Jenna will be marrying Mat on 13th June 2021 at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. Click here to read all Jenna’s planning posts to date.
THREE FACTS: (1) Jenna + Mat have known each other all their lives – they met when they were both one-year-old at a baby class! (2) Their relationship began at the University of Arizona in March 2012 (3) Mat proposed at Jenna’s parents house in December 2018
The news is official! My fiancé, Mat, and I will be moving back home to Tucson, AZ! Like so many during these days, we are now both fully remote. This means we can move out of our tiny one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn and to somewhere cheaper where we can rent much, much more space. Our lease is up at the end of February, so we’ll be packing up a Pod (love this style of moving, as you pack it up, they drive it, and can even store it until you have a final delivery location), packing up the cat who will detest being stuck in her carrier that long, and heading out west.
Goodbye snow, cold, subways, small apartment – hello warm Tucson, those beautiful sunsets, stunning mountains, space (especially outdoor space), and Sonoran Mexican food (my personal favorite style of Mexican food)!
A cross-country move during these times seems a bit crazy, but it looks like we’re right on trend with people moving out of the big cities. It will also be helpful with wedding planning (if we can even have our wedding on the new postponed date in June…) to be in the same location. And, a drive across the country allows us a chance to see my brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews!
In order to prepare for the drive, we decided to fly out on 12/25 to bring home four suitcases of stuff (mostly clothing and wedding things I’ve had in NYC).
Being home right now is such a nice treat. I’ve been doing a lot of cooking! So far, I’ve made Onion Jam and Goat Cheese Rugelach, Yerushalmi Kugel, Pretzel Deli Roll Challah Rolls, and lots of yummy dinners. And I’ve been making sure to give plenty of attention to my parents’ dog and cat (while our cat, Shuli, is being looked after in NYC). While here in Tucson, we even got to do our menu tasting at our venue. The food was amazing (I don’t have any pictures though…I was too busy tasting everything) and I can’t wait to have it at our wedding.
Everything was so good, it made it hard to choose what to put on the menu! My wedding band was also finished being made by my aunt and uncle at their jewelry store (that used to be my grandparents’)!!
My sister picked it up for me & brought it down from Phoenix along with her big standard poodle, Bailey (he makes my parents’ standard poodle, Remi, look so small in comparison – he’s gotten so big). The ring is completely a custom design and it’s so beautiful that I can’t wait to get to wear it.
As for our plan for our current wedding date, we’re holding out on making a decision just yet. Hopefully things start to look up soon for having a wedding with full dancing, n. For now, I’m just taking things one day at a time…with a whole lot of cooking and baking involved!
Click here to read all Jenna’s planning posts to date.
Jenna & Mat’s Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Photography – Shelley Welander of She.We Studios
Videography – Tad of TS Cinema
Wedding venue – The Lodge at Ventana Canyon
Cake: Ambrosia Cakes
Hair: Sharon Walton (family friend & hairdresser)
Makeup: Amanda Nolan (freelance)
DJ: Fantastic Five Entertainment
Rabbi: Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz
Invitations: purchased, but not yet completed from Minted
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Suits: The Black Tux
Florist: SavOn Flowers (not yet booked officially)
Ketubah: Susie Lubell on Etsy (shop name: SusieLubell)
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