A Couture-Insprired Wedding At The Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona

Matt Rickard and Kelly Russ were colleagues for a year and a half and great work friends, often giving each other dating and relationship advice. It was not until the company Christmas party and a few glasses of champagne that they realized there was a deeper connection. From that night on, they were inseparable.

Both Matt and Kelly admit they were attracted to one another. Kelly saw a great looking guy with a very kind, compassionate heart. Some days he would ride his Harley to work and she would notice him coming in with his leather jacket and helmet in hand. She also admired his closeness with his family, his commitment to work and his passions in life.

Matt was drawn to Kelly’s commitment to being the best at everything she did. He loved how everyone could be themselves around her and discovered this goofy, playful side to her that enticed him more.

Matt proposed on July 4, 2013 in the backyard of Kelly’s childhood home. A tree was planted in memory of her Grandfather, and with Kelly’s family all looking on, Matt carved their initials and date into the tree. From there, he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. Through tears of joy, utter shock and upstate New York humidity, she said “YES”!

For their ceremony, Matt and Kelly agreed on the beautiful Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

The day of their wedding, Kelly and her bridesmaids were calm, cool and collected until they realized the veil never arrived with the dress. After much negotiation, a new veil arrived and the day was saved! As a wedding gift from Matt, Kelly was presented with a diamond necklace with her initials and from Kelly, Matt received a new Gibson Les Paul guitar with the words “I love you the best” engraved on the back. These were words from their song “Indian Summer” by The Doors. For the first time that day, Matt’s eyes welled up with tears thinking about dancing in a hotel room in San Francisco to that song, after telling Kelly he was falling in love with her.

For the reception, placed next to the wedding cake was a topper used in many Rickard family weddings with the first being in 1944. As her “something blue”, Kelly pinned a necklace charm from her beloved grandma on the inside of her dress which was worn by her grandma over 65 years ago, in her grandma’s sister’s wedding.

Beyond the gorgeous 85 degree weather in Phoenix that day, there was a soft breeze that made the ceremony setting even more romantic. Then, that evening, the lucky bride and groom experienced a full moon. Kelly and Matt felt so loved at the end of the evening and recalled feeling grateful to have all their family and friends together for the biggest celebration of their lives. Not to mention, there was a sense of excitement, not only because they were finally married, but ready for their honeymoon and a much needed vacation.