"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Kris

Here's Kris' story:

"Glen and I have known each other over 37 years, and reconnected 2+ years ago. On the second day of our vacation in Italy, Glen rented a private water taxi to a secluded island looking towards Venice. We were escorted to a private garden overlooking the water. What happened next is what I’ve been waiting for all my life.  As we approached the table with two glasses of wine, Glen leaned over and said, “What a spectacular view, but not as spectacular as you.” He dropped to one knee and asked me to be with him forever."

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” KRIS’ story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Morgan

Here's Morgan's story:

"Joe made my dreams come true and planned a trip to Hawaii. He planned for a luau when we landed, so I changed into a Hawaiian dress and put on the jewelry his mom brought for me. We walked along the beach before the luau and found a little private cove. I had no idea what was to come. Joe got serious and dropped to one knee and asked me if I would marry him. He was so nervous; he opened the box upside down! I said yes! We walked back up for the luau, where they announced our engagement."

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” MORGAN’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Sommer

Here's Sommer's story:

Some are at sunset, this was at sunriseWhat I was about to see would surely stun my eyesThe sun was just breaching, but Brody was just reachingTo ask for my hand in marriage on this early Thursday morn Mt. Haleakala, this sacred Hawaiian ground, Would soon become much more to us, as people started to surroundWith bated breath I watched, as he got down on one knee,And said I had become so much to him, that forever was all that he could seeCrying, I whispered "Yes!" and embraced my husband to be

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” SOMMER’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Jenna

Here's Jenna's story:

"My fiancé set up a fake drawing at Dillard’s for me to be entered in for a black dress and shoes of my choice. I went to the mall with my best friend and “won” the drawing. He set up a hair appointment a week prior asking me to be a model for prom styles. My uncle picked me up in a limo and said we were going for dinner at the Ritz. The driver made a stop at Tempe Town Lake. Chris was on the bridge with family, friends, champagne and roses where he asked me to marry him!"

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” JENNA’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Heather W.

Here is Heather W's story:

"We went to Seattle, my favorite city, to see George Strait in concert.  Doing a little sight seeing, we went to the Japanese Gardens. As we were walking around the gardens, Graham suggested we have our picture taken by a nice group of ladies. Not thinking much of it, we posed for a picture.  The next thing I knew, Graham was down on one knee and proposing. Not only did I begin to freak out, but so did the women taking our picture. Graham managed to get the entire thing on camera, just like I wished for. It was perfect!"

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” HEATHER W’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Gwendolyn

Here's  Gwendolyn's story:

"Marc took me to dinner at the restaurant where we had our first date, being seated at the same table we sat two years prior.  Next, we walked along a moonlit lake, where an orchestra was waiting. We danced as they played our song.  A photographer captured the bended-knee proposal. Then I was blindfolded as he drove me to a “surprise destination.” Upon arrival, I took off my mask and heard, "Merry Christmas!" Our 50 closest friends from around the country recreated the Christmas party where we first met for an impromptu engagement party and magical evening."

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” GWENDOLYN’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Mia

Here's Mia's story:

"Ben and I went on a hike. Ben made it to the top first. Once I arrived, I turned my back to admire the scenery. After a couple minutes, I turned around. Ben wasn't in my line of sight, I was slightly confused. I peered down... there was Ben, one knee on rocky terrain, holding a box open with the most stunning ring! I was shocked and speechless... Once I found words, I said yes and celebrated! Whenever we're together, I feel like I'm on top of the world... in that moment, we truly were, just the two of us."

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” MIA’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

"How Did He Ask?" FINALIST: Johanna

Here's Johanna's story:

"Ever heard of “Tebowing?” While hiking in Prescott, my fiancé was adamant about finding the “perfect lunch spot”. After 4 hours and on the verge of giving up, we stumbled across a bench between two trees, on the edge of a lake. After a quick bickering session, he convinced me to take a video of our view. When my camera reached Nick he was on a knee. Me being a blonde and him being a sports nut, I thought he was “Tebowing”. I realized he was on his knee for another reason, ran up to him, and said yes."

Love this proposal? Be sure to “like” the Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique’s Facebook page and then “like” JOHANNA’s story in our “How Did He Ask?” photo gallery. Each qualified like and comment is worth one vote (up to one like and one comment will be counted per voter, per photo). Voting ends July 31, 2014 at midnight (AZ time). The winner will be posted on our Facebook page on August 1, 2014, so be sure to follow our page to see if your favorite story wins!

It's Voting Time Again - How Did He Ask? II

It's voting time again! Suzanne's Bridal Boutique's "How Did He Ask" proposal contest is in it's second cycle and after reading an inbox full of proposal stories – funny ones, sweet ones, creative ones, and romantic ones – our judges have chosen their ten favorites. Now it’s time for our Facebook friends to choose the one they love best! The stakes are high for these ten brides so be sure you get your vote in! You’ll find the top ten stories posted in the "How Did He Ask?" gallery on our Facebook page. Be sure to “like” our page,  "like" your favorite story, and leave a comment. Each like and each comment on Facebook counts as a vote (up to one comment and one like per voter, per photo will be counted) – so don’t be shy! We've also posted each story as an entry on our blog so you can see all the great photos and videos that our finalists submitted, too. Voting ends August 31st, 2014 at midnight (Arizona time) - so start reading!

** LIKE Suzanne's Bridal Boutique on Facebook! **

Diary of a Bride-to-Be: Bigger is not always better...

Bigger is not always better. For instance, when you are talking about your engagement ring. I'm not talking about stones or carats! I think so long as it was picked for you and with love, the size, type, and color of the ring are unimportant... And maybe rings aren't even your cup of tea! But that's really all besides the point...

When I received my engagement ring, I loved it. But it was fully two sizes too big for my finger. My fiance-to-be had taken several rings from my jewelry box with him to the jeweler, but later found out that none of those rings were meant to be worn on my ring finger.

If this happens to you, don’t panic! Rings can be sized very easily at the jeweler where they were purchased (mine was sized for free).

If you need a quick fix, like I did, try using twine or string. Tie one end on the band and wrap until you've reached the thickness you need. Tie the other end off and enjoy your bling without the risk of losing it. This sizing method certainly worked better than others that I tried (including a hair tie and ribbon…), and came recommended by a jeweler.

A jeweler also told me that thin aquarium plastic tubing could be used to create a more secure fit, if you prefer to explore that method. He did tell me, however, to avoid store bought ring guards. He explained that they are essentially a wire that spans the ring and can scratch the metal band, scarring it forever!

Bad ring guard!

That’s it from me for now, but for more of my wedding wondering and bridal breakthroughs, check back soon! Xoxo

P.S. If your nails aren't ring-worthy and you don’t have time to visit a salon, try Impress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails. You can get them at any drug store! I wore them recently and was really impressed! ;)

Diary of a Bride-to-Be: I Said Yes!

Well, it happened! I got engaged! In possibly one of the prettiest places in the country, I might add- Yellowstone National Park. I knew something was up, but I could never have guessed the details of how I'd become engaged! Here's how it happened:

My man and I traveled to Mammoth Hot Springs because he wanted gluten free hot dogs and to go for a hike. We ordered our hot dogs and he disappeared “to the restroom” for about half an hour. I later found that he was borrowing a Sharpie from the General Store and writing on the map he would soon use in his proposal... After eating, we hiked a hill littered with cow pies (buffaloads?). Out of breath, we arrived at the top where I jumped on a rock and started taking photos of the view. My soon-to-be-fiance asked what mountains were in the distance and when I said I didn't know, he asked me to help open the map so we could find out. On the map he had written, “Our journey thus far has been the most moving and wonderful time of my life. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. I love you so very much!” This message was followed by photo of his family members that were also on the trip holding a hand crafted banner that read “Will you marry me?”. He pulled the ring from his backpack. After I said yes and we finished enjoying the view, we headed back down the mountain and out of the park for champagne at the family cabin. The cabin was decorated with balloons, the banner, and a photo of our puppy wishing us congratulations!

The View

The Ring

The Map

So that's the story! He did a good job, right?











We are planning the wedding for the Summer of 2015, so there's lots more to come! For more of my wedding wondering and bridal breakthroughs, check back soon! xoxo

Real Bride: Alyson

No one can resist the lure of a rainbow. Rainbows make us think of hope and eternal promise. For bride Alyson, the colors of the rainbow brought to mind the various ways that her friends and family had touched her life. And she incorporated them into her "bright, happy, summer wedding" held in Yuma last July.

Alyson met Tim in December of 2009 on a break from school...

"Tim and I met at a friend's Christmas Party and the rest of our lives have changed since! After we met, there was an instant connection. Not only was it obvious between the two of us, but our friends noticed also.Tim and I had our first date before I left again to go back to school. Our first date was everything other than a typical ‘date.’ We actually spent it out on the desert outside of Yuma hunting for deer. We built a deer blind together so he could go hunt from it for the spring season. Tim and I both love the outdoors and hunting! It was the perfect beautiful day and date! A few days after our date, I flew back to Tulsa University [in Oklahoma]. For the next 6 months, we kept in touch and we developed a very strong friendship and a great communication. Shortly, after I returned to Yuma, Tim and I went out again and the rest is history! On November 27, 2010 Tim and I returned to the desert for a deer hunt. Tim had a 10 ft banner made and put the banner up in the same location where we had built the deer blind. Tim told me “Alyson, you’re my best friend and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” I was COMPLETELY shocked…because I honestly thought that we were just going hunting again. Of course, I said yes! And the wedding planning and planning to spend the rest of our lives together began!"

 

The couple was engaged for a little over eight months with the bride's mom and wedding planner pushing the planning along. The result was a completely unique, summer celebration - from the bridesmaid dresses to the decor.

Alyson said that her bridesmaids were all different colors in her life. "All of my bridesmaids have been life long friends, but they are all so different and so special in different ways. So to capture that, I wanted them in different colors, since they are different colors in my life." The color that each bridesmaid wore represented something meaningful about her. For example, Alyson's matron of honor (who she's known for 24 years - WOW!) wore teal because her first car in high school was a teal Volkswagen Beetle.

The groomsmen wore vests and ties that matched the girls. Lookin' good boys!

You've heard of the bride changing dresses at the reception, but what about hairstyles? "My husband wanted my hair down and I wanted my hair up...so, we compromised," Alyson said. Sounds like their marriage is already off to a great start! She found the both the perfect veil for her ceremony and a fun feather and pearl hair piece for her up-do at our boutique.

Alyson says that one of their most important splurges was their videographer. "A videographer was very important to me and I wanted Arizona's best. Therefore I chose Bella Mia Video and can honestly say it was worth every cent!"


Music was a very important part of Alyson and Tim's wedding. They had a family friend (who also was the best man at Alyson's parents' wedding) sing during their ceremony and then Alyson's dad prepared a very special song for their father/daughter dance.  "My dad has an EXCELLENT voice," Alyson said. "He went to a recording studio, had "Daddy's Angel" by T. Carter recorded, and surprised me when we went to have our dance together on the dance floor." No doubt she'll cherish that recording of her dad singing to her for the rest of her life. So sweet! And once the music started, Alyson said her guests stayed out on the dance floor until 1:15 am!

Most stunning of all (to us, anyway!) was Alyson's dress... The elegant gown flattered in all the right places and the sparkling bead work added the perfect amount of bling.

Just reading her story and watching her videos demonstrates the magnitude of Alyson's heart. She obviously has a true affection for her husband, friends, and family. You can see from her smile how genuine she is. Which is why we were so overwhelmed by the nice things Alyson had to say about her dress shopping experience...but we couldn't fit it all here...be sure to check back later in the week to read more about Alyson and her fabulous dress!

Thank you to Fallbrook Photography (who we can say from our own experience are super professional and sweet!) for providing the photos for this story. You can see more of Alyson's wedding on their blog.

Inspired by Alyson and Tim's colorful, summer bash? Check out some of her vendors:
Dress, Veil, and Hairpiece - Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
Photographer - Fallbrook Photography
Hair & Makeup - Candace, Kaitlyn, & Johnny at Diesel Salon
Videographer - Bella Mia Video
Music - Mancini Entertainment
Reception Venue - Hilton Garden Pivot Point

Suzanne's Bridal Boutique
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