L’Auberge de Sedona was the location of one of Sedona’s most lavish and all time over-the-top weddings.  As the creative directors and production planners, Show Stoppers had our hands full with this one.  The planning began by assembling all of our favorite friendors to be part of this incredible experience.  Our sensational team, without whom this spectacle could never have happened, is credited at the end of this post. 

Our bride, Kristen, hails from North Carolina and Jeff from L.A.  We affectionately refer to this wedding as “Old South charm meets Beverly Hills elegance.”  Show Stoppers was virtually given carte blanche from beginning to end.  After a few initial conversations, we quickly knew exactly where the decor was going.   This wedding was destined to be one that everyone would never forget.  Every inspiration was discussed in length.  Once Kristen was confident in giving us complete artistic license, the creative juices began to flow with the results you are about to see.    

Getting There

Just getting to Sedona was part of the experience.  

The trip just would’t have be complete without a champagne toast on the flight from L.A. to Sedona. 

 

Welcome Party

The three day wedding extravaganza began with a colorful welcome party at the wildly popular Mexican restaurant, 89Agave.  As a part of the L’Auberge properties, the restaurant had been slated for remodeling but, when it was decided to have the welcome party there, the completion deadline was quickly moved up just to accommodate Jeff and Kristen.

What Mexican themed party would be complete without a Haul-N-Ass tequila totin’ burro?  He was so cute, friendly and “patient.”

Pinatas were everywhere, but we particularly loved the groom’s pinata.

We neatly folded serape runners on all the tables.  Then we placed matching floral details made in old clay pots with mini sombreros, crepe-paper marigolds, corn-shuck flowers, proteas and blue and orange thistles.  Maracas were randomly placed with colorful corn necklaces on all the tables for guests to wear and take as party favors.  The food was awesome! 

Guess who was first in line for tequila shots and irresistible burro kisses.  Guests quickly followed suit. 

 

The Rehearsal Dinner

Show Stoppers brought the rehearsal dinner to the elegant Mariposa Restaurant.  Our friend, Lisa Dahl, was agreeable for a buy out, so the first large event at this new establishment and Sedona landmark was under way!      

Floral garlands were draped around the plexiglass welcome sign and seat assignment chart that were placed on our vintage easels.

The vistas from inside the dining room were unbelievable!

Mercury glass goblets filled with flowers were placed in front of every place setting!  Guests were invited to take the floral arrangements to enjoy over the weekend while they attended the wedding.

The luscious chocolate groom’s cake was covered in whisky bonbons and topped with a sugar replica of a bottle of Jack Daniels.  

 

The Ceremony

High up on L’Auberge’ Spirit Song Terrace, our team created something special.  Two gorgeous arrangements flanked the head of the aisle where the lavish rose petal carpet began.  Fresh sod was replaced over the entire area for this special occasion.  

Old crockery pots held the flowers that were placed on our vintage wooden pedestals.  Marsala ribbon spanned the aisle.  

A pretty hand woven garland of magnolia, roses, hydrangea and berried eucalyptus was draped around the welcome sign. Notice their “JK” logo.    

The aisle was a blizzard 0f 2000 roses in 4 different colors that took hours to petal.  It looked like it had just snowed roses.  We marbled the pattern so it resembled cloud shadows moving across the lawn.  Smilax whips were swaged on the guest chairs the entire length of the aisle.  Family members sat up on the deck.  It was breathtaking vision to see in person, especially against the natural colors of the Sedona landscape that complemented the colors of the aisle.   

The chuppah was lavish.  A vintage crocheted table cloth was used up underneath the chuppa for the couple to stand beneath.  We sourced an old, domed, wrought iron arbor in the Adirondacks and had it shipped to Sedona just for this occasion.  The arbor served perfectly as the chuppa.  It was completely encrusted, inside-and-out, with magnolia, smilax vine, garden roses, hydrangea, dahlias and handmade ribbon flowers.   

The little girls were having such a great time modeling their boho crowns!

The ring bearers carried treasure chests covered in moss, grasses, pods and succulents.

Kristen chose Marsala as the primary color for her bouquet and other details throughout the wedding.

  
Literally, at the last minute, we found gorgeous roses that perfectly complimented the sunset glow of the red rock landscape. They were quite the topic as guests waited for the ceremony to begin. 

The L’Auberge ceremony was romantic and absolutely magical.  This is what weddings in Sedona are all about.

  Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger.

After a gorgeous ceremony and a little post-ceremony celebrating, it’s time for the much anticipated reception!

 

Cocktail Hour and Reception

After the ceremony, guests walked down the winding stairs to the Monet Garden Lawn for cocktails. In the meantime, while the bride and groom had more photos made, last minute details were being added to the decor in the ballroom.  Much of the magic happens spontaneously when unplanned details are added. 

We used a wooden vintage cabinet with galvanized tin drawers for gift cards and congratulatory sentiments.

Three old wrought iron gates served as the seat assignment cards.  They formed a free standing  “screen,” and were draped with more handmade floral garlands.  The cards were tied on alphabetically. 

Vintage lanterns, simply garnished with winter berries, were placed on all the cocktail tables.

 

Ballroom Decor / First Look

This photo says it all.  Kristen’s reaction to seeing the decor for the first time is priceless. 

I was enjoying every moment as I stood in the background and watched Jeff and Kristen take it all in before guests entered the ballroom for the big reveal.  It’s moments like this that make all the difference after so much time and hard, physical work goes into a project. Both Ken and I got long, teary eyed bear hugs from both of them.

 

The Centerpieces

It was very important to our couple that we filled up as much air space in the room as possible with decor.  The massive centerpieces were so detailed that guests could almost get lost in the imaginary blooming world right above there heads.  No matter where one was sitting, the view was different.  To give you an idea of what we mean, we are posting several images taken from different vantage points.  These images show the details and textural aspect of the floral displays. 

The surface of each table was a composition of spilt pomegranates, mushrooms, moss, succulents and gorgeous fresh flowers.  

Our popular silver candle pedestals in various heights finished the look.  The luminary candles were specially made using 25% bee’s wax to get the color to match the existing lamps on the chandeliers.  Since the candles were hollow, the glow came from deep within, giving that romantic look we were seeking. 

 

 

The Cake Table

Our marsala fabric draping was used as a background for this stunning cake and throughout the room. The fabric was intensified by the use of custom colored gels in combination with our specially programmed and positioned uplight fixtures.  Of course, we made an equally stunning floral garland that dangled on the edge of the lavish lace table cloth.

 

The Chandeliers

Seven massive chandeliers in both the Monet ballroom 1 & 2 were covered with magnolia garlands, gardenias, cotton bolls, handmade ribbon flowers, roses, hydrangeas and orchids.  Spanish moss was strategically hung to finish the southern charm look.  Magnolia and gardenia covered spheres were suspended below each chandelier.  They were hung  just out of reach of the guests so that the fragrance permeated the dance floor and gently moved through the room like a cool, southern summer breeze.  Smilax vine was strung mid-air tying one chandelier to the next under the up lighted ivory fabric draped ceiling.

Notice how we purposely designed our lighting to streak across the folds of the draping accentuating the deep folds of the fabric.   

Our patterned gobo lighting on the ceiling added more color and dimension to the space.   So that no cables were visible, L’Auberge brought in additional power (for the large band) through the sheetrock walls that were knocked out and later restored like new.  

 

The Mantle

One of the areas in the Monet Ballroom that we particularly enjoy decorating is the mantel.  Hollowed out birch bark logs were used to house woodsy elements such as fresh assorted mosses and mushrooms, persimmon branches, winter berries, split pomegranates, smilax vine, magnolia, gardenias, succulents, lichen, moss spheres, squash, gourds and cymbidium orchids.  The cavities inside the logs became terrariums filled with natural elements i.e. mosses, mushrooms and lichen.  

As we gave the final okay for guests to enter for the big reveal, we could not resist taking one last look at the vision we created inside the Monet Ballroom at the incredible L’Auberge de Sedona.

  So ends the story of a truly exceptional wedding with an equally exceptional bride and groom.  Thank you K&J from K&J.

 

Jim and Ken,

” Oh my goodness, where do I even begin!  You two created magic on October 10th….  perfect and beautiful magic.  From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful and thankful to have met the two of you, and for the amazing chemistry we had together.  You managed to take away all my stress of planning, and turned it into a fun and comforting process full of laughter and good humored banter.  From day one I knew we were in good hands.  You both were so patient and willing to listen to every dream and vision I had.  You took my thoughts and created a far better fairytale than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.   It was breathtaking ( literally), jaw-dropping, and awe inspiring.  You both have an intuitive ability to interpret a bride’s jumbled thoughts and create from scratch an enchanting secret garden that will forever hold the grooms and her’s most treasured memories.

Jim and Ken, you will always have a special place in my heart and mind as the dream-makers of my always and forever story book wedding.”

With love, Kristen Jaeger

PS.  Thank you for the beautiful flowers in our room, it was such a special extra touch. ♥ 

 

  

 

 

Vendors:

Location: L’Auberge de Sedona
Welcome Dinner:  89Agave
Rehearsal Dinner:  Mariposa
Creative Direction and Production Planning:  Events By Show Stoppers:
Flowers & Props:  Events By Show Stoppers
Lighting and Draping:  Events By Show Stoppers
Coordination:  Margaret Van Damme
Photography: Lauren and Abby Ross
Cake:  Sedona Cake Couture:
Rentals:  Classic Party Rentals
Burro:  Haul-N-Ass