What is your name and your groom’s name? MacKenzie & Brett
What was your wedding date?Saturday, November 19, 2016
How did you and your groom meet?Brett and I met his senior year at prom. He went with a friend and I went with his best friend. Long story short, we spent the whole night talking, traded phone numbers, and the rest is history.
We are dying to know, how did he propose?! In March of 2015, Brett planned an “Escape the Room” game inviting our closest friends and family. While I didn’t know it at the time, he had planned ahead and hidden a note in place of one of the clues to help us escape the room. We were about 50 minutes in to the 60 minutes groups are given to escape when my friend Amanda said, in a very loud voice, “MacKenzie, come look over here in the oven.” I had already looked there, several times, and she pulled out a metal, magnetic lock box and handed it to me. As I slid the box open, a small folded piece of paper fell out. I opened the note that read “Your next clue is with your fiance.” I turned around and Brett was down on one knee with a beautiful ring.
What were your wedding colors and why did you choose them? Brett and I chose navy blue, oranges and peaches for our fall wedding. We wanted a contemporary look to merge with our rustic venue.
The Dress
Where did you find your dress? Would you say that finding your dress was relatively easy or difficult? I found my wedding dress at David’s Bridal. It was the second gown I purchased and I fell in love with the soft features of the skirt and the beautiful designs at the top of the dress.
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of the venue(s)?We held our ceremony and reception both at Shenandoah Mill. Brett and I fell in love with look of the mill, and how easy it was to coordinate the event. We love our pictures!
The Cake
What was the flavor of your wedding cake? Brett was in charge of the flavors and look of the cake. The bottom layer was almond flavored cake with a chocolate hazelnut filling. The middle layer was pumpkin spice with cream cheese filling. And the top layer was red velvet with cream cheese filling. The frosting covering the outside of the cake was a light buttercream. It was delicious!
What details from your wedding that made it unique to you? Our favorite part of the wedding was the unique participants in our ceremony. Our grandmothers were our flower girls and they were so honored to be asked! And, not to mention, they looked adorable coming down the aisle! We also used our dog as our ring bearer. During the ring exchange in the ceremony, we called to have her released. She ran down the aisle in a tutu with the rings tied to her collar. It couldn’t have gone smoother!
Other than marrying your husband, what was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day?Seeing my dad before he walked me down the aisle. Brett and I chose not to do a first look, so our photographer captured a first look between my dad and me.
The Honeymoon
Did you take a honeymoon? If so, where did you go? We are planning our honeymoon for June of 2017. We have a Caribbean cruise scheduled with some exciting excursions planned.
What is one piece of wisdom you learned from your planning experience that you would like to share with future brides?Enjoy the planning process and do only what you can. If you do it right, the experience of planning and involving your family will be just as valuable of an experience as the actual wedding. Don’t worry too much, because the day of, all you worry about anyways is enjoying the day.
Who were some of the other vendors that were a part of your dream team?Graceful Cakes– Wedding Cake
Cassy Carmody Photography Shenandoah Mill-Venue
This issue of our Real Bride Series features Tessa and Michael who were married earlier this year at the Ocotillo Golf Club in Chandler, AZ. Tessa offers great advice while reminiscing about her wedding day.
Getting to Know Tessa & Michael
What is your name and your groom’s name? Tessa Mallette & Michael Lara
What was your wedding date? Saturday, January 28, 2017
How did you and your groom meet? We met online and it did not take long before we wanted to meet. Our first date was at a sushi restaurant and didn’t want the night to end. We had so much in common; both of us are the oldest child with younger brothers and we enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, and experiencing local attractions and farmers markets.
We are dying to know, how did he propose?! Michael and I were supposed to go on a double date with my best friend and her husband. We were running late and parking was challenging as he wanted us to park in a busy mall parking lot across the street. Little did I know, my family was waiting out of sight. We walked near the waterway up to the restaurant, Michael stopped by a fountain and got down on one knee. I was so surprised! What surprised me even more was that my family, my best friend and her husband came around the corner just after I said “yes”! Michael and I are both planners so it is hard for Michael to surprise me but he had emailed my friends and family the location spot including where they all should park and hide so I wouldn’t suspect a thing! So romantic and perfect!
The Details and the Dress
What were your wedding colors and why did you choose them? My wedding colors were blush pink, gold, and mint green. I always knew I wanted a pink wedding but I wanted a more classic look, so I added the gold accents and added the mint green for an extra touch.
Where did you find your dress?Would you say that finding your dress was relatively easy or difficult? I found my dress at David’s Bridal. It was a relatively easy process and I found it in one day. I was discouraged at first due. I wanted tulle but each one I tried on seemed so itchy. Finally, I found the perfect dress with pearl buttons running down the back and lace details on the top. It also had a flattering neckline and the bottom flowed just like Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast.
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of the venue(s)? Our ceremony and reception were at Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona. We fell in love with all the water and the beautifully manicured green golf course which was perfect for our dream of an outdoor ceremony site. The reception site was beautiful as well. The architecture of the building featured a wooden ceiling that made you feel as though you were on a boat. It was just the right size for our 80 guests.
From Flowers to Cake to Favors
What kind of flowers did you have in your bouquet and at the ceremony/reception? I had a mixture of different color roses and additional flowers in my bouquet. For the ceremony, we had baby’s breath in metal buckets down the aisle.
What was the flavor of your wedding cake? Our wedding cake was lemon cake with raspberry buttercream. We also had chocolate cupcakes with a pink buttercream.
Did you provide favors to your guests? If so, what were they? We did s’more’s kits with mini Hershey’s chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers.
What details from your wedding that made it unique to you? We purchased two wine barrels for either side of the ceremony aisle and they really created the rustic style that we wanted. Also, our DJ offed up-lighting options which enhanced the reception and added just the right touch.
Did you take a honeymoon? If so, where did you go? We honeymooned in Kauai, Hawaii which is an amazing island that is mostly undeveloped. We had great weather and enjoyed traveling around the island, kayaking to the secret falls, and flying on a private plane tour of the island.
A bit of Advice…
Other than marrying your husband, what was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day? Just watching all of our family and friends enjoy dancing and getting to know each other. It was so fun to see everyone in the same place and all the love in the room.
What is one piece of wisdom you learned from your planning experience that you would like to share with future brides?
Do NOT stress yourself out on the details. Make sure you choose the best vendors who want to make your vision come true. Also consider adding some personal touches that you love. When the day comes it all seems overwhelming but once your vision has come to life, you will be able to enjoy each moment. The ceremony and reception fly by so fast so be sure to take time to enjoy each and every aspect.
The Vendor Dream Team
Who were some of the other vendors that were a part of your dream team?Lia Photography was such a great choice for us. The husband and wife team shot our engagement shoot and we were sure that they would shoot our wedding with the same professionalism and quality. We were so right! They know which photos will make anyone who sees them feel like they are there and a part of the whole experience. We have many options for printing and our photo book is almost done. Can you imagine how excited we are to see it and relive the day?!
Rock Around the Clock Entertainment/Jeff Marcus was also such an amazing selection. Jeff was so engaging from day one to make sure that we were on the same page for music selection, up lighting, and interaction with guests, which was very important for us to make the reception run smoothly. Jeff thought of everything and sent over a questionnaire to make sure that he know as much as possible about our guests and music preferences. He also took photos and videos of the ceremony and reception and sent them to me the same night. Hands down, Jeff is absolutely the best DJ that I have ever experienced. We were so lucky to find him for our big day!
Meet Real Bride Angie and her husband Greg. They met in 2011 and tied the knot in 2016 at Schnpef Farms. What did Angie love most about her wedding? Read on…..
In Angie’s Words
What is your name and your groom’s name? Angie & Greg
What was your wedding date?Saturday, September 10, 2016
How did you and your groom meet?Greg and I met through mutual friends at the University of Arizona in 2011.
We are dying to know, how did he propose?! We spent the day doing things we hadn’t done before. This included hiking new trails in familiar areas. We were on top of a peak at sunset at Papago Park. I was completely taken by surprise.
What were your wedding colors and why did you choose them? We chose navy blue and yellow because they were appropriate for the season and everyone looks good in navy blue! I wanted to carry sunflowers so the yellow was a natural fit.
The Dress
Where did you find your dress? Would you say that finding your dress was relatively easy or difficult? I found my dress at David’s Bridal. My mom and two of my three bridesmaids were with me. It meant a lot to have mom there because I rarely see her since she lives out of town. I chose the second one I tried on which is funny because I didn’t like it on the hanger. My mom picked it out and insisted I try it. I came out of the dressing room and got the dream reaction! After trying on the next dress I realized that Mom knew best and nothing compared – I was hooked!
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of the venue(s)?We had our ceremony and reception at Schnepf Farm’s Red Barn. We got a phenomenal deal through the bridal expo and it was located perfectly equi-distance between where our two families (Greg’s are from North Phoenix, mine from Southeastern Arizona).
What kind of flowers did you have in your bouquet and at the ceremony/reception? My bouquet was composed of Sunflowers and white carnations (carnations are my favorite). My bridesmaids had sunflowers and white daisies.
The Cake
What was the flavor of your wedding cake? We had a marble cake, made by one of my best friends.
What details from your wedding that made it unique to you? Instead of numbering our tables, we chose to name each of them after a location we’d lived or visited and shared a story about an adventure we had there. It made it a lot more fun and interactive for our guests. Each table also had different topics to make suggestions for i.e. Date night, funny jokes, books to read, bucket list ideas, etc.
Other than marrying your husband, what was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day? I absolutely loved my flower girls reaction to her dress. She is 2 years old and upon seeing her dress her eyes got big and she whispered “princess?” She reacted the same to my dress too, it was adorable!
The Honeymoon
Did you take a honeymoon? If so, where did you go? Yes! We took a 5 day, 4 night Carnival Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. It was so fun!
What is one piece of wisdom you learned from your planning experience that you would like to share with future brides?There will always be one member of the bridal party that let’s you down. Remember, this is your most important day, not theirs. Lower your expectations of everyone and you’ll truly be dazzled by those who do show you extra love.
What were your wedding colors and why did you choose them?
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of the venue(s)?
Other than marrying your husband, what was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day?
Who were some of the other vendors that were a part of your dream team?