Flower Power

SAGE ADVICE ... stop and smell the flower (girls)! 


Bringing your flower girls to your bridal shoot? All kinds of cute. 

PHOTOS BY Photography by McKenzie (www.photographybymckenzie.com)

What A Night

SAGE ADVICE ... night shots!


We've blogged it before, and we'll blog it again. Do a night session with your photographer. Pretty, pretty please?


We're talkin' some enchanted evening, ladies.

PHOTOS BY Nichole V. Photography (www.nicholev.com)

Good Groom-ing

SAGE ADVICE ... give your groom some love — in the fashion department.


Don't let your honey and his best men be an afterthought in the wedding wardrobe arena. In addition to the more obvious tie color decision, think through ALL your grooming options. 


What color do you want him wearing? Will he wear a tux or suit? Tie or bow tie? What about his shoes? Does he know not to wear his white athletic socks? (Better to be safe than sock sorry.)


In addition to being the love of your life, your groom is the ultimate arm candy (and you are his). So go get your sweet talk on.


P.S. We're totally in love with this local groom's color scheme. The gray suit and gleaming copper tie? Perfs. 

PHOTO BY Rebekah Westover Photography (www.rebekahwestover.com)

TPWMP #3 — Sweet Somethings

Here at Utah Valley Bride, we love ourselves some sweet talk. 


And at the Thanksgiving Point Wedding Media Preview, Tasha Mitchell, owner of Cake-A-Licious, shared these tasty tips.


1. FLAVOR FEVER 
Inventive cake flavors are deliciously in style. Pictured are some of Tasha's cakes we're sweet on: Rootbeer Float, Key Lime Coconut and Orange Dreamsicle. Please and thank you. 

2. LACE LOVE
Lace cakes are hot right now. You can do fondant lace or put actual lace on the cake. You can even match the lace on your wedding dress to the lace on your cake!


3. LIKE BUTTAH, BABY
Buttercream is totally making a comeback. Totally.


4. ON PAPER
If you're doing cupcakes at your wedding, jazz them up with cupcake papers. So fun!

TPWMP #1 — Gray Area

First of all, TPWMP = Thanksgiving Point Wedding Media Preview. (Obvs.)

Second of all, this is the first of many tips, trends and giveaways we'll be spilling over the next few days. (You're welcome.) 

So with further ado ... (because ados are fancy and fun) 

TPWMP #1 — Gray Area

Did you know gray is the new black when it comes to your man (and his groomsmen)? Well, so says Clark from Clarks Tuxedos. 

And you know what else he predicted? Bowties are making a comeback. (We here at Utah Valley Bride are v. v. excited about that one. Bowties are nostalgically dreamy.)

PHOTO COURTESY OF Thanksgiving Point (www.thanksgivingpoint.org)

Flying Colors

SAGE ADVICE ... be void of color (occasionally!).

As much as we love color (and girl, do we love color), have your wedding album includes shots void of color and full of gorgeous.

Need proof? Oh, yes. Here it is ...

PHOTO BY Nichole V. Photography (www.nicholev.com)

Silly Salute

SAGE ADVICE ... sell yourself silly.

Even though these silly shots aren't typically destined for 11x20 greatness, let your gorgeous guard down here and there and get crazy cute with your honey.

It's photos like these that will make you smile. 

Every. Single. Time.

CRAZY CUTE COUPLE Matt and Jennifer

PHOTO BY Photography By McKenzie (www.photographybymckenzie.com)

Major Props

SAGE ADVICE Props, please.

Bringing props to a photo session can really take pictures to a whole new level, says Jessie Evans, of Jessie Alexis Photography. 

See what we mean?

PHOTO BY Jessie Alexis Photography (www.jessiealexisphotography.com)

I Do, I Do, I Do

SAGE ADVICE Plan a wedding, plan a marriage. 

It was my (Briana Stewart, managing editor of Utah Valley Bride) third wedding anniversary yesterday. And I got nostalgically smitten looking back on that most happy of days. My groom! My gown! My photos! My cake! I still revel in it all.

But do you know what makes me even more smitten? My marriage. 

In this gloriously giddy time of planning your wedding (and plan your heart out, baby), remember the marriage.

It's the best wedding gift of all.

THE HUBBY AND ME
PHOTO BY Bryant Livingston Photography (www.blphoto.com)

DRESS BY Alta Moda Bridal (www.altamodabridal.com)

FLOWERS BY Pam's Floral Garden & Design

Make A Night Of It

SAGE ADVICE Take some bridals/groomals in the evening!

Want your photos to stand out? Save a part of your shoot for after the sun goes down. 

We're talkin' a night-and-day difference. 

PHOTO BY Nichole V. Photography (www.nicholev.com)

All Roads Lead To Love

SAGE ADVICE Have some drive.

When your romantic reception comes to a close, what will you be driving away in? Whatever you decide, make it a scene stealer.

PHOTO BY Tender Treasures Photography (suzannastendertreasures.blogspot.com)

Ready For Your Close-up?

SAGE ADVICE Engage!

In the midst of your fun, candid, fairy tale engagement photo shoot, be sure to get a solid close-up of the two of you. You'll be sending your invitation to folks who'd like to see what you and your honey look like, so engage, smile, and give the people what they want!

PHOTO BY Studio Lush (www.studiolush.com)

Simply Divine

TOMATO BASIL SHOOTERS BY Marvellous Catering (www.marvellouscatering.com)

PHOTO COURTESY OF Marvellous Catering

SAGE ADVICE When it comes to food at your reception, consider taking something simple and adding a twist to it. 

"We've done things like tomato basil shooters with mini paninis — and they were a huge hit whether the guests were 5 or 80 years old," says Robynn Marvell, co-owner of Marvellous Catering. "People love familiar foods, so we take those classics and turn them into something classy and unique." 

Good Night, Love

PHOTO BY Nichole V. Photography (www.nicholev.com)

SAGE ADVICE Make a night of it!

When taking your bridals or groomals, get some fab night shots. Gorgeous, we tell you.

Lean On Him

BRIDE & GROOM Megan and Derek
PHOTO BY Dan Hixson Photography (www.danhixsonphotography.com)

SAGE ADVICE Stand by your man!

Through all the loveliness and craziness of your wedding day (because, rest assured, there will be both) lean on your new hubby for support. Find little moments to rest your head on his shoulder and just take everything in. 

You can thank us later.

Let's Talk

PHOTO BY Jessie Alexis Photography (www.jessiealexisphotography.com)

SAGE ADVICE Talk "the talk" with your honey.

Before you and your husband-to-be say "I do," be sure to talk "logistics." 

For example ...

* Who's going to handle the finances?

* Are we going to have separate or joint bank accounts?

* What kind of budget are we going to live by?

* Where do you see yourself living long term? 

* Do you want to live near family? Or away from them?

* What kind of influence do your parents have on your life right now?

* Do you want children? When and how many?

And so on, and so forth ...

There are no right or wrong answers. Just have the discussions! You'll have a better marriage for it.

Thanks — A Lot

BRIDAL SHOWER THANK-YOU NOTES BY Polka Dots and Daisies (www.polkadotsanddaisies.com)

WEDDING THANK-YOU NOTES BY Ann Elizabeth Invitations (www.annelizabeth.com)

SAGE ADVICE Thank-you notes!

There's one trend that will never go out of style — the art of the thank-you card. Kindly and promptly send thank-you notes to your guests (of both the bridal shower and wedding reception variety). It's a classy move, it is. 

And while you're at it, send thank-you notes (or even flowers!) to both sets of parents the day after the wedding. They've worked so hard to make your wedding dream a reality, and they deserve to be showered with a little praise.

Cruise Control

PHOTO BY Bryant Livingston Photography (www.blphoto.com)

SAGE ADVICE Whatever you do, hide your car from your plotting compadres (and from the looks of things, maybe even hide yourself!).

As fun as it is to have your getaway car, ahem, decorated, save yourself a honeymoon trip to the car wash by keeping it undercover. 

You might even try planting a decoy car — now there's a fun twist of events.

Care To Dance

PHOTO BY Jessie Alexis Photography (www.jessiealexisphotography.com)

THE GROOM'S EXPRESSION The cutest.

SAGE ADVICE Dance the night away

If your venue can swing it and your heart desires it, take to the dance floor. Dancing with your hubby and your dad — in front of your nearest and dearest — will be moments for the memory books.

Don't Rain On Your Parade

PHOTO BY Annalisa Photography (www.annalisaphotography.net)

SAGE ADVICE Weather be darned! Rise and shine on your wedding day.

When your wedding day weather is questionable, answer it with a resounding "no worries." Rain and snow will only put a damper on your wedding day if you let them. 

And besides, umbrella pictures? Please and thank you.