Fall 2010 Cover of Destination I Do Magazine

Feature Las Vegas Article-Click image to Enlarge

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is honored and delighted to have a "Las Vegas Style Wedding with Style" I planned and produced a few years ago featured again in one of my favorite bridal publications; Destination I Do Magazine: The Travel Publication for Engaged Couples and Romance Travelers (I love that description!!)

I have had the pleasure of being featured in Destination I Do Magazine in the past (2006), in an article called "Vegas Baby, Vegas!". You can read that article here. I am also proud to have a long-term marketing partnership with them as well.

This Fall, 2010 issue arrives on your book or news-stand shelves on Tuesday August 31st.

Some quick details about this wedding of Leigh-Anne and Todd who are both officers in the United States Navy.

Image by Robert Valenca Photography

Location: Foundation Room, House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort.
Photography: Robert Valenca Photography (who now resides and photographs weddings in Italy by the way).
Floral and Decor: Flora Couture by Floral 2000
Cake: Freed's Bakery.

Celebrate Today and Everyday with Love, Life & Style!!
Tracey

Style Me Pretty: "Inspiration to Reality" Las Vegas Style

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge and friends had a simply fabulous day on Wednesday at a photo shoot bringing this "Inspiration Board" to life.

I am a member of the Little Black Book of wedding professionals on Style Me Pretty, one of the most popular and trend-setting wedding blogs that appeals to both brides and wedding pros for it's gorgeous images and attention to the details in their writing.

Style Me Pretty has a tool where you can enter the "Style Circle" free and create "Inspiration Boards". If you don't want to make one yourself, you can spend hours admiring all the amazing boards that readers have created. There are so many ideas out there from so many creative brides to view. It's hard not to get "inspired"!

The concept of the "Inspiration to Reality" shoot is for a team of wedding professionals to select an "Inspiration Board" that we love and bring our own twist to bringing that inspiration to life.

We chose this "Feathers & Fur" inspiration board created by Chiara and I can't wait for Chiara to see what we have put together. I know she and all of you will LOVE IT!!

Some of the Las Vegas creative dream team members that made the magic happen are Chelsea Nicole Photography, Naakiti Floral Design, Gourmet Invitations, Couture Bride and our amazing venue, Springs Preserve.

Stay tuned for the gorgeous results and a list of the entire creative team in a few weeks on Style Me Pretty for the big reveal.

Celebrate Your Day with Love, Life & Style!

Wedding Book Release: "Flowers of the Heart" by Sharon McGukin

Front Jacket Cover of "Flowers of the Heart" Book by Sharon McGukin

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge would like to thank my friend Liese Gardner in LA, owner of Mecca Communications & author of one of my favorite, inspiring, "MUST READ" blogs, "Fuel Blog" for sending over this exciting information for me to feature here on my blog.

Sharon McGukin, one of the most sought after and charming floral designers in the country has just come out with a lovely brand new book on July 13, 2009 called "Flowers of the Heart".

I love that it will feature Sharon's beautiful work, + that she gives realistic wedding floral design advice for brides & moms in both English & Spanish!

But what really impressed me and inspired me to feature this story is the true joy & passion she has for her flowers, her art and what they mean to a wedding celebration,and in life. In Sharon's own words...

“When you celebrate with flowers,

when you bring family together,

when you take time to make celebrations of everyday events,

that’s when you enjoy living.”

--Sharon McGukin

Below I have included selected key highlights about the book from the Press Release sent to me by Liese...

**********************

Carrollton, Georgia – After years of sharing her wedding floral design expertise with top florists around the country, Sharon McGukin has taken her extensive knowledge of creating wedding floral plans and compiled it in a new book that is as entertaining, warm and genuine as she is.

Released July 13, 2009, Flowers of the Heart offers readers beautiful full-color photos of Sharon’s bouquets designed for actual weddings she has done along with studio photos.

While it is a beautiful book of floral photography, it is far from a vanity piece. The book is filled with valuable advice that the pros know and use; tips that help brides get the most from their floral design budget. It’s an informative book just right for the economic challenges brides face today.

Flowers of the Heart underlines Sharon’s belief in the power of the flower. Flowers have the ability to touch each person in a way that is both intimate and universal.

“The message of the book, and of all my work, is that flowers enhance quality of life,” Sharon says.

Along with advice on floral design for each season, Flowers of the Heart offers professional planning tips from traditional church weddings to organizing a destination wedding.

Brides will be inspired by photos and stories throughout Flowers of the Heart, but they will also receive such important and practical information as how to:

• Organize a wedding plan
• Hire a florist
• Develop a style and theme
• Design for the season
• Work within a budget
• Make an elegant entrance
• Plan an at-home wedding like the pros
• Include children in the ceremony
• And more!

About Sharon McGukin

For almost two decades, brides have turned to Sharon McGukin. Initially they are attracted to her unique style of floral design that transforms vision into a beautiful reality.

But throughout the process, they rely on her planning savvy and talent for putting the design big picture into perspective. This, and her Southern charm, genuine smile and grace is the bond for relationships that last a lifetime.

Sharon is also a sought-after speaker within the floral design industry. She travels throughout theUnited States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Europe teaching floral design.

For more information, visit Sharon's blog at http://flowersavvydesigntips.wordpress.com/

Have a fabulous day!

Featured Wedding-Andy & Elizabeth | Four Seasons 5.17.09

All Images by Altf.com Photography

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge had the great pleasure of planning & directing the absolutely beautiful (if I do say so myself) wedding of Andy & Elizabeth at the always elegant Four Seasons Resort, Las Vegas this past May 17th. 

It has been one of my absolute favorite weddings this year for so many reasons beginning of course with a couple who I have come to know & love over the past 15 months. 

The wedding locations took some twists and turns from when we first started out but, I'm a firm believer in "beshert" (Hebrew for "destined to be") & the celebration could not have been more perfect than in the gorgeous Fountain Terrace of the Four Seasons thanks to the fantastic Asst. Director of Catering, Dennis Silknitter. 

Andy & Elizabeth incorporated not only the beautiful green color but also as many "Green" elements they could into their wedding. From cutting down on paper & having an elegant seating chart/menu combination to bio-fueled luxury transportation for guests and environmentally, socially responsible wedding bands, the affair reflected this couples wish to celebrate in style & with respect for the environment. 

It was a wonderful evening and truly a celebration of love, family & friends enjoying a beautiful environment, a fabulous Las Vegas night, delectable food & drink (Donut Bar & Eskimo Pies included) & live entertainment all night long. It wasn't just a wedding, it was a PARTY!!

Thank you to the unbelievable, talented team of Wedding Professionals who made this event such a success. It's a pleasure & honor to work alongside you. You make me look GREAT & you all ROCK!

Weddings like this & couples like Elizabeth & Andy are why I truly love my job!

• Tifany of Gourmet Invitations for the amazing custom "linen inspired" invitations & reception pieces. 
  
• Randi of Naakiti Floral & Sit on This Chair for the gorgeous florals, decor, linens & chairs who is just a joy to work with & always goes above & beyond my expectations.
  
• The uber-talented John Michael & Dalisa Cooper of Alt F Photography. It took 6 years to work with you FINALLY, & it was worth the wait:)-I'm going to make sure it won't take that long again. 
  
• Lori White who is one of my absolute favorite hair & makeup stylists to work with. 
  
• SWANK A/V for those super cool light balloons.
  
• The Steve Beyer Band for keeping us rockin' all night long.
  
• Vegas Photo Booths for all the photo fun. What WAS going on inside that cabana?;)!!
  
• Pat Harris & the awesome Sight N' Sound Events Video Team
  
• Nicole from Earth Limos for the Eco-Luxury Rehearsal Dinner Transportation
  

And Thank YOU Andy & Elizabeth for allowing me to be a part of your lives this past year & help you bring your vision of your wedding to life. It was truly an honor & pleasure! Mazal Tov you two & may you have a long life (120 years or so) full of good fortune, good health, lots of laughs and of course, much love all ways and for always! X0

T.

Colin Cowie Launches A La Carte Floral & Decor Line-LUCKY US!

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from BizBash.com)

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from Weddings Unveiled)

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from Weddings Unveiled)

Colin Cowie, one of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge's favorite wedding & lifestyle heros, style trend setters and planner to countless celebrities like Oprah, has announced a new extension of his lifestyle brand to now include his brand new floral and decor services, called Colin Cowie Flowers. 

That man is amazing with all he does. I love watching him in the morning on Get Married TV.

Colin Cowie Flowers is going to set brides and wedding/event planner's hearts (mine included) aflutter by offering his gorgeous flowers and iconic style and decor designs a la carte without having to hire Colin Cowie Lifestyle to plan the event. This is to appeal to stylish couples with smaller budgets (most are smaller than the budgets Colin works with I'm sure). 

Ok, have you picked yourself up off the floor yet?:)! Can you imagine your wedding having the potential to look like some of the amazing wedding images in his Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration or Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings: From a Glimmer of an Idea to a Legendary Event books? WOW! All it takes now is one call to your wedding planner here in Las Vegas and one little dialing finger for me to make your floral wedding come true a la Colin Cowie Style. LOVE IT!

According to an article on Biz Bash Magazine, CCF services begin at $10,000.00 and can include table rentals and other decor elements. While that is nothing to sneeze at, it is not unrealistic for a wedding strong on floral and decor to have a budget starting at this price range. 

I hope YOU will be the first one  Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is looking forward (A LOT) to collaborating on my first event with Colin Cowie Flowers to bring Your Wedding Style to life. Let's create a truly FABULOUS Las Vegas Wedding with STYLE! 

I am accepting clients for late 2009 and 2010. 

More information and images can be found at another one of my favorite blogs "Weddings Unveiled" .

Wedding Professionals at WIPA Show of 2009 Wedding Trends

Photography by Henshall Photography, Los Angeles

On January 7th, I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles for the inaugural 2009 meeting for WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) of which I am a "Founding Member".

Kicking the year off and the day, was a discussion of top wedding trends featuring America's "sassiest" lifestyle guru, Steve Kemble! 

The event was held at RRivreWorks which, for a wedding planner/designer or bride is BETTER THAN DISNEYLAND! RRivreworks is owned by the amazing RRivre Davies, an event designer who's work you have seen in major bridal magazines from The Bride & Bloom to Your Wedding Day Magazine and more. 

The decor and furniture rentals like his incredible chandeliers, in what is really a large warehouse, created a pallet for room after gorgeous room of wedding decor and table top vignettes courtesy of other top wedding design trend setting companies like Chameleon Chairs & Wildflower Linens. 

And the food was as much a prime time player with delectable offerings from one of the top Catering & Event companies in the country, Good Gracious Events was completely merchandised and styled as part of the entire decor it was situated in.  The candy bar, hosted by Epicurean Umbrella up on a fabulous white bar with white shelving hutch behind it, was chock full of the best new & classic sugar fixes everyone just gobbled up.

Which is a great tip Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge can pass on to you. Your food is such an important part of the reception being 45-50% of your entire budget. With so so much variety to choose from in the way of your food and beverage these days, styling your food displays; especially with stationary food displays and interactive stations and bars for cocktail hour or receptions, ensure to work with your caterer, floral designer, event designer and rental specialist so that your wedding style is represented in this area as well. 

Interesting presentation and service of food compared to those utilitarian buffet warmers will make a definite impact for your guests and your photos and video!

Enjoy the photo gallery of all the fabulous food, decor, florals and lighting. 

As the first not for profit wedding association in the country, "WIPA members set the standard for our industry, working creatively and ethically to produce weddings with panache-*from WIPA Website.

Floral Preservation Art Worth Holding on to Your Bouquet For!

I found these incredibly beautiful works of art and this wonderful floral preservation idea on the "Style Report" of Luxurious Wedding!

I seriously would put this artwork in the above picture right above my bed. It is just stunning!

The artist, Missy Cannon who has a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from University of Southwestern Louisiana, started her company, Flowers Into Paintings to fuse "Original Art with Nature" to preserve memories of her grandmother using the flowers from her funeral.

With her creative talents and much research on flower preservation, she turned the flowers into a beautiful painting that make the flowers "take on a new life" she says.

I can understand why the "Style Report" editors were so excited!

These beautiful paintings truly preserve the integrity of one form of art (the art of your floral designer and their creation of your beautiful bouquet) to respectfully evolve into another form of art which will be not only a cherished memory but also truly interesting; a worthwhile investment to place on your wall that is a pleasure to look at.

I know this will definitely appeal to you, my readers, who are brides and people with a real sense of Style!!!

I encourage you to visit Missy's website and browse the galleries. You will truly be blown away by her work. Much of the work you see was created with flowers from real weddings, anniveraries, etc.

I certainly was inspired; so much so that I have every intention of commissioning one of Missy's paintings when I turn my 10 year anniversary vow renewal bouquet over to her. I only have to wait until 2011!

Definitely consider "Flowers Into Painting's" work if you are looking for a unique and beautiful rememberance of your beautiful day and your beautiful bouquet!