Rustic and Chic New Year's Eve Wedding - 242 Park Avenue

Alright guys, I know I haven't shared here in a while, but I have so many stunning Weddings and Events from 2016 that I cannot wait any longer to share with you - starting with this stunna' right here. This New Year's Eve Wedding is especially near and dear to my heart, as the Groom happens to be my cousin, Stanton Harper, who is just 4 days older than me and would never let me forget it growing up :) He and his beautiful Bride-to-be, Rachel, were such an awesome couple to plan with - we met for Brunch at one of my favorite spots, Baja Cafe and they introduced me to one of theirs, Monsoons, at our very first meeting. When I pulled out my notebook and began taking notes as we talked, my cousin exclaimed, "Mollee, you are really serious about this, we are so lucky to have you!" I want each and every one of my clients to know that I treat their Special Day is if it were my own, or in this case, one of my closest family members. As soon as hearing their overall vision, and awesome vendor team they had selected, I knew this Wedding was going to be the absolute best way to end 2016! Special thanks to Marie Cameron Photography for capturing the love between these two so well - they have modeled for her a few times in the past, which you can check out here, so it was no surprise that each and every photo of them was pure perfection. I hope you enjoy all the rustic, sparkle and shine this New Year's Eve Wedding has to offer. 

Rachel and her beautiful Bridesmaids were lucky enough to be surrounded by even more gorgeousness as they got ready at the Royal Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast Inn located in Downtown Tucson, AZ. With the lovely Heather Van Houten and her team on hair and makeup, and a lovely breakfast provided by the Inn, the girls were truly treated like royalty. And how gorgeous is the Bride's sequin gold wedding dress??

Stanton and Rachel selected Park 242 as their wedding venue and it fit their overall feel and aesthetic perfectly. The gorgeous florals, which were provided by Alexis Grace Floral Designs, again complemented the couple's rustic and chic theme and added just the right amount of color to this spectacular day. The couple incorporated a ton of DIY touches, such as the bottles used for table numbers and as their centerpieces, which they painted and glittered themselves. Although, they may have had some help drinking the contents of these bottles by other loving family members ;)

Scroll through the photos below to see the Bride and Groom's vision come to life, as well as their awesome and memorable toasts given by the Groom's Brother and Sister, a sweet Father/Daughter dance that ended with the DJ asking all the Fathers and Daughters to join Rachel and her Dad on the dance floor, followed by an awesome Mother/Son dance to one of the Groom's Mom's favorite songs, "Wild Night" by John Mellencamp, that then led to an epic dance party and, of course, a Champagne Toast and Midnight Kiss to welcome in the New Year! We have a feeling 2017 is going to be the "Best Year Ever" for this sweet couple :)

Stanton and Rachel, your Wedding was truly a dream and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it. I can't wait to see what else life has in store for the two of you - and Rachel, you have always felt like a part of our family since the beginning and I am so happy to now official be able to call you a "Harper" - wishing you both all the best, now, forever and always - love you lots! #HarperNewYear 

"Bye, Bye Boobie" Party - #cancersucks

Veronica Velazquez has been one of my dearest friends for almost a decade - we have been young and crazy together, we work together, as Vero often helps as my assistant or lead at events, and more recently, I have had the joy of watching her begin to start a beautiful lil' family of her own. Her Son Arthur, now 3, was only a year old when Veronica was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. In our culture, which associates breast cancer with survivorship, it is difficult for people to understand  that metastatic breast cancer means they will be in treatment for the rest of their lives. Veronica's hope is to spread the message that we need to continue to fight for stage IV patients and that someday, we will find a cure.

She was recently interviewed for KVOA news, as she has a goal of raising $5,000 by April 2017. Please follow along with this story as our hope is to hold a local fundraiser in the early Spring of 2017 to help her achieve her goal. For now, please consider donating to her site directly or simply taking the time to learn more about what living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer really means and what we can do to help find a cure! 

Click Here to see a video!

This party was thrown for Veronica after her diagnosis and was graciously hosted by her friends Audra and Bobbie - they put a lot of time and energy into the details for this party and it turned out awesome! I hope it inspires others to come together for their friends during a difficult time and turn a negative into something positive :)

Releasing balloons at the end of the party <3

And what party would be complete without a DIY Photo Booth?

Vero, we love you and will continue to fight along side you in all that you do. You have showed us why this life is worth living and we know  for a fact, "You Got This!!"

Real Life "Father of the Bride" Wedding - Private Residence

Get a tissue ready ... or maybe just grab the whole box. From the moment I met with the lovely Mother of the Bride, Kimm, I knew this Wedding was going to be one reminiscent of my all time favorite wedding-themed movie, "Father of the Bride" - the main reason being, that this wedding would be taking place in the Bride's cherished family home, where her and her siblings had grown up. The day was filled with love and laughter, and the wedding day began with, wait for it, a one-on-one game of basketball between the Bride and her Father. Lauren is the first of her siblings to marry and you could literally feel the family's joy and happiness for her. She was getting ready to marry her true Prince Charming (to top it off, the Bride Lauren, works for Disney!) and they knew in the end, they were not losing a Sister, but simply gaining one more Brother into their already amazing family. All images captured by Keith & Melissa Photographers.

David and Lauren's first look photos perfectly captured the overwhelming feeling of anxiety, that then leads to the heart-fluttering realization that you are about to marry the love of your life, which is followed by complete assurance that this exactly where you are meant to be ... in each others arms, until death do you part. Marriage is a promise and this Bride and Groom could not wait any longer to make it official.

The gazebo, which served as the focal point for the beautiful ceremony, was hand built, stained (and completed that morning!) by the Bride's Uncle - it was a "labor of love," to say the least, and will always have a special place and meaning as it now resides at the Bride and Groom's new home.

And sealed with a kiss - Mr. and Mrs. David Martinez!

The reception was again, a vision ripped straight from a movie. The majestic, white tent graced the beautiful lawn and a GOBO of the couple's monogram beckoned guests for a night filled with emotional toasts, delectable food and a dance party that threatened to never end. The Bride and Groom did eventually drive off into the night, after exiting though sparkles of light and shining faces of friends and family. P.O.M. Events was blessed to be a part of this real-life fairy tale and honestly, could the Bride and Groom have been more gorgeous??

And please take a moment to view this gorgeous video captured by one of the Bride's uber talented childhood friend - Ben Montemayor

Majestic Mountain Top Ceremony, Followed by a Modern Downtown Reception

This wedding was chalk full of love, gratitude, family and "chosen family" (a.k.a. the best of friends) and a few surprises along the way! No one can deny that Sarah and Andrew's wedding plans rose to new heights - to begin with, the ceremony was to take place on one of Tucson's most infamous mountain tops, the known (and only) place to go sledding as a kid since it's a quick 45 minute drive up the mountain to the top from the base, and only about an hour from Downtown, Tucson - the affectionately named, Mount Lemmon, AZ. 

The awesome chalk sign, made by the Bride's Sister In-law, let guests know they had made it up the mountain and to the ceremony spot! We loved the healthy trail mix that was available for the guests, along with lemonade and iced tea, for a quick refreshment before the ceremony began.

Too often, we are reminded of how quickly this life can pass us by - I think that is taken to the extreme and then multiplied for a wedding, as there are so many details and happenings all crammed into one single day, that it becomes difficult to remind ourselves to just stop... and be in the moment. I believe writing letters to each other before the ceremony, and chaos of the day has begun, is one of the best ways to freeze time and just be in the moment - and when the photographer is able to capture that moment, it is even that much sweeter.

The Bride's bouquet - beautiful florals created by the lovely Posh Petals

That special bond between Father and Daughter.

What an impressive, and stunningly gorgeous, Bridal Party!

Then, it was time to head down the mountain to Connect Coworking Space in Downtown Tucson, AZ - where an absolutely magical reception followed, complete with unique table card markers, a Surprise "tux" change, coordinated by the Best Man who was the Groom's twin brother and an epic Bride and Groom sparkler exit on the back of a Moped to the  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song - DOWNTOWN - which, if you have never heard it before, please do me a favor and just try to stop yourself from dancing in your seat as you give it a listen ;)

Sarah and Andrew, or should I say, "Mr. and Mrs. Brown," it was an absolute pleasure to assist you in planning your Big Day - the love between you two shone throughout the night and it was evident that love has touched many of the lives around you. Wishing you a lifetime full of love, happiness and this last one is a guarantee - laughter!! <3 Always, Mollee

Thank you to the Ahhhmazing vendor team involved -

Hair and Makeup - Heather Van Houten

Reception Venue - PLAYGROUND - Leah Schwersinske

Catering - Annette Hartman Catering

DJ - Josh Osteen

Cake - made by friends of Bride and Groom

Florals - Posh Petals

Photography - Caitlin Fairly Photography

A Holiday Family Dinner

This holiday family dinner is very near and dear to my heart. I have had the pleasure of being a part of many of this family's celebrations and gatherings for over the past 4 years. Since they are a large, loving family that continues to grow, they have decided to celebrate their "holiday" time together in between Thanksgiving and Christmas - I love this new tradition because as we know, it is not the day that matters but who you are with, that makes all the difference. This year's theme was carried out in shades of red and silver by using crystal icicle wreaths, adorned with silver snowflakes and candy cane striped pillar candles in the center. Small floral arrangements in red glitter tins and snow frosted pine cones completed this wintry look. The custom holiday dinner menu was created by the creative and talented Mark Jorbin of Carte Blanche Catering located at Cafe a La C'Art at the Tucson Museum of Art. After they finished their meal, the family moved into the recently decorated living room, complete with a traditionally decorated Christmas Tree for their gift exchange.  Thank you to one of their lovely and also very talented daughters, Susannah of Susannah Lynn Photography for capturing and sharing these images with me. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special holiday celebration!

Stlylized Bridal Photo Shoot in Benson, AZ

It started out as a bright, sunny day with a few clouds looming in the background, as I made my way out to Benson, AZ - a small town just about about 45 miles Southeast of Tucson, AZ. I had been invited by the lovely and talented Annie of Arizona Doe Baking Co. to participate in a photo shoot at the Historic Amerind Foundation and Museum. As I pulled up to the site, the ominous rain clouds that had followed me in, began to open and it started to lightly drizzle. We managed to unload our vehicles full of antique pieces from Nellie's Shabby Boutique, gorgeous stylized cakes and desserts, as well as stunning blooms crafted by Vicky, owner of  Benson Blossom Shop. The rain let up just in time for us to begin shooting. The clouds gave the space a cool, but soft and romantic feel - I loved the contrast of the gray skies against the distinctive peach color of the buildings. I am so thrilled about the images that Robyn of Hayseed Charm Photography was able to capture, including those of our breathtaking model, Lisa Chavez. Thank you ladies for including me in what turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day! Southern Arizona has so much to offer couple's when it comes to unique wedding venues and amazing vendors; I cannot wait to continue doing more custom, stylized events, such as these.

The sweetheart tablescape design was complete with the lovely Bridal bouquet, as well as custom stamped sugar cookies, made by Arizona Doe Baking Co. - I always recommend  useful or edible favors, such as these, to the couple's I work with - such a fun idea!

Love's First Kiss

One of my absolute favorite moments of a couple's special day happens to be their "first official kiss" - it makes me think of the scene in The Wedding Singer where Drew Barrymore is talking to her character's sister, played by Christine Taylor - they are having a debate about the first kiss, as the wedding is taking place in a church, and they decide there is only one way to settle it ... Julia (Drew Barrymore) must kiss Robbie (Adam Sandler) to show Holly what she means by "church tongue" - here's the clip :)
 

I am a firm believer that this "first kiss" is actually a quick glimpse into the moment when the couples fall in love with each other all over again. It literally gives me goose bumps every time! Here are just a few of my favorite lip-locks from some recent weddings. Whether it is short and sweet or includes a full on "dip," the couple's first kiss on wedding day is sure to make your heart swoon!
 

Cindy and Greg - photo credit: Wilde Love Photography
 

Connie and Neal - photo credit: Ryan Scott Welsh Photography

And checkout that dip!

Megan and Tyler Goodwillie - photo credit: Danielle Apple Photography
 

Private Preview Party - "The Tasting"

We are absolutely thrilled that we now get a chance to share with you some of the "behind the scenes" from the event we have been most recently working on - it all started with a phone call from Annette Hartman Catering asking me, "Do you know what The Container Store is?" Well, I may not have been 100% sure at the time I was asked, but my response now would be, "only the best store ever!!" Especially for us type "A" personalities - it is an organizational paradise! If you still haven't visited one, please check them out as you will end up realizing how much easier your life could be with just a few products from The Container Store! By the end of this event, my wish list has grown to about 3 pages long! Here are some photos of the awesome tasting we did for our contacts, when we first submitted a proposal, for their private preview party, at Reilly Craft Pizza + Drink in Downtown Tucson, AZ.
 

Reilly Craft Pizza and their recently opened beer garden made the perfect backdrop for Annette Hartman Catering and her team to showcase their gorgeous food selections.

Ashley of Modern Aquarian provided the beautiful custom sign - she is truly amazing!

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A few more photos of the luscious surroundings and our setup for the tasting.

Thank you to everyone who helped us make this a success and please stay tuned for more posts in regard to this awesome event, including setup day and the actual private preview party!

• Gorgeous marketing materials provided by {on-dree-ah} Graphic Design
• Beautiful floral arrangements provided by Elaine Taylor, Fine Flowers