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Their Story

Though this couple met online, they ironically lived only 4 houses down from each other. After giving up on meeting people due to their busy schedules, Jamie and Shaun turned to online dating and hit it off immediately. It wasn’t until after hours of talking on the phone though that they realized they not only lived in the same large neighborhood, but on the same street! Sometimes fate is a funny thing.

Shaun finally met Jamie in person when he took a red-eye back from a business trip to watch her in a dance recital. They had a very awkward first meeting with her entire family around and Shaun left thinking Jamie wasn’t that into him. Luckily he was wrong and two dates later they realized they had an undeniable connection. They went on lots of trips together thanks to Shaun’s work and loved going to New York for broadway nights, bowing excursions, and dinners in the city.

Five short months later the two headed to Banff National Park in Canada.  After spending two hours in the freezing cold to catch the sunrise over Moraine Lake, they met a photographer who claimed he could teach them how to get the perfect pictures. Jamie and Shaun got on a rock overlooking the lake and after getting a cute couple’s shot, Shaun got down on one knee and proposed!

Vegas and the Southwest are Jamie’s favorite places so it seemed ideal to have their wedding there.  Both Shaun and Jamie love being outside exploring and seeing the world.  With this being the second wedding for both of them, they didn’t want a large ceremony.  They wanted to celebrate each other’s love together outside surrounded by the desert scenery.  They are also both spontaneous people and planning a wedding just didn’t seem like something they could fit into their schedule.  With Shaun needing to get to Vegas for yet another business trip it was easy to pick that as their wedding destination.

Jamie wore a gorgeous ivory Boho vintage lace dress. She picked the dress not only for its looks, but also because it was comfortable and could roll up in her suitcase without creasing during her travel from Atlanta. That’s what we call a smart bride! She used Smooth Brides for her hair and make up. “[Kelly Moore] was great!  She came to the hotel and worked her magic.  I have never felt more beautiful,” said Jamie.

They chose to see each other before the ceremony but still had a big reveal at their hotel. They loved just getting to spend time with friends and family surrounded by the beauty of nature on their big day. Their advice to other couples is to make your day personal to you.  That’s just what we specialize in here at Cactus Collective so let us help you personalize your big day!

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McKenzi Taylor
McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor is America’s go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she’s become a WIPA board member, and has helped well over 1000 couples get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.