Did you do any DIY Projects or create any handmade items for your wedding?
The flowers on the arch were put together by my maid of honor. We purchased flowers from a local craft store and arranged them in a way that matched the wedding theme and stood out against the beige desert backdrop.
What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
Instead of hiring someone to manage the music, we created a wedding playlist using Amazon Music! We chose songs that reminded us of each other. The songs played over a Bluetooth speaker throughout the reception.
For walking down the aisle, we played an instrumental rendition of the song “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It’s a beautiful song and one that we both liked!
I worked closely with the officiant to create vows that reflected who we are. After the vows, before we kissed, we did our “secret” handshake. It was our little surprise for everyone and something that meant a lot to us.
Our wedding location was personal, as well. We visited Joshua Tree three years prior and fell in love with the atmosphere. It was a special place for us. We chose a destination wedding in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree so it would feel special to us, as well as a fun trip for our guests.
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
The most memorable moment of our day was during the first dance (we both agree). We danced to the Twenty One Pilots version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley! The T.O.P. version was special to us for a very long time; it was the song that when we heard it, we immediately felt connected and loved. I was nervous about the dance because I felt anxious knowing everyone was watching us. Tim looked at me, smiled, and said, “Just look at me and focus on me.” He made me smile and laugh, and it truly felt like only the two of us existed! It was magical. I had known for nine years that he was the one, but that moment really solidified it.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
The biggest thing we did to save money was having the ceremony and reception at the house in which we were staying. Instead of paying for extra venues, we chose a rental house that had a great backyard. With permission, we were able to have the entire event in one beautiful and comfortable place. It was essentially three birds, one stone!
What was your biggest splurge?
Our biggest splurge was the photographer. Even though the rental house was the most expensive, it doubled as our ceremony and reception venue, so that cost was actually less than what it could have been! I always knew I wanted to spend the most on the photographer because pictures last a lifetime. It’s true that the day goes quickly, and it’s nice to look back at the pictures. Alycia from Fig + Willow Studios was the perfect photographer, truly! She and I got along really well, and her style of photography is exactly what I was looking for. She exceeded my expectations and was well worth the cost.
What were your favorite details?
My favorite detail was having a Zoom meeting set up on the computer so that family and friends who couldn’t attend could watch the ceremony and reception in real-time. My husband’s mother had a double lung transplant and unfortunately couldn’t attend. With it being a destination wedding, on the other side of the country, during COVID times, very few people attended. We wanted it to be small regardless, but we were incredibly happy to keep the Zoom meeting going throughout the day so that our most loved and cherished people could “attend.” It was really special.
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
My best advice would be to plan out a schedule for the day of the wedding! Our wedding was extremely laid back. It was wonderful, but we later realized we didn’t do things like first reveals, toasts, and other small things that would be meaningful to us afterward.
Another big piece of advice is to take time for the two of you during and after the event. There were people that we wanted to spend time with (especially since we hadn’t seen these people in months, if not years), and we ended up spending a lot of time apart. We stayed in the rental house with friends and spent our time after the event hanging out with them, not giving us enough time for just the two of us. I think having those moments with each other is crucial and special. If I were to change anything about that day, it would be not taking time for the two of us!
Share any additional details you’d like us to know about your event:
Our event was a destination wedding. It was in Yucca Valley, CA and we live in Las Vegas, NV. We had a taco truck for the “reception” dinner, and the caterer was really cool. Our officiant was Sheri, she was incredibly affable and energetic. Every single person involved with our wedding was awesome and got along with everyone really well.
I just want to note that the cake company is no longer in business due to the relocation of the owner.
