August 7, 2019

Candi Coronel

DIY Wedding

August 7, 2019

Candi Coronel

Today on the blog we have a guest writer, Tracy Ann, owner of Fully Alive Photography. She will be sharing her experience of; how to do a DIY wedding here at The Wright House, with her clients Brian and Kristen. We are pleased to offer a package for our couples of “Do it Yourself” wedding. Our Sapphire package offers the potential for couples to bring in their own vendors, allowing them put together a wedding that helps them save funds when family and friends can offer vendor services.

Fully Alive Photography

Tracy Ann has 10+ years as an entrepreneur, her goals as an artist have always been to empower others by helping them feel confident, joyful, beautiful, and alive. Tracy is a mother, wife, daughter, and Harry Potter fanatic. She values kindness, authenticity, and adventure. Her career and life are motivated by bringing joy and beauty to those around her. She offers bridal, lifestyle and creative content photography memberships, as well as photography courses at the Desert Botanical Garden and handcrafted workshops for creative entrepreneurs to launch a business.

I’ve been doing a series on local Arizona venues that offer DIY options. The Wright House in Mesa is another hidden gem with DIY options.

THE WRIGHT HOUSE is a garden reception centre established in 1991 offering two main venues options. THE GARDEN BALLROOM AND PROVENCAL GARDEN.

The Wright House has a list of vendors but they allow outside vendors as well, which is great for the DIY couples. Brian & Kristen pulled together their favorite vendors for the DIY vibe and pulled off a super fun Disney adventure theme. The tables are a perfect blend of classic, whimsical, and elegant!

MORE ABOUT THE SAPPHIRE PACKAGE

When choosing the Sapphire package at The Wright House, couples are given the venue for a 8 hour time block for the wedding and reception. The couple is able to choose which vendors they would like to bring to our venue, the only request is that the Bartender be licence and insured. The package includes, flat ware, linen napkins, goblets, tables, chairs, chair ties, linens and center pieces. Allowing our couples to worry less about basic items and focus more on the planning. Learn more about everything that is included in the Sapphire package (HERE)

I HAVE NOTICED THIS PAST YEAR ABOUT A THIRD OF MY COUPLES ARE PLANNING FROM AFAR.

This is yet another couple that planned their wedding from far away -see 3 tips on planning your out of state wedding HERE and so, this makes The Wright House was perfect for their wedding because having their ceremony and reception in the same place was a much more doable option for them. Brian and Kristen both live in California but planned their wedding here near the brides family.

ARIZONA TRULY IS A GREAT DESTINATION FOR WEDDINGS.

We have beautiful weather most of the year even for the daring few summer weddings! There are venues from elaborate, southwestern, Arizonan, to simple farm and garden DIY options. And we have thousands of vendors for any style, vibe, or fancy.

So if you are getting ready to plan your wedding and you wish it somewhere warm but in the country… consider Arizona. And maybe you will find a Hidden Gem for the DIY Couple at the Wright House.

Want to read more about Fully Alive Photography: click here

July 24, 2019

Candi Coronel

Arizona Summer Wedding Essentials

July 24, 2019

Candi Coronel

Are you planning a summer wedding? Although we are towards the end of July you will be surprised that sadly it is not the end of summer for us in Arizona. We have two months left of summer and if you are finalizing your summer wedding plans you’ll want to keep reading.

Today on the blog we are sharing our thoughts on how to make sure you’ve got all of your summer wedding essentials covered. Keep the AC blowing as you read the top 4 things you need for a summer wedding. I also want to mention all of the photos showcased on the blog today are shot in September (Arizona Summer) at The Wright House by SantaCruz Media.

KEEP IT COOL

Although the wedding mostly focuses on you & your soon to be hubby, be sure to keep your guests in mind! They're most likely going to be sitting outside for about 45 minutes for your ceremony – yikes! We suggest providing guests with items that keep them cool, while adding to your wedding aesthetic: parasols to block the shade, paper fans to create some breeze, personalized sunglasses, etc. Check out Bella Umbrella for a wide selection of adorable parasols – that you can even rent & return!

Another Arizona summer wedding saver is having a drink station prior to the ceremony. You can serve refreshing water, tea or lemonade or provide personalized water bottles so that your guests stay hydrated during the ceremony.

NO MELTING

After spending a pretty penny on your wedding makeup, you'll want to ensure that your makeup can withstand the heat, tears & hugs! We highly suggest talking to your makeup artist about makeup that will last while sweating. Also, oil blotting papers are a must for an Arizona summer wedding order a stack on Amazon today. Don’t forget to give a small stack to your maid of honor to keep on hand at all times for everyone in the bridal party.

Another Arizona summer wedding risk is a melting cake! I've heard SO many stories about beautiful buttercream cakes that melt to a mush even before the ceremony has started. You don't want to this happen to you, so try to do a foundant cake that will hold up will in the heat as it travels from the bakery to the venue. Also if possible cut the cake earlier to avoid any leaning towers.

Lastly, you'll want to make sure your bouquet holds up in the heat! Delicate flowers like hydrangeas and roses may easily melt during the high summer temps. Try to choose bouquets that utilize lots of greenery tend to be heartier and withstand the heat better than more delicate flowers. A few of our favorite florals that can withstand the heat are eucalyptus, succulents, poppy and petunias!

Chill EATS

Some of my favorite weddings are when the bride and groom have chosen out of the box food & drinks! Give your guests an unexpected treat to cool them down. We recommend summer treats like soft serve ice cream or even a cookie sandwich ice cream bar. We have seen many companies like The Gelato cart, Paletas Betty and Sub Zero IceCream catering to weddings through the summer. A few more fun ideas to incorporate into the menu is mini shrimp cocktails over dry ice or a light foods like a salad or fruit bar for your guest to enjoy all evening.

FRESH AIR

You want to make sure everyone is comfortable as much as possible. We suggest obviously choosing a venue that has a indoor space. However, we understand that you’ll still want to take pictures outside (better lighting and backdrops) and your guest will be going from outside to inside and keeping them cool is a high priority. Make sure your venue has misting system and outdoor fans. You will be surprise how much both of those items together make a huge difference when keeping cool. On top of the fans and misty you must need great shaded areas. At The Wright House we have tons of mature trees that provide lots of shade plus our gardens keep cool with so many plants.

Summer weddings in Arizona are not the most popular time but you’d be surprise on how many couples still choose the summer to get married. Remember to stay cool, drink plenty of water and smile, it’s your wedding day!

Enjoy,

XOXO

July 17, 2019

Candi Coronel

Technology Etiquette on Wedding Day

July 17, 2019

Candi Coronel

Nowadays, there is the potential for your big entrance down the aisle to have made it to Instagram before you’ve even made it to the alter, technology at your wedding is something that needs to be considered. Sadly 10 years ago brides and grooms didn’t have this problem that is why today on the blog we are talking about technology etiquette at a wedding.

Some brides love sitting on Facebook the day after their wedding looking at all the pictures her guests had snapped, while another hated the idea of less-than-perfect shots of her dress making it out on the internet, before she’d a chance to share the professional pictures. Even photographers are rushed to get a “sneak peak” to you so you can post online before all of your guest do.

You have to ask yourself what kind of bride or groom are you and how much “photo/video sharing” you want going on during your special day!

PROs

Sharing photos and stories of your wedding is lots of fun for guest and you to review the next day.

Not only will you get great candid snaps of you and your other half, but you’ll get to photos of your guest enjoy the party

Maybe even get photos of your great aunt doing shots of tequila

It’s also a great way to add to the atmosphere on the day. Encourage social media sharing, with a table photo scavenger hunt (create a list of must-have pictures for each table to capture and share!). This will get people talking, and may even help people become friends after the wedding.

Most professional photographers and videographers are awesome at their jobs, but accidents, and full-on disasters do happen. With the quality of photographs from phones improving all the time, encouraging your guests to capture your day on their own devices will safeguard you with crowd sourced shots if you’re not too happy with your professional pictures.

If some of your friends and family can’t make the wedding, allowing them see all the shared images lets them feel involved in your day from afar.

CONs

If you want your wedding to be a private and intimate affair, perhaps keeping your guests in the moment, is more important to you than having your images on Instagram

Phones and cameras can be distracting, and really take from the sense of occasion, particularly during the speeches or the ceremony.

Guest might even be in the way of your professional photographer from getting the shot (we see it happen all the time)

If you’ve had a hard time juggling the politics of your guest list, you don’t want to cause any friction with those not invited, when they find out on Facebook who didn’t make the list.

While it’s nice to have everyone on Twitter tell you how gorgeous you are, do you really want an unflattering picture of your new husband trying to find your garter under all that tulle, doing the rounds on the internet?

We’re not sure how it caught on, but lots of people consider large tablets to be suitable camera substitutes. We’ve lost count of the amount of gorgeous moments which have been ruined by the appearance of a massive screen in the bride or groom’s face!

Maybe you have decided to restrict some technology at times but not all or maybe you are ready to have an unplug wedding! If so read below

How to Unplug Your Wedding

Really, with this one, all you have to do is ask nicely, and your guests should be happy to adhere to your tech-free policy.

Let them know whether you’d simply like them to:

-stay offline for the day of your wedding

-no cameras at the ceremony only

-all-out embargo of photos being taken or shared online

Include a note in your invitations, or dot signs around your venue to let guests know your feelings.

Ask your photographer to take lots of candid guest shots on the day, or perhaps request a second shooter, so no one is left out of the pictures if they’re leaving their cameras at home.

If your budget allows, perhaps have a photo booth at your reception so you’ve still got lots of fun snaps of your guests at the party, without them being distracted with taking their own on the day.

Either way you go, decide what is best for both you and your partner.

Enjoy XOXO