Bright Shades of Fuchsia and Blue Wowed at This Camelback Inn Wedding in Paradise Valley, Arizona

Elizabeth and Eric settled on the iconic Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley, Arizona, for their wedding because, according to Elizabeth, "anyone who has ever visited the property can acknowledge its breathtaking grounds, not to mention its friendly staff, and renowned spa. However, our love for the venue extends well beyond aesthetics and reputation. Ever since my parents were married there in 1987, my family, native to Phoenix, has celebrated every special occasion at one of its bars or restaurants. Luckily, Eric developed his own appreciation of the resort when he first visited it on one of our many trips from New York City, where we currently reside. Naturally, it was the obvious choice of venue for our wedding when we got engaged in February of 2020."

Although COVID meant that Elizabeth and Eric were faced with unprecedented challenges while planning their wedding, the silver lining for the couple was that the pandemic brought clarity to each decision they made, ultimately resulting in a special and meaningful event. "Wedding planning during the onset of the COVID era wasn’t always easy, but with the help of the most incredible vendor team, the pandemic actually brought light to the elements that mattered most to us and inspired many of the day’s details," explains Elizabeth. "When planning our wedding day, we wanted our guests to feel comfortable, relaxed and festive. Most of our guests were visiting Arizona for the weekend, many for the first time, and we wanted the details to highlight the unique Arizona landscape while complementing our perky personalities and energetic love for each other. Our wedding planner helped us curate the vision of a warm, inviting space with pops of color to enhance the natural beauty and authenticity of the desert terrain at the Camelback Inn. To give our guests the full seasonal Scottsdale experience, we planned a weekend’s worth of outdoor events including a golf scramble, cabana pool party, fiesta-themed welcome dinner at Schmooze’s restaurant patio in Old Town, and sunrise yoga on the ceremony lawn on the morning of the wedding."

Since it was paramount to Elizabeth and Eric that Arizona be on full display throughout their wedding, they made sure that all their floral arrangements complemented the area, instead of competing with the surrounding region. "We wanted our florals to complement the desert landscape and warm climate," says Elizabeth. "Bougainvillea is a flower that reminds me of childhood, growing up in Arizona, and we wanted to use that vivid pop of pink to bring warmth and joy to the space. Not to mention, if you know the Camelback Inn, it has no shortage of bright colored flowers so our signature flower was a perfect choice."

Though each event of the couple's Arizona wedding weekend was memorable, their ceremony was a special highlight as the "ceremony took place on the very lawn where my mother and late-father were wed 34 years prior," shares Elizabeth. "Eric and I exchanged heartfelt vows and rings that once belonged to both of our fathers, in the presence of 180 of our loved ones and immediate family standing at our sides." Even before the wedding ceremony, the couple's day was packed with intimate, heartfelt moments. "We invited our closest friends and immediate family to gather privately before the ceremony for our Ketubah signing," recalls Elizabeth. "We both recognize now how special it was to have our most inner circle together, saying encouraging words in support of our marriage before we walked down the aisle and made it official." And the memorable moments didn't stop there—the couple's reception was also packed with love and emotion. "Liza’s brother, Michael, surprised us and performed 'Brown Eyed Girl,' by Van Morrison, with the band, a particularly special song Lizashared with her late father, who passed away in 2012," explains Eric. "Later in the evening, my brother-in-law Jesse performed an original song of his own about us as a couple. Both were such special, personal moments that we will cherish forever."