I was on a plane traveling for the photo shoots for this issue of Arizona Bride when I thought of the opening scene from one of my favorite movies, “Love Actually.” The touching footage of friends and loved ones greeting each other at London Heathrow airport, with Hugh Grant concluding that love is everywhere you turn. It made me think of weddings and that, no matter what, our little corner of the world remains full of love. When the candles have been blown out, the bouquet has been tossed and the cake has been eaten ... love is what remains. That is constant and true—and carries our couples for the rest of their lives.
As we celebrate our Best of 2025, I see love bursting and abuzz in the Arizona wedding community. Between voting online, celebrating each other’s nominations and ultimately sharing hugs and toasting talent at our gala in May, love for what you do, who you do it with and who you do it for is clear as day. It’s a beautiful thing.
This issue was so fun to put together! Through an online voting process, we arrived at our “Best of” nominees and winners. (Couples: It’s also an incredible resource for planning your wedding!).
We headed south to Tucson for a Mediterranean-meets-cowboy design led by Confetti Event Planning that’ll make you crave an Aperol Spritz. Fun fact: Our models are a real-life couple eloping in Lake Como just about when this issue hits newsstands. Congratulazioni! Then, up in Gold Canyon, Laki Events + Design created a whimsical wonderland at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club that had us swooning.
Venture page by page and discover creative escort card displays, hydrating beauty essentials, fashion musts in the season’s hottest color, stunning real weddings and so much more.
I hope as you take in every bit of this issue—from the love we pour into creating it to the love professed between our couples—you are reminded that love is all around.
Cheers, love birds, and let love surround you on your journey to wedded bliss!
Chelsea Gibson
Editor-in-Chief, Arizona Bride
