I love this picture- arches make good photos!

Katie’s sister-in-law did the floral for the wedding and I have to say, she did a great job!

The pink and aqua were carried throughout the day, even with the fun sweets

The live photobooth, filled with fun props, was a hit

KG: What is your favorite memory from the day?

K/B: My favorite memory of the wedding had to be our first meeting.  Our photographers took us to the chef’s garden and I was able to see Brandon for the first time.  I was able to be emotional/cry and just be the two of us.  It was an amazing and peaceful experience after all of the stress of planning the wedding.  Our focus could be on each other before heading down the aisle and we could then focus on our guests at the reception.

Katie and Brandon’s Tucson Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Westward Look Resort

Photographer: Something Blue Photography

Bridal Gown Store: I Do I Do Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo

Suits: Jos A. Bank

Florist: Erin Montez, family member

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Cake: Ambrosia of Tucson

Band: Cactus Road Band

Ceremony Musicians: Christine Vivona

Linens: CV Linens

Make-up Artist: MAC Cosmetics

Hair Stylist: Ric Erickson

I am totally loving the paper flower bouquets from Desicra, an Etsy shop that specializes is paper flowers

Lodge on the Desert offers indoor and outdoor space that is Tucson through and through. It’s a boutique hotel so you get personal service and an intimate atmosphere where there are mountain views coupled with close proximity to the city.

Lucy and Casey opted for cookies and cupcakes for their wedding sweets- love this personal touch!

KG: Now that you have had a chance to settle in, what is your favorite thing about being married?

L/C: We lived together before we got married so that greatly affects our response. For me (Casey), I especially relish the historical perspective that Lucy has now joined my family. When I think of telling stories to our grandchildren 30-40 years from now, when I think how future generations will remember us and pass down our little slice of history, I really do love that Lucy is my better half, not just for the rest of my life, but for history. For me (Lucy), the symbols of marriage are the best parts. Everything from changing my last name, to being part of his family, and of course catching glimpses of my wedding ring, all remind me that I have a partner in life who adores me.

KG: Tell us about your Honeymoon

L/C: We actually just returned from our honeymoon to St. Lucia. A wonderful vacation that was much needed after a very stressful semester working on my Ph.D. We chose St. Lucia because it had the beaches and snorkeling, but also the impressive natural scenery that made it unlike any other place. Living in a cold climate (Pennsylvania), a vacation to the beach in December is always perfect. The one piece of advice we would recommend is to consider delaying your honeymoon until a few months after the wedding. We found that this allowed us to have something to look forward to and created two wonderful and different moments of our first year of marriage.

KG: What advice do you have for brides-to- be?

L/C: First, at some point during the reception, find your new husband and get away to a corner for five minutes, just the two of you. Take it all in, watch your friends and family celebrate, capture the moment. It truly goes by so quickly that you want to be able to have that little respite alone with your husband. Second, and this is very difficult to actually follow, but keep in mind that all the planning and details etc. are attempting to make reality what is in your head. Nothing is perfect and your wedding/reception probably won’t be either. But that does not mean it won’t be fabulous. If something isn’t just right, only you will know, the guests will think that is the way things should be. You are not being judged, you are being celebrated so don’t sweat the small stuff. Cliche, but true.

KG: Did anything about your wedding day surprise you?

L/C: What surprised us is how fast things seemed to go. We spent almost a year planning our wedding, flying to Tucson to find the ideal setting, menu tasting, dress fitting, everything…and in the span of one day, it was over. It was perfect, it will be one of the happiest moments of our lives, but it was very, very sad when everybody started to fly home and we were left thinking the celebration is over. Sad, but sweet.

KG: What was your favorite thing about the day?

L/C: My favorite thing (Casey) was seeing Lucy. She is beautiful, even when she is sick and coughing in bed, but that first glimpse of her in her dress, her hair made up, her smile and the way her eyes lit up…that will stay with me the rest of my life. Every guy should be so lucky.

Final words of wisdom from the Bride and Groom: create a wedding that fits you, don’t create an elaborate show simply because it is what you think people expect. Friends and family know your personality, make your wedding fit your personality. Have fun, make it a celebration.

I think Lucy and Casey are off to a great start! Congratulations on your beautiful life together and thank you for sharing your wedding day with us!

Lucy and Casey’s Real Tucson Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Arizona Event Management

Ceremony and Reception Site: Lodge on the Desert

Photographer: Willo Art

Bridal Gown Store: BCBG Max Azria

Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew

Tuxedos: J. Crew

Florist: Desicra, on Etsy (paper flowers)

Invitations: Love at First Invite

DJ: Snaptive

Ceremony Musicians: Jennifer SPAGS Spingola

Hair Stylist: Gadabout Salon Spas

Officiant: Rev. Stuart Taylor

Rentals and Linens: Arizona Party Rental

This was one of the first gowns from Gigi Bridal Boutique and it fit Jannina beautifully!

They’re pretty glam

Jannina explains how her mother-in-law made her reception gorgeous: Yamile is Miguel’s mother. She’s a wizard with flowers, decorations and party planning. We didn’t think twice about letting her take the reigns on the decorating front. I didn’t have any themes set in stone as to what I would like at the reception. I simply showed her pics of table settings and centerpeices that I thought were pretty and let her work her magic. The end result was beautiful! She stuck with the white and green theme and every centerpeice was different. She varied from high and low centerpieces and in my opinion kept the reception looking crisp, clean and perfect for a summer wedding.

One thing that so many couples grapple with is what to do for favors but Jannina and Miguel knew exactly what they wanted to do- they made a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in honor of Jannina’s mother who is suffering from the disease. The bride also added each guest’s name to the foundation’s contact list in the hopes that if one of them needs the resource someday, they will know where to go for help. This thoughtful touch is money well spent and your guests will appreciate it more than any box of jordan almonds.

KG: Now that you have had a chance to settle in, what is your favorite thing about being married?

J/M: We both agree that the most amazing thing about being married is that we’ve begun living the rest of our lives with our best friend. Every morning is the start of a new adventure with the person we love the most. Every night is peaceful rest in the arms of the person who loves us the most. It’s the greatest feeling. Knowing that our love and respect is mutual and reciprocated is motivation to keep striving to be a better version of ourselves.

Building our home is our big project. Slowly but surely, we’re making it our own and coming home everyday to something we’ve created for each other and ourselves is a dream come true.

KG: Tell us about your honeymoon

J/M: Initially, when we were deciding where to go for our honeymoon; we both agreed that we wanted to go to a beach (didn’t matter where). We wanted to go somewhere we could have options to go out for a night on the town or stay in for a romantic dinner. We chose Laguna Beach after Miguel’s Great-Aunt was kind enough to offer her beach house for us to stay in. We spent our time lazying around the pool, eating, and napping… a lot! We took the Ferry to Catalina Island and spent a few days there. We kayaked, hiked, and even zip-lined! It was a nice change from the laziness in Laguna. It was the best of both worlds and a week that we both didn’t want to end.

KG: What advice would you give to couples planning their wedding?

J/M: My advice for brides to be is to create a timeline. Every week have a project for the wedding that you have to accomplish. This way you’re not stressing out at the last minute to do everything that you forgot. Don’t sweat the small stuff… if something goes wrong at the wedding… laugh it off and enjoy your day. More often than not, you’re the only one who noticed. Lastly, have good music! Our DJ was awesome! He kept people on the dance floor all night! He did a great job of reading the crowd and playing music to their liking and was nice enough to honor a few “request” songs. DJ selection is a big portion of having a successful wedding.

Jannina and Miguel, CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Jannina and Miguel’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: Santa Cruz Parish

Reception Site: La Mariposa Resort

Photographer: Butterfield Photography, Maria

Bridal Gown Store: Gigi Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses: A Tailor and Tuxedo

Tuxedos: Top Hat Formal Wear

Florist: Yamile Lopez

Invitations: Jannina Catalan

Cake: Irma Corona

Entertainment: Mariachi San Juan

DJ: Robert Escalante

Make-up Artist: Stephanie Hernandez

Hair Stylist: Aholibama Ayala

Officiant: Father Thomas Reeves

Happy Planning from your Tucson Wedding Blog!

Kelly

This is a great shot of the Michael as he sees Michelle coming down the aisle

The pumpkin escort card are so cute…

Michelle and Michael’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: The Stillwell House and Garden

Photographer: Patrick Grimes Photography

Tuxedos: A Tailor Tuxedo and Bridal

Florist: In Full Bloom Weddings

Cake: Ambrosia of Tucson, Mini’s Cupcakes

Entertainment: Desert DJs

Make-up Artist and Hair Stylist: Ivan’s Studio

Rentals: Pro EM Party Concepts

Hotel Accomodations: The Westin La Paloma Resort

Rehearsal Dinner Site: Piazza Gavi’s

I love this picture!

Laura and Tyler chose the Stillwell House for its central location, urban atmosphere and the convenience of having their ceremony and reception in the same location. The maid of honor was the officiant for the ceremony which really personalized the service. The couple also asked guests to write notes of well wishes rather than sign a guest book.

I love the look on Laura’s face as she spies Tyler

Laura tells us about the decor for the reception: I have always loved the 1940s which emcompasses glamour and sophistication. For our centerpieces, I utilized my grandmother’s sheet music from the 1940s (her signature was visible on the music). Since she is no longer with us, it was a dedication to her memory and a nod to the times. The name of the songs represented on the sheet music were the table names for guests. I found vintage looking clocks at Pier One which were also incorporated into the wedding decor and centerpiences.

Look at the little guy behind Laura- so funny!

The humorous wedding trailer from Beyond Video:

Laura & Tyler’s Wedding Trailer at the Stillwell House & Garden from Beyond Video on Vimeo.

Laura and Tyler’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Stillwell House and Garden

Photographer: Travis Williams Photography

Videographer: Beyond Video

Bridal Gown Store: David’s Bridal

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Arizona Flower Market

Invitations: Celebrations Ink

Cake: Nadine’s Bakery

DJ: Windy City DJ

Hair Stylist and Make-up Artist: Gadabout Salon

Omri’s parents, who live in Israel, were not able to attend the ceremony so they recorded a message of blessing and congratulations  for the couple to listen to during the ceremony. It was one of the couple’s favorite moments of the day.

KG: What is your favorite memory from the day?

RM: My favorite memory of the wedding was after we were walking down from the alter, knowing that it was official. In Judaism, it is custom to spend a short period of time alone after the ceremony, right before filling out the legal documents, to “seal the deal.” Although that wasn’t the case with us, it was that alone time, when we looked into each other’s eyes, knowing we were married, that was one of the happiest moments in my life.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

RM: The smartest planning decision I made was having one of my bridesmaids learn how to alter my dress, my hair, and anything involved with my wardrobe. This came in handy so many times, during all of the dancing when I needed adjustments, and right before more photos.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

RM: Yes, we went on a honeymoon, to a lovely bed and breakfast called “Casa Sedona” in Sedona, Arizona. We went on a wine tour one day, a grand canyon tour another, and then one day to explore all of the art galleries and scenes in the beautiful city.

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you give brides-to-be?

RM: I would say that having only one person help you with planning is the best advice. I was lucky in having my mom as a wedding planner, but I have seen when brides have friends and family help, and it can get a bit chaotic with everyone’s opinions and what not. The only opinions that matter that day are your and your groom, and having one person you trust help you with planning will make things simple. And as far as the wedding goes, the planning takes for ever, but the wedding itself is over in a blink of an eye. So, enjoy every moment, every heartbeat of that special day, because before you know it, it will be just a wonderful memory.

KG: Tell us what you love best about being married!

RM: The best part I love about being married is the safety net. When we were dating and even engaged, we were never fully safe with each other, anything could have broken us apart, and it had once. But in Judaism, once two people become one in marriage, they are bound in a safety net, which shields their marriage from evil. And I really feel that way. I know every morning, my soulmate will be there waking up with me, and so on for the rest of our lives.

Congratulations Rachel and Omri and thank you for sharing your day with us!

Rachel and Omri’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: La Mariposa

Photographer: Ted Hewitt

Bridal Gown/Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Villa Feliz Flowers

Cake: Cakes by Koeppens

Invitations: Celebrations Ink

Entertainment: DJ-Revolution Entertainment

Ceremony Musicians: Tucson Strings Chamber Players

Make-up Artist/Hair Stylist: Gadabout

Officiant: Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz

I like that Amy and Scott chose to pledge their loyalty to each other among the colors that brought them together.

Amy’s flowers are so pretty!

I must find out what a  Blue Vodka Sprite is…

See how the couple remained true to their color scheme in the reception decor?  Lovely!

As a big proponent of video, I feel the need to share Amy and Scott’s video with you. You get a better sense of who they are when you get the big picture. Plus, the first kiss is great- Scott just keeps kissing Amy!

Scott & Amy from One17 Productions on Vimeo.

Amy and Scott shared some thoughts with me post-wedding:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

SG: There are a lot of great memories, especially finally seeing Amy walk down the long isle after over ten years of dating (she kept delaying, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it). One of the funnest moments though has to be the cake cutting. We got the best man & matron of honor to come in close for a picture after we cut the cake and we smashed cake into their faces instead of ours. Cameras were firing like we were walking the red carpet. I just remember being blinded by flashes, while my brother and her sister were being blinded by cake!

AL: It was by far the best day of my life so it’s hard to choose just one memory. I’d have to say one of my favorites was kissing my husband at the altar after they pronounced us “man & wife”. We kissed many times, over and over again. I remember being pretty ecstatic! I even had several people tell us afterwards that it was the best and most sincere first kiss (or kisses) they had ever seen at a wedding! I have to agree with Scott that another moment that was fun and one of the best of the night was smashing cake into the faces of the best man & matron of honor. We kept it a secret so no one was expecting it and there were a million camera flashes for it. We felt like we were famous.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

 AL: The smartest decision had to be choosing a reception place that included a lot within the price and all at one place, a kind of package deal. It made it so much easier and less stressful to have the catering, DJ, bartending, tables, chairs, linens, part of the centerpieces, etc all included.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

SG: We headed down to the northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica. We stayed at the Riu Guanacaste all-inclusive resort (which we highly recommend for the awesome pina coladas). We wanted something atypical; a little off the beaten path but still with some nice frills. Our honeymoon wasn’t the sitting on the beach the whole time type. It was full of zip lining, horseback riding, beach massages, searching for monkeys, and excursions to rivers, waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes. We met some great locals and apparently have a free place to stay next time we go back (and we will Muricio)!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be? 

AL: Make sure you take some time for yourself. It is impossible to please everyone, but do what you want and what makes you and your fiancé happy. Our family would have preferred for us to get married in Florida where they all live, but it was so much easier (and less expensive) for us to have it in Tucson. Make sure to take some time before the wedding to spend quality time with your friends and family that isn’t directly wedding related (I wish I would have done more of that). And most important of all….don’t sweat the small stuff! There are details that you will know are not there or are all wrong, but chances are you are the only one who will notice it so don’t let it stress you out. Make sure you have fun and relax on your wedding day, it goes by so fast!

KG: What do you love best about being married?

AL: Waking up next to my best friend everyday! I know that I always have Scott by my side loving me and supporting me no matter what. I can’t wait until we have children and start our family together!

Congratulations Amy and Scott- thank you for sharing your day with us!

Amy and Scott’s Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony Site: St Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church

Reception Site: Reflections at the Buttes

Photographer: Patrick Grimes Photography

Videographer: One-17 Productions

Bridal Gown Store: Angelique Bridal by Michelle

Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Inglis Florist

Cake: Busy B Bakery

Ceremony Musicians: Jeffrey Campbell

Make-up Artist: Ginger, Robert Markley Salon Spa

Hair Stylist: Dario, Robert Markley Salon Spa

Officiant: Rev. Blake Hutson

La Paloma-Tara & Chris’ preview from Stepheny Keith on Vimeo.

I think you’ll agree that Tara is completely GLOWING!

Tara wore these custom flip flops- she was definitely ready to dance that night!

I really love this picture; the quiet elegance is so beautiful. Tara says that her absolute favorite memory from the day was her first look with Chris. She explains: It helped with the jitters the both of us had and also allowed us more time for portraits.

The happy couple! Tara’s ivory dress is gorgeous and Chris is super handsome in his tux.

The stunning Santa Catalina Mountains provide a one-of-a-kind backdrop that is dramatic wedding perfection

I think photographer Spencer Beorup had a great time with these two!

The table numbers were images of Tara and Chris bobbleheads in locations that are important to the couple- pretty clever! They also provided each guest with a pin that was customized to the guest’s personality. How fun is that?

And the bobbleheads made an appearance on the wedding cake too!

Tara and Chris definitely know how to get down…

Tara and I talked wedding recently and here is what she had to say:

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

TW: Booking vendors super early! We had a photobooth at the reception with lots of props we had bought over the planning process that was a huge hit. Also we wrote our own vows which I really loved.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

TW: We went to San Diego because it was where Chris proposed, our favorite city in the US and I hate flying!

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be?

TW: Enjoy the planning process as much as possible even if it isn’t your thing-once it is over you will miss it! Try to keep in mind why you are planning this wedding-it is not all about the party-it is about the marriage itself! Make sure you let your vendors know exactly what you want-they cannot read your mind. Also make sure to take time on your wedding day to soak it all in-everyone is right when they say it is over in 1 blink of an eye! Also, print sticky labels with your contact info on them including your wedding date. Use them at bridal shows instead of having to write down the same info over and over again. And create an email address to use solely for the planning process. That way your main email account does not get overwhelmed with vendor emails. This helps immensely!!

KG: Tell us what you love most about being married!

TW: I just love know that I have someone who will always be here for me and I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!

Congratulations Tara and Chris- thank you for sharing your special day with us!

Tara and Chris’ Real Wedding Team:

Ceremony and Reception Site: Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa

Photographer: Spencer Boerup Photography

Bridal Gown Store: Brides by Demetrios

Bridesmaids Dresses: A Tailor Tuxedo and Bridal

Tuxedos: A Tailor Tuxedo and Bridal

Florist: Sauliz Floral Dezigns

Videographer: Black Sheep Filmworks

Cake: Village Bakehouse

DJ: I’m With the Dj

Make-up Artist: Couture Makeup by Katy Davis

Hair Stylist: Denise Stewart

Officiant: Cherisse Mills

Rentals: Tucson Party Rentals

Rehearsal Dinner Site:Blanco

In fact, I think that planning a wedding is like Marriage Bootcamp; both people want different things and they have to figure out a way to make each happy! Well, Darcy and Anthony made it through Marriage Bootcamp and the result is a gorgeous day that incorporated Anthony’s baseball past (he played baseball in college) and Darcy’s love of pretty things (you will see some classy and sparkly elements!).

Darcy tells us about the pre-wedding day fun:  The rehearsal required attendants to come dressed in their favorite baseball team’s attire. The groom, having played collegiate baseball, was able to convince the bride to incorporate baseball into as many aspects of the wedding as possible. This baseball theme was also exhibited at the rehearsal/welcome party which had the groom’s touch through and through. Guests were able to consume sliders, gourmet nachos, peanuts, gourmet hot dogs, and other assorted concession stand foods done by Blue House Catering. Additionally, a Photo Fun Booth was in place to allow guests to take pictures creating memories that were combined into a baseball themed photo album for the bride and groom. The next morning while the women prepared their hair and make-up at Gadabout Salon, the men took part in a “Home Run Derby” competition before readying themselves for the big event.

Here’s the lovely couple on the big day!

Baseball made an appearance in the most surprising ways:  From the organ’s “Charge” stadium cheer for the men’s entrance to the choreographed bridal party dance, every aspect of the ceremony reflected all that is Darcy and Anthony….elegant fun. St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church was chosen due to the bride’s family having attended services there for three generations. The ceremony featured songs by Keith Urban (Making Memories of Us) and Ingrid Michelson (The Way I Am) sung by close family and friends.

Darcy is such a beautiful bride, and Anthony is quite handsome…

The beautiful and scenic Skyline Country Club makes for great photo ops!

The colors, sparklies, candleabras, linens, flowers…all of it comes together so perfectly! And another fun element Darcy and Anthony planned was the grand entrance. Darcy explains: wanting to create a memorable dinner and reception, we had each wedding party member enter to a song clip which reflected the personality of the party member. The toasts, or roasts in this case, included the traditional sister poem.

Darcy and Anthony decided to forego the traditional wedding cake; they definitely embraced sugar though (like I ALWAYS say you should do) and served cupcakes, dessert shots and a baseball themed groom’s cake. See how they infused Anthony’s love of the game into the reception?

After a dramatic sparkler exit, the bride and groom retreated to The Westin La Paloma Resort for an after party at Azul Restaurant Lounge and their first night as Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Ortiz.

Here is the wedding video preview:

Skyline Country Club-Darcy & Anthony’s preview from Stepheny Keith on Vimeo.

I had a few post-wedding questions for the couple. Here’s the Q and A:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

D&A: Our favorite memory from our wedding was seeing all our friends and family come to Tucson to support us.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

D&A: The smartest planning decision we made was hiring a wedding planner. Anne Bryant was the best! A wedding planner can look over all the small details which gets you to focus on the big picture- marrying your best friend!

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

D&A: We went to Cancun after the wedding. We stayed at Sun Palace, an all inclusive, adults only resort. It was quite and peaceful but we did plenty of activities- scuba diving, zip lining, ATVing, snorkeling, boating and of course relaxing on the beach.

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be as far as planning

D&A: Our advice to brides to be is to just relax and soak it all in. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Smile and enjoy your day- it goes by so fast!

Darcy and Anthony’s Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Creative Events, LLC

Ceremony Site: St. Mark’s Presbyterian

Reception Site: Skyline Country Club

Bridal Gown Store: Mariee Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses: Priscilla of Boston

Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: Elaine Taylor Fine Flowers

Photographer: Something Blue Photography

Videographer: Black Sheep Filmworks

Invitations: A Fine Line Stationery and Gift Boutique

Caterer/Cake: Skyline Country Club

Entertainment: Corbin Dooley

Make-up Artist/Hair Stylist: Gadabout Salon

Officiant: John Daley

Rentals: Wildflower Linens

Transportation: Xtreme Limousine

Red is a traditional color for Indian weddings; it represents good luck. The preparation for the wedding day is hugely symbolic at Indian weddings and the henna details are divinely intricate. The jewelry should also be noted- I’m crediting Indian weddings with having the original “bling”! Roshni wore a traditional Gujarati saree in two different styles during the ceremony. Roshni wore her mother’s jewelry that was worn at her parents’ wedding in 1975. Andy wore an Indian sherwani.

Love this!

This was truly a celebration of cultural fusion. Roshni explains “We combined Hindu and Christian ceremonies into one, including traditions and vows from both cultures. This was something very important to our families. “  The ceremony, at the Westward Look, was held on the outdoor terrace.

I love how joyful Roshni and Andy are!

Following the ceremony, guests headed to cocktail hour then dinner in the Sonoran Ballroom. The dinner menu included a traditional Indian vegetarian option and a roasted chicken and vegetable option. Cake and Indian sweets were served for dessert.

Roshni’s rings are significant and she wanted to share a little bit about them with us: Andy had Krikawa Jewelers help design the engagement ring. I had certain criteria that I wanted, such as a low setting and 6 prongs. Lisa Krikawa worked with Andy to make the perfect engagement ring. We also got our wedding bands there in the mokume gane style; since my diamond is set low, they had to make a special notch in my wedding band so the rings would sit flush. I’ve had so many compliments on my wedding set that it makes me feel very special that our rings are one of a kind.

Of course I had to ask Roshni and Andy a few post-wedding questions. Roshni shares some really helpful and thoughtful insights with us:

KG: Now that you have had some time to reflect on your wedding, what is your favorite memory from the day?

RH: We actually have two favorite moments. One was during the ceremony. Part of the Hindu ceremony includes taking 7 steps once the vows have been recited, as your first steps as man and wife. We felt so proud to be walking together and we felt as if we were the only two people there. The second favorite moment was our first dance. We danced to Nora Jones’ “Come away with me”. This was very special to us as we had a long distance relationship for 2 years, and every time each of us left to go home, we wanted to take the other person with us.

KG: What was the smartest planning decision you made?

RH: HIRING ANNE BRYAN OF CREATIVE EVENTS!!!!! We knew from the moment Andy proposed that incorporating both cultures was going to be difficult. We had an idea in our head of how we wanted to conduct our ceremony, but we didn’t know how it would happen. Working with Anne we were able to create an interfaith ceremony that was conducted clearly in way that both families could understand. After our first meeting with Anne, I noticed how much better I felt just talking with her about all my ideas and what I knew I didn’t want and what we HAD to have, etc. She helped make our dream come true within the budget my father gave us.

KG: Did you go on a Honeymoon?

RH: We went to St. Lucia for our Honeymoon. We chose St. Lucia because neither one of us had been there before. We also had decided we wanted to go someplace tropical. We stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian resort and it was amazing, everything was included!!! I think that is the way to go. We paid up front and didn’t have to worry about carrying our wallets with us around the resort. We did also go ziplining and the resort makes it easy as they help you set up everything and you can charge your off- resort activities directly to your room.

KG: Now that your day has come and gone, what advice would you offer brides-to-be?

RH: I think one thing that really helped us was that we didn’t leave for our honeymoon the next day. We actually bummed around town for a couple of days to give us time to open presents/start thank you notes/and just kind of chill out and get things ready for the honeymoon. This way we were already relaxed and ready to enjoy the honeymoon instead of having the first few days of the trip spent decompressing. Also since we had a wedding planner it helped take a lot of stress away from the day. I knew that whatever we had planned was going to be taken care of. Also what really helped to avoid a lot of confusion for family pictures was to make a list ahead of time. We talked with both families for the pictures list – this way we were able to make sure all the family pictures were taken and we still had time for bride and groom pictures (since we did not see each other before the ceremony). In retrospect, I’m so glad that our photographer also did our engagement pictures. It helped us build a relationship with him so he knew which poses worked the best for us on our wedding day.

KG: Tell us what you love best about being married

RH: Being married is amazing! We love the fact we can call each other husband and wife.

I really enjoy learning about cultural traditions that are different from my own, don’t you? Roshni and Andy, Congratulations and Thank You!

Roshni and Andy’s Wedding Team:

Wedding Coordinator: Creative Events, LLC

Ceremony and Reception Site: Westward Look Resort

Bridal Gown Store: Frontier Heritage/Dreams Collection

Florist: Sauliz Floral Dezigns/ Nature’s Art Florist

Photographer: Chris Richards Photography

Invitations: Papyrus

Caterer: Westward Look Resort

Cake: The Indulgent Rose

Entertainment: HSN Entertainment

Make-up Artist/Hair Stylist: Gadabout Salon

Officiants: Mahesh Bhatt / Patrick Cunningham