WEDDING BLOG

While planning a winter wedding in upstate New York, lifelong East Coasters Britt and Jason realized they couldn’t quite capture the Southwest-inspired vision they both dreamed of for their wedding day. After weeks of research, they scrapped their New York plans and moved the wedding to Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village in Sedona, Arizona. The couple wanted a romantic “desert in the springtime” vibe, and, wow, did they achieve it! From hanging macramé plant holders at the ceremony to brightly colored fruits and flowers on the reception tables to the stunning couple portraits set against the Sedona sunset, every detail was creatively planned with intention and perfectly captured the Southwest spirit. The bride looked like she was straight out of a 1930s movie in a crystal embellished Lovely Bride gown and tiered chapel-length veil. We’re totally inspired by how Jane in the Woods captured all the artsy and romantic facets of this beautiful Southwest wedding!

The Couple:

Britt and Jason

The Wedding:

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, Sedona, Arizona

I wanted to walk down the aisle in a dress that made me feel like Queen of the Light, Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. The 1930’s inspired silhouette of my dress, the way it sparkled as I moved, and the long dramatic veil certainly had me feeling like an etherial being.

I both laughed and cried tears of joy the entire walk down the aisle, but meeting Jason at the end and getting lost in his eyes during our heartfelt vows – the whole world disappeared and we just…were.

Our ceremony was officiated by our beloved mutual friend, Andrea, who personalized the entire experience with a Smudging ritual, and focus on the daily practice of Gratitude as a core tenet of our relationship.

We both work in the creative industry, so attention to detail, and design with intention is how we approach every creative opportunity. We paid respect to traditional Navajo artisans with borrowed weavings and wedding baskets while the cactus flower inspired florals were accompanied by the punchy hues and unpredictable textures of different fruits and vegetables.

Our talented friend, Ellie designed the invitation suite for our wedding, and came up with the idea to block print the name cards. My bridesmaids and I spent a Sunday afternoon designing, carving and printing three different Southwest inspired motifs. Jason and I then spent an evening hand writing the names of each guest onto the cards with gold embossing. For the reception, we tied each name card to a Sage smudge stick as the favor.

The Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque is full of lush ivy, so the table decor heightened the romance with extra dashes of color, glimmers of light at different heights and intensities, giving the eye plenty of opportunity to wander around the space.

Processional – “Rachel’s Song” by Vangelis (from the Blade Runner soundtrack)
Recessional – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder
First Dance – “La Vie en Rose” by Louis Armstrong

Congratulations to Britt and Jason, and a huge thanks to Jane in the Woods for sharing this beautiful wedding with us! Are you inspired by this Southwest vibe? We’ve got an amazing Southwest inspired California dreaming wedding at Sandoval Ranch & Vineyard we think you’ll love!