1. Real Weddings

Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden Wedding

Lauren and David met in business school, which was fortuitous since they now run a tutoring company together. When David was ready to propose, he took

Lauren and David met in business school, which was fortuitous since they now run a tutoring company together. When David was ready to propose, he took Lauren out for dinner on her birthday; then they went home, lit a fire, and David gave her a diamond-and-sapphire ring that has been in his family for several hundred years. The Bride Lauren Hoan Nguyen, 40, director of operations The Groom David Dodge, 41, CEO The Date March 28 The pair decided to wed in the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden to take full advantage of the desert landscapes surrounding it. As a Phoenix native, David knew the site would show the beauty of the surrounding desert during its most vibrant time of year -- spring.

For their reception tables, Lauren and David alternated yellow, purple, green, and orange tablecloths. Aside from a few lights and candles spread around the reception site, though, the pair let the natural beauty of their location speak for itself.
Lauren and David chose colors that would naturally complement the sprawling desert landscapes around their ceremony. In keeping with that idea, they had their three-tiered wedding cake embellished with green sugar pears and Sonoma orange rosebuds.
The couple danced their first on an outdoor patio bathed in romantic orange lighting.
Purple and yellow escort cards were pinned to fresh green pears for another nod to the natural surroundings.
For centerpieces, Lauren and David had tall glass vases of submerged green, purple, and orange orchids.
Each place was marked with a green pear pinned with a purple or yellow escort card.
Yellow, purple, and orange rose petals lined the ceremony aisle for Lauren and David’s outdoor wedding ceremony.
Lauren and David said “I do” under a large yellow canopy with the desert landscape as their backdrop.
For a fun twist on a dessert bar, Lauren and David had waiters pass out trays of fluffy pink cotton candy for guests to enjoy.