34 AUGUST 2024 By Kylie de Best Once the butterflies of an engagement event have calmed, it’s time to get down to one of the best parts of becoming a bride: finding the dress that will help make visions of your wedding day come true. Lael Harlin’s history in the bridal industry began with exactly that. A decade ago, she purchased the wedding dress of her dreams at a boutique in Utah. That memorable experience led to her fantasizing about recreating the same feelings for brides-to-be in the Valley. Before her wedding, Harlin also attended New York Bridal Fashion Week to shop for gowns and meet designers. She was enamored by the industry: the planning, executing and beauty of the dresses. She loved it all. Shortly after the event, she learned that the previous owner of Destiny’s Bride, a boutique in Scottsdale, was going to retire, so she made her move to become the new owner – and it turned out to be the right move, as Destiny’s Bridal won “Best Luxury Bridal Boutique” at the Best of Arizona Bridal Gala in June. A wedding dress boutique was a stark change from Harlin’s previous career in medical sales, where after 12 years, she “was burned out by cantankerous customers in a tough industry and was looking for something more fulfilling, entrepreneurial and frankly, more fun.” “I always had a light on entrepreneurship, and this opportunity was too good to pass up,” Harlin said. “Sarah Petrik, Bree Kelly, and Michelle Cosic Peranovic came with the shop. They were able to guide me at the start and continue to do so. I am so grateful for their work ethic and friendliness.” Harlin said that Destiny’s Bridal has the best of both worlds: the experience of being in business for 27 years and a fresh eye for the cutting-edge and fabulous. She and general manager Sarah painstakingly pick out every gown to curate the perfect selection – in the fall, they will have over 30 new gowns coming to the store. “The employees at Destiny’s Bride take pride in making sure every person who walks in the door feels like a VIP,” she said. Harlin and her employees found it “mind-blowing” to be the recipient of the Best Luxury Bridal Boutique. At the event, in which thousands of voters choose the winner, Destiny’s Bridal was up against four others: J Bridal Boutique, Mariee Bridal, Schaffer’s Bridal and True Society. The votes were in, and Harlin accepted the award with two of her employees, whom she applauds for putting their sweat and tears to bring Destiny’s vision to life. “We were so surprised, we screamed. When you have event planners from all over the state putting on a gala, you know it’s going to be impressive. Arizona has some of the most talented wedding professionals, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Harlin said. destinysbride.com Arcadia resident finds her destiny in the bridal industry Michelle Cosic Peranovic, Sarah Petrik, Lael Harlin and Bree Kelly. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAEL HARLIN A rizona is not your cookie cutter state – especially when it comes to charming places to stay. Last month, we took you to Williams to explore a one-of-a-kind inn. This month, we’re heading to the White Mountains where guests can find another unique home away from home to rest their heads. The moment you arrive at this bed and breakfast – tucked into the mountains of Eastern Arizona – the forest begins to speak to you. The Kull Bed and Breakfast in Pinetop-Lakeside is both charming and enchanting. The historic stone cottage surrounded by a canopy of aspens, oaks and Ponderosa Pines, gives guests a woodland experience like none other. This is why part of their slogan is “Come to the woods and listen to the magic whisper of the trees.” Janet Kull and her husband Greg didn’t always dream of running a bed and breakfast until they happened to stumble upon the property while on a hiking trip. They describe it by saying the house and the area “spoke” to them and they wanted to share the space with others. So, they packed everything up and moved from Scottsdale to the mountains where they began their labor of love, renovating and creating a special retreat to relax, recenter and breathe. The duo was very thoughtful about creating spaces that incorporate comfort, but at the same time, were also conscious of the quiet and the need to calm, heal and ground yourself as a guest. Each of the four spacious suites has its own bathroom, coffee bar and refrigerator, hallway and patio entrance. While the amenities are the same, each room has a different personality, reflecting its natural surroundings and the wildlife they first saw when the Kull’s bought the property. Janet says much of the décor and the design elements came from shops in the town and from folks in the community. The couple’s philosophy is ‘when you decide to become part of a community, you must be in the community’ and as a result, people came calling, offering doors, furniture and other pieces incorporated into the design of the house. For the Kull’s, the bed and breakfast is as much about creating memories as it is about slowing down and letting your soul breathe. They realize people have busy, hectic lives and they hope that after you make the three-hour drive from the valley to the B&B, you will already be in a different mental state ready for a special getaway. That may include waking up to see the wild horses who roam from dawn to dusk, the herds of elk, or the sights and sounds of the hummingbirds. From sunrise to sunset, each day can offer a unique experience and the best part is you don’t have to listen hard to hear the magic of the forest through these trees. thekull.com A little bit of magic lies in this eastern Arizona B&B Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL The Kull B&B encourages guests to embrace the calm while healing and grounding themselves.

h rs e , . s ” . e : l d s a s d .