Taren and Jason, Disney enthusiasts, dated for five years before getting engaged. The proposal happened at Disneyland in front of the castle. Jason asked Taren if she would “make him the happiest man in the happiest place” and she said yes! “Because it was all done while we were getting group photos, the entire engagement was photographed by the professional photographers at Disneyland,” says Taren.
After a six-month engagement, they married in front of 180 guests at Sparks Ranch Resort, a 10-acre property in Sonora, a venue they loved for many reasons, including the fact they could bring in their own alcohol, which was important for the couple—considering they met at a beer festival and Jason works in the beer industry as a co-host for a radio show about beer.
The couple’s friend officiated the outdoor ceremony, which took place in the resort’s front yard, followed by a reception in the backyard. Oak trees set the stage for the celebration.
When Jason first saw Taren on the wedding day, he said it felt completely natural. “I knew it would be the most amazing moment of my life,” he says, concluding, “It all just fell together so perfectly that it was a no-brainer moment for me.”
A funny moment during the ceremony? “The delayed reaction of our guests when I ‘rick rolled’ them during my vows,” says Jason, referring to the moment when Taren says, “he started reciting lyrics to [Rick Astley’s song] ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ during our vows.” Taren laughed at the gag and says, “It was so perfect and so ‘him!’”
The wedding, which had a Tiffany blue and gold color scheme, included a personal décor touch at the reception: a collection of family members’ old wedding photos. Food played a big part in the festivities, too. “One of the biggest compliments we get about our wedding is how wonderful the food was,” says Taren, a senior executive assistant. They had a chip bar with 10 different types of flavored chips, like Reuben sandwich and ketchup. “Jason loves chips and we thought it would be more creative than a candy bar,” she says. The dinner featured award-winning BBQ. For dessert, they had pie, as well as a small two-layer cake made by the father of the bride.
“So many parts of our wedding were hand done,” says Taren, explaining the groomsmen’s bowties were made by her good friend, bouquets were made by her aunt and grandmother, and beer was made by many of their friends. “It was such a collective effort that every detail seemed to have some kind of special meaning.”
—Kristen Castillo
