A Desert-Chic Elopement at the Sonoran Desert in Phoenix, Arizona

Always on the lookout for their next adventure, Sarah Gobe and John Davis knew a traditional wedding just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, the pair planned an intimate elopement in the Sonoran Desert set against a serene backdrop of cacti and colorful hot air balloons.

As a surprise, Sarah arranged for John’s twin brother to officiate the ceremony. “They have such a strong bond and both look forward to becoming pastors one day—it just seemed natural that he be there,” Sarah says.

For the décor, the fun-loving couple took cues from the locale. Bright, colorful florals and lush succulents popped against the desert landscape, and the single tier lavender ombré cake featured a custom-made “love is in the air” cake topper. And to top it all off, Sarah and John made their exit in a hot air balloon!

“My favorite part was how intimate everything was. Being alone together in the hot air balloon was amazing,” Sarah says. At night, the desert looked like it was on fire, and we couldn’t believe all the colors that were in the sky.”