It was the beauty of the desert – and in particular Joshua Tree – that had Brandy & Michael wanting to elope there. It was something about the expansive and quiet feel of the desert along with the bare landscape that appealed to them. Captured by KATHERINE & TYLER PHOTO, the colours from the sand to the sky were the perfect backdrop and stylist and florist THE LUXE & CO. capitalised on what was already there! The gorgeous bride tells us, "Tones of beige, brown and dusty rose were my colour palette from the flowers to the bridesmaids dresses. It was important that the day reflected my personal style, which also includes a pop of modern."
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LOCATION? I loved the organic elements of the private four acres that was simple and offered us a blank slate. I wanted the feel to be very organic so we could focus more on the marriage side of things rather than the decor. The landscape and terrain was a feature that complemented the little touches we added.
HOW DID YOU MEET? Through mutual friends whilst vacationing in the Bahamas. We later reconnected when we were both going through a rough season in our lives. I needed a shoulder to cry on and he had just endured the traumatic experience of Hurricane Dorian.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: Michael spent a year of college abroad in Paris and grew fond of Île de la Cité, the island in the middle of the river Seine. At the tip of the island is a small park, Square du Vert-Galant. He used to sit on a bench after work and think about how one day, he would propose to the love of his life on that very bench. Sadly due to Covid, we were unable to go on our planned trip to Paris so that he could surprise me with a proposal. On the night that we were supposed to be in Paris, he made dinner and told me the story of what would have been. As we were sitting on the couch, he asked me to marry him and the rest is history. He also promised to take me to Paris and sit on the famous bench.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS: I own a bridal shop; TIFFINIE BLEU BRIDAL in Augusta, Georgia. Being the owner, I often try on my favourite gowns each new season – so having access to so many beautiful gowns made my decision choosing the perfect gown, tough. I knew I wanted a gown with texture while being soft and romantic. The moment I put it on I immediately knew it was the one!
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY ELEMENTS? It was crucial that my elopement have a very organic feel so a few days before the wedding, the LUXE & CO. and I chose all of the flowers and greenery and assembled the bouquet, centre pieces and altar ourselves.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: I wanted a desert bridal bouquet while still having a romantic feel and without succulents. I knew that the landscape around the property would stand out on its own between the cacti and yucca trees. We were very intentional in curating our hand selected flowers that also matched the design palette. Blushing bride protea for texture, Sahara Roses for their sand colour with pink, green and peach tones. Senorita Blush roses with cream petals and a blush pink centre for depth, White Cloud garden roses for their sweet fragrance and soft ivory petals that curl into a textured centre, Pepperberry foliage for wispy and feathery leaves that are perfect for cascading greenery, dark purple Blackberry Scoop Scabiosa for a pop of moody colour to complement my modern black accents and Golden Upright Amaranthus for its long stems of fuzzy golden textured clusters. And of course a touch of my signature favourite pampas grass.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: Walking up the aisle of stairs to the altar nestled on the serene elevated meditation deck with the sun setting in the distance. The mountains, giant boulders and stunning colours of the sky were the perfect backdrop for one of the most beautiful moments of our lives.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Don't overthink the details and get lost in the planning. Remember to live in the moment of getting married and worry less about the details that can go wrong. And get an amazing photographer and videographer team so that you can relive the day.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? The reading of our vows. It was one of the sweetest and touching moments I have ever experienced. Even the officiant cried! I am so glad it was captured on film!
WHAT ASPECT OF THE WEDDING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BOTH? We both knew that we wanted our daughter to be pat of the day. We got ready together and I will cherish those photos forever.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON: We are having a honeymoon and first anniversary trip in Greece in October. We will be visiting Santorini and Athens.
