Shea and Luke visit Arizona from Canada every year. When it came time to make wedding plans the couple wanted something different. They had been attending a lot of weddings up in Vancouver and thought “Why not give our guests a unique experience?” Since Arizona was such a special place for them, they decided that Scottsdale would be the destination of choice for their wedding. They picked the new property operated by Hyatt, The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows. It would turn out to be a desert oasis for all 200 guests.
The resort itself is very exclusive. All one-story bungalows spread out on a tucked away piece of land with Camelback Mountain as the backdrop. Chef inspired cuisine, gorgeous pools with private cabanas, and of course a relaxing Spa. Guests were sure to get a full feel for the deserts’ beauty and serenity without even leaving the property.
Shea wanted her guests to experience the uniqueness of the Sonoran desert but with touches of the very popular bohemian trend to accent that. We spread this out over four days of events for all the travelers.
The first night everyone attended a Phoenix Cardinals game to jumpstart the trips’ activities. The second night was a Welcome Cocktail Party located at Old Town Gringos in Scottsdale’s lively bar district located only 2 miles from the hotel. Rehearsal dinner was held at one of the valley’s premier restaurants The Old Town Tortilla Factory. Guests were able to dine on in house made tortillas, southwest fare and sample tequilas on the beautiful bistro lit patio.
As for the big day we went all out! Ceremony was held outside with beautiful mountain views at sunset accented by birch, woven rugs, eucalyptus and protea. Guests then were escorted for cocktail hour by one of the private pools. Once reception was ready, everyone entered into a modern ballroom that had been transformed into desert boho chic! Long wooden farm tables melded with slate grey metal bistro chairs. The tables were adorned with desert flowers, succulents, and candlelight. Her beautiful macramé, birch wood arch was repositioned behind the head table so all the focus was on where the bride and groom was seated.
Hand torn and painted menus placed on each setting showed the Southwest menu prepared by the chef. Instead of the standard table numbers, Pine and Cactus, our stationer, hand painted cactus paddles as our table markers. And of course what wedding would be complete without favors? We provided personalized bottles of Fireball Whiskey to help keep the Canadian revelers dancing all night. Trust me though, Canadians can party and they don’t need whiskey to help!
Guests danced into the late hours from tunes spinning by Starz Entertainment. Later on we surprised them with a late night snack. We had one of the best local food trucks pull up alongside our outdoor patio, Dilla Libre. Gourmet Mexican quesadillas were had by all and with much excitement. Overall it was an immersive trip for everyone. Providing plenty of time for family to reunite, catch up and explore the impressive landscape of the Southwest.
Whether you are having a wedding locally or at a destination location, Stylish Events by Lisa can help you create not just a memorable day for you and your guests but an experience. So sit back and relax, we got this!
Venue: The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows
Florist: Butterfly Petals
Paper: Pine and Cactus
DJ: Starz Entertainment
Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Planning and Design: Stylish Events by Lisa
Photos: Christie Graham Photography