After a casual fling in graduate school in which Scott would leave sunflowers on Ashley’s desk each week, how could the couple not incorporate the meaningful floral into their big day? Sunflowers, lush green vines, dried wheat, and cotton plants were just some of the natural elements at Ashley and Scott’s eclectic, desert wedding! Friends and family gathered at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona to watch Ashley and Scott exchange vows. Ryan Flynn Photography captured the sweetest moments of the couple sharing time together before the reception!

The Couple:

Ashley and Scott

The Wedding:

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona

The Inspiration:

We thought of our wedding as a small celebratory dinner party that we just happened to get married at. We wanted the decor to be casual but also a reflection of all these small but significant pieces that represent us and our family. Almost every decorative element at the wedding was made by us, made by our family or was an heirloom. The mason jars and glass milk jars used for the table arrangements were from my great grandparent’s farm in Montana. We used dried wheat, which my family harvests. My Grandma helped make the table decorations. My bridesmaids helped make the bouquets. My dad made us a wood sign. My mom gave me a handkerchief which was my baby bonnet. I wore a simple but elegant Winifred Bean gown. Scott wore a handsome gray suit that he bought with my dad just days before the wedding. We told our wedding party to find something gray to wear that they felt most comfortable in. This casual and eclectic theme turned out more beautiful than I could have imagined.

The Moments:

Scott: My favorite moment was standing at the altar with Ashley. It finally felt official. Even though we were surrounded by family and friends it just felt like her and I up there.

Ashley: My favorite moment with Scott was right after the ceremony. We went on a little hike through the desert with our photographer. It was a perfect break for just us in such a beautiful place. It was our first of many hikes as a married couple. My favorite moment with our guests was when I walked down the aisle. We kept our wedding as small as possible, which is no small feat. Our photographer captured a photo of me walking down the aisle and my friends, my family and Scott are laughing at joke I made about crying. I felt so much love in that moment. All that love and support ended up being one of the most powerful things about getting married. It was lovely.

The Couple Recommends:

Our wedding turned out better and more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. That was thanks to the wonderful vendors that we worked with. Every single wedding professional went above and beyond. Ryan Flynn is a phenomenally talented photographer and he captured our day perfectly. His photos are works of art. Molly and Ryan at The Waverly Salon did magic and they helped make the start of our day uniquely special. I would highly recommend our musicians, Miguel de Maria, Step and Angelito Agcaoili. These three are wonderfully talented musicians and we still receive complements on their entertainment. We would also highly recommend the Desert Botanical Garden as a wedding venue. Aside from the garden being a stellar place, the level of service that we received exceeded our expectations. We are so grateful for these wonderful people that helped create such a beautiful day.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Ryan Flynn Photography
Venue – Desert Botanical Garden
Catering – Santa Barbara Catering Company
Live Music – Miguel de Maria, Angelito Agcaoili
Makeup Artist – The Waverly Salon
Hair Styling – The Waverly Salon
Wedding Dress – Winifred Bean
Groom’s Apparel – Z Zegna
Rings – Brilliant Earth, Aide-mémoire Jewelry

Thanks to Ryan Flynn Photography for showing us Ashley and Scott’s nature inspired desert wedding at the Desert Botanical Garden! Want to see more natural wedding inspiration? Check out this floral inspired wedding at Pharsalia in Virginia!