Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Setting: Farm
Season: Spring
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
Number of guests: 110
Wedding theme/style: Vintage, outdoor, eclectic.
Lauren and Jon-Michael’s journey began in Jacksonville, Florida, where they met at the University of North Florida. Their mutual love for music and adventure turned into a deep friendship, leading to a realization of how their lives were always meant to intersect. Despite living close to each other in Miami and attending the same preschool, it was in Jacksonville that their paths finally aligned. Later, they moved to Los Angeles, embracing the outdoor lifestyle they loved. In their first home together, Jon-Michael proposed, and they began planning their dream wedding. They wanted the wedding to reflect their passion for nature and the outdoors, choosing a venue near the mountains to share their love for the great outdoors with their guests.
When thinking about what we wanted for our wedding, our only wish was for it to be near the mountains, so that everyone from our hometown could experience our love and passion for the great outdoors.
WEDDING THEME
The couple’s vision for a wedding that reflected their love for nature and adventure led them to choose the unique Cactus Joe’s Nursery in Blue Diamond, NV. This cactus farm provided a stunning desert backdrop just outside Las Vegas in the Red Rock Valley.
Planned meticulously by Ember & Stone Events, the wedding was an authentic reflection of Lauren and Jon-Michael’s personalities. The event featured a harmonious blend of vintage charm, eclectic decor, and a relaxed garden party atmosphere. The planner’s attention to detail was evident in every aspect, from the mix-and-match seating to the carefully curated vintage glassware and rattan elements.
We wanted to give a little of everything. A little retro, a touch of vintage, small notes of eclectic pieces, handwritten elements & small details in the right areas so that every part of her vision could shine the whole day.
BRIDE AND GROOM'S FASHION
The wedding day began with a flurry of excitement and anticipation. Lauren looked breathtaking in a Prea James gown, paired with elegant Bella Belle shoes. Her vintage necklace and Maria Elena earrings added a touch of timeless elegance. She chose Bal D’Afrique perfume by BYREDO for its personal significance. Her flawless makeup, courtesy of Set & Fury LV, and beautifully styled hair by Meg Dela Cruz Hair, perfectly complemented her look. Her bouquet, an eclectic mix of flowers by Night Garden Floral, tied together the theme beautifully.
Jon-Michael looked trendy in a brown suit by Indochino, which fit him perfectly and added a touch of relaxed vibe to his look. He accessorized with a boutonniere, which beautifully complemented Lauren’s bouquet.
When we began the design process, we incorporated elements of their personal style, the colors they were drawn to, and their vision for the day into every aspect of the wedding.
THE CEREMONY
The ceremony, held at Desert Love in Blue Diamond, NV, featured a dramatic backdrop of freshly rained-on canyons and cloud-covered skies. Lauren walked down the aisle to “At Last” by Etta James, played by a violinist from Premiere Wedding Music. The ceremony decor was simple yet elegant, focusing on the natural beauty of the surroundings. The couple’s heartfelt vows and the emotional moments shared with their guests made the ceremony truly unforgettable.
After a cold front passing through the area this week we had amazing cloud coverage for photos & freshly rained on canyons that almost highlighted the terra cotta tones more in the ridges.
THE COCKTAIL HOUR
Following the ceremony, guests were treated to a lively cocktail hour featuring an array of delicious food and drinks. Food trucks like Modern Mixtures Mobile Bar, 911 Tacos, and Doppio Express served delightful finger foods and the bride’s signature cocktails. The atmosphere was vibrant, with guests mingling, enjoying small dances, and savoring the beautiful desert scenery. The unique setup added a touch of fun and excitement to the celebration, creating memorable moments for everyone.
We decided to do a mix & match of reception seating to create more of a “laid-back” approach to the day & create the ability to be more flexible with our “impactful” moments. Lauren is a HUGE fun of unique & eclectic pieces so it only felt right to design around vintage glassware, velvety lounge chairs, rattan elements & effortlessly detailed details.
THE MOMENT ALONE
As the sun set, Lauren and Jon-Michael took a moment alone in front of the majestic mountains. This serene moment allowed their photographer, Kassie Gunn, to capture their love against the stunning landscape. The golden light of the setting sun added a magical touch to the photos, highlighting the couple’s joy and the breathtaking scenery.
All vendors & creatives that we work with our couples to select are truly hand selected. From photography styles all the way to how the catering team is presenting the food. So very vendor was chosen to highlight a particular part of the vision when moving forward with them.
THE DECOR & SETTING
The reception, held in a beautifully decorated greenhouse. The decor included vintage glassware, vibrant flowers, and personalized stationery by Studio Sanchez Co. The color palette featured tones of sage, mustard, blush, and sand, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The greenhouse setting provided an intimate and cozy ambiance, with colorful lights on the ceiling, adding to the enchanting feel of the evening.
When Lauren described the color scheme she was interested in for the day, I could tell that much more thought than normal was put into this, which we LOVE. Those colors aren’t your typical standard choice, which helps us a ton in the design process. Also, being able to see those tones and relate them to the “keywords” she was going for made perfect sense for the overall design.
Our florist really dove into the abstract textures & colors we were looking to tie together, the stationery artist elevated the paper products to showcase hand selected fonts & illustrations & event the boutique rental company had such an impact on tying in the look of the day.
THE RECEPTION
The couple wanted the focus to be on the dancing, their favorite people, and highlighting their love coming together. The reception began with the couple’s grand entrance to “Ella Fue” by Fania All-Stars, followed by their first dance to “Kiss of Life” by Sade.
Instead of a traditional DJ they wanted vinyls to be played. They hand-crafted a selection of music that filled their soul & got all their guests moving the whole night. Lauren also performed a mother-daughter dance that swept the guests off their feet with ties of love and so much emotion. “It was one of the best mother-daughter duos I have ever seen,” shared the planner.
As the evening progressed, the lights on the ceiling of the greenhouse created a magical atmosphere for the continued celebrations. Guests enjoyed a dessert table with luxury custom donuts, a favorite of the couple, and the beautifully decorated cake by Sons of Cakery.
The night concluded with lively dances, heartfelt toasts, and the couple’s joyful ride off into the night in a vintage Cadillac, marking the end of a perfect day. Lauren and Jon-Michael’s wedding was a true reflection of their love and passion for each other and the outdoors.
Since Lauren & Jon-Michael come from Cuban roots we only felt it was right to have the elders of both families bring in all the fun party props for the “La Hora Loca” which means the “Crazy Hour”. Lots of neon cowboy hats, lights, glasses, & more glowed up the space as the night carried on!
It is such a process to REALLY make a day feel, look & be covered in everything you love & I think we really were able to do this for these two!
PLANNING, DESIGN & STYLING Ember & Stone Events | VENUE Cactus Joe’s Cactus Nursery | PHOTOGRAPHER Kassie Gunn | FLORALS Night Garden Floral | DRESS Prea James | MAKE UP Set & Fury LV | HAIR Meg Dela Cruz Hair | SHOES Bella Belle | HEADPIECE Maria Elena Headpieces | ACCESSORIES Belts Buckles Bolos | PERFUME BYREDO | BAR Modern Mixtures Mobile Bar, Events with a Twist | CAKE Sons of Cakery | CATERING Simply Charcuterie, 911 Tacos | RENTALS & DECOR BBJ, Modern Vintage Rentals, RSVP Party Rentals, LED Unplugged | STATIONERY Studio Sanchez Co | ENTERTAINMENT Check 1 Two, Ohmega Watts | MUSIC Premier Wedding Music | CONTENT CREATION Third Party Social | TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS Aria | AUDIO GUEST BOOK For The Record | ADDITIONAL STAFFING Norton National | TRANSPORT TLC Transportation
