A garden wedding within a desert city

There’s a hidden gem of a wedding venue in the heart of Downtown Mesa, called Regency Garden. This was the setting where Kaitlyn and Drew invited us to be a part of their springtime wedding celebration. As their wedding photographers, it was our joy to capture their wedding day story with our documentary approach and natural lighting style. We found ourselves truly inspired by these two lovely people and their unique love story.

We began the wedding day by capturing all the special details, which is a key part of our visual story-telling style. We found inspiration everywhere—the bride’s grandmother’s garnet and gold brooch; the bride’s bejeweled blue heels; and the huge, gorgeous white lilies of the bride’s bouquet. One honorable mention has to be made to the groom and groomsmen for showing off their personality with very cool and geeky socks! The eggs and bacon socks hold a special place in my heart. But it is the awesome “Game Over” socks that brings back fond memories of Bill Paxton’s infamous line in Aliens (although we’re sure this is a classic video game reference)! From the multi-colored neckties to the classic, flexible suspenders, these guys truly had a fun time with their wardrobes.

Following the getting ready details, family and friends began to arrive at the venue, and the hour finally came for this couple to see each other for the first time. The first look between the bride and groom is one of our favorite things to cover as photographers. It is one of the most intimate moments that a couple can share on a busy wedding day, and it’s also a great way for them to calm their nerves before the ceremony. So much goes into the planning of a wedding, and it is within this single moment that a couple can connect in a profound way. Luckily, this venue is located near a secluded walkway, mostly hidden from the public, with shaded, ambient lighting—a photographer’s dream!

After a lovely outdoor wedding ceremony under the garden gazebo, all of the excited guests gathered tightly around the newlyweds and cheered them on in a celebratory group photo. The group photo fun didn’t stop there; it was on to the bridal party next, who took advantage of the oversized pink armchair sculpture / art installation across the street. We applaud the bridal party crew for making this concrete couch appear to be way more comfortable to sit on than it actually was!

With family and bridal party group photos addressed, it was time to move on to the bride and groom newlywed portraits. When it comes to portrait backdrops, Regency Garden offers the best of both worlds: an outside garden ceremony courtyard under tall and lush green shade trees; and a city scene of vintage brick buildings and brick-paved roadways nearby. The afternoon sunlight bounces off these warm-hued buildings to create beautiful lighting conditions, perfect for making some modern, artistic portraits!

On our return to the wedding reception, this fun couple stopped for a spontaneous photo moment and tried out their balancing skills on some nearby Lime-S Scooters (now available for Downtown Mesa pedestrians). How cool would it have been if they rode into the reception hall together on these stylish motorized scooters for their grand entrance!? Next time…

Congrats Kaitlyn and Drew on your marriage, and we wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Thank you to the following wedding vendors who came together to make this wedding day a success!

Photography: David Orr Photography

Venue: Regency Garden

DJ and MC: Mark Sanchez, Professional Mobile Entertainment

Officiant: Klee Bethel

Catering: Put a Fork In It

Cake: Piece of Cake

Flowers: Crismon’s Flowers

Dress: David’s Bridal

Suit: Men’s Wearhouse