Today I wanted to talk a little bit about balancing bold colors with more ‘neutral’ selections when selecting your wedding color palette.  One of the easiest ways is to choose one bold color and one SUPER neutral color, much like our Tangerine Tango and Cool Grey board we posted awhile ago.  (If you don’t remember it, you can see it here.)  But what if you are hoping for a little bit more variety and a simple grey is just not your style?  Well, you are in luck!  I have found some PERFECT examples of super saturated colors paired with calming, balancing hues – all from the kinda zazzy to the ultra punchy poptone!  Take a look!

This palette is perfect for someone who wants to go a little bold, but in a more understated way.  Bright grass green, vibrant aqua, and pops of jewel toned turquoise are perfectly balanced with fresh spring green and a pastel sea foam green.  Beautiful, natural, and eye-catching – perfect for winter, spring, and even summer weddings!

Another understated palette for a classic and preppy bride.  Nude, navy, seersucker blue, and spring green are enhanced with bright splashes of orange-y reds.  This palette is fresh, clean, and stunning!  A good fit for outdoor weddings or BBQs – just be careful not to go too “patriotic” and use the reds sparingly and pump up the use of the other colors in the palette.

This palette is for the beach loving, island dreaming, bold bride.  Vibrant, colorful, and saturated – this board’s hot pink, tango tangerine, electric yellow, and fuchsia are balanced only with the neutral sand color.  Use the vibrant colors sparingly, a little goes a LONG way with these gorgeously bright colors and bring the decor back to earth with the neutralizing sand.  Not for the faint of heart!

This palette is one after a color loving, rustic stylin’ bride’s heart!  The ecru, light artichoke green, chartreuse, and coral are perfectly placed in a mountain ranch wedding with splashes of poppy orange to bring an unexpected twist to an otherwise natural and neutral palette.  Simply gorgeous!

For a traditional bride with a love of bling, this palette is a stunner with blush pink, white, corals, hammered golds, and lipstick reds.  Truly a palette in the colors of love, this ultra-feminine style shows its not so innocent with the luscious and dramatic reds.  This style definitely speaks to a bride who loves all things girly!

Lastly, an UBER neutral palette hinged on one not so neutral color – electric pink.  This pink is SO saturated that it simply will not be ignored – which is why the palette is so perfectly balanced with tonal greys and warm brown.  I love this look for a contemporary wedding with natural touches and pink pizazz!  A beautiful palette for any season!

As you can see, there are so many options out there!  The key is to make sure you stick with a few colors you LOVE and make sure to build some balancing colors into the palette to round it out.  I also have to note that we here at Culinary Crafts offer a LARGE variety of linens and buffet designs to fit every bride’s unique style (and color palette!) – so if you can dream it, we can make it happen!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credits: First, third, and fifth boards from Bella Figura; Second, fourth, and sixth boards from Design Seeds

Today I have a GORGEOUS destination wedding for you!  Held at the Kimball Art Center in Park City and photographed beautifully by Alixann Loosle Photography, this wedding ceremony was stunning!  Simple, understated, and brimming with elegant touches, we loved the pre-ceremony mingling with hors d’oeuvres (provided by yours truly) and the intimate ceremony that followed.  Check it out!

What a gorgeous wedding ceremony and such a stunning couple!!!  We loved the idea of using a pre-ceremony ‘reception’ for the guests to grab a bite to eat and mingle with each other while also letting the bride and groom say ‘hellos’ to their closest family and friends before their nuptials!  Especially in the case of a destination wedding where people will be flying in – you definitely want to have time to visit with everyone.  Thank you to Alixann Loosle for sharing these photographs (you can see more from this wedding here) and thank you to Carly and Matt for letting us be a part of such a perfect day!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credit: Alixann Loosle Photography

Today we wanted to give a little shout out to one of our favorite venues/resorts in Park City – The Newpark Resort and Hotel!  This gem is located right next door to the Swaner Eco Center (which is also fab) and boasts beautiful rooms, fabulous decor, and is close to everything in Park City!  Plus, they incorporated a lot of green design throughout, which we love, and really focused on make the space feel at one with the beauty of the nature that surrounds them.  I’d say they definitely succeeded!  Take a look!

What a gorgeous place to host an event or just to get away for a stay-cation!  Plus, some of the rooms even have their own private hot tubs, which after a long day skiing or hiking in the Park City mountains sounds like a welcome treat!  Happy adventuring everyone!

I know all of you brides out there want to look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous on your big day.  Some of you, especially you summer brides out there, want that healthy glow, sun-kissed look.  Well, I am here to tell you to stay away from tanning beds and look into spray tanning!  Not only is it non-cancerous, but it can totally give you a subtle, bronze-y glow without the sunburn – and I’m not talking an orange-y spray tan or the “Jersey Shore” 4 shades too dark look either.  A true professional will talk to you about your wants and take your skin tone into consideration and come up with the perfect tan for you.  A master will even make you feel okay with baring all so you get a true all -over tan.   Such a master is Misha Nunez!  Mary was a summer bride not to long ago and she found Misha to give her that perfect finishing touch for her nuptials – and what a beautiful bride she was!  Her skin was healthy, bronzed, and flawless, and since Misha works from her home, Mary was put at ease and felt super comfortable throughout the entire process!  Another awesome tidbit is that Misha sells ‘at-home’ kits for those touch-ups in between a full session.  How awesome is that?  You can learn to give yourself the treat of a tan in your very own home!  Seriously, brides, don’t risk a sunburn only days before your wedding.  A spray tan by Misha will be sure to be flawless, look amazing, and leave your skin in tip-top healthy condition.  She is amazing!  Happy [spray] tanning everyone!

You can reach Misha at 801.864.7559 or email her at MishaNunez@hotmail.com

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Today, I would like to share one of the most interesting, historical, and beautiful venues in Salt Lake City – Fort Douglas!  Located at the University of Utah, this venue boasts a movie theater, outdoor spaces, and 5 historical buildings – all available for your event whether it be large or small!  Mary and Holly were lucky enough to tour all of these beautiful spaces and were blown away by the different options available and how amazing each and every space is!!!  One of my favorite things is if you’d like to have a chapel wedding , but don’t want the reception venue too far away, their Post Chapel is quaint and pretty for any ceremony and then you can head over to the Commander’s House or The Officer’s House for an intimate and beautiful reception!  Really, the possibilities are endless, but any one of them you choose are sure to please!  I also love the hidden and lush Chapel Glen than sits in a little gully on campus.  Surrounded by trees and greenery, it provides a more private and spectacular outdoor setting, just steps away from Officer’s Circle.  Not to mention, the University Guest House is adjacent to all of these buildings and perfect to house your out-of-town guests or for a place for you and your ladies to get ready before the wedding!  Take a look!

The bandstand, picnic grounds, and entrance to Chapel Glen – all gorgeous outdoor spaces!!!

The picturesque Commander’s House, I love the ceilings and entry.  Such a beautiful reception venue!

The stunning Officer’s Club.  I love all of the original stone walls in this building.  So different and beautiful!

The University Guest House and the Pierre Lossande House.  I love the architectural details of the Lossande porch!

The Post Chapel is my favorite building!  I love the colors and details of the exterior and the quaint almost ‘east-coast’ chapel feel of the interior!  So beautiful!

As you can see, Fort Douglas is brimming with beauty and gorgeous options.  If you are still looking for your venue, this is definitely one to check out!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

All photos taken from University of Utah’s Fort Douglas website

I love farms.  There is something magical about the expanse of land, the calmness of the setting, and the beauty of the thriving life of the animals and plants that just strikes a cord with me.  Because of this, I LOVE farm/barn set weddings.  Especially if there is a juxtaposition of the rustic and natural feel of the setting and elegant and romantic touches of the wedding – and this is a wedding that does just that!  Take a look!

How gorgeous was this wedding?  I loved the gorgeous details throughout and how beautiful is this setting?!  Not to mention, the food was DIVINE!  I loved all of the custom dessert offerings they selected – yum!  I hope this event makes you look forward to warm summer afternoons and beautiful outdoor events – I know I am!  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credit: Logan Walker, ZumaPhoto

Hello all!  I have another treat for you all – a guest post from our good friends at Gateway Bridal & Prom (also home to the Latter Day Bride Collection)!  This one is all about dress trends and fashion, so I am thrilled to be able to share the gorgeous dresses that are out there and the attention to detail from Lola Dunn, Operations Manager of Gateway Bridal & Prom!  Take it away, Lola!

The newest trends in the bridal market are truly stunning. We’re shifting away from the mermaid, all-lace styles into other fun shapes and striking designs. We love watching these gorgeous trends begin as young designs catch like wildfire! Here are a few of our favorites for 2012 so far!

Thank you so much for sharing these GORGEOUS dresses with us!  I love the diversity of the shapes and styles and love the texture in the different fabrics!!!  Gateway Bridal & Prom is AMAZING for any dress shopping you might like to do and they are super friendly and helpful to boot!  Happy shopping!!!

Check out our new website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

All photos courtesy of Gateway Bridal & Prom

Hi everyone!  Today I have am thrilled to announce that we have a guest post from Kristin Spear who the owner and all around awesome wedding planner for Soiree Productions – and, might I add, even more thrilled that she selected so many GORGEOUS images to send us from Culinary Crafts’s FAVORITE photographer, Pepper Nix! Anyhow, back to the subject!  Ever wondered if you need to hire a wedding planner?  Well, besides simply planning the wedding, Kristin is here to tell you the many ways a wedding planner will make your wedding day the stuff of dreams!  Take it away, Kristin!

Having a professional wedding planner can help in so many ways. Most importantly, it allows the bride  to truly enjoy the most important day of her life.  In the past, having a planner was only for the privileged, and it was viewed as a luxury. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Brides in 2012 are lucky to have many choices for professional wedding planning services.

Here are our top 5 ways a wedding planner can help you and your wedding:

• Budgeting

       An experienced wedding planner knows how to work with your budget in the right perspectives. She can see the big picture, and focus on prioritizing the details.  She will make sure all of your vendors and selections are in line within your dreams and your means. Be honest about your budget and your priorities- with your planner-and yourself. It will help in every way.

• Vendor Referrals and Contract Negotiation

       A great wedding planner is extremely skilled at personality matching and will assist in proper vendor selection for you and your expectations. You can really see your wedding planner’s experience by their vendor relationships. This helps save everyone time, and creates a dream team for your perfect day.
       Because of your planner’s great working relationships, she will be the best resource to negotiate contracts with vendors, suppliers, and very importantly-your venue. Work with your planner in contract negotiations. This will benefit you and your wedding day more than you may ever know.
       Every day, your wedding planner works with contracts. She will be very familiar with contracts, and will be able to spot red flags immediately. Your planner is going to be your greatest ally in ensuring that contracts work to make your day the best it can be.

• Organization & scheduling

       Your planner’s main responsibility is to keep things simple, organized and on track for you. They will help to schedule tastings, design mock-ups, and site tours all around your personal schedule. She will pay close attention to your vendor’s payment schedule and deposit requirements. She can handle all of your final payments and gratuities the day of the wedding so you and your family can simply celebrate. In so many ways, a planner removes the stress and helps to make the process fun!

• Stress & Crisis Management

       There are simply so many factors in planning your wedding; it naturally can be overwhelmingly stressful. Your planner will know the answers, and it will seem almost effortless for her to handle the many situations that will arise. She will be your go-to person and will have the advice and support that you need throughout the process, and especially on the day of the wedding. She will be your professional problem solver.

• Set Up and Strike

       As a little girl you imagined your wedding day as a day of beauty, getting ready with your bridesmaids, stepping into your perfect dress, walking down the aisle and seeing your future husband waiting for you…
A great wedding planner will help ensure that you not only enjoy your day-but that it all comes together how you imagined. Without you having to worry about the actual set up process and take down process. This means that you get to simply relax, and enjoy your first moments as a Mrs!
There are wedding planners for every bride and every budget. The moment you find yourself engaged, you will also find yourself focused on your special day. Hiring a planner will absolutely be the best investment for your day. Allow yourself to enjoy your day and focus on being a bride.

Thank you Kristin!  As always, you are fabulous and make such an amazing point for the AWESOMENESS that is a wedding planner!  Brides, definitely think about how a wedding planner can make this process so much easier and so much more fun for you!  Also, if you are a destination bride, a planner can definitely be your ally here while you are out of state.  Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credits: All photographs credited as marked, Kristin’s headshot by Pepper Nix Photography

Happy Leap Day everyone!  Today, I have a one-of-a-kind event that is perfect for this very unique day – a Roaring 20s themed event chock full of style, panache, and, of course, delicious food!  We at Culinary Crafts couldn’t wait to showcase this event!  The McCune Mansion set the scene perfectly and the Culinary Crafts servers dressed to the nines with bow ties, spats, and arm bands (plus, slicked back hairstyles and mustaches were encouraged!)  Our flapper girls mingled with the crowd serving our Speakeasy’s home brew in mason jars while the jazz band took us back to yesteryear.  Not to mention, we parked Something Vintage Something Blue‘s Dazee to welcome guests in a timeless fashion!  Culinary Crafts doesn’t get to do themed events like this very often – so we definitely took the chance to go all out!  Take a look!

How amazing is this event!? Guests were invited inside to peruse the dinner stations in true 1920s fashion.  The Chicago Pasta Bar, New York Ice Bars, Beef Bourgignon and Waldorf Salad stations were a hit and, of course, everything that could be was served in a martini glass! The Culinary Crafts signature prohibition themed finger dessert display was also true to the theme with each of the desserts spiked with just a bit of liquor.  Love it!  Top it off with an authentic Speakeasy (complete with a required password to enter) that hosted a casino and bar and if that wasn’t quite what you were looking for, the Cordial and Cigar bar on the second floor was a fantastic alternative.  What an unforgettable evening!  And wouldn’t this make a perfect one-of-a-kind wedding or rehearsal dinner?  Happy planning everyone!!!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Let’s face it, planning a wedding is expensive, and sometimes, picking the perfect venue is made that much harder when your budget just won’t stretch for that ‘Grand’ vision you have in mind.  Well, check out this deal!!!

All Culinary Crafts’s clients will receive $200 off their weekday rental of the GORGEOUS Grand Hall at the Gateway!  Seriously, who doesn’t want to save $200!?!?  So, if you are racking your brains for the perfect venue, you should definitely check out The Grand Hall!  Happy saving everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Call The Grand Hall at 801.456.0008 for full details and restrictions.  Must present the coupon for the discount.  Expires 12/31/12.