7 Reasons Why Valentine's Day Is Cool

The month of February always brings out a little extra love. We know that people have a love/ hate relationship with Valentine's Day... some think it's solely a commercialized holiday... others have renamed it Singles Awareness Day... idk, maybe it's the red roses + baby's breath combo that really annoys some people (ok, that one we can definitely agree with, no thanks)! But Valentine's Day should be appreciated for what it is. It's a holiday that celebrates love. Now, who can hate on that?! Love should be celebrated everyday... and on Valentine's Day it's simply celebrated a little bit more, which is cool. And yeah, there will always be those people who don't see the relevance in celebrating this really old holiday (think The Middle Ages and Shakespeare era), but oh well! That's their choice. We're all about the celebrating! 

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7 Reasons Why Valentine's Day Is Cool

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1. It's a reminder to appreciate what you have. It's a holiday to let others know that you care about them, and also a reminder to you that others care about you. We get caught up in our busy lives and don't always share the love like we should. We are all guilty of this. Hearing "I love you" is a great sentence to hear, right? And if you don't agree, the holiday only lasts for 24 hours and then it's on to the next one. Sweet deal.
2. It gives you a reason to do something with someone you love... whether you get all dress up to go on a hot date with your man (or lady), or stay in for a movie night with your friends scarfing down cheese pizza topped with extra pineapple + ham + jalapenos, and wine filled to the tippy-top of your glass (both scenarios we could get down with)!
3. We get to see more of Cupid's tush! There's something about a cute, little booty that puts a smile on our faces.
4. Presents. We love getting them, but we also love giving them. To us, it's the thought that is behind a gift. Even something as simple as a handwritten note makes for a meaningful gift to give someone you love. And if you attempt writing a poem, well then, you went above and beyond and deserve a big, fat smooch!
5. It's an excuse for sexy underwear! We're 100% positive that your significant other will appreciate this... guaranteed smooching and more is to be expected. Someone can argue "but ladies, you can wear sexy underwear on any day of the year!" Yeah sure, that may be true, but ask yourself this... how often are you prancing around in your négligée? (Ummmm... that's what we thought). So go buy yourself something pretty for the holiday!
6. We're on board with all of the sweets and treats! Cupcakes, cookies, fun-size packs candy... bring it on! Just not the weird little heart candies. Never could get into those (especially the pink flavor, eww).
7. Flowers. Did you think we would forget about them? Oh no, no. There is something about them that brings a smile to our faces and hopefully yours too! They come in so many shapes, sizes, colors; their fragrance and beauty is very much appreciated. There is a flower for everyone... we're sure you have a favorite! A single stem can light up a person's day, which is very cool! Flowers are an amazing gift from nature, and this holiday allows us to share what we truly love so much with others. If you're still looking for a sweet gesture, click --> HERE <-- to give the gift of flowers to someone you love!

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"Love is the flower that is never out of season."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Love, 

Jihan & Sherry

Photos by Nicolas Alexander

Alyssa + Robbie :: 2 Year Anniversary

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Alyssa and Robbie just had their 2 year anniversary, and to celebrate, they made a day trip up to Northern Arizona for a styled photo shoot with Parker Micheaels Photography. Who says that a girls' wedding dress is only to be worn on her wedding day?! ... this was the perfect excuse to put that baby back on!! Congrats to this happy couple. We had a pleasure of adding a 1209 bouquet to this very special photo shoot! Also, pink is where it's at! Those who know us, know that we love this color... foreverrrrr and ever.

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The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they're right if you love to be with them all the time. — Julia Child

Photography: Parker Micheaels Photography ❖ Florals: 1209 Creative

An intimate wedding inside the historic Monroe Abbey

“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness - and call it love - true love.” ― Robert Fulghum

Married October 15, 2016

So this wedding in particular was a little different than most. Not only were we the florists, but we were also guests. Grace has been a close friend of ours for several years, so when she asked us to do the flowers for her wedding... well, there was no way that we could have passed it up. Grace and Billy are incredible people. Their energy is magnetic. They are creative, they are fun, they are goofy, they are dreamers and they are passionate, hard workers. They are everything anyone could ever want out of another human being. Their friendship is cherished by so many, and we truly mean it when we say that we were so grateful to have been a part of one of the best days of their lives. Not only did that day officially unite them both as a married couple, but it also brought together a group of friends and family unlike any other. It was a ceremony and after-party that so many will remember and look back on.

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The location for the ceremony was absolutely incredible. The Monroe Abbey is a church that was built in the late-1800s. A fire was set inside the church in 1984, leaving it in complete ruins, hazardous and unoccupied for the last 30 years. So if you know Grace, then you know that she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The more creepy and condemned the better! 

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After the ceremony, it was straight to Crescent Ballroom. This local bar and music venue has become a staple in downtown Phoenix. Many nights have been spent there dancing, drinking and eating burritos with our eclectic group of friends. We kept the decor simple with greenery, bud vases, lots of candles and, of course, a couple of bull skulls (just wouldn't have been the same without them).

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❖❖❖   Congrats, Mr. & Mrs. Kroener. We love you!   ❖❖❖

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Photography: Jamie Allio + Chanelle Sinclair ❖ Event Coordinator: Arizona Wedding Planners

Ceremony Venue : The Monroe Abbey ❖  Reception Venue: Crescent Ballroom 

Dress: Melissa Sweet Bridal ❖ Makeup: Sherry Newnom ❖ Hair: Jaime Voelz

Rentals: Classic Party  ❖ Lighting: AZ Production Rentals ❖ Florals + Decor: 1209 Creative

Orchard Wedding at Garland's Oak Creek

Married September 25, 2016

If you have ever been to Sedona, then you know it's a beautiful place no matter what time of year it is. This wedding in particular took place this past September at Garland's Oak Creek Lodge. I had never been before and had only seen the venue in pictures. Though the pictures are stunning... it's even better in person. Between the mountain backdrop, apple orchards, lush forests, quaint cabins and the sound of the creek's water trickling in the background... uh yeah, you could say that we were super into it. Definitely made it hard for us to leave the next day!

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Since the environment was perfect in itself, Nazlee and Jake wanted simple decor for their ceremony and reception. There was already so much amazing-ness happening all around, so we completely understood what they were looking for. We had a custom built chuppah made for the couple (thanks Nicolas!) that we decorated with jewel tone florals and olive branches to match Nazlee's bouquet. The tables were set up with simple bud vases and petite centerpieces. The colors stood out amongst all of the greenery, and it created for an overall youthful and whimsical design... an enchanting forest party!

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"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."

— John Muir

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Photography: Caroline Ghetes Photography ❖ Event Coordinator: Two Hearts & A Planner

Venue: Garland's Oak Creek Lodge ❖ Florals + Decor: 1209 Creative

Catering: Good Times Rolling Kitchen & Catering and Persian Room

 Table + Seating Rentals: Verve Events & Tents  ❖ Lighting: AZ Production Rentals

Dress: Monique Lhuillier ❖ Suit: Prada ❖ Beauty: Sedona Beauty Team

Holiday Tablescaping + Williams-Sonoma

Gotta say... it was really cool that Williams-Sonoma wanted us in their shop to pair some 1209 designs with their store's holiday collections. We were thrilled to come up with some fresh tablescape ideas for their shoppers while still staying true to our style. Williams-Sonoma always carries such great pieces for the kitchen and dining-room, so it was a small challenge figuring out what we wanted to use. But once we did, it all came together just how we pictured!

Creating intimate settings for our clients is something that we truly love (and appreciate) doing. The dinner table is a special place. It's where stories are shared, where good food is enjoyed and where memories are made. Growing up, quality time around the dinner table with friends and family was something our families valued, which is why I think it's something we still value today. 

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The Stewart Tartan Table:

Sherry and I celebrate Christmas, so we wanted to create a festive table using traditional holiday colors. Christmas only comes once a year, so we like to make the most of it! We chose to use items from Williams-Sonoma's Stewart Tartan Collection. To add some contrast to the design we used the white plaid table linens and paired with the red plaid dinner plates.  Our awesome friend Lauren from Lately Press made name-tags that went perfectly with our set-up! You will also see that there are two large pieces of driftwood on the table we picked up in Sedona (sometimes we like to forage for things) that we wrapped tiny lights around to give an element of twinkle! You can find these inexpensive lights at Marshall's or Tuesday Morning, but we have seen them at several other stores too. We used magnolia leaves, red ranunculus, white wax flowers and mums, but then also added a touch of burgundy with the dahlias. Because there is a lot going on, we felt that the glassware needed to have a simple design, so the Estate Collection was the way to go. This is definitely a table we could cozy up to!

Items used for this tablescape: Stewart Tartan tablecloth, Stewart Tartan napkins, Pearled plate set, Tartan dinner plates, Estate cabernet wine glasses, Estate sauvignon blanc wine glasses, WSOK gold rim glasses, Lucca silverware set

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The NYE Contempo Table:

This table setting is a more modern + elegant design that's fitting for a New Years Eve dinner. After all of the red, green, and plaid we decided we needed a sleek and stylish look using a non-traditional color palette for this design. For our arrangements, we opted to use purple eucalyptus instead of greens, and then put in a pop of fuchsia with the dahlias. The arrangements are sitting in white mid-century modern inspired vases. You can find some great vase options out there instead of settling for the same old clear vases. World Market, Marshall's and West Elm have some great options depending on your price point. Next, we added a little sparkle and shine by using the silver and white Pine Cone Collection for the table runner and napkins. We wanted to keep the flatware simple since we had our eyes on the stunning Dorset Crystal Collection for the glassware. We added a few of Lauren's watercolor name-tags, along with our silver votives to finish off the look. Now we're ready to ring in the New Year! 

Items used for this tablescape: Hotel tablecloth (grey), Pine cone table runner, Pine cone napkins, Marble napkin holders, Pillivuqt Eclectique Grey plate set, Dorset crystal martini glasses, Dorset crystal red wine glasses, Dorset crystal water goblets, Arezzo silverware set, Crystal martini shaker

photos by Nicolas Alexander