Arizona Bride Best of 2011 Winners

You are cordially invited to admire, covet and lust after the work of Arizona Bride’s Best of 2011 wedding industry finalists. Our readers voted online and nominated the state’s top vendors—the people whose expertise and finesse get couples hitched without a hitch. From brilliant cake bakers to couture dress shops, these companies have earned the Academy Awards of local wedding planning.
By Allyson Reedy

BEST ATTENDANT DRESSES
The finalists are: Priscilla of Boston, Twirl Boutique, Uptown Bridal & Boutique
The winner is: Twirl Boutique (now closed)
“I had a wonderful experience with Twirl. The boutique was adorable and they had a huge selection of dresses, with a variety of budgets and colors. The staff was very helpful and friendly throughout the process. It was one aspect of the wedding I didn’t need to worry about. The dresses were so gorgeous—I was jealous and almost got one for myself!” – Lisa Brigden, married Jan. 30, 2010

BEST CALLIGRAPHY
The finalists are: Celebrations in Paper, Calligraphy by Jennifer, Louise Smith
The winner is: Calligraphy by Jennifer
Phoenix | 602.996.9833
“Jennifer’s calligraphy is absolutely beautiful! We had a good amount of wedding guests with professional titles, so Jennifer spent time consulting with me personally, recommending etiquette rules so that each invitation would make our guests feel special. She was done much earlier than we expected, and they were perfect. We had many guests comment on how beautiful our invitations were!” – Kristin Cova, married Sept. 25, 2010

BEST SPA FOR THE BRIDAL PARTY
The finalists are: Dolce Salon & Spa, Joya Spa at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Mood Swings Salon
The winner is: Dolce Salon and Spa
Multiple locations | 480.722.0500 | dolcesalonspa.com
“We used Dolce in Scottsdale for our nails for the wedding. They were great and even brought in lunch from a nearby cafe for us. I had a bunch of nails break just before the wedding and they took the extra time to put [false] nails on for me even though I didn’t have that service booked. And the technicians were so much fun!” – Anjali Kansal-Rill, married Oct. 10, 2009

 BEST INVITATIONS
The finalists are: Celebrations in Paper, Flossy Stylish Design, The Invitation Lady
The winner is: Celebrations in Paper
Scottsdale | 480.946.5680 | celebrationsinpaper.com
“I loved working with [owner] Rene [Showalter] at Celebrations in Paper! She has an amazing selection of invite options, styles, vendors, fonts and formats, and will even let you create your own—for those who are super-picky like I was. Rene guided me through the entire process and helped make an amazing invitation for our wedding. We received so many compliments, and I couldn’t have done it without her.” – Andrea Stewart, married May 14, 2011

BEST CEREMONY MUSIC
The finalists are: Allegro Quartet, Encore Creative, String Serenade, Sweetwater Strings
The winner is: String Serenade
Phoenix | 480.390.3276 | stringserenade.com
“String Serenade was awesome. I picked them because of their great reviews and because [violist] Jennifer [DeWitt] was willing to work with any idea I had. I wanted a guitarist, my husband wanted a mariachi band (he says it was a joke, but I’m not sure) and my mom wanted a string quartet. Jennifer suggested having a guitar and cello duet, and it pleased everyone. She also helped decide the song list, which was a life-saver; it was a relief to give someone else the reins.” – Michelle Heath, married Mar. 5, 2011

BEST WEDDING PLANNER
The finalists are: Life Design Event Planning, Your Heart’s Desire, Victoria Canada Weddings & Events
The winner is: Victoria Canada Weddings & Events
Scottsdale | 480.656.0865 | weddingsandevents.net
“Best choice we ever made! Victoria was not only welcoming and open to our ideas, but she also had several ideas of her own unique to our wedding. She really made the whole wedding planning experience enjoyable and fun for everyone. During the week of our wedding, I made my mom promise that we’d have no planning to do so we could lie by the pool and relax with our out-of-town guests. Thanks to Victoria, we were able to do just that.” – Tyeler Potter, married Mar. 12, 2011

BEST GIFT REGISTRY
The finalists are: Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel, Macy’s
The winner is: Crate & Barrel
Statewide | 800.967.6696 | crateandbarrel.com
“My experience at Crate & Barrel was great. It was super easy to create my registry and make changes as needed. I love all of their items and truly appreciated their help when I went in and needed assistance with designing my tableware. They are fabulous to work with!” – Reagan Kappas, married Nov. 6, 2010

BEST VIDEOGRAPHY
The finalists are: Bella Mia Video, My Wedding Film, Princess Bride Cinematic Videography
The winner is: Bella Mia Video
Mesa | 480.236.9826 | bellamiavideo.com
“Bella Mia did a fantastic job for us, and we are so happy and pleased with our video. Photos can only capture so much, but when I watched the video, I was able to see so many things I never got to see that day. Just hearing my husband and I recite our vows to each other made me realize how much I even forgot about our ceremony. To be able to capture those things is priceless!” – Stephanie Artman, married Oct. 23, 2010

BEST OUTDOOR RECEPTION SITE
The finalists are: The Farm at South Mountain, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Royal Palms Resort & Spa
The winner is: The Farm at South Mountain
Phoenix | 602.276.6360 | thefarmatsouthmountain.com
“The Farm at South Mountain was an absolute dream come true for us! It was beautiful, especially at night with the twinkle lights surrounding us on such a beautiful March evening. There is nothing like having an outdoor Phoenix wedding at a site that doesn’t seem like it belongs in Phoenix! We were married amongst the lovely pecan trees and everything looked perfect, just as spring was in bloom. It’s so nice to look back at the wedding and remember the moon, the night sky and the ambiance provided by the Farm.” – Tena Renteria, married March 28, 2010

BEST FORMALWEAR
The finalists are: Dapper Dan’s Designer Tuxedos & Suits, Men’s Wearhouse, Mr. Formal Tuxedos
The winner is: Men’s Wearhouse
Statewide | 800.851.6744 | menswearhouse.com
“I knew exactly how I wanted [the men] to look. It had to be classic black suits, with crisp white wing-collar shirts and ivory ties and vests to match my dress. I decided to visit Men’s Wearhouse and I’m so glad we did. I broke down and cried when they all emerged from their respective fitting rooms. They looked so amazingly handsome that they took my breath away! I would highly recommend Men’s Wearhouse to any bride-to-be.” – Tammy Eger-Colletti, married Nov. 27, 2010

BEST FAVORS
The finalists are: Something Baked, Sweet I Do’s, Thee Wedding and Event Warehouse
The winner is: Thee Wedding and Event Warehouse
Goodyear | 623.536.0995 | theeweddingwarehouse.com
“[Owner] Kathy [Baggett] and her staff at Thee Wedding Warehouse took such great care of us. I work in Litchfield Park, so when she suggested using The Wigwam as our wedding venue, we jumped on it. We ordered our flowers through Endearing Floral Design at Thee Wedding Warehouse too. We also ordered our invitations through them. We had a wonderful experience with Thee Wedding Warehouse. They helped make our wedding day so beautiful and special.” – Robyn Aguire, married Feb. 3, 2011

BEST CATERER
The finalists are: Fresh from the Kitchen, Heidi’s Events & Catering, Santa Barbara Catering Company
The winner is: Santa Barbara Catering Company
Tempe | 480.921.3150 | santabarbaracatering.com
“The food from Santa Barbara Catering was amazing! They were very flexible with the menu and willing to make substitutions without changing the price. The wait staff was also a pleasure to work with. We opted for a buffet-style dinner, and the waiter was kind enough to serve me a plate before allowing the guests to have at it. It’s a simple act, but still sticks out in my mind. I was a bride who actually got to eat at her wedding—and I’m so glad I did!” – Tena Renteria, married March 28, 2010

BEST BRIDAL GOWNS
The finalists are: David’s Bridal, Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique, Uptown Bridal & Boutique
The winner is: Uptown Bridal & Boutique
Chandler | 480.242.9408 | uptownbrides.com
“My experience at Uptown Bridal was everything I was hoping it would be. I had been to a few other stores and none of the dresses really stood out to me, nor did any of the staff really connect with me. At Uptown, the staff was so friendly and personable. They made me feel so comfortable and confident, and completely understood what I was looking for. Out of all my wedding planning, working with Uptown was my favorite part.”  – Megan Ptuyac, married April 2, 2011

BEST REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE
The finalists are: Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, The Urban Barn at the House at Secret Garden, Sassi
The winner is: Sassi
Scottsdale | 480.502.9095 | sassi.biz
“Sassi provided a unique and beautiful setting for my rehearsal dinner. The rustic Italian architecture and intimate feel of the space is offset perfectly by the expansive, natural beauty of the Sonoran desert. The great food and attentive staff gave the evening the relaxed elegance I had been looking to achieve. I would recommend Sassi to any bride!” – Devon Simpson, married April 15, 2011

BEST INDOOR RECEPTION SITE
The finalists are: The Secret Garden, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
The winner is: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
Paradise Valley | 480.948.2100 | sanctuaryoncamelback.com
“My wedding day was everything I ever imagined. All of our guests were from out of town, mostly from the east coast, and were blown away by how beautiful the setting was at Sanctuary. The service was great, the food and drinks were amazing, and Victoria Michael, the catering manager, was a pleasure to work with. My guests are still talking about the breathtaking views and how amazing the food was. This venue far exceeded our expectations, and I can honestly say I have no complaints.” – Angela DiTrapano, married March 11, 2011

BEST TRANSPORATION
The finalists are: The Driver Provider, Ollie the Trolley, United Parking Systems
The winner is: Ollie the Trolley
Scottsdale | 480.970.8130 | olliethetrolley.net
“I have so many great things to say about Ollie! [Customer service manager] Melissa Shubert and [CEO] Margaret Dunn are both a joy to work with. The trolleys are so cute, and they even have wedding trolleys. I love the fact that Margaret has a nonprofit arm to her organization where she gives back to the community and partners with organizations like Phoenix Youth at Risk. This is especially important for our community at a time when transportation costs can be limiting.” – Emi Koeckhoven, married May 28, 2011

BEST ARIZONA HONEYMOON
The finalists are: L’Auberge de Sedona, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Greer Lodge Resort
The winner is: L’Auberge de Sedona
Sedona | 800.905.5745 | lauberge.com
“L’Auberge was the perfect place for us to unwind after our wedding. There’s natural beauty everywhere you turn—red rocks, Oak Creek, gorgeous trees. The staff is incredible. Our room was prepped with a note of congratulations, rose petals and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Our labrador, Grayson, was given the same royal treatment with a personalized greeting, bowl and her own dog-bed. There are just so many things we love about this place and endless reasons we will go back every year to celebrate our anniversary.” – Allison Harris, married Oct. 22, 2010

BEST HOTEL FOR GUESTS
The finalists are: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Royal Palms Resort & Spa
The winner is: InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa
Scottsdale | 480.627.3200 | icmontelucia.com
“Montelucia was a wonderful experience in its entirety. The timeless elegance of the resort was the perfect hotel accommodation for the over 220 guests who attended our New Year’s Eve black-tie wedding. From the gorgeous spa, stunning grounds, impeccable service and wonderful restaurants, our guests enjoyed every moment of their stay. Without a doubt, Montelucia is the best hotel for wedding guests!” – Ana Bruton, married Dec. 31, 2010

BEST JEWELER
The finalists are: Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Molina Fine Jewelers, Shane Co.
The winner is: Shane Co.
Scottsdale | 480.348.5700 | shaneco.com
“My husband had my engagement ring made at Shane Co., and I’m absolutely thrilled with how it looks. They were able to take a diamond from my grandmother’s engagement ring to use as the center stone, and the design is absolutely beautiful. It looks very modern, with a touch of vintage appeal; I get compliments on it constantly. We had great customer service and we definitely recommend them for anyone looking for engagement or wedding jewelry.” – Jessica White, married Apr. 2, 2011

 BEST CEREMONY SITE
The finalists are: Desert Botanical Garden, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Royal Palms Resort & Spa
The winner is: Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix | 480.481.8159 | dbg.org
“We had a great experience using the Desert Botanical Garden as the setting for both our ceremony and reception. The staff was very professional and they had great suggestions for vendors, many of whom we chose for our wedding. The setting was beautiful, and our guests enjoyed the scenery while eating and listening to the band under the stars. It was great!” – Erin Coppola, married March 19, 2011

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
The finalists are: Allison Pynn, Corinna Cooke Make Up Artist, Mood Swings Salon
The winner is: Corinna Cooke Make Up Artist
Goodyear | 602.300.8181 | corinnacookemakeup.com
“Corinna was one of the best choices I made for the wedding. She came to the hotel where we were getting ready and not only helped me look my best on my wedding day, but helped keep me calm. I received so many compliments on my makeup, but I kept telling everyone that I couldn’t take credit for it—I had an amazing makeup artist!” – Michelle Rasmussen, married March 19, 2011

BEST DJ
The finalists are: Got You Covered, Ray the DJ, SKM Entertainment
The winner is: SKM Entertainment
Scottsdale | 480.423.1114 | skmentertainment.com
“I would highly recommend SKM, especially [MC] Justin [Chapin]. He kept the night rolling, timed everything perfectly, got the crowd involved, and we didn’t have to worry about a thing. The reception was flawless! I will give Justin all the credit; he kept people on the dance floor. He really has a passion for what he does and it shows. SKM is worth every penny!” – Shaunna Adinolfi, married Nov. 12, 2010

BEST BAND
The finalists are: The Instant Classics, The Hamptons, Shining Star Band
The winner is: The Hamptons
Phoenix | 480.236.3001 | thehamptonsband.com
“We loved The Hamptons and so did our guests. We received so many compliments on the music. They played the perfect combination of older songs and contemporary music. They even learned our first-dance song specifically for our reception and played it beautifully. We couldn’t recommend them enough to other couples. You won’t be disappointed.” – Samantha Dillon, married April 9, 2011

BEST RENTAL AND DECOR
The finalists are: Classic Party Rentals, Creative Occasions, PRO EM
The winner is: Classic Party Rentals
Phoenix | 602.232.9900 | phoenix.classicpartyrentals.com
“Classic Party Rentals did an incredible job helping us create a vision and overall look for our wedding. We took our ideas to them and they made every single one a reality. Everything from our cocktail glasses to the checkered dance floor was set perfectly and made such an incredible statement. Thank you to Classic Party Rentals for all your hard work to make our wedding so beautiful!” – Andrea Leslie, married Aug. 20, 2010

BEST WEDDING-NIGHT HOTEL
The finalists are: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, Royal Palms Resort & Spa
The winner is: Royal Palms Resort & Spa
Phoenix | 602.840.3610 | royalpalmshotel.com
“We picked the Royal Palms because it’s the most beautiful and classy hotel in town. I love the pool area at the hotel, the restaurant is top-notch and there’s a spa. I also like that it’s not a huge resort—it has a sort of homey feel to it, and I think when all of our guests are staying there it will feel like our own private hotel. It will be such a gorgeous and romantic place to have our wedding!” – Becky Burns, to be married Sept. 4, 2011

BEST OFFICIANT
The finalists are: Mike Kennedy, Reverend Giovanni Weddings, Scott Swanson
The winner is: Scott Swanson
Chandler | 480.250.9875 | azofficiant.com
“After our first meeting with Scott, we were sure he was the one we wanted to marry us. Scott is very easy to talk to, funny and had the perfect ceremony options available to us. He made both of us feel at ease as we read our own vows, giving a smile and encouraging words as we went. We received so many compliments from those in attendance telling us that it was the nicest ceremony they had seen.” – Valerie Molite, married March 6, 2011

BEST FLORIST
The finalists are: Blume Events, Petal Pusher, Wolz’s Florist
The winner is: Petal Pusher
Avondale | 623.337.4868 | azpetalpusher.com
“Petal Pusher was such a pleasure to work with. I didn’t even interview more than one florist because I knew that Petal Pusher would be the one. They were consistently accommodating and flexible and worked with me to realize my vision within my budget. We got so many compliments on the flowers at our wedding, and they made the business part of the process clear and simple. I would recommend Petal Pusher to every bride.” – Alison Gong, married Feb. 19, 2011

BEST PHOTO BOOTH
The finalists are: A2Z Photo Booths, The Live Photo Booth, Snapbooth Entertainment
The winner is: The Live Photo Booth
Scottsdale | 480.947.0460 | thelivephotobooth.com
“From start to finish, there was a line of guests at the booth. The staff brought their own props for my guests to use in the photos, and in four hours they took and printed out over 400 photos. They also sent me a disk of every photo taken that night. My wedding was months ago, and my husband and I still get people telling us what a great idea the photo booth was. It was a big hit!” – Stacey Sellers Holly, married Jan. 22, 2011

BEST CAKE
The finalists are: Piece of Cake Desserts, Julia Baker Confections, Let Them Eat Cake
The winner is: Let Them Eat Cake
Phoenix | 602.952.5272 | letthemeatcakeaz.com
“Let Them Eat Cake came highly recommended by my wedding planner, Regina Osgood of Meant2Be Events, and is on the preferred vendor list at my venue, FireSky. [Owner Barbara Gardner] was accommodating and met us at FireSky for a tasting. I had Arizona Bride tear-outs of cakes I liked and gave her my own ideas. When she sketched it out, it was exactly what I had envisioned. I’m very happy I went with LTEC; they were accommodating, great with follow-up and brought my ideas to life.” – Jamie Fletcher, married March 19, 2011

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
The finalists are: Keith Pitts Photography, Kimberly Jarman, One Fine Day Photography
The winner is: Kimberly Jarman
Mesa | 480.203.1090 | kimberlyjarman.com
“We were a bit nervous about taking our engagement photos. But as it turns out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Kim is so sweet and good-natured, it’s hard to not feel comfortable around her! She is pure magic with the camera. The best part was that she got some great shots of us just being us. Yes, I did laugh so hard that my face contorted a bit, but hey, it was too fun not to.” – Shanleigh Pogorzelski, married April 16, 2011

BEST ACCESSORIES
The finalists are: Priscilla of Boston, Thee Wedding & Event Warehouse, Uptown Bridal & Boutique
The winner is: Priscilla of Boston
Scottsdale | 480.664.7534 | priscillaofboston.com
“Priscilla of Boston carries unique accessories that are unlike anything I’ve seen in the Valley. I spent six months trying to find accessories for my hair, which is really short. The salesperson at Priscilla helped me come up with a unique combination using a beautiful vintage-style flower headpiece and a cathedral-length veil (that I removed after the ceremony). It made me feel special and unique—and not at all self-conscious of my hair length.” – Nicole Smith, married Dec. 4, 2010

TOP OF THE TIARA: ALL-AROUND BEST WEDDING VENDOR

The finalists are: Santa Barbara Catering Company, Serendipity Videography, Your Heart’s Desire
The winner is: Serendipity Videography
Phoenix | 602.380.3869 | serendipityvideography.com
Years of learning about each other inside and out plus months of stressful wedding planning all lead up to a day that races by like seconds. To preserve the happiest day of their lives, many couples are choosing to capture their big days in living color. Arizona’s go-to group for creating once-in-a-lifetime wedding videos is Serendipity Videography, our readers’ pick for the very best wedding provider in the state.
     Jeff and Taryn Bills are the husband-and-wife team behind Serendipity. Jeff is an Emmy-award winning videographer with a background in journalism. Frustrated with the increasing sensationalism of the news business, Jeff wanted to get back to telling people’s stories. By shooting weddings, Serendipity tells the story of a couple’s wedding day, capturing not just the day’s sights, but also the sounds and emotions that really express a couple’s personality.
     “All of our wedding films are customized to who our clients are as a couple,” Taryn says. “They get to dictate the style and be part of producing a film that conveys their tastes and personalities.”
“Serendipity Videography was such a lifesaver to have during our wedding planning process,” says Victoria Kelley, who used Serendipity for her October 2010 wedding. “On the big day, the crew found all of the right shots and asked all of the right questions. We were absolutely blown away by how spot-on they interpreted the emotion and feel of our day.”
     Continues Kelley, “Looking back, the day arrived and whizzed by so much faster than we could have ever imagined, but the personal support and professional expertise we received from Serendipity has allowed us to reminisce with the most picture-perfect memories, both on screen and in our hearts.”