db Bridal Expo Phoenix 2019

Over the weekend Santiago Almada Photography had the pleasure of being a vendor and showcasing our work (see slideshow below) at the 10th annual DB Bridal Expo. Held at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa, and hosted by Shy Khan with Weddings By Shy, the expo is said to be the largest South Asian Bridal Show in the West.

While bridal shows are a great opportunity for couples and their families to meet and greet, taste, sample, and see products from vendors all over the area. It's also great for vendors to do the same. Having the opportunity to meet and greet vendors from all over the area is a great way to build relationships and make a stronger community.

These shows remind us of how lucky we are to have a diverse and vibrant body of supportive vendors who work together to give our clients the best experience possible. During the expo we took the time to get to know our new clients, catch-up with past families, and mingle with some new vendors. We felt we connected with a few who really stuck out and wanted to highlight them in a blog to share their stories.

Kendra's Country Bakery

Kendra with Kendra’s Country Bakery was the first vendor to approach our table and say hi while we were still setting up. Kendra not only invited us to sample her cakes from her wedding bakery, but asked if we needed anything. When we made it over to her booth, we met with a team of super friendly staff. They shared a lot of information about this family owned business based out of Payson.

Kendra’s Country Bakery has been creating customized wedding cakes in the community for over 10 years and went statewide 2 years ago. When asked how this idea for a business started, Kendra shared her story about cooking with her grandparents at an early age. She realized how much she enjoyed baking. From the cake to the frosting everything is homemade. They even offer vegan and gluten free options. The Vegan Chai was one of the most memorable tasty flavors we’ve ever tried!

In addition to their work at the bakery, Kendra and a few of the other ladies go out in the community to give back. They volunteer their time to teach women and families that have been affected by domestic violence. This includes baking skills as well as tutoring and feeding children in need. They enjoy the work as it gives these families a break from what might be a very stressful situation to just having fun.

If you’re interested in meeting this wonderful group, click here to visit their website. They offer individual hour long tastings at their wedding cake shops for up to four people. This allows you enough time to sample four cakes of your choice with all the frostings to mix and match for the perfect combination.

Mr Formal Tuxedo and Suit Rentals & Sales

We met Patricia with Mr. Formal, Fashions for men who was kind enough to answer a question I'm sure she gets a lot: 

“When it comes to wedding outfits for men, what’s the difference between a tuxedo and a suit?” 

We learned a lot about male wedding fashion including when to wear a bow-tie versus a long tie.

As it turned out, Shy’s husband (Shy is the show organizer), along with a few other men at the expo were sporting her jackets. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that she was also one of the vendor participants in the second fashion show. The men looked amazing in her formal wear. Patricia let us know that all her male wedding fashions are readily available to try on at her store. Just be sure to plan ahead! To see her trending male wedding outfits and everything else Mr. Formal has to offer, check out her website.

Nazila Couture

Nazila Couture was the vendor booth directly in front of ours and it was popping the entire show! The booth was so inviting that women couldn’t help but compliment the designer on her Indian bridal jewelry sets. Then they would walk in to pick up a dress off the rack, hold it up in the mirror and admire the garments.

We watched Nazila chat with each lady individually, helping them to not only find the perfect piece but also to accessorize them with the latest South Indian bridal jewelry. Who better to help with that then the designer herself? Each woman walked out of her booth with the biggest smile on her face.

During the second fashion show we got a chance to chat with Nazila and were blown away to learn about her creations. Each collection is inspired by a true story. One is about the famous “Afgan Girl” with the beautiful eyes who graced the cover of National Geographic in 1984. This collection has fabric with beautiful eyes creatively worked into each piece.

The story behind the ‘Hidden Treasures’ collection is another fantastic tale. In this case, a grave site was accidentally unearthed. Upon extensive research, it was found to be the burial spot for a king and queen. The collection includes a top that Nazila creatively designed - a hand embroidered skull. Upon first glance you only notice the lovely detailed handiwork. With a closer inspection you start to see the shape. It’s fascinating when you finally realize it’s a skull.

This is the first time we’ve had the privilege to meet a designer and get such an awesome one on one story behind a collection.

On top of that, Nazila told us that she strives to have a sustainable company that repurposes and uses recycled materials whenever possible. Another eye catching piece has a component over 80 years old from Afghanistan that was repurposed into the garment as an ornate neckline. Nazila also does custom pieces with one on one consults in two ways: she allows you to pick out all the materials, then prices it based on your budget. She works within that to create your vision. Check out her website to see some of these collections along with her other South Asian attire.

Arbonne 

While walking around before the doors opened, we were invited to check out Cirina’s booth of Arbonne products. We personally hadn’t heard of their products. However, I have since read some Arbonne reviews from happy clients. Cirina was extremely informative on the extensive line of not only cosmetics but also nutritional items. She emphasized that the products are not tested on animals and contain all natural vegan ingredients. She let us know that many of her clients with food sensitivities, especially celiacs disease, find the Arbonne line does not cause discomfort common with other brands.

As photographers at the show, the question of scars came up. As it turns out, Cirina has a background in nursing included working for a plastic surgeon. She told us that Arbonne has a healing oil used by many of her clients who have scars. Some receive radiation therapy and the oil helps hydrate and protect the skin after treatments. Crinia really likes the Arbonne line due to what she calls its holistic approach to developing its cosmetic and nutrition line. They focus on not just what's happening on the outside, but also what's going on inside. Cirina was very personable and we were delighted to have had the opportunity to speak with her. 

Often times at an Expo like this, as a vendor manning a booth, we watch guests walk by with delicious looking plates of food talking about how good this or that dish is, hoping to get the opportunity to also try the food. The Indian wedding food we saw at the DB Bridal Expo was no different, however his was the first time that a food vendor actually approached us with a plate inviting us to try their food. Josh informed us he recently started working with Curry & Scoop and Tikka Bistro (both located in Tempe, Arizona) while giving us a plate of Channa Masala, Tikka Masala with Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese), white rice, and naan. The Tikka Masala at first is slightly sweet and as you eat it the spice began to build making it a really fun dish for your palate. We found the spice to be perfect, not so hot that you couldn't enjoy the dish but also not so muted that it was too sweet. Neither indian wedding dish was extremely salty which we find to be a problem with some curry dishes. The Naan was warm and perfect for soaking up the leftover sauce from the masalas. We have a feeling a lot of people would agree with our opinion as they were completely out of food by the end of the expo. We would have loved to capture a photo of them in action. We will be stopping by their Tempe Arizona location one day to try some of the other dishes, especially some of the ice cream flavors we’ve never heard of but look so good on their website menu.

Fieldwork Phoenix

Probably the most unique booth we found was two really nice women representing Fieldwork Phoenix. After a brief conversation we learned that it’s a fairly large company with multiple locations around the US. Their primary focus is on connecting businesses with real people using their products for research. People get paid for their time and companies get real input on changes and ideas they are working out. The types of research and opinions wanted seem to be a wide variety. Sessions on average are 2 hours with compensation ranging from $75 - $150. It can be anything from asking parents to use a diaper brand for two weeks to a company trying to decide what type of packaging to use on their products. The goal is to get thoughts, likes and dislikes of the products being tested. While we don’t have personal experience with a company like this, we wanted to share the information as it sounds like an interesting way to have your opinion heard, beta test a new product, try a new food, and make a little bit of extra money on the side.

RAJ TENT

The last vendor that we had the brief opportunity to chat with was Maurice and Christina, a lovely couple who own https://www.rajtents.com/.  Honestly, we wish we would have had more time to get to know them as a couple. 

We felt an air of relaxation and tranquility immediately upon sitting under their vibrant orange and fuchsia Raj Tent. It’s amazing how calming it was despite all the hustle and bustle at such a wonderfully busy bridal show. When we asked if they shipped all over the country, we learned that they don’t just ship around the country, but all over the world. We can’t even imagine the logistical work that goes into such a large venture. They have a trained crew of people dedicated to traveling and setting up tents all over.

It was really inspiring to read how much their business has grown since its creation in 2004 and have been included in dozens of magazines, movies, and TV shows. Even more impressive is how all of the tents are hand-made. I can imagine how proud anyone would be of such a beautiful piece of art.  It must also be fulfilling to know how many people get to use and appreciate something so intricately designed. We look forward to working an event where the decor and Indian Wedding tent rentals are supplied by Raj Tents. 

Santiago Almada photography was happy to attend the DB Bridal show held at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa for the second year in a row. We want to thank all the people that made the show what it was, and all the families and friends who attended. These events are so much fun for us and because of the wonderful people we meet. Keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.

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