The Newlyweds: Kiri and Brian
The Wedding: 11.19.11 - Arizona Biltmore - Phoenix, AZ
The Photographer: Jennifer Bowen Photography
What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Sophisticated, Energetic and Timeless
What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? We wanted the style and feel of our wedding to be simple, stylish and classic. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Arizona Biltmore was the perfect canvas to work from, and with such amazing architecture, design and history, we didn’t need to do much to create the perfect ambiance for our wedding. I always wanted a white wedding, and after seeing the Gold Room for the first time, I knew it was the perfect choice.
For some of the details, we both brought our own personal touches. I knew that I wanted orchids and thought they created such a soft touch to the Gold Room and I loved how they flowed throughout the room. Brian gave all of his groomsmen Ray Ban sunglasses and I thought they looked so handsome and dapper all night with their classic black tuxes.
Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding?There are so many moments from our wedding that I loved, but walking down the aisle was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. There was so much love and energy in the chapel and it was such a special feeling to have all of our family and friends share in the moment.
At the reception, it was time to get the party started and we really tried to have something for everyone. Upon reflection, I am so glad that we decided to do the photo station and candy bar instead of traditional party favors. Our guests had a blast as the night went on taking funny pictures that they could take home with them. We were also thrilled at how the bar and lounge turned out. Our florist, Angelic Grove, had been dying to combine 2 smaller bar stations to create a full bar and lounge in the Gold Room for years, and their vision turned out amazing. It definitely added to the elegant and sophisticated feel we had envisioned for our wedding. Finally, the white dance floor really pulled the room together and we had blast dancing the night away with friends.
What specifically drew you to Jennifer Bowen and her imagery? Jennifer Bowen has an incredible ability to capture personality and emotion in her photos. Her photos are never over-stylized and they all have a simple elegance to them. We were immediately drawn to her work after viewing a few friends’ wedding photos, but after meeting her for the first time, we knew we wanted her and that she would do an incredible job. Jennifer made us feel at ease on our wedding day. Everything felt so natural, and to her credit, I think we forgot she was even there during our photo session. Taking pictures before the reception was one of our favorite memories from the wedding and it was an intimate experience that helped to calm our nerves.
The Wedding Team:
Photography: Jennifer Bowen Photography
Ceremony Location: Brophy Chapel
Reception Venue: Arizona Biltmore
Event Planner: Victoria Canada Weddings and Events
Event & Floral Design: Angelic Grove LLC
Catering & Catering: Arizona Biltmore
Wedding Film: Simply Cinema
Officiant: Father John Parks
Live Music: The Hamptons Band
DJ: The Hamptons Band / Mancini Entertainment Group
Transportation: Dunn Transportation / Ollie the Trolley and Aries Limousine
Wedding Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Makeup: Jovita Campbell and Kayla Keller
Hair: Mandy Samford and Julia Hernandez
Bridesmaid’s Apparel & Accessories: Priscilla of Boston dresses with Ippolita earrings
Groom's Apparel & Accessories: Ermenegildo Zegna tuxedo with Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses
Rings: Engagement band from Hamra Jewelers, wedding bands by Tiffany & Co.
