Paradise Valley Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Butterflies and ‘Something Blue’ at Mountain Shadows Resort

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The main palette was light blue, deep green, and white

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The couple really wanted their wedding to be personal. They had a ton of personal details including earrings that her family friend designed. The bride loves butterflies and had a butterfly theme in some areas of the wedding including their escort card display. The bride also had three dresses: ceremony, reception, and after-party dresses which were gorgeous and fun. We shot the wedding in a way where there was a lot of reflection, they wanted really artistic images. The most important thing on their day was to be with their best friends and family. During the after party, and dancing away with family and friends, the groom even got on stage to sing with the band.

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They got engaged on the east side of the Cumberland River in Nashville near the Nissan stadium in April 2022. Pretty epic view of the city. After the groom proposed, he surprised the bride with her parents who he flew in, as well as his mother and they had an amazing dinner and hit the town. The bride’s parents live down in Nashville and have always loved visiting. They have some of the best restaurants, bars, and live music in the world!

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Wedding dress: pnina tornai
Second dress (long): Galvan
Third dress (short): Clio peppiatt[/field]
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The food and beverage was very intentional. They were provided by Mountain Shadows resort and the couple hand selected all of their selections. They love espresso martinis and made sure to include these at the after-party for their guests.

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Their florals and decor were very elegant. The chuppah was covered in white and baby blue flowers, with aisle pieces that were luscious and beautiful. The florals they chose for their reception were a mix of high and low centerpieces, that followed the light blue and white theme. The couple sat at a sweetheart table that had a large floral piece placed on the ground in front of the sweetheart table.

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Their wedding cake was a two-tiered cake from A Bakeshop. It was all white with a small amount of florals on the front; classy and timeless.

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BBJ La Tavola

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Elyse Hall Photography

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A Modern, Organic Wedding At The Couple’s Paradise Valley Home

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The wedding colors were copper, green, and black.

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The clients were imagining an intimate and organic vibe, located at their paradise valley home. Their home has a Tuscan feel so we tried to continue that throughout the dinner space with a Tuscan alfresco style.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Brian and Neal have been life partners for many years, and they decided that they wanted to celebrate their partnership and love with their friends and family after they were inspired by a family members luxury wedding. [/field]
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Brian and Neal travel a lot all over the world and wanted their guests to be able to experience foods from different cultures from carnitas tacos to croque monsieur. Santa Barbara catering provided the different stations throughout the dinner space for guests to enjoy at their leisure. AZ Bartendersprovided a mixologist to create unique and exciting cocktails for guests to experience and enjoy.

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Carte Blanche created an elevated and masculine design that wowed guests the moment they entered the property. Their custom logo was sprinkled throughout the entire event, including custom server napkins and seating chart display.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Brian and Neal worked together with Santa Barbara catering to perfect the perfect Strawberry short cake dessert that resembled their favorite short cake from a local restaurant. To incorporate their love for chocolate, we added a mini chocolate mousse tower that their guests loved. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Brian and Neal decided to do the Jewish Tradition of seven blessings in their ceremony. They incorporated family members to do the readings with them. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]At their home, Brian and Neal have a Juliet balcony that they wanted to incorporate into their special day. Before the back yard was revealed, all guests gathered in the courtyard with champagne as Brian and Neal emerged on the Juliet balcony to kick off the night with a toast. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]When Brian and Neal aren’t residing in Paradise Valley, the spend their time on their farm in upstate New York. They utilized feathers from the birds on their farm, to merge their love of New York, to their love of Paradise Valley by incorporating those details into their stationary. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]The final song led all of the guests to dance on the raised edge around the reflecting pool. This organic moment was a highlight of the event and the perfect way to end the night. [/field]
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Elyse Hall Photography

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Lucky Devils Band

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Vineyard Inspired Private Estate Wedding in Paradise Valley

One thing the pandemic brought in spades is the art of perseverance. For this couple the third time planning their wedding was the charm, and oh how charming the wedding turned out to be! Mandy Marie Creative planned an intimate day filled with warm neutrals that has stolen our hearts. Floral design by Bloom & Blueprint is as romantic as it as mesmerizing. You can feel the joy of the day artfully captured in the imagery by Mary Claire Photography, see every meaningful moment inside the full gallery.

From Mandy Marie Creative… The third time was the charm for this beautiful “Covid-Wedding” couple! As the story goes, Megan and Duane originally planned for a vineyard wedding in northern California at the beginning of 2020. Eventually, the family decided to move the celebration to their home in Paradise Valley to allow a bit more control over their celebration. Yet, they didn’t want to lose the aesthetic of the original Napa Valley vineyard-style venue. From the arched entryways to the exquisite courtyard and water feature, Megan and Duane’s Vineyard-inspired residence in Paradise Valley, Arizona, made for the perfect location for the couple to say their long-awaited “I do’s” on a perfectly sunny and warm November day. To complement the Tuscan architectural details, the Mandy Marie Creative team developed a warm, modern, and intimate wedding design concept that left this couple (and family) in awe.

Picture warm neutrals with a touch of blush and mixed metal accents. The couple wanted to utilize both the front and back of the home so that each portion of the event felt intentional. They started the celebration in a large yard where the ceremony took place before moving near the resort-style pool in the back yard for cocktail hour. Next, guests were guided into a courtyard dinner space, where a clean-lined tablescape with 3000+ feet of hanging greenery (like Beaulieu Gardens, only more significant) waited for them. Guests enjoyed wine pairings with a four-course meal underneath a canopy of twinkle lights and greenery surrounding a forty-foot-long water fountain.

After dinner, guests were escorted to the backyard for cake-cutting and dancing. The monogrammed dance floor was built over a custom sub-floor that leveled out a 15′ deep retaining lawn. Intentionally using this last space was important to Megan and Duane so they could enjoy an epic dance party late into the evening! Perhaps the most impressive part of this design was the three-hundred and fifty floating orbs that hung directly over the dance floor, backed by a beautiful stage with three floral arches. Guests walked away with heels in hand, sharing their dance party and overall experience left a highly memorable experience. There were so many moments of surprise and delight, from the Beaulieu-style hanging gardens at dinner to the pyrotechnics to the surprise father-daughter dance. Megan and Duane’s wedding was undoubtedly worth the wait!

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Majestic Mountain Views And Darling Details Make This Arizona Wedding A Must-See

Majestic mountain views and darling details make this Arizona wedding a must-see. Imoni Events planned a picture-perfect day in shades of white, cream, blush, and black, and Lux Florist brought our couple’s Big Day dreams to life with fabulous florals from the ceremony to overhead on the reception dance floor. The love of the day is artfully captured in the elegant imagery by Rachel Solomon Photography, visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.

From the bride… Kevin and I dated for about 7 years before he proposed to me down in Cabo on a romantic sunset cruise! While Kevin and I are born and raised in Kansas City, we both enjoy the climate, beauty (and golf) in the Scottsdale, AZ area. We knew we wanted to keep our wedding intimate, and both always dreamed of a destination wedding, so Scottsdale it was! Scottsdale holds so many amazing venues, however, we absolutely fell in LOVE with El Chorro in Paradise Valley and their gorgeous event lawn. It was everything we were looking for: a breathtaking background and setting with Camelback Mountain, the ability to have the ceremony and dinner outdoors, and still plenty of gorgeous space indoors for dancing, drinks, and dessert! Being that this was a destination wedding for us, a wedding planner was a must, and I could not have done any of this without Jenni Thye and her team at Imoni Events. Jenni began by asking for words to describe the wedding we envisioned, and it was simple: dreamy, romantic, elegant, comfortable, and breathtaking. I’ve always thought Coco Chanel said it well, “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”

With the help of Imoni Events, our color scheme came to be whites, champagne, black, and a very light/soft blush that looked “dreamy” against the desert and mountain setting. We worked with the ever-talented Cynthia at Lux Florist who made my floral vision come to life. Tall and full arrangements of flowers in the setting for the ceremony carried over to the table centerpieces. They were stunning atop the romantic lace “White Anita” overlay with “Latte Satin” underlays from Nuage Designs. The evening then transitioned inside to a fun, hip, elegant, and comfortable feel for the dancing, drinks, and dessert! The black, blush and champagne colors came to life there, especially with the black and white checkered dance floor that highlighted our choreographed first dance together (I was a dancer and dance teacher), along with a greenery-filled ceiling and gorgeous floral chandelier! Our dog, Stella, even got some time in with “Stella’s Signature Cocktails” thanks to Heidi at Idieh Design who put together a perfect cocktail sign featuring Stella.

Everything came together so beautifully, and I am forever grateful for how Rachel Solomon Photography captured the day perfectly for us to remember every detail. The entire day and evening were absolutely breathtaking, everything I had ever dreamed of and more! We were beyond grateful for the amazing support of our families and friends, all traveling near and far to be there with us. The special evening was all made possible because of the direction and guidance of so many wonderful vendors, who all saw my vision and made it a reality! This wedding dream team carried out every one of our envisioned details impeccably, and truly made our evening a dream come true!

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Modern And Chic Scottsdale Wedding Full Of Fun

This formal affair is all about effortless, elegant style. Some Like It Classic planned the picture-perfect wedding day in Arizona, filled with exquisite details like a custom seating chart adorned with pampas grass and velvet dressed reception tables. Organic floral arrangements by Carte Blanche Design added a classy, bohemian touch that carried throughout the design. Every magical moment was artfully captured in the imagery by Elyse Hall Photography, visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From Elyse Hall Photography… As the pandemic hit many industries hard, receiving product orders had lasting effects on the wedding industry. For Brianna and Austin, it was their stationary. With invitations stuck in Australia and little hope of arriving on time to send to guests, the groom decided it was time to pivot. A graphic designer by trade, Austin took it upon himself to design new invitations for their big day. The result was anything but second best.

In the forefront of the iconic Camelback Mountain, Brianna and Austin said their vows in a heartwarming, religious ceremony surrounded by their wedding party dressed in timeless neutrals. A custom statement seating chart display created by The Details Duo adorned with pampas, welcomed guests from cocktail hour to dinner where velvet dressed tables awaited.

Lounge furniture gave a functional design element that filled the space with a minimalist look. With every detail thoughtfully chosen, this postponement was a day worth waiting for.

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Elyse Hall Photography

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A Rustic El Chorro Wedding With Subtle Hints of Tuscan Flair

Consider today’s stunning desert wedding at El Chorro planned by Details Darling to be your perfect blueprint for a rustic celebration with subtle notes of Tuscan charm, thoughtfully tucked into every curated detail. Carte Blanche kept the floral arrangements timeless in style with a classic color palette of blush, taupe and sage. To see all the aww-worthy details, including an adorable cactus-inspired cake topper, don’t miss out on the full gallery – all captured by Rachel Solomon Photography!

From the Bride… Vin and I met in college in New York City. We were friends at first, and after one fateful Halloween night our Sophomore year we started dating and haven’t looked back – that was 10 years ago!. As a native Arizonian, I was excited to show our east coast friends and Vin’s family the beauty of the Southwest. When Vin and I got engaged, I knew for sure that I wanted to have the celebration in my hometown.

Following our engagement, Vin and I flew to Arizona for the Christmas holiday. While we were there, we decided to spend a day visiting venues with my parents. We went to several, beautiful options, but I already knew I wanted it to be at El Chorro – I mean how could you not… It’s beautiful! Vin, being the practical one, wanted to see every option that Phoenix had to offer before visiting El Chorro, but he also fell in love the moment he stepped on sight. We booked it that day! After we booked our venue, I immediately enlisted my friend and (conveniently) amazing wedding planner, Mackenzie Swift, to help plan and design our special day. Vin and I worked together to plan the wedding of our dreams, and Kenzie was there every step of the way to take our vision and put it into action. I can’t stress enough how much of a lifesaver Mackenzie was throughout the process! Like most couples getting married over the past year, we had a slight hiccup in our planning journey, and that hiccup is called ‘Covid-19’. We ultimately postponed our wedding, but being the optimists that we are, we were excited to have additional time to fine-tune our big day!

Along the way, one thing that we did have a big opinion on was the food – something that Vin and his big Italian family were very enthusiastic about. El Chorro was super accommodating with all of our food requests. Food was such a great opportunity to blend our two backgrounds together – Southwestern Tacos during cocktail hour and a pasta course added before entrees. Sure enough, El Chorro did not disappoint on the day of the wedding, and we ate what felt like 10 different meals that day, each better tasting than the previous. I can assure you no one left the wedding hungry!

The day of the wedding was truly magical! Our rustic, Tuscan theme provided our guests with a relaxed and beautiful atmosphere. After a tumultuous year, we wanted the big day to be a celebration of friends and family, and it was just that. The JJs band was absolutely incredible, and our guests let loose on the dance floor that night! We finished off the evening with our favorite dessert, ice cream sandwiches from Churn.

Our wedding would not have been what it was without the amazing support from our friends and family, and the creative direction from our vendors, especially our wedding planner Mackenzie Swift of Details Darling, photographer Rachel Solomon of Rachel Solomon Photography, and videographers, Coltin and Brianne of White Locket Films. We were so blessed by this amazing group of people who worked seamlessly together. Because of their collaboration and flawless execution of our creative details, we were able to enjoy all the sweet and joyous moments of our beautiful day!

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Dreamy Desert Wedding Featuring Watercolor Touches Done By The Bride Herself

This dreamy desert wedding features artwork from the bride herself! She painted a watercolor series in pastel desert tones, which was incorporated in everything from the save the dates to a map detailing weekend activities inside the welcome bag. The desert proved hot in more than one way, with the expert help of planning team Revel Wedding Company, who was able to turn the couple’s vision board into a jaw-dropping reality. The expansive and rugged desert landscape was the perfect backdrop for a sensational burst of blooms by Carte Blanche. Elyse Hall Photography captured every magical minute in her artful imagery. You’ll feel as if you stumbled upon a mirage in the full gallery.

From the bride… Mike and I first met while living in Charlotte, North Carolina through some mutual friends. He was so confident and direct from the moment we met, but it was his consistency and persistence that won me over. From day one he has been the most consistent and supportive person in my life.

One weekend in July, we had a casual trip to Telluride planned and it was on that trip, right in the middle of Main Street with everyone cheering, that he proposed. It was so unexpected and so perfect. Not only did he pull off the perfect surprise, but he had flown to North Carolina a few weeks prior for only 12 hours to ask my parents for their blessing in person.

When it was time to start wedding planning we looked at our home states of NC, FL, and then CO before realizing that no matter where we chose would be a destination for a large portion of the guest list. When we thought about our big day, we knew we wanted it to be outside and a well-traveled destination for the guests. Mike suggested we consider Arizona and he was so right!

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Elyse Hall Photography

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The Sophisticated Splendor of This Arizona Affair Will Leave You Starry-Eyed!

Let’s be honest, it takes a lot for us to feel speechless around here… but this sophisticated Arizona affair planned by Outstanding Occasions has succeeded at just that. The couple wed overlooking a mesmerizing mountainous view and had the ultimate dance party on a stylish checkerboard floor at El Chorro! This day was made even more magical with LUX Wedding Florist’s blooming blush, mauve, and cream arrangements resulting in towering centerpieces and a stately cake display! Elyse Hall perfectly captured the sweet memories and love, get inspired by all the details at the full gallery.

From the Bride… Despite both graduating from the University of Arizona in 2012, it was not until we moved to Manhattan that Zack and I finally met through mutual friends. Zack knew from the get-go that I was the person for him. He tried to woo me with weekly rooftop BBQs (my favorite) and fun nights out – but it took me a bit longer to know we were meant to be. It was at a steeplechase horse race in Far Hills, NJ that I realized I could no longer deny his charm and wit and finally agreed to go on a date.

We went on our first date the very next day, and the rest is history. Three years later, Zack popped the question at the Bel Air Bay Club, my favorite childhood spot with incredible LA beach views. Eager to start looking at venues, we planned a whirlwind weekend that took us from LA to Palm Springs to Arizona. The second we walked into El Chorro, we knew it was perfect. The stunning mountain backdrop and the desert vibes felt like a dream location to tie the knot. Living in New York, we knew we needed help on the ground to make sure everything went smoothly.

The best wedding decision we ever made was to hire Rachel at Outstanding Occasions. We truly would not have been able to navigate our 2020 wedding without Rachel. A month out from our big day, COVID hit. Our planned 1. 5 year engagement turned into 2. 5 years and three wedding dates – but on May 2, 2021, we finally got married!

We kicked the night off with our first dance under the stars to take advantage of the beautiful Arizona nights, and after dinner we moved to the dance party inside. The wait was well worth it, because it was the best day and night of our lives and one we will never forget.

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Elyse Hall Photography

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Magical Mountain Views Bring The Romance In This Paradise Valley Wedding

Framed by extraordinary mountain views, this Arizona wedding has officially stolen our hearts. After our couple had to change their original wedding plans due to the pandemic, they were afraid that a more intimate affair wouldn’t be as special. After what the bride and groom are now calling the “best day ever” they are convinced that they couldn’t have been more wrong. Outstanding Occasions created the dreamiest of days filled with elegance and romance set in the great outdoors. Flowers by LUX Florist make the setting even more sensational. Rachel Solomon Photography artfully captured the love of the day in her beautiful imagery. Make sure to visit the full gallery so you don’t miss a single moment.

From the bride… Steve and I had met back in 2014 through mutual friends, and our whole relationship has been very family and friend-focused. We knew when the time came to plan our wedding, we wanted our big day to have the same feeling of celebrating our love with our closest friends and family.

El Chorro was the perfect venue for our wedding – it is the most beautiful location that combines our love of the Arizona desert with a romantic feeling the moment you walk in. The beautiful views of Camelback Mountain combined with our garden theme were exactly what I wanted.

Dinner on the lawn under the bistro lights and stars was a dream. The smaller guest count, due to the pandemic, ended up being wonderful. We were truly surrounded by our closest friends and family, aside from a few who were unable to travel given the circumstances. We danced the night away with our best friends

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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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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 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.

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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Romantic Fall Desert Wedding at El Chorro in Paradise Valley

I melt for a good groom-swooning-at-the-bride shot, and this wedding right here? It’s got a few sweet ones sprinkled throughout. Gahhh, can you even? I think we can all agree this duo is simply the cutest and when you pair them with details planned by A Day to Cherish Weddings & Celebrations and adorable guests like this, the result is a darling day that pulls you in. See the whole thing right this way.

From Benjamin Clifford Photography… Being a wedding photographer, it’s hard not to appreciate all the effort and care that goes into a spectacular wedding. Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a stunning wedding at the beautiful El Chorro wedding venue. It was an excellent setting for such an occasion, nestled between the desert mountains of Paradise Valley, Arizona. My clients, Rebecca and Nathan, couldn’t have been more delighted by the natural beauty and luxurious treatment they received. The event was gorgeous from start to finish, and the memories preserved there will undoubtedly be remembered fondly by all who attended.

We managed to take a few photos of her alongside the lively desert fauna, creating a simply enchanting scene. The bridesmaids dressed in pale pink looked lovely together next to the bride, and we were able to get a few photos of them as well. After a few more shots of the groom looking his best and the couple finally together, we were ready to move on to the wedding ceremony. The event lawn was a spectacular venue with perfectly trimmed grass, white-blossomed trees, and the looming desert mountains in the distance. When Nathan and Rebecca were finally together on the event stage, hand-in-hand with solemn expressions, every seamlessly entwined element was finally in place. The couple walked away with brimming smiles. The following walk around the grounds allowed us several more romantic shots of them together freshly married. It was lovely to see them both bubbling from the excitement of their union. From there it was on to the Casa Paloma for the reception, showcasing the dazzling luxury El Chorro is known for. White, gold, crystal and blush adornments filled every table, with bouquets and candles to top it off. We finished with a series of shots of the couple’s first dance, taking to the floor in a wonderfully intimate moment while their friends and family looked on.

When it was all said and done, we managed to capture a fantastic set of stunning photos from the event. It was a wonderful day to be involved in, and one I’m sure won’t be forgotten.

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Vibrant Desert Elopement Inspiration at El Chorro in Arizona

Elopements used to get a bad rap… but oh, have they come a long way in the past decade. Sneak-away I dos have become micro celebrations where the focus can be placed on quality over quantity; making room for attention to detail in every area of your Big Day, from style to ceremony to the ‘reception’ (if you so choose to invite a few guests!). Today’s vendor team, including Marisa Belle and A Day to Cherish Weddings and Events, crafted a desert-style elopement that will brighten your Pinterest boards and have you seriously considering a more intimate gathering.

From Marisa Belle Photography… This inspiration shoot was a true collaboration between all vendors. When we first met to talk about the direction we wanted the shoot to take, everyone agreed that it should be something that was “out of the box” while still staying true to an intimate wedding vibe. We opted to stay away from a more traditional color pallet and introduce vibrant golds, mustards, and plum shades throughout. Our goal with this shoot was to inspire brides and let them know that beautiful elopements are attainable without having to climb to the top of a mountain on fly to Iceland. A stunning and traditional venue like El Chorro can be equally as beautiful for an elopement or intimate wedding!

As with any inspirational shoot so much of the feeling comes from the wardrobe. For this shoot our amazing wedding wardrobe stylist Risa of RiSTYLE Consulting designed and created the dress from scratch with her team. We went with a golden/mustard dress and although the color of the dress was unique we kept the lines and train of a traditional wedding dress. The silhouette of this custom gown is beautiful on our model and balances with her naturally curly hair. Just perfect! Our groom wore a plum blazer by Gant, tan pants, floral tie and pocket square all by Bonobos. The look is very fashion forward and goes perfectly with the brides dress!

Margo and Bees did a wonderful job with the invitation suite, incorporating the mustard color while playing off the desert sunset with their colorful overlay. Used both on the inside of the envelope and information card to tie it all together!

Ruze Cake House did a masterful job of creating a cake design that fit with the inspiration! The cake is hand painted and plays off the color of the wedding dress seamlessly. The favors are painted the same way and shaped to highlight Arizona and the desert. So perfect!

Randi owner of Carte Blanche Designs nailed the intimate, vibrant vibe of the shoot with her gorgeous bouquet. The bouquet was both perfectly structured while still giving a free-flowing elopement feel.

For our ceremony set up we wanted to maintain the subtle bohemian feel of an elopement while still keeping with some classic elements and making sure to highlight the beautiful desert El Chorro backdrop and Camelback Mountain in the background. We kept the seating interesting by incorporating gold chairs, paired with white leather chairs and cow hide benches all provided by Dang. Fine Rentals. The potted succulents and small floral arrangements by Randi at Carte Blanche Designs, dotted the ceremony space elevating the simple but stunning design.

Cara with A Day to Cherish Weddings really did an amazing job designing this space using items from Dang Fine Rentals! All the elements play beautifully off the El Chorro backdrop, bring in the desert and bohemian elements of an elopement but with a refined and classic twist. The La Tavola linens on the cocktail high boys work perfectly with in the space!

The reception was set in The Hampton Room at El Chorro, a location where they hold many intimate dinner parties. The room is inviting and romantic perfect for an elopement reception. For the design we decided on one long table provided by Dang Fine Rentals, adorned with a colorful runner, candle light and desert plants and flowers all put together by Randi of Carte Blanche Design. She also incorporated some terra cotta elements that again play off of our desert surroundings. Behind the table we used a rattan room divider that allowed us to bring in more candle light, so pretty!

There is no shortage of portrait spaces at El Chorro, every corner of the property is beautiful and highlights the desert backdrop. For this shoot we explored some of the lesser used corners of the property with allowed us to flex our creative muscles but also allowed us to capture one of the most stunning portraits with Camelback Mountain I’ve ever seen from the property!

El Chorro in Arizona is the Perfect Backdrop for this Wedding Inspo

If ever there was an inspiration shoot that you could translate so completely and seamlessly into a wedding, it would be this gorgeous little number from Ashley Creative and photographed by Jacqui Cole. From the pretty bridesmaids dresses to the rentals by The Confetti Studio, La Tavola Fine Linens and Glamour and Woods, even pre-made welcome bags by A Signature Welcome and florals inspired by the Wildflower AZ – this really could be one of those shoots you show to your wedding planner and boom, design complete. Donkey not included.

From the Camelback Mountains to the gorgeous Arizona sunsets, our inspiration was brought to you by just that – the breathtaking array of oranges, blues and yellows that paint the skies of the Southwest at dusk. The historic El Chorro set a beautiful backdrop for our wedding inspiration shoot nestled in the exclusive Paradise Valley of Arizona.

The inspired design direction by Ashley Creative was to stay true to the gorgeous nature surrounding the venue. Together, with Wildflower AZ and Glamour and Woods, we created a tablescape that highlighted the color palette perfectly. Idieh Designs crafted a textured canvas table number to almost resemble tile along with leather place cards to give it that outdoor edge.

Wood candlesticks from The Confetti Studio & a soft, gauzy runner from La Tavola Linen created the perfect mixture of textures that was beautifully captured by Jacqui Cole in front of the cactus of the Sonoran Desert.

A Signature Welcome curated a welcome bag that guests would be thrilled to receive – filled with desert essentials like sunscreen, a water bottle, and yummy local snacks all placed in a rose gold wire basket with a hand calligraphy “Welcome to Arizona” tag. Ruze Cake House added two cactus cookies to the welcome bag to pay homage to the sea of cactus you see when driving through the desert.

Penny, the burro, made a friendly appearance during our wedding inspiration shoot. She was dressed in a flower crown in the same color scheme as the bride’s bouquet to perfectly accent the bridal party.