Tag Archives: arizona

July 8, 2011 · 8:00 am

Trash the Dress Friday!

Is it seriously Friday already!? I am not upset, just surprised. I am thrilled really because that means I have yet another beautiful Trash the Dress (Rock the Frock, Day After, Re-live the Dress…whatever name your prefer) Shoot to share with you! These photos come from the lovely Maria Butterfield of Butterfield Photography, who has never been featured before. I recently read something that said the biggest reason photographers/vendors do not get featured is because they are too afraid to submit their work. So submit your work folks, the worst someone can say is no thanks which by default means the best they can say is YES!! Plus I am pretty sure ALL bloggers love receiving submissions even if they can’t feature what you send over. Ok, enough with my unsolicited advice for the day! Anyway I am glad Maria mustered the gumption to send this shoot my way because I love it. The couple loves hiking and being outdoors so they set out on a search for somewhere rustic with bits of modern mixed in. The result is stunning!

Oh I forgot to mention, the Bride is gorg!

AND the shoot took place near Tucson, where I went to college! Holla!

I just said Holla. I apologize for that.

Maria said this about the shoot: “Even though the dress didn’t go home covered in mud, soaking wet or damaged we had a lot of fun exploring the area we shot at and doing things you just can’t do on the wedding day.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! TTD Sessions don’t have to be damaging to be amazing!

What are you all up to this weekend? Do weekends after holiday weekends seem a bit lame or are you still trying to recover from all the fun of last weekend? Whatever you do, be safe!

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June 29, 2011 · 8:00 am

Wedding Wednesday: On the Sedona Creekside

I may not be getting enough sleep or I am simply going crazy but I have been doing some really dumb things lately. Like the other morning when I went to make coffee and I decided that I would make a full pot just in case we wanted more than one cup (which we rarely do). I filled that thing to the brim, hit start and proceeded to take a shower. Post shower I walked casually to the kitchen to get my cup only to find coffee flowing all over the counter-tops, pouring down the sides like a water fall and pooling nicely on the floor. Somehow I had completely missed the step where you put the pot under the filter basket. Of course if there is no pot the coffee is not supposed to come out but I am sure it had over flowed the basket by the time I finally got back to it. Now I am pretty much paranoid and double check my coffee making steps 12 times before I leave the kitchen.

I thought I’d share that story in an effort to make any of you stressed out Brides feel a bit better about any crazy things that wedding planning might be doing to you. I have no excuse and you do, so don’t feel bad. Anywho let’s move on to today’s gorgeous wedding! The beautiful bride just so happens to be the little sister of our engagement photographer turned friend, Robin Reece of The R2 Studio. Robin, however, was serving as a member of the bridal party which limited her ability to document her sister’s wedding on film. Luckily she has an amazing partner, Renee, who did not disappoint! I’ve never met Roxie, the bride, but her huge smile is infectious and her joy and excitement emanates from the photos!

The amazing veil was the Bride’s mother’s!

Other Vendors:

Event Planner:  Sedona Events
Floral Designer:  Bliss Extraordinary Floral
Reception Venue:  Amara Resort and Spa
Images submitted via Two Bright Lights

**Don’t forget to enter our Giveaway!!

**Have you shopped our Trunk Show for Charity?

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June 1, 2011 · 8:00 am

Wedding Wednesday: Grand Canyon Elopement!

Don’t you love when Wednesday feels like Tuesday? Amazing the difference having one day off can make in your week! Each and every wedding is gorgeous in its own right but today’s wedding is spectacular in a way I don’t think I have ever seen. The couple decided to elope at the Grand Canyon with a few family members. They had never been and thought it would make an excellent backdrop for their vows. They couldn’t have been more right. There are no decorations, no details, just one of the most gorgeous places in the world wrapping around them with it’s overwhelmingly immense beauty. The sun was just going down which made for some incredible lighting and some absolutely gorgeous photos. The lady behind the lens was the incredibly talented Melissa Dunstan! If her name sounds familiar it is because she shot our wedding! Not only does she take the best photos ever but she is one of the sweetest people I have ever met! I am so excited to share this one with you!

Amazing right? If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, the size of it actually makes you a little dizzy when you first approach it. I love that they selected it for their wedding location as truly no other venue can compare!

 

Images submitted via Two Bright Lights.

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April 12, 2011 · 8:01 am

Coffee Shop Wedding!

Ok so last night I was sitting on the patio trying to think of what to post tomorrow. It was a gorgeous spring night with perfect weather and our fabulous view and I was hoping to hop on the internet and get inspired. I ventured to my inbox to catch up on some emails and I saw a submission from Photography by Verdi which I know is always going to be filled with pure goodness. Oh and this one did not disappoint. But first (and I was reminded of this as buzzing things swarmed around me on the patio)- did I tell you our new dog is deathly afraid of buzzing things such as flies or bees?  The bees, I totally get but the flies not so much. Of course she is a dog so it is hard for her to differentiate. But without realizing this or realizing the extent of it I set up our hummingbird feeders which has to be like a bee times infinity to a poor dog with a buzzing phobia. Part of me wants to laugh when a fly goes by her head and she FREAKS. OUT. But also considering she is a rescue- I am super sad knowing that something tragic could have happened at some point! On a somewhat unrelated note a local dog rescue had a fashion show this weekend and  both she and our other dog were models so I pretty much have to show you how cute they were:

Woobie is the one with the buzz phobia and Charlie is the little cowboy! Tell me that is not too adorable for words?! Don’t worry I am not one of those crazy dog people that dresses up their dogs but also I am on occasion. Because come on- that is cute. Charlie hated his hat but was a trooper throughout the whole event. He must have known it was for a good cause! As a little side note there are so many amazing dogs out there that need homes! Rescue before getting a puppy from a breeder! Woobie is from Beagles of Arizona Rescue Club so you can even get specific pure bred dogs if that is what you are looking for!

Ok moving on. This fabulous wedding took place at Inside the Bungalow- a vintage building turned coffee shop in Mesa, Az. It is quaint, unique and absolutely adorable! Being from Az and a BIG coffee lover, I am surprised that I didn’t know about this place! This wedding in general is packed with sweet details but the fact that it is set in a coffee shop makes it even more fabulous! I literally opened it and couldn’t stop smiling! So alas here it is for your enjoyment!

I think Photography by Verdi has in their contract: We only accept gorgeous brides! Because honestly they always have the most gorgeous brides!

Did you see that collection of hanging tea cups and tea pots?! So fabulous!

Does this make you think twice about what kind of venue would make for an incredible wedding?! Because honestly I would have never thought a coffee shop could work! So friends, think a bit unconventionally and use this as your inspiration! Just about any place could be a great back drop for a wedding if it has enough space and the right elements for you!

Images submitted via Two Bright Lights.

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December 1, 2010 · 10:12 am

Happy December!

The Christmas Season is my favorite time of the year. I love the festive decor, the tasty food, and the shopping. But what makes it my favorite time of year, is the fact that the giving spirit really comes out. There are food drives, Angel Trees, adopted families, etc. It seems if similar campaigns occurred in June or any other time of the year, they likely wouldn’t be as successful. People may not have time or money. But at Christmas the giving becomes contagious and regardless of your current situation, most people find ways to give. Last Christmas we “adopted” two families. We raised money and collected donations through the Red Rock Cafe, over $2,000 in fact. Then we got to shop and play Santa. I can’t tell you what I got for Christmas last year or many of the years really. Of course a few distinct gifts stick out, but I can tell you I will never forget the look on those people’s faces when we delivered them a bundle of gifts and an envelope filled with cash. The joy of giving was abundantly more exciting than the joy of receiving. We left their homes with the Christmas feeling, that internal warmth, and smiles that just wouldn’t seem to go away. We knew that while the families were struggling in various ways, their Christmas was made brighter because they knew someone cared. If you’ve never had the opportunity to buy gifts for a stranger and deliver them, I encourage it! I contacted a local organization who helps families throughout the year who are struggling financially and they were more than happy to give me names of people they had helped at some point.

I put a board together of what Christmas is to me, in Arizona. Chili wreaths, tamales, and pecan balls say Christmas to me. On Christmas Eve it is typical to have Mexican food for dinner and I always wonder how people got all those lights on their cacti! Happy Holidays!

Arizona Christmas!

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? More importantly, what is your favorite Christmas cookie?

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