Alecia Urreta and Matthew Rich’s Understated Arboretum Affair

October 12, 2019

After about 10 years of dating and a ring-shopping trip, Alecia Urreta thought it would be impossible for Matthew Rich’s proposal to catch her off guard. The pair first met their sophomore and freshman years of high school, respectively, and eventually their playful flirting turned into something more. “I think what made our relationship strong was that we started off as friends, and we were goofing around with each other, and it made him so much more attractive to me,” Alecia remembers. After years of long-distance dating through college, Alecia knew their engagement was coming, but she never imagined a typical day doing yard work and playing with the dog outside would bring Matthew to one knee. “We stand in that backyard every day and have our coffee,” Alecia says. “We’ll be able to show our kids, ‘This is where Dad proposed to Mom.’ ”

Ballroom Bride

Alecia and her bridal party got ready for the day at the Adolphus Hotel. Before heading to the Arboretum, Matthew met her at the hotel’s Century Room for portraits. This gave Alecia extra time to relax indoors and touch up hair and makeup, while also getting a second setting in her photos. For couples wanting to diversify the background of their portraits, planner and designer Lottie Fowler of Grit & Gold Event Co. recommends finding a location you are already getting ready at or that is on the way to the wedding venue to keep these portraits easy. Use of event spaces like the Century Room is of course subject to availability and may incur a fee, so make arrangements with venue management beforehand to ensure your photos go smoothly.