Mandy and Jeff met by fate at a New Year’s Eve party… and the sparks haven’t stopped flying for these two! They were married in a joyful affair at Encanto Park Clubhouse! They mixed vibrant colors with their love of vintage Mexican elements!
How did you and your groom meet?
I met my husband at a New Year’s party over three years ago. I went to the bash with my best friend and from the moment Jeff and I met, I knew we had something special. He even gave me a New Year’s kiss!
We are dying to know, how did he propose?!
Last May, Jeff took me on a trip to California. We spent a day at Disneyland, and then went to the most magical boutique hotel in Los Angeles. He planned a trip to the Griffith Observatory where we had amazing views of the city. We found a secluded area where he with tears in his eyes asked me if I would be his wife. It was magical!
What were your wedding colors? Did you have an overall theme?
We didn’t have specific wedding colors. We had a desert theme with vintage Mexican influences. Bold, bright colors were represented in my bouquet and my bridal party wore different color dresses.
How large was your wedding party?
We had 10 people in our wedding party. Five bridesmaids and five groomsmen. Plus my four nieces were our flower girls and my nephew was the ring bearer. I can’t forget our dog Indie, we couldn’t have gotten married without her.
Where did your ceremony and reception take place? Was there any special meaning behind the choice of venue(s)?
Our Ceremony and reception took place at the Historic Encanto Park Clubhouse. Jeff and I both live in downtown Phoenix, and we thought this location really represented who we are as a couple. Our wedding was intimate and casual, but as native Phoenicians, it was sentimental as well.
We didn’t go the cake route for our wedding, instead choosing pie. Since we had a taco bar for dinner, we offered our guests the choice of either Key Lime or Lemon Meringue petite pies. They we adorable. Jeff and I had a large Key Lime pie to cut.
Did you provide favors to your guests? If so, what were they?
We didn’t provide favors to our guests, but we encouraged them to take home the flowers in vases on the tables.
Other than marrying your husband, what was your favorite moment from your wedding day?
My absolute favorite moment of our wedding was my father in laws toast. He literally brought the entire room to tears. His words were heartfelt and inspirational and it was truly a blessing to have him celebrate the most important day of our lives with us.
Did you take a honeymoon? If so, where did you go?
We took a honeymoon road trip to New Mexico. On our way we stopped in Winslow and stayed at the La Posada where we were treated with top notch hospitality. We dined at the Turquoise room where I had one of the best meals of my life! We drove through the historic Hubbell Trading Post and then spent several days in Santa Fe at the Hotel St. Francis. We vintage shopped at the most amazing shop, Santa Fe Vintage, and bought ourselves gorgeous Native American art pieces that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
What is one piece of wisdom you learned from your planning experience that you would like to share with future brides?
The most important lesson I learned is that even on a budget, you can’t do it alone! At the beginning of the planning process I thought that I would have the time and know how to do everything myself, but I quickly wizened up and hired a planner for the day of the wedding. She was a life saver! Future brides, don’t be afraid to get friends and family involved, it makes the experience that much more memorable.
Who were some of the other vendors that were a part of your dream team?
As I mentioned, the fabulous Butterfly Petals were our florist, Cleo and Clementine designed and hand sewed my dress, Mucho Macho Tacos provided our tasty eats, and Mama Toledo’s Pie Hole made our desserts. Leland Gebhardt Photography took our gorgeous photos, my dearest friend Mari Ehlert styled our hair and Babydoll Weddings brought the whole look together with gorgeous makeup!
