This Couple Made Sure Their Intimate Wedding in Sedona's Red Rocks Was All About Their Guests

Out of the Box

The couple's guests received boxed invitation suites from The Idea Emporium that included a handmade velvet folio with the ceremony details, a scripture verse, rose rocks—the state rock of Oklahoma, where both Stefanie and Terrel have roots—and RSVP cards tied with personalized wooden pens. "We wanted the experience of the celebration to feel like a gift to our guests," says the couple, "and that started with the experience of opening the invitation." Calligraphy by Isidore & Augustine and an array of carefully curated stamps helped the boxes make an impression.

A Warm Welcome

As guests joined the couple in Sedona, they were greeted with welcome bags curated by Luxe Little Love that included wooden cheese boards, French Laguiole cheese knives Stefanie brought back from a trip overseas, local cheese, crackers, and cactus jelly. A custom guidebook offered suggestions for local activities and laid out the weekend's events.

His and Hers

Stefanie worked with stylist Maradee Wahl and garment engineer Sara Rothan to customize a blush Needle and Thread wedding dress. "I didn't really try on anything," she says. "I had an idea of the color and style I loved. I knew I didn't want to go with a traditional white gown, but wanted to wear something flattering for my very pink skin tones." The resulting ensemble—a flowing skirt and bodice with a sheer, flower-embellished overlay—was the perfect fit for both the bride and the setting.

Terrel's bespoke black tuxedo from Culwell and Son coordinated with his traditional accessories—white shirt, black bow tie, black shoes. "Nothing cute," says Stefanie. "Very classic!"

Head to Toe

Stefanie accessorized her gown with pale Chloe heels. She used a pair of custom rose gold hairpins from Eden B. Studio to pull back loose curls created by hair and makeup artist Claudia Mejerle.

With These Rings

Stefanie and Terrel chose and customized her engagement ring together, and—with Dallas jeweler David Shaw—designed a diamond and rose gold wedding band to complement it. The groom's band wasn't as easy to find, says Stefanie: "We sourced Terrel's ourselves. It was a bit of challenge to find tungsten with a rose gold interior to coordinate with my ring set."

Feeling Rosy

Stefanie's loose bouquet from Bows & Arrows, inspired by the colors in the surrounding scenery, included vanda orchids, garden roses, lisanthus, scabiosa, and cosmos in varying shades of pink and red, along with draping leaves for a natural, organic feel.

Up in the Air

The couple didn't feel tied to the tradition of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony: Not only did they share breakfast together on the morning of the wedding, but they posed for formal portraits on a natural bridge earlier in the week, before their guests arrived. "We designed the flow of the days we had with our guests around little moments of surprise and delight," says the couple, "spending as much quality time with them as possible."

A Surprise Ceremony

Though the weekend itinerary included details of the ceremony on November 6, Stefanie and Terrel couldn't wait any longer to get married. "I love a logistical challenge, and we both love a good surprise!" says Stefanie. Over brunch the day before, the couple read a poem announcing that the wedding would take place that afternoon. They gave their guests plenty of time to change their clothes and get ready, and then transported them over rugged dirt roads to Merry Go Round Rock, one of Sedona's more private locations, in bright off-roaders from Pink Jeep Tours. "After a year-long engagement, we wanted to spend time celebrating the marriage itself with our friends and family," says Stefanie.

Walking Tall

The couple also gave each guest an engraved hiking stick for navigating the rocky Sedona terrain.

Just the Two of Them

Though the couple loved planning a weekend of adventures and surprises for their guests, Stefanie recalls "being together and praying together in the few minutes before the ceremony" as a particular highlight. "We didn't hide from each other before the ceremony," she says, "and these few minutes together were just a joy and delight."

Parental Guidance

A solo violinist from Jordan Khan Music Company provided music for the ceremony, with songs that included "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "Be Thou My Vision," and "In Christ Alone." As Stefanie's parents walked her down the aisle, the violinist performed "I Will Look Up."

Faith and Love

Stefanie and Terrel asked their "friend and mentor" to officiate a Christian ceremony that they describe as "faith-centered and focused on worship and celebration." They wrote their own vows and had them printed in a custom book that they used during the ceremony, and asked friends to recite several scripture verses.

Bread and Wine

Stefanie and Terrel also included the sacrament of communion in their ceremony, personally serving the wine and bread to each of their guests.

An Intimate Meal

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests decamped to L'Auberge de Sedona, a luxury resort on the river, for cocktails and dinner. The party sat outdoors at a single long table covered in custom blush-colored velvet linens from Party Tables, while strings of overhead lights from Glenn Roush Entertainment let the leisurely meal turn into a "long, lingering dinner party."

On the Menu

At each place setting, a velvet-wrapped letterpress card displayed the evening's menu, designed by the chef at the resort's Cress on Oak Creek restaurant: The six-course chef's tasting included pineapple braised pork belly, roasted beet salad, beef tenderloin, and crème brulee (in lieu of wedding cake). Each menu had a guest's name blind embossed on the velvet—so friends and family could find their seats without place cards—with a small Oklahoma rose rock accent.

Pink Perfection

The blush-colored linens created an elegant backdrop for chic place settings that incorporated custom white chargers, rose gold flatware, and glasses for the wine pairings sent out with each course.

Pint-Sized Pictures

Stefanie and Terrel commissioned a series of hand-painted red rock landscapes from tiny art specialist Leigh Anna Newell of Nell and Grey, presenting each guest with a mini memento in a brass frame. "We strongly incorporated artists and artisans into our design plan," says Stefanie. "Her work is incredible."

Centerpieces

Centerpieces that included orchids, ranunculus, cymbidiums, garden roses, and scabiosa sat in custom pottery vessels, incorporating the shades and colors of the resort's natural surroundings. Stefanie also asked her florist to include pansies—a flower that reminds her of time spent in the garden with her mother and late grandmother. "The pansies have been pressed and framed in our home now," she says.

Sources

Photography, Sarah Kate Photography

Location, L'Auberge de Sedona

Event planning, Stefanie Miles Events

Catering, Cress on Oak Creek at L'Auberge de Sedona

Flowers, Bows & Arrows

Videography, Candlelight Films

Stationery, The Idea Emporium

Calligraphy, Isidore & Augustine

Music, Jordan Khan Music Company

Rentals, Top Tier Event Rentals

Bride's gown, Needle and Thread

Bride's accessories, Eden B. Studio hairpins; Chloe shoes

Hair and makeup, Claudia Mejerle

Groom's tuxedo, Culwell and Son

Lighting, Glenn Roush Entertainment

Transportation, Pink Jeep Tours

Gifting, Luxe Little Love

Jeweler, David Shaw

Linens, Party Tables

On-Site Coordinator, Caroline Events

Stylist, Maradee Wahl

Tiny Art, Nell and Grey