Our Wedding Video

Choosing the right photographer was very important to both of us. I’m an art director for a publication company, so I work with photographers on a regular basis. I knew the look I wanted our pictures to have, the challenge was just finding someone who matched that style. While the vintage  themed engagement sessions are very trendy right now, we wanted something that would be classic, timeless and fit the rest of our wedding. We wanted to look like ourselves and not use props or set up a fake scene. Our idea was to use locations that are special and meaningful to us. Since Mike trusted me on this, I met with a few photographers on my own. I found a few good ones that might have worked, but I still wasn’t sure. My last meeting was with our former next door neighbor, Merek Davis. He had done a few photoshoots for Mike’s bands and is more well-known for his work with bands (he photographed Frankie Muniz!) and his amazing editing skills, but I figured if he could do that, he could do amazing wedding photography too! When I met with him, he brought over a presentation on his iPad of weddings he has shot and the prints and albums that are included in his wedding packages. After seeing his wedding photography and talking to him about our wedding, I was sure he would do an amazing job! Him and his fiance work together on weddings and we love seeing how excited they get when we tell them details about our wedding and what we are looking for.

So I have a problem, I love our wedding pictures so much (thanks to our amazing photographers) and I had a really hard time cutting down which pictures to post. So, I hope you are all ready for an overload of amazing photography! For our wedding recap posts, I’m going to go through the day in pictures so you get a feeling of how the day actually was. If you haven’t read my previous post about our venue, you can read it here.

Chad and Juli’s rustic Phoenix wedding just exudes joy and happiness. Juli’s smile is completely infectious and the love and laughter that these two share is so inspiring! The venue is The Farm at South Mountain and all of the gorgeous images are by Jane Zarzynski Photography.

Oh my.  I’m just so excited to show off the wedding of my lovely friend Jana to her handsome husband Michael!  Jana put so much love and heart into her wedding, designing the entire event on her own and creating so many of the lovely details by hand.  Jana and Michael’s wedding is classic, timeless, and intimate and truly reflects the love that they have for each other.  I’m simply in love and I know you will be too, after seeing the stunning images from Davis Photographers!

As promised in an earlier post, here are a few of the fabulous professional pictures from Mike’s brother’s wedding on November 6. It was a beautiful day in San Tan Valley, Arizona at Encanterra Country Club. The photographers are my favorites, Davis Wedding Photographers. There are so many amazing pictures, but one of my favorites is this sunset picture of the bride and groom, Steve and Tana.

I say this is the 2nd most important decision because when I talk about it being the 1st, someone always corrects me. I forget that saying yes to Mike was the most important because it wasn’t a difficult decision, it was a no brainer! Before getting engaged, my parents and I had already started scoping out venues. With my dad working in the event industry, he already had a good idea of the best of the best out there. My parents even went to check out a few venues before we were engaged!

The night before the big day, Mike insisted that we go hiking the next morning. His reasoning was that the weather is so nice now and it will get way too hot to go soon. I suggested going to Superstition because we had never been there together before, but he insisted on going to South Mountain and he insisted that I pick him up in the morning. It was quite strange how persistent he was, so I gave in. I called my dad on the way to pick up Mike and he ended the conversation saying “Let me know how your hike goes!” Seemed strange that he would want me to tell him about our boring hike. When I went to pick him up, he was wearing cargo shorts, you know, the ones with the big pockets on the sides. I thought that was interesting since he usually hikes in basketball shorts. I obviously had been reading into every detail for months though, so I tried to convince myself that I was just over thinking everything like I always did. I actually told his mom, “I have a feeling about today” and she just smiled at me and said “I can’t tell you anything!” Still, I wasn’t sure because she was always saying things like that.

Hello lovelies! I am so incredibly excited to be blogging here at EAD and sharing all my wedding inspirations, experiences and DIY trials and errors with you. Before getting engaged I was ‘secretly’ checking out wedding blogs, including EAD, for about a year (or two…). I actually started my own little blog called Blissful Wish over a year ago as a way to show my invitation design work and share wedding and party ideas. I have been dreaming of my wedding for years! My grandparents founded a party rental business here in Phoenix, so I have been surrounded by event planning my entire life. Now that it is time to plan my wedding, my mom and I are going nuts picking out linens, table setups, colors and DIY projects.

Kiera and Jay’s wedding feels like a warm spring day, thanks to deep lavender bridesmaids dresses by Priscilla of Boston and a gorgeous Arizona landscape at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Adding to the seasonal feel are lush flower garlands and petite fuchsia and purple bouquets by Flora Bella. We love how every detail is perfectly coordinated, thanks to Outstanding Occasions. Modern embellishments on the classic silhouette of Kiera’s Melissa Sweet gown makes it a timeless show-stopper, and we adore the bow sash! At the reception, the pink-and-gray rose motif on the cake repeats the graphics on Kiera and Jay’s Idieh Design stationery. We hope you enjoy these swoon-worthy images from Melissa Jill Photography!

This casual backyard shoot in Phoenix, Arizona, could be set anywhere in the Deep South, with its gorgeous magnolia details and Southern vintage charm. Working with Angela Saban Design, Diana Elizabeth photographed everything perfectly, from the Enzoani and Destinations by Mon Cheri gowns to the pale yellow, peach, green, and white florals by The Garage by Ivy. We adore the magnolia detail on the cloth napkins, a DIY project from the fabulous SMP Living. Model Brenna Heater accessorized her breathtaking gown with a pearl belt from Uptown Bridal & Boutique and fabulous fuchsia heels. Angel Cakes Bakery created mini cakes with sweet sugar flowers and a smooth two-tier cake topped with a magnolia flower to carry out the outdoor theme. See all of the charming images in the gallery!

Kaitlyn and John’s Phoenix wedding, planned by Outstanding Occasions, was pretty pink perfection! Florals by Petal Pusher really knocked it out of the park, from the breathtaking ceremony canopy and lush bouquets, the stunning centerpieces and a sweetheart table almost completely draped in a blanket of flowers, to the petite wrapped bundles of flowers for guests as they picked up their escort cards! We absolutely love the touch of bling for the reception, it’s the perfect amount of sparkle for this fabulous fête. Soft, romantic, glamorous, and utterly elegant, we’re so happy to share with you these beautiful photos by Melissa Jill Photography—see them all in the gallery!

Berkley and Ken’s wedding is take-your-breath-away (and then hyperventilate-a-little-bit) stunning. Every detail of their big day was incredible, unusual and oh-so-unique! Their venue, the Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, is the perfect blend of chic and modern. We adore the bedazzled bridesmaids dresses in hues of silver and black, as well as Berkley’s brooch-accented all-white bouquet. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the escort card holder—displayed on a live model (no, really!). We can’t choose our favorite thing about this wedding, so take a look at these spectacular photos by Jerry Yoon Photographers and decide for yourself!

To celebrate their forever love, it’s only appropriate that Paige and Brent chose a laid-back, beautiful Arizona desert setting, the same state in which Brent was once declared its most eligible bachelor! We are smitten with the timeless elegance of Paige’s intricate lace gown and those soft, romantic blooms by Encore! Creative. Following a small ceremony at Valley Presbyterian Church, guests moved on to a rustic but romantic outdoor reception at El Chorro, complete with a classic tiered cake from Classic Cakes and Confections. These lovely images from Gina Meola Photography show an intimate, perfect evening for a sweet couple!

Today’s Friday Flowers is pure sophisticated elegance! Working with the beautiful setting of Scottsdale’s Country Club at DC Ranch, Petal Pusher and Stephanie Fay Photography created a vibrant tabletop and dessert table in shades of deep fuchsia, royal blue, and gold. We adore all of the elegant touches, including calligraphy menus by LittleOwl Letterpress and gorgeous flowing chair covers from Wildflower Linen, and are completely over the moon for the embossed gold cake created by Classic Cakes and Confections (and the sparkly dessert table backdrop too!). Prepare to swoon over all of the glamorous details!

It doesn’t get any better than a gorgeous bride, stunning florals, fabulous accessories, and a beautiful venue, and Maryanne and Dan’s Arizona wedding was exactly that! Maryanne looks like a celebrity and how fantastic are her Badgley Mischka shoes? We’re already huge fans of Petal Pusher, and these stunning peach and orange florals are just incredible. A nod to Maryanne’s father who loved orange groves, the main color of their decor was orange with hints of blush and light green. I absolutely love the use of ferns and wood elements throughout their centerpieces too! A huge thank you to associate photographer Rachel from Melissa Jill Photography for sharing these breathtaking photos with us today!

Erin and Max are a Chicago couple who planned an Arizona destination wedding, and what better setting than the beautiful Sanctuary on Camelback Resort & Spa. After an outdoor ceremony with the picturesque view of Paradise Valley, guests moved inside to the ballroom where they were greeted by positively gorgeous florals from Petal Pusher – deep purple lisianthus, stock, tulips, and astilbe. Utterly in love with the stunning portraits by Jennifer Bowen!

I couldn’t be happier about all the prettiness we’ve got today, and wait ’til you see what we’ve got now! This gorgeous styled shoot was created by Imoni Events who incorporated personal and creative details with stunning florals by Petal Pusher. I was swoooning over the colorful palette of pinks and peaches with bright pops of tangerine and I absolutely adore the Southwestern goodness in the backdrop of Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Climbing vines, gorgeous fountains, and old trees? Yes please! Oh how I love this whole shoot and all the photos by Melissa Jill Photography. Hope you enjoy it too!

Elegant in every way with gorgeous silvery white details, Kara and Jason were married outside at the stunning Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Hints of burlap and twine make this wedding just a touch rustic and I love the cool grey silver brunia and dusty miller within all the soft white florals by Camelback Flowershop. Their long wooden centerpieces work perfectly with the long tables for their outdoor reception. I absolutely love this wedding and all the beautiful photos by Gina Meola Photography!

Monique and Josh’s Scottsdale wedding was filled to the brim with soft, romantic, and elegant details. I can’t get over the breathtaking scenery, old-world charm, and incredible oversized doors of their venue, Montelucia. Monique’s Lazaro gown is swoon-worthy and the beautiful florals by Camelback Flower Shop are the perfect mix of elegance and romance in beautiful pinks and whites. Such beautiful photographs by Keith Pitts to get rid of those Daylight-Savings-Monday blues!