If there were ever a wedding that captured the essence of rusticity and romance, this would be it. We’re talking candles and chandeliers, white drapery and crystal, twinkle lights and rhinestones…all sitting pretty amongst Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. It’s the barn wedding, redefined thanks to the perfect planning and Southwest-inspired design by Ashley Gain Weddings. We’ve got a gallery chock-full of Melissa Schollaert’s stunning images, plus a total tearjerker from the talented Amore Films.
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From Melissa Schollaert Photography….Dawn and Alex were married at a really unique venue in Scottsdale, Arizona – Desert Foothills Barn. It’s a very rustic barn in the middle of the desert with towering saguaro’s all around and beautiful sunset views. The ceremony was held in the back barn, with golden sunset light streaming through the old barn doors, a rustic cross hung in the doorway. Dawn and Alex are the sweetest couple you’ll ever meet, but they are also super fun. They had a fun reception with an outdoor cocktail hour barnside, that included cocktails, appetizers and cornhole. The reception was an elegant seated dinner in the barn, full of candlelight and white details. Dawn & Alex danced the night away to country tunes, while their guests enjoyed firepits outside and a candy bar with all their favorite sweets.
From the Bride + Groom… When Alex and I started thinking about how we envisioned our wedding to be we immediately thought about our guests. Our family and friends – the people who have love and supported us all our lives. As much as that day should be about us – we also wanted that day to feel like a thank you to them. That’s when I got inspired by a unique combination of “Country Glam.” We wanted the vibe of our wedding to feel welcoming, carefree, fun and the unspoken thought that this is going to turn into one helluva party…insert the ‘country’ part. In the same breath, we wanted our guests to feel special and create a beautiful evening for them with sparkle, glitz, and all things ‘glam’!
Our talented and fabulous wedding planner, Ashley Richardson with Ashley Gain Wedding & Events, had no problem making my idea of “Country Glam” a reality. The venue for our wedding was a barn located in North Scottsdale. What I loved about the barn was it being secluded on private land and with close to 200 guests it somehow made the evening feel intimate. Plus, the barn had a breathtaking Sonoran Desert setting with large saguaros, a beautiful Arizona sunset and really captured the feel of true Southwest. Alex and I are Arizona natives so the barn was a great venue for out out of town guests to experience why we love our home state so much. The barn was rustic and country at its finest and adorned from top to bottom with twinkle lights. It really was an open canvas to bring the glam aspect to life. The overall color palette was champagne, gold & creams with a hint of black and the details were lace, burlap & rhinestones with plenty of candles to create a warm glow for the evening. Of course there were little personal touches like a signature drink menu inspired by our parents, a dessert bar with our wedding cake that had a little zombie crawling out the back for my zombie loving husband, a game of corn hole by the photo booth, and our little Chihuahua, Anna, who stole the show as she walked down the aisle. Lastly, the final touch, where Ashley truly out did herself, was hanging a huge crystal chandelier in the middle of the barn above the dance floor. I mean a crystal chandelier in a barn – it really doesn’t get more “Country Glam” than that!
Our wedding was more than I ever dreamed – being under one roof with all the people you love most in the world while dancing & laughing the night away – knowing that it all ends with the promise of spending the rest of your life with your best friend is a day I wish I could relive again and again. A day made possible because of all the amazing vendors we were fortunate enough to work with and I will forever be grateful to them.
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Wedding Photography: Melissa Schollaert | Wedding Planning + Design: Ashley Gain Weddings | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Venue: Desert Foothills Barn | Cinematography: Amore Films | Linens: La Tavola | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Caterer: Creations in Cuisine Catering | DJ: Desert House Productions | Stationery: The Event Essentials | Cake + Desserts: Classic Cakes and Confections | Brides Dress: Martina Liana | Flower Girl Dress: JuJu’s Tutus