We were not only impressed at how beautiful everything was but how much diversity Arizona had to offer. We found our way to an old ice house literally named The Ice House which, when Amber and I first pulled up we were confused, then when we walked in and saw all of the ways the space can be transformed, we were almost in shock! It’s a total blank canvas and the possibilities are endless. Oh and then there was The Arizona Biltmore. Being designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, I think it goes without saying the architecture was incredible. From the gold plated ceilings to the beautifully landscaped grounds, The Arizona Biltmore was an amazing venue.

All in all I think my favorite venue was The Royal Palms. Once we caught a glimpse of the palm tree-lined driveway leading to the villa style structure we were in awe. As we walked through the grounds to view all the various wedding and event spaces, we continued to be awestruck. Every turn we took we found ourselves saying “Oh my gosh what an amazing picture opportunity!” Everything about The Royal Palms was beautiful from the tiled floors to the view of camelback mountain in the background.
So to sum it up Amber and I had a fantastic weekend, the sun was shining, the people were so nice and the venues were gorgeous. Aside from getting stuck on the wrong side of the tracks behind a never ending train, we loved every minute of it!

Seeing what Arizona has to offer has made me even more excited and I know I’ve only just scratched the surface! -Kahea

                       The Arizona Biltmore                                                  The Royal Palms

                         Clayton on the Park                                                         Hotel Valley Ho

                                                                           The Icehouse

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7 a.m. Time to wake up sleeping beauty, your big day is here … no more running around like crazy to find the perfect vendors, the perfect venue, the perfect dress… Everything is done!

 Finally it hits you, it is your wedding day.  The frustration, craziness, worries, all these feelings should be gone. No more apprehension, no more “If Uncle Vinny says an embarrassing joke” at the toast; if your groom doesn’t show up on time; if cousin Jenny will look like she came back from the land of “wear as little as possible”, or what guest will be annoying enough to wear white …. now you can STOP and BREATH !!!

So here are some tips to start your day the best way possible:

• Beauty Sleep: Try to go to bed early the night before and get as much sleep as possible.  Now let’s be real: you are so excited that you barely slept last night. So start your day with a big glass of water and a nice relaxing shower. Once you are out, apply warm green or black tea bags (after they were in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes), over your eyes for 3 to 5 minutes. Or your friend the cucumber will work just as well, slice it up and keep them on your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes, they cause your blood vessels to

• Breakfast: Very very very important! I will never repeat it enough to my brides. Not eating the day of your wedding will not make you magically loose the last 3 pounds! You have to think that you are going to be on your feet all day, running around, posing, welcoming, dancing, and you might not have the chance to eat until your reception (if you even find a minute for that!).A touch of Grace always treats her brides to breakfast or lunch to make sure no one will pass out later on… also that prevents the family from running around to find a snack for the bride and from taking away some quality time they can have together! So for my self-conscious brides, have some oatmeal, eggs, fruits, and tea.  Stay away from milk or dairy product if it’s possible (they are known to provoke gas and cause bloating). And for the one who wants to start the day and enjoy a great breakfast, go for it and enjoy every bite of it, just don’t stuff yourself! You need a ton of energy so you will not crash by 6 p.m.!! ”Bon Appetit”

• Savor getting ready: It is the only moment when you can really share a special time with your bridesmaids and maid of honor! Try to enjoy every minute of it because once you step out in your dress to go to the ceremony, your day is going to fly by without you being able to realize it or make it stop! So be sure to grab that instant to thank all these people that are here to support you.  They must be very special that they are still by your side after all what you made them go through (crying for no reason, phone calls in the middle of the night because you had the worst nightmare, the crazy dress shopping that went on for hours and hours and hours…. and the list can go on and on!).

• Being thankful: If you want to give your girls a thank you speech, be sure to do it before you are getting ready… you might get very emotional and the tears are going to ruin your make-up. You can also include a card, with a bridal gift, that lets them know how thankful you are to have them by your side and how each one of them are so important in your life by including a little “anecdote” that you both share! Trust me that will just melt their heart!

• Family drama: It always amazes me that family is very often a big problem during wedding preparations (usually and sadly due to jealousy or because they want this day to be as perfect as you wish for)!  The closest people to your heart, that should help you and make things easy for you, often can be VERY not so helpful! Luckily they leave “crazytown” and return to reason for your big moment. So don’t over think it, forgive and forget. It is your time to shine!

• Mom time: it is always nice to include your mom in your wedding day. It can be a very emotional day for her too to see her little girl getting married. Reassure her by letting her know what a great mom she is and how proud you are to be the women you are today because of her. Helping you with your dress could be a special moment that she will always cherish in her heart!

• Details that go wrong…. well if you have a wedding coordinator like us that will never happen! But if you don’t, just ignore it! Yes everything is not going to be picture perfect but most of the time you are the only one to realize it and your guests have no clue! They are not the ones who spent months planning your event and they are here to celebrate you, your groom and have a good time! Also what is the most important?  The vows and promises to your husband.  So the rest, if it’s not dramatic, should not matter so much after all!

Try to keep all these tips in mind, kick back and HAVE FUN!

The post The Perfect Wedding Morning! appeared first on A Touch of Grace.

We have some tips to not look like this the next day!

1. Eating dinner is a must if you are going to party all night! 
You might be watching your figure to fit in your amazingly form fitting and tight mermaid dress, but the last thing you want to do is skip eating and risk getting too drunk to stay out with your girls.  There is always this wonderful thing called Spanx to smooth it all in the last recourse!!

2. Load up on water. When you’re out having a great time with your best friends it is pretty easy to lose track of how much you’ve had to drink — until it’s too late. Have a glass of water or two between each alcoholic drink. It will save you from having a major headache the next morning.

3. Party in style but leave the mini skirt and the gorgeous “I can’t walk in them” heels at home! Let’s be honest …. lots of alcohol and itsy-bitsy skirts with towering heals are not a good combination. Plus you never know what your girls might have planned. Who knows? What if they’re taking you to that bar with a mechanical bull?  You’d hate to miss out on the fun just because you wore the wrong outfit. You want to be comfortable on your big night… and you don’t want to end up on YouTube (no explanation needed, right ladies?!)

4. Cameras allowed only at the beginning of the night! Sure there’s a temptation to capture every moment but do you really want those images splattered across Facebook? Instead, take photos at the start of the night when everyone is cute and in their best behavior.  Then after the first few drinks put it away, at the bottom of your bag, and never look back. You want to remember this:

not this:

5: Leave ALL phones in the Limo. In case no one ever told you this, allow me to drop some life-knowledge on you: Alcohol + Cell phones = Disaster. For some reason there is always one friend at the bachelorette party who does a few shots and decides that this is a great time to call and argue with her boo/boyfriend/baby daddy… which leads to DRAMA and the attention off you.                                                       No phoning home! You’re there to spend this night with your girls, so don’t call your fiancé every five minutes to remind him how much you love him. Trust me, he knows!

6. Don’t invite the “sloppy” friend, yes we all have one! The Sloppy Friend is someone who drinks her weight in tequila, uses all the no-no words and ends up  throwing John Travolta’s moves all night on the dance floor… to resume The Drama Queen. She can stay at her house for one night, tonight it’s your night. No need to have one more horrific story because the Sloppy Friend ensured her drama duty!

7. Stick together, ALWAYS. The last thing that needs to happen is to lose one of the bachelorette crew members. T-shirts can make everything easier and helps to spot the bride’s team from afar and can make everyone feel special. The most important rule is to never leave anyone behind, you come together, you leave together.  The cute guy hitting on your maid of honor can wait until tomorrow if he likes her so much. There is nothing more vulnerable than a group of “happy” beautiful girls who are in the party mood!

8. Be Good! You don’t want to wake up and regret what happened the night before. You are getting married!  Enjoy your night as some fun girl time, but trust us, you still get to have girl time even after you’re married.

So have fun, forget all the craziness of the last months, and slow down on the drinks! You want to remember your night because it was unforgettable in a good way!

The post How to survive your Bachelorette party! appeared first on A Touch of Grace.

Their utility is endless: they harmonize your wedding theme, can commemorate your wedding date, be of use to guests even after the wedding, and can be ate or drank! Always remember they should be an extension of the mood!

Something vintage, what about attaching some old keys to the cards?      

A keepsake for your guests: Double the task and have something that can be used as a favor too for them to take home!

A more organic look… Borrow the beauty from nature, these holder trees add a touch of whimsy to your reception and they are especially perfect for a romantic wedding in the fall. 

No need to be pricey, keep your eyes on the ground to find distinctive and beautiful rocks. Clean them and adorn each of them with the name of your guests, using a permanent marker.

You could even use miniature plants. Consider doing one per couple to control costs.

Edible Escort cart! People love to eat. Treat them with sweet or savory escort card! Giant lollipops in an empty water glass with the guests’ names written on the outside of the plastic wrapping. To satisfy salt cravings, mix your favorite cocktail nut into small jars, label them with the guests’ names and that will give them something to snack on while they await your entrance! Dried fruit also works well for health-conscious couples.

Guests love to eat …. but to drink too! One great idea is to have a small champagne bottle labeled for each guest, with their name and table number.  Or you can have drinks welcoming them to enjoy while getting to their tables. This is a perfect touch to add to your cocktail hour and a super cute option for a summer wedding.

Incorporate color into your display! Colorful soda, mini umbrellas, any fruits of your choice, keep it fun and interesting for your guests, make them want to see what is next! Make your day unforgettable by all the great details you incorporate in it!

Hanging escort cards….  it can be fabulous and give a magical feeling. Just go with the flow!

So have fun, be creative, add something fantastic and show your guests a hint of your personality!  Like I always say: “Tout est dans le detail! ” (Everything is in the detail!)

–Cinthy

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Congratulations to all the couples who got engaged over the holiday season! This is one of the most exciting times for you and is going to fly by so try to enjoy every minute of it. Don’t stress yourself out too much and get lost in the planning details.

It’s now 2013 and with new times come new adventures!  I think I can speak for all of us at A Touch of Grace when I say we are sooooo excited to be EXPANDING to Arizona.  I’ve been fortunate to experience so many beautiful and incredible weddings and events in the Bay Area and cannot wait to see what the brides of Arizona have in store for me.

Change and adventure is so thrilling. Just as the bride and groom are excited for the change and new adventure happening in their lives, I will be too! As I am getting to know the Arizona area I feel like I will get to share in the excitement with the bride and groom that much more.  I know A Touch of Grace is going to do amazing in Arizona and I am so happy to be a part of the amazing team.

-Kahea

The post Arizona here we come!! appeared first on A Touch of Grace.

With all of the things adding up on your to do list, ordering, making or buying favors might be one of them.  If you want to try something new or give something more meaningful a great idea for a favor is to donate to a charity of your choice and write a little note for your guests to thank them and let them know how you acknowledges them for coming!

This donation is a special gesture and will help make a difference to a great cause!  Think of things that matter to you or have touched your life then once you research charity options you will find one that is close to your heart.  At your wedding you can add a frame on each table, a card at each setting or a tag added to a small favor that guests could grab on the way home.  This is a simple, a meaningful way you can thank your guests, give back and complete this important task on your to do list!

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Ok, so you found “The One!” The dress! Most of the time our brides find the dress of their dreams, and love the way that they look and feel in their wedding dress. But is it comfortable to dance in? Sometimes brides pick a dress that is  comfortable for their whole day, but it might not be the best dress for dancing.  Why not change it up? More of our brides are starting to do outfit changes, from a long formal wedding dress, to a fun, romantic and easy to dance in wedding dress!  Some brides spend just as much on their second dress, but it also doesn’t have to be an expensive dress.  A second dress can add a surprise twist to your wedding, and also allows you to have a different look during the dancing portion of your wedding.  Here are some fun, romantic, short wedding dresses.

The post Let’s Dance! To Change or Not to Change that is the Question! appeared first on A Touch of Grace.

Favor & place card tables:

-One of my favorite things during this season is to use any jars, containers or hurricanes.  Fill them with cranberries that you buy from the local market fill them with water and add a floating candle.  It adds color, candlelight and an original flare.  You can even add greenery or holly to the bottom as well.  Use berries it goes with the season, can add a lot of color and can be a great affordable DIY option.

-Go in your backyard, pull some dead or smaller branches off a tree or bush.  Take all of the leaves off so you have just the wood of the branch.  Use this to make a homemade wreath you can hang from an easel, or you can make your own arch for your ceremony as well.  Take some branches, put them in hurricanes and add lights or flowers with them, simple centerpieces that are so easy to make.  Take some twigs and make a border for your table number frames or as a frame for your seating chart.  See the pictures below for ideas on how to add branches to your wedding decor.

-Use pinecones for your place card holders, on the tables, for any centerpiece.  If you are allergic to flowers using pinecones as your bouquet is a unique and great design!

-Another fun item you can use is pine trees or branches!  Add pine trees around your venue on tables for decoration with that will add a great smell and light.  Use pine leaves/branches to create a runner centerpiece and add some candles and a votive in the middle and you are done!  See pictures of ideas shown!

-My last fun winter seasonal DIY idea would be to have a hot chocolate bar or station setup with your desserts.  You can have different flavors, whipped cream and you can have different candy canes for guests to stir their hot chocolate with.  This is a simple, but original idea for the holiday season!  You can also have a candy cane or winter wonderland themed candy bar!  Use all white candy with pops of silver or gold and clear containers.  This will look elegant and more polished!  You can also use candy canes great color, and delicious option for your guests!

Have fun and make each design your own for your BIG DAY!  Check back soon for more ideas!

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This wedding tradition started from the Victorian era, it was a rhyme that was said about the bride.  The rhyme represented things that the bride would make sure she had each of these included in her wedding outfit.  Each represents a different symbol for the wedding tradition.

See what each represents along with ideas of items you too can include as good luck charms to carry on these traditions for your big day!

Something Old- represents progression or continuity.  Great ideas for something old would be wearing antique jewelry from your mother, grandmother or a close friend or family member.  You can make something with a piece of your mother, grandmother, or soon to be mother in laws wedding gown.  You can also use old family photos and put them in a locket that can be wrapped around your bouquet, or you can wear in as jewelry.  For my wedding I was given an antique handkerchief from my mother-in-law that I am carrying with me during my wedding!

Something New- this represents success and luck to the marriage and future of the bride!  This is a little bit easier, since there are a lot of new things that will be included at your wedding.  Wedding dress, shoes or flowers are great options.  Wearing something new shows the new union in marriage that the bride and groom are joining in on their wedding day!

Something Borrowed- the borrowed something shows the bride that family and friends are surrounding her on this special day and in her future when help is needed. This “borrowing” is important and has to come from a happily married woman who by borrowing from will lend and give some of her own happiness and blessings into the new couples marriage.  Some items that can be borrowed are a wedding dress, a veil, jewelry, shoes, etc.  These you can borrow from a mother, grandmother, sister or friend.

Something Blue- this is a symbol of loyalty, purity and faithfulness in ancient times.  Most often in the older days they wore a blue garter or the couple would add blue to the edge or border of their clothes.  This would show love and loyalty.  To add your something blue you can add one blue flower in your bouquet, a blue ribbon around your flowers, wear blue jewelry, wear blue shoes, wear blue nail polish, wear a blue garter, or sew in something blue to your dress where you can see it or underneath.  Another fun something blue would be to paint the bottom of your shoes blue!

For more fun facts about wedding traditions and other things wedding related check out our blog weekly for new ideas!

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If you follow these easy tips you will be sure to have one less item you have to worry about on your long to do list.  You will also know that each person will look great for your big day and feel stylish for pictures.  This will guarantee that everyone will feel good since they picked a dress in their style that fits their body type!

One of my favorite tips I like to share if you are choosing a specific color palate or giving everyone multiple color options to choose from:  help them refine their options by going to any hardware/paint store (i.e. Home Depot, Lowe’s, OSH, etc.,) go to the paint section and choose some of the paint swatches you like that have lighter to darker options.  Give these to your bridesmaids and ask them to find a dress that matches any of these colors.  This is a great way to see different colors together.  This also allows them to have color options, but also prevents them from clashing.

No matter what color, style, or length of dress your bridesmaids choose, just remember you are lucky to have such an amazing and supportive group by your side on your special day!  Happy wedding planning!

Create your own guidelines- Ideas listed

- Set a specific color they have to choose

-Select a color palate for them to follow

-Select a specific length (knee length, floor length, mid length)

-Select a fabric they must choose (cotton, chiffon, Jersey, Taffeta, silk)

-Select a specific style (one shoulder, strapless, straps)

*Be specific giving them color guidelines if you want solid colors versus a print

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