Saturday, September 14, 2013

Tiffany a former bride was interviewed by Patrice Klaum | Lead Planner for Celebrations by Amy Bacon


Patrice - When/where did you two meet?
Tiffany - Chris and I met through friends on Mill Ave on February 7th, 2008. I knew the night that I met Chris that I was going to marry him. I went home that night and told my girlfriend that I was going to marry Chris someday. She asked me why, and I couldn’t explain it. It was just a feeling I had. But Chris, being a complete gentleman, didn’t even ask for my number that night because he later said he “wanted to be respectful and was a little shy”. From the very beginning I always felt like something was missing from my left had; it felt empty. I can honestly say that I have never felt like that about anyone before, so I knew he was a keeper!

Patrice - Who asked who out?
Tiffany - I ended up taking the reigns by finding Chris on Facebook and stated chatting with him, but we didn’t start dating until several months later. I found Chris on Facebook after we initially met, but Chris was the one who asked me out after we reconnected.

Patrice - How/when did you get engaged?
Tiffany - Chris proposed on February 7th, 2012, on the four-year anniversary of the day that we met. Us both being Sundevils, his proposal was on a private rooftop overlooking Sundevil stadium and downtown Tempe. The proposal was a complete shock, even though I had been hinting at it for months. Chris had to twist my arm to even get me there that night, tricking me into thinking we were going to a party of his company. It was a random Tuesday night and I was finishing up my Master’s program at the time, so I had a ton of homework. I was mad at Chris the whole car ride over, complaining about the inconvenience of a party on a weeknight. But when we arrived there was no one but a private chef to cook us dinner, candles, champagne, and a pretty little box with a sparkly ring inside! When he let the cat out of the bag that this was all for me and no one else was coming, he popped the question, with my best friend hidden to take pictures! I’m glad I went!

Patrice - What is/are your dog(s) names?
Tiffany - We have two dachshunds named Lily and Rex. They are our babies!

Patrice - Why did you pick Clayton on the Park?
Tiffany - Venue searching was the most exhausting part for me because I had a vision but couldn’t find the perfect venue to fit that… that is until I found Clayton on the Park. It was the perfect fit; the outdoor garden ceremony that I had dreamt of with a modern reception space that we could put our personal touches on.

Patrice - Were there any special details at your wedding that you knew you just had to have present?
Tiffany - We knew we wanted to do our wedding in the springtime, and decided on February since that’s the month that we met and got engaged. I knew from the beginning that I didn’t just want a standard wedding where you could just “insert bride and groom”. I wanted the wedding to scream Tiffany and Chris. My style is really eclectic, and I love vintage with a modern twist. That’s how I framed my wedding, through a vintage meets modern glam lense. I also knew I wanted the wedding to be very elegant and romantic.
Pinterest was both my best friend and worst enemy during the planning process. The bulk of my inspiration came from Pinterest, for everything from the linens to the flowers, to the cake. I took pictures from Pinterst with me to every vendor appointment so that I could show them exactly what I wanted (I’m a bit of a perfectionist!). Pinterest was also my worst enemy because I couldn’t stop looking for ideas! The creative part of by brain was going crazy thinking about all of these awesome DIY projects. It wasn’t until about 6 weeks before the wedding that we finalized all décor. I was a bit of a nut with all of the details. Hiring the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team really allowed me to let them to handle all of the vendor relations, coordinating, and organization so that I could focus on the creative details that I knew I had to have. Amy also had a big hand in helping me refine my many ideas and helping bringing my vision to life!

Patrice - How important was it to you that your family was able to enjoy the day like guests?
Tiffany - We had family coming into town from all over for the wedding. Chris’s family is mainly from Ohio, and I had family coming from Tucson, Florida, and Texas. We were not only excited about the wedding, but also excited about spending time with our loved ones! We didn't want to burden our friends and family with helping run the show on the day of. This is where the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team came in. It was such a relief knowing that they were taking care of everything and that our family and friends could just enjoy the day and night.

Patrice - When did you know that you wanted/needed a wedding planner and coordinator?
Tiffany - Pinterest was both my best friend and worst enemy during the planning process. When we began the planning process, we quickly realized that there is so much that goes into planning a wedding. From the really big decisions of what vendors to hire, to the tiny details, it was all very overwhelming. This is when I decided that I needed help. Though I had a good idea of what I wanted, Amy and her team helped organize my ideas and suggest vendors that could bring my ideas to life.

Patrice - When did you hire Amy?
Tiffany - We hired Amy in March of '12 (I think). We interviewed several other planners; however I knew right after talking to Amy that she was the right planner for us. She really was a step above the rest. Not only is she an awesome planner but she puts a lot of heart into what she does, and I could tell that from our first conversation.

Patrice - What was your favorite part about having the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team by your side on February 8th?
Tiffany - We loved having the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team there on our wedding day. My favorite part was the fact that I could relax knowing that all of the logistics were being taken care of. I didn't have to think about vendors, set up, timeline; I knew everything would flow seamlessly with the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team there for me. Also, Amy and Patrice helped keep me sane in the weeks leading up to the wedding and on the day of. I was a bundle of nerves the day of and I couldn't ask for better gals to have by my side!

Patrice - Is there anything you'd like to say to couples planning their big day?
Tiffany - My biggest piece of advice is to get as much done in advance as you can. When you're engaged for several months, it's difficult to get everything done in advance because you keep thinking you have all of this time...until it runs out! Amy and the team really helped me get all of the big stuff out of the way in advance. It was so nice to have trusted vendors recommended to us so that we didn't have to spend hours researching vendors. That really made a huge difference. I would also say to focus on a handful of things that are really important to you because it is easy to get caught up in the tiny details. Oh and one more thing...don't take on too many DIY projects! 

 
 
 
   
 
 

Images Provided by About Love Inspired Photography 480.734.0492

Call Celebrations by Amy Bacon today for your free consultation. 602.762.1174

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Amy Bacon was recently interviewed on the new ABC show THE LIST!

A walk down the aisle these days is like walking the red carpet. With the increase in cameras on cell phones and tablets, guests are becoming paparazzi. The quest to capture the perfect picture is the biggest problem at weddings, according to wedding planner Amy Bacon. The camera toting guests are interfering with professional photographers who are trying to get the perfect shot, by using the flash, standing in the background with camera in hand, and even blocking shots.

Bacon shared her list of photo opps that are off limits for guests.

Walk down the aisle
First dance
Cutting the cake
Father/daughter and Mother/son dance
Bouquet toss

The simple rule: If it’s a major event let the professionals handle it. But still some guest and bridal party photos make it to social media before they should, which causes another set of problems.

"If the groom has mutual friends, and he’s looking through Facebook in the down time before the ceremony he may see the bride," Bacon said.

While social media is bad for guests, Bacon said nothing is off limits for the bride and groom.

"I have brides give me their passwords to change their status the moment the ceremony is over," she said.

It’s not just facebook, Bacon also had another couple who incorporated twitter into their ceremony.

"I actually had a couple who met on twitter and they actually tweeted before he kissed her," she said.

So leave the social media to the happy couple, and the perfect shots to the professionals as you navigate the new water of technology and wedding etiquette on The Breakdown.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

LOCAL WEDDING VENUE CLOSING



As it was one of our favorite venues at which to coordinate events, the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team is shocked and saddened by the news of Inspirador’s closing. It was a great space and a great group to work with, no matter the theme or reason for the event. As Inspirador closes its doors this weekend, we as planners acknowledge that the show must go on!  We would like to let any couples know whom had their future weddings planned at Inspirador that Celebrations by Amy Bacon is here to help you. We cannot offer free venues in replacement of Inspirador but we are more than happy to help you find an equally perfect venue for your big day and are willing to assist day-of! Please contact us today and we will start getting your plans back in motion.
Additionally, we know other vendors are out there who want to help these brides and grooms as well. If you are an event vendor in the Valley and would like to help those affected by the closing of such a great venue, please let us know! We will happily pass along your information to couples with whom we speak.
Never would we have expected to be saying that Inspirador is closing but we were happy to have had the pleasure of working events here in the past. We hope that everything that comes out of this will work out for the better, and encourage everyone to keep their chins up and to continue celebrating!

Small print - you will have to provide a copy of your Inspirador contract to receive special pricing or complimentary services.  


 

Call Amy Bacon at 602.762.1174 or 

Email amy@celebrationsbyamybacon.com
 www.celebrationsbyamybacon.com
www.facebook.com/celebrationsbyamybacon 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Desert Wedding Love!



Chris and Michelle wanted a beautiful desert wedding they could celebrate with their friends and family for hours on end…and that’s just what they got! The September weather could not have been more perfect for a day filled with pictures, laughs, and all around good times. Professional level Do-It-Yourself touches were seen all over the space but luckily for the bride and groom, they hired Celebrations by Amy Bacon to coordinate the day! All of the vendors were taken care of without the need for the happy couple to make any calls or sign for any deliveries. Instead of tying bows and setting out their “guest book” postcards, Michelle and Chris were able to be pampered as they got ready and party as the night went on.  

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Just as should be the case for all couples, photography was a priority for Michelle and Chris’ Big Day. Linden Leaf Photography spent hours on end capturing not only the traditional moments (like exchanging of rings and a kiss between the happy couple) but distinctive ones as well (like Michelle feeding Chris an item dipped in cheese fondue and lilac on the bridal hanger). No detail went uncaptured but then again, why would you want them to? In every shot of the happy couple, their love for each other and their guests exudes just as much as it did at the event itself. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words, and the photographs from Michelle and Chris’ wedding spell out their love story to a T.

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Hues of chartreuse and fig danced about the space, while everywhere you turned love could be seen and felt by all. The lilac and succulents used in the bridal bouquet, boutonnieres, center pieces, and cake details stood out as unique pieces which will never be forgotten. Constantino’s at Chiricachua Country Club offered breathtaking views of the Valley below both at sunset and at night, from the rays of sunlight to the sparking city lights. The Tuscan, winery feel set the tone for a festive night with loved ones and friends.

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
All one had to do was look at the groomsmen’s sunglasses and knee-high purple socks to know that having a good time and celebrating this new marriage were the themes of the wedding. The entire wedding party was full of laughs and smiles from getting ready to taking pictures on the golf course to snacking on Chicago style hotdogs at the after-party. Guests especially enjoyed the live music pumping out from the band, Josh and the Empty Pockets! Being that many of the guests were from out of town, Michelle and Chris wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and the picturesque location they had decided upon. Carefree was the perfect destination for Mr. and Mrs. Meyer’s fall nuptials!

The Celebrations by Amy Bacon team had a blast planning, coordinating, and celebrating with Michelle, Chris, and all of their guests! We will never forget such a fun-filled day and are excited to see where life takes them as husband and wife.

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Image provided by Lindenleaf Photography  WWW.LINDENLEAFPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
 Blog written by Patrice Klaum | Planner for Celebrations by Amy Bacon


Photographer | Tara Keator | 480-703-3112 | tara@keatorphoto.com
Florist | Ever After Florals | Jen Colvin | 480-234-3935 | jen@everafterflorals.com
Band | Josh and the Empty Pockets | Erika Brett Holleb | 1-847-533-8080 | erikabrettmusic@gmail.com
Mandolin Player | Walt Pitts | 602-769-2328 | walt@vpmmllc.com
Make up & Hair |Allyson Pynn | allisonpynn@gmail.com
Officiate | Fr. Michael Burrows| 630-897-7215 | michael@marmion.org

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Phoenix Engagement | Amy + Gabe


As a wedding planner one of our most important jobs is finding the perfect wedding professional for each bride and groom.  One of the most important client-professional connection to get right is with a photographer. Photography is such a personal thing.  First and foremost, it is an art. Just as each painter and sculptor has a different style, so do photographers. Finding the right look and feel of photography is the first step. We wouldn't want to refer an abstract couple to have a formal and traditional photographer to take their photos. The photos may come out beautiful but they won't match who the couple really is. Once we determine a couple's style, we then have to look at personalities.  A photographer is with a bride and groom ALL day and at some pretty intimate moments.  If a couple doesn't connect with the photographer it will show in every image. You're surrounding yourself with friends and family to celebrate this occasion; why would you want to invite someone you don't connect with to intrude on that love and enjoyment? Hire someone who you can be yourself around! Once you find the right photographer for you, your photographs will come out not only showing the details of your day but also the love, friendship, and style that you naturally exude!

With our years of experience, the Celebrations by Amy Bacon team is full of experts who can match you and your fiance up with the perfect photographer to capture your day and your personalities. We establish relationships with all of our vendors (including photographers) so that we are able to know first hand what they are like on a consistent basis. This helps us give you an accurate read on both ends of the spectrum: who is talented but not right for you and who you have to meet. You could say we're somewhat like matchmakers for clients and vendors. Contact Celebrations by Amy Bacon today to start finding your perfect wedding vendor matches!

(Below is a post from one of our favorite photographers, MoxieMae Photography. We just knew that Amy and Gabe would click with Stacia; check out their fun filled engagement shoot and story of how the drizzly day turned out!) 


 I don’t know about you, but I am a firm believer that you are drawn to and destined to meet certain people.  It may not always happen often, but when it does…sparks just go flying!  This can be said for many love stories…and for me, it can be said for this couple.  Don’t tell anyone, but I totally have a crush my recent engagement shoot subjects!  It’s no wonder these two fell head over heels for each other.  They are both so fun, full of life and love, and it just oozes right out of them.  Thank you to my personal matchmaker, Mrs. Amy Bacon of Celebrations by Amy Bacon (an unsurpassed wedding planning talent) I was lucky enough to become a part of Amy and Gabe’s love story.  As I’ve mentioned so many times before, my absolute favorite thing is when a couple wants to bring something personal to the table for their photo shoot…and this day was just loaded.
Amy and Gabe’s love story begins with music, thrives with music and is music.  These two are incredible Jazz musicians and make music a part of their everyday lives and love.  I found this fantastic quote that I believe fits them to a T:
“If love is music in its purest form, then you are the notes on the page and the melody in my heart…”
 Total warm fuzzies right!?  That’s the stuff that love movies are made of!  We started off in downtown Phoenix at the very proposal location.  I stopped by Carly’s Bistro (one of my new favorite places) before they got there to scope things out and what do you know, a Jazz band was playing and the very table Gabe proposed to Amy was open. It was fate! From there, the day just morphed into a one filled with love, kisses, dodging rain, goofing around and running…..yes, I said running.



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Here I will enter the running story I mentioned above.  As you can see, it was a cloudy and drizzly day. Not one lick of sunshine at all…until the last hour.  While recovering from the laughter of the shot above Amy noticed the entire sky turning pink.  Sun!  We headed to take a few shots in the middle of the street to see if maybe some sun was seeping between the buildings for us to take advantage of, but alas…no luck.  The sky continued to change colors and we continued to wish we could see the sunset!  I racked my brain to figure out what we could do and made a last minute decision to head to the top of a parking garage I knew of.  After we ran to our cars we sped on over to the garage I notice it was closed, but we were here and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel!  I hopped out of the car and started jogging towards the staircase.  Amy and Gabe being as awesome as they are followed suit with no questions asked.  We were so close and I was getting super excited until one flight of stairs turned into 7.  By the time we got to the top my legs were complete jello and I could hardly breathe…but we were almost there!  Finally, we got to the corner I wanted to be in, I squeezed them together, told them to stop breathing so hard…and voila!  See below!  The sunset was so gorgeous and I am so happy we made it!  The trip down the stairs I have to say was significantly slower…

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One more final stop before we ended our day. There was a piano at a local coffee shop with an wonderful old player piano.  Amy wanted some images of Gabe playing.  He has played since he was tiny and teaches and composes to this day.  It was an amazing way to end such a fun session.

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Blog written by Stacia Mae Lugo 
Images by MOXIEMAE Photography
Email  stacia@moxiemaephotography.com
Phone 480.421.8727


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

20 Creative Guest Book Alternatives

The Celebrations by Amy Bacon team fell in love with this blog post when we were playing on Pintrest.  We hope you enjoy and it inspires you to do something outside the box for your big day. 

Wedding guest books are invariably a terrific way to perhaps recall the special time you had with your guests at your wedding. It’s the first things about the wedding celebration your guest would probably see and give you a brief remark that you will appreciate everyday for a long time to come. Think about matching the theme of the guest book with the total theme of the wedding event.
Make a memory “book” loaded with heartfelt messages. The main factor to a brilliant guest book is actually a range of remarkable responses from your guests. Inspire them to express themselves. Let your guest write their best wishes, share their piece of advice, write a funny short story, compose a poem or recall a favorite memory. Indeed, these guest book ideas and alternatives are a perfect way to remember all of the people who help you to celebrate your big day. After the wedding party celebration, take them on your honeymoon destination and read them together with your new spouse.
Bored with the typical sign-in albums with listing of names where wedding guests basically sign and pass it around? Your wedding doesn’t have to be similar to everyone else’s. There are lots of creative ways to remember who helped you celebrate your extraordinary wedding day and record all the guests who came to share the joy of the celebration. Here are 20 awesome guest book alternatives for the wedding reception.


20 CREATIVE GUEST BOOK ALTERNATIVES


01. Polaroid Scrapbook

Make sure the polaroid camera has plenty of film. Wedding guest can strike a pose then leave their photo on the guest book, together with their short message for the couple.

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02. Guest Book Puzzle

Either side on the puzzle features a portrait photo chosen by the bride and groom and have the back side for the wedding guest’s personal comments. Put the pieces inside a glass container at the wedding venue, together with a message requesting guest to autograph the incomplete backside.

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03. Wedding Caricature Sign-in Board

Bring life to your party celebration. You may wanna try hiring a caricature artist to draw the portrait of the bride and groom and let the wedding guest sign on it as they arrive. Wedding caricatures can be drawn up in full color or black line style.

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04. Fingerprint Guest Book

Design your guest book as a work of art. Just let your guest press their thumb to create leaves in which they will place their signature or message for the bride and groom.

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05. Typewriter Guest Book

Arrange an old-fashioned typewriter together with long pieces of paper for guests to type their good wishes as the mood strikes.

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06. Wishing Stones

An Irish wedding tradition wherein they have their wedding guests write their best wishes on smooth stones. Put together a wedding guest book table with plenty of pebbles and a glass vase filled up with water. After the guest signed with a permanent marker, they can put the stones inside the vase. This represent and bring back the tradition of throwing stones into a river or pool.

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07. Wedding Mad libs

Receive some marvelous and crazy feedback with these creative mad libs-inspired guest book.

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08. Chalkboard Message in Photo booth

Cut-out bubble shapes and coat it with chalkboard paint. Place them by your photo booth and let your guest write a short message before having their hilarious pose infront of the camera.

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09. Wine Bottle Guest Book

Now let your guest sign a bottle of wine with a glass marker and let them leave a note for the couple. Then let the wine be stored and kept in your new family home and be opened up during wedding anniversaries.

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10. Vinyl Record Guest Book Alternative

If you are a music junkie, it’s more fun to use the vinyl record as a guest book instead. Use it on a table at the wedding reception with silver or gold marker pens and encourage your guests to have their autographs.

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11. Photo Frame Guest Book Alternative

Celebrate your wedding day along with loving words of your friends flanked by your chosen wedding photo. Use an acid free fine point pen to protect your guest’s messages for many years.

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12. Guitar Guest Book Alternative

If you have a music band or simply love music, you might want to repurpose one of your guitar into a guest book. This can generate an awesome conversation when hang and display on the wall with a protective coat.

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13. Wine Cork Guest Book Alternative

For wine lovers, wine corks can be a guest book alternative for guest to write on.

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14. Guest Book Platter

Grab the moments of your wedding event with the best souvenir and genuine messages that you can treasure and display for a long time. A platter is indeed a great guest book alternative. Don’t forget to bake in your home oven to protect and seal on the messages.

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15. Wishing Tree Guest Book Alternative

A Wish Tree as an alternative guest book coming from a Dutch wedding tradition where visitors are provided with a sheet of paper. The guests write their wishes to the bride and groom and then hang it on the tree. This creates a stunning focal point. The tree is positioned at the entry ways towards the wedding reception to amaze your guests as they walk in.

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16. Guest Quilt

Another guest book idea is to choose a guest quilt. After it is sewn together, it reminds you of the people who come to your wedding day. Place a cardboard under the fabric to avoid the fabric marker from bleeding through.

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17. Jenga Guest Book Alternative

A different way to engage with your guest is to have them take a block of Jenga stick to write their message to the happy couple. Every time you play the game, it will bring back all the memories for years to come.

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18. Vintage Postcard

For those couple who have a timeless vintage or travel styled wedding, using vintage postcards as guest book complements it. Guest then compose their sweet wishes for the wedding couple.

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19. Engagement Guest Book

Engagement guestbooks are impressive considering that it lets you show off lots of the engagement session photos, while giving yet another kind of guest book to sign at the wedding reception. Spaces inside the guest book enable wedding guests to jot down sweet advice and best wishes for the couple while displaying the best photos from your engagement photo shoot.

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20. Wooden Slice Guest Book Alternative

Another guest book alternative is to have your guest sign a large wooden guest book that is almost the size of a tree trunk.

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Source - http://weddingphotography.com.ph/9965/20-creative-guest-book-ideas-wedding-reception/#

Need help with the details for your big day? 
Call us for your free consultation!  602.762.1174
Website - www.celebrationsbyamybacon.com
email - amy@celebrationsbyamybacon.com
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