Nicole and Kevin’s destination wedding at the Four Seasons in Scottsdale, Arizona is full of details fit for a rustic wedding in the desert. The bride worked closely with Christy Kelman of Your Perfect Day to bring her beautiful vision to life, and Erica Velasco Photographers captured it all with these lovely photos.
The Couple: Nicole and Kevin
The Wedding: 9.28.13 – Four Seasons, Scottsdale, Arizona
The Goals: What was most important to us was to have an intimate event with our closest friends and family. We chose a destination wedding not only for the beautiful scenery, but to create a feeling of vacation, relaxation and fun for our guests.
The Look: I am very into fashion, so it was important to me to have a gown that did not feel too “wedding-dressy”. I ended up falling for a beautiful Pnina Tornai – a body hugging gown with diagonal stitching that added a bit of dimension and modernity to a crisp white fabric, a figure-eight style sweetheart neckline, a lace-up corset and intricately beaded crystal straps. The accessories were beautiful, yet simple – a vintage diamond floral bracelet, small crystal chandelier earrings, a gorgeous crystal hair pin and a simple long flowing veil. The L.K. Bennett nude sandals were also very simple, with straps that mimicked the diagonal lines in the dress. Keeping with more of the minimalist look, my bridesmaids also wore white dresses of their own choosing. I wanted to keep the overall palette neutral, with the vibrant bouquets popping against all the white. The men wore grey – not as formal as black, but still dashing and celebratory.
The Design: We had pictured a peaceful and beautiful ceremony driven by nature and the serenity of the desert landscape, a candle-lit dinner under the stars and then a fun (and crazy!) dance party for the reception indoors…and we certainly got all three! For the ceremony, I focused on nature – the greens of the cactus, tans of the desert and corals, reds and yellows of the desert flowers. My florist, Petal Pushers, brought in what were truly the most gorgeous flowers I had ever seen. These “desert bouquets” lined the aisle, were draped over the arch and were the pop of color offsetting my bridesmaids, who were all dressed in white. We got married as the sun was setting and it was dark by dinner, with lanterns and candles on the tables and bistro lights strung above. The feel was rustic, elegant and intimate.
The Moments: Truly, the day was spectacular to me. It was beautiful, intimate and incredibly fun! Standing in front of a fire pit, with water flowing and the sun setting across the desert background while being married to the man I love was unforgettable. His vows and emotion were also unforgettable. Having our family and closest friends with us made the event perfect. And, honestly, I will never forget the dance party…non-stop dancing by almost every person there, or the most amazing dance with my father, who surprised me with some serious dance moves!
The Advice: My best advice would be to get most of the big decisions made early on. Wedding planning can go on for a year or more and you don’t want it to take over your life. This day is important, but it is only a day, so make the big decisions and then don’t stress too much over the smaller things. If you have a solid vision and the right people helping you, it will all come together. I was lucky enough to have had some serious talent on my side, with an amazing wedding planner, photographer, florist and the Four Seasons’ event planner. And even if it doesn’t turn out according to plan, if you have the right guests in attendance, not much else matters. Beyond marrying Kevin, for me, having a week-long vacation with most of my closest friends and family and watching them all come together and enjoy themselves…that was the biggest success of the wedding.
The Wedding Team:
Photographer: Erica Velasco Photographers
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Four Seasons
Event Planner: Christy Kelman of Your Perfect Day
Event Coordinator: Jamie Tennant of Four Seasons
Officiant: Phil Waring
Catering: Four Seasons
Florist: Petal Pushers
Cake: Four Seasons
Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai via Kleinfeld Bridal
Bridal Accessories: Jenny Packham, L.K. Bennett
Bridesmaids’ Apparel & Accessories: Diane von Furstenberg, Nicole Miller, Parker, Black Halo, ASOS
Groom’s Apparel & Accessories: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen’s Apparel & Accessories: J.Crew
Hair & Makeup: Dual Vanity
DJ: Drea Strickler of Desert House Productions
Live Music: Lyra
Transportation: Accent Transportation
Favors: Mosaic House, Deborah Nadel Design
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Wildflower Linens
Thank you Nicole and Kevin for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us!
Looking for more weddings in Arizona? Check out Cristina and Dan’s beautiful coral and grey wedding!
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