Ariel and Zach, Kiana Lodge Wedding

December 19, 2022 Shiloh Abbott

Married on July 1, 2022

Ariel and Zach reached out to me after seeing a previous wedding I had done on Instagram. When we first met, I knew this was going to be a fun couple to work with; both of them had an infectious, enthusiastic energy.

Ariel and Zach hired their vendors and handled the majority of the planning details such as the design of the florals, linen selections and such. We worked together to find the perfect stationer with a modern style who could provide everything they needed for their wedding day and Taylor with Honest Calligraphy nailed it.

Melanie Benson Florals provided the floral arrangements and candles and was a delight to work with. The centerpieces were all different in their own way and yet all worked together because of the white and green neutral color palette. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Ariel knew she wanted to honor her Persian culture and was able to do so with the welcome cookies and candies to go with the water station as guests arrived which was then moved to the coffee station during the reception so guests could enjoy them throughout the evening.

To honor Ariel’s mother who has passed, she planned a dedication to her during the cocktail hour, where her brother and sister could hear it followed by their mom’s favorite song. The words to that same song was also included on the memorial table to honor past family and friends who had passed away. Once the dedication played, there wasn’t a dry eye around as you could tell how much love their family had for each other as well as their mom, who I’m sure was there in spirit.

The week of the wedding, Ariel found out that her maid of honor, who lived in California, came down with Covid and was more than likely unable to attend the wedding. Her bridesmaids (all 14 of them!) immediately jumped in and worked together to choose someone who would give a toast in her place during the reception. At the same time, I was checking with their DJ to see what the possibility of streaming her MOH’s speech was as well. We managed to accomplish both, with a bridesmaid providing a speech as well as her Maid of Honor, streamed in via my laptop.

The reception was a blast with multiple desserts ranging from cookies to ice cream (always a plus in my mind) plus the horah dance that brought nearly everyone to the dance floor. The late night snacks and photobooth kept the guests going until the last party bus left.