Congratulations on taking the first step down the aisle towards a lifetime of memories with your special someone! If you’re looking for an unforgettable wedding experience, we’ve got just the thing: a warm and fun boho-inspired celebration. Today’s couple didn’t have any worries about trying to find that perfect balance between elegance and entertainment – they wanted a wedding that would have their friends talking for weeks (or maybe even years!) afterwards. From decorations to delicious drinks, check out how they hosted a fabulous boho wedding everyone loved!
From the couple: Our wedding was amazing. It was everything I could have imagined, and our venue made everything SO easy for us. I wanted very neutral colors and timeless decor, but also wanted a party for our guests! The venue we picked (Tre Bella in Mesa, AZ) was basically an all inclusive venue; they had tables, chairs, linens, a DJ, food & an open bar, ceremony arches, place settings, and even supplied the photo booth.
Our main goal of the wedding was to utilize family friends or small businesses as much as possible for services the venue didn’t provide, and create a day that anyone can look back on in 5 or 10 or 15 years and still find it beautiful and a great memory.
How did you meet?
My husband and I first met in Spanish class in high school. He sat behind me and flirted and teased me all semester. We officially started dating our senior year of high school and have been inseparable since. We have survived long-distance, working opposite hours, crazy schedules through college and Master’s school, and been by each others’ side for every second.
What is your proposal story?
We were living on Oahu at the time, and my now-husband went on a “work trip” to Maui in early December 2020. It was the most stressful week for me ever; our car got towed, the apartment was having maintenance issues, and it was a bad week at work. He finally came home and I was livid he left me during a terrible week, but little did I know the “work trip” was his proposal-planning trip. He got my ring when we went home for Christmas, and also asked for my parents’ blessing then without me knowing. We went back to Maui to see some friends and on January 9, 2021, he asked me to marry him overlooking the ocean with whales, waves, and beauty surrounding us. My best friend was there to capture the moment and it could not have been a better surprise.
Tell us about your attire choices.
I had NO idea what kind of dress I wanted – I had watched say yes to the dress growing up but was so overwhelmed when I actually went dress shopping. The second bridal salon we went to (Brilliant Bridal in Mesa, AZ) was absolutely amazing: my mom, mother in law, and I were the only ones there and I ended up finding my dream dress. It has a beautiful lace body with some sheer around the bodice, a low back, and a gorgeous lace train. My dress consultant said “it sparkles like your ring!” and we all knew it was my dress. I also loved my Wifey hair clip!
My husband wanted a blue suit, so we found him one and the groomsmen wore blue pants to match. The groomsmen also had champagne ties that matched the bridesmaids’ champagne dresses. I wanted the girls to all be able to pick their own dresses, and they all looked so beautiful next to me as their own individual selves in flattering gowns.
What was the most important to the two of you while planning?
The most important aspect to me was the photos and my dress – and I am so blessed that we found Emma on instagram. She was so amazing to work with the day of and our photos ended up absolutely perfect. She captured every aspect of the day so wonderfully. Our videographer was also incredible (and a friend), and we cherish those memories we will have forever.
My husband was fully against a first look, so our first look was me walking down the aisle. We also chose not to write our own vows and gave each other letters and a gift to open while we were getting ready instead.
We saved on florals – I got a real bouquet and we got corsages and boutonnieres, but the bridesmaids had fake bouquets from Etsy and they matched my bouquet perfectly. We also saved on desserts by using a family friend who ended up being an amazing baker!
What were your favorite parts of the day?
I loved every moment. My hair and makeup team were so fun to get ready with, and made us all feel amazing. I absolutely loved our venue and the girls who worked there, they kept everything on track and set all my decor up exactly how I visioned it. We had cornhole and jenga outside, which was so fun to play with our guests.
If I had to pick one moment, my husband and I did a final dance where everyone went outside for the grand exit and we danced by ourselves, and it was an absolute perfect way to end the night. I feel like that song is more “our song” than our first dance song.
Tell us about your wedding flowers.
My bouquet was absolutely gorgeous. It had neutral toned flowers, greenery, was a perfect size, and ended up matching my girls’ bouquets and dresses. I found a store on Etsy that preserves flowers into resin coasters, and so I have them to cherish forever.
What did you do for favors?
For favors we had a family friend make hot chocolate balls that melted in warm water or milk, and said “thank you a choco-lot for your love and support”
I didn’t feel the need to get favors that were expensive and wasteful because most people end up forgetting them or never using them, so we wanted something that fit with the winter season and was useful.
Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.
My favorite personal detail was our personalized Moscow Mule mugs on our table. They were engraved to say Blake & Madi with our wedding date on them, and our personalized drinks for the night were the Monty Mule and Manhattan. I have the mugs on display in our house and definitely one of my favorite keep sakes from the wedding. We also had our cats on our cake topper since we couldn’t have them there with us for the day.
Did you include any family heirlooms or special traditions?
We had my husband’s uncle say a prayer over us during the ceremony, where he handed each of us a Saint Joseph necklace to watch over us and our marriage. It was incredibly special and meaningful for all of us.
Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now?
Tackle the things you can’t live without first! If you have a certain date in mind, you may have to be flexible with vendors; if you have certain vendors in mind, you may have to keep certain dates open. Little details cause more stress and are rarely noticed, so don’t go overboard for a trendy Instagrammable wedding; do what YOU want and what you love!
Give family members small tasks that make them feel useful but that you know they can’t mess up. Picking up things from vendors, addressing envelopes, messaging family members to RSVP.
Lastly – I used a wedding planning app (the Knot) which made my life so much easier during wedding planning! Dare I say I actually really enjoyed wedding planning??
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