Matt and Maris in the Mya Gown
A dreamy Arizona wedding—Matt & Maris said ‘I do’ under the desert sun, celebrating with tacos, espresso martinis, and a beer burro at golden hour.
A Nashville Beginning
Matt and Maris’ story began at a small university in Nashville, where a circle of mutual friends brought them together. Matt, there to play soccer, and Maris, a Nashville local, quickly became inseparable. Maris had friends with significant others on the soccer team, and it didn’t take long for the two to meet. “I knew Matt was the one probably very early on when he checked all of my boxes and then some,” Maris says. The way Matt carried himself and who he surrounded himself with cemented this for Maris. Spending time with him and his friends, she felt the comfort of knowing she had found someone genuine. “I got the real deal,” she says.
The proposal took place in the stunning Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. A place in Matt’s hometown and a spot Maris had dreamt of visiting during winter to see the contrast of snow against the red rocks. During a Christmas visit to Matt’s family, the couple ventured on a hike to some of the park’s iconic landmarks. Matt kept checking the time and fiddling with his pocket, so Maris had a hunch something was about to happen. It wasn’t long before they reached the perfect spot where a photographer was waiting, and Matt got down on one knee.
An Intimate Wedding Under the Arizona Sun
On a bright and sunny day in December, Matt and Maris said ‘I do’ under the Arizona desert sky with 70 of their closest loved ones. With the mountains as their backdrop, the venue was an easy decision for the couple. “We didn’t need to see any other venues,” Maris says. “It had everything we wanted.” Their vision for the day was inspired by spring’s natural palette, opting for an organic, eclectic feel. While they loved the desert style, their venue had already ticked this box.
A few unique touches added to their special day, from the beer burro and corn hole to oyster shell name cards and an authentic taco bar. The couple’s signature cocktail, the Olive—named after their beloved cat—was a nod to their favourite, espresso martinis. "Our guests still talk about these details," Maris says.
The cocktail hour was a particular highlight for both, allowing time to soak in the atmosphere, chat with friends and family, and enjoy drinks from the beer burro as the sun set over the mountains. “It was the best, most special day of our lives,” Maris reflects. “I wouldn’t change a single thing."
Discovering Mya
Maris’s search for the perfect dress took time. "I actually went to over a dozen wedding dress shops and tried on close to 100 gowns," she shares. "I was struggling to find something I really loved and finally picked one about a year before our wedding." But as the day approached, she realised it wasn’t right. "A month before the wedding, I decided I hated my dress—it just wasn’t me." That’s when she found Grace Loves Lace. “I saw the ready-to-wear section and thought that might save the day for me,” she explains. The Mya dress and Jagger robe immediately caught her eye. When she tried them on, it was love at first sight. "I got the ‘I found the one’ feeling I never got before at all those other stores."
Maris had always envisioned something sleek and modern with a unique twist. "The Mya absolutely nailed that," she says, while the Jagger robe added her perfect touch of fun. The experience was effortless and refreshing. "I told them exactly what I was looking for, and the consultant delivered. I could guide the appointment and move at my own pace, which was such a breath of fresh air compared to most of my bridal shop experiences."
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