Just a quick note to send a Happy Father’s Day for all of the endless love and support our fathers pass along and share. Above is a photo of my parents on their wedding day back in 1970.

Things I love about my father:

His intelligence

His passion for travel

And that he named his calculator

Happy Father’s Day!

This is a bridal blog, right?  So, it’s ok to talk about love here.  Well, the love today goes out to Jorge Manuel (sigh…).  While in Chicago last October, rapidly scanning all the fanciful displays at bridal market, I was stopped in my tracks by the delightful sight of tempting top-stitching.  I looked up to see the logo of and sharply dressed man that was Jorge Manuel Garcia.  I knew those dresses had to make a home in Utah.

You wont be surprised then (but perhaps delighted) that Alta MODA is happily hosting a trunk show for Jorge Manuel next month.  Kindly save July 16th and 17th as the weekend you find your wedding dress.  His latest collection will grace the racks for a few dreamy days.  Need more proof of his talent?  My friend Pepper Nix was sitting right next to him at his NYC fashion show.  Ask her; she’ll concur.

Love at first and last sight.

There’s this exhibit called 30 Strangers which it is shot by one good friend.

Justin Hackworth has, for three years now, taken to task the concept of photographing 30 Strangers in one month’s time. People he doesn’t know, people yet to enter his life.  The collection’s focus is on mothers and daughters and he so well manages to bring them to life, all showcased in an exhibit on July 2nd.

This year, just like last, his exhibit is about far more than the Strangers.  And though Justin’s work could carry any exhibit, the events is also a fund-raiser for The Center for Women and Children in Crisis in Provo, Utah.

So go!  Support the Strangers.  Support the Center…and maybe you’ll find your wedding photographer at the same time.  See you there.

Yenny came to Alta MODA just three weeks prior to her wedding date.  Looking through the racks, she instantly spotted a particular wedding dress and selected it to try on with a few others.  It was the first bridal gown she put on and instantly she knew it was the one.

The bride’s wedding dress is by Augusta Jones Couture. (Brides, you know you love Augusta!)

Yenny and her very sweet husband Dave were married last month at their residence in Park City, Utah.

The event was designed by LMG Events and catered by Culinary Crafts.  (Nothing but love for those two!)

Yenny, Dave…thank you for coming in to Alta MODA and bringing us in on your wedding plans.

“An open hand is always full”, is an aspirational quote I heard last week.  You can also effortlessly replace “hand” with “heart”.  That being said, the organization Wish Upon A Wedding will make your hands and hearts full.

If you’re looking for a way of giving back as you plan your special day, or if you’re a creator of weddings, consider this organization that grants the wish of a wedding to men and women facing life-threatening illness.  This wonderful group reaches out to couples across the nation to make sure that their desire for love and commitment and a wedding is not overshadowed by their medical struggles.

WUW:: Rehanna + Christian from bliss productions on Vimeo.

So struck by the selfless joy of this group, Alta MODA is committed to donating to deserving couples working with Wish Upon A Wedding.  If you have a way to support or contribute to this loving group, please open your hands, as what you give will surely return.

There is so much joy out there in weddings.  As a professional that gets to work with brides every day, let me say what an honor it is be a part of one of the biggest days in a woman’s life.  It is an honor I take very seriously.  And though the recent seminar I attended happened to be held juxtaposed to a turquoise sea and powder-soft white sand beaches, it didn’t keep me from working hard.  I promise!

Travelling with Utah Bride and Groom editor Tessa Woolf gave me an insight as to how the Utah publishing scene adores the brides in the Beehive State.  Tessa is a sharp, young mind with vision and appreciation for the local community.  And, after being stuck with me as a roommate, I now know she is an incredibly patient person as well.  Thanks, Tessa!

Me and Tessa making the photo rounds at the opening night beach party.

It’s not just good enough to have a photo op with Sylvia Weinstock, but to hear her speak of her decades of joy in working with brides.  She shared many pearls of wisdom, but this was one, in response to the several knock-off attempts at her cakes, was one of my favorites, “If you’re happy with the knock-off, go for it, but I want the real diamond.”  Sylvia is, indeed, a gem.

Me with Sylvia…yes, I am an amazon.  But, in character, she dwarfs me.  (She even told me stand up straight.)

Then you meet someone like Lara Casey.  She was gracious enough to let me nervously introduce myself as we sat next to each other on the flight.  But, even better, was listening to all the creativity and success she exudes.  All of the new trends, vendors and styles her refined eye identifies and displays through Southern Weddings simply amaze me.

Lara Casey having a chat with event designer extraordinaire Todd Fiscus.  Love him!

Alta MODA is lucky to work with so many of you brides in Salt Lake City and around.  You were endlessly deified and lovingly shared with some of the best in weddings.

Thanks for checking in…now back to work I go helping brides find the dress of their dreams.  (I love my job!)

In-store just in time for summer gown shopping, Vera Wang’s Erin gown will wrap you in layer after layer of soft silk organza.

This wedding dress has a drop waist but with natural waist details and looks fantastic with a beaded belt.  (Of which we now have several new and exclusive styles.)

Come on in and meet Erin.

Some of the best wedding professionals are with me at Engage10.  This event connects event planners, designers, photographers, editors, and even little old me with top of the line information and inspiration.

The day started with brilliant speakers who have all worked their way up in the ranks by flawlessly making sure brides had the best.  Can you imagine Millie Bratten, Sylvia Weinstock and Marcy Blum on stage,at the same time, all sharing a conversation?  After their presentation, the ideas were rapidly flowing.  (Alright, the ideas actually started coming the minute they came on.)

Then, the unimaginably elegant Colin Cowie took the stage.  Hearing someone of his magnitude and expertise lovingly talk about his clients was humbling.  His spectacular work speaks for itself.

After a wonderful sea-side dinner with honored guest Cindy Novotny, I once again met up (I sat next to her on the plane) with Lara Casey, editor and publisher and creative force behind Southern Weddings.

There’s so much more to share with you, but I have an early morning meeting with Randy Fenoli…duty calls.

You’re a bride. You deserve the best. So, to make sure you get it, I have enrolled in a little summer school that will help me supply you with all the newest trends, techniques, and inspiration the wedding world has to offer. The absence in blogging hasn’t been that we haven’t been thinking about you, but hard, hard, hard at work bringing all the best to Utah.  Read more about it at UtahBrideandGroom.com.

In the last 12 hours, I have heard from Darcy Miller, Millie Bratten, Sylvia Weinstock, Marcy Blum.  I don’t even know where to start, but I can tell you that all of this delightful and engaging information in coming home with me…just for you!

Daily inspiration and posts to follow.  (If the beach doesn’t lure me in that is.)

Weddings are magical.  They captivate people who are not even involved with one.  If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’re (in one way or another) smitten by them, too.  Although I haven’t been in the industry as long as some of the impressive professionals out there, I felt I had a comfortable grasp of it all.  But, just the other day, I was struck by a new found adoration and fascination toward floral designers.  The way they can find you (a bride) and bring your personality to life through blooms.  How they strive to match their work to your cake to your colors to your gown to your location…even to your groom.  And though their work is sometimes one of the smaller physical items at your event, it’s these arrangements, these artistic bundles of flora, that carry a lot of visual and emotional impact.

If you’ll let me tell you from where this new love came, I must start with Audrey at Studio Stems.  Yes, I have admired her work for years, and she’s clearly at the front of the pack, but recently hearing her caringly (almost possessively) describer her brides and her effort for them awakened and educated me.  It let me know there is so much diversity from the orchid bride to the peony bride.  It let me know that the seemingly simple foundation of an arrangement (such as a vase) can build a better and more brilliant display.  And It let me see her passion for breaking the mould for each and every new bride.

Floral designers are a sometimes overlooked part of the early planning process, but as my eyes open to how they can piece your theme together and translate your vision, I am now a cheerleader for this branch of personalized talent.

How lucky are you that Utah has a wealth of innovative floral designers?!

All images lovingly swiped from studiostems.com