the musicians are perfectly placed at the center of attention to do this most effectively. Be sure to ask your chosen musician if this is a service they offer, or if they will expect you to hire an MC as well.

Think outside the box when hiring musicians. The local wedding singer isn’t your only option. Look for local bands by calling around to music venues in your town or nearby. Depending on your budget, you may even be able to consider some big-name bands for your event. Don’t limit yourself because you’ve never been to a wedding with the type of musician you really want. It’s your day, make it your own, and you and your guests will have a truly memorable and enjoyable time.

Regardless of the type of musician you want to hire, there are a few key things to remember when making your choice. Make sure that you choose a musician who sees your vision. Whether they’ll be playing current pop covers, or a collection of classical pieces, think carefully about the experience you want your guests to have and find musicians that will help you achieve the ambiance you want for your wedding day. And one last thing, always take the time to see your potential musicians play before the wedding day, and ideally try to attend a performance where you can see them in action, rather than just an audition specifically for you.

Cake- Sweet Cakes

Culinary- Kneaders 

Design- Forevermore Events

Dress- Lauren James Bridal 

Floral- Bloomers

Hair and Makeup- Jaclyn Lamoreaux 

Head Piece- L Madsen Design

Jewelry- Bella Donna Boutique

Photography- Gideon Photography

Props- Main St Antiques

Stationery- Kortney Eggertz Design

Venue- Seven Wives Inn 

Video- NP Films

By Katie Ellis

If you’re looking for the freshest and hippest wedding, you might want to draw inspiration from the turn-of-the century and we’re not talking about Y2K. It may seem a bit ironic that one of the latest trends in wedding themes actually dates back to the period from 1890-1910. These are the same years when the Wright brothers took to the friendly skies in the first powered airplane, when Susan B. Anthony led the way for a woman’s right to vote, and when Utah was admitted as the 45^th state in the country.

These two decades were also known as the birthplace for an international style of art and architecture called Art Nouveau, which is French for “new art.” And this idea of “new art” has been made new again as inspiration for the weddings of today.

Ethereal Atmosphere

To understand the style of Art Nouveau, you must look to mother earth as much of the architecture, jewelry, and fashion were inspired by nature. Buildings were constructed in asymmetrical shapes with arches and decorative surfaces covered with curved, plant-like designs.

First, consider your wedding venue. Try selecting a location that will provide that ethereal and light feeling. Outdoor spaces might provide the best marriage of nature and function for your own marriage.

Enchanted Attire

During the turn of the 20^th century, skirts belled out and flowed like blossoming flowers. For your wedding gown, pick the mermaid style, one that gently flares out around your knee like the shape of a calla lily. As for the bodice, try to find something embroidered with soft and subtle buds.

Also popular were ornate jeweled headdresses and headbands that came down over the forehead and resembled soft vines circling the crown. You can choose a flowing veil with soft lines or forego the veil altogether and select a jeweled headpiece covered in curved floral shapes to provide that enchanted feeling.

For other accessories and jewelry, you might need to take a field trip to an area Indian reservation. In the early 1900s, gemstones like turquoise, opal and other semi precious stones found in the earth’s crust created the focal point for pendants, earrings and bracelets. Gemstones will also allow you to create a subtle pop of color for your wedding day look.

Elegant Artistry

Glass was a popular artistic medium during the Art Nouveau period. Many artists found tremendous expression through their use of stained glass. To translate this artistic style to your modern day wedding, you might want to consider trying a stained glass effect on your cake. Just a warning though, with such elegant artistry sculpted in fondant and painted in food coloring, it might be too pretty to eat.

Art was often two dimensional in the Art Nouveau movement. Advertisements, posters, labels, and magazines were painted, drawn, and even printed. Your invitations are a great starting point for incorporating this style. Simply do a web search on Art Nouveau fonts and you will begin to understand the sweeping lines and feminine features of the letters.

You may even go as far as having an artist render a painting of you and your fiancé that resembles the advertisements from this era. The artwork could then be displayed at your reception or featured in your wedding invitation.

The most important thing to remember in creating an Art Nouveau inspired wedding is harmony. A pleasing and coordinated arrangement of all your wedding details will allow your guests to journey back to a simpler time where nature and life came together to create a peaceful, serene and beautiful atmosphere.