Neck-deep in wedding planning? Take a break to pop some popcorn, settle down on the couch and snuggle up to your sweetheart to laugh, cry and gain unexpected inspiration from one of these memorable movie wedding moments.
1. Father of the Bride
When George Banks catches wind of his daughter’s wedding, he can’t quite process it. Fast-forwared a few months and he’s suddenly dappered-up and walking his sweet Annie down the aisle.
Memorable quote: “I suddenly realized what was happening: Annie was all grown up and leaving us. And something inside began to hurt.”
2. My Best Friend’s Wedding
When an impending marriage announcement threatens her chance with her best friend—and safety husband—Julianne Potter panics and attempts to disrupt all wedding plans. Hilarity, a hearty rendition of “I say a little prayer,” and odd metaphors ensue.
Memorable quote: “No. Crème brûlée can never be Jell-O. YOU could never be Jell-O.”
3.The Princess Bride
When lovesick Princess Buttercup and her evil betrothed stand at the altar, a nearby Wesley lays in wait to disrupt the ceremony and steal away his one true love.
Memorable quote:“Mawiage. Mawiage is what bwings us togeva today.””
4. Bridesmaids
Four words: just go watch it.
Memorable quote: “I’m glad he’s single because I’m going to climb that like a tree.”
5. Love Actually
When a chorus of “love, love, love” interrupts bride Juliet’s walk down the aisle, best man—and lovesick suitor—catches her surprised reaction on camera.
Memorable quote: “To me, you are perfect. And my wasted heart will love you—until you look like this. [picture of a mummy]”:
When it comes to wedding-day décor, au naturel is the way to go.
These days, wedding decorating is so much more than centerpieces and bouquets. Think elaborate aisle runners, silk table linens, custom light treatments and wood-finished chairs. And don’t forget about including lounge areas, escort cards, guest books and food stations in decor plans. Overwhelmed yet? Don’t be.
“I love seeing natural elements because it does away with the stuffy we-tried-really-hard feel,” says photographer Jacque Lynn. “The key is to make the décor look effortless.” Are you looking for no-nonsense looks for your mountainside nuptials? Jacque shares more of her favorite ideas, tips and tricks of the trade.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DECOR IDEAS RIGHT NOW?
A: I love the abundance of natural elements in mountain weddings right now. To me, it’s breathtaking when a florist and designer infuse neutral elements into the wedding that complement a woodsy venue. I suggest keeping your table linens a natural hue (think bone ivory, blush, or gray) or incorporating wood-finish chairs rather than plastic or metal to really create a cohesive feel.
Q: WHAT DECOR IDEAS ARE YOU TIRED OF SEEING?
A: Hmmm, this is a hard one because every wedding is so unique and sometime what works for one wedding might not be right for the next. But if I had to choose one trend I could live without seeing at another wedding it might be gold spray-painted deer antlers en mass.
Q: WHEN COMPILING A WEDDING DAY DECOR LIST, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MUST-HAVES?
A: The obvious choices include centerpieces and candles, but the items that make the biggest impact in wedding photos are: statement aisle decor, lighting and place settings.
If you are having a traditional ceremony, line your aisle with lush florals, dense candlesticks, or a carpet or floral petals. It really does make all the difference.
The right lighting can transform any space. Work with a planner or rental company to determine the type of lighting that is right for the reception space. Bistro lights over a dance floor always photograph beautifully, as do an abundance of candles, which create a warm glow in photos. Ballroom reception? Make sure you work with your planner or venue to bring in some accent lighting that works best in the space.
Place setting will probably run you a pretty penny, but if you have it in your budget, a stunning place setting for each guest will take your table form pretty to perfection. I love seeing a hand-lettered menu adorned with a sprig of floral or a personalized place card that guests can take home as a keepsake.
All of these things are important from my perspective as a photographer. The more details I have to photograph, the better the photos will be. When designing a wedding album or compiling a fine art stack of prints, details woven throughout the collection really support the beautiful portrait images and make a difference in telling the overall story.
Q: CURRENTLY, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE UTAH VENUES?
A: I am a sucker for out beautiful Utah mountains. I recently worked at a private residence outside Heber called Wolf Creek Ranch that won my heart. Also on my list of favorite are Park City Mountain Resort (love their mountainside ceremonies), La Caille for their lush garden setting, and High Star Ranch in Kamas.
Q: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WITNESS TO ANY DECOR DISASTERS?
A: Weather is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of wedding ‘disasters’ as all too often I have seen décor ruined by wind or rain. Unfortunately, there’s just not much that can be done to avoid this.
Q: WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR COUPLES ON A BUDGET?
A: Budgeting for details doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. If you’re working with a limited budget, select a few high-impact details and repurpose where it makes sense (take from ceremony and use at reception.) Overall, a talented and professional photographer should be able to make every details—large or small—look amazing.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST BUDGET-FRIENDLY YET DISTINCTIVE DECOR YOU’VE SEEN?
A: You can’t have enough candles and they’re cheap. One thing to keep in mind is that some candles will melt wax onto your tablecloths, so unless you want a hefty bill from your rental company, ask your planner what can be done to avoid the wax melting onto the linens.
Q: ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO BRIDES REGARDING DECOR?
A: Definitely hire a pro if it’s in the budget to do so. Leaving décor to the professionals will alleviate wedding day stress and allow not only you but also your friends and family to enjoy the day. Let your planner or designer/florist know that you’ve given your photographer permission to move whatever she/he needs to create lovely detail shots (putting it back where found, of course).
I love to pull a centerpiece and have a bridesmaid hold it, or place it somewhere unexpected to photograph it. I’ll grab a place setting and take it outside with some leftover floral remnant to create a pretty vignette in natural light. Allowing your photographer permission to move things around and be creative ensures you’ll receive beautiful detail shots.
How many of you brides say “I want toned arms” as you approach the time of your wedding? I know I did!
By Aly Peterson | Photos by Tess Comrie
Toned arms seem to complete the look for any bride—whether you are in a dress with long sleeves or a dress without sleeves. Many women say “I don’t want to bulk up” and refrain from exercising their arms.
The exercises I’m about to share is perfect to tighten and tone your arms to create leaner muscle. The best part is that you do not need any equipment! You can be at the gym, at home, or on vacation and still complete this exercise to get those arms ready to rock your wedding day.
50 arm circles (forward)
10 push-ups
20 tricep dips
50 arm circles (backward)
60 second plank
Repeat 3-4 times
If this arm workout seems a bit too easy for you feel free to add weights to the arm circles, a chair or bench to the tricep dips, or double the number of reps you do for each exercise. I recommend doing this exercise at least 3 times a week to maximize results!
Vintage Car: The groom’s grandfather (who recently passed away) took his wife on their first date in that car. It was perfect for the bride and groom to make their getaway in such a beautiful, nostalgic car!
You know the drill. Each day, your mailbox flooding with same old envelopes that scream, “I am a bill. I am junk mail.”
Until you stop dead in your tracks. Square envelope? Thick paper? Beautifully-penned handwriting? The excitement builds as you open it and your heart skips a beat as you read, “You’re invited.” Yes!
A unique and personal wedding invitation is step one to setting the tone for your event. Invitation companies offer paper suites to take you from start (save the date cards), middle (invitation, RSVP cards) to finish (thank you cards).
Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Start with the mood of your event. Is it casual or formal? What season is it? What’s your venue like? Basic Invite shows us what’s trending right now and what’s to come.
Utah-based company Basic Invite allows customers almost unlimited customized color options with instant previews online. Plus, customers can order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see and touch what the final quality will be. What a relief! No more anxiety about those invites turning out just right.
Basic Invite has a staff of designers that currently has over 200 wedding invitation sets available.
Every element of the design can be customized to your taste and style with over 100 wedding fonts and forty different colors of envelopes to choose from. Not seeing something that fits your needs? Select the “upload your own” option and create your own look by adding text and color.
To the fun part! What will your invitation look like? How about adding foil to the invitation so the words really pop!
Or check out the Real Wood Invitations set to launch soon at www.BasicInvite.com.
Make a mailbox—and your guests—happy today. Seal the deal with a sensational paper suite.
This post has been made in partnership with Basic Invites.
Believe it or not, your body hears everything your mind says.
Have you ever been told by a coach or teacher to imagine yourself winning first place? Have you ever sat and imagined the best possible outcome, and then it actually comes true? Your mind is so powerful, and your body reacts to every little thing your mind believes.
For instance, when you were little, do you remember asking an adult to “kiss it better” when you got hurt? The second the adult did, the pain was gone. Your mind believed that all you needed was a kiss to be okay and as it turns out, that really is all you needed!
A professor at the University of Chicago did a study on visualization. He split people into three groups and tested how many free throws they could make with a basketball.
After the original testing, he had the first group practice free throws every day for an hour, the second group visualize themselves making free throws, and the third group do nothing.
After 30 days, he tested them again. The first group improved by 24%, the second group improved by 23% (keep in mind they didn’t touch a basketball during those 30 days), and the third group did not improve at all.
This test shows us just how powerful our minds are. When we visualize something and believe we can accomplish our goal, the sky is the limit. You can do anything you put your mind to!
This theory that your body believes what your mind tells it to has been proven time and time again throughout history. When it comes to becoming the healthiest version of yourself, you first need to believe that you are on the path to becoming the healthiest version of yourself. You need to believe that you are strong, capable, and deserve optimal health. You need to believe you deserve the best results, and that you are going to reach the best goals. When you believe in yourself you allow yourself the chance to do amazing things!
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Your body hears everything your mind says! Tell yourself you can run one more mile. Tell yourself you can stand strong and eat healthy one more day. Tell yourself you can make it to the gym in the morning. Tell yourself you look amazing, feel amazing, and are amazing! If you believe it you will achieve it.
For more information on the University of Chicago study look here.
My style vacillates between “farm girl with a credit card” and “mid-40s divorcee with a new lease on life and a looming trip to Tuscany.” Imagine if Tilda Swinton lived on a farm in Provence and had a boyfriend who owned a linen factory. I’m serious! I love all things eyelet, denim (overalls are my go-to right now), oversized comfy sweaters and anything made from linen. If I didn’t spend so much on film, I’d exclusively wear Eileen Fisher and Elizabeth Suzann, with a healthy sprinkling of Madewell pieces here and there. That, my friends, (as Hilary Duff would say), is what dreams are made of.
BEAUTY
I don’t have a beauty routine. I have never gotten into skin care. I am just way too lazy for any type of lotion-potion regimen. I asked my sister what I should say for this section (we live together), and she said to note that I have started using Costco makeup remover wipes at the end of the day. We all consider this a huge step forward. However, I do exercise regularly and try to eat healthfully. I think that these two things combined will work more wonders for your well-being (and appearance) than anything that comes in a jar.
I have been working out with Kayla Itsines’ BBG program for two years now, and my body has changed so much. Some months are more consistent than others, but I will tell you this: nothing feels better than strength training regularly. As far as makeup, I typically wear sunscreen, whatever concealer I can find on the cheap, mascara, and if I’m really hitting the town, a little blush and lip gloss.
OFF DUTY
When I am not working, I am dreaming up photo shoots, contacting vendors, listening to podcast interviews with photographers I admire, or scouring the internet for tips and tricks of the trade. I can’t emphasize enough how much I love photography, specifically film photography. Before I discovered film, photography was a fun hobby. I liked my images enough, but was never truly satisfied with them. One day I shot a roll on a $30 Pentax Honeywell I had bought on eBay on a whim, and when I got my scans back from the local lab, it was as if my heart broke open with joy. I couldn’t believe how beautiful, lush, and full of depth my images were.
I could talk ad nauseam about film, but suffice it to say that I love what I do beyond the telling of it. When I am not working, I am dreaming up future shoots so I can be behind my lens again. That said, when I am totally exhausted from a packed week of shooting (one of my favorite feelings), I love to unwind doing all sorts of high- and low-brow activities. You can find me by myself at the Utah Symphony, on a hike in the beautiful Wasatch mountains, reading celeb gossip, or painting my nails while watching The Real Housewives.
We’ve all heard the term “blushing bride,” and the radiance that comes from an impending joyful life event. But why?
The simple answer: endorphins.
Endorphins are the opiate-like chemicals within our bodies that create feelings of calmness and euphoria. Exercise, laughter, sex, music, chocolate and most-things spicy boost endorphins in the body to bring blood to the surface of your skin and create that well-known glow. Voilà!
In addition to a brisk walk or a snap of a bar of dark chocolate, you can enlist the help of one magic product to make sure your skin is in prime condition to show off that sheen: the face mask.
Made for every skin type, masks have the power to exfoliate, brighten, smooth, tighten, moisturize, repair … the list goes on and on. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite products for every skin type so you can find your favorites and treat yo’ self in the months leading up to your special day.
To tighten, there is nothing like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($8). It will make your face bulge until your eyes pop out, but your skin will shine like nothing else.
Clogged pores? Use a charcoal mask—namely Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($26). Charcoal oxygenates the skin, and binds to foreign materials, pulling it out like a shovel to weeds. We know it’s science, but it seems like magic.
Dull or bumpy skin? This takes a few weeks of patience and dedication, but glycolic acid will smooth and prime your skin by gently removing dead skin. Try Nip + Fab’s Glycolic Instant Fix Mask ($13).
Scrubs too harsh on your sensitive skin? Enzymes work by gently “eating” the dead skin off of your face. Rely on Mario Badescu Enzyme Revitalizing Mask ($20), a safe and soft exfoliation without the abrasiveness.
After all of that hard work of exfoliating, drying, and tightening your pores, let that dewy glow show off your hard work. Plump up your skin with Avene’s Soothing Moisture Mask ($26).
Simple and delicious all wrapped into one perfect salad
By Aly Peterson | Photos by Tess Comrie
I love to eat a fresh salad loaded with fruits and/or vegetables. Fruits and vegetables help prevent obesity, heart disease, and type two diabetes (just to name a few). They also help to provide us with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
Most of us should be eating at least two cups of fruits and three cups of vegetables each day (this is based on a 2400 calorie diet). Sometimes, that’s really hard to reach! I have found this goal easier to reach when I plan ahead and incorporate most of those servings into my breakfast and lunch.
This Greek salad has been one of my go-to lunches for a couple years! It’s delicious, easy to make, low calorie, and full of vegetables and healthy fats!
Ingredients
1 cucumber (sliced thin and then quartered)
½ cup cherry tomatoes (quartered)
Kalamata olives (5-6 whole, quartered)
¼ cup feta cheese
Lemon pepper seasoning (approximately 1 teaspoon)
Greek salad dressing (2 tablespoons, I typically use Kraft or Litehouse brand)
Optional: ⅓ cup garbanzo beans or ⅓ cup chopped chicken breast
After chopping the ingredients, mix them into a large bowl. The order you chop and add the ingredients to the bowl does not matter. This recipe makes one large serving (I eat it all… it’s too yummy not to) or you can always split it with a friend or save for later if it’s a little too much for you. Enjoy!
Tip: I love to add whole-wheat pita bread to this meal. Delicious!
