The Couple: Ashley Harmon and Paul Woehl
Wedding Date: September 6, 2009
Photography by Capture Photography
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Paul and I grew up in the same city of Lodi, California. We were actually on the same swim team at the age of six, which we may not have known if Paul’s dad hadn’t remembered visiting with my grandfather at the swim meets. Turns out Paul’s grandfather used to work with my grandfather in the meat supply business, and Paul’s dad remembered my grandfather through that relationship.
Fast forward nine years and Paul and I were students together at Lodi High School. Truth is, I had a crush on Paul in high school and used to bring him snacks to our pre-calculus class (I guess the saying, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” really does carry its weight). Paul’s sister also recalls Paul having an admiration for me in high school stating that I wasn’t a girl to date, but the type of girl you marry.
After three years at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo I had completely forgot that amidst the 17,000 student population Paul was somewhere out there. A mutual friend re-introduced us and we spent time here and there together. At the time I was a bartender at a small, beer-only bar. Paul was at that bar almost everyday!! I thought he just really loved beer, but turns out he really loved me. Of course, I was oblivious and told all of my friends that he just thought of me as a friend, until one day he took me out for a quick, casual dinner and it turned into a $150 dollar, fine wine and dining experience. The rest is kind of history. We spent a lot of our dating years apart separated by 3,000 miles, as he was finishing his degree in California and I was working on my graduate degree on the East Coast. But we’re finally together now and inseparable!
What was the most amazing part of your day? I would say just being completely, 100 per cent happy and immersed in each other’s love. Our guests would probably say the 11 p.m. delivery of In ‘n’ Out burgers and french fries.
What else would you like to share about your big day? I was very lucky to have a devoted (non-meddling), supportive mother and godmother to help me plan and organize the event as I was still on the East Coast and the wedding was in Lodi. I didn’t worry about the small things and knew everything would come together. My one and only bridezilla moment was when I found the perfect bridesmaid dresses, and then found out that they were discontinued. My mom told me to suck it up and move on. Instead I found four of the last six dresses available and ordered them from as far as L.A. to Florida.
Ceremony Site: Private Estate in Lodi
Reception Venue: Private Estate in Lodi
Photographer: Capture Photography
Videographer: Family Member – Jacqueline Shaw
Wedding Planner: My beautiful mother and godmother
Caterer: Scooter’s
Cake: Specialty Cakes
Flowers: Blossoms by Lisa
Favors: Online Retailer
Wedding Dress: Mori Lee, on the TV show Celebrity Apprentice (with Jesse James, Clint Black, Joan Rivers, etc.
Bridesmaid Dresses: Diane Von Furstenburg
Hair: Alexander Marie, Southern Exposure
Makeup: Alexander Marie, Southern Exposure
Invitations: Ashley’s Attitude
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Elite Entertainment
Honeymoon location: Sausalito and Sonoma California
First Dance Song: “In My Life” by the Beatles
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? You plan and you plan and you plan and despite all of it, you’re main toilets may go out, like they did at our wedding, but it doesn’t matter! You and everybody else is there for one reason: to celebrate you and your husband’s love…SOAK IT UP! The day goes by so quickly, so don’t stress about anything and focus all of your attention on your spouse-to-be. Try to remember every moment, and step back from the festivities to take mental pictures every once and a while
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? Not a thing!
Photos courtesy of Capture Photography.
