We all know COVID got in the way of a ton of couples’ wedding plans and as difficult as it was to reimagine some of these events, this Bride stayed positive and made her new wedding dreams come true! Everything was already planned for her big day and having to cancel and completely reschedule in such a small amount of time was a little bit devastating, but overall totally worth it. Take a peak into how wonderful your wedding day can be even if it’s not 100% what you had planned.
Keep scrolling to see all of the beautiful photos by Ashley Rae Photography and the film by Love Story Films. Christina Williamson planned every detail and Wild Flower AZ created all of the amazing florals. You can see all the images in the full gallery.
FROM THE BRIDE
We’re do I begin?! Let’s start with 8/30/2019. Got engaged to my best friend! We were eager to start planning our wedding right away and could not wait to get married. We quickly decided on a date of, 10/28/2020 (my birthday) in Maui, HI. We didn’t want a big wedding just a couple close family members.
A Few weeks later I got my dress. We decided on the Four Season. Spent the next several months picking out photographer, videographer, flowers, cake, clothing, swimwear, etc … all the things associated with weddings and honeymoons.
Even though this was not going to be a large wedding we still wanted things to be nice and special. It was still our wedding . Being busy with life and wedding planning we didn’t pay much attention to the talk of a new virus. In February news of Covid-19 was everywhere. I remember thinking I hate to be selfish but I hope this does not affect the wedding. All my family and friends were like, “That’s months away everything will be fine.”
So we had no choice but to continue planning, we were already so far in. Plane tickets, hair, makeup, seemed like the expenses just kept piling up and this virus was not blowing over or going away. Month after month we watched the news hoping for any sign Hawaii would lift the travel restrictions or would this wedding be possible. My dress got delayed and for a while, we didn’t even know where it was or when or if it would arrive.
A change of plans?
With all the contracts signed it was not an option to just cancel. So we waited and waited and the end of June both sides of the family mutually agreed this was probably not the best idea or time to be traveling. However, we still wanted to get married. We live in different states and did not want to postpone. We actually thought maybe it’s better to get married sooner now that Hawaii is out of the picture since we did not know what the future holds with this virus. We figured at least we will be married and together that’s all that matters.
Reimagining the wedding
So in July, we started to plan a wedding for 9/4/2020. In a way, it was a relief to not have to worry about traveling anymore but at the same time, we were starting over and didn’t know where to begin. My mother had told me about a venue called the Royal Palms and thought we should take a look. So we set up a time to go look. I immediately fell in love. I loved the tropical landscape and palm trees. The Camelback Vista Garden we chose was so intimate and beautiful. It was not my original venue in Hawaii but I get it still had a tropical feel that went along with my dress. I needed to look no further.
it’s all coming together
I had been a long-time admirer of Ashley Rae’s photography and Love Story Films. My mother contacted Ashley Rae and was surprised when she responded Molly from Love Story films was her good friend also her other friend Nicole was a florist. They were all willing to come and be there for my wedding. So it was just meant to be. In a day we had a venue I loved and a dream team photographer, videographer, and florist. My mother’s childhood pastor was able to come to perform the ceremony. To be able to have this beautiful wedding come together so quickly and under such hard circumstances was just a dream come true.
So many businesses were not even open or working. It would not have been the time to be picky. Even if it was perfect circumstances I couldn’t have asked for better vendors. It was just a miracle that fell into place. I couldn’t have asked for things to turn out any better. It may not have been our first plan but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I simply loved every single detail of the day. The venue, flowers, photos, video, hair,makeup , dress and most of all the groom. Everything that has seemed to be going to wrong just came together into the perfect day and wedding.
