How did he propose?

He hid the ring in an iPod box and on Christmas morning when I thought I was getting a new iPod I was pleasantly surprised to find a ring instead

How did you come up with the budget for your wedding, and did you stick to it?

My parents were helping pay for the wedding so they pretty much set the budget.  We ended up going a bit over, but it was well worth it.

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

So many of the elements where very personal to me.  The door that served as a backdrop for our ceremony came from my grandparents house. I love to read so we incorporated books throughout the decor.

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

Yes. We made book paper flowers and fans that were used in the decor, we also hand made our seaside inspired ring holder.

How did you decide on your color scheme and theme for the wedding?

I love the beach, we originally wanted to have a destination wedding and get married on a beach somewhere but since so many important people would not be able to attend we decided to bring the beach to our guests. All of our colors complimented the overall beach feel of the theme.

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

Good friends and a great photographer to help capture all of the memories. We could not have been happier with either!

Share a wedding budget splurge that made a difference?

Definitely the food! Every little morsel was so amazing and I know all of our guests had a great meal they could really enjoy. My mouth still waters thinking about the cornucopia of delights from Marvellous Catering.

Besides tying the knot, what was your favorite part of the day?

Just seeing our location completely transformed with all of the decorations, lighting and ambiance. It really took my breath away.

Any advice you could pass on to future brides?

Plan as much as you can in advance. Do as much as you can in the weeks before. On the wedding day don’t stress about the small stuff, it will all turn out fine and you won’t even remember the little things.

Where did you go for your honeymoon?

We went to Lake Powell, one of our favorite beaches. The emerald green water and contrasting red rocks make for one of the most awe inspiring and romantic vistas.

By Marlee Cardon

If you haven’t spotted it yet, the “pie table” trend is popping up just about everywhere, from rustic to seaside themed celebrations. Not everyone likes cake. It’s understandable, and not necessarily a bad thing, unless it’s your wedding day and that’s all you’re serving for dessert.

Of course, you want to keep it simple especially since so much thought and planning has already gone into making the rest of your reception perfect. So, what do you put out for your guests to give them a little variety? Pie! It’s easy, looks inviting on a table next to just about anything, and most importantly, it’s delicious.

There’s a reason we save room on Thanksgiving, and this is it! Whether your guest is a chocolate mousse, apple cinnamon or even banana cream person, it doesn’t matter. Have you thought of mini pies? These scrumptious delights are bite size and the more variety the better. Weddings are celebrations with the people most dear to us, intimate and special, so what better addition to the menu, than grandmas pies, we’ve all grown up eating? A few helpful tips if you’re deciding which flavors to order for your big day: think about the season your wedding will take place in.

Dutch apple crumb, pumpkin spice, or caramel pecan are great in the fall and winter. Orange glazed apricot or strawberry rhubarb work well in the spring or summer. Be open-minded when it comes to flavors. You may think a warm peach pie stands on it’s own, but that same pie with raspberries dispersed and cooked inside can bring it to another level. Fillings such as lemon can compliment fruits like blueberries, and create sensational balances of tart and sweet.

Since everyone seems to have a favorite, ordering a variety of flavors will ensure happy guests. Ask yourself, how many fruit, cream, nut, or chocolate will be served, and then work towards balance. Drop the fondue brochure–that option leaves you with chocolate everywhere and a roomful of dirty guests–and think about a pie table. It’s easy to box up for a honeymoon hotel treat and the perfect showcase for your sweet station.

By Marlee Cardon

Tyler asked me to marry him on March 11, 2011 while dancing to Ray Charles in his living room. With zero expectations we entered Southern Utah Bride Magazine’s giveaway contest, and much to our surprise, won! We were ecstatic about the idea of a destination wedding in St. George, and could not wait for our special day in June.

I wake up at 4:00 AM,  which means it’s still dark outside and my rooster of an alarm is nowhere near making its daily squawk.  What made me  think I would need to set that again?  I realize that my stomach is in knots, and there’s  not even a chance of going back to sleep. My thoughts wander to Tyler and whether or not he’s also experiencing this newly acquired  insomnia. I send him a text, and decide I might as well get up and start getting things ready for the day. Our wedding day. Except…there’s really nothing for me to do. The remarkable thing about wedding planners, is they not only do all of the planning, but the finalizing and arranging. The bride and groom are left to do little more than make sure their outfits are in order, and my outfit has been in order for some time. Jessica May Bridal made sure of that. After I shower I realize even my make-up and hair aren’t my job today, and so I resort to just sitting. I glance over the itinerary Forevermore Events provided me. It’s strange how quickly this day came, but how slowly these minutes are passing. I’m not nervous, not scared of something going wrong. I’m only excited.

When I get to the salon I’m greeted by Jaclyn Lamoreaux, my hair and make-up designer. Because she’s sweet, she doesn’t even mention the bags under my eyes or the fact that I’m totally antsy today. She just smiles as she takes out brushes and mascara and lipsticks of every color. I feel like a total princess. When she’s finished I look at myself for a long time in the mirror, feel a smile grow on my face, and think seriously about giving her a hug. Okay, no. That would be weird, but somehow a mere “thank you” doesn’t seem enough. It’s exactly what I’ve always dreamed of, and accomplished even with Tyler calling my phone every thirty minutes or so to talk.

As I drive to the ceremony I stare admiringly at the breathtaking bouquet Bloomers has arranged for me and smile at the thought that it’s here. I’ll see Tyler soon, for the first time today. I get out of the car and take a deep breath. When he sees me he smiles and as soon as I’m close enough he whispers a sweet compliment into my ear. It makes me feel wonderful. The ring ceremony officiated by the humorous Steve Masefield of Zion Weddings is beautiful–not too lengthy or short–and every word spoken I note, because I want to remember. Occasionally I look away from Tyler, only to feel overwhelmed with love and support from all of the family and friends that traveled to be here for this.

Beautiful string music by Zion Belles plays as we make our way to the lawn of Entrada and my jaw literally drops. It is without a doubt the prettiest wedding reception I’ve ever seen, and it’s mine! Pale pink and white flowers cover the tables along with antique crystal. Fresh balls and bales of cotton litter the scene, and give the whole celebration a Southern Dixie feel. Custom designed menus, courtesy of  Hey Hay Designs, lay beautifully on every table. Beautiful gold frames that hold our engagements by Gideon Photography, scatter the area, accenting the color scheme and complementing shiny gold dinner plates. I take it all in, and a flood of thankfulness to the design team of Forevermore Events comes over me. It’s more than I thought it would be. Every morsel of food by Entrada was to die for and the rest of the evening unfolds flawlessly. The sun sets and hanging lights  illuminate the party. I dance until my feet hurt, to all of our favorite songs. Everyone laughs when the “daddy daughter” dance proves to be a mix of serious and silly hits that Festival Sounds so graciously put together at my fathers request. I get teary eyed and overwhelmed when the tribute-to-my-father video begins to play. Castlebridge Films has created this as a surprise for my dad. I eat with family and friends the picture perfect wedding cake Sweet Cakes crafted especially for us. I laugh when I think that tomorrow, I will be sound asleep, Mrs Tyler Cardon, with my husband at 4:00 AM.

By Lenni Stratton

For many brides, the floral design is what catches them up during the wedding planning. Very few brides really know what their options are, or truly understand how much goes into creating really beautiful wedding day florals. As with any other vendor, it is important to hire a professional to handle your flowers. Even if you think you already know exactly what you want, you probably don’t know all your options, and there may be something better that a floral designer can help you put together.

So what about the groom? Boutonnieres don’t have to be boring. Try thinking outside the box a little bit, and using something besides the classic single flower. Boutonnieres don’t even have to be a flower. Choose another element from the bridal bouquet–perhaps some greenery, a fern curl, hypericum berries, a feather–to create his boutonniere. Incorporating elements from the bride’s bouquet will ensure that the bride’s and groom’s flowers have a cohesive look: they should look like they match.Most bridal bouquets are fairly elaborate. They incorporate elements of the rest of the wedding into one beautiful arrangement for the bride to remember. The bridal bouquet will be in most of the photos, and is a great summary of the rest of the wedding for the bride and groom to cherish. And remember that wedding arrangements don’t have to be made up solely of flowers: think feathers, greenery, twigs, sparkles, fabric, etc. The options truly are endless! Perhaps you are using a particular element–feathers, antique broaches–in the rest of the wedding decor. Consider using a version of that element throughout your florals, to bring the look completely together.

There are so many options when it comes to bridesmaid bouquets. Often, their bouquets are a smaller version of the bride’s flowers, or perhaps made up of only a portion of the flowers from the bride’s bouquet. For example, perhaps the bride has a large bouquet of garden roses, cotton, and rannacules. A beautiful bridesmaid bouquet to match could simply consist of roses, leaving the garden roses to distinguish the bridal bouquet. Similar to the bride’s flowers and the groom’s boutonniere, the groomsmen should have boutonnieres that coincide with the makeup of the bridesmaid bouquets.

One element of the wedding flowers that is easy to forget is the bride’s toss bouquet. Most brides will want to hold onto their bridal bouquet, perhaps to dry and save along with her other wedding keepsakes. If this is the case, be sure to remind the florist that you’ll need a smaller version of the bridal bouquet to use for the bouquet toss. Often, this bouquet is the same as the larger version, just with fewer flowers. It can also be a replica of the bridesmaid bouquets, and can be used for a dual purpose as a sign in arrangement.

Don’t forget, when meeting with your floral designer you’ll want to make sure to chat with them about getting replicas of your bridal bouquet (and possibly the groom’s boutonniere) for your bridal photos. You might not think it important at the time, but wedding flowers can add so much to these images taken before the wedding. Having the same flowers for both sets of photos will ensure that the pre-wedding photos and the wedding day photos have a similar look to them.

The most important thing to remember with your florals–as with any other elements of your wedding–is to trust the professional you’ve hired. They are experienced, and a true professional will be able to see your vision even before you can, and will produce for you more beautiful florals than you could ever have described to them.

By Lindsey Madsen

Today in the world of modern electronics, computers, tablets and smart phones, programs are being created left and right to help us do pretty much everything.  From finding a local dress shop, viewing catering menus, building guest lists, even receiving up to the minute weather reports. These programs or applications, better known as “apps” are readily available and in most cases quite affordable or even sometimes free. The problem isn’t finding wedding related apps, they are a dime a dozen, it’s finding apps that are designed well and that can be extremely helpful throughout the wedding planning process. We decided to put several of the most popular wedding apps to the test and see how they measure up.

Name: Brides Wedding Genius

App Type: Planning/Inspirational

Device Requirements: Iphone, Ipod Touch, Ipad

Price: FREE

Description: 

This complimentary Wedding App is a one-of-a-kind planning tool for Brides-to-be. Designed with the busy bride in mind, it can help in organizing your guest list, creating inspiration boards, managing your wedding budget, tracking vendors and so much more. Also available as an upgrade is the BRIDES Digital Wedding Binder which will let you plan like a pro at home or on the go.

Review:
This app is well thought out and easy to use. It has a clean layout and the simplicity of the planner would be extremely helpful to a bride that is overly busy! The integrated email option is wonderful especially when you have multiple companies and people helping with your event and when you need to be able to keep in touch with them on the fly. Unfortunately, the program has a few bugs that they are still working out and has a tendency to turn off suddenly. It retains the information but can be quite frustrating when you are updating notes or info on your wedding, but with a FREE price-tag it’s hard to be too upset!

Name: How to Tie a Tie

App Type: Instructional

Devices available on: Iphone, Ipod Touch and Android Phones

Price: FREE

Description:

How to tie a tie gives simple, easy to follow, step-by-step illustrated instructions for the most popular tie knots. This app gives beautiful illustrated instructions on twelve of the most popular tie knots including: Diagonal, Windsor, Half-Windsor, Four-in-Hand also known as the “simple knot” and several more.

Review:

Whether it’s your first time tying a tie or your 500^th, this FREE app can give even a seasoned tie wearer something new to learn. This quirky app was not only educational but also enlightening, giving descriptions of each knot as well as when and where they are appropriate to be worn. The How to tie a tie app would be a fun surprise downloaded onto the Groom’s Android or Iphone, and best of all it is FREE ~

Name: iWedding Deluxe

App Type: Planning & Organization

Device Requirements: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Price: $9.99

Description:

iWedding Deluxe is a fabulous organizer and wedding planner app. It will help you organize all the vital information keeping it right at your fingertips. Each category is well thought out and fully customizable. Create to-do lists, budgets, guest list, inspiration boards and much much more.

Review: 

This planning app has several features that are well worth the minimal cost to download it. The guest list organizer is easy to use and update. Add multiple guests at one time from your contacts, track RSVP’s, manage plus-ones, meal choices and if necessary use the simple one motion “swipe-to-delete.”  The social networking integration is genius and a favorite among brides that just can’t wait to share all the lovely details of their wedding. In my opinion, it is one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use wedding applications on the market, and I can quickly see this becoming the only wedding planning application you will ever need!

Name: Wedding Scan

App Type: Registry

Device Requirements: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Price: $2.99

Description:

Wedding Scan is an intuitive wedding registry application that allows you to register for ANY item, at ANY store, at ANY time simply by scanning a product’s barcode with the Wedding Scan iPhone app. If a product doesn’t have a barcode, Wedding Scan allows you to take a picture of it and add a brief description.

Review:

This definitely had to be one of the most exciting apps to review. The flexibility to add any item from any store is wonderful, and gives guests a broader range of prices, items and stores to choose from. How does it work? You simply find the barcode of UPC on the item you would like to add and scan it with the built in reader, then presto! It’s added to your registry and available for your guests to purchase.  It’s simple- just scan, save, send, and that’s it! No cumbersome registry guns or confusing lists just the fun of finding and scanning the things that will help dress your newlywed nest.

Name: Organizer

App Type: Organizer/Journal

Devices available on: Iphone, Ipod Touch, Ipad

Price: $7.99 – $9.99

Description:

The Aesthology Organizer is an application that is similar to a traditional organizer but has several added benefits that can greatly increase your overall productivity. Not only can you schedule appointments, add contacts and create to-do lists but you can also enter text, create diagrams, insert pictures and record and play voice memos. It is the perfect tool to help keep an eye on your overall planning progress.

Review:

This app is easy to use and incredibly flexible. It syncs with both the Apple and Google calendars, allows you to add maps, insert tweets and emoticons and I loved the fact that the Organizer App was designed to act like a sheet of paper. It allows the software to adapt to the individual needs and preferences of its user. Meaning, anything that you can write down or plan-out on a sheet of paper you can input and have quick access to in the Organizer App. It’s not a wedding specific app but is an overall quality organizer.

Purchasing or downloading a wedding app will really come down to personal preference. What works for one bride may not work for another, but hopefully our review of a few of the most popular will help get you started in the right direction. Find one that meets your needs and works for you and your event, download it and let it help make the planning process easy and enjoyable!

By Jamie Bonner

By Marlee Cardin

Photos by Gideon Photography

If there ever comes a time when someone hands you a piece of paper that reads “CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’VE WON A DREAM WEDDING” you might find your eyes suddenly filling with salt water. I did, and I would hardly say I’m the emotional type. Wedding daydreams previously dismissed because- let’s face it-money doesn’t grow on trees, suddenly resurfaced, along with a new idea of what was to come. Tyler and I had entered Southern Utah Bride’s contest with no expectation to actually win. We hoped, naturally, but with so many applicants and so many great stories submitted we figured our chances were probably slim. A whirlwind of emotions hit us the day we received that news, and not only did we feel unbelievably lucky for winning our prize, but for the road that got us to that point.

We saw each other for the first time at a wedding reception. I say saw instead of met because we didn’t actually meet until a few weeks after that. All strategic, according to him. He made me nervous and curious, the kind of curious that made it hard to mask my ridiculous excitement when he finally did introduce himself and asked me to dinner. There were many more dinners after that, along with late night walks, and concerts together. It didn’t take long for me to learn that he was passionate about law and political science. It didn’t take long for him to learn that I was passionate about literature and writing. We dated for five months, until it came time for him to spend a summer in Ecuador with a non-profit. I spent those four months missing him and letting my skin go brown in the summer sun. We wrote letters to each other, and I wrote music about him. I thought I was smitten then, but when he returned was when we really fell in love. It was better than anything I’d read in books or seen in cheesy chick flicks. We soon said those three little words that are so often uttered cavalierly, but taken so seriously by both of us: I love you. I’d been saving that phrase my whole life-never to waste on the wrong person-and was glad to finally say it with complete meaning.

While dancing to Ray Charles in his living room on March 11 he got on his knee and asked me to marry him! It was so spontaneous and I was so excited that I actually forgot to answer him. I went right into muttering nonsensical phrases while my heart beat to a faster rhythm. Without me knowing he had picked a little pearl ring out, all on his own, and had been keeping it in his pocket for the right moment to give it to me. We’ve never been conventional, and I loved that both my ring and our proposal were so unique and true to us.

We wanted that uniqueness to carry on to our engagement photos, and were so excited at the prospect of taking them in St. George and Springdale. The old Judd’s ice-cream parlor, a orchard just beginning to blossom, and an afternoon with nothing to do but eat treats with Tyler could not have sounded better. The parlor pictures are totally representative of our relationship for a few reasons…first off, I am a dairy lover and ice-cream addict. It’s probably not a good habit, but I sometimes eat the stuff for breakfast. A break like that was much needed too, with him having just finished his law school applications and me in the midst of finishing my winter semester. The images completely blew us away when we saw them afterward. We knew right away that if we were going to have a problem in the process, it would be settling on just one image to send out with our invite.

Literally every single day we talk about how excited we are about our upcoming day, and how thankful we are for everyone involved with it. We talk about how this is really just our start, and how we’ll never understand what we did to deserve this. We’re lucky our love came so easy, that we don’t have fights like other couples, that we got to know one another across the country and in letters, that we have more fun with one another than anyone else, that it never gets old and we never feel bored, and that we both are our own people and love each other for exactly that.

By Lenny Stratton

You’ve scored the perfect gown, the dress of your dreams. Each of your bridesmaids is bedecked in a frock of the perfect hue. Now it’s time to decide what goes beneath the hems of those perfect ensembles. That’s right; the shoes.

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing bridal shoes. Gown style, overall theme, personal style and comfort, even your choice of venue can come into play when you are choosing how to adorn your feet–and those of your bridesmaids–on the most important day of your life.

The first thing to think about when choosing your bridal shoes is the formality of the event. From there, you can decide on heel-height, color, and adornments to help your footwear fit your wedding day style. Is yours a formal ballroom affair: black-tie, seated dinner, full band? Opt for a satin or silk-covered shoe. Or maybe you’re having a simple garden fete. Don some stylish yet simple ballet flats. Or pair sets of bedazzled gladiator sandals with those Grecian gowns your bridesmaids have fallen in love with.

Bridal white is not the standard anymore: use your colors. With shoe retailers from around the world at your fingertips online, it is easier than ever to find shoes in hues to

perfectly match your day. Try one of the local bride shops, where not only do they have couture options, they offer dye-able options in dozens of styles and shades so you can find your perfect fit.

Or is something a little funky more up your alley? Couple your wedding day frock with a set of Chuck Taylor’s that match your wedding colors. Go a little green and do a good deed at the same time by matching up a set of Toms with your bridal attire. Both of these lines offer a variety of styles and colors to match all the other wedding day details you’ve worked so hard to plan.

Don’t forget about comfort. Remember, not only are you going to be wearing these shoes down the aisle, you’ll probably wear them during photos, throughout dinner, and when busting a move with your honey on the dance floor. If you never wear more than a two-inch heel, don’t choose a five-inch stiletto for your big day. High heels don’t necessarily equal high-fashion; you can be equally as fabulous in a kitten heel or flat.

No matter what choice you make for your bridal footwear, put as much thought into this decission as you do all your other wedding day choices. Don’t let this aspect of your day fall by the wayside. Make your shoe choice a reflection of you and your personal style. Whether you’re in a pair of red-soled Christian Leboutin’s or a simple set of ballet flats from your local shoe store, remember that you are beautiful from head to toe.

By Lindsey Madsen

Move over cutesy cupcakes, and candy bars… and make room for the current wedding trend – doughnuts!

These sweet, golden rings of colorful comfort food are perfect for your upcoming event. Easy to order and loaded with personalization possibilities, what better way to send off your guests after a long night of dancing, than with something sweet to nibble on… and seriously- who doesn’t love doughnuts?

If you are ready to dive into the doughnut sensation, but aren’t sure where to start? Here are a few helpful tips and guidelines to keep in mind- that will help insure your sugar covered dream comes to reality- perfectly!

CHECK WITH THE PROFESSIONALS

First, talk with your wedding coordinator and/or event caterer to see if this is a service that they already provide. It could save you hours of running around, phone calls and money in the long run. If they do not offer this service, check to see what they would charge to “man” the Doughnut Station during the evening, as well as the cost to provide beverages to compliment the sweet pastries such as; coffee, hot cocoa or ice-cold milk.

PERSONALIZE YOUR ORDER

If you will be ordering the doughnuts yourself, contact local bakeries at least 3 weeks in advance to place your doughnut order. Talk with them about flavor options as well as ways that you can personalize these sweet treats. Colored icings, chocolate glazes, sprinkles, nuts and candy chips are just a few of the ways that you could further your wedding colors and theme. Once the order is placed make sure to inquire about delivery and pick up options. It may be worth a few extra dollars to have the bakery deliver them to the reception site, and relieve you of one more wedding day errand.

GET CREATIVE WITH THE DISPLAY

When arranging the donut bar have fun and get ready to be creative. Try putting the assortment of donuts in antique drawers, on vintage dessert stands, in baskets or even painted produce crates. You can also have individually boxed doughnuts at each place setting, for the perfect finishing touch. Use the style and location of your wedding as a guide, and remember that the favor bar is a great place to show off your personality as a couple. For the ambitious Brides, plan ahead and have your photographer take a picture of you and the groom enjoying doughnuts or possibly holding a “thank you” sign- then frame the print and place on the Doughnut Bar. Cute signs and photographs are a great way to pull the whole look together.

TAKE IT TO-GO

Last, but not least, don’t forget about a way for your guests to take their “favor” with them. Many guests will have a hard time waiting to sink their teeth into the glazed goodness, but several wedding go-ers may want to savor their doughnut the next morning. Small boxes, paper sleeves, cellophane bags even small lunch sacks would all be appropriate when packing up the pastries. Most items can be found in a variety of colors, but even a simple white lunch sack can be simply personalized with a monogrammed label, or custom thank you tag.

However you decide to “wrap it up” your guests will be grateful for the goodies, making the doughnut bar a memorable, inexpensive and overall delicious wedding trend.