Real Wedding: Elle and Tad’s Red Rocks Nuptials

August 7, 2024

THE COUPLE:

Office manager, Elle, and table games dealer, Tad, began their love story in a local bar in their hometown of Spokane, Wash. in February 2017. After a four-year love story, Tad popped the question in Las Vegas. Tad planned to take a photo with his future bride in front of the Love Sign inside the Venetian Resort, the same spot that their first photo as a couple was taken. The newly-engaged couple were greeted with applause and their wedding planning journey began.

THE WEDDING:

After a three year engagement, the wedding morning began with a sign from the universe: an eclipse. Wedding guests and party members were able to witness the astronomical event before witnessing another.

The Washington-based couple ventured away from home for their Red Rocks wedding. Ellee and Tad selected the scenic Sunset Grill in Moab as their wedding venue.

“We visit Moab yearly to go camping and Sunset Grill is one of the restaurants we like to visit right before we leave,” Ellee said.

The black and white wedding showed off the couples’s love for neutral colors, as well as enhanced the cowboy-western appeal of the experience. The couple opted for neutrals in order to not overwhelm the wedding with too much color, so the focus of the event could be the happy couple and to highlight the scenic red rocks background.

Ellee walked down the aisle in designer Alena Lena’s “Armeria” dress. The fluffy-tulle dress with off-the-shoulder long sleeves complimented the bridal look. Ellee’s remarkable black veil and black and white hair color complimented the wedding colors, as well as the beautiful scenery of the wedding.

Tad donned an off-white suit jacket with complimentary black pants and all-black Vans shoes to match the color scheme. The groom included a photo of his father, to honor and include him in the wedding after his passing in 2016.

Ellee was accompanied by her bridesmaids, her two younger sisters, her best friend and her sister-in-law while Tad’s three best friends took their place by his side as the couple tied the knot. The bridesmaids stunned in their black dresses of various styles while the groomsmen sported black tuxes.

The wedding ceremony commenced as Ellee was walked down the aisle by the couple’s three-year-old and concluded with the newlyweds sealing the deal with a romantic kiss next to the red rocks and unique southern Utah landscape.

THE PARTY:

Ellee and Tad started their marriage off with a bang. After officially tying the knot, the newly married couple celebrated with a shot. The reception, also held and catered by Sunset Grill, featured a menu of fettuccini alfredo, pasta and salad. Signature drinks of the night included Ellee’s Jalepeño Margarita and Tad’s Jameson mule. The venue also provided a house sunset lemonade for the wedding.

The wedding cake, made by Sugar Shaker Bakery, was a decadent chocolate cake with a sweet raspberry filling. The one-tier, heart-shaped cake took on a vintage look with its black and white frosting with “Married AF” written in cursive frosting.

The couple’s guest book was an acoustic guitar signed by the guests. The decor for the event included string lights, a black sign with the new couple’s last name in neon letters and a black Jenga tower.

Ellee’s Alena Leena flowy dress was switched out for a sleek and more danceable gown from Meshki, a black leather jacket and a pair of black cowboy boots to show off her western side. A violinist played music during the cocktail hour while the reception was “DJed” by a speaker and a playlist.

The couple’s first dance was to “I Think I’m in Love with You” by Chris Stapleton. The groom also performed his own special version of the iconic early 2000s song “Ignition” as a gift to the bride.