The Engagement Edit: Q&A with Danielle of Dani Arizona

Photo: Jordan Lee Photography

Danielle Fazio of Dani Arizona believes that cupcakes are the ultimate cure-all – a philosophy we can totally get behind! We're so excited to welcome this stylish Arizona blogger to our Engagement Edit series as she shares the inside scoop on her wedding celebrations in both San Diego and Arizona!

Name: Danielle Fazio
Blog: Dani Arizona
Location: Chandler, AZ
Wedding Date: May 1, 2017

WW: Thank you for joining us, Dani, and congrats on your upcoming wedding - the big day is almost here! What has been the most exciting thing about wedding planning thus far?

DA: The most exciting thing so far has honestly just been the excitement of being engaged to my best friend and planning not only our special days, but planning for an even more beautiful marriage. It’s also been so wonderful celebrating with our loved ones.

WW: Can you tell us about your #justsaidyes moment to your fiancé, Vance?

DA: San Diego has always been a special place for us. Vance’s parents own a home there and we have been blessed to be able to travel there many times over our five year relationship. We went over for the Fourth of July in 2015 with his parents and after watching the fireworks on the Bay that night, we walked over to the edge of the ocean where he got down on one knee just the two of us! It was so perfect.

WW: You have a really unique plan for your wedding! Can you tell us a little bit about the two celebrations you have planned?

DA: We knew from our first trip to San Diego after only three months of dating that we wanted to get married there. We wanted to keep it small, so it will be an intimate ceremony with our immediate families and bridal party on Coronado Island overlooking the water and city just outside of San Diego on a Monday afternoon! We wanted it to be a long weekend for our guests. In lieu of a traditional reception there, we’re doing a dinner at an Italian restaurant next to our ceremony spot with all of our guests after our ceremony and photos. Then two weeks later we’ll be hosting a cocktail style reception back in Arizona to celebrate with the rest of our families and friends. We wanted it to just be a big party since we’ll already be married.

WW: Since you live in Arizona, but you’re planning a celebration in San Diego, do you have any tips for other couples planning their wedding from afar?

DA: Hire a wedding coordinator! Even if it’s just a day-of coordinator, have someone there to be a point of contact, give recommendations, and figure out the details you would easily forget about. My coordinator, Lara, of Laki Events and Design has been incredible through this process and has been worth every penny. We’ve also found it helpful to take planned trips with scheduled meetings and blocked out time for tasks to make our trips to San Diego the most productive they can be.

Photo: Jordan Lee Photography

WW: Have any wedding planning tools on WeddingWire been especially useful to you?

DA: The Vendor Search has been invaluable for me! I’ve used it to find so many of my vendors both in San Diego and in Arizona. It’s been especially helpful in San Diego because I do not have the same connections and referrals as I do here. I’ve also been diligently using the checklist feature. (Plus I check the countdown daily of course!)

WW: Did you find any of your vendors on WeddingWire? If so, which ones?

DA: Yes! Our San Diego DJ, the provider of our ceremony rentals (our arch, chairs etc) in San Diego, our videographer who will be in San Diego and in Arizona, and of course we read reviews on any of the vendors who were referred to us.

WW: In addition to your blog, you also have a career in real estate – what is your biggest time management tip for other busy brides-to-be?

DA: Bite off a little at a time because it can get overwhelming quick especially as the countdown gets shorter! Time blocking and scheduling everything has been crucial. I have had to block out specific time to answer emails, do tours, and attending meetings and consultations for us. With mine and Vance’s crazy schedules with work, it’s been important to have not only our individual Google Calendars, but I also have a physical planner.

WW: How will you be incorporating your sense of style into your wedding day?

DA: I consider my style to be classic and feminine. I’ve definitely incorporated that into our neutral color scheme of taupes, beiges, ivory, and pops of navy especially in the attire and decor. I also love florals, so there will be very romantic bouquets, greenery, and centerpieces that I’m obsessed with. I’m excited to see how it all comes together on the days.