Florals & Brunch

Brunch is my favorite meal, and the weekends are the perfect time to enjoy it. This past weekend I had the chance to enjoy yummy food at Ncounter in downtown Tempe while meeting a new friend, Liz Evans. Every time I visit Tempe I'm taken back to my days at ASU. I spent so many hours on Mill Avenue studying in coffee shops and shopping at Urban Outfitters. Ncounter definitely wasn't there when I was in school, but now if I am ever in downtown Tempe I will eat there. They have everything from yummy smoothies to pancakes to sandwiches. Liz and I were both in the mood for breakfast. I chose a gorgonzola breakfast sandwich and she got a tasty omlette.

Liz and I spent our time talking about photography and styled shoots. She just relocated to the area from California, and I'm so glad that she did. She is incredibly talented! She brought her camera along with her and photographed my Saturday brunch outfit.

I'm so inspired by the spring blooms all around me right now. I recently bought this silk top from Off Saks Fifth Avenue for only $25. I paired it with my Madewell skinnies, Old Navy cardigan and Old Navy flats.

Are you a brunch fan? If so, what's your favorite local hangout?

Production of Lexi Arielle's Brand Film

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

I've styled many bridal shoots, but this is the first time I have ever styled and art directed one for motion to reflect a brand. This time I had a client to make happy, Lexi Arielle, and I had a cinematographer trusting me to deliver for her client. You'd think the added pressure would hinder creativity, but it actually pushed me to aim for excellence like never before. This is the project I am proudest of to date. I am proud because I made my clients happy, and I am proud because I didn't just pick out the clothes, I art directed this piece to the very detail of putting streamers in a tree. So, what's the process for something like this?

To start, Ale Vidal, did a great job walking Lexi Arielle through a consultation process where she gained a better understanding of Lexi's ideal client and personal style. Ale shared her findings with me, and from there I spent a lot of time looking at Lexi's website and Pinterest boards.

Lexi Russell Brand Highlight Film Pinterest

Once I had a good understanding of her style I began a Pinterest board and defined the color palette. Choosing the palette is everything for a shoot. It's what ensures cohesion. Ivory and peach were the dominant tones with bits of gold and lavender. It was the perfect pastel palette, and also in line with a lot of spring trends right now.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Claire Pettibone was the wedding dress collection that personified Lexi's client the most. Mariee Gallery is the only place to get those dresses in Arizona, so, of course, I went there. Knowing that we wanted to see motion in the bride's hair a soft, touchable hair style was important. However, braids and twists are quite popular right now, so Amber Tillinghast did an excellent job marrying the two together. Gold crowns are becoming a new trend in the bridal industry, and this one from Mignonne Handmade provided the touch of metallic to enhance the color palette and romantic quality of the bride. Soft, natural makeup was exactly what the bride needed, and Azure Shaffer did an excellent job executing it using peachy tones to reflect the palette. I couldn't find a veil that was the right shade since the dress had a peachy color, so instead we just draped peach tulle over the bride. No other accessories were needed (no shoes and no other jewelry).

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View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Lexi loves natural settings, so we chose The Farm at South Mountain to be our backdrop for the whole shoot. The Farm balances rustic elements with elegance and grace. Not to mention, they were wonderful to work with and believed in the vision of this film.

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View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Ale and I worked on defining two scenes that would show a lot of movement. Ale had a genius idea of streamers and then I thought a swing wrapped in flowers and vines would be fun. Hilary Lamb did an amazing job with the florals, cake and bouquet. Mary Claire and I got nice and tan hanging a bagillion streamers.

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I relied on the groom's styling to bring an approachable quality that was important to Lexi. Navy complements peach well and is a perfect spring and summer choice for men.  The navy blazer paired with a chambray delivered a casual yet dressy combination. Stone colored pants are always classic and still formal enough for a farm wedding. As spring is in full force, floral ties are becoming popular. I really wanted to use this opportunity to showcase how men can embrace this feminine print in a masculine way. Dapper and Dash was kind enough to lend us one of their ties, and Two Guys Bowties sent us a wooden lapel pin to further accessorize. A wooden lapel pin was our take on a boutonniere.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

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Once the faux wedding was planned, I made sure Lexi was styled perfectly to match. She loves maxi skirts and happened to have a pretty white one in her closet. The fabric moved so well for the video! Her peach top went along with the color palette and she added small, layered gold necklaces to bring in the metallic element.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

This project couldn't have happened without an amazing team and contributors. Lexi photographed everything beautifully. If I was getting married again this would definitely be a dream wedding and Lexi would be the perfect photographer. Make sure to watch the brand film that Ale Vidal created. She really made the romance between Agency AZ models Kelsey and Daniel believable. Click to watch the film.

Credits: Brand film for photographer Lexi Arielle www.lexiarielle.co Film: Ale Vidal // www.imaginaledesign.com Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Alex Evjen // www.avestyles.com Models: Daniel Markus and Kelsey Groetken from The Agency AZ //www.theagencyaz.com Venue: The Farm at South Mountain // www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com Make-up: Azure Shaffer // www.artistrybyazure.com Hair: Amber Tillinghast // www.facebook.com/pages/Grateful-Head-Hair-Studio/116426275086567 Floral Styling & Cake: Hilary Kramer // www.hilarylambphoto.blogspot.com Assistant: Mary Claire Cook www.maryclaire-photography.com Wedding gown: Mariee Gallery // www.marieegallery.com Bridal Accessories: Mignonne Handmade // www.mignonnehandmade.com Bow Tie: Dapper & Dash //  www.dapperanddash.com Lapel pin: Two Guys Bow Ties // www.etsy.com/shop/TwoGuysBowties

Pallet Project Reveal

A couple of weeks ago I shared some pictures of my Father-in-law, Rich, doing some handy work on some pallets (see post), and now I'm ready to reveal our little Pinterest-inspired project.

Ryan and I have spent a lot of time and money this past year redesigning our backyard. It's still a work in progress, but completing little DIY projects one at a time gives me enough fuel to keep going. All I can say is that we are starting love being outside more and more, and this little garden wall is my favorite spot right now.

After sanding the pallets, staining them with a clear water-proof stain and mounting them on the stucco wall we fastened metal brackets that you can find at your local Home Depot. I bought 14 small metal pots from Ikea so that the metal bracket would blend in a bit more.

Trader Joe's has the most affordable plants. So, I bought some herbs ($2.49) and some mini roses ($1.99) to put in the pots.

Now we're ready for spring and the next DIY project. I'm thinking it will be a picnic table of some sort.

Kari & Charlie on Martha Stewart Weddings

Kari and Charlie have to be one of the most special couples I have ever worked with in my years of styling. Their love story is one for the history books, and I am so honored that I got to be a part of planning their special day.

Kari found me online a couple of years ago and I was able to style her and Charlie for their engagement photos with Gina Meola (see here). Fast forward to the most gorgeous backyard wedding I have ever seen...It was so beautiful that Martha Stewart Weddings has featured it this week (check it out here).

Kari and Charlie love the ocean. They love it so much they had their engagement photos shot in San Diego. So, they wanted to combine their love of the sea and their love of Arizona and create - a "deserted ocean" theme for their wedding. Blush, mint, tan, gray and pale blue made up the beautiful color palette.

You have GOT to go on over to see all of the details that Gina photographed, the florals, the decor....You can also check out some great images on Gina's blog.

Kari already knew she wanted a blush gown for her wedding dress. Excellent choice! She chose nude Jimmy Choos for her shoes. You just can't go wrong there.  Her sisters were her bridesmaids, and we chose mint as their color to wear. The chiffon fabric was ideal because it added a softness and was also more breathable than taffeta or satin.

I'm so happy for Kari and Charlie, and I seriously could write an essay about how special their wedding means to me. Having their big day and their love featured on Martha Stewart is just icing on the cake.

Photography by Gina Meola Event Design and Planning, Stationery, and Napkins: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations Flowers, Lighting, & Draping: Arrangements Floral & Party Design Cake: Classic Cakes & Confections Bridesmaids Styling: AVE Styles Music: [string trio] Simply Three; [Flamenco guitarist] Miguel Rodriguez from Jim May Productions Rentals: [furniture] Pacific Event Productions; [linens] La Tavola; [china and glassware] Classic Party Rentals Catering: RendezVous Catering Hair and makeup: TEAM Hair & Makeup

Speaking at Craft Culture

Last week I shared a little teaser on Instagram about Craft Culture - an upcoming workshop for small businesses. Insta only gives you so much space, so I thought I would fill you in on what Craft Culture is and what I'll be talking about. Craft Culture was started by Leanne Cairns an accessories designer (Belyn Design) who is from Arizona, but now lives in California. One of her dreams was to sell her creations at her favorite store, Anthropologie. Her dream came true this past year, and when that happened she realized that she wanted to be a part of helping entrepreneurs find success and achieve their dreams. Through business workshops, networking meet-ups and creative retreats, creatives will get to spend time with industry leaders in a small intimate setting to pick their brains and hear from their personal experiences.

Check out this video to see what I mean. (You might see a familiar face)

CRAFT CULTURE from Leanne Cairns on Vimeo.

I'm so honored to be a part of the April 5th workshop at Monorchid (click here for details). Jessie Simonson from 31 Bits, award-winning author Pamela Slim, Ashley LeMieux from The Shine Project, and graphic designer Tara Hetzer will be speaking. There will also be a panel of very successful business owners, and yummy food and drinks to go along with the day. To view the full agenda, click here.

I will personally be speaking on how to make your products and images go viral on social media and specifically Pinterest. This will encompass some styling tips and tricks, as well as some Pinterest marketing and Instagram advice. I'm SOOOOO excited! Go sign up right now and get in on the early bird rate.