{lmg featured} Winter + Spring 2012 Salt Lake/Park City Bride & Groom Magazine!

The new Winter '11 + Spring '12 Salt Lake/Park City Bride & Groom magazine is on newsstands now. I'm beyond in love with our six-page spread and I can't wait for you to see it in the magazine! The photos below hardly do the glossy pages justice, but I couldn't stand not to share. We styled the shoot, selected props and paired favors and floral arrangements with the lavish white cakes to create six pages of mouth-watering eye candy. Enjoy, and be sure to get your hands on a copy soon! 

Xo, Mara 

{etiquette} WEDDING CRASHER - What Would You Do?

Picture this... 

It's Saturday night, we're in the middle of a live event ("live" as in, there are freakin' guests in the next room enjoying cocktails, signature drinks and hors d'oeuvres on platters while we turn over the ceremony space into a gorgeous dinner space). We're getting things done, and fast. Part of the the wall and doors that separate the two spaces is glass, so we have it covered with some custom burlap curtains so we can offer the guests a big "reveal" when it's time for dinner service. Anyway, if you ask me, the curtains are a dead giveaway that the space is "off limits". It may as well have send, "go away" because that's how serious I am about being able to do a reveal for my clients. 

Not the glass doors and wall in question, but a pretty candid shot I took of our pretty ceremony altar.
FLORAL: Sarah Winward VENUE: Salt Lake Hardware

Back to the event...

So there I am, "fluffing"... this is what I call making sure every napkin is perfect, every chair is straight and every name tag is anything but crooked. (I'm crazy, I know... but this is why you want me to run your rodeo). As I am fluffing, in walks this random girl, in jeans and with two friends. These three are obviously not wedding guests... they have no business being in the building, let alone past my iron burlap curtains. As always, I start out in my polite voice and go through the whole dog and pony show regarding what they want, that they need to leave, why they need to leave and so on. Because they're resistant and insisting they "just need to take a few pictures and measurements" for their upcoming wedding, my polite voice escalates to my annoyed and ready to physically remove you voice. After much ado, they left. Like, what the hell are you thinking?! Why would it be ok for you to take measurements for your wedding during another couple's wedding? IT'S NOT, IT WOULD NEVER FLY with any bride, EVER. To be sure I wasn't off my rocker, I took a little facebook poll and it's unanimous - any one would have told that crasher to kick rocks! 

Within hours, dozens of voters all chimed in with the same message: GET HER OUT!

Once they were gone, I stood there in a sort of trance. A state of disbelief, if you will. What kind of bride crashes another bride's wedding?! Brides are so particular. Sometimes they don't even want to see their reception before it's "ready". 

The things I would say to the wedding crasher if I met her again on the street... 

Xo, mmh 

{what we're doing} Outdoor Retailer, Winter Market starts TOMORROW!

Wondering what all this "OR" talk is about? Twice a year we take a short pause from our brides and work with some killer out of state corporate clients who are in town for the Outdoor Retailer (OR) Convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown, Salt Lake City. In January and August every year downtown is flooded with executives for brands like Jansport, Teva, and New Balance who are in town to show off their newest product to buyers from all over the world. 

Jansport, Teva and New Balance are just a few of our fun OR clients. Stay tuned to our Facebook Page and Twitter to stay in the loop with this year's events. We're starting the week off on Thursday with a Smart Wool fashion show at a hip downtown restaurant. We'll be sure to share lots of behind the scenes photos and video all week, so check in with us often. 

Wondering how you can walk the show and check out all the latest and greatest in outdoor sport clothing, equiptment and accessories? I bet! Unfortunately, this show is for buyers and media only. 

- mmh 

{lmg featured} Rachel & Todd Featured in 2012 Utah Bride & Groom Magazine

I could not be more thrilled that our sweet Rachel & Todd are featured in the 2012 Utah Bride and Groom magazine. After a gown disaster, an alterations mega-crisis and some MIA escort cards, we weren't sure if anything would go our way! Turns out that everything came together beautifully (duh, of course) and the hiccups along the way were just there to keep me on my well-heeled toes. An LDS ceremony at the Salt Lake Temple was followed by a two-tent fete at a gorgeous private residence in Huntsville, Utah.

Rachel and Todd's big day and sweet details are featured in the brand new Utah Bride and Groom magazine, on newsstands now!

Rachel + Todd's wedding details, Utah Bride and Groom 2012
PHOTOS: Jacque Lynn Photo

But wait... there's more!

We loved Rachel & Todd's wedding details so much we're excited to have selected them for our 2012 ad campaign!
PHOTOS: Jacque Lynn Photo

Enjoy the rest of your week and stay warm, here are a few of our favorite details the magazine and ad didn't share:

Fab Vendor Team:

PHOTOGRAPHY: Jacque Lynn Photography
FLORAL: Honey of a Thousand Flowers, Sarah Winward
LINENS: La Tavola Linen
RENTALS: RSVP Party Rentals Utah
TENT: RSVP Party Rentals Utah 
VENUE: Private Residence, Utah

VIDEOGRAPHY: Haugen Creative

STATIONERY: Pink Piggy Design

DJ: Life-of-the-Party, Rob Ferre

PLANNING & DESIGN: Events by LMG

GOWN: Alta Moda Bridal
CAKE: Layers-Cake
Catering: Culinary Crafts

Xo, mmh

{lmg featured} 2012 Latter Day Bride Magazine

Ladies, pick up the new 2012 LatterDayBride magazine. Run, don't walk. My advice and work are featured in a gorgeous (if I so say so myself, and I do...) six-page feature that is chock-full of killer design ideas and budget-saving tips!  Although LatterDayBride magazine is a killer resource for LDS brides planning weddings, this article is full of inspiration and ideas for any planning bride looking for new ideas that won't break the bank. 

Need help getting your pretty paws on your very own copy? Click HERE! 

Thank you to all the incredibly talented pros who worked with me to pull this shoot together:

EVENT STYLING& DESIGN: Events by LMG   
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jacque Lynn Photography
FLORAL DESIGN: Studio Stems

ICE SCULPTURE VASES: Swanivations
STATIONERY: Pink Piggy Design
LINEN RENTAL: Wildflower Linen

CHAIR COVERS: Wildflower Linen
CHAIR RENTALS: RSVP Party Utah
CAKES: Layers-Cake

CALLIGRAPHY: Distinctive Inscriptions

Xo, mmh 

 

{lmg featured} Candice's Bridal Shower on Pizzazzerie!

Happy New Year! No better first blog post of 2012 than to share Candice's summer 2011 bridal shower that is currently featured on my favorite party and entertaining blog, Pizzazzerie. I'm so excited everyone loves Candice's fun & preppy plaid shower as much as I did! You might remember that earlier this year it was also featured locally on Utah Bride Blog.

Here are a couple of my favorite shots, be sure to check out both features at the links above:

A complete list of vendors as well as our vision and process for this party are listed and explained within the Pizzazzerie and Utah Bride Blog features, enjoy! 

-mmh 

Cheers to a bright 2012! 

{lmg featured} Jen + Jared on Utah Bride Blog

It's always exciting to receive word that the wedding of one of our brides has been featured online or within a glossy bridal mag. Receiving word from Utah Bride Blog about Jen + Jared's 9/10/11 fete was no exception. Jen & Jared tied the knot after a 10 year relationship and we could not have been more thrilled to have been a part of an event that was such a long time coming. Full of family history and remembrance, this event is rich with a warm backstory and lots of friends and family honored within the elements, right down to the venue. 

Sweet Jen giving me a huge heartfelt hug on her big day. Lots of happy tears all around that day. PHOTO: Chudleigh Weddings

Here are a couple of sneak peeks, be sure to head over to Utah Bride Blog HERE to see the entire feature.

Jen's stationery suite was designed by Megan, the creative genius at Pink Piggy Design.

Both our ceremony and reception took place at the Grand Hall at the Union Pacific Building in downtown, Salt Lake City. FLORAL: Sarah Winward 

Our beautiful florals were designed by Sarah Winward. All of our elements blended beautifully.

Miss Jen wore TWO wedding gowns on her big day, an LMG Bride trend as of late.

Want to see more? I don't blame you. Utah Bride Blog  featured the ceremony and reception in it's entirety. Head on over and take in some lovely. 

Xo,

-mmh 

{ALERT} Alta Moda Bridal Sample Sale 12/10/11

SAVE THE DATE LADIES, IT'S ALMOST HERE! 

SATURDAY, DEC 10th | 10AM-3PM ONLY

Dozens of girls were lined up before 10AM last year to ensure their place in line for their dream designer gown at the not so designer price. Here's all the information you need to know... (and, you should know I will be at the sale too! I can't wait to see what gorgeous gowns will walk out with each excited bride!)

66: The number of gorgeous gowns on sale

38+/- : The number of gowns under $1,000

$1500: The price that most gowns will cost less than

More than 33 Gowns: Are Temple-ready

Things to know... 

●        Sale hours are 10am – 3pm

●        No appointments: First come, First served (wait list)
●        Gowns are sold as is, alterations not included
●        Only sample sale gowns will be on display
●        No holds and all sales final – come ready to buy
●        Most gowns are suited for street sizes 4-12
●        We only do this once a year, so now is the time
●        Space is limited; only one or two key decision makers/guests per bride

I'll see you there ladies, can't wait! 

-mmh

{celeb wedding buzz} 'Bella Swan' Dons $35,000 Carolina Herrera Gown

The wedding of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) was the most highly anticipated fictional wedding of the year. The gown wore by Bella Swan was easily the most highly anticipated wedding gown worn for a fictional wedding this year. Carolina Herrera designed the stunning gown that reportedly retails for $35,000. Ladies, looks like sleeve are in! 

The stunning handmade gown- which was custom fit for Kristen Stewart, took Ms Herrera and four seamstresses six months to complete.

Decorated with 152 buttons fown the back, this gown reminds us of something...

Yep, sure does... the back resembles the much-publisized gown worn by Pippa Middleton at the Royal Wedding in April. 

In addition to the 152 buttons down the back, the crepe satin and French Chantilly lace gown featured an additional 12 buttons on each sleeve.

Bella's Manolo Blahnik pumps are available for sale in multiple colors at Neiman Marcus HERE.

ALL PHOTOS VIA The Daily Mail. 

So What did you think? Were the Royal Wedding and Breaking Dawn enough to convert you to long sleeves? Trust me when I tell you, this trend is not going to fade anytime soon. 

-MMH

{lmg featured} Thanksgiving Spread & Fall Wedding Inspiration

Ladies, pause those wedding diets! PSA: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Yep. HELLO cheat day! I hope everyone is looking forward to a huge, gluttonous, meal tomorrow.  Not that it's important information, or pertinent to this post in any way, but my husband is spending his first Thanksgiving with my (very Romanian) family. Picture it: he will sit at the table awkwardly while the over 60 set speak in Romanian only. They speak English just fine, they just have no interest. Whatever. 

In case you're hosting tomorrow (please know I feel for you, and your dishwasher), here's some (very!) last minute Fall table decor inspiration from my recent KUTV 2 News segment as their wedding & party expert. Head on over to the Salt Lake/Park City Bride & Groom blog to see the full feature. 

DESIGN: Events by LMG | PHOTO: Jacque Lynn Photography | FLORAL: Orchid Dynasty | RENTALS: RSVP Party Rentals | CAKE: Layers-Cake

Cheers, dolls! 

-mmh