Boho Elopement in the Desert

Winter is an amazing time for weddings in the Arizona and Southern California deserts. And nothing showcases the beauty (and yes, warmth) of the area then a collaboration among weddings professionals.

This winter Bohemian mountaintop styled shoot for Jordan and Benjamin at the Tanque Verde Ranch brought together the best of the best!

A Warm Desert Winter Wedding BoHo Style: Tucson, Arizona

Jordan and Benjamin are a real couple. These two had recently eloped, so they were delighted with the idea of doing something a little more elaborate for a photoshoot. So, they got together with their bridesmaids (Kayla, Crista, and Aleisa) and groomsmen (Clayton and John) for an epic Bohemian-styled shoot.

They couldn’t have asked for a better place for their styled shoot, either. Tucson, Arizona is a destination wedding location like no other—a warm desert winter wedding just waiting for adventurous couples to use. While the rest of the country shivers and snuggles under comforters to escape gray skies and sleet, it’s always sunny in the Sonoran desert, even in February.

What we lack in water, we make up for in oceans of blue sky. What others see as parched, we revere as sun-drenched earth covered in sage and saguaro. And when winter brings snow on the mountains, Tucson dances before the expansive mountain backdrops unlike anything you’ll see outside of the movies.

Sure, the horses will sometimes kick up dust clouds, but that dust glows golden and lights up the world as it catches the rays of the setting sun. And sure, we have more cacti than trees, but the trees we do grow for shade are evergreen. Even in the midst of the hot and dry, places like the Tanque Verde Ranch offer patches of lush green—and oasis that promises a rustic wedding without sacrificing sophistication. Why wouldn’t you want to get married here?

Creative Collaboration: A Bohemian Mountaintop Sunset Session

So, a group of talented Tucson wedding vendors came together for this style shoot to showcase why winter in Tucson is the perfect season for saying “I do.” With Boho glam and a pop of color in the rustic desert, the whole idea was to paint a picture of the perfect escape from the winter gloom and scream out to the world: Don’t you wish you were here?

The vendors that came together were nothing short of amazing. Brie Dumais brought in some darker accents on her paper products and incorporated feathers and bright pops of color to contrast with the pale pinks trending in Boho right now.

Heather and her team on hair and makeup really wanted to emphasize the natural, almost colorless beauty of Boho with long, just out of bed hair. Jordan looked stunning when the team was done!

Katie, the co-owner of J Bridal Boutique, was so generous with the dresses. She helped us to pick out something that not only worked with Jordan’s frame but also complemented the style of the session. I appreciated her expertise coming into play here. Jordan and the bridesmaids were certainly dressed to impress.

Alia Pierson, the Crumbs Cake artist, drew in some pops of color with delicate etchings on the cake itself. She may be known for her true talent at crafting icing flowers, but every bit of that cake was a masterpiece.

Mollee, of Peace and Mind Event Design, also built a beautiful cheese tray and put together a mix of eclectic glassware, table elements, and china, blending in bold reds that carried the vintage vibe through into everything that we saw around us.

Jenn and Akiko, of Soiree Girls, brought the Boho feeling to the forefront with a teepee topped with a desert skull, complete with rug and sage-burning elements for accents. Their bouquets also incorporated desert elements, along with the browns and greens of the magnolia leaf. (That’s right, even though the magnolia tree is known as a symbol of the Southeast, it thrives here in the Southwest, too!) With the teepee set up on top of the mountain at sunset, the whole scene was perfectly romantic and dramatic.

As the photographer, I was completely spoiled for amazing things to capture on film. From the location for (and idea behind) the teepee arch to the browns and the warm tones and the sunset that lit up the location, I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the shoot. I did my best to keep to the vintage and Bohemian tone while really utilizing the naturally-occurring desert elements, with a few pops of green here and there.

I’m truly grateful that I was able to be a part of this massive collaboration. The connection and the creative planning between all these amazing vendors not only gave them a chance to show off what Tucson weddings can be but also gave them the chance to shine in their own creative ways. There is a synergy, a tangible energy when creative minds come together. This is what Boho weddings can be.

Vendors

Styled Shoot at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch @tanqueverderanch https://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

Photography – Photography by Jacquelynn {Forever Afters} @forever_afters
https://jacquelynnbuck.com/everafters/

Planner & design concept – Mollee Fitzgerald: Peace of Mind Event Design @pomevents http://www.pomeventstucson.com/

Hair & Makeup – Heather Van Houten @hvhfaces (Sydnee Rivera @idreamofbaylayage) https://www.hvhartists.com/

Florals / Celebration Site – Soiree Girls @soireegirlsllc https://www.soireegirls.com/

Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses : J Bridal Boutique @jbridalboutique http://www.jbridalboutique.com/

Wedding Dress Design @wtoowatters / Bridesmaids Dresses @hayleypaigeoccasions https://www.jlmcouture.com/Hayley-Paige-Occasions
and Wtoo by Watters https://www.watters.com/wtoo/wtoo-brides/

Stationary – Brie Dumais Designs @briedumaisdesigns http://briedumaisdesigns.com/

Cake – Crumbs Cake Bakery @crumbscakeboutique http://www.crumbscakeboutique.com/

I look forward to styled shoots like this one, only next time showcasing some of my dream-areas like Temecula, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and allll the beaches of Southern California!