Nicole Parker and Caleb Rath’s epic Sedona wedding was designed with their guests’ experience in mind. The couple put together a 3-day wedding weekend for 110 guests at L'Auberge de Sedona – the red rocks, hidden creek, and romantic cottages were the ideal setting for their multi-day celebration.
The wedding weekend included a picturesque rehearsal dinner by the creek, a beer garden welcome party, and a stunning wedding celebration captured by Mike Larson Photography.
"NICOLE AND CALEB WANTED THEIR DAY TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS FULL OF SURPRISES."
It was important to Nicole and Caleb that they enjoy their engagement while also focusing on all the necessary details to create the ultimate guest experience. After sharing their vision, they teamed up with Mandy Marie Creative to create a highly personal and unforgettable 3-day wedding event.
Before guests gathered in Sedona, they received a custom velvet-lined wedding invitation by Maude Press. An assortment of letter-pressed stationery and elegant calligraphy left a memorable first impression of what was to follow. Upon check-in, guests were surprised with carefully curated welcome boxes by Teak and Twine. The gifts included some of the couple’s favorite items such as Voss sparkling water, cocktail kits, a loft candle, Sugarfina Gummy Bears, and most special of all – an alfajor pastry to represent the bride’s side of the family and Uruguayan nationality.
The intimate and luxe celebration began with a scenic rehearsal dinner at L'Auberge de Sedona Creek House. Shades of blue were used to complement the dinner scenery of Oak Creek Canyon River. With no detail forgotten, the couple and their families enjoyed a 3-course plated meal with a small circle of loved ones. The following day, guests enjoyed a polo inspired Beer Garden welcome party, which included a custom tap wall, lawn games, live music, and a caricature artist. What really set this welcome party apart was the guests’ willingness to dress their best in derby style formalwear, linens, pastel hues, fascinators and of course, lots of seersucker. The bride worked with Bergdorf Goodman Bridal and Ines di Santo to create a custom tea-length wedding gown paired perfectly with Jimmy Choo heels.
Over the course of a year, Caleb and Nicole had discussed their wedding vision and priorities. One concept that came to mind was they wanted their day to feel like it was full of surprises. In order to accomplish this, the Mandy Marie Creative team designed a total of five spaces – ceremony, cocktail hour, tented dinner, indoor and outdoor reception, and a secret dessert room – that the bride and groom could continue unveiling to guests as the wedding day progressed.
When the big day arrived, the couple had opted not to see each other until the ceremony, and spent the mornings preparing with their bridal parties. The groom wore a bespoke black tuxedo by Tom Ford paired with black Berluti oxfords. The bridesmaids wore pale pink gowns by Marchesa Notte, inspired by Nicole’s wedding gown.
During the ceremony, the bride stole the show in her Galia Lahav wedding gown as she walked down the 150-foot winding aisle, which was overflowing with greenery and radiant blooms in all shades of white, pink, and red, produced by Bloom & BluePrint. The ceremony site was unparalleled in its beauty and scale as guests were met with 360° views of the Sedona Red Rocks.
After reciting personal vows, guests were shuttled to cocktail hour for the newlyweds’ grand entrance with live music by Gabriel Datcu & Ian Maskin. At cocktail hour, they cut into their 8-layer cake with a bold, metallic and pink butterfly installation backdrop. Nicole and Caleb led their guests alongside the creek to a unique heart-shaped escort card board, which overlooked their tented dinner under a canopy of trees and candlelight. Shortly after, they were seated to enjoy a 3-course plated dinner on the lush Creekside Lawn.
The chef at the resort's Cress on Oak Creek restaurant created the menu including a light heart of romaine salad, sorbet palate cleanser, and choice of Colorado fillet or Atlantic salmon as the main entrée. The tabletops were lined with pale pink velvet linens by La Tavola and further adorned with exquisite glassware, chargers, china and flatware provided by Casa de Perrin. At each place setting was a napkin wrapped in a leather napkin holder with each guest’s name in calligraphy, acting as a customized place card. To top it off, bright and bold centerpieces with hues of ivory, pinks, ruby reds and plums overflowed on the long tables stretching the length of the lawn.
Before guests made their final move to the indoor, outdoor reception, Nicole and Caleb took a moment to thank all their guests who had traveled from near and far to celebrate with them. They love the outdoors, and it was important for them to share their first dance under the stars. The couple dazzled guests with a first dance that took place under a canopy of 10,000 twinkling lights and a pyrotechnic sparkler finish by Divinity Lighting.
As guests transitioned inside to the ballroom, they were asked to walk up to a wall and push a sign that read: “Press For Cocktails.” When pressed, the marquee sign lit up and a white-gloved hand passed them a French 75 from the other side of the wall. In the ballroom, four large floral covered chandeliers hung directly over an epic dance party emceed by Camelback Entertainment. Nicole and Caleb interrupted the dance party for their final reveal of the evening – they explained their love of dessert and simultaneously pulled back a curtain to a surprise room that included their eight-tier wedding cake and a 10-foot hanging dessert installation. The hanging shelves included all their favorite mini desserts such as brownies, milk and cookies, cheesecake shooters, tiramisu, red velvet cupcakes, lemon bars and more.
Before the evening was over, Nicole did a quick gown change into a chic, white minidress and iridescent Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers before their grand pyrotechnic sparkler exit.
WEDDING TALENT
Location: L’Auberge de Sedona, Sedona, AZ; Planner & Event Design: Mandy Marie Creative, Scottsdale, AZ Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav; Welcome Party Dress: Ines Di Santo; Bridal Salon: Bergdorf Goodman, New York, NY