FEATURED POSTS
  • Our Favorite Phoenix and Scottsdale Wedding Venues

    Our Favorite Phoenix and Scottsdale Wedding Venues

    On Tuesday, Rachel shared with you "Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue" and today I wanted to share some of our favorite wedding venues in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.  ( I am sharing these in no particular order.) MONTELUCIA RESORT & SPA Find out more information about weddings ...

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  • Modern Wedding Photoshoot | Fantastic Features

    Modern Wedding Photoshoot | Fantastic Features

    As wedding planners, we get to help our clients design the day of their dreams showcasing their style and personality. It's rare that we get to design something based on our personal style, personality and aesthetic.  So, when Melissa Jill asked if we would do a styled photoshoot with her, ...

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  • Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue | Outstanding Advice

    Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue | Outstanding Advice

    [From Left to Right: Venue: Montelucia Resort & Spa, Photographer: Claire Harrison; Venue: Phoenix Art Museum, Photographer: Jerry Yoon; Venue: Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Photographer: Melissa Jill] You celebrated your engagement, and now your asking yourself, where do I begin? The answer? Location, location, location! One of the first things ...

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  • Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner|Outstanding Advice

    Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner|Outstanding Advice

                                            People often ask us "Why should someone hire a wedding planner?" After being in business for 8 years we could talk about this for hours. We can provide true stories to entertain you during our earnest conversation on why everyone should hire a wedding planner. My first question to anyone ...

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  • Featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine

    Featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine

    A few months ago, we were honored to be asked by Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine to create a tabletop design to be published in the Fall/Winter issue. Needless to say, when we received this news we were doing cartwheels! If you are familiar with wedding publications, you know it is a huge honor ...

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  • Pinned Again | Pinterest, our new social addiction

    Pinned Again | Pinterest, our new social addiction

    We have pinned and been repinned!  Do you not know what we are talking about? It's Pinterest, our latest addiction. I have become a bit obsessed with all of the beauty on Pinterest!  And the bug has been transferred to our amazing associate, Rachel.  She is a pinning machine!   It is a ...

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  • Phoenix Wedding at Private Home | Outstanding Wedding

    Phoenix Wedding at Private Home | Outstanding Wedding

    We are in love with the photos from one of our weddings two weekends ago. It was a rainy and cold day, but you would never know it from the photos. Stephanie Fay Photography took some beautiful shots of Laurie and Mike and all of the details. ...

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  • Groom’s Attire | Wedding Fashion

    Groom's Attire | Wedding Fashion

    Gentlemen, please take note that you don't have to look like a penguin on your wedding day.  Have fun with your attire!  Express your personality!  If any of our grooms or groomsmen would like to wear any of the following looks, please stand up!  They are fresh, clean and very ...

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  • Outstanding Occasions Wedding Featured on The Bride’s Cafe | Fantastic Features

    Outstanding Occasions Wedding Featured on The Bride's Cafe | Fantastic Features

    This week we had the honor of having one of our weddings featured on The Bride's Cafe. Sally and Jeff got married at a little gem in Scottsdale, Arizona called the Cattletrack Art Compound. Check out the the full feature by heading over to The Bride's Cafe. You can see ...

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Phoenix WIPA Launch Party

by Heather at Outstanding Occasions on January 31, 2012

Wedding Industry Professionals Association

Have you heard? The Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) has landed in Phoenix. You don’t know what WIPA is? Well, if you don’t know, you will soon! Jennifer and I are the Phoenix Regional Directors for WIPA, but we are MORE excited that so many amazing wedding professionals have joined us in being the Founding Members of WIPA Phoenix:  Amy Mancuso Events, Kimberly Jarman Photography, Melissa Jill Photography, Serendipity VideographyFabulous Food, Table Tops Etc, Petal Pusher, Camelback Flowershop, Celebrations in Paper, idieh design, Hotel Valley HoMontelucia Resort & Spa, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North,  JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, and Wildflower Linen.

And what is even more fun? The official Phoenix WIPA launch party is this February and Sean Low is our guest speaker!!

Sean LowWe are so excited to finally announce the information about the party:

What: WIPA Launch Party
Date: February 22, 2012
Location: Hotel Valley Ho
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Speaker: Sean Low, The Business of Being Creative

We hope that you will join us at the Phoenix WIPA Launch Party!  Sign-up to attend here!

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Modern Wedding Photoshoot | Fantastic Features

by Rachel at Outstanding Occasions on January 18, 2012

As wedding planners, we get to help our clients design the day of their dreams showcasing their style and personality. It’s rare that we get to design something based on our personal style, personality and aesthetic.  So, when Melissa Jill asked if we would do a styled photoshoot with her, we jumped at the chance! Thankfully, Melissa let us take our ideas and compose a dream team of wedding professionals for a photoshoot that we truly felt represented our work.

When we started pulling together our design concept, we knew we wanted to play with a Masculine and Feminine theme. We found inspiration from a white lacquer horse head, and let the rest of the design come together from there. After an afternoon brainstorm session with our team of pros, we started to put all the pieces together for this very modern photoshoot. Here was the inspiration for our design:

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill

Once we had our inspiration on paper, it was time to pull fashions, pick linens and props, and pull together this modern day wedding. Here are a few photos from “behind the scenes.”

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Scottsdale

Once the dresses were picked, the bouquets were structured, and the cakes were iced, it was time to pull together this dream day. To bring even more reality to our design, we created a love story that details were pulled from to create this personalized wedding design.

Meet Tori & Tyson. Fate was in the air when Tori, an interior design and fashionista from L.A. met Tyson, a quirky Arizona native who grew up riding horses. Their paths crossed when Tyson was flying to L.A. to meet up with some friends and Tori was heading back after meeting with a client building their home in Arizona. Upon first look Tyson thought Tori was gorgeous, and Tori thought Tyson was sweet and really cute. Although the flight was relatively short, the two hit it off right away, and Tyson decided to ask Tori to dinner that evening. She said Yes! and as they say, the rest is history. Fast forward to three years later when Tyson rented a private plane and surprised Tori with an amazing chef and a five course meal. During the dinner course Tyson popped the question, inside the plane, in the place they first met.

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale

Modern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel ScottsdaleModern Wedding Photoshoot with Melissa Jill at W Hotel Scottsdale

A HUGE thank you to all of the amazing wedding professionals that were a part of this great Modern Wedding Photoshoot:

Photography: Melissa Jill Photography
Venue: W Scottsdale
Styling: Alex Evjen of AVE Styles
Florist: Camelback Flowershop
Invitation & paper suite: idieh design
Models: The Agency Arizona
Dresses: Mariee Gallery
Shoes & Menswear: Saks Fifth Avenue
Make-up: Kerry Babbles of Bliss Spa
Hair: Joey Labriola of Organic Hair Lounge
Pink Necklace: Laura Eva Designs
All other jewelry: Emmaquist
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Linen: Wildflower Linens
Cakes: Classic Cakes & Confections

An additional HUGE thank you to Junebug Weddings for featuring this shoot. Check out the feature with more details here.

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Our Favorite Phoenix and Scottsdale Wedding Venues

by Heather at Outstanding Occasions on January 13, 2012

On Tuesday, Rachel shared with you “Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue” and today I wanted to share some of our favorite wedding venues in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.  ( I am sharing these in no particular order.)

MONTELUCIA RESORT & SPA

phoenix wedding venue Montelucia

Find out more information about weddings at the Montelucia Resort & Spa.

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT DC RANCH

phoenix wedding venue DC Ranch

Find out more information about weddings at The Country Club at DC Ranch.

ROYAL PALMS RESORT & SPA

Royal Palms Resort phoenix wedding venue

Find out more information about weddings at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa.

PHOENIX ART MUSEUM

phoenix wedding venue Phoenix Art Museum

Find out more information about weddings at the Phoenix Art Museum.

HOTEL VALLEY HO

Hotel Valley Ho

Find out more information about weddings at Hotel Valley Ho.

JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE RESORT & SPA

JW Marriott Desert Ridge

Find out more information about weddings at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa!

EL CHORRO LODGE

El Chorro Lodge
Find out more information about weddings at El Chorro Lodge.

SANCTUARY CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN RESORT & SPA

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
Find out more information about weddings at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa.

FOUR SEASONS SCOTTSDALE AT TROON NORTH

Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North
Find out more information about weddings at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North.

W SCOTTSDALE

W Scottsdale
Find out more information about weddings at W Scottsdale.

So what are you waiting for?  Go check out these venues or tell us what venues in Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona are your favorite.

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Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue | Outstanding Advice

by Rachel at Outstanding Occasions on January 10, 2012

[From Left to Right: Venue: Montelucia Resort & Spa, Photographer: Claire Harrison; Venue: Phoenix Art Museum, Photographer: Jerry Yoon; Venue: Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Photographer: Melissa Jill]

You celebrated your engagement, and now your asking yourself, where do I begin? The answer? Location, location, location! One of the first things to check off your wedding to-do list is to choose your venue. Your wedding venue will act as center stage to your special day and take a large part of your budget, so this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. Before embarking on your venue hunt, keep in mind these tips that will help you choose the perfect venue for you and your fiancé.

  1. Wedding Style: You shouldn’t start looking for a venue until you’ve decided on a general style or theme for your wedding day. Whether your picturing a garden party, modern bash or a natural scenic dinner, knowing the “look” you want for your big day will help you narrow down the venues you should tour. Have a church ceremony in mind? Great! That’s always an important detail venues will ask and means you will need to add some churches to your venue tours as well.
  2. Guest List: Whether you picture your wedding day as an intimate 90 guest affair or a party with 300 of your closest friends, your guest list will be an important element in which venues to consider. Many venues have a maximum capacity of how many people their reception rooms can fit, and this will be an important detail to keep in mind when thinking of where to hold your reception.
  3. Budget: As we mentioned here, like it or not, your wedding budget will be a large determining factor on which venues you can consider for your big day. Rather than charging a flat fee, many resorts or large hotels have a food & beverage minium you must meet in order to use their room for the evening. Generally, depending on your guest list, your food and beverage cost takes up about 40% of your total budget, so this is a detail you want to ask first.

Most importantly, when picking a venue, go with your heart. Pick the venue that sweeps you off your feet and is the place you picture yourself saying “I Do”! Still want more info? Check back later this week to learn about a few of our favorite Phoenix & Scottsdale wedding venues.

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Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner|Outstanding Advice

by Jennifer at Outstanding Occasions on January 5, 2012

Everything is going to be OK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People often ask us “Why should someone hire a wedding planner?” After being in business for 8 years we could talk about this for hours. We can provide true stories to entertain you during our earnest conversation on why everyone should hire a wedding planner. My first question to anyone who asks is “When you have a leaky toilet do you call a plumber or an electrician*?” Well of course you call the PROFESSIONAL PLUMBER! Why when planning one of the most important days in your life would you consider using a relative, a friend, a co-worker or even a combination of all three to pull off your perfect event? Hire a professional wedding planner who works full time executing flawless events. Here are just a few benefits on what we can bring to the table:

1. Alleviate Stress: Planning a wedding is FUN but between etiquette, finances, family, friends and everything in between there are times of stress. A professional wedding planner is educated in all things wedding. We are a huge resource for everyone involved. This allows you, your partner, your family and friends to enjoy the wedding day and make great memories together!

2. Mediator & Advocate: It’s impossible to make everyone happy planning a wedding, its an unfortunate fact. Between parents, siblings, future in-laws and friends someone is bound to end up feeling hurt, side-stepped or just plain bummed. We often take the brunt of this for our clients. It allows for you to say, “My wedding planner recommends we do this…. instead of ” I want it this way…” We also act as your advocate. With so many opinions being formed decisions can become cumbersome in the planning process. Our job is to help guide everyone to make the “right” decision.

3. Chasing Vendors: There are hundreds of “wedding” vendors out there and it’s easy to connect with ones that aren’t reputable. A professional wedding planner has the resources and first-hand knowledge on what wedding professionals will match your style, budget and provide you with best service for your needs. We all know that venues have a referral list of photographers, videographers, florists etc. Use these lists as a guide and don’t be surprised if you are disappointed with their service even before you hire them!

4. There will be times during the planning process where you need someone to say and MEAN it, “Everything is going to be ok…”

*I know many of you will trust your significant other to “fix” the problem only to find out that the problem has now become an even more costly leak due to the fact they aren’t a plumber :)

Image: Amazon Everything is Going to be OK by Unnamed Anonymous

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