Nicole & Kevin’s Timeless Rustic Wedding

Nicole and Kevin’s romance started with a drive-in movie. Nicole got a sitter to watch her daughter while they went out, and the first movie went over so well, they were able to stay for the second. Kevin was planning on a grand proposal, but each step of the way, his plans were foiled. Finally, while they were having a meaningless argument, he stopped mid sentence to fetch the ring. He told her she was difficult, but he didn’t want to be with anyone else.

On the 19th of November, 2017, Nicole and Kevin tied the knot. They chose The Whispering Tree in Laveen, Arizona as their venue because it offered a package that fit within their $9,000 budget. Nicole never had a specific wedding “look” in her head, so she used the venue to inspire the feel. She DIY’d everything she could and was gifted many of their items, including paper flowers for all the bouquets and boutonnieres. While it took days of labor hours, it was a cost effective labor of love.

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For their tables, they used gold sequin table runners from the venue and topped them with burgundy colored ones that she made herself. The venue was rustic, so they decided to keep the edges raw. The venue had sliced wood they were able to use as part of the center pieces, and Nicole added glitter wine bottles filled with fairy lights to pair with them. They used photos of each other at matching ages as their table numbers and markers. Their only worry was that mosquitos would eat their guests, so they used heart shaped candle holders with citronella candles on each table. Using simple and clean decor, Nicole’s mother and aunt were able to set up an hour before the ceremony.

In front of 55 guests, Nicole walked down the aisle in a lace a-line dress with off the shoulder sleeves from David’s bridal.

She advises brides, “don’t settle on a dress just ’cause it looks nice… Try on all styles before settling on a style. Don’t worry about hiding all your insecurities, ’cause day of you truly don’t think about them.”

She found out she was pregnant two months after accepting Kevin’s proposal. Wedding dress shopping was tough, but by being flexible and having an open mind, she was able to find a dress looked incredible.

For the reception, there were plenty of activities and dancing for their guests to take part in. They had an adorable wooden photobooth, set up lemonade stand style. They used copper keys with tags for guests to write advice for the couple, giving them the key to a successful marriage. Their kids danced playfully with their family members, hand in hand. The couple played a trivia game so their guests could learn about them as a couple and have some laughs. The whole evening was a celebration of love and family.

Kevin enjoyed the food most, but Nicole’s favorite part was when the whole day was over. “Just having this feeling of contentment with him,” she explained. “There’s parts I love about the wedding itself, but just laying with him and being able to call him my husband gave me an amazing feeling.” Her guests raved about the venue and how laid back the day was, with a focus on close family and friends. At the end of the day, the couple had a beautiful wedding to start a harmonious marriage.