This was our first time shooting Arizona wedding photography, which is only slightly different than Georgia wedding photography in that your time outside {or in the direct sunlight, anyway} comes in fits and starts. It’s not the completely oppressive humid heat that we get down here in the South, it’s the kind where you can FEEL your skin browning. Arizona as a whole was like visiting an alien planet, which was SO cool.
Straight off the plane, Nic & I felt like we were Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars, what with all the completely foreign plant life {even the animals were different!}. In fact, the first words out of my mouth when we landed were, “…where are the trees?”
Rebekah & Steve’s wedding was held on the Arizona State University campus, at the First United Methodist Church of Tempe, both ceremony & reception, and they DIY’d the hell out of this wedding. Knocking it out of the PARK with how much awesomeness they did by themselves and with the help of friends and family. I L-O-V-E a book/literature theme!
The reception centerpieces were stacks of books that also doubled as favors the guests got to rifle through to take home. {I went home with Eats, Shoots & Leaves, which I was SO delighted about.} And we all even braved the infamous Arizona dry heat to grab some portraits outside. {Let me tell you, ya’ll. Dry heat is STILL REALLY HOT.}
This couple and their families had us in stitches pretty much the whole night. Unless we were discussing hockey, then it was serious business. But the rest of the time was definitely laughing and nerdy references.
Thank you, Rebekah & Steve. You guys are awesome.
Vendor and DIY info at the bottom, advice from Bekah & Steve throughout.
Most memorable moment from your wedding day?
Bekah: Snapshots - the incredible, roiling butterflies as the pre-ceremony music played, running out of the bridal room when Sweet Child of Mine came on, realizing halfway through that my concerns about being distracted and not looking at Steve the whole ceremony were unfounded and that I had tunnel vision for him, the small moment after our photos as we took a breath and got ready to walk into the reception, rushing around the room to kiss the two glass clinkers, taking the photo with my girls from high school, and an unexpected hug bringing me to tears. (top memory is right before going into the reception, though)
Steve: The toasts; Eddie and Ali did a great job.
Funniest moment from your wedding day?
Bekah: Probably the speeches, although I can’t remember one moment being funnier than the rest. Oh! And making joking references with Raven and Nic that we all got!
Steve: Mark looking at his “watch” in the picture of the groom party.
What were you most anxious/nervous about regarding your wedding day and how did it turn out?
Bekah: Early on, I was anxious about the guest count. Middle of planning was anxiety about invitations (see below) and videography. On the wedding day, my Matron of Honor’s husband got stuck by a wildfire on the road. He also had agreed to video the wedding. My mom stayed up most of the night and all that morning finishing the alterations on my dress, delivering it about 10 minutes before our First Look. Those weren’t things I anticipated, and stressed me a little, but I hit my wedding zen pretty hard by then.
Steve: Afraid I would say my vows wrong or drop the ring or say something else stupid when repeating after the pastor.
What advice you would give to other couples planning their wedding?
Bekah: “The people want options” but sometimes you don’t. Not every detail of the wedding has to silently convey exactly the dynamic and tone of your relationship and personalities. My biggest breakdown was actually over the invitations and whether people would think they were good enough. Turns out I was panicking about my guests thinking my relationship was good enough, as evidenced by our invites. Sticking to our budget also helped, because I got what worked for the situation and what we could afford, with no lusting after things other people had.
Steve: Marry somebody who is a good planner.
If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
Bekah: Yes and no. I would order more food, because I underestimated our guests’ love of Thai. I wish I had done a little dancing, but I also wish I could have spent more time with everyone who came to celebrate with us. The last thing would be to just settle down a little and hunker down in the bridal room instead of flitting back and forth taking care of things. I think that would have allowed for more bridal shots, which I think I would have liked. I like feeling pretty, and Raven does a good job capturing that.
Steve: Maybe order a little more food, but otherwise I wouldn’t change anything. It went well.
Any tips for future couples on how to prepare for the wedding photos?
Bekah: Communicate with your photographer(s) and tell them what they can expect, as well as what you want. The vendor/client relationship is a partnership, albeit a temporary one, and it works like other relationships in that you get the most out of it if you are honest and open.
Steve: Tell your brother to wear a watch.
While looking through the books-centerpieces, Rebekah found a love postcard her mother sent her father 20 years ago!
Vendors
- Decor - No flowers. Centerpiece books from Goodwill and Bookman’s, silhouette bookmarks designed by me, printed by FedEx.
- Caterer - Thai Basil
- Cakes/Desserts - Desserts DIY’d, cheese wheels from Whole Foods (bottomlayer3-monthagedManchego,middlelayerBrillatSavarin,toplayerherbedCapricho goat cheese)
- Cake topper is Willow Tree, “Promise”
- Venues - Wedding and reception at First United Methodist Church of Tempe, rehearsal dinner at Oregano’s
- DJ - DIY’d w/Steve Jobs (aka my iPod)
- Hair Stylist/Makeup Artist - DIY’d
- Wedding Planner - Me! And I love me. I also used the APW spreadsheets, tweaked to my needs.
- Dress/Clothing - Craigslist for the dress, Men’s Wearhouse for the tuxes
- Accessories/Jewelry -
- My mom made my veil from her grandmother’s wedding slip
- Gold flats are from Payless
- Baseball boutonniere is from Sports Roses
- Silk hops boutonnieres from jcmartanddesign
- The handkerchiefs are from Bumblebee Linens, embroidered by a friend.
- Rings - Etsy for my art deco ring, Brent & Jess for our fingerprint bands
- Other -
- Linens purchased online
- Chafing dishes and drink dispensers DIY’d
- Plates, silverware, glasses, and dessert tiers were from Y-knot rentals in Mesa.
- Ribbon wands (ribbon from Ruffler’s Roost), music flowers, aisle runners, string lights, and gold lanterns all DIY’d
- Invitations made on Word, printed at FedEx
- Guest book made on Shutterfly.
Yay Hooray! So glad we got married and invited you to be there!