1. Real Weddings

Rachel & Kirk: A Wedding at the Pointe Hilton in Phoenix, AZ

It all started with a virtual “wink.” Rachel joined Match.com soon after moving to Arizona from Indiana, and Kirk, originally from California, joined

It all started with a virtual “wink.” Rachel joined Match.com soon after moving to Arizona from Indiana, and Kirk, originally from California, joined too. They met for dinner a few days later and started dating. The Bride Rachel Izak, 26, reading interventionist The Groom Kirk Bauer, 32, sales engineer The Date March 22 When it came time to propose, Kirk rented a cabin in Flagstaff for a long weekend. The first morning they were there, Rachel woke up to breakfast, roses on the table, and a scavenger hunt. Kirk had planted clues around the cabin. The last clue told Rachel to turn around, and when she did, she saw Kirk bent down on one knee.

At first, Rachel had considered sending guests home with mini cacti as favors. Then she thought about how many guests would be travelling to the wedding and nixed the idea. Instead, she and Kirk ordered cacti-shaped cookies from a bakery they love in Rachel’s hometown.
The Pointe Hilton resort sits atop a mountain with a great view of the city. The ceremony took place on the patio, overlooking the valley below. The blooper moment of the day happened when Rachel’s veil blew off her head and landed on her mom’s face!
Rachel and Kirk ordered prickly pear cactus margaritas as their signature drink.
At the ceremony, pomanders (similar to the bridesmaid bouquets) hung from the last two ceremony chairs.
Once Rachel picked the fabric and color for the Lynn Lugo bridesmaid dresses, each girl chose the style that fit her best.
As part of the couple’s DIY plan, Rachel’s matron of honor made and assembled the programs using pink and green cardstock, ribbon, and personalized stickers.
The cocktail menu cards were DIY, and the couple used the same font and cactus motif from their invitations.
Rachel searched for the perfect cupcake stand to no avail. She finally decided to make her own after seeing one on TheKnot.com. She and Kirk taped boxes together to create the tiers, and then covered each tier with fabric alternating in color.
Rachel carried a pink and green bouquet of hydrangeas and roses, with succulent accents to incorporate the cactus theme.
Rachel’s stylist pinned up the front of her hair, like Rachel often does, and then pinned the back into curls.
For the bridesmaids, Rachel asked her florist to make pomanders. She used green and pink carnations and sheer ribbon that Rachel had found at a craft store.