Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch Wedding: Tyler+ McKenzie

Tyler and McKenzie planned a Rose Gold Glamorous Mountain Wedding at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch. The Groom and Bride worked countless months designing every detail of their fresco desert wedding including hand crafted wood designs and carefully crafted glamorous details. All their hard worked paid off for gifting their guests an unforgettable weekend to remember.

Here are words from the happy wedding couple on how they first met:

“Tyler and Mckenzie met on a dating website about four and a half years ago. They bonded over their interesting careers, their tendency to bump their heads on low-hanging objects, and their shared love-hate relationship with the 400 meter dash. They exchanged a novel’s worth of messages until Tyler finally wrote: “You’re right, before we move in together, get married, have kids, and retire to the countryside to bicker into our golden years, we probably should meet in person first. There’s a process to this kind of thing, and we’re skipping ahead.” Mckenzie agreed, and they decided to meet face-to-face on June 7, 2012 at Stingray Sushi in Old Town Scottsdale. About two-thirds of the way into the blind date, Mckenzie was convinced Tyler wasn’t interested in her, mostly because Tyler isn’t very good at making eye contact, especially when he is nervous. It wasn’t until Tyler offered to teach her how to ice skate and to re-watch all six seasons of the TV show ‘Lost’ with her, that she realized he probably did like her. They wouldn’t see each other again for a few weeks, because Tyler left the next morning to Mississippi to test fire a rocket engine, and Mckenzie attended her cousin’s wedding on Kent Island. Tyler considered using some airline miles to make a weekend trip to Maryland to surprise her, but decided against it because they had only just met. Mckenzie secretly wished he had come. In the following months, Tyler spent many late nights helping Mckenzie and her sister remodel their townhouse. Mckenzie never really got to enjoy the fruits of their labor though, because she moved in with Tyler shortly after the last project was complete.”

To hear their epic proposal of how Tyler asked McKenzie to marry him on the top of Camelback Mountain read here.

Tyler and McKenzie, your Arizona outdoor wedding at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch was a memorable event your family and friends from out-of-state will never forget. Between the engineering from Tyler crafting wood designs and the artistic stylings of McKenzie on succulents and details, your wedding day couldn’t have been a better reflection of you two as a new family unit. Thank you for giving me the honor of walking alongside you two as you made memories that will last a lifetime. You created a beautiful wedding and will have a beautiful marriage and life together as husband and wife. It was truly a blessing to see how you two cared for one another as the wedding day unfolded. Thank you!

The Bride and Groom chose to hold their wedding celebration at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch because they fell in love with the magnificent Bulldog Cliff Mountain Range. Their charming invitation suite, soaked in rose gold, pastel greens and blush, a combination that beautifully foreshadowed the bridal bouquet and the table florals.

The bride wore sparkles, the perfect accents to show off the Sonoran desert landscape.

The desert white oleander flowers complimented McKenzie’s blush Martina Liana wedding dress.

Heartfelt moments and joy surrounded the bride as she got her final touches of getting ready within hours of walking down the aisle to her forever husband.

Memory lane and the final touch of the bride’s timeless cathedral veil being placed by her sister.

Tyler prepared for his bride with some toasts in the billiard’s room while wearing some classic leather groom details. Some final touches for Tyler as he soaks in the day’s significance.

McKenzie sharing a special first look with her father….the first man in her life who loved her.

A sweet moment between a mother and daughter that showcases McKenzie’s beauty within. Anytime McKenzie enters a room she lights it up with her joy and smile.

The time finally arrived for McKenzie to see her for always groom to walk this journey of life as husband and wife.

A sweet candid kiss shared between the two during their first look.

The two took the time to soak in the wedding day they both dreamt about for months.

McKenzie looked classically beautiful, shown off in this Martina Liana gown flawlessly. Her Groom couldn’t take his eyes away from her.

Dreamy cathedral veil heaven…the wind and McKenzie make for the perfect combination of bridal beauty. The bride wore a Martina Liana from Mariée Bridal gown and her hair and make-up was styled flawlessly.

Beautiful blooms set the stage for this glamourous desert wedding. The bride’s wedding florals were dripping with a variety of 750+ succulents that McKenzie personally grew for over a year in a greenhouse that Tyler built for her. Her bridal bouquet was an, “Oversized garden-style cascading bouquet [that] include[d]: bay leaf, silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus, ferns, peach stock, juliette garden roses, olive branches, …succulents, and white roses.”

Their bridal party was full of support and love for the happy couple! They featured a luxurious palette of rose gold, gold, blush, and gray for their color palette.

How stunning are these pretty bridesmaids in rose gold and sequin gold dresses? The bridesmaids carried bouquets that held a modern mix of texture-rich succulents and mini cacti that played well with a softer, exotic selection of pink-petaled blossoms – all of the florals were consciously selected to withstand the desert garden.

Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch not only displays the grand mountain range but is also home to a ranch of horses on the property.

Rockstar groomsmen, who helped carry chairs, keep the mood light and doing it all while looking oh-so-dapper.

This fresco Arizona wedding venue is less than an hour from the Phoenix Valley and gives couples a lake and mountain range oasis. The wedding couple’s out-of-town guests stayed for the entire wedding weekend in the 20+ cabins on the ranch’s property so their new union could proceed for more than a day.

Their ceremony entrance was framed with a monumental ceremony doorway with two reclaimed French doors. The pallet wood attached to the entrance was a massive ceremony program display that included painted calligraphy of all the bridal parties names. The couple’s ceremony altar was purposefully understated, allowing the desert surroundings to mirror the couple’s natural beauty.

The mountainous ceremony aisles were lined with fourteen potted copper agaves. The shapes and colors of the agaves treated playfully throughout the glamorous design.

The couple built their own ceremony pergola and cut the various wood stumps that highlight the altar. They incorporated desert cacti….a plant that is usually seen as hard, prickly and untouchable, but Tyler and McKenzie transformed the cacti and succulents into a soft and glamorous element.

A dream sign that allows for the wedding guests to be fully present for Tyler and McKenzie’s wedding ceremony.

To arrive to the ceremony site the guests walked through the Sonoran’s natural garden and were greeted with a ravishing mountain as a natural backdrop and expansive views.

Moments before the groom became a husband he embraced his father.

The ring bearer, ring security boys and flower girl walking…. a sign that Tyler’s bride is soon to follow.

A magnificent ceremony overview of their wedding day story. Love how Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch’s ceremony location features the one-of-kind Bulldog Cliff Mountain Range. The couple exchanged vows under a pergola facing their family and friends from all over the country with the blush and lilac mountains as an extraordinary stage.

These in between moments during the ceremony…

McKenzie had so much excitement when the two of them exchanged their eternal wedding rings!

Tyler and McKenzie are officially husband and wife!

The two shared one of the best license signing moments ever….tears and laughter were exchanged when the two made their marriage legally binding.

Cocktail hour took place underneath the desert’s Mesquite trees while overlooking the Bulldog Cliff Mountain Range. Also, a classic Southwest appetizer was shared….homemade guacamole and tortilla chips.

Tyler and McKenzie have a beautiful lineage of 100’s of years of marriage to follow. The groom built a pallet wall that said, “all you need is love” that hung 30+ framed family wedding photos.

An in-between-moment during family portraits of the groom looking at his 97 year old grandma!

During the reception the couple stole away for some sunset portraits. The couple shared some tender moments as they soaked in the reality that they get to embark on a lifetime journey of marriage.

One of the best sights to see of a couple getting married….the whole day exemplifying the two becoming one….a unit together.

Sunsets and frilly dresses make the flawless combination for a romantic setting!

The two of them radiate love and warmth…from McKenzie’s infectious laugh to the combination of Tyler’s kind spirit, to the way they love one another….it is a beautiful sight to document! As Tyler and McKenzie walked out their wedding day story they demonstrated they are already a team and are in sync with each other. Because the two of them embarked on marriage they have a whole future to grow deeper together.

Soft tones and lush textures adorn their reception atmosphere. Tyler and McKenzie did a fantastic job as a team of using the rose gold and gold sequin colors in designing the reception tables. Guests were greeted with tables that were adorned with: wood chargers, water goblets, natural table runners and custom escort calligraphy signs that really tied everything together.

The tent’s structure was softened with floor to ceiling draping on the columns and string lights and chandeliers. These chandeliers were custom made. The bride carefully crafted the hanging chandeliers by using hundreds of vintage crystals to light up her wedding celebration.

The head table was a long farm table that sat the entire bridal party. The bride and groom sat on chairs adorned with frames that read, “Better” “Together”. For table numbers the couple displayed childhood photos of themselves.

Their wedding reception chargers were crafted from pine trees from Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. The groom personally cut down a few trees and then chainsawed over 180 wood chargers to give their guests a personal Arizona experience.

Their succulent table runners crafted in wood planters offered a beautiful compliment to the rose-gold theme and brought out the garden colors. In addition to the succulent planter boxes for table runners, the couple hung suspended mason jars with fairy lights that added to their wedding celebration ambiance.

In lieu of a wedding cake for all their guests they chose to highlight a Pittsburgh tradition…. a cookie bar. The groom’s mother baked over 150+dozen cookies for the famous Pittsburgh cookie table! For tradition the couple also had a personal 2-tier cake with a ruffled ombre buttercream frosting.

Their excitement for starting their marriage celebration beamed the word JOY!

An in-between-moment as the bride looks at her groom while celebrating with their awesome bridal party….EPIC!

Tyler and McKenzie were exceptional…..and their first dance with the mountain range in the background was stunning!

The couple’s reception took place at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch‘s outdoor space with dinner and dancing underneath the stars. Following their dinner was one of the most memorable moments: the traditional father daughter dance where McKenzie’s father danced with her to the Growing Pains television theme song and Tyler danced with his 97 year old grandma to “You Are My Sunshine”. The rest of the evening their guests danced for hours among the twinkling lights and lit mountain, highlighting the cacti and succulents surrounding them.

Tyler and McKenzie truly shared a magical day full of so much love that showed the greatest celebration in their lives!

IF YOU LIKE THE EXPERIENCE SEEN IN THESE PICTURES YOU CAN BOOK YOUR MEMORY MAKING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TODAY!

Many thanks to the wedding creative team who helped in the celebration of two souls committing the promise of forever:

Ceremony Venue: Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

Reception Venue: Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

Photographer: April Maura Photography

Wedding Planner: Ramsey The Great DJ Productions

Caterer: Heidi’s Events & Catering

Florist: Camelback Flowershop

Bride’s Dress: Martina Liana from Mariée Bridal

Bride’s Make-up: Mary Fennello

Bride’s Hair: Melissa Blankenship