Tuscan Fall Inspired Outdoor Wedding in Phoenix

What’s your love story? How did you originally meet and fall in love?

Our love story originated from online dating…Cameron an I matched through an app, Coffee Meets Bagels. However, Danielle’s skepticism caused her to delete the app and we wouldn’t reconnect until seven months later on Facebook, after we had added each other. Some time in March Danielle had noticed Cameron liking all of her posts and photos and thought he was cute but honestly couldn’t remember where she knew him from, so she messaged him and asked! Sure enough they had matched on CMB and after we got through what Danielle thinks is embarrassing for forgetting, he asked her out for coffee (but no bagels). Since then we have bonded over our love for all breakfast foods- coffee and yes bagels :) There’s really no other way to describe how well we go together. We just make sense. A year and a half later we are married and loving every minute of it! Marriage is such a gift!

How did your proposal go (if there was one)?

Danielle was on a work retreat in Flagstaff at the same time Cameron’s childhood camp was hosting their camp at NAU. In years past Cameron has always helped so the timing was really perfect. Also at the same time, Cameron’s nephews were a week away from being officially adopted so the family wanted to take adoption photos at a park- so she would meet up with them after. Sure enough, at the end of my retreat her team stopped at the same park, Buffalo Park, for breakfast and team building. Cameron arrives and Danielle’s team leaves as she change and we wait for his family. We are getting texts that they’re on their way there so we end up walking around trying to find a spot for these family photos. Danielle had seen this beautiful field with flowers earlier during our team building so she lead Cameron (to the same spot he wanted to propose), however, it started to rain. Yes, with great concern for her white dress, we ran under a tree and she told Cameron we needed to wait in the car for his family and for the rain to stop. He was hesitant because he knew his family was never coming- they were on their way down the mountain getting ready for the engagement party. With her stubbornness and his panic, Cameron got on one knee while our sneaky photographers captured the moment. They were so good at pretending to be tourists. Although it wasn’t where he planned and we wasn’t accounting for the rain, it was our day and it was perfect.

What was important to you about your wedding – what were your priorities from the beginning?

We wanted our wedding to be an example of the Gospel and Christ’s love for His church. And we wanted our wedding to be us. When people looked at the decoration, the venue, the songs, we wanted to it to be Danielle and Cameron.

What was your wedding inspiration? How would you describe the overall theme/decor/feel of the day?

Our inspiration was a romantic, Tuscan, fall day. Our wine colors, hanging lights, stone pizza oven, wood and gold accents, and florals accomplished our vision for that day.

What were your wedding colors?

Shades of wine

What made your venue “the one?”

The Farm at South Mountain was the second venue we looked at after looking at one that was too “farm” like. After our first venue tour, we drove to the Farm and just stood outside their gate because it was closed. We looked at each other with the hanging lights in between the trees and the sunset in the back and it just felt right. We both had the same vision of that day and the Farm captured it.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

There were too many… but if we have to pick a couple our favorites were of me walking down the aisle, communion where our bridesmaid and groomsman sang, our vows, and of course the big kiss!

What song did you walk down the aisle to?

Of Crows and Crowns by Dustin Kensrue

What were the highlights of the reception?

We loved the toasts that our maid of honor and best man gave- we love them! Our first dance was so special and just going around and seeing everyone was so much fun. We loved having our favorite people all in one place!

What song played for your first dance?

Fires by David Ramirez

What made the day special and personal to you? (Things you included, unusual elements, things others made or did for you, etc)

We had a first look where Danielle gave Cameron prayers she had written and letters she had been writing to her future husband since high school. She had read the first entry and that moment was more than she could’ve imagined. She had been envisioning that moment since she was little. It was wonderful. Cameron’s dad had also officiated our wedding which was so special. Having our family be a part of something like this makes it that much more memorable. Communion was an important part of ceremony as we wanted to put Christ not only at the center of our marriage but as the first thing we did as husband and wife. And since we met through Coffee Meets Bagels, what better way to show that through our “coffee hour” by Adopted Coffee (which was incredible) and a donut wall by Daily Donuts! We also had a stone pizza oven that allowed us to serve PIZZA at our wedding. Heck yes. Everyone do this- it was amazing. We felt like those things really represented us well and felt that everyone saw us in each detail. It was perfect.

Any specific DIY projects that you did that you’d like to share?

Danielle printed and designed all of our stationary. It was definitely cost effective.

What was your favorite part of the day?

All of it.

What was your biggest surprise on your wedding day?

The morning Danielle woke up, Cameron gave her sister a video and letter to show Danielle when she woke up. The video showed all of our families sharing why they loved Danielle and you could say she cried the whole time. It was so sweet and she had no idea he was planning this.

What advice would you give other couples planning their day?

Your day will be perfect because it’s YOUR day. Even with some of the whoops and oops on your wedding day, at the end of it you are getting married and that is the best part! Don’t get caught up in the details that day. No one will remember the color of your napkins but they will remember that you both love each other and have committed to that!