Peakcocks and Bling!

On March 12, 2011, Talani Wilson became Mrs. Maurice Rowe at Flagstaff Ranch. I had so much fun on this wedding and it turned out to be absolutely beautiful. I first met Talani and her mother Diana on October 2nd. We met quickly before Flagstaff Oktoberfest and they decided to hire us on the spot. I was excited about this wedding because I’d never done a peacock wedding and it was a challenge to find that line between too much and not enough. Anyone who’s been to one of my weddings knows I try to design from less is more. So, how did we make this wedding so beautiful while honoring the Peacock theme and having a bride who loves bling?


We started with the room design. Flagstaff Ranch has a beautiful set up for weddings, a perfect area for a buffet, a great area for cocktail hour and a great dance floor. The décor at Flagstaff Ranch can be a bit heavy with wooden tables, chairs and trim – we decided to put all those tables and chairs outside on the covered patio and bring in the event chairs that we could cover. Talani’s colors were peacock of course, but we narrowed in on a beautiful blue. We covered the tables and chairs with black lamour and then brightened it up with blue chair ties and napkins.

Our next design element consisted of flowers. In case you’re not aware – there aren’t many blue flowers. The blue delphinium is basically it, unless you’re willing to spray paint your flowers, which – may look really cool in the magazine, but in person, they look exactly as you’d expect, spray painted – plus, it dries them out something fierce and who needs more drying in Flagstaff? Talani loves Calla Lilies, which was beautiful to work into a design. White calla lilies with crystals, green and blue accent flowers, and the peacock eye feathers against the black tablecloth popped and allowed the Peacock to be a beautiful accent instead of an overpowering presence. Also on the tables, we placed origami peacock paper candy boxes engraved from lmk-gifts.com. Again, bringing in the peacock without the wedding going to the birds!

Talani and Maurice decided to go with cupcakes, with a cake on top for the cutting ceremony. Flagstaff Ranch staff delivered plated cupcakes to the guests and everyone was treated to the delicious creations of Beautiful Leaf Bakery. For a cake topper, the couple decided to go with a peacock also from lmk-gifts.com that sat atop the cake, allowing for the feathers to drape down the tower of cupcakes.


 Chef Doug from Flagstaff Ranch, did a fantastic job on the food, delicious as always and the wait and bar staff are some of the best in town.


Having friends who are DJs is helpful when you’re planning a wedding – Kip and Bill did a great job of making sure the event flowed flawlessly, and provided great music at the ceremony and the reception.

It was a great time and at the end of the evening, when Talani and Maurice got into their limo to leave, both were smiling and ready to start their married life together.

Debbi

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club

Event Planner: Peak Events

Floral: Sutcliffe Floral

Cake Designer: Beautiful Leaf Bakery

Entertainment: Family Friend

Photography: Kristen Lynn Photography



Kristen Daulton Photography

Interview with Kristen Daulton from Kristin Daulton Photography.

 How long have you been a photographer?

I started photographing in 2001, so 10 years.

 How did you get started in Photography?

My Dad gave me his Pentax 35mm for a photography class I wanted to take my 1st yearr in college. Hooked every since.




What is your favorite wedding or event you photographed?

I love all of the events I photograph, but I think my favorite was last April in Spokane WA because I got to travel & see so many different locations.



What is your favorite Northern Arizona location to use as a background?

Anything with the San Fransisco Peaks...they are breath taking!



What is one tip you can give brides?

Relax and have fun....let everyone else worry for you for the day.


You can reach Kristen at kristendaulton@yahoo.com

Red daisies and chocolate covered strawberries!

Christina and Andrew are the shyest couple I have ever worked with! They were high school sweethearts and so in love! Their story and planning process was the most unusual I have ever had! Christina and Andrew came to us need help with planning a wedding a year away, but there was a catch… there were not going to tell their family until right before the wedding…. Not even that there was a wedding in the future! The only one who knew about the planning was their son (big secret to keep huh??)  So whenever we met there was always the off chance we could run into their family!!!! So we always had a story… Just in case! 

A traditional wedding for their families was a traditional Indian wedding, but they wanted to be different. The wedding location would be at Flagstaff Ranch and Christina would wear a modern wedding dress. 

Four months into the planning Christina asked 3 of her friends to be bridesmaids, but they were sworn to secrecy! They went dress shopping and had a blast. Then it was time for a food tasting. Flag Ranch did a fabulous job with the tasting, it was a FULL meal! They served prime rib, chicken parmesan, salad, rolls, grilled veggies and chili powder hot chocolate truffles, to DIE FOR!!!!   I still couldn’t believe they were still keeping this a secret.  The next surprise was a tango. Christina and Andrew practiced every week! There was even and outfit change for the wedding! 

Two months before the wedding they decided to surprise their parents and tell them about the wedding! They were so surprised because the whole wedding was planned already! The day of the wedding everyone was relaxed and excited! Christina and Andrew were nervous and excited about their dance! The ceremony was held on the patio of the golf course, and the guests were thrilled. The reception was held in the dining hall. Christina and Andrew were so thrilled to be relaxed and their family was enjoying every minute! 

Then it was time for Christina’s favorite part, The Cake! Designed by Caked, the cake was a white cake and had drizzled chocolate like a chocolate covered strawberry. The cake was decorated with Red daisies and chocolate covered strawberries, her favorite! Andrew had a favorite of the night too… it wasn’t the cake though; he was most excited about the prime rib!!

The time came for the dance! What a way to enter your own party! Christina was decked out in a short black tango dress, looking stunning; Andrew was handsome in his suit. They danced their tango perfectly and their guest stood to their feet in amazement!! 

The night was smooth and family filled and Christina and Andrew were thrilled to be married! They had such a great time planning and enjoying their day! And we had a blast working with them and helping to keep their secret!

Christina

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club

Event Planner: Peak Events

Floral: Glamourous Occasions

Cake Designer: Caked

Entertainment: Downtown Browne Productions

Photography: Garrett Dauphers Photography

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

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

Creative Wedding Invitations

Our intern Belle, came across this great creative wedding invitation. We just had to share it!

Peak Events is featured on Style Me Pretty!

Rustic Arizona Wedding!

Featured on Recycled Bride

Jennifer & Matthew's Wedding!

We are so excited that Peak Events is featured on Recycled Bride for Jennifer & Matthew's wedding! Thank you to cameron + kelly studios for taking such amazing photos!

Northern Arizona Weddings

Weddings – aren’t they fabulous? I love weddings and I love working with couples who are excited about their future together. I’m lucky enough to work with two such people on a wedding less than three weeks away! You can almost feel the excitement in the air……

The Peacock Wedding is what I’ve named this one – after all, our bride LOVES the Peacock motif and since the Peacock Theme was the hottest trend of 2010 and she got engaged in 2010 – how LUCKY am I? I’ll be honest, I’ve never done a peacock themed wedding, but now that I’m in the middle of it – I’m completely on board.
So, the question becomes, how do we honor the peacock without feeling like the wedding has gone to the birds??????? Less is more. So many brides can get carried away with peacock feathers, that they forget the real reason they picked it. So, Google peacock and this is some of what you might find: In Greece, the peacock is believed to be sacred to Hera, the queen of heaven and lawful wife of Zeus -- a pair of them drew her chariot --, and they were kept at her temples. In the Roman Empire, peacocks depicted on coins symbolized the females of the ruling houses, the lineage princesses. Maha-Mayuri, is the Buddhist wisdom deity associated with the peacock who protects against calamity especially drought. In the old Chinese bureaucratic system, members of the third highest level displayed a peacock as the emblem of their rank. In Christianity, it stands for immortality and the incorruptibility of the soul.
I’m meeting with my bride tomorrow to discuss linens! Woo Hoo – we’ve got gorgeous white flowers because of her love of Calla Lilies, and I’ve found some linens that will make this wedding POP! I’ll let you know what we decided soon…… Oh what fun!!!

Debbi