Colorado Springs Wedding Planner| Southern California Maternity Photo Shoot

We often times are most critical of ourselves and how we look whether it's every day or in pictures. I am exactly that person, I dislike pictures of me and think that I look horrible in every one! Add to that a pregnancy and you will not see me anywhere near a camera. After finding out I was pregnant with my second child, I decided that after 7 years I should probably finish Natali's baby book. (don't judge me!!!) A friend of mine got me hooked on Becky Higgins Project Life. While I could not go back in time and capture every day of Natali's life, I decided to re-do Natali's baby book in this format. While going through old pictures I came across maternity pictures I had done while pregnant with her.

I remember the exact same feeling I feel now back then; not feeling pretty, feeling HUGE and uncomfortable, but looking back I am thankful I had them done. So I decided to get in the mind frame to have them done for this pregnancy. I wanted something different from the typical norm that I see living here in Colorado. My daughter was heading to Southern California for spring break to visit her grandparents and great-grandmother. I instantly thought how a beach photo shoot would be something different from the obvious mountains. My grandmothers house over looks the ocean in Rancho Palos Verdes and I remember as a kid playing in the backyard with the amazing view of the ocean set behind us. I reached out to Ala Cortez of Love Ala a Southern California based photographer after falling in love with her work. She was a recommendation from the ever so talented Jasmine Star and anything from J* has got to be amazing! After speaking with Ala she told me lived in Rancho Palos Verdes near my grandmothers house, that she agreed on my style for the shoot and from there it felt so meant to be! I think she did an amazing job of capturing such a special moment with both my children!

  

From the first time Natali could give and understand a hug as a little girl, she gave the absolute best ones. She squeezed so tight and held them for so long and to this day I LOVE getting hugs from my baby girl.

  





Ala created such a special memory for Natali and I. While these pictures were also about Lucas Alexander and his growing process at 23 weeks pregnany, I saw through these pictures how much Natali loves and adores her mother. We all want that from our children and I feel truly blessed to have her as my daughter.

Thank you again to Love Ala Photography for creating such a memorable experience. If you are ever in Southern California think about reaching out to her! She is a doll and made us both feel comfortable!

Sarah Viera

Owner/Creative Designer
Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design
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"Best of the Springs Winner {2011} {2012} {2013} 

Spring Break! | Colorado Springs Event Planner

Its that time of year...Spring Break!!!!! Let the relaxing, sunbathing and parting with friends begin. What will you do with your time off?

Yesterday was the first day of Spring, yet the weather here in Colorado is not very spring-y! Its been slightly cold this week with the possibility of snow this weekend! Being a native of California I am ready for Winter to be put to bed and Spring and hot Summers to wake up. But the cold weather front here will not stop our Spring break plans. My daughter has two weeks off from school and she can't wait! At the precious age of seven she is already counting down the days and hours that she has left in the classroom (apple does not fall far from the tree...). For her Spring break she will be visiting the beautiful Southern California with her grandparents. They have a jam packed few weeks planned with a trip to Train Town Museum, an entire day spent at the pool, a show at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, plus Easter egg decorating/hunting and Disneyland to close out the week. What kid wouldn't want to have a Spring break like that?

I remember my grandparents use to take my brother and I to the Medieval Times show when we were kids, I LOVED it. I am so excited that my Dad and Step-mom are passing down this tradition to my daughter and nephew. It is truly one of the *must do* things when visiting the Los Angeles area. I remember how we couldn't use utensils to eat our food and this was so outside my box, but I guarantee my daughter and nephew will have no problems digging right in. I haven't been to one of these shows since I was a little girl so it will be a whole new experience for me to see it as an adult. Is it as cool as I once believed!?!?!

I hope everyone has a fun, safe and relaxing Spring break wherever you are! Please let me know what fun things you will be doing this Spring break! I'd love to hear.

Sarah Viera

Owner/Creative Designer
Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design

{call} 719.358.3998

{write} sarah@sarahvieraevents.com

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www.SarahVieraEvents.com

"Best of the Springs Gold" Winner {2011} {2012}

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for your Groom | Colorado Springs Weddingplanner

Calling all brides!!!! Do you know what your getting your soon to be groom for the big V day?!?!?!? Either you are filled with excitement as you already have the perfect gift planned or you are like me and dreading all the days leading up to it till you find that perfect gift. Well look no further....SVE is here to help!

Here is what would be on my "idea" board for my hubby if we were to being getting married. Yes we are already married (10 years in fact) but I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few of these gifts!

Jenna Walker Photography

1. Personalized Cuff Links
Red Envelope has personalized cuff links where you can put a special message on a scroll to give your mate before he walks down the aisle. 












2. Personalized Shirt
Buying your soon to be groom a personalized shirt to wear under his tux or suit is a small detail that will last a lifetime! Buying that special brand or type of shirt, having it personalized with initials will make him feel that much more comfortable on the big day! 

Tracey Carolyn Photography

3. Shaving Accessories
What would be better than having your groom have a soft kissable face on your wedding day? Give your groom to be his own personal shave kit or a gift certificate to a custom shave! (My husband has always said he wants a custom shave, so that is top on my list!)

Jenna Walker Photography

4. Couples Massage
So many times grooms give their soon to be wife a massage so they can relax on the days prior to the big event. But why not have him join in on the massage. Relax together and truly enjoy the experience of unwinding and the bliss of soon to be marriage. Mateo's Day Spa has amazing spa packages that I have taken advantage of numerous times.

5. Add a little bling to his attire on the big day! Not only will this gift be worthwhile on the wedding day, but for many other days after. When putting this gift on daily or just or special events he will always think of you. 


































6. Boudoir Photos
While this is not my cup of tea (way too shy!!) some brides are outgoing and would love to do this. There are so many tasteful pictures one can take that will truly impress your groom to be! 












Hope these items help you find that perfect gift! 

Sarah Viera

Owner/Creative Designer
Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design

{call} 719.358.3998

{write} sarah@sarahvieraevents.com

{like} Facebook

{tweet} Twitter

{pin} Pinterest

www.SarahVieraEvents.com

"Best of the Springs Gold" Winner {2011} {2012}

**Caption this photo** | Colorado Springs wedding planner

I  love when I have bridal parties that are over the top funny. This group was no different and this is just one of the hilarious pictures captured on their special day. 

If you could caption this picture what would it say?....GO!

Venue: Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch
Photography: Jenna Walker Photography

The details on Colorado bridal show | Wine & Nosh 2013 | Colorado Springs wedding planner

Ooh bridal show season is in full swing!! Haven't you been hearing about them on the radio? This one is giving away a entire wedding and that one has discounts galore! Well I am here to tell you about ONE more! :) We aren't giving away an entire wedding but we have an amazing line up of events planned!

Wine & Nosh 2013 is a unique approach to the bridal show world. Three years ago when we did the first Wine & Nosh you didn't see many other bridal shows like this! What's so different you ask? You will not walk in and see 8ft tables squeezed against the wall with no room in between. Vendors will not be jumping out from behind their table with their sales car approach, but instead we invite you to come and relax in a inviting atmosphere. The vendors selected for this event were hand picked and chosen with great care in regards for the atmosphere of the event. We hope you enjoy meeting them as much as I have enjoyed working with all of them! They truly are all FABULOUS!!! 

Besides the inviting atmosphere we welcome you to come sip on a glass of wine, enjoy a little nosh (definition: to eat a small snack) and see a spectacular fashion show put on by the Castle Rock bridal boutique Wedding Treasures. In addition to the fashion show we will have flair bartenders from Peak Beverage showing off their bartender skills (or acting like Tom Cruise in Cocktail!!!!), throwing up bottles and glasses for all to see. How cool would that be to have at your own wedding?

Raffle drawings will take place throughout the night for all attending brides with chances to win free attire, photography deals, entertainment discounts and so much more! There are so many artistic and talented vendors participating in the show that you just need to come and see for yourself! 

You don't want to miss this amazing bridal show in Albert's Lodge at the beautiful Spruce Mountain Ranch on February 9 at 4pm. Please RSVP to Sarah@sarahvieraevents.com for your spot. First 50 brides will receive a gift bag full of goodies and a bottle of wine to take home!!!!

Participating Vendors:
All Digital Studios
A Vintage Affair Rentals
Amanda Lamb Photography
Anna Be
Art & Style Baking
Artistry Events & Design
Bellamint Photography
Captivate by Aleigha
Cassidy Brooke Photography
Celebrity Dj
Charming Chairs
Cloud 9
DDG Classic Transportation
Event Rents
Hillside Consultants
Jade Darrough
Magnifica Bella
Newberry Brothers Floral
Peak Beverage
Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design
Shutterbooth Denver
Splendor for your Guests
Spruce Mountain Ranch
Starkey Productions
Sugarplum Cake Shoppe
The Bundt Shoppe
Tony Rosacci's Fine Catering
Twigs and Posies Floral

Wedding Treasures Bridal and Tuxedo

A SPECIAL thanks to the following vendors for contributing their amazing talents to make Wine & Nosh 2013 possible.

Attire/fashion show: Wedding Treasures
Catering: Tony Rossaci's Fine Catering
Chair Rentals: Charming Chairs
Design: Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design
Desserts: The Bundt Shoppe
Entertainment: Starkey Productions
Floral: Hillside Consultants
Furniture Rentals: A Vintage Affair Rentals & Artistry Events
Hair: Captivate by Aleigha
Makeup: Magnifica Bella
Rentals: Event Rents
Venue: Spruce Mountain Ranch

Colorado Springs wedding planner | **BIG** news!

We have BIG and EXCITING news here at Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design! (SVE). Where to begin? Well we are getting ready for another exciting wedding season ahead of us. Last year ended on a high note and we couldn't be happier with the brides and clients we worked with! Each of them were fantastic in their own special way and I truly enjoyed providing my services for them! Not only did SVE coordinate weddings, bridal showers, and engagement parties, but we also ventured to the Corporate world and did a Holiday and New Years Eve party. Couldn't be happier with how 2012 ended! 

For 2013 we have our books full again! (Yay!!!!-me jumping up and down right now). While we still have a few open dates on the books left we are looking to have yet another busy summer and fall wedding season. SVE gets to head to some amazing Colorado venues and we couldn't be happier with where the job takes us! 

Another **BIG** and exciting adventure for SVE was a revamp in branding. While I still love my original branding, I wanted something new and fresh! I wanted to incorporate SVE into the brand so clients (and myself) don't feel like they have to say the full name of Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design. It can be a little long at times, especially when on the phone and letting people know who I am! So here it is....

  
Thoughts? Do you love? I do!!! Its so clean and simple and well....me! Thank you to The Tiny Cottage for designing! With re branding comes re-doing everything! I am so thankful to have my amazing designer/assistant Michelle on board. She has been great with helping update materials and is so willing to take a bigger role in SVE this coming year. Look for Michelle at weddings, stop by and say hello to her as she is a huge asset to SVE! On another note SVE may be growing by one more...someone else who wants to get into the wedding industry and was a former client. So like I said **BIG** things to come in 2013. 

And one final **BIG** news announcement...SVE is actually growing by one more and not in the terms of more assistants! We are expecting our very own Viera Bebe! We couldn't be happier and are excited to expand the Viera Family! 

"You're off to Great Places! 

Today is your day

Your mountain is waiting,

So...get on your way!" -Dr.Seuss

Colorado Springs Wedding Planner | Kate Marie Photography

If you're from the South, or the word "y'all" is a regular in your vocabulary, you know all about bridal portrait sessions. If not, it's time you knew what they're all about! One of my fan-tab-ulous brides from 2012, Leighanne, described bridal sessions better than I ever could. Enjoy her thoughts on bridal sessions, along with some images from her very own bridal portrait session!

Growing up in the south, our wedding traditions differ than most of your "typical" nuptials. Large bridal parties, monogrammed everything, koozies in hand and a formal yet laid back atmosphere only slightly describe a big day below the Mason Dixon.

Oh yes...and a large framed formal portrait of the bride prominently displayed on an easel by the guest book. 

One of the most important things on a southern bride's "to-do" list is having formal bridal portraits taken about 2-3 months before your wedding. Dress fittings, flowers, make-up and hair must all be perfect as well. Yes, it's that big of a deal! It's essentially a dress rehearsal for your bombshell bridal look on your wedding day. Not to mention, it's one more chance to wear your dress and act like you are a model for wedding magazine. What bride would not want that?!

How did the tradition start? Long before the early 1900's, it was uncommon to have a photographer at a wedding. Therefore, bridal portraits or "Bridals" were usually taken of the bride in her dress to commemorate the special occasion. When the tradition make it's way to the beautiful south, "Bridals" had soon become a rite of passage for Southern debutantes. Today, it is a keepsake that hung in the bride's parents home for years to come. My mother has a large framed bridal portraits of both myself and my sister-in-law hung up in her formal living room (both displayed at our weddings), as did my grandparents of my mom and aunt, and so on.

I purposely picked out my dress about 15 months before I got married and had my make-up/hair trial done 4 months before the big day strictly for the purpose of perfect portraits. You're probably thinking it sounds like more work than it's worth. For some it may be but if you're like me and love getting all dolled up, it's one more excuse to feel like you're Cinderella. Plus...you get to SEE your look in photos beforehand, that way you feel confident in that you look like a total bridal goddess on your wedding day. It gives the mother of the bride ultimate bragging rights, it's a historical tradition you can pass down to your children and grandchildren, and it makes for a great little gift to give your husband for his desk at work (just to remind him how perfect and beautiful his wife is). ;)

I had only met one photographer in Colorado who had ever heard of such of thing before I talked to Katie. Sure we had fears of a snagged dress or a torrential down pour mid-shoot, but Katie exceeded every expectation for the vision of my southern bridal look and created the most beautiful formal portraits every bride-to-be could dream of. We had an absolute blast shooting them! Thank you Katie for all your AMAZING work! :)

To learn more about Kate Marie Photography check out her bio here