Marie and Mike’s love story could be straight out of a romantic movie. Both from California, they met in London where Mike was living and Marie was starting her solo backpacking trip across Europe.
Marie’s father hadn’t told her, but he emailed several of his friends for European travel recommendations and one of those friends emailed Mike. Marie and Mike met for a drink and the encounter turned into a 12-hour sightseeing tour across London. They liked each so much that Marie delayed her plans to visit Ireland for a week and instead extended her time in England.
In meant-to-be fashion, as she prepared to fly home, Mike was flying back to California for a conference in Sacramento. Over the next year, Marie traveled to England to visit Mike and the couple met up for travels in Spain, Mexico, Arizona, Utah and New York City. A year later, Mike moved back to California and another year later they got engaged.
After an 11-month engagement, they married at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Marie loved walking down the aisle with her parents to meet Mike. “We grasped each other’s hands,” she says. “It was definitely a very cool moment like, ’This is it! We did it!’”
The couple worked with planner Jenn Robirds Events for their ceremony and their reception, the latter which was held at The Willow Ballroom and Event Center.
“We really wanted to make sure our family could be there and to make the weekend easy for everyone,” says Marie, noting she and Mike hired a 56-person bus to transport their family from the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento to the ceremony then reception.
Marie honored her grandfather, who was a beloved accordionist for Italian weddings and other special events throughout the Central Valley. The newlyweds played a recording of him performing “That’s Amore.” Marie says that was the most sentimental moment of the wedding day. Additionally, Marie’s cousin made cannoli using her grandmother’s recipe. “It was really special to incorporate my grandparents in our wedding since they are no longer with us,” she shares.
The fall wedding featured dark and moody colors like black, gold and maroon and their stunning black and gold cake was non-traditional and one of Marie’s favorite elements. Mike’s favorite part of the day was “seeing all of our closest family and friends together. It’s pretty rare that everyone gets together at once, so that was really neat.”
Looking back on their wedding, they and their guests will remember the dancing. “It was truly the best day and hands down the most incredible party we have ever thrown,” says Marie.
And in true romantic movie fashion, the couple honeymooned in London, where they recreated the first day they met.
—Kristen Castillo
