Real Wedding: Kenzie Garza & Eli Barton

Eli & Kenzie

KENZIE GARZA & ELI BARTON

March 11, 2022 | The Graduate Hotel and Maxine’s Tap Room in Fayetteville | Boston Mountain Photo 

After an intimate ceremony at The Graduate Hotel, Kenzie and Eli celebrated with close friends and loved ones at Maxine’s Taproom in Fayetteville. 

Twist on Tradition: Since Kenzie and Eli opted for a non-traditional wedding ceremony, she opted for a non-traditional dress, too!

Moments & Memories: Eli’s favorite part of their wedding day was that it took place during a snowstorm! 

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

WEDDING VENDORS WE LOVE

What was the planning process like for your elopement?

“The day of our elopement there was a bad snow storm and it was supposed to take place outside,” Garza said. “So you can imagine the stress of trying to find somewhere to let us use their space last minute! The Graduate hotel in Fayetteville was awesome and let us use their indoor space to conduct our small elopement ceremony and it turned out to be the best day!”

Why did you and Eli land on eloping?

“Originally, we weren’t going to elope! We had planned a more traditional wedding, but through a scheduling mishap, our venue got double booked for our date,” Garza said. “Instead of stressing about a new date, we decided eloping would be a good alternative.”

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

What was the most special moment of your big day?

“I really enjoyed our time at Maxine’s Taproom after the ceremony,” Garza said. “We had our closest friends and immediate family with us to celebrate our elopement. We reserved the back half of the bar for the night and the staff decorated it with balloons! We got to drink our favorite drinks, play darts, and graze on snacks all while Our photographer, Laura of Boston Mountain Photos, took fun pictures of us all.”

 

What inspired you to have a reception/afterparty at Maxine’s Taproom?

It is our favorite bar for the delicious craft cocktails and the fun and cool ambiance,” Garza said. “We have frequented the bar for date nights throughout the years and it felt like the perfect place for our small after-party!

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

What inspired your overall look of the day?

“Since we weren’t doing a traditional ceremony, I definitely didn’t want a traditional dress,” Garza said. “I went short. I took inspiration from the anti-bride aesthetic and constantly browsed Pinterest. As far as florals, I knew I wanted a bouquet, but didn’t want anything large, so I went for simple, white roses with leafy accents.”

 

What was Eli’s favorite part of the day?

“Eli’s favorite part of the day was the fact that this all took place during a snowstorm,” Garza said. “We didn’t plan for snow and it complicated the whole affair, but we made it work in the end and still had the best day. When else can you parade down Block Street in the snow in your wedding attire? If rain on your wedding day is good luck, then snow and ice must be even better!”

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

Eli & Kenzie

WHAT WE LOVED ABOUT KENZIE’S ANTI-BRIDE ELOPEMENT!

  1. It wasn’t plan A or B! Their first venue was accidentally double-booked; their second venue was planned outside (but then a snowstorm hit). Plan C: The Graduate saved the day with an intimate indoor ceremony.

  2. The playful bar setting.We reserved the back half of the bar for the night, and the staff decorated it with balloons!” Kenzie said. “We [enjoyed] our favorite drinks, played darts and grazed on snacks while our photographer took fun pictures of us all.”

  3. The dress. “Since we weren’t doing a traditional ceremony, I definitely didn’t want a traditional dress.” 

  4. Parading down Block Street in the snow.If rain on your wedding day is good luck, then snow and ice must be even better!”

    Eli & Kenzie

    Eli & Kenzie

    WEDDING VENDORS

    Dress: Untamed Petals; Shoes: Lulu’s; Faux fur coat: Cheap Thrills; Bouquet: Springdale Flower Shop; Photographer: Boston Mountain Photo; Elopement venue: The Graduate Hotel in Fayetteville; After party: Maxine’s Tap Room 

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