Slater knew Kesi was the one during their first date. He reminisces, “everything flowed so smoothly, and it felt like we knew each other for years.” To Kesi, Slater was a “breath of fresh air, yet so familiar.” She says, “I love that he preferred the real ‘me,’ regardless of what that meant at the time.”
After living together in their condo in Coral Springs, FL, Slater knew it was time for a change. A change of scenery and a change of commitment. He caught Kesi totally off guard when he proposed to her during their going away party in front of family and friends.
Now they had to plan a move and a wedding, but they had a clear vision of the type of wedding they wanted to have. They went the non-traditional route and decided to elope. Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona, the couple exchanged vows with just their officiant, videographer and photographer. They shared their special wedding moments with their family afterward. Kesi explains, “We just weren’t comfortable spending tens of thousands on one day. We believe marriage is about two people, and that’s how we wanted to enter into our marriage.” They followed their heart, stuck to their budget and still managed to have a spectacular wedding that exceeded their expectations.
- Full Name of Couple: Kesi Nosakhere and Slater Hunter
- Location of Wedding: Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona
- Wedding Date: March 19, 2020
Quick Facts
- Wedding Flowers: I loved the process of designing my bouquet. I knew I wanted deep colors and very moody and a little on the wild side.
- Favorite Item on Menu: Chick-Fil-A we had after since everything was shut down because of COVID-19
- First dance song: “I Like” by Guy
- Advice for Brides: Breathe, at the end of the day it’s gonna be perfect.
Describe your wedding dress and your favorite wedding accessory.
I tried on sooooo many dresses both here and back home because we moved right after we got engaged. My dress was a fit and flare, strapless dress in a blush (formally called “moscato”) color with like 7 layers of ruffles. I loved the color and that it still had drama even though it didn’t have beading or sparkles. I can’t pick one favorite accessory. It’s between my Kate Spade bangle, that I searched EVERYWHERE for because it was EXACTLY how I wanted my jewelry, and my burgundy Doc Martens. I was supposed to wear rose gold, satin platform Keds, but it was snowing/raining and I knew we had to hike. The Docs were more appropriate and very comfortable. I would have ruined the Keds with the red clay.
Best Memories
Slater: My best memory would be the dancing at the end because there was no music so it was pretty awkward. But, I couldn’t stop smiling and it felt so good to hold Kesi after saying “I do.”
Kesi: We were doing a dancing scene with the videographer, and we wanted to hear music. So we played “I Like” by Guy, and it was so perfect because Slater would always sing it to me around the house; it was such a great moment.
Advice for Engaged Couples
Slater: If you’re going to have a big wedding make sure it’s something you’re financially and mentally prepared for. There’s nothing wrong with eloping and enjoying that moment with your partner for the time being, and let everyone else enjoy it with photos and videos.
Kesi: Slater said it best, but enjoy your engagement. Because we were moving cross country, and I’m very type A, I jumped into planning because I knew nothing about weddings. I wanted to know how much it will cost and get something done before having to book a flight home. Had I left it alone, we probably would have decided to elope before spending money. I also think everyone should elope haha. It’s just the better option all around, and you get the best of everything: being stress-free, financially smart, and still sharing with loved ones. If I knew what I know, I would have gone to the courthouse in a cute outfit and did a photoshoot after. But if you’re planning, budget for premarital counseling and a day of coordinator.
Vendors
- Photographer: White Desert Photography
- Planner: Vanessa Hayward w/ Vanessa Hayward Events (virtually assisted bride)
- Dress: Ivory Bridal
- Officiant: Deelightful Weddings
- Rings: Moissanite Co. / Etsy / Amazon
- Flowers: Sedona Mountain High Flowers
- Makeup: Laura Cortez Makeup
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