Jessica + Jacob by Savannah Smith

Warm, earthy tones of red, brown, and green, paired with soft pinks and purples.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re Jake and Jess! Jake works in enterprise sales at a fintech startup, and Jess is an event planner for a venture capital and private equity firm. We met in San Diego, California, and quickly fell in love with each other’s playful spirit and the incredible friendships we’ve built here.

Our dog, Remy, is a huge part of our lives, and you’ll usually find the three of us outside, making the most of life on the West Coast. We love surfing, pilates, pickleball, frisbee, hiking, and just about any excuse to be active and outdoors.

Some of our favourite adventures together have been exploring national parks across the U.S., which ultimately inspired our decision to celebrate in Moab. There’s something special about being surrounded by dramatic landscapes and creating unforgettable memories with the people we love most.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in San Diego through mutual friends. At the time, Jess was dog-sitting, and when she went to pick up the dog, Jake answered the door. We saw each other again at a house party that same weekend, shared a few good laughs, and exchanged Instagrams. A few months later, we went on our first date in Newport, Rhode Island, while we were both home for the holidays.

After that, Jake decided to move from New York to San Diego temporarily to see if there was really something there. From the start, it just felt easy. We were comfortable with each other right away, and both had the feeling we’d found someone who would always be in our corner.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We were drawn to the contrast between the simplicity of the glass-panelled venue and the dramatic landscape surrounding it, something we knew would feel really special for our guests and us. We had never been to Moab, but having spent time in Sedona, one of our favourites, we already knew how incredible the red rocks would be. The natural palette felt like the perfect extension of Jess’s vision: warm, earthy tones of red, brown, and green, paired with soft pinks and purples inspired by desert sunset hues.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We actually booked our venue without seeing it in person, so when we went out to Moab for the first time, it was really emotional. We were so happy with our decision, and it made the rest of the planning feel even more exciting. The venue was also very customizable, so it was fun to think through all the details and decide what rentals would best bring the space to life.

Our advice would be to splurge on what matters most to you and let go of the things that don’t. Make it your own. Keep your guests in mind, but don’t over-prioritise them. At the end of the day, it’s your day, and everyone is there to celebrate you.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Our vendors were everything!! A few really stood out: Savannah and Caitlin, our photographer and content creator, are sisters who worked so seamlessly together to capture the day beautifully and naturally.

Johannah from Vita Fiori, our florist, did an amazing job bringing the vision to life. We are still in awe of how perfect everything was; it was truly better than we imagined. Our sweetheart table was a dream.

Haydee did Jess’s hair and makeup and is such a pro. She travelled from San Diego and did a flawless job. Jess has never felt more beautiful.

Our caterer, Emily from Confluence, was also exceptional. Everyone was raving about the food, and pulling that off in the middle of the desert took unmatched professionalism and talent.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

We envisioned our outfits in ivory, with our bridal party in mismatched dresses and dark espresso brown suits. It felt like a palette that was elevated, yet still soft and cohesive against the desert.

Jess has always loved a Dana Harel silhouette, and this dress, with its fitted plunge top and fuller bubble skirt, felt very “her.” Bridgette, her seamstress, also custom-made Jess’s veil, which became one of her favourite details. She even kept it on through cocktail hour because it felt so special. She also wore fingerless gloves embroidered with “to love and to cherish til death do us part,” which felt especially meaningful during the vows, and she kept those on throughout the evening as well.

Jake wore a double-breasted tux with Italian monk strap shoes, adding personal touches like custom buttons and an embroidered wedding date on the jacket. (Shout out to Phill at Suit Supply!) It was subtle but made everything feel more personal and considered. The espresso brown textured tie tied everything together beautifully with the bridal party.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Our wedding and engagement rings were custom-made by Ideal Diamond in Atlanta. Our friend, Leron, was fantastic at taking our vision and turning it into something even more special than we had imagined.

We collaborated on the engagement ring, with Jess wanting a thick hammered gold band and a diamond set slightly off to the side. Jake picked out the diamond shape and size. Jake’s wedding band is the same design, just without the diamond, which makes them feel really connected and personal to us.

What we love most is how they’ll evolve over time. The hammered gold will soften and mould to us as we wear them, becoming even more unique the longer we have them. It’s by far the most special piece we both own.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Photography and outfits were the two things we were most intentional about investing in. Jake and I both love expressing our personalities through clothing, so it felt important that our outfits made us feel like our best selves. Photography was also a no-brainer. We wanted the day captured as vividly as possible, with the intention of creating a wedding coffee table book for our families to look through whenever they come over and reminisce.

Savannah’s work was an instant yes for Jess. Between digital and film, it was clear she had exactly the eye we were looking for, and we trusted her completely to capture it all.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One of our favourite moments was sitting at our sweetheart table together. In that moment, we were able to sit back and take it all in, looking out at everyone having such a good time around us. It felt like a real “we did it” moment after so much planning and anticipation, and something we’ll always remember. (We also had a blast during the horah!!)

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

To us, being married means supporting each other’s individual growth and genuinely wanting the best for one another while moving through life together. It means being each other’s safe space and the reminder that hard things pass, and home is wherever we are together.

We share a love of food, whether that’s cooking together at home or going out to our favourite restaurants, and it naturally brings us back to each other. We try to celebrate the little things and make everyday moments feel special, finding ways to slow down and really appreciate them. Living in San Diego has helped us do that, with the sunshine, our dog, good food, and the people we love around us.