{Back 2 Wedding Basics} Food Tastings

Culinary cuisines are the way to a man's heart and a the way to a great wedding. Starting with a great menu is something that should be carefully planned. Everyone loves to attend a wedding with great food. It sets the tone and makes the evening. The best compliment the couple can receive on their wedding night is how amazing everything tastes and looks.

Take some time to discover some great cuisines in Arizona. I enjoy the tasty creations that Noelle Salinas, owner of Fresh from the Kitchen, whips up in her kitchen. I have referred many couples to this catering company because of their selection in fresh menu ideas and affordable prices. The best part about Noelle is she works with my clients to fit their budget and their food style. She can create many ethnic, authentic, and unique styles that traditional caterers are unable to make.

Check out her next tasting at Bella Giardino, September 16, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Contact Noelle at 602-694-1197 to reserve your spot during their next tasting.
Below is the decadent menu provided.

Menu


Starters:
Fruit and Cheese Display

Passed:


Pear and Gorgonzola Crostini
Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Dinner:


Spinach Salad with Red Onions, Feta Cheese, and Poppy Seed Dressing
Classic Caesar Salad
Chicken Picatta
Chicken Marsala
Prime Rib with Au Jus (Carving Station)
Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Fresh Herbs
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes

Buttered Green Bean and Carrots
Our Amazing Creamed Corn
Vegetarian Lasagna


Dessert:
Miniature Wedding Cupcakes
Miniature Pecan, Pumpkin, Apple Streusel, and Key Lime Pie
Miniature Fresh Fruit Tarts
Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole with Currants

{Back 2 Wedding Basics} Fashion and E-Sessions

Recently, Michelle Myers of Shelly Love Photography met with my styling session couple Ashley and Eric. Their photo session displayed the fun, artistic and sassy side of fashion photojournalism.

Michelle Myers and I love working together to bring the most out of each engagement session for our wedding couples.

For Ashley and Eric, these pictures pave the way for their wedding in the spring of 2011.

For more information about styling sessions, contact Valerie with Blueprint Affairs today valerie@blueprintaffairs.com.

Visit Shelly Love Photography to view more photos of her high quality work.

{Back 2 Wedding Basics} Hot Wedding Fashion Trends

The Association of Bridal Consultants holds monthly, annual and national conferences for local planners and vendors. These meetings bring together HOT new ideas and fabulous vendors that my brides love choosing over and over again.

Wedding Gowns

Top priority-always looking amazing in your wedding dress. Pam Hardy, co-owner of Almond Tree Wedding Boutique commented that one strap sleeves "golden age of Hollywood" are filtering their way into bride's hearts. Brides are wanting to keep it simple. Keeping it classic on your wedding day may be a look you are aiming for. Many brides are veering away from the strapless look and adding sleeves or a partial jacket. The hardest part when shopping is finding your size if you're larger than size 12. Do your research on the type of dress you like and call the boutique prior to your visit to check for larger sizes.

Bridemaid Dresses

Keeping it short is how many bridesmaids are wearing their dresses. Sticking with the eco-friendly notion in shopping, girls are still looking for bridesmaid dresses that can be worn again. Not necessarily for the next friends wedding but out-on-the-town. Gorgeous silk fabrics like those found at Twirl Boutique keep many bridesmaids very happy. This includes dressing up the waist area with special belts and broaches.  

                                             

To Veil or Not To Veil

Do you have your something borrowed or something old? Consider a vintage feather hair piece in lieu of a veil if you are looking for a classic look. In some cases, see if you mom or sister (in-law's) have a veil to borrow for your day. The nice part about finding your wedding dress so early (7 months or earlier) is many shops include your veil for free. Check out the deals you can but don't settle on anything that doesn't leave you with a glowing feeling. Try on your hair accessory and dress together with your shoes.

Take it all in. This look will mark the beginning of your new life.

Celebrity Style Vacation - Guest Blog

Over-water bungalows may only seem like a dream. However, for many followers of the Bachelorette on ABC, last week's show probably had you wishing for a destination filled with clear, blue water and amazing island sights in real life. If you're anything like me, I pictured this to be an expensive venture but Eva, owner Tailored Travel Services, talks below about this gorgeous location in real terms.

Where To Go?

So you’re planning your honeymoon and want to go somewhere unique, tropical, very romantic and off the beaten track but you have a budget?


How about Tahiti? Yes, Tahiti! You can have the amazing experience of the French Polynesian islands and still stay within budget. At Tailored Travel Services, we always recommend contacting your trusted travel agency to assist you with planning your special experiences. We like to focus on what you would like to do while on your honeymoon to make it just right for the both of you! Here is some useful information to get you started on dreaming about your honeymoon in The French Polynesia.

French Polynisia?

French Polynesia consists of 118 islands and atolls. The Society islands are the islands most popular to visitors which include the high-rising islands of Moorea, Huaine, Raitea,Taha’a, and Bora Bora. Although the official language is French and Tahitian, English is commonly spoken. The overwater bungalows with panel floors showing you a view of the incredible waters below you are famous and very memorable!


How Do We Get There?

These beautiful islands are located south of the equator and are in the same time zone as Hawai’i. Located half way between California and Australia; the flight is surprisingly under 8 hours from Los Angeles airport. With non-stop flights departing daily from LAX, you can get to Papeete’s Faa’a airport on the main island in no time at all!

What Do We Pack?

With the average temperature at 79 degrees, the breezy, sunny days make the French Polynesia ideal for comfortable, natural fabrics. Packing loose fitting, casual clothing are a good idea. Your favorite sundresses for ladies along with a sports shirt and slacks for gentlemen should be great for the evenings.

Don’t forget to pack your:

• Sunblock
• Reef-walking shoes
• Insect repellent
• Prescription medicine
• Camera

As always, leave a little room for some souvenirs. Remember that Tahiti is well known for their beautiful Black Pearls! You can also expect o find products made with coconut, monoi oil, vanilla beans, wood carvings, and woven hats.

What Do We Do?

Make certain to speak to your travel agent about the wonderful activities available and reserve them before going. Since there aren’t too many companies offering the activities and they tend to sell out reserve as soon as you can. This will ensure you get to do the activities you want to enjoy!

You can try a few of these activities:

• Ray feeding
• 4 x 4 excursions
• Sailing
• Snorkeling
• Shark feeding
• Scuba diving
• Jet skiing
• Sunset cruising
• Horseback riding
• Deep sea fishing
• Bicycling
• Parasailing
• Helicopter touring
• Waterskiing
• Glass-bottom boat touring
• Windsurfing
• Dolphin Interaction
• Circle island touring
• Mountain exploration
• Relaxing

So you’re probably wondering, can we really afford this? Here is an example of a stay in the French Polynesia’s Bora Bora.

INTERCONTINENTAL BORA BORA and THALASSO SPA

From $3799 per person

• Roundtrip economy airfare from Los Angeles to Bora Bora
• 1 Night InterContinental Tahiti, Garden View Room
• 5 Nights InterContinental Thalasso Bora Bora, Emerald Overwater Villa
• Daily breakfast and dinner for 2 persons on Bora Bora
• Breakfast for 2 on Tahiti
• 25 minute spa treatment for 2 on Bora Bora

Contact your certified honeymoon specialists at Tailored Travel Services to help you with your honeymoon.

NEW Styling Engagement Sessions

Blueprint Affairs is proud to announce NEW engagement styling sessions with Shelly Love Photography. Michelle Myers, owner of Shelly Love Photography brings fashion and photojournalism to every shot. Together, we take your ordinary engagement session and meet ahead of time to create a session of your dreams, making photography personalized even before your wedding day. This includes deciding on the perfect session location, time, and prop items to create a unique styling session made for just you.

Fun and Unique
Photos from this unique session are used by most couples to send announcements of their engagement, save the date announcements, wedding day décor, and even holiday greeting cards.

Preparation
In addition to wedding and event planning, this one hour session is here to assist the bride and groom in preparing for their photo engagement session. Many couples are unsure what to wear, bring, or even what to expect on this special photo day with your photographer. We make this day easy and stress-free by getting you prepared for your first official photos with your loved one.

That is why Blueprint Affairs offers this one hour engagement styling session at just $65.00.

However, if you are a client of Shelly Love Photography, we will offer this session at no cost to you.

Get Started
In addition, as a client of Shelly Love Photography, we offer an additional savings of $350 off our full-service wedding planning package, or $200 off our day-of-wedding coordinator package, a total savings of over 15%.

To learn more about booking your engagement styling session, contact Valerie at Blueprint Affairs 623-215-8657. Learn more about Shelly Love Photography by visiting http://www.shellylovephotography.com/

Visit our preferred vendor’s page on http://www.blueprintaffairs.com/

Website Shopping: What’s the Price?

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Most of the time, when I want to learn about one product or another, I search the website of the company for which it was created by.

I already have an idea into what the products purpose is, so before I read into what it can completely do for me, I search for the price. Sometimes, I have to search a lot harder than I really want to, thus I lose interest in the product all together. Game over.

For example, after we got engaged, Valerie and I started to put together our ideas as to what we wanted are wedding to look like.

The most important thing for us, outside of the venue in San Diego, was the photographer. So our initial web search took us to different photographers throughout the San Diego area. If I was on a photographer’s website, or any wedding vendor website for that matter, and it didn’t have a price sheet, I’d move on to the next one.

It’s no different than shopping for a car. The main company website may have starting prices of the car, but when you really want to find out what the car will cost you, you head to the dealer website. If you’re like me, you’d rather not call to find out, because they will want you to come down and see the car, and then they’ll discuss the price.

It’s important to know what kind of price you might be looking at paying before really finding out if they are worth having at your wedding. At least when you meet with the vendor, both you and the vendor will know you are somewhat serious about having them as a part of your wedding.

But the most common of all the non-priced wedding vendors happens to be the business we are in, wedding planning.

For the reasons expressed above, that is why we at Blueprint Affairs publish our package pricing on our website, along with what it includes. And best yet, you still get a free one hour consultation so that we can see if we are a fit for your wedding.

For additional information or to schedule a free one hour consultation, visit the Blueprint Affairs website or email info@blueprintaffairs.com today.

Twirl’s “Serial Bridesmaid” Contest

Ever see the movie 27 Dresses? I guess that is a silly question.

Well, it just so happens that the owners of Twirl Boutique of both Arizona and Kentucky have been bridesmaids themselves a combined 27 times.

That is a little bit ironic.

Twirl has come up with its own way of finding the QUEEN of “serial bridesmaids” with the opportunity to win great prizes.

All you have to do is submit your personal stories of being a bridesmaid and explain why you think you are the ultimate serial bridesmaid.

Some topics to consider in writing your story include: What sets you apart other than being a bridesmaid so many times? What money have you spent? What wild and wacky dresses have you had to wear? What hair styles did you have to submit yourself to? Where have you traveled? How have you helped to put out fires at weddings? What showers have you thrown?

Twirl is looking for honest, heartfelt and humorous stories. There are many unique instances that could set you apart from every other serial bridesmaid.

To submit your stories to be considered in Arizona (if you live here or will be traveling here), email: angela@twirlboutique.com.

The prizes are as follows:

• 1st Place: Up to $250.00 to spend on a dress at Twirl Scottsdale
• 2nd Place: 10% off wedding services for the entire bridal party at Dolce Salon & Spa
• 3rd Place: "Whateverz" spa set personalized with "serial bridesmaid"

The contest ends at midnight on July 31st. Winners will be announced the week of August 16th along with the stories on the Twirl blog.

Summer Outdoor Wedding

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

In Arizona, most summer weddings occur indoors. It can just be too hot to have a wedding outdoors. But, some people do still choose to have that outdoor wedding to take advantage of the different surroundings Arizona has to offer.

The good news is June is not as hot as it can be in July and August, plus there are ways to make the weather not as big a role in your wedding.

How are you going to ensure the comfort of your guests?

One of the best ways to do this is to rent a couple evaporative coolers. By simply adding ice, or keeping a constant flow of cold water to the cooler, the fans will generate a nice breeze of cool air to keep your guests feeling comfortable.

Another idea is to find a ceremony setting with plenty of shade. It can often feel 15 degrees cooler in the shade than in the sun.

Some people may even opt to have an early morning wedding, like 9 a.m., followed by a brunch at their reception. The advantage to an early morning, outdoor wedding, is the heat of the day is several hours away.

But if you want your wedding during the evening, you could hold your wedding at 5:30 or 6 p.m. The sunlight is still just right to have that 30 minute ceremony, and then, you and your bride can take advantage of great photo opportunities with the sun setting in the background.

If your wedding is outdoors in the summer, just be sure to take care of your guests with plenty of cold water. At a recent wedding we coordinated, the bride and groom also provided fans for each one of their guests as well. Cold water and fans helped to keep their guest comfortable, and it could work for you as well.

Pre-Wedding Golf

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Have you thought about what you’d like to do the morning of your wedding day?

If you like to play golf, that might be the thing for you.

Grab the guys from your bridal party, and a few other buds, and head to the local golf course.

Before making your plans to play golf, make sure you call ahead and reserve a couple sets of tee times. You don’t want to leave anyone out.

As much as I enjoy playing golf, I’ve had my share of post golf illness. Twice, I’ve come back with either too much sun or a case of heat exhaustion.

That brings me to my list of things to remember prior to going golfing, especially on the day of your wedding:

1. Bring and USE sun block (use being the key word)
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (and no, beer is not a form of hydration)
3. Give yourself plenty of time (don’t start a tee time that’s only five or six hours prior to your ceremony. You’ll need time to relax and get ready as well)
4. Make tee times well in advance
5. Don’t forget your dad and father-in-law to be to play as well (the more people you get, you might qualify for a special rate)

Most importantly remember the main event of this day is your wedding, saying I Do, and partying the night away. So, by all means enjoy your last golf outing as a single man, but be extra careful as you want to make sure you’re 100% for when you and your bride see each other at last.

Getting to Know the Planner

Wedding and event planning has always been a passion of Valerie’s. She first got into event planning in the corporate setting five years ago. Since then, Valerie has expanded into her own wedding and event planning business, Blueprint Affairs.

“I wanted to become a wedding planner to help people enjoy their wedding day as much as possible,” Valerie said. “I loved every minute of my wedding, and I work hard to ensure that everyone’s wedding day is just as exciting, relaxing and fun as the experience I had.”

Relationships are the key to anything you do in life. Valerie prides herself on building long-lasting relationships with others, and loves to keep up with her brides even after their wedding day. It is the main reason she loves planning weddings.

“I love to be involved in every detail of their wedding,” Valerie stated. “It’s why I make myself available to talk and/or meet when they need to.”

In order to make their wedding a success, the packages Blueprint Affairs offers really have the bride and groom in mind. Valerie wants to ensure that come their wedding day, they are not scrambling around stressing about every little detail. That’s her job.

Valerie’s strengths in creativity, attention to detail, and follow through allow her to plan the wedding you’ve always imagined, without the stressful wedding day.

A lot of people have the perception that a wedding planner or day of wedding coordinator is only for the wealthy. That’s just not the case.

Blueprint Affairs’ packages start at $875 for day of wedding coordination and $1575 for full wedding planning. More information on the two packages can be found on the Blueprint Affairs website under Package Pricing.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy their wedding day with little to no stress involved,” Valerie remarked. “That is why our packages were priced with every bride and groom in mind.”

In addition, Valerie does not charge for the initial consultation. It’s just as much an opportunity for her to learn more about you as it is for you to learn more about her.

“I love planning weddings,” Valerie said, “I look forward to planning yours as well.”

Memorial Day Barbeque

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

There is nothing like waking up on Memorial Day knowing you don’t have to head into the office. For some of you, maybe most of you, your heading back from an extended weekend outside of the hot Valley of the Sun.

I’m just getting back from a week stay in Turks and Caicos, and a few days visiting relatives in Florida. I certainly can’t complain about the nice weather we enjoyed.

And if you’re a race fan, you had plenty of options to enjoy your Sunday as well, from the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Turkey, the Indy 500, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte.

So what makes Memorial Day so great? It’s the opportunity to roll out the grill, light it up, and grill some good American food like hotdogs, hamburgers or barbeque chicken.

This might be a perfect day to get your family and your future in laws over, if they are local, and enjoy some of the games that are likely to be on TV, or lounge by the pool, a cook a nice, simple meal.

Whatever your plans are, have a great Memorial Day and we’ll see you next week.

A Turks and Caicos Honeymoon

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

There is nothing better than sand between your toes, crystal clear blue water, a nice cold beverage, and a sunny day.

This is why I chose to vacation this past week with my wife in the Caribbean, particularly the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This is also a great place to honeymoon with many different resorts to choose from, including three here on the Turks and Caicos Islands: Grace Bay Club, Parrot Cay Resort and Spa, and Beaches.

Grace Bay Club is an adult only hotel with nearby family villas. Every single room of the adult only hotel features a view of the ocean. The hotel’s newest bar, known as the Infiniti Bar, stretches 90 feet to the shores of Grace Bay Beach.

Parrot Cay Resort and Spa is located 575 miles southeast of Miami. This celebrity visited 5-star resort can only be accessed by small boat. An ocean facing room is a great way to spend a week at your private island destination.

At Beaches you might not be as secluded away from children traveling with their parents as you are at the other two resorts. The upside to Beaches however is the all-inclusive package. For one price, you can book your airfare and hotel, and have all your food and beverage included. Plus, any water activities.

If you want the adult only vacation, and Turks and Caicos is your place to honeymoon, definitely check out the Grace Bay Club or the Parrot Cay Resort and Spa.

If the Caribbean sounds like the place for you to honeymoon, check out the Travel Channel’s 21 Hottest Caribbean Escapes or their Top 10 Caribbean Resorts. No matter which one you choose, you’re sure to get your wedding off to a great start with a honeymoon in the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos or not.

{Summer Selections} Rocking Out!

Music is synonymous with a rocking reception. There’s nothing better than watching your guests get out on the dance floor enjoying the music the DJ has readily prepared. Planning for a DJ is a definite must and will make the biggest impact on your wedding day. Plan to spend about 10% of your wedding budget on this must-have and my right-hand person. The experienced DJ also works with your planner to keep the flow of your reception throughout the evening.

iPod or bust?

For many couples, the thought of scraping together the budget for a DJ seems like a second thought and most would like to plug in an iPod. However, the iPod only plays music, no experience, no song suggestions, and no personality, says Eric Cheroske, owner of Got You Covered. There is no way of recovering a crowd vying for different jams than preselected on your iPod. Here’s a link that Eric found on why not to use an iPod: http://www.i-newswire.com/the-ipod-wedding-disaster/32343

Get The Party Started

Plan to meet with your DJ for a wrap-up meeting at least two weeks before your wedding. This will help you review some of final song choices and review the flow of your reception. Prepare your DJ with the genre you want and don’t want played at your wedding. Expert DJ’s have the skills to match the music to your preferences and also pick other crowd pleasers you’d be happy to hear. Eric shared that he once saw the grandfather of the groom who was celebrating his 90th birthday on the same day of the wedding. The grandfather managed to “moonwalk” across the floor in front of all the guests right after he had received a birthday surprise. Stories like this should help remind you how important it is to have music to bring out the fun in your party. Every couple wants to have the wedding of the year or century! It takes a great DJ to make those memories happen.

{Summer Selections} Capture Sights and Sounds

Capture your wedding day for many years to come with video. Not everyone thinks they can afford it but many couples wish they did it after the wedding is over. Good quality is not inexpensive but it is affordable if Videography is a priority says Taryn Bills, owner of Serendipity Videography. The nice part about Serendipity besides their catchy name is their sister company, Simply Cinema for the budget minded brides.


Best Features

Taryn loves the couples who will do interviews, encourage guest well wishes during the reception, and allow them to capture every element of the day. Your wedding day is the story untold and Serendipity adds a splash of Videography and music to the final video to make a movie all about you. With great lighting, the romance and essence of your day flows perfectly into a classic storybook wedding.

Final Cut

The emotional and funny parts of your wedding day add character to your wedding movie. Taryn says truly the best stories are told through the view finder of the camera by focusing on the emotion of the couple’s wedding day not by editing effects. One of the effects they use to create emotion that I love is the time lapse watching your ceremony location go from empty to full of guests before the procession begins. Prior to your wedding, Taryn and her team ask who are the important people in your life, special moments you love, and those family members you can’t wait to interview.

Best Video

All couples you talk to know they made the right choice with having video after they see the finished product. You can’t have too many memories of your wedding day. Think of your wedding day as a fast forward button stuck and you race through your day. I love watching my own wedding video and catch special moments that guests had during my wedding that I missed. If you’re leaning on no for video, consider how much you’ll remember when playing back your vows or best man toast. It’s surreal to watch those you love talk about your happiest day of your life.


A taste of video elegance partnered with Blueprint Affairs:

Jason & Daris at Sassi from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Sydney, Australia: A Great Place to Honeymoon

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

One thing to look forward to immediately following your wedding is that perfect honeymoon. There are plenty of places you could go, but one that may come to mind is Sydney, Australia.

Sydney is a great place to go. It all starts with a 13 to 14 hour flight over the Pacific Ocean. That is a long flight, but a great way to pass that amount of time in the plane is to take the night flight. That way, you can sleep as you fly over the ocean, and when you wake up, chances are you’ll be landing not too much later.

There a great beaches and great tourist attractions to make the most of your Sydney honeymoon.

Take for instance the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Did you know that you can do a hiking experience up to the top of the bridge? This hiking tour lasts a little over an hour, and rain, wind or shine, it will go on. But don’t worry as you will be secure to the bridge via a rope and chain.

If you want to take most of your time enjoying the beaches, check out Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, the two most popular in Sydney. If you head to Bondi Beach, be sure to stop at Nikos Restaurant Bar for great tasting fish and chips and a cold Blue Tongue Langer. Nikos is located right on the main road and you can have a nice outdoor patio seat overlooking the beach.

To get to Manly Beach, you’ll need to take a quick 30 minute ferry ride out of the Circular Quay district. Once to Manly Beach, you can exit the ferry and take a nice outdoor walk by many shops and restaurants before getting to the beach. If you like to surf, this is a great beach to do it at.

Want to get close up with a Koala? You can at the Taronga Zoo. This zoo is located a short ferry ride from Circular Quay as well and is a great place to see alot of different animals.

After a long day enjoying Sydney and its surroundings, how about a nice glass of wine? Gazebo Wine Garden in Elizabeth Bay is a great place to try different cheeses and enjoy wines you might not get anywhere else. I suggest you try the Chandon NV Rose Sparkling wine, a combination on pinot and chardonnay.

A great place to find lots of eats, and home to the Sydney Aquarium, one of the world’s largest, is Darling Harbour. You can try a great Rocket Sandwich for breakfast at Nick’s Café, or enjoy a nice appetizer of potato wedges with sweet chili dipping sauce at the Waterfront Grill. And of course, you’ll need a little dessert at the Lindt Chocolate Café.

So whatever you decide, pick up a travel book for Sydney and do your research, as this is one place to visit that might just make for an unforgettable honeymoon.

{Summer Selections} Wedding Culinary Menus

All social gatherings are better with food. They are the central focal point of the gathering and the reasons why people will linger or leave early says Noelle Salinas, Owner of Fresh from the Kitchen, LLC. Everyone has been to a wedding that hosted a gourmet style menu and one that lacked any flavor. It’s your job as the couple to give your guests and you a menu fancied with beautiful flavors and creative touches. You may be finding yourself lacking the funds for a huge fete but it’s ok to discover a new trend such as appetizer parties. Noelle says that dinner food favorites like Macaroni and Cheese are being passed as hors d’euvres. She loves to jazz it up by serving it with goat cheese and pecorino romano sauce served in a tiny martini glass with a gratin topping. Kids and adults are raving about this fun addition.


Buffet or Plated?

Buffets require less work by the catering company that equates to less cost by you. Choose the menu style that fits your wedding style. A more formal wedding is suited for a plated dinner versus a less formal wedding would be great with a buffet line. Your guests will love having the options in a buffet but be careful of the hearty eaters. In some cases, the buffet can actually cost more if the menu is too elaborate for the style wedding you have in mind.

Info to Know

Good catering isn’t cheap. The best part of your family and friend get togethers is the food. Everyone ‘breaks bread’ together and it should be important to pay close attention to quality. Caterers like Fresh from the Kitchen know how to work with all budgets. Be honest with your caterer and they will think of creative ways to indulge your culinary palette while staying in your budget. Reserve your caterer at least six months in advance. Last minute planning can be stressful. Make your wedding day easier.

A Mom's Role for the Groom

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Mother’s Day is a chance to thank your mom for all she has done in your life. Growing up, my mom would often make my lunch before she would shuffle each of my brothers and sisters off to school.

She was always that support factor no matter what trouble I was getting into as well.

But did you know that your mom can play an important role in your own wedding? It’s true.

When you hit the dance floor after your wedding, one of the optional dances is the mother-son dance. This is a chance for your mom to dance with you in the spotlight.

But before that, she is escorted down the aisle at the beginning of your ceremony, most likely just before you make your way to the front. And during the ceremony, your mom, along with the mom of your bride, could get involved by helping to light the candles that you and your bride will use to light the unity candle.

But let’s rewind to way before the wedding day.

You’ve just got engaged. Your mom will cheerfully spread the news with all her family and friends. She should also reach out to the bride’s mom to express her happiness.

When it comes time to put together your invite list, your mom can be there to help you narrow down your choices on your side of the family, you’re A and B list for example. She will most likely have all the addresses you need to ensure the invites get to where they need to go.

When it’s time for the bridal shower, your mom should attend and bring a gift as well.

Once you and your bride are registered, your mom will most likely spread the word to your side of the family so that you get what you asked for.

The two moms will typically consult with one another on their wedding day outfits as well.

Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is the groom’s responsibility. So your mom will most likely be there to make sure the restaurant of choice delivers on their promise so that you have a great party the night before your wedding.

You can see that your mom can play an important part in your wedding, much like she has all your life. Hopefully, you let her know how much she meant to you, yesterday, on Mother’s Day! But if not, make sure you do so now.

See you next Monday!

{Summer Selections} Guest Blog - Rose Ceremony

Discovering unique touches for your wedding should always been top priority. Take this time to reflect on the nice touches to your ceremony that will make it memorable for you and your guests. Read below some great tips by Officiant Larry James on how you could incorporate the Rose Ceremony into your big day.

Guest Blogger: Larry James, Officiant

There are lots of brief add-on ceremonies that you can add to your wedding ceremony. They add a touch of class, makes your ceremony different and keep your guests interested.


The “Rose” ceremony is one of my favorites.

In the rose ceremony, the Bride and Groom give each other a single red rose bud. Two red rose buds are all that is necessary. If you have children involved in the ceremony, you may have a rose for each of them too. The Rose Ceremony is placed near the end of the ceremony just “after” being pronounced wife and husband.

This ceremony is what I call an “add-on” ceremony. It is intended to be added into the wedding or renewal of vows ceremony.

In the old language of flowers, a single red rose has always meant “I love you”. The Rose ceremony gives recognition to the new and most honorable title of “Wife and Husband”.

This ceremony originates in a classic rose ceremony from a lost and elegant age. It was rewritten by the Hon. Mark Ovard and rewritten again by Larry James explaining the true meaning of the ceremony – and in ways that can endure through your married life together – this is a unique and meaningful addition to any marriage ceremony. It will also inspire your guests.

This is also a nice way of involving the mothers in the ceremony.

New twist to this idea
Couples will often stop as they exit and “surprise” the mothers of the bride and groom by handing them each an “I Love You” rose bud. The husband gives his rose to his new mother-in-law and the wife gives her rose to her new mother-in-law, whispering “I love you,” or something nice before proceeding with their exit, knowing that love is not love until you give it away!

You could also say something like, “I’m happy to be a part of the family, etc.” Be sure to tell your photographer that you are giving your “I love you” roses to the mothers so they can get that photo.

NOTE: All roses symbolize Love, but their colors have special meaning. Use the list below to choose the shade that best matches the feeling you want to convey.

Red – Love, passion, respect and courage
Yellow – Joy, friendship and freedom
Pink – Happiness, gratitude, appreciation and admiration
Cream – Thoughtfulness, charm and graciousness
Orange – Admiration, fascination, enthusiasm and desire
White – innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence and to honor those who are deceased

Copyright © 2010  Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry's Wedding Website. Larry James is a non-denominational minister and performs the most "Romantic" wedding ceremony you will find anywhere! Every wedding ceremony is customized to your complete satisfaction. Call to check availability: 480-998-9411 or 800-725-9223. You will find more than 445 pages of Wedding ideas, tips (95 tips and growing), ceremonies, and more at: http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com/ . Subscribe to Larry's FREE monthly "LoveNotes for Lovers eZINE. Contact: CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com, P.O. Box 12695, Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2695.

{Summer Selections} Out Style Your Bridesmaids

Wishes are made to come true. This is especially true at a local salon in Scottsdale called the Wish Salon. Owner, Taryn Hitchings found her niche in the heart of downtown Scottsdale. Her job is to bring out the luscious curls and accent the highlights that ladies would love to have. One of my recent brides also found herself getting dolled up in Taryn’s chair on her wedding day. As the wedding coordinator, I like to join my brides to make sure their hair and makeup ladies (and some gentlemen) arrive on time. This was easy as the hair stylist and fellow makeup artist, Shayla, were both on hand at the Wish Salon.

Now that we learned what Taryn can do, let’s learn what’s new and hot!

Brides are finding they love loose waves, fun curls, big body, and fabulous textured updo’s says Taryn. She knows exactly how to bring out your style and perfect wedding day look in every wedding setting. The best thing that I love about her work is her ability to bring out the natural beauty in every girl. Every bride wants to stand out and have each guest stand in awe of how gorgeous she looks. Think about how you want to be remembered on your wedding day. Snip out pictures of your favorite hair styles and note how you want to feel on your wedding day. Depending on the weather, think about updo’s versus halves ‘sies (half up and half down style).

Don’t forget that you need to do a trial run for before your wedding day to see how your hair will look. Take pictures and feel comfortable and confident in the style you chose. There is nothing set in stone after the trial run so make sure to tell your stylist the look you want to create. This is your day to shine and having the right stylist team will get you there.

The Rehearsal Dinner

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

One of the traditional responsibilities for the groom is the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is that meal that takes place after the bridal party has walked through their ceremony procession, which usually takes place the day before the wedding, or two days prior.

Rehearsal dinners can either be just as elaborate as the wedding day, or much more subtle. It all depends on the type of budget you have for this occasion, but it is usually safe to plan for 25 to 35 people depending on the size of your bridal party and family members.

It’s a good rule of thumb to allow the bridal party to bring a guest of their own. And, if you have close family flying in from out of town, like your grandparents, it’s a great idea to include them as well in this occasion.

So what about the venue?

This could be as simple as a great brewery restaurant like Rock Bottom or BJ’s Brewhouse, a nice Southwestern or Mexican restaurant like Jalapeno Inferno, or a more elaborate setting like Maggiano’s Little Italy or Mastro's Oceans Club.

Let’s look at a few options.

Maggiano’s is a great place to do a family style rehearsal dinner. From a wide selection of entrees on the menu, you get to choose two to three appetizers, two to three salads, two to three entrees, two to three pasta dishes, and two to three deserts. There is plenty of food for all to enjoy and with a price range of $29 to $40 per person, it is definitely worth every penny. Plus, if you liked something more than others, you can order as much as your heart desires and the price still remains the same.

Another great place located in North Scottsdale is Jalapeno Inferno. With great margarita tastes like the Creamy Coconut or the Prickly Pear, and flavorful dishes, like The Chimichanga that Ate Nogales, you’re sure to find something for everyone to enjoy. And being in Arizona, this is a great way to treat those out of town family or bridal party members who don’t get to taste the true authentic flavors of the Southwest.

With so many great restaurants to choose from in the Valley of the Sun, you’re sure to find any restaurant to meet your rehearsal dinner needs.

Destination Love || Dolce Mia Me

Golden Girl Tuberose Lotion - 12 oz.

Beauty cosmetics are too good to live without. Dolce Mia spreads it's wings over the Southwest but originally started in California. A small family business that has been flourishing and giving all the art fairs and local shops something to rave about since 1991. This company gives that great retro feel and flash of vintage that most of girls love. US manufactured items that provide organic and "green" products, which are great for you and the environment.

Kristen Betz, a Dolce Mia representative loves the Vintage Pin-Up Golden Girl in Tuberose, Surfer Girl in Mango Tangerine, and Vintage Peacock in Sweet Almond. She says, "the products are great on my sensitive skin, which is a major plus, and leaves my skin smelling amazing". Their products not only include fun sounding moisturizers but also accessories and gift items. See below.

Vintage Peacock in Sweet Almond - 6 oz.

Kristen told me about the fresh and natural ingriendients in her products. I love the ingriedients in many of the items that include olive oil, shea butter, almond and sunflower oils, infused with organic botanical extracts, and Vitamin E.

An added bonus to Dolce Mia is the special other items that you can pickup through a home party or online. I found cute baby clocks, thank you cards, photo albums, and kid growth charts. They offer very unique items that you need to check out. A great idea for a girls party or bridal shower.

Special Edition || Mother's Day {Early Planning}

Mother's Day is almost upon us and I find myself thinking of the crafty or shall we say Etsy way to show my mom love. If you haven't heard of Etsy, this is a great place to find crafty originals from people buying and selling them. I found these cute drink covers that would be fun to share with the coozy lovin' mom's out there. It's a genious idea..ahem..those DIY brides out there would also love to check this site out. They have their own category on weddings that you can discover or spend hours clicking through.

Set of 7 tissue poms - Great part is you get to pick your colors!

Love Collection Red Pillow Covers - Ships anywhere in the world to your mom!

Lavender Wine Glass Set - These are fun to buy for mom and then sneak over to

share a glass a wine with her. Or, just buy yourself a set.

For many of us daughters and sons, we don't have to rely on our own crafy or uncrafty creations that we made in our youth years. We can celebrate our Mom's Day/ Mother's Day is all its glory with creations done with entrepreneurs out there. I love to see small business owners sprouting up and help keep our lives easier. Let's face it, much prettier too!

A Stress Free Wedding Day

Have you thought about your wedding day in full detail? If not, you may want to take a couple minutes to visualize that day.

Close your eyes, and picture yourselves getting ready for the ceremony. All of a sudden, the photographer comes up to you and asks you if you’re ready yet for your pictures. Then, right behind the photographer is the DJ wondering if they have the correct song you’ve picked for the brides walk down the aisle.

The groom’s buddy then tugs on his shoulder and says the caterer wants to know if the ceremony is going to get started on time, and if not, how far should the dinner be pushed back?

The men finally get ready to take pictures, but then realize they don’t have the boutonnière pinned to their jackets yet. And it’s then he realizes he has yet to see the florist, and then scrambles to find her.

So now ask yourself, how is your wedding day going? Is this how you envisioned your wedding day? Do you have a lot more stress than you imagined? Do you really want to be dealing with all these minor details and questions right now?

The Money You’ve Spent

In the Phoenix metropolitan area, on average, a couple is likely to spend $2,000+ on a quality photographer, $1,000+ or on a DJ or musician, $8,000+ on the venue and catering, and $1,500+ on flowers. With all that invested, do you want to a) coordinate the wedding yourself and not really get to enjoy your time with your new bride and deal with the above scenario, or b) hire a day-of-wedding coordinator to handle all the details so that you can enjoy your investment on the one day that you tie the knot with your lovely bride.

A Small Investment to Enjoy Your Day

Based on the above averages, you’ve just spent over $12,000 for the basic items you needed for your wedding day. Consider investing a little bit more so you can relax and have fun on your wedding day.

Now, picture yourself with a day-of-wedding coordinator, not to be confused with a site coordinator. A site coordinator doesn’t do anything to help with the flow of your day. They are there to simply help you find your room to get ready in and/or to make sure their own staff is in place for your ceremony and reception. But, a day-of-wedding coordinator takes all those visualized references above, and takes them off your plate.

With packages starting at $1,550, it’s worth it to you and your bride to consider hiring a day-of-wedding coordinator.

You shouldn’t be bothered with a thousand questions on your wedding day. With the Blueprint Affairs difference, we take on your wedding day coordination needs at least 30 days prior to your wedding and leave no rock unturned. Come your wedding day, you’ll be relaxed and stress free.

Contact Blueprint Affairs today at info@blueprintaffairs.com or 623-215-8657 to schedule your FREE initial consultation and see how we can serve every one of your needs come your wedding day.

See related blog: Destination Love: The Bride’s View

Until next time, happy wedding planning!

Destination Love || The Bride's View

Are you still considering all your options for friends and family to help on your wedding day? I’m sure you just thought your wedding would happen without any issues. Dee, my recent newlywed wanted to shed some light on her wedding planning experience. Dee considers herself very ‘organized’ (yes, she knew exactly how she wanted every detail in her wedding) and wasn’t sure if hiring a wedding planner would be the best with her modest budget.

Dee was the bride who loved searching and reading through all the wedding blogs to find out as much information as possible. Her motivation revolved around, “finding the right venue, the perfect dress, finding pictures of the perfect cake, and more.” As her Day-of-Wedding Coordinator, I worked to bring together all her wedding vendors so as Dee puts it “simply relax on my day”. I love exactly how Dee said this so I included it all for you.

I learned that you can be as involved (or not as involved) as you want when you hire a planner. If a bride doesn't want to put the time and energy into planning, then hiring a planner and opting for a full-service package is the way to go. But, if a bride wants to be involved (like I was!), then checking out the day of package is awesome, because everything on the day of is handled for you. Your planning and preparation is done. So, when it's your day, it's time to just sit back and enjoy. And, you can do that, because the planner troubleshoots, keeps the timeline on track, and works with all your vendors to make sure everything is taken care of and your day comes together smoothly. Your phone won't ring and people won't be coming to you if something goes wrong. Your planner is there and ready for anything to make your day smooth and stress free.

The key to enjoying your day is staying hydrated, eat snacks throughout the day and allow yourself plenty of time to stay calm. Dee recommends enjoying the process, don’t stress, and go with your gut instincts when planning your wedding. Blueprint Affairs works to make your day special and plan for the expected ceremony and reception timelines (and unexpected on your day). Dee enjoyed our attention to her details and listening to exactly how she pictured her wedding day. She enjoyed how passionate we are and may even consider helping other brides in their journey.

Special thanks to the vendors who helped make her wedding perfect!

Photos by Mary Sandy(photography), Sassi (venue), Petals & Pizazz (flowers), Matthew Thornton (guitar), and Reverend Giovanni, Ray the DJ, Wish Salon (hair), and Shayla Mitchell (makeup)

**With Blueprint Affairs, we offer full planning services and Day-of-Wedding Coordination.

Photo by Photos by Mary

Brazilian Steakhouse

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Recently, my wife and I were in Las Vegas surprising her Aunt and Uncle on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. While they enjoyed a nice show at the Aria, we headed out to Pampas Churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

We first fell in love with Brazilian steakhouses while eating at one in New Zealand on our honeymoon, Wildfire Churrascaria. Like the one in New Zealand and in Vegas, most all Brazilian steakhouse offer an all-you-can-eat menu selection, and that of course is what we chose.

Throughout the course of your meal, you’ll be visited by the wait staff with many different meat selections, from barbeque pork, to top sirloin, to smoked ham, to bacon wrapped turkey, to spicy chicken, and more. The flavors are never ending, and for around $40 to $60 per person, depending on the range of food you want to eat as much of you can until you can’t eat no more, the value is definitely there.

While people watching at dinner we observed a table of 15 to 20 guys out on the town for a bachelor party. They of course were having a great time, most likely just kicking off their night of fun. I mean, what better way to start a guy’s night out than with a manly feast of succulent meats?

There of course is a local Arizona spot that you can visit to get your bachelor party started. It’s located in Scottsdale and goes by the name of Fogo de Chao.

But if you do happen to entertain your bachelor party in Vegas, make sure you walk by in front of Planet Hollywood and nearby in their Miracle Mile Shops during the course of the day prior to your meal. You’ll likely run into someone passing out free drink and buy one get one free all-you-can-eat meals at Pampas Churrascaria.

Save some money, eat a delicious meal, and have plenty left over to gamble or party the night away with your closest buddies.

Destination Love || Wedding Day Makeup

There comes a point in time when a makeup artist is no longer an option, but a requirement. Your wedding day is not something you want to scrimp on. These shots of your face will be plastered all over your walls and the photo galleries of your family for years to come. Finding the makeup artist that flatters all your fabulous features and hides that one zit you manage to unleash on your wedding day is a necessity. Yes, just like in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you too will find your hormones fighting the stress and excitement of your day.


The things that you should look for in a great makeup artist are simple: flawless and natural style, gentle and soothing nature (you’ll need this when things are feeling tense), polished, and professional. I love working with makeup artists myself because everyone loves being pampered. There’s something intoxicating while sitting there in that chair waiting for those sweet touches to your face. I recently worked with Shayla Mitchell of Makeup by Shayla who delivered perfectly. My bride left her chair looking so natural and yet, stunning in the way that her MAC makeup accented her model-like features. MAC is traditionally known for their high volume color palette but the right application of the wedding day coloring will leave you looking absolutely natural.

Remember to have your initial trial done a month or two before your wedding with any makeup artist. This will help you feel comfortable with the artist’s style and makeup cosmetics. You want to be sure that you take a few pictures of your look post-trial and note your skin’s feeling throughout the day. You can expect your trial and wedding day look to start at $150.

Shayla Mitchell – 310-993-0313 (based in Scottsdale, AZ)  *Sample pictures in blog

Destination Love || Wedding Anniversaries

Planning a wedding takes so much energy, sweat and tears. The pure joy is walking down the aisle to your bridal march music heading up to the man of your dreams. The main idea that most brides forget is the part after the wedding. The many years of learning and growing together through the vow words you spoke on that very wedding day. I recently celebrated a fabulous wedding weekend in the city of quickie weddings and high-roller nights (..also day’s too). The wedding weekend was actually to celebrate the union of my aunt and uncle from April 10, 1960. Yes, it was a 50th Wedding Anniversary in Las Vegas. I didn’t know them when they were married but to know them now you would be so impressed. The romance is seen in the way they look at each other. My Aunt Jeanette understands the dry humor of her hubby Michael as he listens so quietly while we get lost in our chatty talks. Giddiness comes over me when I'm talking with my auntie.

Brian, my hubby and I created a poem/picture frame (goldish frame- tradition says it's the color for 50 years) as a gift to give them. A poem by my favorite writer, the BLUEman (aka Brian) perfectly captured their life together.

I’m in an industry of love but no one really talks about after the wedding day. I think it’s special to celebrate the marriages that started and will last a lifetime…let’s congratulate my friends and family who have beat the odds.

Anniversary Congratulations!

Michael & Jeanette – 50 years

Lew & Sue – 34.5 years

Sherry & hubby – 30 years

Alise & hubby - 24 years

Jo Ann & Grant – 19 years

Tracy & Bill– 16 years (and 11 months)

Jen & Brian– 11 years

Janel & Shawn– 8 years

Laura & hubby - 5 years

Becky & Mark -3 years

Opal & Ed – 2.5 years

Andy & Michelle – 2 years

The Groom’s Duties

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Congratulations man…you’re engaged! Now ask yourself: what's next?

Today, the modern groom doesn’t just sit back and say to his bride to be “Yes, whatever you want” when it comes to the wedding. You do have some responsibilities that fall on you, more than anyone else, including:

• Choose your best man and groomsmen
• Discuss the style of your wedding with your bride to be and make sure you both know the attire you want to have. Do you want the wedding to have a laid-back feel, or do you want it to be formal?
• Transportation – make sure you assist in arranging this for the bride to get to the ceremony, along with everyone else in your wedding party. If your reception is a drive away from the ceremony location, you’ll need transportation to get your entire wedding party there
• Arrange for accommodations, if needed, for out-of-town guests (ex. Room blocks at a specific hotel)
• Gifts – purchase for both your bride to be and for your groomsmen
• Obtain the marriage license – without it, your wedding is not official
• Plan the rehearsal dinner and prepare to make a toast at the rehearsal dinner thanking everyone for coming out to your wedding

Besides the duties specific to the groom, here are ways you can get involved in the planning process of the wedding with your bride to be:

• Determine your wedding budget and make a plan to stick within the budget. What are the most important things in your wedding to consider, i.e. planner, photographer, flowers, DJ, etc.
• Select a date, time and location for your ceremony and reception
• Create your guest list and make sure to not go over the number of guests you plan to have
• Book an officiant or minister for your wedding
• Work with your planner to hire the vendors for your wedding day

One of the things a groom should work on, and not wait to the last minute to do, is plan the honeymoon. Discuss where it is you both want to share your first week or two as a married couple. And make sure to follow our tips to planning your honeymoon. By booking at least six months out, you’re likely to save a lot more money than booking a month or two out.

Until next time, this is the BLUEman, signing off.