Arizona Farm to Table Wedding

This farm to table wedding on our wedding blog today is as fresh and beautiful as can be. With a Arizona sunset as the backdrop and vendors that put their heart and soul into making it the most incredible affair. The bride, in a handmade, long sleeved gown, matched the natural and ethereal setting. The family and friends dined on a long wooden table adorned with the most radiant colored produce and florals. Elizabeth McDonnell photographed the wedding and gave us all the details of the inspiration here.

From Elizabeth..

It’s not everyday that you get to work with some of the best creatives in the business, but this styled shoot was just that day. Working with an all-female, Tucson-local cast–including the likes of Avenue Boutique (clothing, jewlery, and styling), Studio 110 (hair and make up), and the ladies of LaFleur (floral and event styling)–I had nothing but beautiful, amazing and creative elements to photograph. From the florals, to the produce, to the beautifully arranged tables and hand selected decor, Colleen and her team at LaFleur really blew me away with their creations. When I approached them about doing a styled shoot, they were not only willing, but excited and helped craft an unforgettable scene at a location that is near and dear to my heart. The location for the styled shoot was a ranch in the San Rafael Valley, where my Dad, and his three siblings grew up. A place that, after deciding to pack up her life as she knew it in Chicago for a new life with my grandfather, took my grandmother’s breath away the first and last time she saw it. A bit outside of Tucson, Arizona, near the town of Patagonia, lies the San Rafael Valley–quiet, still, open, majestic. With its endless ranch scenes and picturesque views in all directions, the valley was the perfect backdrop for our local farm to table inspired shoot.

Soon after my meeting with Colleen at LaFleur, Alexis from Avenue Boutique and Vanessa from Studio 110, jumped onboard and started coming up with concepts to make the shoot truly unforgettable. Alexis designed and made the bride’s dress, which she also sells in her shop here in Tucson. She also made the bridesmaids’ dresses, along with all the gorgeous jewelry in the shoot. Naturally, she had her hand in styling the groom and even the guests. Vanessa and her crew at Studio 110 came up with the hair and make-up concepts, making the bride and bridesmaids all look natural and beautiful. She also cleaned up the groom, preserving his natural and effortless look. Next came the amazing team of local entrepreneurs/food artisans who gave our local ranch/produce inspired shoot just what it needed. Donations spanned several amazing vendors, including Sleeping Frog Farm (local, organic produce), Whisky DelBac (handcrafted Tucson whiskey), Borderlands Brewery (local handcrafted beers), and Time Market (handmade, stone oven breads and local wines).

LaFleur drew their inspiration from the beauty of the grassland plains of Arizona’s southwest region. Desert hues of Arizona sunsets created the color palette using peach rununcululs, burgundy dahlias, chocolate scabiosa, pink boronia and sage willow eucalyptus. Seasonal produce provided by local CSA Sleeping Frog Farms accented the floral perfectly with coordinating luscious colors of radish, carrots, cauliflower, artichokes, and winter greens. It was important to honor the integrity of the local purveyors and artisans by choosing decor that was sourced locally and provided a rich patina to their surroundings. The cake for instance was an Italian Lemon Buttermilk Cake layered with Mesquite Honey Basil from local baker Sugar Song Cakes. LaFleur chose beautiful pieces of natural wood, tarnished silver, cowhides, sheepskins, rooster feathers and raw leather.

Vendors:
Hair styling & make up: Studio 110
Flowers, Styling, & Design: LaFleur Plantscapes & Events
Lead Photographer: Elizabeth McDonnell Photography
Second Photographer: Kelsey Shirley Photography
​Fresh organic vegetables, herbs, produce​: Sleeping Frog Farm
Clothing styling, wardrobe, Bride’s custom made dress, & Jewelry: Avenue Boutique
Cake: Sugar Song Cakes
Stationery: DeFilippis Designs
Handmade Local Whisky: Whisky DelBac
Hancrafted Local Beer: Dragoon Brewery
Local Bread: Time Market
Local Wine: Arizona Stronghold & Pillsbury wine company, Purchased at Time Market
Handcrafted Olive Oil: Queen Creek Olive Mill