Tis the season to be greatful!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday and I'll be back right after the Bridal Fashion Debut and the Phoenix Bridal Show, January 4th and 5th. Pray for me....
Angie

Are you traveling this Christmas?

Posted by Angie VanDaele in Misc, Patriotic

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Members of the military have always been in my family. One of the things I have always felt important to do during times of war is to thank our service men and women for their service. Sometimes it awkward but now it never has to be. Gratitude campaign
One of these days I will figure out how to load a video clip on my blog.

The BEST Chocolate Wedding Favors!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in chocolate, favors

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OK not only are they the best wedding favors, I have to say this company makes some of the best chocolate period. I have an expertise that allows me to say this. I am the granddaughter of a talented Greek candy maker. I was eating hand dipped chocolates with my baby food. A visit to his store was like a scene from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I was the kid who ate so much I blew up.
So that being my "street cred", I was introduced to Vosges Haut-Chocolat at a wedding I attended at Lake Tahoe. These truffles were the favors for each guest at the table. I had to eat one before the night was over. When that morsel from heaven entered my mouth, I knew I had to learn more about the complex flavors I had never tasted in chocolate before. This truffle combined ancho chillies, Ceylon cinnamon and dark chocolate to form a truly unique and enchanting experience. And the Aztec truffle is just one of the sensory collections of flavors from around the world expressed in these fine chocolates.
Why am I telling you about this now? They are available for purchase here in the valley at the Inspiration Lounge at Inspirador.

Lucky Lucky Us! And Santa, if you are reading this, I can explain.

[together ] book photo album

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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"You know all those photos you've been meaning to organize? Here's a brilliant company that will do it for you. This is a fantastic gift to give yourself or the sentimental pack rat in your life." — Oprah

Not a bad endorsement for a new company. Not surprising when you find out the genius behind the company is my friend Phyllis Lane, an exceptional wedding photographer based here in Phoenix. Phyllis is the photographer for our cover bride this issue. She is also a published author, concert pianist, filmmaker and tonight I am going to opening of her first pen and ink art exhibition at a gallery in Tempe.

The [together ] book photo album is one more outlet of her creative genius. These albums are ways to convert photographs into a beautiful, library-quality hardcover book. In sizes of 4' x 6' or 5" x 7' with beautiful silk or linen cover fabrics anyone can have beautiful books. Prices start at $29.00. The brilliance of this is you can upload your pictures, select the order, color of cover, ... well just go see for your self, [together ] book photo album.

I see it as an excellent way for wedding vendors to organize the multiple cd's from photographers and present a beautiful cogent display of your work to a prospective bride and groom.

For that Unique Gift

Posted by Angie VanDaele in Advertisers, Finds, Jewelers, Wedding Rings

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I found GEMS Fine Jewelry a couple of years ago and enjoyed meeting Gary Thompson immensely. A native of Rhodesia, Gary came to the US in 1982 and worked with the famous jeweler Roger Coudert (Van Cleef and Arpels) in Chicago. Gary perfected the art of French Pave setting and has distinguished himself working here in Arizona on major diamond pave pieces for Scott Gautier and Alfredo Molina.

Hanging his own shingle, Gary is a fun person to know. Not only is his only work creative and impeccable but his store is filled with the most unique pieces from all over the world. Gary can tell you the story of just about every piece and he and his wonderful Jack Russell Terrier, Showlow love to tell you about them. And not just things that are out of sight price-wise. Many things are very reasonably priced and his custom work is a steal. (But don't tell him I said that!)

Send your brides and grooms for custom rings, bridesmaids gifts or those special earrings. You'll never go back to a "Chain Store". Stop by the store and just look. Meet Showlow and Gary. If you don't leave there with a special find, you'll be back soon to design one. I speak from personal experience.

GEMS Fine Jewelry
7000 N 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-943-2206
Northwest Corner of Glendale Ave and 16th Street just west of SR 51.
(Squaw Peak Parkway)

The Most Beautiful Chuppah

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard "We wanted our wedding to be Simple and Elegant." With this picture I am setting the bar. This is what I call "Simple and Elegant." Ok it may not be so simple to construct and light but this is astounding. I found it in the current edition of my favorite magazine Inside Weddings from LA. I don't know who to credit for the design so I will include both the Consultant - Reva Nathan and Associates and the Florist- Ronsley Special Events. The photographer was KingenSmith Productions and the location was The Peninsula Chicago. Well done, well done.

The New Issue is Out!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in Cover, letter

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I know I haven't been heard for a while but I have a great excuse. The new issue is on the news stands and in your favorite bridal salon! This was a fun issue.

All weddings are beautiful. Choosing the 25 most beautiful weddings was tough. Well, really beyond tough. With more than sixty entrants, we simply couldn’t make up our minds. So being the scientist that I am, I took an analytical approach. We sorted by photographer, then by venue, then by uniqueness. What followed is a gorgeous mélange of color, flowers, food and textures. I hope you enjoy the following twenty-six weddings. (See? We couldn’t even stick to twenty five.)

Our cover wedding was chosen the most beautiful. It is truly amazing what can be assembled for a private residence. We tip our hats to Amy Mancuso and her staff for creating such a beautiful environment. The Flower Studio, Tri-Rentals and Phyllis Lane should also receive special kudos for a job well done. This wedding looks like something from Martha Stewart Weddings or Inside Weddings. So keep your Preston Baileys and Colin Cowies. Our local wedding professionals can do anything they can do! And we can do it beautifully, right here without their help.

I just learned of a horrifying new trend. It appears that some bridal salons in the valley are offering wedding consulting as part of their services. This is not to be confused with the gracious salon employee who refers you some of her favorite vendors. No, this is an in-house person to help you plan your wedding. Be very careful. These salons have offered the job to anyone who says they plan weddings—with no knowledge of whether that person can do an effective job or not. Apparently, they plan to get kickbacks from every vendor they send to you.

A true wedding planner is a member of any number of organizations such as The Association of Bridal Consultants. She will possess a portfolio that will knock your socks off. These professionals offer ethics, style, and organization. They will not try to force you to use certain vendors of their choice. I am the biggest promoter of wedding planners in the valley. But do your homework and hire the best. There are plenty of great ones coordinators out there.

Designer, Designer Water

Posted by Angie VanDaele in

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Since I seem to be on Bottles today, this one is available in stores today as opposed to a good idea in 1963!

The bottle at left is a limited edition Evian container created by Christian Lacroix. Evian makes a line of designer bottles every year to celebrate its commitment to "chic sophistication." If you want to spend between $5.99-$9.99 for a bottle of water, you'll find this one at high-end grocery stores and good restaurants.

But it's still a lot cheaper than that Oh So (pretentious) California potion Bling H2O.

Great Idea for Green Weddings!

Posted by Angie VanDaele in Green Weddings, Libations

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In 1963, the geniuses at Heineken designed a beer bottle called the WOBO (World Bottle). Envisioned as "the Brick that Holds Beer" this bottle could be recycled directly into a brick for building.

These could be used for buildings that would be highly energy efficient and great to look at. Mr. Heineken's idea came after a trip to the islands as a solution to the waste disposal problems and the lack of affordable housing. The idea was too soon and nobody got behind it. In 1975 it was reintroduced again without much success. There is just one building in Holland created with these ingenious bottles.

With all the beer being consumed at weddings alone, isn't it time to retry this? The world is a lot more environmentally conscious than in 1975 when I was studying environmental biology.
For more information, visit www.inhabitat.com. A great source of "GREEN" ideas.

Fun Candy Bars

Posted by Angie VanDaele in Color, ideas, Local Weddings

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Isn't this fun? With Black and White being such a fun and fanciful rage, I share this idea from Steve Kemble for a unique candy bar. There is always an opportunity for artistic expression. A recent wedding I attended had dalmation guppies swimming in bowls on the tables. I love unique uses of theme colors.
Victoria Canada created this beauty with the help of Tabletops, Etc. and photo by David De Dios. This and more beautiful images from this wedding will be featured in our Nov-Dec Issue.

My first blog

Posted by Angie VanDaele in About Angie, Introduction

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My name is Angie and I am the publisher of one of the largest Bridal Publications in Arizona. It is called the Wedding Chronicle and the website is www.WedAZ.com. I have been reading blogs for years now, mainly political blogs. When I found what some very creative photographers and wedding consultants are doing, I thought I should at least try. I see such wonderful things and read unique ideas in the stories brides send to me. I see fabulous things on the web as I am a googleaddict. (Is that a noun or a verb?) SO enjoy send me ideas, feedback or arrows but I promise to be disciplined and regular with the posts.