I went into full “wedding cheerleader” mode at Ciara and Logan’s cozy downtown wedding in Tucson at the Stillwell House. They’re both introverts like I am. When the big day arrived, they were so excited to get married. But the nervous butterflies also kicked into overdrive. Logan and Ciara had a ton of fun things in store for both themselves and their guests. But they needed a little encouragement to forget about everyone else and to just embrace all the emotions they were feeling. I teared up more than once during their wedding day– purely because I was so happy to see them smile, laugh, and truly enjoy the memories they were making together.
Getting Ready at their Industrial AirBnB
Logan and Ciara needed a place to get ready and hang out before their reservation time at the Stillwell House started. They rented a nearby AirBnB less than 5 minutes from the venue. Not only was it conveniently located to where their downtown wedding would be, but it was so neatly decorated! It had tons of quirky and industrial décor mixed with modern finishes. I felt like they picked somewhere that really spoke to them personally as opposed to just picking somewhere that checked the necessary boxes.
When I walked in, Logan was hanging out on the couch. I asked him how he was feeling and he said that things just didn’t seem real. They had been planning this wedding for a long time, doing aaaalll the things. And then BAM! It’s their wedding day. Despite them being engaged for over a year, the date, and all the emotions that go along with it, still snuck up on him.
Ciara was upstairs with her mom and bridesmaids getting her hair and makeup done. She had the same feelings as her soon-to-be-husband. “All that nervous energy will go away,” I told her, “as soon as you see each other.” She smiled at the thought of seeing him in just a few hours.
Grabbing their box filled with pretty wedding day details and thoughtful gifts, I went outside to start photographing. I found a great shady spot outside on the porch to work, leaving Logan and Ciara inside to have a bit more alone time.
Logan and Ciara didn’t plan for a First Look before the ceremony. So I had to make sure Logan got ready and left the AirBnB before Ciara could come downstairs. His Best Man, Clinton, added the finishing touch of his boutonniere before leaving for the Stillwell House. Also, PRO TIP! Ask your florist if they use (or can offer) magnetized attachments for your guys’ boutonnieres! Believe me when I say this a freaking ingenious innovation! Not only does it save so much time pinning them on, but it also prevents holes in your nice suits as well as accidental painful pin pricks. You’ll be so glad your florist used them!
Their Downtown Wedding Ceremony at the Stillwell House
When choosing their wedding venue, Ciara and Logan wanted something with both indoor and outdoor options that still felt intimate, keeping friends and family close. They got the cozy vibe they were looking for at the Stillwell House and Gardens. Plus, they instantly loved the courtyard!
The flowers placed on top of their wooden welcome sign really made it shine. I love these signs because it gives couples something with their names and wedding date to display in their home right after the wedding!
I knew when we first met at their engagement session on Mt. Lemmon that Ciara and Logan were my kind of nerdy people. If you haven’t heard about their Pokemon Go proposal, go check out the story of how they met and got engaged! My draw dropped to floor as Logan walked out into the courtyard to the Halo theme music! OH YES HE DID! Logan also gifted Ciara a customized pink game controller earlier that morning with “Mrs. Busch” engraved on it.
Right as the ceremony began and they held hands for the first time, Logan cracked a big grin. He immediately followed it with more than one deep exhale, letting his nerves dissipate.
Their vows were finished and there was only one thing left to do. Look at Logan’s thrilled expression!
Officially presenting Mr. and Mrs. Busch!
Wedding Party Photos in the Courtyard
The color palette of Ciara and Logan’s wedding was inspired by the fall and holiday vibes seen this time of year. Burgundy also gave them that cozy and romantic feel they were after. The gold, khaki, and champagne-colored accents helped to keep the theme a little brighter, too. Since the courtyard is one of the main reasons my couples choose the Stillwell House as their venue, I feature it as much as possible during portrait time.
One of Ciara’s favorite parts of her wedding dress are the swag sleeves. I was getting total Belle from Beauty and the Beast vibes! The sleeves in combination with the lace detail and long train just screamed “romantic.”
Couples Portraits around Downtown
As we left the courtyard, Ciara asked to take a quick photo in front of the wooden gates. I knew I wanted to make sure to feature her veil against the darker backdrop. Then we took a short walk around downtown, taking portraits in a few different places for variety while staying close to the venue.
Look at that cute nose crinkle smile Ciara is giving Logan. THAT is the genuine happiness I wanted to see!
An Outdoor Dinner and Reception
I had been looking forward to Logan and Ciara’s wedding reception all day. They were surprising their guests with a fun choreographed First Dance. Ciara said it was the moment she was looking forward to the most. She and Logan had been working really hard on it leading up to the wedding day. “We were insanely pumped to pull it off!”
To my surprise, I teared up as they took their final bow. Their dance went SO WELL and I knew how important it was to them. I knew they could pull it off!
Ciara’s dad stirred up more tears as he closed out the evening’s congratulatory toasts. In his speech, he said he knew Logan was the one Ciara would marry when he first met him. He went on to say that Logan makes Ciara smile every day and that’s what a dad wants most for his daughter.
Once dinner and toasts were finished, everyone headed inside into the 1901 bar room to watch the cake cutting. I was yet again faced with a gorgeous and mouth-watering dessert table demanding I try one of everything. It was so difficult to resist!
Did you see the cake topper? It’s another video game-infused wedding moment inspired by Animal Crossing. There were lots of gaming nods throughout the day. I’m so happy these two stayed true to themselves!
The staircase is a really pretty centerpiece of the main house, but, in my opinion, it doesn’t shine during a reception entrance. Standing at the bottom of the stairs while the couple walks down doesn’t show its shape well. And photographing from a low angle isn’t very flattering either. So I wanted to do a romantic and slightly more dramatic photo featuring the staircase. I planned out what I wanted ahead of time, took a test photo with my second photographer, and got this portrait done quickly so that they could get back to the party!
These lovebirds are currently on their way home from their “minimoon” in San Diego and Disneyland! Ciara was very happy they could be at Disney while it’s decorated from head-to-toe for Christmas. They hope to plan a bigger trip somewhere else in the future. Ciara and Logan, I hope you both had a blast on your wedding day. I know I did!
WEDDING VENDORS FROM THIS COZY DOWNTOWN WEDDING
Wedding Venue | Stillwell House and Gardens
Photographer | Christy Hunter Photography
Dress Shop | J Bridal Boutique
Florist | Thistle Tucson
Hair and Makeup | Nicole Cruz with Nicology
DJ | Fantastic Five Entertainment
Cake Shop | Ambrosia Cakes
Groom’s and Groomsmen Attire | Nick’s Menswear
Bridesmaids’ Dresses | Birdy Grey
Officiant | Wendy Kotch
Scroll through other beautiful weddings at the Stillwell House in Tucson and read each couple’s unique story!
