Destination Wedding to Arizona was photographed by Tina Joiner and Associate, Amie Hazlett of Tina Joiner photography.
How they Met
Kaitlyn: We were each other’s perfect swipe right! Yes, Tinder does work for some, but I was terrified to actually go meet anyone off of Tinder. The minute I met Tyler, I never wanted to stop talking to him. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but I had so much fun with him and I didn’t want that to end. We were both new to Dallas (I had just moved home after being at the University of Arkansas and he had just taken a job there) and needed a friend.
How did Tyler Propose?
Kaitlyn: I had flown back to Phoenix to see Tyler for the weekend and he asked me to go to the lake with him. Normally, my lake days included sitting on the lake shore or in his truck by the water, so I dressed accordingly. Shorts and flip flops. I didn’t know we would be hiking 3 miles! The lake itself was absolutely beautiful! It was also the first time either of us saw bald eagles in nature.
All day we would walk to a spot and sit down, then not even 5 minutes later Tyler would get antsy and want to move. (I should have known!) Finally, we got to this swamp area that was down below the walking trail and he thought that would be the perfect place to propose. I may or may not have argued the fact that my brand new sandals were going to get all muddy if we went down there! But eventually he convinced me it would be the perfect spot for a picture. We sit on a log with our dog, Miles, and he has the drone out flying to get a “picture” when in reality it was filming the whole time. He points at something on the ground and “says what is that” and when I turned back around he was on one knee. I was literally speechless. He still gives me grief that I never actually said “yes”, I just shook my head.
Wedding Planning during Covid
Kaitlyn: Covid-19 definitely affected our wedding! When this all started we were thankful that our wedding wasn’t until December because we thought none of this would still be happening…. we were WRONG! 3 weeks before our wedding, Colorado went into code red which meant no gatherings. Thankfully, all of our family had come to Phoenix for Thanksgiving in our new house because we had to replan a whole wedding in 3 weeks. Wednesday before thanksgiving we found an amazing venue, The Wigwam, my mom and I bought flowers (yes, all of our flowers are fake), we found the baker, and my mother-in-law contacted the absolutely amazing photographers that traveled all the way from Colorado Springs for this! I mean what other photographers do that?!?!
After that, it was up to us to find a DJ and thankfully my uncles were officiating the wedding and they had already gotten ordained here in Arizona just in case this all happened. I am so incredibly grateful for each and every person that helped us pull together this wedding in 3 weeks. While we ended up with a lot of people who could not make it, health and safety was our number one priority. We missed each one so much but understood why they couldn’t be there.
Any other details about your wedding?
Kaitlyn: This day was filled with so many little details. We were the 4th generation to get married on this day.
Willard and Violet Giles -1919
Leo and Yvette Giles- 1960
Tim and Gini Ayrton- 1993
Tyler and Kaitlyn Gniadek- 2020
That in itself comes with so many details and things to include. This was also extra special because my grandfather, Leo, recently passed away earlier this year. It would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. He wanted more than anything to make it to this wedding, but we all know he was still there in our memory and hearts. We also have Tyler’s father, Pete, who passed away a few years ago honored throughout the wedding. He was an amazing photographer as well and we used his pictures throughout. It was a very happy day with touches of remembrance to those who loved us and wanted to celebrate us. This day was about the closest of family and friends coming together to celebrate. Tyler and I could not be more thankful for everyone who had a hand in that near or far.
Vendors
Venue: The Wigwam Resort
Dress: LUV Bridal
Destination Wedding to Arizona was photographed by Tina Joiner and Associate, Amie Hazlett of Tina Joiner photography.
How they Met
Kaitlyn: We were each other’s perfect swipe right! Yes, Tinder does work for some, but I was terrified to actually go meet anyone off of Tinder. The minute I met Tyler, I never wanted to stop talking to him. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but I had so much fun with him and I didn’t want that to end. We were both new to Dallas (I had just moved home after being at the University of Arkansas and he had just taken a job there) and needed a friend.
How did Tyler Propose?
Kaitlyn: I had flown back to Phoenix to see Tyler for the weekend and he asked me to go to the lake with him. Normally, my lake days included sitting on the lake shore or in his truck by the water, so I dressed accordingly. Shorts and flip flops. I didn’t know we would be hiking 3 miles! The lake itself was absolutely beautiful! It was also the first time either of us saw bald eagles in nature.
All day we would walk to a spot and sit down, then not even 5 minutes later Tyler would get antsy and want to move. (I should have known!) Finally, we got to this swamp area that was down below the walking trail and he thought that would be the perfect place to propose. I may or may not have argued the fact that my brand new sandals were going to get all muddy if we went down there! But eventually he convinced me it would be the perfect spot for a picture. We sit on a log with our dog, Miles, and he has the drone out flying to get a “picture” when in reality it was filming the whole time. He points at something on the ground and “says what is that” and when I turned back around he was on one knee. I was literally speechless. He still gives me grief that I never actually said “yes”, I just shook my head.
Wedding Planning during Covid
Kaitlyn: Covid-19 definitely affected our wedding! When this all started we were thankful that our wedding wasn’t until December because we thought none of this would still be happening…. we were WRONG! 3 weeks before our wedding, Colorado went into code red which meant no gatherings. Thankfully, all of our family had come to Phoenix for Thanksgiving in our new house because we had to replan a whole wedding in 3 weeks. Wednesday before thanksgiving we found an amazing venue, The Wigwam, my mom and I bought flowers (yes, all of our flowers are fake), we found the baker, and my mother-in-law contacted the absolutely amazing photographers that traveled all the way from Colorado Springs for this! I mean what other photographers do that?!?!
After that, it was up to us to find a DJ and thankfully my uncles were officiating the wedding and they had already gotten ordained here in Arizona just in case this all happened. I am so incredibly grateful for each and every person that helped us pull together this wedding in 3 weeks. While we ended up with a lot of people who could not make it, health and safety was our number one priority. We missed each one so much but understood why they couldn’t be there.
Any other details about your wedding?
Kaitlyn: This day was filled with so many little details. We were the 4th generation to get married on this day.
Willard and Violet Giles -1919
Leo and Yvette Giles- 1960
Tim and Gini Ayrton- 1993
Tyler and Kaitlyn Gniadek- 2020
That in itself comes with so many details and things to include. This was also extra special because my grandfather, Leo, recently passed away earlier this year. It would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. He wanted more than anything to make it to this wedding, but we all know he was still there in our memory and hearts. We also have Tyler’s father, Pete, who passed away a few years ago honored throughout the wedding. He was an amazing photographer as well and we used his pictures throughout. It was a very happy day with touches of remembrance to those who loved us and wanted to celebrate us. This day was about the closest of family and friends coming together to celebrate. Tyler and I could not be more thankful for everyone who had a hand in that near or far.
Vendors
Venue: The Wigwam Resort
Dress: LUV Bridal
