The Couple: Desireé & Ryan
Wedding Date: September 16, 2017
Photography by Jennifer Clapp Photography
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: We met in our current home city of Sacramento through a mutual friend. We dated for 7 years prior to the proposal and Ryan was very patient on supporting me follow my career path. He was there when I graduated undergrad, had my last volleyball game at Sac State and also through my doctorate program. The most supportive man I could have asked for.
The proposal was nothing he had planned. He had a great set up of a photographer, champagne on ice (he even packed my makeup bag so I could touch up). However there was a storm in Tahoe and there was a crash on 80 so took us 4 hours to get there. By the time we were there it was pouring rain and he couldn’t find the photographer as they had to change locations due to the storm. He proposed lake-side with the wind blowing and rain pouring, it was perfect. We then found the photographer and re-enacted the proposal after I got to touch up :).
Planning the wedding we knew we wanted it in Tahoe as it’s our favorite place and we knew we would have people traveling so wanted to make it a weekend that everyone could enjoy and everything was perfect. We had the same vision for the majority of our day and it came together as wonderful as we had planned.
What was the most amazing part of your day? Seeing my best friend waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Also having all our loved ones together to celebrate us was amazing.
What else would you like to share about your big day? I was very fortunate to have friends and family help with projects to make the day our own and as perfect as we had envisioned. All the stress, tears, laughs leading up to the big day was worth it as it was absolutely perfect.
Ceremony Site: Gatekeeper’s Museum
Ceremony Musicians: Zebuel Early
Officiant: Zac Haffner
Reception Venue and Caterer: Granlibakken Tahoe
Photographer: Jennifer Clapp Photography
Videographer: Jordan Claverie
Wedding Planner: L Squared Affairs
Cake/Desserts: Family Friend
Flowers: My sweet Grandmother. She did amazing!
Favors: Online
Bridal Attire: Novella Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Various Locations
Hair: Karly Esteves
Make-up: Bridesmaid, Amanda Goold
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Signage: Welcome sign, DIY. Character signage by Jason Thorpe.
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Sounds Elevated Events
Photo Booth: Temple Photography & Photo Booth
Décor Rentals: Eventmasters and DIY. My dad made all the centerpieces out of birch trees.
Transportation: Aladdin Limousine
Honeymoon Location: Spain and Portugal
Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out that we missed in the above questions? Choreography for first dance at Spotlight Ballroom
First Dance Song: Acoustic cover of “We Found Love” by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? Make a very detailed timeline of your day of so everything goes as smoothly as possible. After all, you’ve put in all the work for planning so best to make sure it all goes according to plan. Also a day-of-coordinator was key!
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? I would have stressed less and not worried about the small details as much, no one will notice but you.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Clapp Photography.
Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Social Media Maven, Aimee Carroll.
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