The Couple: Rachel and Dustin Henderson
Wedding Date: April 2, 2011
Photography by Siegel’s Portrait Design
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Dustin and I met our freshman year of college at Sonoma State University. Because we met so young, we both wanted to finish school, and start and be settled in our careers before getting married, so we we’re together more than 10 years before we actually got married.
We both feel like it was definitely worth the wait, we were able to put our wedding together the way we wanted without really having to scrimp and save for a budget. We both wanted our wedding to be simple and fun, because after all, we were celebrating the life we had built together and imagining the possibilities yet to come.
What was the most amazing part of your day? Dustin and I agreed to see each other before the ceremony so that we could get our family and wedding party pictures done, so our photographers and our venue director arranged for Dustin and I to have a private moment at the altar. I actually walked down the aisle while Dustin had his back to me, when I got to the altar he turned around and saw me for the first time in my wedding dress. I didn’t think I was going to get emotional that day, but I totally started crying, it was very sweet!
What else would you like to share about your big day? Having a wedding in April in Sacramento can sometimes be like rolling the dice, and it had rained for what felt like all winter until the week leading up to our wedding, but it was forcasted to be cloudy and rain on our wedding day. About 1-1/2 hours before the ceremony started, the clouds dissipated and the sun came out for the rest of the evening, and it made it seem like our wedding day was meant to be perfect!
Ceremony & Reception Site and Wedding Planning: Newcastle Wedding Gardens & Historic Red Horse Barn, and Georgia Barron, owner of Newcastle Wedding Gardens & Historic Red Horse Barn
Photographer: Siegel’s Portrait Design
Videographer: Premier Entertainment
Caterer: Jackson Catering & Events
Cake: Icing on the Cupcake
Flowers: Christine Franzi
Favors: Cool Party Favors
Wedding Dress: J.Crew
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew
Hair: Susie Jobe from Main Street Salon in Napa
Makeup: Seanna Murray in Napa
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Premier Entertainment (Randy Bartlett was absolutely amazing, made the reception soooo much fun, we still haven’t stopped getting compliments about him!!)
Photo Booth: Jensen Photo Booth (so much fun also!)
Honeymoon location: We haven’t gone on our honeymoon yet.
First Dance Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? 1) Nail down your theme and then tackle the details and don’t let it overwhelm you, 2) your wedding day should be about you and your husband, get a wedding planner to take care of wedding day madness!!
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? There isn’t anything that I would have changed, our wedding day was so much better than I could have ever imagined!
Photos courtesy of Siegel’s Portrait Design.
