Gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe these Scottsdale nuptials by Melissa Jill Photography. This wedding had me at the fabulous purple bridesmaid dresses and the uber-chic pink heels. Love. Add to the mix some amazing blooms by Avant-Garde Floral Design Studio, a Jim Hjelm gown to die for and paper goods by MJ Paperie (the oh-so-talented bride) and we have ourselves one breathtaking desert soiree. All perfectly planned by Impact Events, you don’t want to miss a single stunning detail. Join me in the gallery for more!
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From Melissa Jill Photography… Dave was a senior when Jessica was a freshman at Notre Dame. She knew him as half of the “Ulrich Twins” – Dave & Todd – she knew he played lacrosse – a sport she’d never heard of growing up in Arizona – and that was about it. After college Dave moved to New York City and so did Jessica – four years later. They bumped into each other on occasion through mutual friends, but sparks didn’t fly until a storybook summer weekend in the Hamptons when Jessica was attending a bachelorette party and their paths crossed again. They went on their first date that Sunday night and Monday morning Jessica hopped a plane…to Chicago…where she had just relocated. The rest is (long-distance) history.
Though the majority of their relationship has spanned the distance between the mid-west and the east coast, Dave and Jessica never let that get in the way of their love. One holiday season, Dave was on his way to Arizona to see Jessica and her family and there was an ice storm in the northeast that canceled all flights out of New York. Dave was determined to make it to the desert so he tried to take a CAB from the curb at Laguardia all the way to Pittsburgh – a 5 hour trip in good weather – to outsmart the storm and catch an evening flight. There was no stopping him from getting to Jessica. Unstoppable love is the best kind.
As a calligrapher and co-owner of an online stationery boutique, MJ Paperie, Jessica was the mastermind behind the vision, design and stationery products for the event. The color palette inspiration was a blend of the serene light blue and white classic Hamptons beach weddings where the couple began their courtship and then got engaged combined with the bright desert shades of fuchsia pinks and deep purples fitting of the Paradise Valley desert setting. She used white calligraphy throughout the stationery suite to make the colors pop – from the save the date, to the invitations, escort cards, menus and even the table number photos with New York City as their backdrop and the directional signs at the reception. The white calligraphy along with the repeated light blue band on the save-the-date card, invitation belly-band, ceremony program and the menu place setting cohesively tied together the visual theme of the day.
Wedding Photography: Melissa Jill Photography / Event Planner: Impact Events / Floral Design: Avant-Garde Floral Design Studio / Reception Venue + Catering: Sanctuary on Camelback / Invitation Design: MJ Paperie / Wedding Cinematography: My Wedding Film / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via Destiny’s Bride / Wedding Cake: Julia Baker Confections / Band: The Walkens / Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Basilica / Hair: Mandy Samford / Make-up: Maureen Cosovich via Barney’s / Officiant: Father Micah Muhlen