Tiffany’s enthusiasm is unmistakable- I love how photographer Stuart Thurlkill of Eyes2See Photography captured the emotions of the day.  And Tiffany and Miles’ maltipoo, Fiona, is too cute!

The Phoenician Resort recently renovated their Grand Ballroom and it’s spectacular

The sunny tangerine and turquoise color scheme was carried throughout the wedding from the bridal party attire to the reception decor

The reception certainly was a PARTY!

KG: Now that you have had a chance to settle in, what is your favorite thing about being married?

T&M: Building a life together and sharing in all of the little things.

KG: I see you went to Thailand for your honeymoon- can you tell me a little bit about it?

T&M: We made a list of our top 5 places that we wanted to go. Thailand was at the top of our lists and we really wanted to have a bit of an adventure. We spend two weeks there in Bangkok, Chaing Mai, and Ko Samui. Highlights of the trip were enjoying the Songkran Festival in Bangkok, riding elephants in Chaing Mai and relaxing on the beach in Ko Samui.

KG: What advice would you give brides-to- be?

T&M: Get a planner! We hired the amazing Patty Packard from I Do I Do who took care of a lot of the logistics epically day of. Make sure that you start early as well, try to not leave things to the last second. Channel your stress into a hobby. I trained for a Half-Marathon in New York that I ran a few weeks before my wedding, helped keep me calm! Day of your wedding take a moment for yourself during the reception, sit down with a piece of cake, watch your guests dancing and realize how amazing your day was!

KG: Did anything about your wedding day surprise you?

T&M: Our wedding was supposed to be outside. The weather report was looking a bit rough and on Thursday we decided to move it indoors. Day of the wedding it was cold and grey, in April, but moving the ceremony inside ended up being more beautiful than I could have imagined!

Thank you Tiffany and Miles for sharing you day with us and CONGRATULATIONS on your new life together!

Tiffany and Miles’ Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: I Do I Do Wedding Specialists

Ceremony and Reception Site: The Phoenician Resort

Photographer: Eyes2See Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Gabriella New York

Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo

Tuxedos: Mr Formal

Florist: Angelic Grove

Invitations: Celebrations In Paper

Cake: The Phoenician Resort

Band: Groove Merchants

Make-up Artist: Agnessa Spa, Jennifer Bugel

Hair Stylist: Colleen McDowell

Officiant: Heath Packard

Rehearsal Dinner Site: El Chorro

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

Here is our new cover that is sure to turn some heads:

Many thanks to those who contributed their time and talent to make this our most memorable cover yet:

Photographer: Eyes2See Photography

Creative Director: Darren Samuel

Gown: Destiny’s Bride

Floral Design: Brady’s Floral Gallery

Fashion Stylist and Makeup Artist: Linda Wagner

Hair Stylist: Will Zecco

Accessories: Claudia’s Custom Jewelry

Model: The Agency Arizona, Erin

The Behind the Scenes video from Serendipity Videography:

Cover Shoot from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

I could have shared about 15 photos of the dogs with you. They are just luscious! Scott tells us about these adorable babies: Dillon aka Dilly is the all white bulldog and Rachel’s pride and joy. The two of them are inseparable and have an incredible bond. Payton is my brindle bulldog and is more special to me than I know how to convey over email. These girls are basically our children and we couldn’t imagine not having them as a part of our big day.

Consider your stationer a person to make friends with. Since both Rachel and Scott’s families traveled from out of state for their Arizona wedding, Stephanie at Celebrations in Paper created a custom invitation suite that included boarding passes, luggage tags as place cards, hand-drawn postcards from the towns they had visited when they were dating and corresponding table names. What a fun way to incorporate travel into your wedding!

The reception decor is simply exquisite. Somehow, Rachel and Scott (and of course their florist, Table Tops Etc.) were able to design an understated yet dramatic aesthetic. The colors are not super bright but by using tones of pink, purple and white, they managed to make the elegant arrangements anything but boring. In a large room like the Valencia Ballroom, you need to have statement centerpieces and I think these tall, airy and lush designs do the trick. Also, notice how the linens work to create a seamless palette for all those gorgeous flowers to shine. Can you tell I’m just a little bit in love with these tables?

This bridal party was super fun…their entertaining entrances crack me up

In response to my question, “What’s with the gloves?”, Scott graciously answered: “My side of the family is very musically talented and put together a slide show and choreographed a remix of Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. Each family member had one sequined glove and sung a part of the song to both Rachel and I. It was more of a “welcome to our family” moment. We were both so overwhelmed and surprised. The gloves made their way around to the dance floor and made for great photos.”

Love these sweet custom forks

I had a little post-wedding chat with this lovely couple…

KG: What was your favorite part of the day?

R/S: There really wasn’t one favorite part for either of us- every second was very humbling and special. If I had to pick my favorite moment-it was the part of our ceremony in which our Officiant, Mark Culbertson, read “I love you because” phrases that Rachel and I wrote weeks before. Some were funny. others sentimental. Neither of us knew what each other wrote until they were read aloud.

KG: What are your plans for a honeymoon?

R/S: Rachel and I are taking our honeymoon in May of 2012. We will be taking a Mediterranean cruise for 10 days!

KG: What advice would you give couples planning their weddings?

R/S: It is completely normal to not have every detail worked out, and plans will change! Surround yourself with vendors that you feel comfortable with and that see your day as you do. We were so incredibly fortunate to have found the vendors that we did. From the venue, to our stationery, to the band, to the florist to our photographers- we truly walked away with a group of new friends that will always be a part of our lives. Each one of them made our day that much more amazing.

 KG: What are your favorite things about each other?

S: My favorite thing about Rachel is how sweet, honest and funny she is each day.

R: My favorite thing about Scott is his desire to achieve, grow and be something every day, he makes life so important and memorable.

Rachel and Scott, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Rachel and Scott’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: Montelucia Resort and Spa, Valencia Lawn

Reception Site: Montelucia Resort and Spa, Valencia Ballroom

Photographer: Jason + Anna Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Vera Wang

Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Table Tops, Etc.

Invitations: Celebrations in Paper, Stephanie

Cake: Julia Baker Confections

Band: Nate Williams Band

Ceremony Musicians: Got You Covered Music

Make-up Artist: Joya Spa at Montelucia, Glenda

Hair Stylist: Joya Spa at Montelucia, Demitria

Officiant: Mark Culbertson

Linens: BBJ Linen

Rehearsal Dinner Site: Patsy Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Old Town Scottsdale

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

You need to call and make your appointment NOW to visit Destiny’s Bride this weekend (480-368-8868). This couture bridal gown shop (real couture, not fake couture) is hosting their Bridal White Weekend and you don’t want to miss it. Destiny’s Bride carries dresses from Monique Lhullier, Anne Barge, Lazaro and more.

All bridal dresses paid in full will be 10% off, plus you will receive $100 toward any accessories such as veils, shoes, and jewelry- that’s a fabulous deal!

Call 480-368-8868 to make your appointment.

(These cabanas are at Sandals Montego Bay , right outside my door!)

I recently visited this Caribbean island and although I don’t want to gush too much, I have to say, it is a near-perfect wedding and honeymoon destination. Of course we know Jamaica as a honeymoon escape but the island’s wedding market has blossomed and if you want a place that’s friendly, fun and delicious (hello jerk anything!), Jamaica is a place you will want to consider.

Homebase was Sandals Montego Bay, the first Sandals ever built, and I loved so many things about this resort. The staff was unbelievably friendly, the room had the perfect Jamaican feel and our beach access was amazing. It’s a place to party, to embrace romance and to find adventure.

(Above images courtesy of OneWed)

This is Scotchie’s where you will have the best jerk food experience of your life, guaranteed. Do not miss this place- and no it’s not on fire, the smoke is just part of the ambiance! I tried to find a way to bring back the Scotch sauce (made from scotch-bonnet peppers that made me joyfully weep with hard- core spiciness) but I just couldn’t find a way to get it through customs. Darn!

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

I can’t possibly tell you everything I did while “working” in Jamaica but I want to highlight a few notable options for destination weddings. The first is the heavy hitter- Sandals. This king of the all-inclusive vacation is known for its honeymoons but they have recently partnered with Martha Stewart Weddings to make your destination wedding in Jamaica a seamless event.  I was able to experience the Martha Stewart wedding themes in person and I can promise you, they are executed as precisely as if Martha were there on site herself. Each theme is impeccably designed from the ceremony flowers to the reception decor to the sweets.

Here are a few images from our “Chic & Natural” lunch at one of my top 2 Jamaica resorts, Sandals Royal Plantation. Along with the most gracious staff, this lemon and thyme cocktail greeted us and it was smooth sailing from there!

(Above Images Courtesy of OneWed)

The pistachio fondant cupcake was beautiful and delicious!

(Photo courtesy of OneWed)

The resort’s decor is beyond compare- I really took to the old world Jamaican charm of this resort

(Photo Courtesy of OneWed)

We experienced the  “Seaside Serenade” wedding theme at Sandals Montego Bay

(Images courtesy of OneWed)

The next resort  to consider escaping to is Tensing Pen in Negril. This boutique hotel is for those who want an intimate destination experience. Every room is a separate bungalow, the grounds feel like home and they have the sweetest dogs on site to greet you. Here are the puppies that I fell in love with:

In true hospitable Jamaican form, Tensing Pen served us a delicious lunch then treated us like queens by allowing us to take over a house on the property. This quiet but gracious and luxurious hotel is a Jamaican treasure.

(Above images courtesy of OneWed)

This bridge has absolutely no railings and if you think it was easy to walk across the first time, you would be wrong. It was scary, even if those gorgeous turquoise waters were below, waiting to break your fall. This is where couples can “Take the Plunge” in the destination wedding spirit.

We all got into the cliff jumping

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

This side of the island, in Negril, is known for its breathtaking sunsets and this one was no exception

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

My trip was spectacular in so many ways but the best was that we were hosted by 2 of the greatest guys, Adrian and Evon, who ate with us, showed us around town, and arranged for lots of daytime (and nighttime) fun. A few of my favorite places were Rick’s Cafe which is known for it’s insane cliff divers and Mystic Mountain.

At Rick’s, you are immersed in the local scene- it’s loud, the divers are flashy and the music is pumpin’ all day long. This guy only jumps when he has secured enough in tip money and although you can’t see it, he is actually wearing a werewolf mask. It’s his gimmick. There was another diver known as the Bird Man waiting to earn enough tip money to jump. He never jumped in the hour we were there- I’m guessing he gets paid very well.

(Image courtesy of OneWed)

We also had some fun at Mystic Mountain- we rode the Sky Explorer to the top and went on the Bobsled ride. If we had enough time we would have done the canopy zipline…next time!

It’s quite possible that your destination wedding dreams could land you in this tropical paradise and you will be so glad you chose Jamaica- you will explore colorful and noisy towns, eat flavorful homemade food (the patties are to die for) and lounge on the sultry beaches. Cheers!

Chatting Soon~ Kelly

Shanandoah Sterling (owner of Sterling Weddings) and I chatted recently about her work and I don’t think I can quite express to you you how much I would want her to be my officiant at my wedding if I could do it all over again. She knows what’s important and she makes sure you remember it amongst the hubbub of wedding planning. She centers people, works magic in the quiet moments and makes sure you feel completely connected to your ceremony. That’s saying a lot, isn’t it?

(Photo courtesy of: Sedona Bride Photographers)

(Photo courtesy of: Cameron Kelly Studios)

What makes Shanandoah special is the lengths she goes to make each ceremony a customized and thoughtful reflection of the couple. She encourages her couples to write personal vows, allows for couples to incorporate their unique traditions and cultures, asks the parents for words of wisdom to be used in the ceremony, and helps couples savor the engagement period. I especially liked her “keepsake vow booklet” idea. She takes all the literature (vows, readings, words of wisdom, blessings, etc.) that will be used in the ceremony and keeps them in one beautiful booklet; this is then given to the couple to keep after the wedding.

Shanandoah, who performs Native American ceremonies and is part Native American herself, allows couples to incorporate any traditions they see fit for their ceremony. If a non-Native American couple wants a Sage or Ring Blessing, they can have it because it is THEIR ceremony. Unfortunately, this concept seems so foreign to many other officiants. Perhaps one of the most touching ceremonies she performs is the Wedding Blanket ceremony. As the couple searches for a blanket for the ceremony, they must be represented individually and together in some aspect in the actual blanket. What a beautiful way to symbolize that the two people getting married are important on their own and as a couple.

(Photos courtesy of: Andrew Holman Photography)

(Photo courtesy of: Sedona Bride Photographers)

Your take-away from today’s blog is that you do not have to do anything in your ceremony other than give a verbal consent to marry but with a committed and flexible officiant like Shanandoah, you can make it yours in so many unique ways. The invitations, the linens, and the DJ all come second to the reason you are marrying each other. Make sure you align yourself with someone who truly understands that on a deep level.

To find out more about Shanandoah (who is based in Sedona but travels regularly to perform ceremonies in the Scottsdale area) and her unique ceremonies, please visit her website and blog. She is also a member of the Sedona Wedding Studio- a stellar group of wedding professionals you will want to check out for all things wedding.

I can’t wait to hear how you are going to make your ceremony special to you!

Chatting Soon~Kelly

Jessica’s eye for design is unmistakable- you can see that she successfully blended light blue, white, eggplant and fuchsia to create an elegant yet exciting feel. I love how the paper products, dresses, flowers and reception decor are not matchy-matchy but all come together in a uniquely beautiful way.

Jessica explains her color palette: The colors were a combination of the light blue and whites that remind me of a classic “Hamptons Wedding” – we began dating after running into each other in the Hamptons in New York and then got engaged on the beach in East Hampton a year later and had our engagement there so I wanted to incorporate that into the decor. On the other hand, I wanted to embrace the desert setting with the bright fuschia pinks and eggplant purple shades that we used throughout the floral design, invitation suite and the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids dresses. The sun setting over Camelback while the guests entered the reception space really brought out the vibrant colors and mirrored the shades of blue, pink and purple of the sunset.

Dave’s blue eyes are stunning

The Sanctuary Resort is chic, no matter where you are!

The gorgeous Jessica

The girl’s shoes add the perfect pop of color against the deeper shade of the dresses

You don’t get many churches that look like this in Arizona!

The table numbers are images of New York locations that are dear to Jessica and Dave (for example,  the Third and Long building picture is used for table number 3- very clever!). The reception decor blended warm and cool tones seamlessly….I’m just a little teensy bit in love!

During the cake cutting, Jessica’s cousin sang “At Last” by Etta James-  a special touch that Jessica really loved

Jessica tells us: The best part about our day was having a great party with all our friends. The Walkens were unbelievable! They remembered songs we requested when we saw them at a bar 9 months prior to the wedding, they knew my mom’s favorite song and played it twice for her, they were seriously outstanding! They made the party ~ I would have kept dancing for three more hours!

Jessica surprised Dave with an ice cream bar from SubZero Ice instead of a traditional groom’s cake. They offered a “Bride’s Choice” and a “Groom’s Favorite” combination for guests to try, sort of like the signature drink idea but sweeter! The guests could also build their own sundaes using several toppings and flavors and the dry ice added a bit of fun  

Jessica and I talked wedding recently and here’s what she has to say now that she’s officially a newlywed:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

J: I think my favorite part was the cocktail hour and intro to the reception. After the ceremony and portraits were over it was so great so just enjoy everybody and relax and get the party started!

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

J: Honestly, hiring great vendors! Between The Sanctuary, Rhonda, Melissa Jill… we never had any worries about things not running smoothly on our wedding day and since we don’t live in Phoenix (even though it is my hometown Dave and I are in New York) that was a HUGE plus!

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

J: We went on a two week honeymoon to St. Lucia and Barbados immediately after the wedding weekend. We chose to go to a place we’d never been but that was relaxing and low key at the same time and not too far to travel. We were able to fly Jet Blue right there from Phoenix so that was great! We spent a lot of time reading and hanging out on the beach – a great way to recover from all the wedding chaos!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be?

J: First of all, stick to your vision (you don’t have to please everyone and they might not see the vision you have for that day… don’t let it dissuade you), don’t over think the decisions, and don’t sweat the small stuff… once the day arrives… there’s no use worrying about the little things… just enjoy it! Also, hire great vendors… especially the planner and don’t skimp on photography… you will regret it! Get a cheaper dress and spend money on great photos… you’ll have them forever! I also highly recommend videography… there are so many great options out there at all different price points. The day goes by so fast and it’s over before you know it… the video is a great way to relive all of the moments and especially the speeches from all the important family and friends. We added videography to our rehearsal dinner as well for all the great speeches that happen the night before.

KG: What has surprised you most about being married?

J: I don’t know if there have been any big surprises about being married… I think it’s just a big adjustment to reconcile 2 people’s daily habits from the laundry to cleaning to food and cooking… you can’t just leave your stuff around and get to it another day since someone else is living in the same space… those little things are always comical to navigate together!

Jessica and Dave, congratulations and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Jessica and David’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Impact Events, Rhonda Rush

Ceremony Site: Saint Mary’s Basilica

Reception Site: Sanctuary Resort and Spa on Camelback Mountain

Photographer: Melissa Jill Photography

Videographer: My Wedding Film

Bridal Gown Store: Destiny’s Bride

Bridesmaids Dresses: Twirl

Tuxedos: Tom James

Florist: Avant- Garde Studio

Invitations: Jessica for MJ Paperie

Caterer: Sanctuary Resort and Spa on Camelback Mountain

Cake: Julia Baker Confections

Ice Cream Bar: SubZero Ice

Band: The Walkens

Ceremony Musicians: Saint Mary’s Basilica, Gordon Stevenson

Cocktail Hour Musician: Miguel de Maria

Make-up Artist: Barney’s, Maureen Cosovich

Hair Stylist: Spark Studio Salon, Mandy Samford

Officiant: Father Michael Muhlen

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Linens: Wildflower Linens

Transportation: Lexani Limo

What we found is a simple approach to an often complicated process. The bold move to create 4 distinct wedding experiences for brides is nothing short of genius since the focus is on the bride and her priorities. This approach screams “Destination Wedding” to me since the planning seems very streamlined.

The first experience is  “Green” and although we hear this term often these days, the entire experience is designed by Troon for a couple who seeks an eco-friendly wedding. Many of the menu items are from locally grown sources such as Four Peaks ale mustard, Arizona Heritage beef and Fossil Creek goat cheese. The bar options are all organic and/or practice sustainability; the “One Bottle, One Tree” program sponsored by Trinity Oaks winery tells you Troon is serious about maintaining the green elements brides want.

Next is the “Modern” experience which is for a couple who wants a cutting edge and trendy wedding. With this choice your guests enjoy food stations that include a Bruschetta Bar (yum!) and made to order Caprese Salad  station. The trendy vibe continues with swanky liquor options and a “Prohibition” Cigar and Cocktail bar.

If you are more of a laid-back and fun type of couple, the “Social” experience may be right up your alley. This is for the couple that wants to have a great time with their guests at a beautiful location with delicious eats but doesn’t want to fuss over the details.

(All Images Courtesy of Emily Carroll)

And finally, there’s the “Traditional” experience that caters to the bride who wants no classic wedding detail forgotten. It’s a pretty straightforward experience but there are cool enhancements like the Bubble Bar (a champagne bar that offers fruit purees to add to your bubbly) and a Venetian Table, which is a decadent sweets spread.

So one questions lingers: what if you want the appetizers from the Social experience, the bar from the Green experience and the enhancements from the Traditional option? Don’t worry! Troon wants you to have the wedding you envision so they have created an option to mix and match! Perfect.

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog!

Kelly

See what I mean? Let’s take a look at Lyndsey and Hugh’s pretty day:

Lyndsey tells us: Hugh LOVES interesting ties, so we purchased ties for all the men. Since he’s a Second Lieutenant in the Army, he also wore Army cufflinks; we were not having a military wedding but I wanted him to have something Army with him that night.

We were traditional and waited until the ceremony to see each other; walking down the aisle towards him and seeing each other for the first time is something I will never forget! I could not stop smiling the entire time and when I saw the way Hugh was looking at me it made me smile even bigger. We had a quick ceremony, only about 15 minutes (we wanted to get to the party!), and when Chaplain Oxendine pronounced us husband and wife I have never been happier, it was the most amazing few seconds of my life.

I love photobooth photos of the bride and groom- they are in party mode and photographers usually get some cool shots of them in the booth together, Here’s what Lyndsey says about the booth: We had a photobooth that printed out two strips of pictures, one for the guest to keep and one for the guest to put in a memory book with a note from them for us to keep. We used this in lieu of a guest book and had such a great time reading all the comments the next day. The photobooth was on the patio outside the ballroom all night and had a constant line. 

Lyndsey shares some of her favorite moments: My Maid of Honor gave the best speech and was the only person who made me cry that day; when I heard her list the reasons why she knew Hugh and I were meant for each other (including the fact that he is the only man who could love my 5 pound yorkie-poo almost as much as I do) I could not help but tear up. Then we hit the dance floor; dancing with all of our friends and family was one of the highlights of the evening for both of us. There were so many people that we loved and loved us all in one room and being able to spend that time with them was amazing!

Here’s my post-wedding Q and A with the couple:

KG: Looking back, what was the smartest planning decision you made?

Lyndsey: The smartest decision I made was the fact that I found vendors I truly trusted and that shared my vision. Knowing that all my vendors would come through and I could trust them to do their jobs and do them well made my life so much easier! The day of the wedding I did not stress over the details because I knew that they would handle everything!

KG: Did you and Hugh go on a Honeymoon?

Lyndsey: Yes, we spent 8 nights in Costa Rica! We actually waited about a month before we left because of our schedules, and I am so glad that we waited. We had the opportunity to relax after the wedding and it also gave us something to look forward to. I feel like we spent so much time looking forward to the wedding that I was a little sad when the night was done, but knowing something else exciting was coming was great! While in Costa Rica we relaxed at the beach, at a ton of great food, went zip lining, white water rafting, horse back riding, hiking through the rain forest and so much more! It was the most amazing trip!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you give brides- to- be?

Lyndsey: The biggest piece of advice is not to worry about things the day of. Trust your vendors and the planning you have put into it and then just let go. If something goes wrong, and chances are something will, relax and know that you are probably the only one who realizes that small detail is not what it should have been. Also, before you start planning put together a detailed budget and guest list, you really can not plan the other details without knowing those things. Know what is important to you and what you are willing to spend more money on, for us it was the venue/food/beverage and the photography/videography and I was willing to not spend as much money in other areas to make sure I had the best possible vendors in those areas and I knew specifically what the dollar amount was because of the budget I put together before I started planning.

Lyndsey and Hugh, Congratulations again and Thank You for sharing your day with us!

Lyndsey and Hugh’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Troon North Golf Club

Florist: Butterfly Petals

Photographer: Sandra Tenuto

Videographer: Serendipity Videography

Cake: La Dolce Pesca

Bridal Gown Store: Alfred Angelo

Bridesmaids Dresses: White House Black Market

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Entertainment: Ray the DJ

Ceremony Musicians: Allegro Quartet

Photobooth: A2Z Photobooth

Make-up Artist: Steven Paul Salon, Naomi Cadena

Hair Stylist: Steven Paul Salon, Kandi Palmer

Officiant: Army Chaplain Frankie Oxendine

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals (formerly Tri Rentals)

Ashley wanted to pair items that belonged to family members and vintage finds of her own. She found many of the decor elements herself then handed them over to the design team to create vignettes thorughout the wedding space. A clever way to incorporate a birdcage Ashley found was to use it as an envelope “box”. Ashley’s  mother’s cake topper and her grandmother’s lace bible were also displayed at the vignette table alongside an engagement session picture of Steve and Ashley.

Another special detail is the cross Ashley and Steve decorated their unity candle with- it comes from Ashley’s Grandmother’s jewelry collection

LOVE the bouquet by Petal Pusher- it’s so sweet and feminine. To keep the vintage theme going, Ashley adorned it with a grey brooch

The centerpieces also received the vinatge treatment- they are made from collections of  items found by Ashley and beautifully displayed on trays that were engraved with couples’ anniversary dates!

The Wedding Trailer from Serendipity Videography:

Ashley & Steve at The Firesky- a Wedding Movie Trailer from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

Here’s my Post-Wedding Q and A with the couple:

KG: Now that you have had a chance to settle in, what is your favorite thing about being married?

Steve: Getting the chance to make her happy each day for the rest of our lives.

Ashley: Spending everyday with my best friend and knowing that no matter what, we have each other’s backs, always. It’s such an amazing feeling!

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

We went to the Mayan Riveria, close to Playa del Carmen in Mexico. It was amazing! We stayed at an all inclusive, brand new resort and enjoyed the beach! That was our main goal – to go somewhere that had amazing beaches and we could just chill out and enjoy being newlyweds.

KG: What advice would you give brides-to- be?

Get a planner! Don’t skimp on your planner budget or your photography budget. Those two things can make or break your day and memories thereafter. Whatever happens the day of (weather, forgetting something, messing up your vows, etc.) can’t stop you from getting married. You are still going to be married, so just sit back and ENJOY. It goes by way too fast to waste time worrying about stuff you can’t control or that doesn’t matter.

Congratulations Ashley and Steve- thank you for sharing your day with us! 

Ashley and Steve’s Real Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Ashley Gain Weddings and Events

Ceremony and Reception Site: Firesky Resort and Spa

Bridal Gown Store: Uptown Bridal and Boutique

Bridesmaids Dresses: The Wedding Acessory Superstore

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Petal Pusher

Photographer: Stephanie Fay

Videographer: Serendipity Videography

Invitations: Chocolate Butter Bean

Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

DJ: Got You Covered

Make-up Artist: Corinna Cooke

Hair Stylist: Dolce Salon and Spa, Stephanie Borgman

Officiant: Matt Anderson