Category Archives: Beautiful Celebrations

Reception Venues in Salt Lake City Can Help You Leave Your Worries Behind

February 28, 2013 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

Crazy things can and often happen at wedding celebrations. If you plan ahead and choose good reception venues in Salt Lake City run by Western Gardens, most of your worries will be resolved! Your chances of experiencing those perfect moments during your celebration is dramatically increased. Let the wedding professional worry about all the little details and you and your new spouse can focus on the tasks that only you can do!

When you’ve gotten so wrapped up in all the other details of the celebration as a whole, you are more apt to forget those details that only you can do. My wedding day was wonderful and we had several moments when we had forgotten to do a task that only we could do for ourselves. For example, my fiancé showed up at the wedding ceremony without having shaved his face! He has been so nervous doing other things like picking up tuxedos, etc, that he forgot to do “his” task. At first, I was frustrated with him, but then we laughed and realized how busy we had been and now the day was here and we needed to relax and enjoy each moment.

Do realize that on the day of your wedding, things will happen that are beyond your control. Take the day as it comes and enjoy! If you don’t want your venue to be among those laughable moments that you actually would like to cry about, then choose one of the wedding locations in Salt Lake City run by Western Gardens, like Ivy House Weddings or Atrium Weddings. They will provide you and your guests with a beautiful setting and very little is left up to you to worry about.

Beautiful Celebrations, Ceremonies

Savvy Brides Ask For Help at Their Weddings in Salt Lake City

February 10, 2013 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

For the most part, planning weddings in Salt Lake City is exciting and fun, but at times it can seem rather overwhelming. When you feel like it is just too much for you to handle, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it be picking up tuxes, hemming bridesmaids dresses, serving food, or picking out centerpieces, there will always be someone who is willing to help. The best people to ask are friends and neighbors who may have watched you grow up and care a lot about you.

In my neighborhood growing up, there were always women around who were willing to help with anything they could. They would make sure every young woman getting married was thrown a bridal shower, they would help with serving the food at the wedding and moreover volunteer their daughters to bus tables. When a bride was in need, they would willingly get to work.

This was especially true for one young woman in the neighborhood. About a year or two before her wedding, her mother passed away. Knowing that she would need some extra help, a few women showed up at her door asking what they could do. She wasn’t exactly sure what she needed to be doing herself, much less know how these women could help her. Since most of them had daughters of their own and knew a little about planning weddings, they were able to help her along the way. One helped with dress alterations, others helped put together the menu and gather all the food, others did the centerpieces and most all helped to serve and bus tables at the reception. She had very little to worry about in planning her wedding. Not only did she get a lot of help with her wedding, she learned that there were many women in her life who loved her and were willing to step in as mother figures when her mother was not there.

In planning your special day, remember that there are women and men in your life that will be more than willing to help with whatever you need. If you plan to have your event at Ivy House Weddings located in Western Gardens downtown Salt Lake City, you have the option of self-catering which can save money and provide an opportunity for others to help with your wedding.

Beautiful Celebrations

Perfection at Utah Wedding Venues Is More Than Just Looking Perfect

January 11, 2013 Wendy Pettit 1 Comment

As a bride plans her wedding day she strives for absolute perfection, after all, this is the day she has been waiting for her entire life. Once the ring is on her finger she begins her search for the perfect dress, flowers, cake, invitations and the most perfect of all the Utah wedding venues. She may be so focused on every tiny detail that she forgets the most important detail of the day. She forgets the monumental life changing event that will give her a new identity as a woman. It is on that day that she becomes a wife and begins a wonderful, exciting new life with the man she is deeply in love with.

When you are caught in the moment of planning a wedding, EVERYTHING seems important, but you will find that on your day those things are not so important after all. In all honesty, all the things you do for your wedding day will soon be forgotten by most in attendance. The invitation you so carefully picked out will most likely be thrown after it is used to find your venue. The food you chose to serve will most likely not be tasted by you because you will be in the line greeting guests and not eating. You may not notice or even have a chance to really see how your beautiful centerpieces turned out. Also, your gorgeous bouquet will seem so heavy after holding it for hours that you may wish you either didn’t have it or that it was much smaller. The bridesmaids that you so carefully chose may spend the evening extremely bored hating the dress they have been forced to wear.

Plan now to remember that on your wedding day, you will slow down and focus on the tender moments that make your day special instead of rushing to make things look perfect. Let your Utah wedding reception centers worry about all those details. You just enjoy the moments. Remember the expression on your new husband’s face when he sees you in your dress for the first time. Remember the moment in the dressing room with your mother as you look in the mirror together and she tells you how beautiful you look and how proud she is. Remember that your frail grandfather was able to make it to the ceremony and the tender kiss he gave as he wished you well. Remember the pure joy you feel as you are joined to your dear husband. If you take the time to focus on the tender moments of the day, it will be the perfect day you have always dreamed of.

Beautiful Celebrations

Reception Centers in Salt Lake City that Display Memoriam of Three Special Women and Their Wedding Quilts

January 3, 2013 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

This lovely Bride and Groom honored three special grandparents by displaying three quilts that these women had created before they left this earth. It is obvious that beautiful quilting is a talent that the bride and groom will remember these special ladies by throughout their wedding years. Reception centers in Salt Lake City, like Ivy House Weddings, have many optional locations for the bride to set up beautiful memoriam such as this.

Beautiful Celebrations

Exquisite Silk Flower Bridal Bouquet and Wedding Cake at Reception Centers in Utah Like Ivy House Weddings

January 2, 2013 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

This was one of the most unique bridal bouquets of 2012 at Ivy House Weddings, one of Western Garden’s reception centers in Utah. The bride created her bridal bouquet herself of various silk and ribbon flowers!

Weeks in the planning and creating, it is obvious that Kristen has a real talent. She created each individual silk flower from all types of ribbon. The plethora of roses, hydrangeas, gallardias, dahlias, hibiscus, lily of the valley and other beautiful creations adorned this masterpiece. She chose rich earth tones with touches of gold and silver for an elegant spray. When she had created all the pieces, she asked a friend to arrange them into this work of art. I would say this was a huge success and Kristen will be able to enjoy this art work in her home for years to come, a constant reminder of her and Doug’s wedding union and their celebration at Ivy House Weddings, one of Utah wedding reception centers that allow the bride to use her own florist.

The bride’s bouquet was not the only item that set the bride’s style at her wedding celebration. She also chose to use a dear friend to create her wedding cake. Again, it is another unique piece of art, definitely worth noting. A delightful kindred spirit created this 3-tier delicate masterpiece. The bride and Linda have been long time friends, traveling together on many adventures, and sharing church beliefs and interests. The cake consisted of two-tiers on top of four white pillars upon a large round base. The most unique attribute about this cake was the delicate pastel frosting used to decorate. The little pink rose buds with green leaves was indeed very light and airy, giving the cake such a delicate and tender appearance. The artist also included Lilly of the Valley along with a few white pearls to give it just a final little touch of lightness. There was nothing heavy about this gorgeous cake. I have not seen a cake with Lily of the Valley. This was a very unique and soft touch.

We are finding that brides really enjoy wedding reception centers in Utah, like Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens downtown, that allow them the freedom to choose their own cake designers and florists. It becomes a more unique wedding celebration that reflects more of the bride’s personal style.

Beautiful Celebrations

Wedding venues Salt Lake City Offers Has Built in Luxury For Bride’s Affordable Dreams

December 10, 2012 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

If you are looking for the newest wedding venues Salt Lake City has to offer, you’ll discover Ivy House Weddings. This is one of the newest and chic wedding venues in Salt Lake downtown with many options that brides and their families enjoy. This bride completely enjoyed the option to bring her own cake designer, florist, and caterer rather than use Ivy House preferred partners. Many of her providers were friends or family so this worked out perfectly.

This petite vivacious bride chose ivory and pastel pink colors for her decor. All the guests enjoyed her beautiful cakes as refreshments that she ordered from Granite Bakery, who also was her cake designer. Beautiful and refreshing fruit assortment also was served.

This bride had her brothers introduce all her bridesmaids who came parading in from the elegant bride’s dressing room. What a fun time everyone had dancing the Macarena among other dances. Salt Lake City wedding venues like Ivy House are a great place to celebration such special unions.

The Flower Patch created her flower masterpieces and her photographer was a dear friend of the bride named Bethany Bown. Salt Lake City weddings can be beautiful dreams come true for Utah brides when their reception centers allows the freedom to work within a budget.

Beautiful Celebrations, Ceremonies, Receptions

Informative Topics for Blogs at Wedding Reception Centers in Salt Lake City

November 15, 2012 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

Which wedding topics do you need to help you with your wedding plans? Below is a calendar listing a new idea I’m implementing in writing blogs for Ivy House Weddings, one of most beautiful wedding reception centers in Salt Lake City. This calendar will help me get to you what you want. You can see that themes coming up include your wedding photographer, Traditional Christmas Weddings, Decorating with a Budget, helping guests wait in shorter lines, and time schedules for your celebration.

If you have other themes you want to read about or see on our blog, please ‘like’ our Facebook page Ivy House Weddings and list your subject matter. I will research those items of interest to you and then post them. Also, tell me if you like reading about the events we have hosted at our wedding center. That has been the main focus of our blogs to this point. What’s your opinion?

Ivy House doesn’t want to be just another of the many Salt Lake City reception centers. Our privilege is to be YOUR reception center.

Beautiful Celebrations

Saying It with Photos at Wedding Reception Centers in Utah

November 6, 2012 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

This bride was very effective at expressing her style at her wedding celebration at Ivy House Weddings, one of Western Garden’s wedding reception centers in Utah. She used several photos to demonstrate her and her beau’s personalities for their guests. A favorite photo was one showing only the bottom of the couple’s shoes with the written words “I Do…Me Too”. Another photo showed the couple with their hands up in the air configuring their fingers to create the word “Love”. Very clever and definitely relayed the camaraderie this couple enjoys together.

Jungle green was the bride’s primary color, but she accented the Utah wedding venue with leopard prints in a throw rug for the wedding line and linen toppers for her table centerpieces. Even the groom’s cake was decorated with the leopard motif.

Uniquely, this bride had her guests put thumbprints on a large poster with a tree drawn on it. With different shades of green, the thumbprints became the leaves on the tree. By the end of the reception, the tree was full of greenery wishing the newlyweds a healthy fruitful life. Just so you know, moist wipes were provided for the guests to wipe the ink off their fingers.

Also, can you imagine the smile on the groom’s face when he entered the groom’s room to prepare himself for the evening. There he found on the counter, a photo of his bride staring at him and one of her high heels strategically placed by the photo. This scene was worth a thousand words.

The bride chose our preferred cake designer Carrie’s Cakes to create her green and white masterpiece. This is one of two cake designer partners at this Utah wedding reception center. Magelby’s was the caterer serving sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables. Her photographer was Kristina Bath and Videographer was Taylor Allred. Garden Elegance was her florist.

Bride’s Mother wrote: “The staff is very helpful and accommodating. We loved everything. It was just beautiful!”

Beautiful Celebrations, Receptions

Salt Lake Wedding Venues That Don’t Require Additional Decorating By the Bride

October 22, 2012 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

One of the most chic wedding venues Salt Lake City accommodates is Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens Downtown. Brides really enjoy the fact that they do not feel like they have to decorate a lot for their celebrations, but if they want to add more, they are welcome to do so. With the Ivy House tall silver candlesticks (one of several options) on each guest table, this bride added a touch of tule with votive candles and smooth shinny river stones. The bridal-toss bouquet served as the flowers on the sign-in table and that was just about it for decorating this sophisticated Salt Lake wedding venue.

For this event, our bride chose our preferred caterer Utah Celebrations who thrilled the guests with their flaming crepe bar. Her cake designer was Cake Defleur who created this very simple and elegant cake. Her photographer was Ashlee Broke Photography and the florist was Mel Kester.

Comments written by the bride and groom: The Ivy House was beautiful and everything I could imagine as a bride. Our guests all loved it too. I will always remember my day because of the experiences I had with Ivy House. Thank you! ~ Anna & Pete May 5, 2012

Beautiful Celebrations, Receptions

Utah Wedding Venues Like Ivy House Weddings Give Brides Many Choices

October 10, 2012 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

What an adorable couple! Kira and Wade chose Ivy House Weddings, one of two Utah wedding venues managed by Western Gardens Center. This wedding venue in Utah was perfect for many reasons, but one was that Kira had many friends and family wanting to help with catering, cake designing, and floral arrangements. Ivy House allows such choices.

Kira’s Aunt created her exquisite dainty cake topped with pink roses. Her floral arrangements were simple day lilies that gave off a faint fragrance that filled the main hall. A family friend from Siegfried Deli was the caterer. Everyone enjoyed cakes and finger foods. Dave from Jaffa photography was her photographer who kept busy all evening.

Enjoy my own photos of her last dance with father, the cake cutting, and her first dance with her new husband. This Utah wedding venue holds many beautiful memories from this wedding celebration in June!