Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club Wedding

Rain at an Outdoor Wedding? No Problem!!



Kendra and Mike are an outdoor loving, fun, spontaneous couple. They came to us in need of a day of wedding coordinator for their destination wedding at Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club. We met them a few months before their wedding and we fell in love with them right away!
 The big day finally arrived and Kendra was stunning as she walked into the club house beaming! The guys were at the bar having a drink after enjoying a long hike and outrageously fun golf round! Victor Vonsparough spent the day doing a video documentary of the golf round and it looked so fun I wanted to go golfing!!

There were big dark clouds moving in and I was beginning to wonder if the rain gods would be “gracing” us with their presence…. Meanwhile we were hard at work putting together the amazing centerpieces Kendra and her mom had made. They were three sizes of glass vases and they had made beautiful paper wrappings with a silver strip down the front and each table had the name of a country that Kendra and Mike had been too! With votives and crystal on all the tables the glass oil lamps illuminated the room! With such a story behind each table setting, it was only fitting that the favors were little airplane luggage tags! The room was beautiful…but outside was still very dark.


All the chairs were set up for the ceremony and as soon as the last chair was set it started to pour!!! But not to worry, the wedding was still a few hours away. I spoke to both Mike and Kendra and neither one was even bothered by the rain (WHEW)!!


Kendra was dazzling in her dress, shining her ring with toothpaste….wait toothpaste??? Yes!! All you Brides out there toothpaste works wonders! It was still drizzling when we lined up the wedding party. And Kendra had a surprise! She was going to arrive in fabric covered golf cart, so that no one could see her until her dad “presented” her! The rain had stopped and all the guests found their seats and the programs were fans with games on the back, so creative! The wedding was beautiful, the vows were funny and romantic and as creative as the couple! As soon as the couple lined up to come inside, it began to rain, what timing!!

The gift table was adorned with pictures of Kendra and Mike throughout their travels. Each guest received an “itinerary” as they walked in (what a way to keep up with the theme)! Inside was the guest table name, and a little about it, and a drink ticket. Each boarding pass looked like a flight ticket and a travel itinerary, the guests were raving about them!

This group knew how to PARTY! They spent the whole night on the dance floor! We were serving cake on the dance floor because no one wanted to stop!!! Kendra and Mike not only were the sweetest couple but their family was amazing!! I will never forget this wedding! Kendra and Mike were so grateful and didn’t have to worry about a thing!!

 

Christina

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club

Event Planner: Peak Events

Floral: Sutcliffe Floral

Cake Designer: Caked

Entertainment: PLR Music

Photography: Sara Cruz-Mora

Videographer: Vongspoth Studios

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

Every wedding is unique and most brides know exactly how their day should look and feel. When a couple begins to think of their wedding day, they want it to be special, romantic and to reflect who they are. Many have ideas of what they want and don’t want, but discovering how much preparation is involved can be daunting. Where to start? How far in advance? How much to spend? Where to find the services you want in your price range? Planning a wedding can be stressful, and hiring a Wedding Planner will alleviate stress from the bride and groom at any stage of the planning process. The average wedding takes more than 250 hours just to plan! Most brides don’t have a lot of free time, regardless of how early they start planning their wedding. Instead of enjoying being engaged, brides will fill their nights agonizing over details, their lunch hours with phone calls and before long, the most wonderful time of their life has turned into a headache.


There is a myth that Wedding Planners are a luxury, only used by the wealthy and not affordable to the everyday bride. Weddings can be very expensive. You might think you are saving money by doing it all yourself and that hiring a Wedding Planner is an extra unnecessary expense. The truth is a bride and groom will save more money when working with a Wedding Planner because planners have the expertise to work within the couple's budget and are experienced in negotiating contracts with vendors and other suppliers, saving valuable time and money. The Wedding Planner has relationships with vendors and can find you the best deals in your price range, while taking advantage of discounts and avoiding costly mistakes.


Wedding Planners do NOT make decisions for you; they assist you in making informed decisions. Wedding Planners advise couples on etiquette, budget, traditions and timelines, allowing the bride and groom time to enjoy being engaged. A Wedding Planner will help you focus on what needs to get done, and do all the research, so you can choose based on your budget and style. A Wedding Planner is a steadying and soothing support, who is removed from the emotions that can complicate decision making for your wedding and tell you honestly what does and doesn't work. By hiring a Wedding Planner, you’re hiring someone who has done this dozens of times; ensuring details won’t slip through the cracks.
If you feel having someone involved with the planning of the wedding isn’t necessary, consider hiring a Wedding Planner to coordinate your actual wedding day. Wedding Planners know how to troubleshoot with regards to the wedding day timeline. Through their years of experience, they know how much time things actually take and how much of a cushion to build into the timeline. A wedding day timeline is essential to creating an accurate schedule that flows well and is the mark of a well-coordinated wedding. It is impossible for any couple to really experience their wedding and coordinate the day as well.

On the big day, who wants to worry where the flowers need to be placed, if the DJ has enough power while you’re trying to get dressed? By hiring a Wedding Day Planner, you can hand over all the details, so you just have to show up, get dressed, get married and enjoy the day with family and friends!

Debbi

Best of Flagstaff

Every year the Reader’s of the Arizona Daily Sun vote for who they consider to be the Best of Flagstaff. Categories range from Best Pizza, Best Advertising Agency, Best Bank, etc. The Readers of the Arizona Daily Sun have about 2 weeks to vote, which is all done online. And then the winners are announced in a special publication.



Peak Events has been honored to be voted Best Event Planner two years in a row. We have been delighted that Flagstaff has recognized that Peak Events plans more than just the annual Flagstaff Oktoberfest. We also help plan local Grand Openings, Golf Tournaments, Birthday Parties and more!


We are very happy to be among other great businesses in Flagstaff and thank the Reader’s of the Arizona Daily Sun for voting Peak Events, Best Event Planner two years in a row!!!

Tipping and weddings

Tipping and weddings – I’ve been asked a few times now about whom should the bridal party tip and how much, so I did some research online and have come up with the following. I should say that I have gleaned this information from David Tutera and also Martha Stewart Weddings, so I’m thinking if Martha said it – its law, and if David is doing it – it’s got to be fabulous.


All tips should be in cash. If you’re tipping an employee of a company because they have gone above and beyond for you, their tip needs to be in a separate envelope. Also, no person should receive more than a $100 tip. Make sure you wait to tip your vendors until just before your vendor leaves so you can judge just how much to tip.

So, who should you tip and just how much:



Parking Attendants – this is something you need to arrange previous to the wedding. Guestimate how many cars will be arriving and plan on anywhere from $.50 - $1.00 per car. If you decide to take care of this – you should put a sign up for your guests letting them know you’ve taken care of the gratuity.

DJs – if you have one DJ – usually plan on $25 - $50, if you have 2 DJs (DJ and MC), giving each person in separate envelopes $50 should be sufficient.

Wait Staff – this one can be tricky. Usually it’s included in the contact, but if you have a wait staff or a member of the wait staff who just knocks your socks off with their service, figure 10 – 15% of the total catering bill.

Bartenders – If the venue has a tip jar out – don’t bother with tipping bartenders. I know of some venues that automatically put that out – even though they include gratuity with the bill. If your venue hasn’t included the gratuity and hasn’t set out a tip jar – then it’s usually 10% of the total bar bill.

Makeup artists or Hair Stylists – if you are paying for them to come to you, tips are not necessary. However, if you are going to the salon, you should tip them 15%. Remember, if they come to you – they make the money, if you go to the salon, the salon makes the money.




Now the following are optional. In other words – only tip if you feel they did an outstanding job.

Wedding Planner – If the planner owns the company it’s optional, but most wedding planners are tipped 10% of the contract.

Ceremony Musicians - $5 per hour, per person – give this to the musician in charge and remember – if they are at your rehearsal – you owe them for this also.

Banquet or Catering Manager – This is only given if they’ve thrown in extras or saved you a few hundred dollars on your bill – they usually get tipped between $25 - $50.

Photographers and Videographers - Again, this depends if they own the company. If so, then it’s optional. If they are employees then it’s 10-15% of the package price and it goes to the head photographer and they can distribute portions to any help they bring.

Officiate – Well, this one is a tricky one. I’ve heard that to tip them is an insult and considered bad etiquette. I’ve also heard to NOT tip is bad form – Martha seemed to believe that if you wish – you should make a contribution to the church and at a minimum should be $75. If you using a judge or someone who has no church affiliation, then a tip isn't necessary.

Florist – If you have a florist who isn’t charging you for set up and delivery, then an extra tip for that is acceptable. Usually $5 per delivery location is sufficient, although with gas prices exploding Martha may need to update that one.

Wedding Cake Baker – You usually don’t tip the baker, however, if like the florist they don’t charge a delivery and set up fee, then $10 is enough.


Remember, if you’re using a wedding planner, they should be the one responsible for delivering all the tips and payments due on your wedding day. If you’re not using a wedding planner, then your best man or the Father of the Bride will do – try not to have to take care of this yourself, this is your day – ENJOY IT! And if you don’t give tips, remember a thank you card is awesome to receive.


Debbi



Limo Drivers – 15% of the limo bill – hand this at the end of the service.Alter boys or girls - $5 or $10 each.

Weddings and Romance

Weddings and Romance…….. they go hand in hand, throw in a Marine and the woman of his dreams waiting patiently for his return from Afghanistan and you get a wedding made for the movies.



Amber and Josh were married December 18th at Flagstaff Ranch while the snow was flying and the clouds hung low on the San Francisco Peaks. The fireplace was roaring inside, while Amber and Josh had a private moment before the wedding outside in the Pavilion. Everyone sighed as Amber went outside and her Marine slowly turned around taking in her grace and beauty. There wasn’t a dry eye among us as Josh quickly wiped his eyes and embraced her as she walked into his arms. After a few moments alone as well as the snow flying, they were ready to walk down the aisle and start their lives as husband and wife.


Amber and Josh were day of clients and with family coming from out of town, it was good that they hired us to take all the stress off the big day, so they could visit and enjoy their day. Amber, a student at Northern Arizona University and her mother, a Martha Stewart clone, had almost everything dialed in for the big day and needed Peak Events to run the event as well as decorate the space. We made sure the vendors all had timelines, the Club House was set up to mom’s design and helped everyone involved get set up and ready for big day. Because of all the out of town guests, we were happy to help our couple set up hotel rooms and events for all the visiting family and friends.

Congratulations Josh and Amber!

Debbi

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club

Event Planner: Peak Events

 

Floral: Family Family Friend

Cake Designer: Bashas

Entertainment: AZ DJ Express

Photography: Family Friend