Amy and Bryan wanted all their family and friends to join them on their wedding day but since they are scattered throughout the country, they weren’t sure how to choose a wedding location that would please everyone. So how did they solve their logistical dilemma? They had a destination wedding right here in Arizona! The weekend ended up being exactly what they wanted: the weather was quintessential Arizona (75 gloriously sunny degrees), the views for the wedding and reception were spectacular and they had a ton of FUN with their loved ones!

Amy has the biggest, happiest, most genuine smile and now we know here she gets it from!

Another moment captured by Kimberly Jarman that melts my heart a bit

Amy surprised Bryan with Taco Bell, their favorite food. As a fan myself, I have to say, this is BRILLIANT!

Amy tells us more: With Bryan and I both being from Ohio, but studied in Chicago, and most recently living in Arizona- we felt like no matter where we decided to have a wedding it was not going to be convenient for anyone.  We knew we wanted an outdoor, timeless affair that portrayed our personalities and relationship in every way possible.  With Chicago and Ohio both being in the Midwest with unpredictable weather, an outdoor wedding quickly eliminated those options, so Arizona it was!

Sunridge Canyon Golf Club turned out to be the perfect venue for us.  It was the ideal setting for an outdoor AZ wedding, especially for our out of town guests.   The weather was the typical perfect AZ weather in November- 75 and sunny.  Our ceremony was picturesque with the AZ sunset and the famous “Four Peaks” of the Superstition Mountains behind us.  Our bridal party all wore black with their bouquets and boutonnieres filled with cymbidium orchids.  To include a bridesmaid who was unexpectedly put on bedrest and could not fly, I made a cutout of her picture for the bridal party to carry in with them.  I carried an all white bouquet of ranunculus and peonies with green lilac accents.

The cocktail hour and reception were held in an outdoor area of the golf club, with views of the mountains.  Guests were greeted with our green signature cocktail, the “Gavintini” and crabcakes.  Lanterns and candles were a common theme throughout the reception with pops of green and white coming from our green pintuck linens and floral arrangements.

Our eclectic taste in music was showcased during the reception.  The hit of the night was the bridal party’s entrance to LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It.”   This really set the mood of the party for the rest of the night.  Our flower girl was also the star of the night getting the whole dance floor to surround her while she showcased her dance moves.

Some of my favorite parts of the wedding were the little details we came up with to make the wedding our own.  Because live music is such a huge part of our relationship, we named each table after our favorite music venues.  My mom and I spent hours making tissue paper flowers for each place setting along with a personalized thank you note.  To keep the favors fun and outdoorsy, we went with our favorite summertime treat- S’MORE’S!   A photobooth was a must have for my parents, and I’m so glad it was.  Our guests had so much fun with it using our homemade mustache and bowtie props to put their own touch on our guestbook.    To end the night, tacos from Taco Bell were delivered as a surprise for Bryan and our guests.  If anyone knows Bryan and I, Taco Bell is one of our main food groups.  Overall, Bryan and I had such a wonderful wedding day thanks to our family, friends, and our amazing vendors- it was truly a night to remember.

Congratulations Amy and Bryan- thank you for sharing your special day with us!

Happy Planning from your Arizona Wedding Blog,

Kelly

Amy and Bryan’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Imoni Events

Ceremony and Reception Site: SunRidge Canyon Golf Club

Photographer: Kimberly Jarman Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Cincinnati Bridal and Formal (Mikaella)

Bridesmaids Dresses: Cincinnati Bridal and Formal (Bill Levkoff)

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Petal Pusher

Invitations: Papyrus

Cake: Piece of Cake Desserts

Entertainment: Ray the DJ

Ceremony Musicians: Ray the DJ

Make-up Artist: Sarah SanMarco

Officiant: Reverend Giovanni

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Transportation: Ollie the Trolley

Linens: Southwick Linens

Photobooth: Snapz Photobooth

 

 

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Laura and Ryan’s destination wedding was a modern classic- they chose the classic colors of ivory and sapphire blue, the bride wore a 1950′s vintage necklace and there was a traditional bagpiper (as a sweet surprise to the groom as a nod to his heritage) but added modern touches such as purple suede Prada shoes and dresses chosen by each bridesmaid.

Since Laura and Ryan’s guests were traveling from all over the country (and some even from Canada) to Arizona, the couple wanted to provide an elegant and intimate destination wedding. The Sanctuary on Camelback provided spectacular views and an authentic Arizona vibe.

How much do you love Laura’s purple shoes?

This is one of my favorite pictures from the day

Want interesting bride and groom portraits? Sanctuary on Camelback is a great location for photos because it has so many pretty niches and rich textures

Since Laura and Ryan are from Chicago, they differentiated their reception tables with pictures of Chicago landmarks

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

L/R: No more wedding planning! Just kidding, we are mostly enjoying spending quality time with each other. Planning a wedding is a huge time commitment and now we have free time to make dinner together, see movies and decorate our apartment with all of our wonderful gifts from our generous friends and family.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

L/R: We had a destination wedding and were lucky enough to enjoy the weather in Arizona for 5 days (a nice break from the Chicago chill) so we chose not to go on a honeymoon immediately. As we are getting settled, we are considering different locals that interest us: Thailand, Bali, Fiji, Belize, Brazil. There are just so many places to see!

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

L/R: Two words: Time management. I bought a magazine that included a monthly/weekly planner with tips and worked either on or ahead of that schedule as the wedding approached. I have many friends that have been married and know how hectic things can get at the end even with advanced planning. I had a clear idea of what I wanted for my wedding by scanning many (and I mean many, many stacks!) wedding magazines and blogs and cutting out or drawing pictures of what intrigued me. I also relied heavily on referrals from my wedding coordinator and the first few vendors we decided on. Who knows the local industry better than the people that are in it?

Enjoying the day: I knew the day would be crazy and emotional, I purposely included extra time in the schedule and planned our ceremony to start slightly earlier than I really wanted it to. This allowed me to relax knowing that if we are “behind” it would all work out. And lastly, just smile, you are marrying your best friend and the man/woman of your dreams! What else could possibly matter?

KG: Did anything about your wedding day surprise you?

L/R: The speeches at our reception. Everyone did so well! You could really tell that everyone put thought and love into what they were saying and we so appreciated it! We were also pleasantly surprised and honored by the family and friends that made the trip to Arizona from across the continent!

KG: What was your favorite thing about/part of the day?

It is nearly impossible to have one favorite part of your wedding day, however we were able to narrow it down to three:

1. The bagpiper – My present to Ryan and a huge and emotional surprise for him.

2. The time after our ceremony – We took sunset pictures following our ceremony and then a few minutes to ourselves allowing us to relax, reflect and eat!

3. Our reception entrance – We had the DJ ask everyone to greet us on the dance floor for our entrance to “Shipping Up To Boston” (Ryan’s home town) and it sure set the mood for the rest of the reception.

Laura also had some kind words to say about her vendors:

Rev G was a great source of knowledge about choosing local vendors and what to expect from the day. He was also great at keeping the ceremony fun yet professional.

 Allison Bess is an up and coming photographer though she is young she works very hard and has fabulous business ethics (excellent communication, follow through and great end product). She has the drive and talent and is one to watch out for!

Also, our DJ was fabulous and knows how to throw a good party with little guidance.

Congratulations Laura and Ryan and thank you for sharing your wedding with us!

Laura and Ryan’s Real Arizona Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Sanctuary on Camelback

Photographer: Allison Bess Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Mira Couture

Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Wild Child Floral Design

Invitations: Mavora on Etsy.com

Cake: Julia Baker Confections

DJ: Ray the DJ, Jeff

Bagpiper: Michael McClanthan

Make-up Artist: Megan Taylor

Officiant: Reverend Giovanni

 

 

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