32 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

33 AUGUST 2024 By Lauren Geiser A t just 14 years old, Blake Buckler has a long list of accomplishments. Most recently, he competed in the Colorado USATF Region 10 Qualifier for the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, which included the top athletes from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and West Texas. Blake qualified in the top four in shot put and threw 151 feet in discus, earning him first place and a spot at the Junior Olympics Championship at Kyle Field Texas A&M in August. Blake has also earned the distinction of being the #1 seeded thrower in Arizona, breaking the all-time state throwing record by two inches. Blake’s journey into track and field began unexpectedly. In fifth grade, he broke his foot while playing tennis, forcing him to shift his focus to lower-impact sports. This twist of fate led him to try his family sport of shot put and discus, a decision that helped him to qualify for the Junior Olympics. Throwing runs deep in the Buckler family. Blake’s grandfather was a collegiate thrower and his father competed in the sport. Blake and his father even competed together at a track and field meet where they both won first place. For Blake, the allure of shot put and discus goes beyond the physical aspect and family tradition. He loves the history behind the ancient sport and how its origins can be traced back to Medieval times and the Ancient Greeks, who included these events in the early Olympic Games. As he prepares for the Junior Olympics, Blake has already set his personal goals for the track and field meet. “I want to throw discus 170 feet and improve my rotational form,” he said. “For shot put, I’m aiming to throw 44 feet.” Blake’s journey to the Junior Olympics required tremendous discipline and hard work. His training regimen is rigorous, starting with waking up at 4:30 a.m. for practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. His advice to aspiring and current throwers emphasizes the importance of mentorship and dedication. “It takes time and a lot of training that involves speed, balance and power, so be ready to work hard. It builds discipline because there’s no faking it when people watch you in the cage,” Blake said. “It’s like hitting a buzzer-beater three-pointer, a perfect golf drive, or kicking a field goal to win a game. Finding the right support like my dad and my throw club, Arete Throws, helps big time because they can tell you what you need to improve.” “I love watching our son work so hard, showing the fortitude to get to the top and making it to the USATF Junior Olympics in Colorado,” mom, Bita, said. “This is one of my favorite life moments – being part of his journey of being a passionate, driven athlete.” Looking ahead, Blake hopes to continue developing his skills throughout high school and beyond. He aspires to compete at the collegiate level and eventually throw in international competitions, such as the prestigious Diamond League in Europe. He plans to move up to the 1.6 kg discus and 12-pound shot put while also working on javelin and sprints. Outside of track and field, he hopes to improve his golf game, motocross, racing, powerlifting and more. The Junior Olympics is just the start. With his eyes set on the future, Blake Buckler may be a name to watch in the track and field world. ARCADIA’S JUNIOR OLYMPIAN Blake has been involved in track and field, discus and shot put since fifth grade. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BITA BUCKLER Blake and his dad competed at the Phoenix Invitational together – and they both won first place. It’s like hitting a buzzer-beater three- pointer, a perfect golf drive, or kicking a field goal to win a game. Finding the right support helps tell you what you need to improve.