How long have you been together, and how did you meet?
We have been together since the summer of 2021, got engaged on August 28th, 2021, and then married on October 14th, 2023! We met at a summer camp in 2017 but timelines did not align until we both went back to camp in 2021 and have been inseparable since!
Tell us about the proposal.
One night Annie and I were staying over at my apartment, we had stayed up until like 3 am because Annie was going back to Louisiana for school. I had always heard from Annie that she just always wanted someone to choose her and always choose, and I knew that person could be me because finding Annie was like finding my missing puzzle piece. So while we were getting ready for bed I popped the question and she said yes! We then proceeded to make a video for our future kids to watch and bake some cookies!
Any stories from the lead-up to the wedding, stressful or funny?
Oh my, there is so many, but one very stressful event was our original photographer we had booked more than a year in advance, and canceled about 20 days out from the wedding due to a family emergency. So we rushed to Facebook and websites telling that story, we researched so many in like 4 days when we got a message from Adriana saying to set up a Zoom call to talk over things and see if we would be a good match. Adriana fit and did way more for us than we could ever ask for, she fit our stylistic needs as well as making everyone feel so comfortable with their pictures, could not have asked for a more perfect photographer!
What led you to the venue? Have you been there before?
The venue ended up being a historic house in Tucson that stumbled across us after we had semi-decided we should just elope due to the high costs of most venues. We had never been there before but downtown Tucson has some of the most gorgeous homes and The Wright House was an Airbnb that we stumbled across when looking for a Bach party house. I sent the house to Annie in all caps “I THINK WE FOUND THE VENUE” The host Maya is working on making the house a wedding venue but at that time it was just an Airbnb but we fit her requirements after meeting with her and we were able to have the wedding there!
What was the inspiration behind the vibe of your wedding and why did you go with that?
Intimate, warm, boho vibes. We went with intimate because we knew we didn’t want people at the wedding who wouldn’t be there for our marriage. And we both just love boho warm color aesthetics and thought it would look and fit both of our personalities.
Did you undertake any DIY projects for the big day? If yes, what were they?
We did a lot of DIY because we did not hire anyone to help plan the wedding. Our wedding party and close family and friends helped make the bouquets, and the cake, set up the tables, the archway that we stood under, the charcuterie boards and all the food, the guestbook, ring warming/intention table. We all stayed up all day until like 1 am the day before the wedding setting up the whole venue.
Talk to us about your experience finding the perfect outfits.
Well, I went with Annie to look for her wedding dress, she had tried a bunch on and was not super in love with any of them. Her best friend Reilly and her mom were there, and we were looking through a magazine when I saw a dress I thought Annie would love, and David Bridal had one in stock. Annie tried it on and instantly fell in love!
My journey took about 6 months, because I just couldn’t find pants I loved. I found the jacket months in advance, but the pants I found about 10 days before the day and was able to get them tailored just in time!
We went with White and Black for us because our wedding party were all in fun earth tones and we wanted it to be obvious who was getting married because everyone looked great!
Talk to us about the big day! We want all the details.
The night before Annie and I slept apart, but we wanted to have a private breakfast together at our favorite local place to set intentions and allow us to have some special time together before everyone started showing up. When we got back to the venue it was time to get ready, there were a few complications, but they all got handled because we had the best wedding party and everyone was able to get dressed. Emotions were high but no tears we wept yet. As the day went on everyone was full of smiles, and vibes were high.
Fast forward we were suddenly being lined up, Ozzie (Annie’s sister) was the officiant and corralled everyone to their seats. My older sister Alyssa walked me down the aisle, I got to my standing spot and just had the most butterflies in my stomach as everyone walked down the aisle. And then boom Simply the Best starts playing and Annie and her dad start walking down the aisle, there was not a dry eye anywhere, she looked absolutely amazing, an actual goddess walking down the aisle and I got to MARRY HER! Ozzie wrote her own script curated to fit the vibe of the wedding and she did an absolutely amazing job at being the officiant. I don’t think Annie and I took our eyes off of each other the whole time we were up there, just absolutely in love and getting married. We exchanged vows, which were so sweet, kissed, and then the wedding party and us walked into the house. Everyone was so happy, crying, and hugging each other as one big family united by this love.
Cocktail hour begins and we go off with the Photographer to take pictures, now neither of us is very comfortable with pictures but Adriana made us feel so comfortable so we got to just enjoy being married and being physical while getting our pictures taken and now we have some of the most beautiful pics of us!
After the pics, it was time to grub and then hear some speeches from our favorite people! We had our first dance to Hozier’s Work Song which has always been one of our favorite songs, where we performed a dip that was immaculate day of but during practice, I did accidentally drop Annie hehe. We wanted to surprise Annie’s parents with their first dance because they had never had one, so after our dance we asked them to the floor where they got their first dance, it was so cute!
Then it was time for cake! On top of being the officiant Ozzie was also our cake maker where she made exactly what we asked for which was a naked Oreo cake that was delicious! I had some secret mission buddies help me set up roses in the suite upstairs during this time, where they made a heart on the bed and some tealight candles leading into the suite. Then we danced, everyone, smiling, jokes, hugs, kisses, sweet dance circles, you could reach your hand out and feel the love and joy everyone was oozing. As the night started to come to our 10 pm quiet zone, everyone set off for the sparkler send off, Annie and I laid on the grass looking at the stars where she ate like 5 doughnuts as we giggled and talked about our favorite moments, just a sweet moment of nothingness with my favorite person. Then we walked through some sparklers onto a party bus, because Annie needed to go to In n Out in her dress and I in my suit! The whole wedding party came with and we celebrated some more on the way there, we ate some much-needed food with everyone, to get back on the party bus to go and celebrate downtown and dance some more with everyone. Oh man it was a day to remember, and I am so happy we were able to have a smaller wedding with people who were there to celebrate our love and just can’t thank everyone enough for all the effort they put in to make it perfect.
Did you incorporate any family or religious traditions into the day, if yes, what were they?
Annie surprised me during the ceremony with a camp tradition, it’s a program both of us are a part of along with some in the wedding party where you set goals and strive to complete those goals to move up in rag colors and set new goals. And there is a creed that you say after each ceremony that you are a part of and it’s repeat after me style after each line;
“ I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be friend to all – the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.”
I had no idea this was in there, but it was perfect and was powerful because we are just summer camp counselors at heart and that creed means so much to both of us.
What does marriage mean to you?
Marriage to us means never being alone, you always have someone in your corner, who chooses you indefinitely. It means you never have to sleep alone, or eat delicious food alone, or clean the house alone. It means you get to experience some of the most precious love, hearts fully open to one another, walls down and vulnerable. Your decisions forever revolve around us and not I. Marriage is sweet and should be treated as such.
Advice for other couples planning a wedding?
Take your time, a longer engagement is worth it to plan a beautiful lifelong event into one day, delegate tasks that each other is to get done, remember it truly is your day and you only get one life so be picky with everything, and really none of the decorations or setting will matter because once you see your person in that aisle all of it fades away anyways!
Recommended Vendor
Photography by Adriana Maya Photography
Accessories Davids Bridal
Rings Kay Jewelers, Macy’s & Etsy
Signage Etsy
Stationery The Knot
Suit & Tie Designer Dillards
Venue The Wright House
