Arizona Weddings

Take one look at this stunning Scottsdale affair and one thing is pretty obvious: the talented team at Some Like It Classic Wedding & Event Design really know how to throw a glamorous affair.  And not just any glamorous shindig – a golden-hued, take-your-breath-away party boasting vibrant orange hues and glittery goodness from Wildflower Linens.  See it all captured by Bridgette Marie Photography right here.

From Some Like It Classic… To design Colleen and Jarrod’s perfect day, we wanted it to be sophisticated and elegant just like the couple and the venue they loved so much.

The gold chairs with big white bows at ceremony were refined and classic and a last minute detail added by the Mother of the Bride that finished the look. With the existing pavillion, we wanted to soften the white with eye-catching floral and mocha colored fabric that didn’t compete with the design and the stunning lace bridesmaids’ dresses.

In the reception space, the oranges and greens with white and gold accents gave the decor a romantic feel that was timeless, just like the bride. We incorporated subtle sparkles in the rich linen fabrics, lush green floral table runners, and gold candlabras with crystal adorned floral designs.

From the Bride… I remember when I was a little girl walking with my dad along one of the many beautiful paths at the Phoenician Resort. He turned and said to me “Colleen, one day you can come here and get married.” I, of course, replied with something like “Ew, no way dad, boys are gross.” Lo and behold, about twenty years later that is exactly what happened.

I was in a local college bar one evening when I noticed a rather dashing bartender. I remember a feeling coming over me that I must meet this guy. With a little courage I introduced myself, and we hit it off right away. Fast forward a year and a half later he was down on one knee in my backyard, with our two dogs in attendance, asking me to marry him. That day I was filled with so much love and joy in my heart that words cannot describe.

When Jarrod and I started to discuss venue possibilities and our vision for the big day my mind wandered off to those family vacations in Arizona and the Phoenician. To my delight Jarrod is the typical “whatever you want, dear” kind of guy. So the Phoenician it was! Being from Nebraska I knew planning my perfect wedding from a few states away would be a challenge. This is when I sought after a wedding planner that could take my vision of timeless class and elegance and make it into a reality. In my search I stumbled upon Amina Michele, owner of Some Like It Classic in Scottsdale. Amina was an absolute dream to work with. I knew I wanted every detail of our day to stand out with beauty and vibrancy, I’m a girl who loves a little glitter and glam! Amina ran with that and set me up with the perfect vendors who made it all possible!

Jarrod and I were so blessed to get to work with such amazing vendors. Everyone went above and beyond our expectations to make our special day everything we desired. We wanted it to be a great party and for our closest family and friends, who had traveled from all over the country, to have a wonderful time. It was exactly that and more!

On October 5th, as my dad walked me down the path towards the ceremony site, my mind wandered back to twenty years ago when the thought of this day began; it was truly more beautiful that I had ever dreamed. My husband and I are so thankful to the vendors and our family and friends who made our day so perfect!

Photography: Bridgette Marie Photography | Event Planning & Design: Some Like It Classic - Wedding & Event Design | Floral Design: Table Tops Etc. | Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher | Cake: Let Them Eat Cake | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bridals By Lori | Makeup: Linda Wagner | Hair: Ruca Bowman Hautie Rouge Salon | Bridal Jewelry: Claudia's Custom Jewelry | Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Phoenician | Linens: Wildflower Linen | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Envisioning a wedding that’s sophisticated while still maintaining a laid-back feel? You’ll want to keep scrolling for this one. There’s the bridesmaids open-back BCBG dresses, beautiful blooms from Designs by Jeremiah, and the Bride’s stunning Allure gown, and of course, dancing the night away to JJ’s Band.  Photo duo Amy & Jordan captured some stunning moments from the day. See more here!

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Photography: Amy & Jordan Photography | Floral Design: Designs By Jeremiah | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaids Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Makeup: Victoria Zipprich | Hair: Courtney Hope Poirier | Band: The JJ's Band | Ceremony & Reception: McCormick Ranch Golf Club | Coordinatior/Planner: Francine Kades | Dessert: Morsels By Marita Benjamin | Dress Shop: Lillian Lottie Couture | Groom & Groomsmen's Attire: Celebrity Tux And Tails | Paper Products: Paper Crazy

I love working from home, but do you want to know one of my favorite reasons why? When a film like this one from Serendipity Cinema lands in my lap, I can watch it over and over and over without one feeling of guilt. And this, my friends, is a film you’ll want to watch over and over again. Because it’s not only a glimpse into this couples’ beautiful day, it’s a glimpse into their amazing love for each other. And what’s better than that?

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From Serendipity Cinema …Elegance in nature. Kaylee and David celebrated their wedding day high atop the Scottsdale Valley at Desert Mountain. Both ceremony and reception took place in the stone courtyard of the Chiracahua Clubhouse with cocktails and dessert on the patio overlooking twinkling lights in the distance. We married two distinct design styles: glamour and organics that we called geo-glam. The bride and groom live part time in Los Angeles and have a flare for fashion, and raised in Arizona, the bride has a taste for a bohemian, natural style as well. Nestled amongst gorgeous homes lining streets with gemological names, the ceremony and reception reflected these elements. On top of shimmery nude hued sequin table linens, we blended organics such as crystals, himalayan rock salt and succulents with formal touches like gold candelabras and mercury glass. Garden Roses coupled with succulents. Deco lanterns filled with fire. Wood and sequins. The unusual coupling made for a magical evening.

Cinematography: Serendipity Cinematography | Event Planner: Sip And Twirl | Florist: Fiori Floral Design | Entertainment: The Walkens | Country Club: Desert Mountain Chiracahua | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Desert Aisles

I may be the biggest fan of wedding cinematography on the planet. No exaggeration. And it’s because I can’t imagine not having our wedding film now that we are years past our wedding. And after this couple took a look at the work of art Serendipity Cinematography captured of their big day, I am sure they feel the same way. It’s a gorgeous look, into their gorgeous day – so do yourself a favor and hit play…

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From Serendipity Cinematography…A timeless wedding of all white and crystal was this couples vision. They really wanted the evening to represent them as a couple and throw a great celebration for their guests. The candlelit courtyard dripping with crystals, white florals, white dance floor and live music set the mood for a romantic evening. The courtyard of the venue was full of candle light and candelabras cascading with orchid vines. Their ceremony was their favorite part of the wedding. There was no question that they did not want to do a first look. The bride has always loved the look on a grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time and that moment did not disappoint. Their vows included a wine ceremony with wine from the vineyard where they were engaged in Napa.

Photographer: Joshua Sky Photography | Cinematography: Serendipity Cinematography | Florist: Fiori Floral Design | Dress: Uptown Bridal | Cake: LGO Bakeshop | Stationery: Vee Creative | Entertainment: Nate Williams Band | Venue: The Country Club At Dc Ranch | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

This wedding might just feature my all time favorite floral detail for any wedding, ever. That ceremony backdrop with the coral ombré flowers seeming to grow right out of the wood is amazing, but I shouldn’t be surprised with Butterfly Petals behind the design. And as fab as that sweet little detail is, it’s nothing in comparison to the wedding, as seen by Justin and Keary Weddings, that followed suite.

From the stunning bride… Inspiration for the day was the colorful AZ sunset and the natural colors of an AZ landscape. Being a CA girl (born and raised), I am so into the ombre corals and dusty green-blue succulents. My Hubby was an AZ native, so what a better nod to his upbringing than to host our wedding where everyone can experience a little bit of the desert life.

Ombre flowers in shades of coral, desert-inspired air plants and succulents, hand-tied ribbon accents, rustic saguaro ribs adorned in all the shades of a fall AZ sunset, a candle-lit dinner surrounded by trees wrapped in twinkling lights, and sweet DIY touches by me, the bride and the combined talents of family and friends all came together to make our wedding day more beautiful than we had ever dreamed.

The morning started out with air full of music and a stomach full of excitement as the girls got ready in the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, just a short drive from the wedding venue. The girls all wore matching robes from Etsy as they were pampered with hair and make-up. As I put on my Maggie Sottero dress (from Lillian Lottie), my Louboutins, and the final touches of pearls and a spritz of Jo Malone perfume, I was anxious to see my groom, (who was equally as anxious getting ready with the rest of the men across the courtyard at the same hotel). I was so glad we had arranged to do a “first look” private session before exchanging our vows. This was one of the most emotional and intimate moments, and it was all documented in photographs. After our intimate ‘first look’ moment, we were off to Starfire Golf, the wedding venue.

Starfire Golf is centrally located in Scottsdale, and with tree-lined, perfectly manicured rolling greens, it was the perfect setting for our sunset soriee. As guests arrived, flavored ice waters and a DIY sign greeted guests before they found their seats for the ceremony. As guests approached the ceremony seating with cool drinks in hand, they were greeted by fluttering ombre coral ribbons, hand-tied by the bride, groom, and mother of the bride in the days leading to the wedding. At the entrance of the ombre petal carpeted aisle, there were two over-sized lanterns glowing just as the warm AZ sun began to set. To all the guests surprise, the bride and groom had a sweet surprise up their sleeves–the father of the groom had been ordained in the months leading up to the wedding, and led the bride and groom through their personally written ceremony and vows. Being married is the most intimate moment, and to be able to share that with someone who loved us, and will continue to foster a relationship with, was priceless to us. (Not to mention, it saved hundreds of dollars!)

After the personal ceremony, the newlyweds sped off in a golf cart to a private champagne toast set up just for the two of them. The rest of the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with signature drinks and appetizers.

After the cocktail hour, the bridal party was introduced, then the new Mr and Mrs. They had their first dance choreographed to “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. With nerves about dancing in front of everyone, and the excitement from the day, the dance didn’t go quite as planned, but all that mattered was that we were dancing with each other (and none of the guests were the wiser!). The dinner courses were served and the live band played in the background. The candle light from the tables and the surrounding trees was magical–and the dinner was AMAZING!

Photography: Justin And Keary Weddings | Floral Design: Butterfly Petals | Wedding Dress: Lillian Lottie Couture | Cake: Artistic Cake DeZine | Shoes: Louboutin | Rings: Neil Dahl Jewelers Of California | Catering: Starfire Golf At Scottsdale Country Club | Hair Stylist: Dena Trendell | Band: The JJ's Band | Grooms Attire: Salvatore Ferragamo | Grooms Attire: Ted Baker | Transportation: Transtyle | Wedding Venue: Starfire Golf At Scottsdale Country Club | Dessert Catering: SubZero Ice Cream & Yogurt | Guest Accomodations: The Scottsdale Plaza Resort | Make Up Artist: Dena Trendell | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

I’ve decided to place this stunner of a wedding a category I am now calling “Desert Chic”, and it may just be my new favorite category. It’s a wedding were black tie and succulents stand side by side with a cactus or two thrown in for good measure. Captured beautifully by Pinkerton Photography, it goes without saying this gallery just raised the bar on desert weddings. See why here.

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From Pinkerton Photography…Erin & Justin just ooze style, which made their classic black & blush wedding in the Arizona Desert such a treat! Tucked in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the Four Seasons was the perfect glowey, Arizona setting for their traditional black mixed with gold, blush, ivory, and succulents & lace. They dined in the desert at sunset before moving the party upstairs where they danced, literally non-stop, until the close of the evening. SUCH a beautiful day!

Photography: Pinkerton Photography | DJ: Desert House Productions | Bridal Gown: JLM Couture, Inc | Bridal shoes: Chanel | Ceremony & Reception: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Foral Artist: The Flower Studio | Groom Tux: Gucci | Venue, caterer, & cake design: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

This is what happens when Pantone’s Color of the Year (emerald green), glittery gold hues and the styling prowess of Some Like It Classic join forces: pure, unadulterated awesome.  I’m talking the kind of awesome that takes your breath away and leaves you speechless all at the same moment… it’s just that good, people.  Add in a bride and groom who are seriously the cutest duo ever and an entire gallery of lovely captured by Gina Meola and it’s a wedding win-win.  See it all here.

And a little slice of heaven from Everly Films…

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From the groom… I met my wife when she was in 8th grade and I was in 10th. All I remember of that moment was a blur of blonde as I was briefly introduced to my friend’s little sister. Thankfully, that moment in her living room was the first of many. I got to know her the first year, became close friends with her the second year, and fell in love with her the third.

It wasn’t until the sixth year, though, that we finally allowed ourselves to express our interest in each other and actually act on it. I will never forget our first date, explaining how my passion for her had grown while I travelled, secretly thinking of her daily and hoping that she felt the same.

I owe her big time for finally giving in to my request to pursue romance. And what a romance it has been! Megabuses between New York and DC at first, then flights to Detroit. It didn’t take long to confirm the suspicion that I’d had since Christmas of my senior year of high school: Katie was not only the finest woman for me, she was the finest woman I had met.

So that is why I got on one knee on the tidal basin on DC’s National Mall to ask my secret high school sweetheart to marry me. To my delight (and accompanied by the applause of passing paddleboaters), Katie agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. In case I didn’t believe her, she even moved to downtown Detroit to be with me!

The wedding was beyond breathtaking. Katie (along with her mom and our wedding planner, Amina) made use of every week of our yearlong engagement to make sure it was the most enjoyable and memorable night imaginable. I can’t think of a better way to start out life married to a woman of such caliber.

From Some Like It Classic… Katie and Derek are fashion forward, timeless and such a classic couple. We wanted their wedding design to reflect that. Living back East for their schooling – Columbia & GW, Katie wanted to incorporate lush greens and the dramatic Pantone color of the year – Emerald Green! So we took her fashion-forward look and mixed that with lots of green and growing trees. We incorporated sequin and leather table linens, rich gold in her table scapes, and touches of sparkle and confetti dots in her paper products.

Being that Derek is a “bow-tie” kind of guy, we also incorporated that look in different details like their invitations, hanging programs and escort cards. One of the special requests the couple had was to create a speak easy type feel around the bar. So we designed a bar space covered in mirrors and candlelight that the guests could walk “into” and like a bar – could request custom cocktails, sit at any of the pub tables or lounge furniture and have “intellectual debate.” They even had fun custom coasters so guest’s wouldn’t take their drinks while rocking out to the bar.

Another request, being such scholars, we did custom bookshelves with their favorite books – and for favors – their families and closest friends created homemade cookies and sweet treats for the guests to take home. It was one of the Groom’s favorite features because it incorporated special quotes from one of their favorite books, “Pride & Prejudice.”

Photography: Gina Meola | Videography: Everly Films | Coordination: Some Like It Classic - Wedding & Event Design | Floral Design: Events by Showstoppers | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Let Them Eat Cake | Stationery: Celebrations in Paper | Ceremony Venue: The Montelucia Resort and Spa | Reception Venue: The Montelucia Resort and Spa | Makeup: Stephanie Neiheisel | Band: The Instant Classics | Assistant Photographer: Josh Snyder | Bridal Party Styling: AVE Styles

Before meeting this sweet Arizona “I do,” I didn’t know so much pretty could be packed into one single day. But sure enough, when you’ve got Victoria Canada Weddings & Events, all the odds are defied and wedding magic is put in motion. And from first look to the last dance, it’s one pin-perfect moment after another. Melissa Schollaert Photography snapped the whole day that you absolutely can’t afford to miss.

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From the Bride… As two Oklahoma City natives from rivaling high schools, ironically, Adam and I did not meet until my sophomore year of college. He was a Sooner at the University of Oklahoma, and I was a bulldog at the University of Georgia (GO DOGS!). While home over Thanksgiving break, we finally crossed paths at a party hosted by my older brother. After exchanging phone numbers and a few laughs, we sparked a great friendship that would eventually lead to love. Upon graduating college, we officially started our relationship as we both we packed our bags and moved north to Washington D.C. While in D.C., our relationship blossomed, and we both knew that we had something special.

After two years working on The Hill, Adam and I decided it was time to go home. When we moved back to Oklahoma City, we added two more to our little clan, our golden doodles, Rosie and Dood. Our family was complete, besides one little thing

On leap day, February 29, 2012, Adam decided it was finally time to make our family whole. I was picking up around the house, doing nothing out of the ordinary, when Adam told me to check our dog, Rosies, collar to see if it was too tight. I thought little of his request, as our dogs were always a topic of conversation. When I reached down to feel the clasp of her collar, I felt something else instead- a diamond ring. Adam got down on one knee, and I said yes.

Adam and I were married on February 9, 2013. To escape the cold Oklahoma winter and to have a more intimate guest list, we chose to hold our wedding in Phoenix, Arizona, a vacation spot we both frequented growing up. Set on the golf course of Paradise Valley Country Club, the Camelback Mountains mountains provided a scenic view for guests as Adam and I said I do. After going to school in Georgia, I fell in love with the south. Although we were married in Arizona, I knew that I wanted to incorporate touches of southern charm into our wedding. From tabletops accented with succulents, Spanish moss and lace detailing, to a clear tent featuring cascading chandeliers, our wedding was picturesque. As our family and friends danced the night away under the Arizona sky, Adam and I became Mr. and Mrs. Rainbolt.

For our honeymoon, we spent 10 days traveling around New Zealand. We both love adventure. From beaches to mountains, New Zealand has it all. During our stay we hiked in rain forests, fly fished in rivers, and explored different cities. We are both well traveled and were in awe of what New Zealand had to offer. We are already planning our return trip.

Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography | Cinematography: Serendipity Cinematography | Floral Design: Petal Pusher | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Stationery: No Regrets | Engagement Ring: Custom by Gemmark | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Watters | Makeup: Christina Jaramillo | Hair: Palacios Sachi Salon | Calligraphy: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events | Band: JJ's Band | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Marty Grubbs | Ceremony Music: String Serenade | Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club | Bartender, Cake + Catering: Paradise Valley Country Club | Bride's Vintage Hair Clip: From Bride's Aunt | Cocktail Table Lighting: Latest Craze Productions | Groom's Tux: Teena Hicks | Guest Accommodations: The Arizona Biltmore | Linens: Wildflower Linen | Necklace Clasp, earrings, bracelet, wedding bands: Naifeh Fine Jewelry | Planning: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Vintage Sapphire Ring: From Bride's Aunt

You know, I’ve never been to Arizona, and until I started working for Style Me Pretty, I never really thought much about it. But now, thanks to photographers like Erica Velasco Photographers, I dream of The Grand Canyon State daily. I blame it on Impact Events and weddings like this unbelievably soft and romantic one. But don’t worry Impact Events… I’m not even a little bit mad!

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From the stunning bride… Jason and I had a blast planning our wedding! We enjoyed the planning process immensely. We loved making decisions together. Our first decision was where to have our celebration. We knew we wanted to showcase our desert lifestyle. Jason is from Ohio and I grew up in Florida. We have grown to love our new home state of Arizona and we were excited to show off Arizona’s romantic beauty to our guests. This was the catalyst for choosing Sanctuary on Camelback, a boutique resort at the base of Camelback Mountain as our wedding location. The views of Camelback Mountain along with the surrounding area were breathtaking. The location was serene and beautiful; the perfect desert location. I love looking at Camelback and thinking that is where we were married!

After choosing a location, we needed a vision for our affair, thats where Impact Events and Rhonda Rush came into play. I initially wrote in our wedding questionnaire for Rhonda, I always gravitate towards slightly more organic/vintage style weddings, but I still would like classic elements and to avoid anything kitsch. There were times I may have strayed from that vision (you can thank Pinterest for that), but Rhonda managed to keep our vision in focus. In addition, she efficiently took care of all the logistics so Jason and I could focus on the fun parts of planning, choosing awesome vendors and details (If you couldn’t tell we love Rhonda)!

Rhonda led us to awesome vendors who were great matches for us and helped us realize our wedding vision. We loved everyone involved in our wedding from Cantor Schpall to Ray the DJ. Erica Velasco was an amazing photographer who became a friend. We loved having her presence at our wedding in addition to her photos! Erica wouldn’t have had much to photograph if it wasn’t for the beautiful flowers and styling from Flora Bella. They ran with the few pictures and basic descriptions of flowers I provided and created an amazing backdrop for our wedding. I knew I wanted an organic chuppah for our ceremony and Flora Bella needed no more information than that to create a memorable and beautiful first home for us. The Flora Bella meetings were the few meetings Jason decided to not attend; luckily it was my moms favorite meeting! So I was really glad during our wedding day that Jason kept commenting on how much he loved all of the floral details and how the flowers popped against the desert backdrop. I don’t think a paragraph about wedding vendors would be complete without mentioning Celebrations in Paper. I remember reading it was important to find one aspect of the wedding to really focus on and for me it was paper goods. I love stationery and knew this is where I really wanted to make the perfect choices. The time paid off and Rene at Celebrations in Papers created beautiful pieces that set the perfect tone for our wedding and let prettiness penetrate throughout every part of the day.

With the help of such amazing vendors, Jason and I were able to focus on our favorite part of the wedding planning process, the details. I knew DIY wasn’t going to be my thing, in the words of Jason, I attempt to be crafty, but I am better at buying Etsy products. I definitely lived up to Jason’s description throughout our wedding. I constantly scoured Etsy to find fun and unique details for the wedding from our custom cake topper to the Morse-Code bridesmaid necklaces to custom pieces (hairpiece, belt flowers, and garter) from Mignonne Handmade. Jason and I also wanted personal touches scattered throughout the day. Jason attached his grandfathers tallis to the chuppah and wore Ohio State socks. I wore my grandmothers diamond as a necklace and sewed a heart from grandfathers favorite sweater into my dress.

Our wedding day and all that lead up to it was amazing. We loved the process of beginning a life together and we cant wait to be together for like ever!

Photography: Erica Velasco | Photography: Erica Velasco Photographers | Event Planning: Impact Events, LLC | Flowers: Flora Bella AZ | Wedding Cake: Classic Cakes And Confections | Ceremony Location: Sanctuary on Camelback | Reception Location: Sanctuary on Camelback | Entertainment: Ray The DJ | Bridesmaid Necklaces: History of the Heart | Ceremony/Cocktail Hour Entertainment: Allegro Quartet | Garter & Hairpiece: Mignonne Handmade | Linens: Wildflower Linen | Paper Suite: Celebrations in Paper | Petit Fours: Honeymoon Sweets | Wedding Bags: Wedding Chicks

This wedding is a serious celebration.  A celebration of two adorable sweethearts saying “I do” amongst a stunning Scottsdale setting, of beyond pretty details and amazing photography from Lexia Frank Photography.  And it’s a celebration of women, with an entirely female lineup of amazing vendors bringing every last picture perfect detail to life.  In other words, it’s the best way you’ll ever spend your Tuesday and you can start the swooning off right here in the full gallery.

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From Lexia Frank Photography… Ben and Kaleigh chose the absolutely beautiful resort of the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale Arizona as the backdrop to their wedding.  As a child, Kaleigh had visited Arizona often, fell in love with the desert beauty, and had always imagined getting married there. When it came time to tie the knot, she and her mother, Rosie, planned a beautiful day with much symbolism involved.  As a single parent for the entirety of Kaleigh’s years at home, Rosie relied on the support of other women, and wanted to reciprocate that support during her daughter’s wedding by using all-female entrepreneurs for the wedding vendors and artists involved in the wedding.  Everything from floral, to decor, to printed material…. even the bridesmaids gifts were made my local female artisans.  

On the day of the wedding Kaleigh and Ben were blessed with beautiful overcast skies, until just moments after the ceremony began. A thunderstorm with gusting winds forced the party inside to finish out the Jewish ceremony rituals.  friends and family gathered close, surrounding the couple on all sides with love and support- both symbolic and literal. Not being able to move the Chuppah indoors, groomsmen took turns holding The Tallit- the traditional Jewish Prayer shawl – over the couple as one of the most beautiful and symbolic gestures I’ve ever seen at a ceremony of any kind.  

As a nod to Kaleigh’s profession as a veterinarian, we opted to get some photo opportunities with horses at a nearby fort, and utilize the beautiful surroundings of Camelback Inn as the backdrop to their love story. The party ended with lots of dining and dancing to a live band- The Walkins, for a night no one will soon forget.

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Photography: Lexia Frank Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Camelback Inn | Floral Design: Andie Cullinan, The Groovy Gardener | Band: The Walkins | String Quartet: Phoenix String Quartet | Printed Material: Jenn Sprinkle Creative | Handmade Roses: Amanda Bowers | Place Card Holders: Meg Crowder, Custom Events Design

If there were ever a wedding that captured the essence of rusticity and romance, this would be it. We’re talking candles and chandeliers, white drapery and crystal, twinkle lights and rhinestones…all sitting pretty amongst Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. It’s the barn wedding, redefined thanks to the perfect planning and Southwest-inspired design by Ashley Gain Weddings. We’ve got a gallery chock-full of Melissa Schollaert’s stunning images, plus a total tearjerker from the talented Amore Films.

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From Melissa Schollaert Photography….Dawn and Alex were married at a really unique venue in Scottsdale, Arizona – Desert Foothills Barn.  It’s a very rustic barn in the middle of the desert with towering saguaro’s all around and beautiful sunset views.  The ceremony was held in the back barn, with golden sunset light streaming through the old barn doors, a rustic cross hung in the doorway.  Dawn and Alex are the sweetest couple you’ll ever meet, but they are also super fun.  They had a fun reception with an outdoor cocktail hour barnside, that included cocktails, appetizers and cornhole.  The reception was an elegant seated dinner in the barn, full of candlelight and white details.  Dawn & Alex danced the night away to country tunes, while their guests enjoyed firepits outside and a candy bar with all their favorite sweets.

From the Bride + Groom… When Alex and I started thinking about how we envisioned our wedding to be we immediately thought about our guests. Our family and friends – the people who have love and supported us all our lives. As much as that day should be about us – we also wanted that day to feel like a thank you to them. That’s when I got inspired by a unique combination of “Country Glam.” We wanted the vibe of our wedding to feel welcoming, carefree, fun and the unspoken thought that this is going to turn into one helluva party…insert the ‘country’ part. In the same breath, we wanted our guests to feel special and create a beautiful evening for them with sparkle, glitz, and all things ‘glam’!

Our talented and fabulous wedding planner, Ashley Richardson with Ashley Gain Wedding & Events, had no problem making my idea of “Country Glam” a reality. The venue for our wedding was a barn located in North Scottsdale. What I loved about the barn was it being secluded on private land and with close to 200 guests it somehow made the evening feel intimate. Plus, the barn had a breathtaking Sonoran Desert setting with large saguaros, a beautiful Arizona sunset and really captured the feel of true Southwest. Alex and I are Arizona natives so the barn was a great venue for out out of town guests to experience why we love our home state so much. The barn was rustic and country at its finest and adorned from top to bottom with twinkle lights. It really was an open canvas to bring the glam aspect to life. The overall color palette was champagne, gold & creams with a hint of black and the details were lace, burlap & rhinestones with plenty of candles to create a warm glow for the evening. Of course there were little personal touches like a signature drink menu inspired by our parents, a dessert bar with our wedding cake that had a little zombie crawling out the back for my zombie loving husband, a game of corn hole by the photo booth, and our little Chihuahua, Anna, who stole the show as she walked down the aisle. Lastly, the final touch, where Ashley truly out did herself, was hanging a huge crystal chandelier in the middle of the barn above the dance floor. I mean a crystal chandelier in a barn – it really doesn’t get more “Country Glam” than that!

Our wedding was more than I ever dreamed – being under one roof with all the people you love most in the world while dancing & laughing the night away – knowing that it all ends with the promise of spending the rest of your life with your best friend is a day I wish I could relive again and again. A day made possible because of all the amazing vendors we were fortunate enough to work with and I will forever be grateful to them.

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Wedding Photography: Melissa Schollaert | Wedding Planning + Design: Ashley Gain Weddings | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Venue: Desert Foothills Barn | Cinematography: Amore Films | Linens: La Tavola | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Caterer: Creations in Cuisine Catering | DJ: Desert House Productions | Stationery: The Event Essentials | Cake + Desserts: Classic Cakes and Confections | Brides Dress: Martina Liana  | Flower Girl Dress: JuJu’s Tutus

We are closing out this day of wedding bliss with a feature that is near and dear to all of us at SMP. You see, when one of our own walks down the aisle we turn into a bevy of faux bridesmaids – oohing and ahhing over everything, and there are often squeals involved. And there were definitely squeals involved when we saw Lauren’s Arizona nuptials. She is one smart cookie and worked with some of the best in the biz including Signature Events, Jesi Haack Design, The Flower Studio, Pitbulls and Posies and Elysium Productions making for a wedding that is just as lovely as she is. See so much more right here!

And if you aren’t head over heels in love with Lauren and her handsome hubby by now, just take a look at this AMAZING film from the be-yond talented Elysium Productions. You’ll fall in love in 3, 2, 1….

From the Bride… There were several must-have ingredients that Jay and I were determined to secure for our wedding: an outdoor dinner location, St. Germain elderflower cocktails, a killer sunset and the energy and talent of DJ M.O.S. As for the venue, we had no idea where to start! We searched up and down the California coastline before following our hearts to Scottsdale, Jay’s hometown. We’ve always had a special place in our hearts for the Four Seasons at Troon North. During my first trip to Scottsdale with Jay, he introduced me to Arizona’s gorgeous sunsets on the resort’s main balcony, overlooking what would become the site of our wedding ceremony four years later.

Our outdoor ceremony was beautifully written and officiated by our close friend, Jon Krause. We are eternally grateful for the thoughtfulness and love that he poured into our ceremony. And for someone who had never officiated a wedding before, he looked like a seasoned veteran! After cocktail hour, our guests were led around the corner and down a set of stairs to our outdoor dining room, where bistro lighting strung above mahogany feasting tables enhanced the scenery. Throughout the planning, I had been most excited about the after-dinner party. However, I could have stayed at that dinner, under the stars and surrounded by Arizona’s beautiful dessert saguaros and flowers, for days. After dinner, Jay and I led our guests up the stairs and into a ballroom draped in white to evoke a club-like atmosphere. DJ M.O.S. was in charge from there on out, and he kept the party going until the early hours of the morning.

Many thanks to our amazing vendors for turning our vision into a reality, including Charlee Geisler of Signature Events, Jesi Haack and Christine Siegel at The Flower Studio, who introduced us to the world’s most awesome flower: the king protea. And we could not be more thrilled that we chose Eyes 2 See Photography and Elysium Productions to chronicle our weekend. Their work is pure magic. Pure. Magic.

Wedding Photography: Eyes 2 See Photography / Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona / Wedding Design + Planning: Charlee Geisler of Signature Events / Wedding Design: Jesi Haack Design / Floral Design: Christine Siegel of The Flower Studio / Officiant: Jon Krause, A Friend / Wedding Cinematography: Elysium Productions / Wedding Paper Goods: Pitbulls and Posies / DJ: DJ M.O.S. / Wedding Dress: Peter Langner / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu

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Elysium Productions

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I’m just going to go ahead and say it – this couple is gorgeous. Classic, timeless, elegantly gorgeous. So it seems appropriate that their wedding day would be the exact same way. And oh was it. Captured beautifully by Bumble & Bloom, every stylish touch had it’s time to shine and you can see every bit of it right here.

From the Bride… Rob and I got engaged in September of 2010. I had only been living in Scottsdale for six months, but knew that I wanted to get married here. I’m originally from Chicago, and his family is from the Midwest, so I loved the idea of having a destination wedding for our guests. Plus, it was an excuse to get all of our close family and friends to visit! We searched around the valley for the perfect venue and fell in love with the Country Club at DC Ranch. The venue was exactly what I had envisioned. The ceremony would be held on the event lawn overlooking the McDowell Mountains, and the reception would be in the beautiful courtyard filled with gorgeous pink bougainvillea and white twinkly lights. DC Ranch has such a unique setting that I wanted to go simple on flowers. The flowers around the property inspired me to have a pop of pink, which I incorporated on our DIY program fans, flip-flops and the candy jars for our dessert table.

After a year and a half of planning, the wedding weekend finally arrived! The details were set, and everything was going perfectly as planned. The only thing I didn’t prepare for was cold and rainy weather. We ended up moving the ceremony indoors and tenting the reception. I told myself not to panic and to remember what this day is all about — “I’m marrying the man of my dreams, and we have all of our family and friends here to celebrate with us!” My vision changed, but the day turned out to be absolutely beautiful! The ceremony was intimate and cozy, and the reception had a beautiful glow from the candles and twinkly lights. Rob and I surprised our guests with a rumba for our first dance, and it was the perfect way to kick off the night. The dance floor was packed the whole time, and the party never stopped. It was an unforgettable night! 

Wedding Photography: Bumble & Bloom / Wedding Venue: The Country Club at DC Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona / Floral Design: Petal Pusher / Officiant: Pastor Mark Faul / Calligraphy: PenGraphics / Spanish Guitarist: Curt Cichon / DJ: Ray the DJ / Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Accessories: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Hair + Makeup: Allison Pynn

Doesn’t getting married where you met sound so incredibly romantic? Particularly if you met somewhere as fabulous as Montelucia Resort & Spa? That’s just what this gorgeous couple decide to do, and the result is pretty much perfection. With gorgeous invites by Momental Designs and envy-worthy blooms by Butterfly Petals – it basically is perfection. Not to mention the fabulous confetti-filled entrance to their reception – which is an idea I totally love. Thankfully Jay and Jess [formerly Session Nine Photographers] snapped up all the prettiness, so we can spend the afternoon poring over the full gallery of images!

And just when you think it couldn’t get better, it goes and does just that thanks to this gorgeous film by Serendipity Cinema…

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From the Bride… When Zach and I were deciding where have our wedding, our first choice was to have it at the place we met, the Montelucia Resort & Spa — it had sentimental value and a reputation as an amazing wedding venue. One of the few dates available to us was May 5, so we chose this date to hopefully avoid later, hotter dates in Arizona. Once it dawned on us that it was also Cinco de Mayo, we both decided it was perfect, and wanted to utilize this “fiesta” theme through our design, food, music and even my wedding dress! I loved the idea of utilizing bright, bold accent colors against a neutral palate of ivory and navy to bring a fun, zestful environment. The Montelucia is known for its incredible views and interesting architecture. I wanted to keep the basics simple and highlight with bright florals and vintage décor. Our florist, Amanda Johnson of Butterfly Petals, did a fantastic job of keeping to our budget by utilizing tissue paper flowers in the bridesmaid bouquets and aisle décor. She also collected funky vintage glassware to use at tables and Mexican “el pato” cans during our cocktail hour.

I was so excited to find Momental Design through a Style Me Pretty “fiesta-style” photo shoot. She created these gorgeous sculpted blooms for our invitations and utilized the Mexican tile theme on our invites that captured the theme of the resort. She also hand-painted flowers on the menus, which we used place cards. I was lucky enough to have ordered my wedding dress, veil and accessories from Priscilla of Boston a week prior to the announcement of their closing after 65 years of service. They took my order as one of their final — I was so thankful as it was everything I could have hoped for. I wanted to bring significance to the first place we met, so we decided to have our cocktail hour at that very spot. We arranged for two pool chairs to be placed out with accompanying wine glasses, as well as a sign that I made that would notify our guests of this spot. Zach and I couldn’t have been happier with the day. We thought it was the perfect expression of our personalities and our love for each other.

Wedding Photography: Jay and Jess / Venue + Catering: Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona / Venue Contact: Traci Mead (TMead@montelucia.com) / Floral Design: Amanda Johnson of Butterfly Petals / Wedding Cake: Kelly Beeby of Julia Baker Confections / Wedding Invitations: Kristy Rice of Momental Designs / DJ: Dave Strickler of Desert House Productions / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Hair: Lisa Eager (lmeager@gmail.com) / Makeup: Adrianna Fontes Makeup Designs (makeup.adriana@gmail.com) / Bride’s Ring: Linda Kha of KTD Fine Jewelers / Groom’s Ring: Kay Jewelers / Cinematography: Serendipity Cinema

When you start the day with a wedding this pretty, it’s going to be a good day. Proven fact. Because the images from Drew & Megan Photography are just smile-inducing, and I do believe it’s close to impossible to get to the bottom of this post without a huge grin on your face. Just try. It could be the because of the gorgeous couple or how the Bride and her sweet momma worked tirelessly on all the DIYs or the way Some Like It Classic – Wedding & Event Design edited all the details in such a stylish fashion…whatever it may be, it’s one fabulous way to start the day. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Alex and I met in high school through mutual friends. We went to the winter formal together when we were 16 and there were no sparks, so we didn’t really interact much after that. After college, we reconnected at the wedding of one of those mutual friends and started dating. We had instant chemistry, and Alex bought a ring a few months later. Alex signed us up for dance lessons because he knew how much I wanted to learn, and he proposed after our first lesson. It more than made up for the awkward date we had at our first dance!

We had a long engagement, which gave us plenty of time to plan a wedding with personal touches and lots of DIY projects. My mom, a goddess of creativity, was indispensable. Aside from the catering and rentals, we made just about everything from scratch: paper flowers for the church, floral arrangements for the altar and the wedding party, my veil, the stationery, the decorations for the art gallery. It was the best part time job I’ve ever had! Alex wrote me several poems when we were dating, so we chose 16 of our favorite poems to feature on each table. A few weeks before the wedding, we made a huge batch of limoncello for the wedding favors and our signature cocktail. It was so tasty, we ran out of the signature cocktail in the first hour of the reception!

The day of the wedding ran like clockwork. Some Like It Classic – Wedding & Event Design had thought of every possible hiccup in advance and made sure everything happened on time and exactly as I had wanted. Things went so smoothly, I was able to kick off my shoes and enjoy every minute of the reception! My favorite parts of the day were the really personal touches. My mom made my bouquet wrap out of a piece of fabric from the silk wrap that came with my dress. It had a piece of lace from the veil she made me, and on the lace she sewed a piece of jewelry that’s so special to me — it has diamonds from the engagement watch my grandfather gave my grandmother. My mom wore those diamonds as earrings for years, then gave them to me when I turned 16 on a necklace. I loved sneaking into the reception through the service door and seeing the main gallery before the guests entered. It was exactly what I’d pictured. Sitting at our table during dinner, reading our favorite poem on our table, listening to our priest say a lovely prayer and laughing and tearing up during the beautiful toasts our loved ones made was just a dream.

Wedding Photography + Photo Booth: Drew & Megan Photography / Ceremony: Brophy Chapel in Phoenix, Arizona / Reception: The Bentley Projects Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona / Event Planning: Some Like It Classic – Wedding & Event Design / Wedding Cinematography: Michael Morabe / Wedding Cake, Flowers, Decor + Wedding Stationery: DIY by the Bride / Catering + Rentals: Arizona Taste Catering / Bundt Cakes: Nothing Bundt Cakes / DJ: Mancini Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Venus / Bride’s Veil: DIY by Her Mother / Hair: Jessica Lawson of JLP Hair Design / Makeup: Sarah Sanmarco

Brunch is such a good meal. Beyond good actually. It’s so good in fact that I believe brunch should be served for every meal, and if you need to be convinced of the all day brunch diet, just take a little gander at the deliciousness below captured by Alixann Loosle Photography. De.li.cious.The new Mr. & Mrs. saying I do and their oh so darling wedding are equally scrumptious, so get ready to to devour each and every single yummy image in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… How Gary and I met is quite unusual and special all at the same time. In October of 2010, I was hired at The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe by Gary and his sister Gloria. After several months of working there, Gary and I started to casually hang out outside of work. After a few fun dates, we realized that this friendship had potential to turn into something more. The summer we dated was the best summer I’ve ever had. We had so many fun adventures and grew so close. I am so lucky I got to marry my best friend and can spend every single day with him! We got engaged on January 27th in Jackson, Wyoming. It was the most perfect night ever, but little did we know that never-ending wedding planning that would soon be coming our way. We quickly decided on April 13, 2012 for our wedding date. The next three months would be full of color choices, appointments with florists and delicious cake tastings. Every little girl knows what they want their wedding to look like down to the last detail, and I was no exception. I wanted my reception to have a vintage feel with a lot of DIY. My colors would be very neutral: light pinks, brown and gold. Once I actually started looking, my dress only took about three days to find thanks to some amazing ladies at Alda Moda Bridal Boutique in Salt Lake City. It only took one dress there, and I knew right away this was the dress I was going to wear on this special day!

I was SO lucky to have the best bridesmaids I could ever ask for. I don’t know how I would have gotten everything done for April if I didn’t have them. I know I had my maid of honor, Jaimie, looking up stuff for me every five minutes (being the experienced bride that she is). I am so grateful she went through it before I did — she was able to tell me exactly what to do and what not to do in the planning process. I decided I wanted all of my bridesmaids to look different for pictures. I didn’t want them all wearing the same dress so I gave them the freedom to pick out whatever outfit they wanted to wear. I just gave them some guidelines for colors and textures to choose from, but other than that I totally and completely trusted each of their senses of fashion. As for the venue, we decided we would have our reception at our country club in Scottsdale. That’s where I grew up and had so many great memories there already. I couldn’t have pictured a more beautiful setting for the reception. It was perfect weather that day, not too warm. The staff at the country club was beyond helpful and on top of their game. It was the perfect place to hold our reception because there was not much we had to do decorating-wise — it was already so beautiful. We simply put up a few strings of pictures around the reception hall and tried to personalize it a bit. Gary’s dad built us barn-wood flower boxes for each centerpiece, which was exactly the look I was going for — kind of a chic rustic look. My flowers were a pretty mix of cream and various shades of pink, with everything from peonies to ranunculus and garden roses.

My husband and I are huge foodies, so the food served was something we were really passionate about. From the very beginning, neither of us wanted it to be a super-formal dinner reception. I have always loved breakfast, so we decided a brunch reception was right up our alley. We came up with the idea to have a pancake station and an omelet bar. It was so fun that people could custom-pick their own omelet ingredients and watch a chef whip up their personalized creation. We decided very last minute that we needed a favor for the guests to take home. We wanted it to be something very simple, just a small thank you. Right away, we thought of macaroons. They are one of our favorite treats, and we figured it would just be darling. I am so happy with the colorful touch they added to the whole day. You always hear how unbearably stressful planning a wedding is, but I think it was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever been able to do. I am seriously looking into the wedding planning business so that I can do this every single day! There is nothing more magical than a bride planning her fairytale wedding, down to every last detail.

Wedding Photography: Alixann Loosle Photography / Reception Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona / Wedding Planning: Shannon Baccanini of Paradise Valley Country Club / Floral Design: Fiori Floral Design / Announcement Design: Indiea Rasmussen (The Bride — indiea.sadie08@gmail.com) / Catering + Wedding Cake: Paradise Valley Country Club / DJ: Kyle Dickson / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau via Alta Moda Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden via Nordstrom / Bride’s Jewelry: J.Crew / Bride’s Ring: Ingram’s Jewelers / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: ASOS, J.Crew + Forever 21 / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew

Whenever we see the name Bash, Please, we just know that our little blog is about to get real pretty. They have a penchant for cool details, organic-infused florals and weddings that set the bar for wildly awesome design. If you can’t tell, we are all aboard the Bash, Please wedding train and the view, as seen through the lens of The Weaver House, is mighty, mighty fine. You can see all those beautiful South West details, all those breathtaking images and a couple that are as happy as clams at high water right here.

And the film by Son of Shark Pig? It’s totally going to rock your socks off. Hit that play button and prepare to be wowed.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Trading in Los Angeles for the Arizona desert, Beth and Geoff’s refined betrothal radiated romance. With a love for Italy and European sophistication, Beth and Geoff were a gracious, well-mannered couple with a hint of playfulness about them. We created an organic palette of succulents and soft peach roses mixed with the whimsicality of wood stumps atop moss beds, and an ice cream sundae bar for dessert.  They both love Italian food so the menu included a variety of homemade pastas, and they even included one-of-a-kind silver pasta key chains as the wedding favor (made by Beth’s step-dad). The sunset was a brilliant hot pink sky, and the guests danced under the Arizona stars for an evening that could have easily been in Tuscany itself.

Wedding Photography: The Weaver House (formerly Steep Street) / Wedding Venue + Catering: Silverleaf Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona / Wedding Design, Coordination, Paper Goods + Floral Design: Bash, Please / Wedding Cinematography: Son of Shark Pig / Linens: BBJ Linen / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / DJ: Paul Tennen / Wedding Favors + Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: Ron Kolb / Wedding Dress: Manuel Mota for Pronovias