When we first started planning our wedding, we dreamed of saying “I do” in Italy. That plan eventually evolved—it would have been too hard for our families to travel—but we carried that vision with us. We wanted our day to feel warm, intentional, creative, and full of soul. Every detail was chosen with care, and almost everything—from the florals to the food—was made by our own hands. We thrifted, styled, cooked, arranged, and designed our way through six months of wedding prep, carving out time after our son went to bed each night to bring our vision to life. Then, the weekend of our wedding, a record-breaking rainstorm swept through Phoenix and nearly derailed everything. But just like our love story, this wedding was never about perfection. It was about showing up, leaning in, and building something beautiful together—even through the mess.

A Love Story Built on Second Chances

Our love story began during a season of healing. I was a single mom, navigating life after being left during pregnancy by my partner of nearly ten years due to mental illness. While my son was still in my womb, I made a quiet promise to myself: to try again. That promise led me to Andrew, who appeared—serendipitously—on my dating app while visiting Phoenix for a job opportunity from Portland, OR. This was during my first week on the app, otherwise we would never have met! He was a widower; I was a new mother to a six month old. From the start, we were intentional, both knowing we were dating for marriage. Just one month later, he packed up his life, drove to Arizona, and we moved into a rental house together. Since then, everything has felt beautifully natural. Andrew has been the most incredible father to my son from day one, and together, we’ve built a life full of love, creativity, ambition, and shared dreams—including one day moving to Italy. After eight months of dating, he proposed to me with a beach picnic proposal in Malibu.

The Rainstorm We’ll Never Forget

We had The Copper House, our venue, for two full days and planned to spend Friday setting up and Saturday cooking and decorating. But then Phoenix experienced its biggest rainstorm in over seven years—on both days. It turned everything upside down. We were scrambling, soaked, and hoping the pieces would somehow fall into place. And they did, because of the people who showed up for us. Andrew’s friends from Colorado arrived early the day of our wedding and helped him finish all the last minute cooking, and my childhood friend and bridesmaid Elle was truly my anchor. She helped with every detail, handled last-minute chaos with so much grace, and still found time to do my hair and makeup beautifully. More than anything, she was my emotional support through the whole whirlwind. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her!

The Decor: Earthy, Modern, and Full of Intention

With our sights set on saving for a home, we knew we’d need to get creative with our budget. So we took the DIY route—and honestly, we loved every minute of it (even the stressful ones). After our son went to bed each night, we worked side by side—thrifting, organizing, designing, and planning. It became a rhythm we grew to cherish. Andrew and I made every decision together, and it made the whole experience feel like such a true collaboration. Since we couldn’t get married in Italy, we decided to infuse our wedding with the feeling of it—warm, relaxed, and earthy. We went for a modern bohemian aesthetic with a palette of neutrals and rich earth tones. I styled the entire event myself, using my background in interior design to curate every detail. We used dried florals, which we arranged ourselves, and thrifted most of the decor—candles, vases, table settings—each piece chosen with intention. The tables and chairs were rented from Wood n Crate, whose pieces brought warmth and character to the space, and our venue, The Copper House, was the perfect blank canvas: modern, intimate, and just quirky enough.

A Ceremony We Wrote From the Heart

Our ceremony was one of the most personal parts of the day—written and planned entirely by us, with every word and reading handpicked to reflect our story. Our son Sage was the ring bearer (and stole every heart doing it), and Evelyn, Andrew’s 7-year-old cousin, was the most dedicated flower girl you’ve ever seen, carefully tossing cream rose petals like it was her life’s calling. Our nephews, Colton and Brio, served as our “flower boys”—although not a single eucalyptus leaf made it out of the basket (we still love them for it). We invited our parents to take part in the ceremony, and the readings were emotional and beautiful. My mom went first, and as she began reading the poem we chose for her, she started to cry—which, of course, made me cry too. Thank god I wore fake lashes instead of mascara. It was imperfect and perfect in all the best ways, and it felt like exactly what it was: the start of our forever.

The Food: A Chef’s Labor of Love

Instead of hiring a caterer, Andrew—who’s a professional chef—cooked an Italian feast for all of our guests. In the week leading up to the wedding, he made three incredible sauces from scratch: walnut pesto, black truffle taleggio cream, and pomodoro. He baked homemade focaccia bread, grilled zucchini and bell peppers, and prepared two meat options: meatballs and chicken saltimbocca. The pasta was imported straight from Italy, of course. Watching him cook for the people we love, while his friends from Colorado jumped in to help in the final hours, was such a moving part of the weekend. Every bite told a story.

The Sweetest Cake Moment

Andrew spent years working at a bakery, honing his craft in gluten-free pastries—he even authored a cookbook on the subject—so it was only natural that he created the most incredible gluten-free cupcakes and wedding cake for our celebration. The cupcakes were cannoli-inspired, filled with ricotta and mascarpone cream frosting, and perfectly balanced in sweetness. It was a delicious tribute to our love of Italian desserts and the sweetest way to end the meal.

The Dream Team of Collaborators

Some of the most special moments of our wedding happened because of the generosity of others. Morilee reached out to collaborate with me on my wedding dress, and it was a dream come true. The gown we chose was romantic, elegant, and so me. The Copper House was also a collaboration, and we’re so grateful for the space that became the backdrop for this unforgettable weekend. Our rentals from Wood n Crate were just what we needed to pull everything together, and Ally from Leigh & Co. was our incredible day-of coordinator who made sure everything went smoothly despite the chaos. And our DJ—the partner of a close friend—offered his services after hearing our story. His music set the perfect vibe for the night, and we’ll never forget that gift.

Forever Grateful

Looking back, our wedding wasn’t just a celebration—it was a reflection of our journey, our love, and the incredible people who lifted us up along the way. It may not have been the Italian destination wedding we once imagined, but in every handmade detail, every dish, every laugh through the rain, it felt completely and perfectly us. We’re so grateful for everyone who helped make this day possible—and for the beautiful beginning it marked for our little family.

XOXO