Bridesmaid Hairstyles 2013 : January 2014

Welcome to the amazing Wedding of Mary Ann and James who married in a wonderfully picturesque fruit orchard in Springdale, Utah. The couple chose a very natural and organic theme for their Wedding, with the amazing Zion Canyon as their backdrop. Making every detail simple and understated, but so wonderfully beautiful and effective at the same time, they achieved complete harmony with their stunning location.

We were interested in having a natural environment and feel to our wedding. While brain storming decor, our wedding planner sent us a beautiful photo, that I fell in love with and happened to be taken at this particular fruit orchard. I guess when you know, you know. We were sold. The Springdale Fruit Orchard was a location that I had stopped at many times to grab snacks or a beverage on our way in to Zion Canyon. There was definitely sentimental value for me. I had a vision of our guests feeling very relaxed while enjoying not only our event, but also the beauty around them. It worked out very well.

We wanted our Wedding to feel feminine and classy, while still feeling earthy. The trees and the grounds made it very easy to incorporate decor. We wanted to showcase the rich chocolate browns of the tree trunks with the greens and yellows of the leaves. Fairy lights added a whimsical touch, while the use of clear crystal, wood and metals helped pull everything together.

We didn't have favours, per say. Each place setting was adorned with a ripe apple or pear, ready to eat. Each fruit included a handmade paper leaf with our names and the date printed on them. This served as a fun reminder of the environment and day as well as a snack between the ceremony and dinner service.

My husband loves chocolate cake with a layer of fresh raspberry filling in the centre. So that is what we chose, a chocolate raspberry torte cake with chocolate ganache. We wanted something that we knew would taste delicious. We purchased the three cakes from a local warehouse bakery and my friend molded flowers from white modeling chocolate to top them.

I definitely had an idea in my mind of what I wanted to find in a dress. I went on two different shopping trips. One with my good friend where I tried on multiple styles and fabrics, and once by myself to quietly confirm what my heart wanted. I found an ivory coloured, trumpet style gown that consisted of two simple layers: silk and lace. It was lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear. Simple. My advice would be to try on dresses in varying styles and fabrics. You may find that something looks very flattering on you that you didn't expect. Also try on white and ivory as I found that it can change the look of the dress.

I was lucky to have a friend's wife assemble my bouquet, boutonniere's and corsages. She invited me to accompany her to a local wholesale flower shop, where they house hundreds of flowers. I chose different styles and colours that made me feel happy and that I felt would keep with the natural feel.

I absolutely loved organising our wedding. We worked with my sister in law as our Wedding planner. This decision was well worth the investment. There are so many details that might be forgotten, but she helped us realise how much detail goes into a wedding and how fantastic your event can be when all of those details are set in place. I loved dress shopping and choosing colours to work with. It was somewhat challenging finding a location close enough for family and friends. As we have people that live in different parts of the country, we wanted it to be close enough for everyone to be able to travel to, affordably. It took four months to plan our Wedding.

The entire day was magical. Seeing my family and friends laughing and looking so happy is a great memory that I hold.

My advice for future brides would be to pick a budget and work within it. There are so many DIY portals from Bride de Force to Etsy and Pinterest that you are bound to find a way to make this the wedding of your dreams all within your means. Remember, this is a day of celebration. Enjoy yourself.

Mary Ann's Three Real Bride Top Tips:

1) Choose and understand your budget. Set aside a portion for possible adjustments.
2) Enjoy your day! Allow family and friends (or your wedding planner) to take care of the details. They are happy to.
3) Stay flexible. Knowing what you want is very important though silent variations may be best in order to help the event come together.

Suppliers: Dress - Galina. David's Bridal Shop / Shoes - Jessica Simpson - Macy's Department Store / Flowers - Red Mountain Wholesale provided the flowers, while our friends wife assembled the corsages, boutonnieres and my bouquet / Make-up - Mary Kay Products / Hair - my husband's good friend, Tricia Wilcox / Cake - Chocolate Raspberry Torte Cake with Chocolate Ganache / Photographer - Todd Ellis Photography, St. George, Utah / Venue - Springdale Fruit Orchard, Springdale, Utah / Wedding Planner - Cynthia