Spanish Tiles + Desert Hues: Romantic Southwestern-Inspired Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Prepare to be blown away by so many beautiful botanicals! Nikki + Thor met while attending school in Tucson, Arizona, and are drawn to all the Southwestern hues + details of the desert. So much so, that their wedding took on a Spanish-inspired design! Replete with bougainvillea, cactus, protea, pampas grass, and tons of Spanish tiles, we simply can’t get over all the bright pops of color!

Nikk shares a little more about the design inspiration: Our venue was absolutely stunning and had so many beautiful botanicals and Spanish accents that I didn’t want to clash with, but rather amplify them. So going off the Spanish vibes and the time of year (October), I decided on deep neutrals. We also brought some of the Southwest with us by including cacti and succulents. I gave our event designer, Angelena of Shindig Chic, my must-have list and described my overall vision and just let her run with it. She nailed it and truly captured my vision!

Ready to see all the color? We dare you to try not to pin every image captured by Priscila Valentina!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

greenery invitation

All about the greenery! N+T found these gorgeous invites on Minted.

The Florals

blush bridesmaids

Peachy pink hues, pops of orange, and dusty rose! Shindig Chic crafted the most glorious bouquets to complement the desert hues, and the dresses Nikki’s ladies rocked!

yellow desert bouquet

open back dress

The Bridesmaids

bridesmaids jean jackets

Matching jackets for all your babes? Yes, PLEASE!!

custom jean jackets

Anyone up for a fun DIY with your girls? We’ve put together this tutorial on how to create your own calligraphy jacket.

black tux groom

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

How He Asked

We had been tossing the idea of buying a house together back and forth for a while, so our friend and realtor took us to look at some homes. There was one I absolutely fell in love with so we proceeded with submitting an offer. The anticipation absolutely killed me while I was waiting to hear if it got accepted. Eventually, Thor got the call and told me that another buyer came in with a better offer. I was so sad but justified it by telling myself it just wasn’t meant to be.

Then, I was at work one Friday and my realtor asked me to go to happy hour with her. After a few drinks, she said she wanted to take me to see another house. Our Uber driver started pulling up to the house I thought we had lost, then she blindfolded me and I knew something was up. I walked inside and Thor grabbed my hand. I instantly started shaking with nerves and excitement! He pulled the blindfold off, gave a cute speech and got down on one knee! The best part… he moved ALL of our stuff into the house!! I didn’t have to lift a finger. Literally the cherry on top.

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

The Dress

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Oooh la LOVE! Nikki wore an elegant, curve hugging gown by Berta, and we’re totally + completely enamored with the back cutout + all the lace details!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

 Doesn’t Nikki look like Carrie Underwood here? Talk about SULTRY! Flora Wade played up her natural beauty with a smokey eye + pale pinky nude lips.

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

The Ceremony Space

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

pampas grass

The couple was framed by an array of pampas grass, bougainvillea, and a collection of other gorgeous florals. Have you noticed pampas grass popping up, well, everywhere lately?! Check out our round-up of 21 Unique Way to Include Pampas Grass in Your Wedding Decor!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

I have so many favorites, it’s so hard to choose! To start, our ceremony was truly amazing. It really reflected who we are as a couple and was definitely the seal to our relationship and commitment to each other. That’s what weddings are all about. Also, my dad’s speech. Just a couple weeks prior, he had a sudden health issue and was unable to attend our wedding. It was the hardest thing, but thanks to modern technology he was able to give his speech over the phone amplified on the speakers. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room! And I have to say the huge dance party we had. Our DJ killed it and everyone was having the time of their lives!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Love by Lana del Rey; Bride: Holocene by Bon Iver

Recessional: Boom Clap by Charli XCX

First Dance: Adore You by Miley Cyrus

boho lounge

Oh my goodness, what a stunning display of bright + cheery florals! Plus that macramé backdrop? LOVE! Looking to create something similar? We’ve got a DIY tutorial for you here!

The Tablescape + Reception

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

tile inspired seating chart

Spanish tile-inspired seating chart — too cute!!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Charley at Folklore Vintage Rentals put together some beautiful, neutral pieces of furniture that were understated but so unique, which let Angelena from Shindig Chic do her creative thing with the florals and design!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

cactus table number

How fun are all these pops of color? Recreate a similar style with our picks below:

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

tile favors

Yup, we ADORE these tile escort cards!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Don’t rush it. If you’re working a full-time job, want a social life and time to commit to other things, make your engagement longer. I really wanted to plan my own wedding too on top of all those other things. So, we had a 1 year and 6 month long engagement and I can truly say I never felt rushed into making a decision. I actually was able to enjoy it. Also – once you nail down the venue, everything else is a piece of cake. I recommend focusing on that first!

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

Romantic Southwestern Wedding

No better way to top off a wedding celebration, than with delicious bites, right?!

Congratulations, Nikki + Thor, and best wishes on your new adventure!

P.S. We want to see the house he proposed in! ;)

photography: Priscila Valentina // venue name: Private Estate, Rancho Santa Fe, California, USA // event design: Shindig Chic // planning: Nikki Butler, the bride // florals: Shindig Chic // wedding dress: Berta // bride's shoes: Sam Edelman // bride's ring: Oliver Smith // bridesmaid dresses: Revolve, Lulus and Tobi // hair stylist: Drybar // makeup artist: Flora Wade // groom attire: Hugo Boss // groom's shoes: Hugo Boss // videography: Lightfield Lewis // paper goods: Minted // catering: Miho Catering Co. // cake: Ruze Cake House // tabletop rentals: Folklore Vintage Rentals // furniture rentals: Folklore Vintage Rentals // music: Vario Weddings // spanish tile favors: Mexican Tile Designs // day of coordination: Holly Kalkin

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