Cacti can be ultra romantic and these pics by Rachel Solomon are all the proof you need. This outdoor celebration combined the flair of New Orleans with the textures and colors of the Southwest – and it all worked out perfectly, thanks to Louise Thomas of Events Made Special. Black Sheep Filmworks captured the action live and their film and all the pics are in our Vault right this way!
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From the Bride… Steven and I started dating almost five years to the day before our wedding. He was a pre-med student with big travel and career aspirations, who saw himself getting married at age 32. I was a romantic dreamer who saw myself married young like my parents and their parents before them. Despite our different plans and personalities – or rather because of them – we began to create a beautiful, vibrant, and joyful life together. Within a month, we were in love, and we never looked back. It was this wonderful coming together of cultures and personalities that inspired our wedding day. We wanted to combine all of our favorite things in an unexpected, yet refreshing way. Growing up in Tucson, I have always marveled at the beauty of the desert. I love the way the fuchsia of bougainvillea, the crisp white of saguaro blooms, and the soft green of prickly pear cacti come together to reveal a delicate beauty. So for our wedding day, we chose to use these colors to create a happy, festive atmosphere that complemented the natural beauty of our surroundings. We also knew we wanted to incorporate some New Orleans flare – as the city is a part of Steven’s heritage and has been our home for the last three years. So we chose to name our tables after some of our favorite streets in the French Quarter, and asked the JJ’s to lead us and our guests from dinner to the ballroom in a classic New Orleans “second line.” As the night progressed we chose to exaggerate the exotic nature of the desert with dramatic gold linens, Moroccan lanterns, and a hookah lounge. Finally, staying true to our New Orleans vibe we served late night snacks to keep the party going until the early morning. We owe endless thanks to our friends and families, especially our parents. We also want to thank Louise Thomas for catching our vision, without whom our wedding day would not have been half as beautiful. We feel so blessed to have experienced such a perfect day.
From Events Made Special… The vibe for the magnificent wedding of Kylli and Steven beautifully played off the elegance of the Ritz-Carlton with a very romantic-fairytale feel. In it’s sophistication, guests witnessed elegant details with touches of the Southwest or maybe even Santorini, with a Moorish or Mediterranean feel. Beautiful reds, pinks, bougainvillea, and eucalyptus were threaded throughout the event which was staged in 4 parts. The ceremony boldly presented a flourish of pinks and fuchsia, embellishing the natural wood framework behind the bride and groom. The wooden structure also framed the pair of saguaro cactus that grow on the mountainside behind this romantic grassy site. The aisle was accented with rose petals of pink and fuchsia along with huge stone pots filled with a lavish amount of florals and greenery. During the transition from the ceremony to cocktail hour, Latin Fusion entertainment filled the air as guests were offered prickly pear margaritas along with a top shelf selection of cocktails and Ritz-Carlton appetizers. A vintage wooden table layered in ivory lace held elevations of cobalt blue Mexican shot glasses filled with mini-succulents tagged with handmade escort cards. As the night progressed the dinner reception moved towards Southern Spain with an almost Mediterranean/Moorish vibe with a look that subtly exaggerated the exotic desert feel. The long wooden runs of vineyard tables held an assortment of tablescapes that included black iron candelabras, gold baroque candlesticks, mercury glass, cobalt blue chargers, and colored glassware. Kylli wanted the reception to feel like a royal banquet out of a storybook. Indeed it did…with bistro lights overhead and a full moon in the distance. Timeless, textured, celebratory and enchanting. Fireworks were the surprise factor that evolved as the groom was toasting his appreciation to the family.
Photography: Rachel Solomon Photography | Videography: Black Sheep Filmworks | Event Design: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Floral Design: Avant Garde Studio | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Stationery: Studio BDR | Reception Venue: Vera Wang Papers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Margarita GoDiva | Calligraphy: Jillian Vandall | DJ: Satyr Entertainment | Band: The JJ's Band | Ceremony + Dinner Music: Tesoro | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Specialty Rentals (linens, accessories, decor): Hale Koa phineas Estate