An Intimate Desert Wedding with a Mix of Boho & DIY Themes

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Location: Tucson, Arizona, US
Setting: National Park
Wedding season: Spring
The number of guests: 46
How long did the couple plan the event: More than a year
Wedding theme/style: Intimate desert wedding with a mix of southwestern boho & DIY themes.

After recently moving to Tucson, Arizona, Mark and Claudia met in December 2016 through Bumble, with Mark being Claudia’s first ‘app date.’ Their love story began as they explored their new home state together. In March 2020, they got engaged during their morning hikes on the Hidden Canyon Trail in Starr Pass. Mark surprised Claudia with a proposal arranged by two friends who left a sign at the top of the trail. “Our friends, who happen to be active duty members of the Air Force, took the assignment seriously as they disguised themselves in full camouflage to hide and document the moment for us,” adds the couple.

The couple truly enjoyed getting ready for their wedding day. Claudia chose to have her hair and makeup done for her wedding by her long-time glam squad, who have been styling her since she was 16. She decided on a natural makeup look and an updo for practical reasons, explaining, “I didn’t want to mess with it throughout the day and night and have it turn into something I didn’t envision.” Considering her dress’s neckline and jewelry, Claudia opted for an updo, which also became a practical decision due to their outdoor wedding in windy conditions.

Mark also enjoyed the company of his family, friends, and their beloved dog, who stayed by their side the entire day.

The ceremony and entire wedding day took place in Saguaro National Park. In addition to the stunning location and unique aesthetics, Mark and Claudia added personal touches to the event by having a close friend officiate the ceremony and crafting their vows. “We stripped away many other typical wedding traditions by choosing to walk down the aisle together and by removing formal groomsmen & bridesmaid titles,” shares Claudia.

The photographer Carl S. Miller beautifully captured Claudia and Mark’s love story and their unique and intimate wedding in the desert. He also documented the close-knit family bond, capturing their heartfelt conversations and candid moments in these picturesque surroundings.

“Claudia & Mark, your day was beautiful. Despite all the unknowns and changing plans, it couldn’t of turned out any better,” adds the photographer.

The wedding space was truly unique, featuring a special bar station offering various snacks and drinks. As for the reception area, Claudia, showcasing her creativity, designed and built custom dining tables using baltic birch. She made sure they were easily assembled and disassembled for transportation to the remote wedding site, working tirelessly to complete them just days before the event. Additionally, Claudia went to the gem show to find and purchase raw materials from the annual gem show in Tucson to use as decorative elements for the wedding, tying in nature’s beauty to enhance their formal desert theme.

The newlyweds commented on the unique choice of wedding location: “This was an unconventional and unique event that perfectly conveyed the yin and yang of our relationship. Our guiding question was what is important to “us”. We are both big thinkers and dreamers and stripped away conventional thinking to find the perfect site for our event. This is reflected by the location of the event – according to park rangers, we were the first wedding to seek permitting for an event at the park.

The celebration was made even more special with personal touches, such as including their daughter, Sage, in their first dance. Mark downloaded a DJ app on his iPad to transition from Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us” to Jackson 5’s “ABC” as Sage surprised everyone by joining the dance.

The reception was heartwarming and beautiful, filled with many kind words and love. Another special highlight was how the lighting vendor brought the desert to life at night. His creative work to keep the party going after sunset truly elevated the couple’s and their guests’ experience. Their favorite feature was the 12 uplit saguaros in the distance.

Advice from couple:

• Don’t get lost in the process. Don’t let decisions cascade. Don’t fall victim to the sunk-cost fallacy. It is easier said than done, but try to center each decision around the simple question: “Is this what we really want?”. The answer doesn’t always need to be a “yes” as competing interests typically encroach the process — and that can be OK. However, it is helpful to maintain a conscious awareness of the deviations and approach them with love & gratitude (e.g., “I’m doing this because I know it will mean the world to my father”).