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This Desert Wedding Had Stilt Walkers, Disco Balls & a Glitter Bar!

One of our SB team members recently tied the knot in a music festival-inspired ceremony. Think splashes of color against a serene desert backdrop, followed by a wedding reception dance floor like you've NEVER seen!

Β· By Jenna von Oy Bratcher
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SB Zoe Matthew Scottsdale Wedding featurePin

StyleBlueprint wedding features typically highlight ceremonies in the South, but today, we get to spotlight the visually stunning festivities of our very own SB staff writer Zoe Yarborough β€” now Mrs. Massey β€” which took place against a picturesque Arizona landscape. Zoe and her sweetheart, Matthew, exchanged vows surrounded by color-adorned custom displays and even more colorfully-adorned guests. The reception was one for the books, featuring music festival-inspired stilt walkers, a glitter bar, and even a β€œmerch booth” packed with party favors. We’re so happy for Zoe and Matthew and are excited to share all the details with you today!

Bride and groom kissing amid the cacti.Pin
Is there anything dreamier than a sweet kiss among the Arizona cacti? Zoe and Matthew tied the knot on March 18, 2023, at the Andaz Resort & Bungalows in Scottsdale, AZ.

Given Zoe’s affinity for storytelling and exquisite wordplay (she is, after all, our resident Grammar Guru), perhaps it’s best to let her tell her own love story, which got off to a slow start. β€œWe met in 2015 through a mutual friend on a trip to Arrington Vineyards. Matthew was visiting Nashville to see where he wanted to go to grad school,” she says of their first meeting. β€œWe had fun that day, but we were both not in a place conducive to keeping in touch.”

Fortunately, Zoe and Matthew share a deep love of music β€” the perfect catalyst. β€œOver the next few years, our paths kept crossing, mainly at concerts,” she tells us. β€œWe were magnetized to each other but didn’t even have each other’s numbers. After discovering we were both flying to NYC in a giant blizzard to see the same show, Matthew slid into my DMs to get my number. He started to casually ask me out. A few dodged attempts later, Bonnaroo 2018 started an exciting journey of getting closer as friends and going on sporadic real dates.”

Whimsical, music-centric wedding invitation suite.Pin
Zoe and Matthew’s shared love of music festivals shows up in every detail of their wedding festivities. This whimsical wedding invitation suite (designed by Logan Hall of Logarhythm Creative and printed by MOO) offers retro vibes and a unique spin on the typical RSVP request.

Their periodic hangouts turned serious, and their future was decided when Matthew proposed. β€œWe love to travel out West to hike and explore national parks,” Zoe tells us. β€œArizona became really special to us. Matthew planned a trip to Phoenix for New Year’s Eve 2021. New Year’s Eve and Day came and went with no question, so I started to question my sanity a little! However, on the morning of January 2, he woke me up before sunrise for a hike up Camelback Mountain. Overlooking the whole city and with no one around us, he asked me for a lifetime of adventures.”

Zoe in her wedding dress, sitting on a bed.Pin
How stunning is Zoe?! A simple pulled-back hairstyle perfectly complements a timeless gown paired with unique accessories. Zoe sported β€œbicep veils” rather than a traditional veil, and her pink-hued wedding shoes feature a fun pompom detail.

With Bonnaroo offering inspiration, the couple embarked on 14 months of engagement and planning their one-of-a-kind wedding, featuring major pops of color, music galore, and plenty of disco balls.

β€œI have always wanted an extra colorful and wacky wedding,” says Zoe. β€œI wanted everything to be the antithesis of standard white and pastels. We picked the music festival theme to reflect the places where we fell in love. From sending out the initial invites to β€˜Massey Fest’ until the robot stilt walkers came out, I think we really confused and wowed our guests. People just could not believe all the different activations we were able to pull off.”

Zoe smiling down at her colorful floral bouquetPin
Zoe admits that her floral budget wasn’t quite as large as some brides’ budgets β€” her focus was on music, dinner, and unforgettable details. But a bold and beautiful bouquet from Laki Floral proves that a tailored floral budget doesn’t equate to less memorable bouquets.
Matthew poses in his blue wedding tux and bolo tie.Pin
Matthew models his blue tux and bolo tie as he awaits tying the knot.
Zoe shows off her wedding dress to friendsPin
β€œMy least favorite part of the process!” Zoe exclaims in reference to selecting her wedding gown, which clearly wowed her bridal party and guests. β€œI knew what I wanted (backless, simple, easy), but I didn’t want to shop for it. Luckily, my second appointment was The Dress Theory in Nashville (THE BEST!), and my friends Whitney and Niki came with me. Niki used to work for Alexandra Grecco for years in NYC, so I knew she’d be a great sounding board. I tried on a few in my price range without looking at the labels. One just worked. I knew immediately. When I came out in it, Niki emotionally said, β€˜That’s an Alexandra Grecco and one of the last ones I helped bring to market when I worked for her.’ DONE!” Zoe also sported custom bicep veils with frilled ends from an Australian designer on Etsy.
Zoe and her bridesmaids, who are carrying bouquets and wearing colorful dresses.Pin
Zoe asked her bridesmaids to choose their own dresses, resulting in a captivating display of color and pattern.
Zoe and Matthew embracing during first looksPin
β€œIt was so magical,” gushes Zoe, recalling first looks. β€œWe got to exchange letters we wrote each other, and it made our sunset photos a lot easier.”
The bride and groom walk with their family and wedding partyPin
Picture-perfect, the bride and groom join their wedding party for a pre-ceremony stroll on the grounds.
Bride and groom smiling at each other during the wedding ceremonyPin
β€œMy Uncle Tom married us, which was so special,” says Zoe. β€œHe’s known me my whole life, and the homily was so special. He talked about my passion, Matthew’s compassion, and how we fit together.”
Zoe and Matthew listen to the officiant, mid-ceremony, as guests look onPin
Zoe and Matthew professed their love in front of 103 guests and the enchanting Scottsdale resort. β€œWe wanted a destination out West with a big airport that’s fun for everyone to visit,” says Zoe of choosing her location, adding, β€œand somewhere warm in March. Our guests got to golf, shop, hit the spa, explore the famous Desert Botanical Garden, and eat at some of our favorite spots in Phoenix. Picking the venue in Scottsdale, mountain views were a must. (Guests could see Camelback Mountain for the entire wedding!) And we loved the colorful, mid-century whimsy of the Andaz. It was perfect.”

Zoe opted to launch the reception with a festive cocktail hour followed by an exquisitely crafted seated dinner. β€œIt was over by the Retreat Pool under the tree canopy,” Zoe explains of the cocktail hour. β€œPassed hors d’oeuvres were a tuna tartar cone with avocado mousse, crispy mushroom and ancho goat cheese crostini, and lamb meatballs with harissa-labneh sauce. Our signature cocktail was a prickly pear margarita, and we had a lavender lemonade as our signature mocktail.”

The dinner spread began with a Caesar salad of gem lettuce, shaved Parmesan, EVOO croutons, and roasted tomatoes. For the main affair, guests dined on Chilean sea bass with chorizo Pamplona quinoa, carrot purΓ©e, chive oil, and golden pea shoots, or short ribs with scalloped potatoes and asparagus with blood orange gremolata and micro thyme.

Distant view of palm trees and wedding reception tables.Pin
Zoe and Matthew welcomed guests to their desert wedding reception, showering them with delicious food, custom merchandise, and of course, fabulous music.
Wedding guests pose beneath an orange archway that reads, "Massey Fest"Pin
Zoe tells us, β€œThe photo booth was under a β€˜Massey Fest’ version of the famous Bonnaroo arch.” Wedding guests clearly enjoyed this special touch!
A "custom poems" sign next to a wedding merch setup.Pin
β€œWe had a poet, Fadi, writing custom poems for guests on a typewriter,” Zoe explains. β€œHe wrote us a poem at The Churchill in Phoenix one time, and I kept in touch with him. Some of our guests were moved to tears when they read his poem … We had a merchandise section where guests could grab light-up hats, custom Massey Fest bandanas, Mexican blankets, fans, and totes. And a glitter bar where a makeup artist was bejeweling everyone’s faces β€” including my dad’s!”
Colorful DJ booth with cactiPin
A DJ booth β€” surrounded by disco balls and flanked by on-theme planters with cacti β€” was the perfect setup for Darron Sanders of Vox DJs, who played everything from house and funk to disco.
Wedding cocktail bar setup with colorful flowers.Pin
A cocktail bar adorned with multicolored florals beckoned wedding guests all night long.
"Massey Fest Zoe and Matthew" sign amid reception tables.Pin
β€œEach table was named for a stage at Bonnaroo, and guests got festival wristbands matching their table,” Zoe tells us of the reception. β€œWe had a giant marquee sign (like outside a venue) that changed throughout the night. [For example], it said, β€˜THIS MUST BE THE PLACE’ and β€˜GET YOUR MASSEYS ON THE DANCE FLOOR!’”
Close-up of reception tables with colorful blankets and embellishmentsPin
Vibrant serapes draped over the dining chairs add a dose of color and authenticity.
Close-up of record menu with yellow cloth napkinPin
Records served as dinner menus β€” a unique touch that truly captured the music festival energy.
The bride and groom kiss at their Arizona receptionPin
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Massey!

After the feast, and in keeping with the theme, it’s no surprise that the dance floor was a popular place to be. The bride and groom got the ball rolling with their first dance. β€œMatthew and I danced to β€˜Across The Room’ by Odesza, one of our favorite artists,” Zoe says. β€œMy dad and I did a fake-out slow dance into a fully choreographed one to β€˜Get This Party Started’ by P!nk. It was such a hoot. Even with a sprained ankle, I made it through the whole dance, and he did amazingly.” (You read that right: The bride sprained her ankle on a pre-wedding hike.)

Unwilling to let that sprain spoil her fun, the bride even participated in a limbo contest and sashayed amid stilt walkers β€” we’ll let the pictures speak for themselves!

The bride and groom cut their colorful wedding cake.Pin
An ombrΓ© cake with sunset hues stands out against the night sky. β€œThe top and middle were chocolate cake with espresso mousse and vanilla buttercream frosting,” says Zoe. β€œThe bottom layer was FunFetti cake with dark chocolate ganache, chocolate pearls, and vanilla buttercream frosting.”
The bride and groom dance with stiltwalkers.Pin
Zoe and Matthew enjoyed so many quirky personal touches throughout the evening β€” not the least of which were these stilt walkers. β€œWe had two neon robot stilt walkers and two additional performers with giant wings and other Cirque du Soleil-style contraptions,” says Zoe. β€œThey made the party so much fun. People were walking under the stilt walkers’ legs all night!”

Women play a game of wedding limbo on the dance floorPin
Zoe wowed in her post-wedding dress ensemble. β€œI changed into this completely badass disco suit that I rented from The Showroom,” she tells us. β€œIt was a hit!” No orchestrated departure was necessary with the dance floor as popular as it was. Zoe says, β€œ[We just did] one final song, β€œThis Is What You Came For,” and everyone was rockin’ the dance floor.”
Zoe offers a bit of sound advice for all of the brides-to-be out there, saying, β€œUse a planner, even if it’s just for a few months leading up. Your guest count is the single most important thing when it comes to costs going up or down β€” skim where you can. It is YOUR wedding! I absolutely loved having a hundred-person wedding, even though I always thought I wanted a bigger one. Pick what’s important to you and focus on it. For us, it was the crazy β€˜set’ build-outs, the music, and the seated dinner.”

Congratulations, Zoe and Matthew. We wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, and lots of music! Big thanks to Inloveness Photography for the images.

RESOURCES

Ceremony: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
Reception: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
Planner: Laki Events
Photographer: Courtney of Inloveness
Videography: John and Brittainy of Jocund Bliss
Flowers: Laki Floral
Festival build-outs, signs, and rentals: Dang! Fine Rentals
Stationery: Logan Hall of Logarhythm Creative (design) and MOO (printing)
Hair and makeup: Kazy of Kensington Makeup
Bride’s gown: Alexandra Grecco from The Dress Theory
Bride’s arm veils: Kim Alpha Bridal
Bride’s disco suit: The Showroom
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Any colorful dress
Groom’s attire: Custom tuxedo from Jos. A. Bank
Groomsmen attire: Any black tuxedo and the bolo tie Matthew gifted them
Catering: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
Cakes: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
Entertainment: Darron Sanders of Vox DJs
Cocktail house musician: Cameron Degurski
Poetry: Fadi Poetry
Photo booth: Pixster
Performers: The Circus Farm
Rentals: Centric

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Discover more incredible wedding inspirationΒ in our archives!

Jenna von Oy Bratcher

Jenna von Oy Bratcher

Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.

See all articles by Jenna von Oy Bratcher
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