Arizona Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

This Couple Pulled Together Their Dream Wedding In Two Months!

When the pandemic put this couple’s Hawaii wedding on pause, these lovebirds decided all that mattered was that they wanted to get married. With the help of Christina Williamson, they changed course on their original wedding plans and instead poured all their love into an intimate Arizona affair. A longtime admirer of Ashley Rae Photography and Love Story Films, the mother-of-the-bride reached out and was surprised when they not only agreed but suggested the ever-talented The Wildflower AZ for incredible floral moments! The results are so pretty you would never think there was a change of plans. See all the love unfold in the full gallery.

From the bride… I got engaged to my best friend and we were eager to start planning our wedding. We quickly decided on a date of 10/28/2020 my birthday Maui, Hawaii. Then due to the pandemic, both sides of the family mutually agreed this was probably not the best idea or time to be traveling.

We decided at least we will be married and together that’s all that matters, so in July we started to plan a wedding for 9/4/2020. My mother had told me about a venue called Royal Palms and I immediately fell in love. It was not my original venue in Hawaii but it still had a tropical feel that went along with my dress.

It may not have been our first plan but I wouldn’t change a thing about it . I simply loved every single detail of the day.

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For These Two Desert Dwellers, the Third Time Was the Charm!

For Emily and Vik, it turns out that third times the charm. The couple had their wedding day rescheduled twice due to Covid-19, but with the help of a powerhouse team of vendors, their third attempt turned into the stuff wedding dreams are made of. Imoni Events saved the day with unparalleled service and the ability to pull things together at the drop of a hat. Beautiful blooms by The Flower Studio in shades of cream, white, and blush make the day feel as if you’re walking through a dream. Images by Rachel Solomon will have you thinking you’re at the wedding itself celebrating with the happy couple. Be sure to check out all the beauty inside the full gallery.

From the bride… Third times the charm, our wedding was planned and rescheduled twice before we were wed on September 26, 2020. That is why I say Jenni Thye of Imoni Events was our lifesaver and therapist, she kept us calm and used her resources to find us another venue that same day our second venue canceled on us.

Throughout our planning we wanted to work off of the desert theme and picked blush pink, white, and natural desert shades as our wedding colors. We wanted our ceremony and reception to be the stars of the show and our vendors did an amazing job to accomplish that.

The wedding planning process wasn’t anything that we had originally thought it was going to be but it was the most magical and amazing day for Vik and I. It could have never been accomplished without our amazing wedding planner, vendors, and venue. It truly took a village to make this wedding happen and we are so thankful for each and every person who had a helping hand along the way!

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A Family Affair Backyard Wedding Complete With Bistro Lights and a U Shaped Dining Table

It’s true — home is where the heart is. We thought we’d seen it all when it comes to backyard weddings, but the sheer beauty of this one proved us wrong! This family affair was a nod to togetherness and social bonding. With plenty of warm candlelight, lush florals, and classic china, Tailyr and Sam enjoyed an evening of love, all thanks to the incredible work of Rachael Ellen Events. To match her elevated backyard wedding, Tailyr wore an effortlessly elegant Sarah Seven gown. We’re certain this celebration was truly one for the family album. To see all the pretty details, take a look at the full gallery of gorgeous images, all captured by Mary Claire Photography.

From Rachael Ellen Events… When Tailyr and Sam became engaged, they weren’t sure what their plans would entail but they knew they wanted to create something intimate and social for those who truly mattered most. Their backyard wedding truly was a family affair, with only their nearest and dearest in attendance. The wedding took place at the groom’s family home where they decorated the yard with bistro lights and a U shaped dining table.

We opted for this design as it felt intimate and inclusive. The tables were adorned with ivory linens, classic china and glassware, modern gold flatware, french blue napkins, and dozens of petite garden inspired arrangements. The length of the tables were covered in taper candles and each place setting was adorned with a rough edge wax seal name card created by Ink & Press Co. Our goal with the design was to create something that felt romantic and incredibly special for the small number of guests who were in attendance.

After the sun set, the bride put on a denim jacket with pearl adornments to match the pearls on her Sarah Seven dress. These pearls were also what inspired the cake design! The guests were served Mexican food from the couples local favorite spot and enjoyed pies handmade by the grooms mother. The grooms sister was the photographer, her sister in law the videographer, and the brides cousin the DJ. The brides mother even did the groups hair!

Despite the twists and turns of this year, they truly made this a family affair to remember. The couple, avid Star Wars fans, made their exit through a tunnel of light sabers.

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Written by Lauren Megerdichian and Carly Zumar

Enchanting Elopement Inspiration with a Timeless Modern Twist

Come for the timeless elegance stay for the shimmering gold chandeliers hanging above an alfresco reception table. Be it classic or modern, this elopement inspiration has everything you’re looking for and more. Beautifully dreamed up and produced by Rachel Ellen Events and Hosted by Mary Claire, you’re not going to want to miss a single detail. Tasha Brady Photography exquisitely tells the story of the day through her imagery. Visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From Tasha Brady Photography… With the beautiful creative direction by Rachel Ellen Events and Hosted by Mary Claire, this classic elopement inspiration was adorned with hints of modern elements to offer a twist on the traditional timeless look and feel of an al fresco destination wedding here in Arizona.

Stunning stationery crafted by Ink and Press Co. offered clean lines with subtle hints of European charm. Lush white florals crafted by Rachel Ellen elevated this sweet Elopement and was the perfect backdrop for some epic bridal portraits.

With intentionality, this inspiration was curated to capture the essence of an elopement like none other – classic, elegant, timeliness, and full of love.

Picture Perfect Paradise Valley Micro Wedding

Are you considering a micro wedding? We’re here to tell you that when design, detail, and destination are done right- your wedding will feel anything but small. Rachel and Matt’s wedding had an intimate guest list but delivered big on jaw-dropping aesthetics. Revel Wedding Company created an experience that left guests in awe, from the gorgeous ceremony dripping in greens by Carte Blanche Design to the alfresco reception covered in hanging candlelight. All of the special moments were elegantly captured by Elyse Hall Photography. The full gallery is where you’ll find even more fun from this larger than life affair.

From Elyse Hall Photography… Rachel and Matt decided to forgo their large wedding and instead throw a micro wedding. A micro wedding that was over the top, stunning, and designed to perfection.

They were married with Camelback as their backdrop and then had a lovely dinner party over on bocce lawn that was adorned with a gorgeous custom structure by Carte Blanche Design dripping in greenery and candles everywhere.

The bride’s family fell in love with the Arizona singer, Blaine Long, who was on The Voice. He came and it was a true treat to have him there! Rachel and Matt Danced the night away surrounded by the people they love and cherish the most in the world, their parents and siblings.

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Elyse Hall Photography

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Get Ready for Game Day with these Home-Gating Essentials

Whether you’re a diehard football fan or just love an excuse to throw a great at home tailgate, the Football Bettys and Victoria Canada are serving up easy + yummy ideas to add to your game day festivities. From treats, to sips and accessories too, check out how to add some oomph to your home-gating. Plus the cutest idea for a football centric hostess gift captured by Annie Randall can be found in the VAULT. Don’t forget those masks!

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The Grub

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We love to set up snack stations for our “home gating” parties. Pretzels or popcorn in cute little paper cups allow your guests to snack without leaving the couch! Some other ideas to try…

Salted Beer Football Pretzels
Spicy Caramel Bacon Popcorn
3 Bite Pulled Pork & Biscuits
3 Bite Tacos w/ Avocado Cream
Mini 3 Layer Cakes

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The Cheering Essentials

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This NFL book of referee calls is a fun little addition to the football festivities. And a few more decorative ideas to include in your game watching…

DIY Newspaper Party Poms
Tassel Drink Stirrers
Rating Cards

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Thirst Quenchers

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Wash down all those delicious snacks with your favorite signature cocktail like the Shakedown Shandy. Grab the simple recipe below plus a few other options to sip…

Champagne Beer Jello Shots
Apricot Whiskey Smash
Boozy Lemonade
Classic Moscow Mule

Sack'Um Shandy

prep time
4 Minute/s

cook time

total time
4 Minute/s

Ingredients

4oz of Ginga Syrup
1oz of Lemon Juice
1 bottle of Ale Smith IPA (or your favorite IPA)

Instructions

Fill two pint glasses with ice
Divide Ginga Syrup and Lemon Juice between glasses
Top it off with the Ale Smith IPA
Clink glasses and cheer!

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50 Recipes for Game Day

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50 Recipes for Game Day

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This Colorful Al Fresco Wedding at El Chorro Is Bringing Back Those Summer Vibes

Somehow we blinked and it’s the end of September – can someone please tell us how in the world that happened?! If you’re already missing those warm sunny days and bright floral hues of the summer season, don’t fret – today’s styled shoot from Desert Whim, Form Floral and Magdalena Studios will bring you right back to that can’t-beat summer feeling. Oh and fair warning, the full gallery will 100% make El Chorro, our favorite Arizona wedding venue, your latest and greatest obsession.

From Magdalena Studios… This stunning summer wedding at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, Arizona was designed to perfection by Desert Whim and photographed on film by Magi Fisher of Magdalena Studios.

The colorful florals by Form Floral reflected the vibrance of the desert and the lace bridal gown from BHLDN brought a bohemian feel to the day.

The outdoor ceremony in the courtyard was perfection, with loose floral blooms circling the couple while they said “I do.” The reception space featured an al fresco family style dining table and a view of the surrounding mountains.

When Garden Chic Meets the Desert at the Iconic El Chorro Lodge

Think you can’t pull off the garden wedding vibe at your desert venue? Think again, and allow today’s styled shoot from Imoni Events to inspire! Their soft, romantic color palette complete with a mix of pinks, white, greenery, and gold is a feminine bride’s dream. A lush arbor and enchanting floral chandeliers by Carte Blanche Design truly brought the garden meets desert vision to life. Head on over to the full gallery to see it all, captured by Jacqui Cole Photography!

From the planners at Imoni Events… This styled shoot at the iconic El Chorro Lodge, nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain, will forever be a favorite.

I really wanted to bring the garden to the Arizona desert. We used a mix of pinks, white, greenery, and gold. We wanted to keep everything soft, romantic, and girly.

For the ceremony, we lined the aisle with lush arches full of greenery and florals. We wanted this to feel like a fairytale and give the bride a wow moment as she walked down the aisle.

For the dinner, Carte Blanche Design created a custom wooden structure dripping with greens and floral chandeliers over all the dining tables to create an intimate elegant dinner setting.

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A Celestial Inspired Editorial With a Half Moon Arbor That’s Out of This World

Our love for today’s celestial styled shoot is truly infinite. From Wildflower AZ’s ridiculously creative half moon arbor to a reception space dripping in twinkle lights from Divinity Lighting + Events that took two whole days to put together – it’s all just too good. Every detail was planned to perfection thanks to Canvas Events along with design by Katina Patriquin Photography and cinematographer Love Story Films. To soak up all this celestial shoot has to offer – rocket to the full gallery for all the inspo.

From Katina Photography… ‘How do we rewrite the stars?’ This is the question posed by photographer Katina Patriquin Photography and cinematographer Love Story Films. The duo, with the help of Canvas Events, designed a style shoot elopement featuring celestial lighting at luxury venue El Chorro in Paradise Valley, Arizona, that will leave you with the magic of true love as infiniteness as the stars in the night sky.

The song ‘Rewrite The Stars’ was the premise of the shoot, and Canvas Weddings found the perfect models for Love Story Films to film and enact the story line of a love that would transcend all notions of tearing them apart. Love knows no reason, no boundaries, no distance. It has a sole intention of bringing people together to a time called forever. With a muted, textured floral palette, the Wildflower AZ artistically designed a half moon arbor that lit up the desert and paired perfectly with the star theme. Gold embellished his & her vow books added the touch of modern & personalization during the ceremony, while focusing on the intimateness of a micro-wedding with a staggered 6 person ceremony chairs.

Celestial lighting by Divinity Lighting + Events will leave you with stars in your eyes. It took the crew 2 days to set up, providing a 20x40ft area of reception space. The table was adorned with black menu cards with gold calligraphy, as black tapered candles provided ambient lighting to the surreal space. A vintage crown was adorned with gold floral elements that complimented the outdoor reception under the celestial lighting, as the bride danced with her groom under the starlit sky.

‘It’s up to you, and it’s up to me
No one can say what we get to be
So why don’t we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours… tonight.’
song lyric ‘Rewrite the Stars’ – The Greatest Showman

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A Bright and Lively Desert Wedding for a Couple With an Unforgettable Love Story

This is what happens when two New Yorkers tie the knot in the desert with the help of Caitlin Outstanding Occasions – pure magic! Royal Palms Scottsdale was the perfect setting for their romantic affair, made even more beautiful by a hot pink and blush color scheme and lush blooms by Lux Florist. Check out the full gallery for all the desert wedding inspiration – all taken by Leslie D Photography!

From the Bride… We wanted an elegant and romantic wedding. It was a destination wedding for most of our guests – (about 95%) flew in from the East Coast for the wedding. We love the desert vibe with the bright colors and greenery around the resort! We wanted to look back on our day and cherish the southwest views, plants, colors and overall ambiance for everyone to remember. All those natural details paired with the colorful cake, florals of our wedding day. Andrew and I met in September 2015 when I worked on Wall Street.

At the time, my co-workers and I would frequent Capital Grill for happy hour which was across the street from my office. One day after work, we decided to sit at the bar for happy hour. My coworker invited a friend of hers to join us, and her friend invited a friend – which happened to be Andrew. Unintentionally, Andrew walked in and grabbed the only spot at the bar that was left open and that seat was directly next to me. Totally unset up, we had a great time, ended up hitting it off and I couldn’t help but notice how genuine, funny, and interesting Andrew seemed to be (haha).

A couple of weeks later, after another random meeting set up by the same co-worker, Andrew asked for my number. After 1 minute and 20 seconds of me giving permission to pass along my number, I received a text message saying, “Hey Tiff, this is Drew.” I accepted a date, had a great time and never imagined that it would be the last first date of our lives! After 9 months of dating and enjoying New York City with each other, Andrew’s life nearly changed as a result of a serious car accident.

After continuous rehab including many ups and downs, the one constant was that we 100% complimented each other and that we both had found the love story that we had each craved. As his health continued to return, one Sunday afternoon we took a walk along along our favorite path in our back yard with the perfect view of the Statue of Liberty. In front of tourists checking out the view, Andrew, to my surprise got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. After asking him if “this was for real” I happily accepted and he put my dream diamond ring on my finger and gave me a t shirt that said, “I Said Yaaaaasssss!” Every day is a truly a dream and we both couldn’t be any luckier to live our lives together.

This Is the Cutest Champagne Cart You NEED to Have at Your Outdoor Wedding

The talented team at Revel Wedding Co. brought a major dose of ballroom glam to the desert at everyone’s fave Arizona venue – El Chorro! With jaw-dropping views of Camelback Mountain, the ceremony will completely take your breath away thanks to Lux Wedding Florist’s extravagant, floral adorned chuppah. Plus, a champagne cart that’s about to blow up your Pinterest feed. Take a peak at the full gallery of details – all taken by Jamiee Morse!

From Jamiee Morse… A styled wedding set in the middle of the Arizona desert, from the moment you entered the ballroom on the El Chorro property you traveled to another world of modern ballroom glam, complete with invitingly soft touches. The wedding trends in Arizona have been shifting to a very dolled up version of what has always been in style: classic garden, whites and greens.

One of the many positive outcomes of a styled shoot is that the designers can create something that you’ve never seen before—something fresh that you didn’t know you were missing! This one specifically fashioned a wedding story too beautiful not to tell.

As you walked through the ceremony space, you were welcomed by the breathtaking view of Camelback Mountain. The ceremony design itself was conjured up many diagrams, drawings, and scratch papers later, and it was evident the time and dedication that was put into the details. Rounded ceremony chairs juxtaposed the square altar, and you couldn’t help but let your eye travel all the way around the space. Event Rents crystal chairs and Lux Florist’s white altar and impressive florals looked beautiful on the green lawn.

The same color scheme was recreated in the invitation suite by Be In Love Designs, arriving in a satin box stamped with the crest of the couples’ last name. Acrylic, white, and a soft olive colors were incorporated to foreshadow what was yet to come.

The patio awaited with plush lounge furniture from Prim Rentals and a Moët station for each guest to grab their champagne and find their escort card. A whiskey tasting was offered and, yet again, an amazing Lux floral moment behind the bar completed the look and experience.

The ballroom was dressed from head to toe in white—white ceilings, white drapes, and white flooring. Adding in two long tables in velvet olive linen from La Tavola Linen immediately conveyed elegance. The look was complimented with crystal chairs, glass candelabras and chargers, and modern glassware and flatware. A garden oasis of florals and greens dripped from the ceiling, complete with floral adorned fireplaces for when the sun dipped behind the mountain and the desert cool set in. And to tie the design back into the initial elements, Forevergram embroidered the dinner napkins with the same crest from the invitation.

The event finished with Old Town Scottsdale’s Ruze Cake House’s cake moment—glamorous simplicity in the form of 4,086 hand-placed edible sequins covering a four-tiered masterpiece!

The Bride and Groom’s attire was intentionally chosen last. Heywood and Ringo immediately understood the vision and custom made the Groom’s tux, and Schaffer’s Bridal’s sleek wedding gown coupled it perfectly. If we could describe this perfect combination in three words, it would be white, classy, and Jimmy Choo. (Okay, four words.)

The entirety of the wedding was captured by the talented Jaimee Morse who didn’t miss a detail—everything from the altar down to the sugar sequins! Her personality and photographic creativity added to the experience.

Each aspect of the design was carefully curated to create unforgettable moments at every turn. The ceremony could speak for itself, the cocktail hour weaved playful and sophisticated into one, and dinner exuded magic from its core. This styled wedding took El Chorro’s natural, lush, green desert beauty to the next level, reminding the everyday spectators of its purpose and potential. Reinventing what it means to be married in Arizona.

A Romantic Spring Editorial at El Chorro for All the Desert-Loving Brides

Today’s stunning styled shoot from Leslie D Photography brought the colors of Spring to the desert at one of our fave Arizona venues – El Chorro! Sarah’s Wedding Garden absolutely blew us away with her cheerful blooms and wow-worthy floral arbor (and how about those ceremony views, huh!?) If you’re looking for the perfect recipe for bringing a major dose of romance to your Spring affair, check out the full gallery to see all the inspiring details, all planned by Mandy Marie Creative.

From Leslie D Photography… It’s felt like a really long winter and we’re ready for some warmth.

We wanted all the fresh feels spring brings and colors mixed in with this luxury green space.

The florals had romance and femininity to pair with this classic gown and all with such a clean classic vibe.

Sarah’s Wedding Garden was thrilled to add all the colorful blooms to the arch and the table. The gown name is Dixie by Wtoo (Made by Watters). This is a real couple who had just come back from France on a fun trip. And we loved adding their wonderful dynamic to the Editorial.

Arizona Brides Will Fall Head Over Heels for This Modern Romantic Wedding Inspiration at El Chorro

Chic black bridesmaid dresses, lush desert blooms and one of our all time favorite wedding venues – today’s stunning styled shoot from Amy Mulder Photography and Imoni Events at El Chorro is every desert bride’s dream wedding. Get those pinning fingers ready for the full gallery, complete with epic views and a ceremony arch design by The Wildflower AZ that’s truly never been done before. Keep on reading for more details behind the inspiration of the day!

From Amy Mulder Photography… No one can deny that El Chorro has an incredible beauty that couples dream of for their wedding. Capturing on film… Just adds to that beauty. A lot of weddings lock down on one look, we wanted to do something a little outside of the box. Black attire for the full wedding party, velvet green suit for the groom, with some uniquely chic elements while maintaining that luxurious feel. I knew El Chorro was a place I wanted to be.

So after contacting El Chorro, I got to work assembling a dream team of vendors. After months of planning, I flew out to Arizona to meet the team, who already felt like amazing friends, and get to work. Jenny from Imoni Events and Nicole from The Wildflower AZ put together an amazing look for the color palette, floral design, rentals, table, ceremony set up, all of it! I went out on a limb and opted for putting all of the bridesmaids in black. And with Bella Bridesmaid providing the one and only Miss Hayley Paige as the designer, it was the perfect combination for the shoot. I also wanted to have one female be a groomswoman, so that model got to dress up in a Hayley Paige jumpsuit.

Brooke Benjamin came on board to design all stationery and calligraphy elements…. And were they amazing. The colors, the textures, the fun ideas she created were perfect! Maeflower Cake and Nicole teamed up to make a truly amazing cake. The models arrived for hair and makeup at Makiaj Beauty, where the stylists created an amazing look for our bride. It was so fun to watch all of the models when they arrived and saw their dresses, they all wanted to take turns wearing them all I think! And their icing to their cake – jewelry by Lindsay Marie. Always so fun to watch model’s reactions!!

It was a typical Arizona hot day… With a little added in humidity. But all ten of the models were so excited and had so much fun, which made my job so much fun!! No one knew each other, but within just a few minutes everyone was laughing and having a great time! It really was like photographing a real wedding with a real group of close friends! There is something so special about film photography, and the way it catches the rays of the Arizona sun. So the photographs not only show off all of the attire, the florals, the decor, etc they show off that Arizona sun. And it was magical.

A Whimsical Winter Wedding Filled With Arizona Sunshine

A winter wedding, filled with Arizona sunshine, just four days before Christmas is sure to be magic! The high school sweethearts exchanged vows at a pine tree-filled chapel where their love story first began. The merriment continued at a reception filled with unique touches, like hand-painted acrylic ornaments tied with gold ribbon to create a stunning escort card display. Imoni Events brought the happiness of the holiday season and the romance of a longtime love together perfectly in all the details of the day. As always, Rachel Solomon Photography beautifully captured the joy of the stunning celebration. If you love all things holiday, you’re not going to want to miss the full gallery!

From the bride… The wedding planning began immediately following T.J.’s perfect proposal when we booked Brophy Chapel for our wedding ceremony the day after. It was the very first thing we did because of how important it was for us to exchange our vows in such a beautiful, historical place in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s so special to us because T.J. attended Brophy, an all-boys Jesuit school, and I the sister school, Xavier. Junior year of high school was where our love story began.

Our reception was at the Spanish-inspired Omni Montelucia Resort that backs up to the infamous Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, where most of the guests stayed to enjoy the gorgeous Arizona “winter” weather. We worked with Freed Hands to create hand-painted acrylic ornaments tied with a gold ribbon for our “escort cards”.

Our florist, Sarah and her team from Sarah’s Garden, created the most incredible centerpieces that were all shapes and sizes and included ivory, mauve, greenery, pops of burgundy, and accents of gold. The taper candles and lanterns that she scattered across the tables absolutely lit the room. We are forever grateful to our families and friends for celebrating with us and making the day one that we will always cherish!

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Lucky Devils Band

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The Soft Colors Of The Desert Inspired This Dreamy Editorial Shoot

Set in Arizona, this desert-inspired shoot is even prettier than a mirage. The delightful day was filled with carefully curated details, by Rachael Ellen Events, that have us convinced we’re dreaming. Just one look at the charming ceremony set-up filled with warm-toned florals is enough to make anyone swoon. The natural beauty of the setting and charming decor design was perfectly captured by none other than the ever-talented Lauren Fair Photography. Say hello to a desert oasis inside the full gallery.

From Lauren Fair Photography… This Arizona editorial was inspired by desert light, soft sand colors, and curved architecture with a European aesthetic. The beauty of the surroundings was perfectly complemented by the details of the design.

Our bride’s sparkly BHLDN gown was a show-stopper. It caught the light beautifully and upped the romance factor of the entire day.

The soft colors of the tablescape were inspired by the desert. The warm-toned table, adorned with florals and candlelight, felt like an inspired nod to Arizona.

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Lauren Fair Photography

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This Is the Ultimate Wedding Weekend Itinerary for a Hot, Desert Wedding!

Kicking off with a vibrant pink pool party and ending with an epic dance party under a canopy of café lights – this is everything a wedding weekend in the desert should be and more! Imoni Events made the couple the happiest bride and groom ever by bringing their Arizona inspired wedding to life, while the lovely Rebecca Yale Photography captured every can’t miss moment. Head on over to the full gallery to see all the sweetness this weekend has to offer – including an adorable dessert cart that’s about to blow up Pinterest!

From Rebecca Yale Photography… The story goes like this.. It all started in Pullman, Washington home of the Washington State Cougars (and home of Steven and Brittany at the time). Both business majors in similar circles, it’s a wonder it took 4 years for the pair to meet. It finally happened one fateful (and chilly) night at an apartment party 3 months before graduation. Steve was talking to one of Brittany’s friends when she introduced the pair. Steve spent the whole night cracking jokes until Brittany’s cheeks hurt. Steve offered to walk Brittany home, and they quickly realized they had lived nearly across the street from each other their entire college careers.

The following evening, Steve spotted Brittany at “Mikes”, the infamous bar in town. He saw her buying a round of drinks for another guy and kept his distance; he was unsure if the connection he’d felt the night before was a figment of his imagination. His friend asked why he wouldn’t go talk to the girl who he had seen Steve hit it off with the night prior.“I don’t think she’s interested – she’s been buying that GUY drinks all night.” Steve replied. Much to Steve’s surprise, his friend laughed and told him it was her triplet brother – Chris. Steve bought both Brittany and Chris drinks and proceeded to make them both laugh the night away with his witty (and often cheesy) jokes.

They both knew they had chemistry – but with college coming to a close both were certain of one thing: Neither wanted to start a relationship, least of all with someone who’d be living in a different city. Saying what they both pretended would be their final goodbyes, they left Pullman wondering what could have been had they met earlier or stayed longer. But we all know this isn’t where the story ends. It only took a few weeks for Steve to ask Brittany if he could come to visit. They decided that while they never envisioned a long-distance relationship, they liked each other enough to try. Like grew to love. A year and a half later, Brittany moved to Seattle. A year after that, they moved in together, and six months after they got a dog they adore (Samson). On September 2nd, 2018, Steve proposed and Brittany said yes.

After falling in love with each other, Brittany and Steven also fell in love with Arizona. The desert brought good memories, sunny weather, and incredible scenery. Hailing from Seattle, the two of them were excited for an opportunity to show their friends and family a place they both held dear to their hearts. Given their love for the sun, Brittany and Steven kicked off their wedding weekend with a bright and vibrant pool party at Hotel Adeline. Fuschia pinks and lemony yellows dawned the retro pool as the bride and groom to be showed up in matching yellow-striped swimsuits. It was a perfect way to kick off such a fun-filled weekend.

As they woke the next morning, wedding bells were in the air and venue set up was underway. Brittany and Steven had envisioned a wedding that screamed romance and played off the natural architecture of Silverleaf Club. With the help of their wedding designer, Jenni from Imoni Events, they were able to curate the perfect collection of flowers, soft seating and rental items so their guest felt wrapped up in casual elegance with a touch of Brittnay’s girlie personality and graceful style.

Touches of blue accented the main color palette of mauve, blush, and silver. And since Arizona is known for its strong elements, we used residential wood tables, metal chairs and soft cotton seating with custom bows and monogrammed pillows. And thanks to their talented photographer Rebecca Yale, the details of perfectly matched vow books and carefully designed paper suite by Victoria York were essential to the overall look. The effect was a perfect setting for Brittany and Steven’s love story to continue. So as they walked through the day, the sweetest first look, their emotional vows, the hilarious Father-Daughter dance, and a cake-cutting that ended with a bang (surprise fireworks show for all their guests)

Brittany and Steven were on cloud nine (or 11 as she kept saying.) The moments might have been imagined, but the memories were organic and heartfelt. It’s no wonder the photos and video scream of love and laughter.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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Dreaming of a Tuscan-Inspired Wedding Close to Home? This Scottsdale Venue Is the Perfect Fit!

One look at this gorgeous May wedding day planned by Imoni Events and you’d never guess this Tuscan-style villa is actually stateside in Scottsdale, Arizona! The bride and groom knew right away it was the perfect place to celebrate their “I do’s!” The couple exchanged vows under strings of cafe lights at sunset with views of the desert mountains. Sarah’s Garden created organic floral arrangements and living chandeliers that truly brought this elegant affair to life! Head on over to the full gallery to see every swoon-worthy detail, captured by Rachel Solomon Photography.

From the bride… Alex and I met in September 2011 at a housewarming party and started dating a year later. We got engaged on Cape Cod in December of 2017. Over the past seven years, we’ve traveled to countless places and lived together in three cities: Chicago, Boston and currently New York. I am from Northern Virginia originally and Alex is from Boston. We got to know our wedding destination, Scottsdale, after a number of visits to see Alex’s parents who moved there in 2014. The first time Alex and I saw Silverleaf Club, we knew it was a special place. It’s a beautiful tuscan style villa tucked inside of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, Arizona. So naturally when Alex popped the question after 5 years of dating, the stunning venue of Silverleaf quickly became the starting point for planning our wedding. We decided to get married a year and a half later in May 2019 and worked with Regan from Imoni Events to plan our elegant, garden inspired, wedding.

Sarah’s Garden Style helped us to choose lots of lush greenery, as well as white and light pink flowers, to bring our vision to life and to complement the warm tones of the venue. We pulled this theme through every aspect of the wedding, including the custom invitations and welcome bags, which had beautiful hand-painted watercolor florals by Chez La Mariee. The welcome bags included a lot of weekend necessities like “Desert Party Essentials” and a cute cactus sugar cookie from local baker, Ruze Cake House, that said “Love Is Sweet!”

From the beginning to the end, our wedding day was truly a fairy-tale! Alex and I chose to a do a first look before the ceremony. We met in the labyrinth at Silverleaf (a little outdoor oasis tucked behind the clubhouse). We took the time to read each other personal vows, while Rachel Soloman captured every emotion in photos and Storybox Cinema documented on film. It was nice to have a private moment just for us before we officially said “I do!”. I was wearing a stunning chiffon and lace beaded wedding dress by Pronovias. Alex was dressed in a handsome navy blue tux from Hugo Boss. He also had silver golf inspired clinks and a black bow tie, which had a subtle pattern that looked like cactus prickers, as a nod to our surroundings. Both of our rings were designed and made by Oscar Heyman in New York. We lucked out with an incredible May day in Scottsdale and the temperature was perfect for our ceremony which took place at 6pm on the event lawn at Silverleaf. The guest chairs were arranged in a semi circle shape facing the floral arch and the stunning backdrop of the McDowell Mountains. I had a grand entrance which began at the top of stone staircase at the venue. Alex and I had both of our parents walk us down the aisle, which was a very lovely way to incorporate them. The ceremony itself was personal and heartfelt, Ian Templin, who officiated, had both us and our guests laughing and tearing up.

After the ceremony, the Silverleaf staff greeted guests with champagne and rosé to begin the celebrations during cocktail hour. We had Cameron Degurski playing acoustic love songs as the sunset – it was magical. We took a few more photos and then had the opportunity to mingle with our 150 guests who had all traveled from out of town to join us for our destination wedding! The reception began at 7:30pm in both the member courtyard and fountain courtyard. The indoor outdoor reception flowed well as guest dined both under the stars and under chandeliers draped in greenery. The overall aesthetic for the reception was very romantic. We incorporated the same beautiful dusty blue color on Amsale bridesmaid dresses and La Tavola linen tablecloths for the guest tables, which really popped against the desert surroundings.

The guest tables had a mix of lush floral centerpieces with textural greenery and bud vases, as well as, white candles on silver pillars with glass hurricanes and votives. For the head table, we chose to use two beautiful wood dining tables from Glamour & Woods, with a white runner and lush greenery and floral draping across. We also chose to use a lot of silver accents at the reception, as a playful nod to Silverleaf, and we even had Match Pewter chargers at the head table, which were extra special to us as we registered for the same tableware. We tried to think of every detail, which included adding an olive leaf sprig at each place setting and a customized menu with the guests name in calligraphy on top. The food highlighted the Spring season, and the cake from Ruze Cake House left a bit of surprise – the elegant white three tiered cake was actually funfetti inside! Our first dance was to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud and we had so much fun in that moment, in front of all of our family and friends, it was pure joy. After that, Desert House Productions kept everyone on the dance floor all night – it was a fantastic party! In addition to speciality cocktails for the bride (Le Fizz) and groom (Moscow Mule) we also had late night bites to keep the party going until 11:30pm, where Semisonic Closing Time and Sheppard Geronimo were the last two songs played. There is not a single thing we would change about the day, it was absolutely perfect!

This Fashion Blogger Found Out She Was Expecting a Year Into Planning Her Wedding!

If you follow along with fashion blogger, Mackenzie Bay, you know she has the best sense of style—so, it should come as no surprise that her own wedding was a gem. Outstanding Occasions guided her and her hubs in the planning process, and thankfully so, because they found out they were expecting a baby boy about a year into planning. Is there a better wedding present than this little guy? I think not! See it all unfold below with imagery from Rachel Solomon.

From the bride… Summer was coming to an end and school was about to begin back in August of 2014 when I first met Daniel. I instantly locked eyes with him at a party and ever since that day he hasn’t left my mind! Our first date we had an instant connection and bonded over mariachis and margaritas. That evening, (little did I know at the time) he had gone back to his fraternity and told his close friends he had found the one!

Three years later, Daniel proposed to me along the beach in Mexico while we were riding horses down the shore. It took us almost two years to plan the most magical day of our lives. About a year into planning we found out that we were pregnant and we had our sweet baby boy Braxton just a few months before our big day, so he was able to be there alongside us!

Arizona had always been a special place for my family to vacation to, and Daniel was actually born in Arizona, so we decided to venture outside of Texas and have an intimate and dreamy destination wedding in Scottsdale. We were so excited to escape to the natural beauty and weather Arizona had to offer! El Chorro stood out to us from all the other venues we looked at because of how unique and charming it was. Lindsey Rendon, the catering and event manager, was so welcoming and made us feel right at home. It just felt like the perfect fit.

We wanted the rustic feel, and romantic atmosphere to be captured on our big day, and Rachel Solomon did just that! We could not have asked for a better photographer. Our ceremony was held on the breathtaking event lawn overlooking Camelback Mountain which just as well could have been a movie backdrop! My bridesmaids and I had the best hair stylist, Christin Roberts, spend all morning individually perfecting our hair. My girls all found their dresses on Lulus and the beautiful pink tones complimented the bold and lush Arizona scenery so perfectly on the ceremony lawn.

Got You Covered Music helped Daniel and I dance our way into our reception filled with the most stunning florals and linens from The Flower Studio and La Tavola Linens. We chose to have our parents alongside us at the head table which was so beautifully executed with candles, florals, greenery, and crystals dangling from above. Our guests were blown away!

I would not have been able to put everything together without the help of my mom and the most incredibly organized and sweetest planners, Rachel Troyan of Outstanding Occasions. She was there every step of the way and helped everything come together so perfectly. I want to go back and relive this unbelievably magical day over and over again and can’t thank our wedding dream team enough for giving us something so incredible to look back on for years to come.

Oakland Athletics Baseball Player Khris Davis Marries His Sweetheart at El Chorro

When Khris Davis and his beautiful Bride-to-be set out to find a wedding venue that boasted beauty in and of itself, El Chorro was the perfect choice. Their celebration was filled to the brim with colorful blooms from The Wildflower AZ, complimenting their (already stunning) location—as the Bride coins it, ‘a desert setting with a pop of color’. And I’m saying all the YES to that combo. Have a peek for yourself below and in the full gallery from Jessica Q Wong!

From the Bride… Khris and I got engaged in November 2017 when our son was almost 2 months old. I had just put our son to down for a nap and we were relaxing watching a tv show. Out of the blue, Khris disappeared for a few minutes and came back holding a box and asked me to marry him. I think our son wanted to celebrate, because in true newborn fashion, he woke up about 3 minutes after I said “yes.” We were able to celebrate with our families later that evening.

We are really low key and very untraditional and we wanted our wedding “celebration” to reflect that. We had actually gotten married a month earlier in our backyard, but we wanted a super nice dinner to celebrate with our close family and friends. Reflecting that, we wanted a venue that was beautiful itself without having to do too much work. I’m from the midwest so I wanted to embrace the desert setting with a pop of color. El Chorro was literally the perfect spot for us because its such a beautiful venue with its fireplaces and desert design and has a gorgeous mountain backdrop. Once we saw El Chorro’s setting, we knew we wouldn’t have to do too much, just a few highlights to make it unique to us. I love floral so we decided to make the floral arrangements highlight our style. The florist we worked with, The Wildflower AZ, couldn’t have done a better job. My request wasn’t the easiest of requests either. I didn’t provide a ton of direction, just that I wanted bright colors, like coral, but also wanted to colors accentuating the fall, like maroon. The pieces that they put together were so beautiful and exactly what we wanted. The arrangements worked seamlessly with the venue decor and created the perfect setting for us.

A few unique wedding details we had were…

The fireplace mantel floral arrangement is honestly the most beautiful floral arrangement I’ve ever seen. I wanted everyone to take their pictures underneath it and I wish I could have it at home on our fireplace mantel permanently!
Khris loves shoes (sneakers specifically) so instead of wearing traditional dress shoes, he and our son wore sneakers with their suits.
I loved having one long table for dinner. It really felt like we were all sitting down together to celebrate and was a great way to bring everyone together instead being separated at different tables.

Traditional Elements: We are pretty untraditionally and wanted to make it as casual and “untraditional” of a wedding celebration as possible. I did wear a white dress though.

DIY Elements: Khris and I both have a giant sweet tooth and love doing puzzles. He likes chocolate chip cookies while I prefer sugar cookies. My mom made sugar and chocolate chip cookies in the shape of puzzle pieces as party favors for all the guests to take home.

Our favorite moments of the day… being able to celebrate with family and friends that traveled near and far was the most special part of the day. It felt so wonderful to celebrate our love, surrounded by people who love us. After the dinner everyone came back to our house and we played a giant game of sand volleyball in our backyard.

A bit of advice… when you’re planning your special day, plan it the way you want it. Everyone will have their opinions and advice, but its a day to celebrate your love and you want to be able to look back in 20 years and not regret any decisions. It’s also so easy to get caught up in what you think you need to have to make the perfect wedding, but I think the best weddings are the ones that you can see that the bride and groom focused on their love and didn’t get caught up in all the noise.

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A Blush Tuscan Inspired Wedding at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale

Staircases alive with cascading greenery by Lux Florist, blush pink petals and bridesmaid dresses and a romantic ceremony scene that we fall more in love with every look – this a just a quick taste of what you can expect to see from this stunning day at Desert Mountain Golf Club planned by Outstanding Occasions. Take in all the pretty tuscan-inspired details captured perfectly by Leslie D Photography that will have you itching for a one-way ticket to Italia!

From the Bride… Brett and I met online in 2012 when I moved to Boston after graduating from college. We talked online and texted for a month until he asked me on a date. We met for dinner in the city, got hot chocolate at a dessert place around the corner, and played 20 questions while walking around Newbury Street, my favorite place in Boston, in the freezing cold.

The date lasted 4 hours and we planned our next date before saying goodnight. We dated for over 5 years when Brett’s job moved us across country to North Carolina from our new home, Los Angeles. Brett asked me to pick one vacation spot in SoCal before we moved and I chose Laguna Beach. He planned an amazing weekend and proposed while we were having a picnic on the beach.

Choosing a venue was the toughest part about wedding planning for us since Brett and I are from different states, lived in a place we had no connection to during the planning process, and were set on an all outdoor wedding. We went to Napa/Sonoma to look at venues and fell in love with the Tuscan charm of so many of them but the logistics of planning there overwhelmed us. We ended up choosing Arizona because Brett’s family has a home in Scottsdale and April guaranteed us (we hoped!) a rain-free, not too hot and not too cold wedding day.

Arizona was a destination for a majority of our guests. It was so fun to see many of them making a trip out of it and visiting Sedona and the Grand Canyon. While our venue had views of the mountains and cacti it also had the Tuscan feel we were looking for with olive trees, stone archways, and romantic lighting. Our vision was to have a smaller space to make it cozy and offer family-style dining to encourage conversation amongst our friends and family. Even though we had an incredible sunset at cocktail hour, the dinner was our favorite part. We sat at a long head table under the stars with our wedding party with the most romantic florals and table setting. The night turned out more beautiful than we could have ever imagined!