• Wedding Trends We Are Loving This Year

    Explore The Top Wedding Trends of 2024

    Gone are the days of cookie-cutter wedding ceremonies. Modern wedding planning has introduced many creative ways to personalize the look and feel of your big day. To inspire your upcoming wedding, La Princesa in Phoenix, AZ, is here to share the top wedding trends of 2024.

    Incorporating the Latest Wedding Trends Into Your Big Day

    With the finale of 2024 on the horizon, now is the best time to start planning the details of your wedding ceremony and reception. Wedding trends are ever-changing. However, understanding this year’s crowd-pleasers can inspire you to incorporate new ideas into your upcoming wedding, making sure that your wedding is modern and stylish.

    Studio Shot of a Newly Married Young Couple Sitting Together

    Aesthetic Dress Codes

    Color-specific and cohesive wedding party attire is not a new concept. However, aesthetic dress codes are now replacing this approach. A top trend in 2024 weddings, aesthetic dress codes consist of looser formal wear outlines such as mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses and less specific color requirements, fostering a more authentic and candid feel.

    Farm-to-Table & Wellness Elements

    In the era of sustainability and wellness, it’s no surprise that fruits and vegetables have taken center stage in the wedding trends of 2024. Stepping away from traditional flower assortments and table décor, many brides opted for a farm-to-table aesthetic, using local produce and seasonal greens as centerpieces, and offering guests refreshing wellness cocktails and mixers.

    Branded Welding Pieces

    Sticking with the theme of sustainability, branded welding pieces were a booming trend this season. Cutting back on paper waste and doubling as a cherished keepsake, these custom crests and monograms can take on many roles, including:

    • Save-the-date cards
    • Invitations
    • Seating charts
    • Venue signage
    • Photobooths

    Outfit Changes

    Historically, multiple wedding-day outfits were not part of the plans. However, this growing wedding trend of 2024 has changed this. Whether it’s to demonstrate their cultural heritage or showcase statements of self-expression, many couples have shifted to multiple outfit changes.

    Candid Pictures of Married Couple Taken on Disposable Film Camera

    Disposable Film Cameras for Candid Pictures

    Staged photographs were overshadowed by an old-time favorite this year. Among the most common wedding trends of 2024 was the return of disposable film cameras. These retro-inspired additions allow guests to capture candid shots that display the essence of the ceremony in its most authentic form.

    Wedding Theme Customization

    The “White Wedding” is no longer the standard. If we’ve learned anything from the wedding trends of 2024, it’s that themed receptions are the move. Custom wedding themes involve strategically decking out the venue with decorative elements that work in unison to reveal a cohesive theme.

    Customizing Wedding Venues

    This year welcomed the dawn of customizing wedding venues. Rather than settle for the impersonal air of conventional venues, make a statement with a venue that awards you a creative canvas to make your own, such as La Princesa. These scenic settings can host both the vows and reception or be paired with traditional church ceremonies.

    Late-Night Bites

    Most guests find themselves hungry by the end of evening wedding receptions. According to modern wedding trends, fast-food drive-throughs are no longer the only option after dancing the night away. In recent years, late-night bites and snack buffets have emerged as a crowd-pleasing addition, giving your guests the energy boost they need to carry on the party.

    Plan Your Dream Ceremony With Our Wedding Trends Experts

    You deserve the wedding of your dreams, and La Princesa is here to make it happen. Discover how you can pull off the best wedding trends of 2024 by partnering with our wedding planners at our exceptional venue in Phoenix, AZ. Contact us today or make an appointment to get started.

  • How To Plan Your Short-Term Wedding

    Wedding Checklist and Calendar on White Wooden Table

    Your Guide to Short-Term Wedding Planning

    Wedding planning can be overwhelming. This is especially true for those navigating less-than-ideal wedding timelines. Although wedding planning on short notice can be extra challenging, La Princesa is here to set you up for wedding-day bliss with our guide to short-term wedding planning in Phoenix, AZ.

    How to Organize a Wedding on Short Notice

    From surprise engagements to whirlwind romances and unexpected circumstances, there are many reasons to speed up your journey towards tying the knot. Fortunately, contrary to popular belief, pulling off a short-term wedding is not as challenging as it may seem. All you need is a well-structured, short-term wedding checklist.

    Ideal Short-Term Wedding Planning Structure

    La Princesa has helped countless couples achieve their dream wedding with as little as five months’ notice. Now, we are here to share our knowledge and resources to help you do the same. Our structured, month-by-month checklist is the key to staying on track toward your dream celebration when dealing with an unforgiving timeline.

    Five Months Before the Altar

    Select your wedding date five months before the date you hope to get married. To solidify this date, you must hurry to book the right venue, vendors, caterer, and photographer or consolidate these demands by securing a wedding planner. However, as these factors often require down payments, it’s important to develop a budget to help you stay on track.

    Four Months Before the Altar: Guest List Preparation

    Once your date, venue, and details are secured, it’s time to start considering what you need to do for your guests. Depending on your guest list, this may include travel coordination, room reservations, and other accommodations for loved ones coming from out of town.

    Wedding Rings/Bands

    If you’re opting for customized wedding rings or bands, it’s important to get ahead of potentially drawn-out wait times. To ensure you and your partner have the perfect wedding day, we recommend purchasing your rings in advance. For short-term wedding planning, this should occur at least four months before your wedding day.

    Purchase Your Wedding Cake

    Just because you’re working with a limited timeframe does not mean you should miss out on a wedding-day staple. To take part in the tradition of a wedding cake, book your cake tasting four months before your big day. This allows you to taste-test flavors and match your cake design with your projected venue and wedding-day décor.

    Three Months Before the Altar

    Three months before your trip to the altar is often when the stress sets in. To stay confident with wedding preparations, remain calm and refer to this checklist. At this point, you should have the majority of your decorations purchased, making it a good time to review your inventory and pick out any additional décor or accessories.

    Finalize Your Ceremony Script

    No matter the length of your wedding planning experience, you deserve a day filled with magic. To ensure your ceremony meets and exceeds your expectations, take the time to finalize your script approximately three months before your wedding day.

    Two-Months Before the Altar

    As your wedding gets closer, your to-do list may seem to get longer. Some of the tasks to cover two months out from your wedding day include:

    • Order your marriage license
    • Get started on your vows
    • Mail out invitations
    • Buy wedding favors, a guestbook, and other optional details

    One Month Out: Cover Your Bases & Get Excited

    One month out is when the excitement really sets in. This period of short-term wedding planning is also known to be the most fun aspect of the process. However, before the good times begin, cover your bases by following up on missing RSVPs and confirming details with your wedding venue and vendors.

    Wedding Dress & Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

    One month before your ceremony is the perfect opportunity to find your dress. It’s important to look for a dress that does not require any alterations or opt for a retailer that offers same-day alterations to avoid timeline discrepancies. This is also a good time to throw together an exciting bachelor/bachelorette party.

    Two Weeks Out

    Two weeks before your wedding marks the beginning of crunch time. For a seamless experience, reach out to your guests, venue, and vendors for final confirmation and map out your seating plan using escort cards or a seating chart. Then, to ensure you feel your best on your big day, schedule a hair and makeup trial.

    Final Touches: Three to Four Days Out

    The last three to four days before your short-term wedding will fly by. As such, it’s essential to make a checklist in advance. This checklist should include:

    • Final headcount for your caterer
    • Final dress fitting and pick-up
    • Honeymoon packing

    Plan Your Short-Term Wedding With La Princesa

    If you’re gearing up to say your vows without much notice, you’ve come to the right place. Discover short-term wedding planning made easy with La Princesa, a premier wedding venue destination in Phoenix, AZ. Contact our friendly team today to get started on your short-term wedding checklist.

  • 7 Surprising Reasons to Plan a Sunday Wedding

    The Benefits of Planning a Sunday Wedding

    Friday and Saturday are popular wedding dates, but recent years have welcomed a significant rise in Sunday weddings, and with good reason. To help you with your wedding date selection, La Princesa unveils eight little-known reasons to choose a Sunday wedding in Phoenix, AZ.

    A Person Marking Off Their Wedding Date in the Calendar

    The Rise of Sunday Weddings

    At first glance, the idea of a Sunday wedding might seem unconventional, but many savvy couples are quick to embrace its unique appeal. In contrast to conventional weekend celebrations, Sunday weddings are linked to many practical advantages, making this often-overlooked day a rising wedding date option.

    1. Affordability Without Sacrificing Quality

    Your wedding date does not influence the quality of your celebration. Your dream venue will still be your dream venue no matter what day you schedule your wedding. However, your wedding may be even dreamier on a Sunday as vendors, venues, and out-of-town guest accommodations will be more affordable.

    2. Increased Availability

    Choosing a Sunday wedding is far less popular than Friday or Saturday events. This gives you another competitive advantage: increased availability. Venues and vendors tend to have increased availability and time-slot flexibility on Sundays, and guests seldom have subsequent Sunday plans, which leads to easier wedding planning and coordination.

    3. Simplify Accommodations for Out-of-Town Guests

    If your loved ones are coming from out of town, accommodations will become a focal point of your wedding planning. Budgeting can be challenging when coordinating flights and hotel stays for the busiest days of the week. Sundays are less in-demand travel days, so Sunday weddings simplify accommodations by avoiding logistical and financial constraints.

    4. The Possibility to Extend Celebrations

    A Sunday wedding doesn’t have to mean a shorter celebration. On the contrary, Sunday weddings welcome the possibility of extending your celebrations. For instance, festivities may begin the day before with a Saturday rehearsal dinner, or perhaps you start your Sunday wedding early to ensure a full day of celebrations without infringing on Monday work schedules.

    Friends Party Gathering, Toasting Champagne Sitting on the Couch.

    5. Intimate & Relaxed Atmosphere

    Sundays are a day of relaxation before the hectic work week sets in. Avoiding the stress of busy Friday and Saturday evenings is an excellent way to maintain laid-back wedding-day energy. When you choose a Sunday wedding, you can uphold the intimate rest-day vibe and foster a relaxed atmosphere.

    6. Unique Timing Opportunities

    Friday weddings typically occur in the evening after work, whereas Saturday weddings are known to be full-day events. On the other hand, Sunday weddings introduce unique timing opportunities. At La Princesa, we love hosting late-morning wedding ceremonies followed by tasteful brunch receptions that carry into the late afternoon.

    7. Creative Catering Options

    Sunday is often synonymous with brunch. The same rings true for Sunday wedding ceremonies. Choosing a Sunday wedding allows you to get creative with your catering plans. Rather than stick to conventional dining options, accentuate Sunday traditions with a delicious wedding day brunch.

    Bypass Competitive Wedding Seasons

    Seasonal weddings are a major trend. This makes securing a reputable venue and vendors extremely challenging during certain times of the year. When you choose a Sunday wedding, you may be able to bypass the competitive wedding landscape without compromising your seasonal celebratory aspirations.

    Additional Sunday Wedding Perks With La Princesa

    At La Princesa, we recognize the significance of wedding date selection. To make confident and informed wedding-day decisions, entrust your Sunday wedding planning to our event planners. With ample availability and a network of vendors eager to contribute to your special day, we’re here to bring your dream celebration to life.

    Get Started With Sunday Wedding Planning

    Choose a Sunday wedding that exceeds your expectations with La Princesa. Whether you’re seeking an intimate celebration or a large-scale event, our event planners are here to guide you through every facet of your Sunday wedding planning. Contact us today to get started with a personalized consultation.