Arizona Destination Weddings

Are you thinking about an Arizona Destination Wedding? How important is Photography?



When choosing to have a Northern Arizona Wedding, brides usually factor in the incredible scenery as a back drop for photography. Let’s face it, between a Grand Canyon Wedding, Flagstaff, or Sedona Wedding; there are some award winning scenic locations. How could anyone mess up a picture with those beautiful mountains or red rocks as a setting? It does happen.


However, we have yet to see it happen, with the top notch photographers we work with as Arizona Wedding Consultants shooting Flagstaff or Sedona Weddings. What is the trick? It is nice to capture the Sedona Red Rocks in a photo but let’s not forget to feature the bride. A skilled and experienced photographer specializes in just that. They are experienced in shooting the outdoors while still capturing the individual moments and people.


They are used to working with the Northern Arizona elements and lighting while still getting the best angles and capturing the perfect moments. All of this while making you look great. The type of professional cameras and equipment they use are capable of capturing perfect shots that a common camera just cannot do.


Still thinking about having Uncle Bob with his digital camera take that winning shot of the back of your head leaning over to fix your shoe?


You are probably thinking about the cost. While photography cost can be 10% (or more) of your total budget, you need to look at your priorities. How important is it to have incredible pictures of your most important day ever? Remember, you will hold on to these special pictures your entire life.



Photo by Wedding Guest



Photo by Melissa Dunstan Photography



There is a range of prices and services offered when choosing a photographer for a Northern Arizona Wedding. Peak Events specializes in helping you find the perfect photographer as well as other vendors in your price range. It is our pleasure to guide you through this process in planning these details. We love what we do and look forward to working with you to help plan your Arizona Destination Wedding.

Voted Best in Flagstaff two years in a row, Peak Events specializes in Arizona Event and Wedding Planning.

Sally

Northern Arizona Wedding, July 2011

Imagine getting married at a one hundred year old trading post. That’s what Jessica and Gerald did on July 23rd along with 100 of their friends and family members. The sky was a vibrant blue and formed a perfect backdrop for the red sandstone buildings and pathway. The garden flowers were in bloom and the wedding was picturesque as the music began and the couple pledged their love to one another. The applause that ensued after the wedding kiss, promised to send the couple off into their future with love and support from all those present.

Weddings in Northern Arizona are special and there are so many unique places to have a wedding. I am often asked where we do the most weddings and my answer is always the same – anywhere outside. Brides and Grooms are drawn to the historical uniqueness of a trading post and the spectacular beauty of the Grand Canyon. They come to Flagstaff for the forest surroundings, something most people don’t realize exists in Arizona, and they come for the over 288 days of sunshine. Northern Arizona is the perfect place for a destination wedding; your picks for locations are as varied as it comes. Trading Posts, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, San Francisco Peaks, Sedona and of course Flagstaff offers everything a bride and groom could want.

Jessica and Gerald wanted a location that reflected their love of Arizona and their connection to history. Jessica chose brown and sage green as her colors and her bridesmaids were beautiful as they walked down the aisle dressed in brown dresses with sage sashes and then she reversed the colors for her Maid of Honor. At the reception, she threw in the color pink to add to the fun summer playfulness of the wedding.

Our July 23rd wedding was a wonderful reminder of all the great places in Northern Arizona that I’ve passed by a million times and all it takes is one stop to take the time and witness the abundance of beauty and grandeur.

 Debbi

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Cameron Trading Post and Tuba City High School

Event Planner: Peak Events

Floral: Flagstaff Floral

Catering: Main Street Catering

Cake Designer: Family Friend

Entertainment: Family Friend

Photography: SJA Studios

Winter White Weddings

Any brides out there that love Flagstaff and have thought about having a winter wedding in Northern Arizona but still have doubts and questions?


Don’t rule out a Northern Arizona Wedding in the winter. Imagine photos with the snow Cap Mountains as a back drop or even a snow covered ground with the mountains behind to set the scene for your beautiful special day!


We can help you plan a simple affordable and even last minute wedding for the 2011-2012 winter seasons. You can have a Grand Canyon or Flagstaff Wedding for a fraction of the cost when choosing a date that is not during high season. Don’t forget a Sedona Destination Wedding this winter. The weather is perfect and mild during the winter months


At Peak Events we are here as your Northern Arizona Wedding Consultants to connect you with the vendors offering amazing deals for winter weddings. There are some beautiful ceremony and reception sites lodge or formal style that would love to host you this season for your special day.


Whether you live in Northern Arizona or just love it as a location for a destination wedding, contact us today to discuss some of the options available. There are some beautiful places to choose from. You can keep it small and quaint with a small guest list or have a large celebration.


Voted Best in Flagstaff the last two years in a row, Peak Events specializes in working with each individual to create your best day ever!

Photos provided by Cameron Kelly Studios

Flagstaff Oktoberfest

“Oktoberfest war ein Hit!”

In case you don’t speak or read German… the title means Oktoberfest was a hit! I really hope that you all got to experience such a fun day, but in case you didn’t here is what you have to look forward to…
 Last year was my first experience with Flagstaff Oktoberfest and I was stationed at the Volunteer Check-in. I think sitting on the sidelines like that really benefited me for running in this year because then I was able to take in all the areas of the event and see, from an attendee’s perspective, what worked and what didn’t.

This year was whole different ballgame. I was off the sidelines and on the field! I really got a taste of what it is to put on citywide event in Flagstaff. Just as any event does, you have to start with the cold-calls and sponsors. I have done this in Scottsdale before and well, lets just say that Flagstaff people are a lot “friendlier” when it comes to asking for sponsors and donations! It was nice to get to talk with community businesses and promote Oktoberfest along the way. It was also really fun doing the city walk and getting to figure out which ways we could save money and planning the layout, and flow, of the event.

Some plenty of phone calls and emails later came the day of the event. All of our planning and strategizing was ready to be put into action! Since I couldn’t sleep (literally felt like Christmas morning) I arrived at the event site at 7am. From there it was set up, directing vendors in, keeping people out and overall making sure things were running smoothly. Jen, Debbi and I all sort of have a way of keeping each other on some sane-normal level. (Something that is very important with your event staff team!) The whole event was a blast, from set up to take down. It was great seeing so any of my NAU peers there and having a blast with their beer games! I hope that next year there are even more NAU students there and an even bigger attendance!
There were vendors, awesome food (that kept you craving all day even if you were full), delicious beer (so I heard), great music to bop to and a lot of fun games, prizes and people watching! If you like a lot of fun on a beautiful Saturday then this is the event to clear your calendar for! Hope to see you next year at Oktoberfest!
Belle

Brides on a Budget

Are you one of those brides that wants a special wedding but are feeling financially challenged? Luckily, you are not the only one. It is possible for you to celebrate your special day without having to make your own dress and have the reception at your Grandma’s home.


The good news is that weddings have changed over the years. The current trend is creating a wedding that is perfect for you. This means one that fits YOUR budget.


The average budget for a bride in America is around 25,000. That sounds like a lot. You can do it for a lot less. There are 15 basic categories to think about when planning a wedding.


When determining your budget, don’t forget to add enough to include tax and tips.


Take a look at these categories and start thinking about your priorities:


1. Ceremony


2. Reception


3. Photography


4. Videography


5. Stationary


6. Wedding Attire


7. Music


8. Bakery


9. Flowers


10. Decorations


11. Transportation


12. Rental Items


13. Gifts


14. Parties


15. Miscellaneous ( Marriage license, Gown preservation, Wedding Consulting)


Peak Events is working hard to get you the best prices on vendors and offering you creative solutions for cutting costs. This month we are focusing on the first two categories that are crucial in planning your perfect Wedding day. Let’s face it, the actual site where you get married is up there on the list for important features when setting the stage for that perfect day.


Typically, a large part of your budget will go to the reception site and food. This can be close to 40% of the Wedding cost compared to the ceremony which should be around 5%.


Do you want an outdoor wedding? Why not choose a location where you can have your ceremony and reception at the same place? This will save money, time and energy. The best part is your out of town guests do not have to drive across the city. Worried about inclement weather? Choose a location that offers a back up indoor or covered spot for your piece of mind. There are several places in and around Flagstaff that offer affordable sites for $1500 or less. This does not include food. You can decorate yourself and even bring your own caterer. Don’t be scared away by a location that has simple décor. There are affordable tricks for dressing up a place. Do your guests really care about the granite princess sculpture in the front of some lobby you are paying a premium for? The point is that the day and location should reflect who YOU are. Peak Events will continue to cover and work with local vendors offering the best deals. Feel free to contact us to learn more.

Sally

Introducing our new Wedding Planner…

Welcome Everyone! I am thrilled to be part of the Peak Events team here in Northern Arizona. I love living and working here. My journey as an event planner began in 1978 when I coordinated ski vacations for teenagers. My intention at the time was purely selfish. I thought my family was the only one in my town that did not know how to ski. If I coordinated and planned the trips for 25 people or more, I would ski and vacation for free. The most important thing for me was that I learned how to ski.


I loved the planning and organizing aspect of the trips. I loved making the flyers, securing the dates, travel, meals, accommodations and ski packages. It never crossed my mind I would be doing this for a living 30 years later.


I went on to college to study Psychology and Early Childhood Education. I still continued working events through graduate school. I worked for three different caterers and especially gravitated towards the tailored events and private parties. I was a DJ for many parties. I organized and led freshman and transfer orientation for the first week of school 3 years in a row. We organized events for up to 1000 students.


After I landed my first teaching job in New York I still continued working events on the weekends through the 1980s. I always loved it. I just never considered doing it full time.


After years of living in New York and Boston, I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1998, I took my first job as a Wedding Coordinator. I was also working as a Youth Education Director during the week since most weddings were on the weekends. After 6 years and 250 weddings later, I moved to Tucson, Arizona when my husband took a new job teaching Business at the University of Arizona.


I worked for the Tucson Botanical Garden coordinating Weddings and other events until we moved to Sedona with my three children in 2009. I continued doing social work mostly on the reservations until recently.


I have finally come to accept the importance of doing what you love. I am dedicating myself full time to planning events and weddings because it is so fun and it is what I love to do. I am also trained to assist in childbirth and hospice. Although I really hope those skills don’t come in handy at my events.


When I am not working, I am spending time with my family, gardening, traveling, dancing, or hiking some of Northern Arizona’s incredible trails.


I look forward to working with you and learning more about your special day and how we can make that a reality. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sally
sally@peakeventsaz.com

Throwing a Dinner Party

Oh my!  Where or where did my summer go?  Well…….. there were the weddings, the events, the dinners, the fundraisers oh and …….  It’s AUGUST????  Not only is it August, but it’s halfway through August!  I saw a client yesterday who reminded me I needed to block off her birthday in April.  Is time really flying THAT fast??  Just to be sure – I blocked off her birthday and she’s on the books.    What I’ve discovered is that some things in life are just true.  1.  If you want a clean house – throw a party, 2.  If you want time to stand still take a spinning class and 3.  If you want to be a guest at your own party – hire Peak Events! 

I held a dinner party for a friend of mine last week and was once again surprised by everyone’s response – WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME?  Now in all honesty, finding time to throw a dinner party is something that everyone can do.  It’s all in the planning.  I start each year with an idea of the parties I plan to throw and then try to come up with “themes” for them all.  After all, what fun is party if you’ve gone to the same one year after year?   Themes may come across as intimidating, but it can be as simple as a decorating theme or a food theme.  Once you have an idea of how you want things to look or taste – the rest just falls into place.  For instance – this last party was a garden birthday party.  I looked at my linens (I’m always on the lookout for good linens), and then went on the softer side  - pinks, blues, floral.    Once I had the linens dialed in, I started to think about what foods would compliment a “garden” feel and there it was staring me right in the face with my vegetable garden.  I planned a very easy bar with white and red wine, and a few beers to satisfy the non wine drinkers iced down in a metal tub and the within an hour, I had the backyard set up, draped with linens and everything ready for people to enjoy.

Parties are what we do.  We can do a small simple backyard soirée, or a large family reunion and through it all we can make sure you’re not stressed and enjoying your own party.  I realize that summer is just about over and with that the outside parties I LOVE, but very soon the holidays will be arriving and if you have always wanted to host the perfect party, but feel as though you might not have the time – call Peak Events.  We’ll make your holidays worth celebrating.

Blessings!

Debbi

Themed Events

Themed events can be so much fun, I feel like the hardest part is choosing a theme! The possibilities are endless. So once you’ve decided on a theme or if you can’t seem to pick just one, go online for ideas, then it’s time to start planning your party! This might sound redundant but once you’ve picked your theme, you’ll need to incorporate this theme throughout your event. Invitations, decorations, food, drinks and event costumes if you choose to have your guests dress up. You want your guests to be wowed by your theme from the moment they open their invitation. We recently threw a baby shower, we had the invitations hand made to look like little pink onesies and then we incorporated the baby’s bedding into the design of the invitation as well. The next step is to wow your guests when they walk through the doors of your event venue. I saw event venue because it could be anywhere! While your guests received your invitation weeks ago, they need to be reminded and wowed the moment they walk in the door. But don’t stop there, make this them flow through the entire event. The decorations and the table setting. If you’re having a formal dinner then do a great centerpiece, linens and place holders. If it’s more casual just skip the large centerpiece and place cards. Just because you’re not sitting down for dinner doesn’t mean you should skimp on your table decorations. The music should also be carried out in your theme. Will you be having games or contest? Just remember to keep them in your party theme!



There is so much more we could go into but why when you can call the Peak Events Team?


Give us a call today for your free consultation today! 928-606-7600

Grand Openings

Grand openings are a great way to people excited about your business. Whether your business is old or new, a grand opening or a grand re-opening is a great way to spread the word about your business while also showing your potential new customers that you care.

We have helped with the opening of Flagstaff Ranch over the Fourth of July 2001. We had a BBQ picnic which included live music, hay rides, free food and drinks. Everything was decorated in Red and Blue with lots of stars and stripes. It was a very fun day and we knew our clients enjoyed it as well. Flagstaff Ranch not only wanted to welcome Flagstaff to its newest private club and golf club but to show that they cared about the community.

We also helped First State Bank with a grand opening. This event was a Hawaiian themed event. Again we had live music, great decorations, free food and drinks. It was a great turn out and again the client was very happy.

When Findlay Volkswagen came to Flagstaff, they knew they wanted to have a Grand Opening party. Over 200 people attended and enjoyed a local polka band, free food and drinks. At one point the VW staff jumped in and did the chicken dance. While Grand Openings are fun parties it’s also a great way to showcase you business.

During the Flagstaff Ranch Grand Opening, staff members were giving tours and showing properties for sale. At the First State Bank Grand Opening, their staff was busy inside signing up new customers. At the Volkswagen opening employees were busing showing all the new VW models and scheduling test drives.

Still not convinced a Grand Opening is for you? Call Peak Events to schedule your free consultation today!

Jennifer

Event Marketing

Event Marketing is always changing, and not all event marketing is for every event. Before you being any event marketing campaign you need to know your audience and the best ways to reach them. Not only is event marketing constantly changing but there are so many ways to market an event.



You’ve got print which could mean newspapers, magazines, flyers, banners or posters. I’ve even seen car magnets advertising events. TV commercials, TV interviews, giveaways on TV. Radio Commercials, radio interviews, radio giveaways. Street teams can be very helpful when promoting events. Then you have social media and online marketing. Website banner ads, online social calendars and that’s just the beginning. I’m sure you know that social media is growing every day. What you might not know is that Facebook advertising can be very targeted, even down to what interests someone has. Not only can you set up a Facebook page, but you can have an event page and ads. You can utilize twitter the day of you r event and create a new hashtag so it’s easier for people to follow you. Then you can send out specials, deals or giveaways for the event as well.


Always being engaged with your audience before and during your event is key!


If you would like to sit down and discuss any of these event marketing tools, please feel free to call Jennifer @ 928-606-7600