Today’s incredible Tiffany blue and ruby red wedding has me smiling. Not just because of the colors. Or the amazing cake. Or the details in the food and stationery (although all those things come into play!)

It’s mostly because of the familial love you can see in every single one of the photos from Malisa and Jerami’s wedding. As you look through the photos you can hear the clinking of glasses, the buzz of conversation, the “awwww” as the flower girl walks down the aisle and the applause at the first kiss…and the great dancing music that went on into the night.

The event took place at Canyon Gate Country Club (outdoors and in the ballroom) in the spring. Malisa decided on Canyon Gate after looking at several other venues on a scouting trip to Vegas. Also in the running? Emerald at Queensridge, Westin Las Vegas, and Angel Park Golf Club. I think one of the most amazing things is that it was mostly a destination wedding, and was planned and executed by the bride and her team of helpers. That’s right – this wedding was not done with the assistance of a planner.

Malisa, our enterprising bride writes:

I did not use a wedding planner.  I’m a pretty extreme Type A so planning a wedding is right up my alley.  I designed and printed all of my wedding stationery, including the escort cards. 

Wow. Consider that as you feast your eyes on this gorgeous wedding below, with images from Joey Allen Photography.

The bride, Malisa wrote a little about her wedding:

I think we had several reasons for choosing Vegas.  We love Vegas and so do our friends and family.  Vegas is pretty easy to get to for many of our guests.  Accommodations are usually reasonably priced.  Many of our guests get comped at many of the Vegas hotel/casinos.  We initially planned a large wedding just like my brother’s wedding the year before. 

The thought of a large wedding gave me panic attacks.  We looked at venues in Denver and San Diego and those that held 500+ guests all required too much compromising.  We then decided to consider Vegas.  We flew out to Vegas and visited 11 venues in three days.  We selected the last venue we visited (Canyon Gate.)  Our was not a typical Vegas wedding.  Our venue and many of our vendors were booked a year in advance.

Tip: Don’t expect everything to be 100% perfect even if you’ve spent countless hours planning for every emergency.  Planning a wedding is a lesson on compromise for the perfectionist.  At one point, I sat down and pulled out a notepad and pen from my purse (and yes I stashed my purse under the head table) and started a list and at the top of the list I wrote: “Things that went wrong!!!”  My dear sister and maid of honor said maybe we should start a list of “Things that went right.”  The ironic thing was that I could only come up with three items on the list and it turns out, one of the items I listed had to be crossed off because it did not go wrong after all.  I guess another tip is be nice to your vendors.  They can make or break your day.  If they go above and beyond your expectations, tip them well.

Great advice! All that’s left to share is the the vendor list, which makes my heart go pitter patter. Malisa’s a girl after my own heart with her attention to detail.

What a fabulous wedding – thank you for sharing!

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Wedding + Reception Venue: Canyon Gate Country Club / Photographer: Joey Allen Photography / Photobooth: Shutterbooth / Transport: Hummer from Earth Limos / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang “Ethel” and Melissa Sweet “Gigi”  / Rehearsal dinner dress: Monique Lhuillier for Nordstrom / Veil and comb: Sara Gabriel Veils and Headpieces / Jewelry: JC Penney & The Limited / Bride’s Shoes: Hangisi “Something Blue” by Manolo Blahnik, Enzo Angiolini (don’t remember the style name), and Charles by Charles David / Hair and Makeup: Whitney Larios from Desert Glamour / Bridesmaid’s Dresses:  Alfred Sung / Menswear: Vera Wang Black for Men’s Wearhouse and Calvin Klein at Men’s Wearhouse/  Floral: Enchanted Florist / Catering: Canyon Gate Country Club / Cake: Las Vegas Custom Cakes / Stationery: By the bride / Celebrant:  Doug Loman / Entertainment: DJ Patrick from Music Solution / Favors: Patisserie Manon / Accommodation: Vdara and Stratosphere