Arizona residents, Lauren Huxel and Blaine Stuart, found love on the popular Internet dating site, Match.com. The modern romance that began with electronic letters and photos, evolved into a 14-month courtship and a fall wedding, held on the north porch of the Grand Canyon.

“Our first in-person meeting isn’t too glamorous,” said Lauren. “We met in the parking lot at Wal-Mart with our dogs. Our first official date was hiking Mount Humphreys, which is the highest mountain in Arizona.”

The pediatrician and Austin native and her Aspen, Colorado beau both love the outdoors and when Blaine proposed marriage on October 21, 2005, they collectively decided that a fall outdoor wedding would be most fitting. “Blaine owns a tour company and is a river rafting guide,” said Lauren. “He has worked in the Grand Canyon for the past ten years and thinks it as the most spiritual place in the world. It is nicknamed ‘God’s Cathedral’ after all.”

Blaine and Lauren had planned to wed at the edge of the Grand Canyon but the morning of the wedding, October 14, 2006, Lauren awoke to 50-degree temperatures and a hailstorm. “When I saw the hail and heard that the road had turned into rushing mud, we needed an alternative plan,” she said. “We quickly changed the ceremony site to the north porch of the El Tovar, a large hotel built 20-feet from the very edge of the south rim of the Grand Canyon.”

An intimate gathering of 25 guests witnessed the couple’s nuptials, which included personalized vows. “We wrote our own vows because they represented us better than the traditional ones,” said Lauren.

The bride’s bouquet was comprised of red and orange Gerber daisies, and Lauren’s sister and best friend wore hunter green dresses. Blaine’s best friend and sister showed their support as his wedding attendants. Lauren wore a sleeveless, ivory A-line, satin gown, with beading along the bodice.

“We had a small guest list, but at least 200 uninvited tourists were inadvertently part of the ceremony,” said Lauren.

Lauren enlisted Steve Armstrong of Steve Armstrong Photography to capture their wedding memories. “Steve is a longtime family friend, and I knew he would do a fantastic job,” said Lauren. “He showed up early and stayed late, capturing the entire wedding experience, rather than just random snapshots.”

At the ceremony’s end, the Stuarts headed to the Hart Prairie Lodge at Arizona Snowbowl to meet the additional 110 guests. They were served blacked salmon and prime rib buffet style. The groom’s ‘cake’ was a stack of Rice Krispies treats; the four layer bridal cake included a mango cheesecake and a vanilla pound cake. A local bluegrass band kept everyone two-step dancing, and Lauren’s sister composed and performed a special song for the newlyweds.

Since Lauren was participating in a breast cancer walk shortly after the wedding, the couple decided to plan their two-week honeymoon for early November. “We both love the desert climate, and wanted to go somewhere more interesting than the usual Hawaiian honeymoon,” she said. “We chose Namibia, Africa, the oldest desert in the world, and were able to experience the wildlife and game, comfortable safari lodges, and the beauty that is Africa.”

Austin Resources

Bridal Gown:
Demetrios

Cake:
Sedona Cakes Couture

Caterer:
Arizona Snowbowl

Ceremony Venue:
Grand Canyon National Park, North Porch of the El Tovar

Flowers:
Flagstaff Floral, Ltd

Groomsmen Tuxedoes:
Jim’s Formalwear

Music:
Nolan McKelvey and 33 (local bluegrass band)

Officiant:
Pastor Ed Purkey

Photographer:
Steve Armstrong Photography

Reception Venue:
Hart Prairie Lodge at Arizona Snowbowl

Salon:
Salon Rouge (Faith Hare)

Wedding Coordinator:
Yvonne Baca (Northern Arizona Wedding Planner)