ABOVE The grooms looked handsome in custom suits they bought during travels in Vietnam.
ARMED WITH A BACKGROUND IN DESIGN, James was
able to visualize a scene in the open space that beautifully reflected his and Andy’s three-year relationship. With a little help from their loved ones, from best friends to James’s grandmother, contemporary pendants were hung, favors were made and tables were topped with twinkling jars. And the result wasn’t merely decorative, as it proved to James and Andy that their love was supported and should be celebrated.
THE VENUE The MonOrchid, located
in downtown Phoenix’s artsy Roosevelt Row, impressed the grooms not only for its masculine touches, such as corrugated metal, industrial sliding doors and concrete
64 LOVE INC.
flooring, but for its versatility. “There were no limitations on vendors that we could bring in, giving us the flexibility to make the wedding our own,” notes James, who remodels and flips homes for a living and was able to put his professional creativity to use.
THE CEREMONY Upon entering the
ceremony space, guests were invited to grab a cocktail, immediately setting the social atmosphere. Andy’s niece paved the way as the flower girl followed by the grooms accompanied by their mothers to Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally.” “Standing in the back as the ceremony began, I started crying,” says Andy. “I didn’t expect to be able to get married to the love of my life in