Real Weddings Wednesday: Camey + Jordan's Dreamy Museum Celebration

Get ready for an absolutely stunning Real Weddings Wednesday as we celebrate Camey and Jordan! This artsy elopement is complete with dreamy and romantic finishes set at the Crocker Art Museum – what better way to celebrate love than in the midst of art itself? Keep scrolling to learn more about Camey and Jordan’s love story. Happy Wednesday, and happy reading!

Tell us a little about you and your beloved.

In September of 2017, we went on our first date in Sacramento after matching online (thanks, Bumble!). We immediately found out that we were both raised in the same religion, both lived between the Bay and Sacramento, had both lived abroad and loved traveling. Our travels provided an environment where we could fall in love. Not only did we find that we were great traveling partners, but we discovered that we were truly the best of friends. And so the adventure began. In 2019, we planned a trip to Kauai for Christmas. Jordan wasn’t sure where he was going to propose, but he was prepared when the moment felt right. Carrying around the ring in a fanny pack, Camey gave Jordan a little grief for wearing the unfashionable accessory. Little did she know that he’d be proposing a few hours later. It was December 23rd 2019, and after some mild rain, 30 minutes of kayaking, and a 30 minute trek through the muddy jungle, across a river, and past many obstacles, the sound of rushing water soon revealed a beautiful waterfall, which seemed to appear suddenly as [we] came upon it. It was clearly the spot.

The huge waterfall, known locally as Uluwehi or “Secret Falls”, was secluded and majestic. Using the waterfall as a photo opportunity and distraction, Jordan gave his phone to a tourist, lined up for a photo with Camey, then promptly turned on one knee, partially submerged in the water, and asked for her hand in marriage. While our love story fell into place seamlessly, planning a wedding had its difficulties. Only a few months after getting engaged, Covid-19 hit and the world was in lock-down. Adding another layer of tragedy, Camey’s mom, Joy, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer was told in April of 2020 that the cancer had spread to her brain. Knowing that there was little time left with Joy, [we] exchanged rings on May 2nd, 2020 in her mom’s backyard so that she could be a part of the union. As time continued, we spoke about our perfect wedding and it always came back to being married in the trees. With the ups and downs of a global pandemic and the heartbreak of losing Joy to cancer, the timing always felt uneasy. So on December 28th, 2021, we decided it was time to head to the woods – and then the stars aligned.

Camey managed to obtain a marriage license within 24 hours; Jordan found the last kilt in Sacramento that was for rent, which fit [perfectly]; Camey managed to wear her boss’s spare wedding dress that she had so generously given her (forever grateful!); the Benbow Inn had an open room even though it was New Years Eve; they found a photographer in Eureka which just had a cancellation the day before and was available. When booking the photographer, Camey asked if the photographer knew of an officiant in the area that would be available, to which she replied “my husband is an officiant and will be there!” As Camey was walking out the door to drive to the redwoods, she realized she didn’t have a bouquet [so] she had purchased flowers for Christmas from the grocery store a few days before and grabbed them as they walked out the door. When [they] arrived at The Avenue of Giants, magic surrounded [them].

The photographer was familiar with the area and took us to the location she thought would be perfect for the ceremony. It was a tree that had been through a forest fire but survived and was still standing. She told us it was a great analogy for marriage – we would have trials as a couple and in life, but like the tree, we would still be standing. As soon as we saw it, we knew it was the spot. With tears in our eyes, we exchanged vows in what we both describe as one of the best day of our lives.

What was the best part of your wedding day?

While the whole day felt incredible, the most amazing part of Camey’s day was reading her vows with Jordan on the couch in the morning before everything began. Taking the time to sit with each other and allow the space to remember why we were doing all of this was very sacred for her. Jordan’s favorite part of the day was getting to share the galleries with our friends and family, hearing the wonderful toasts and heartfelt speeches, then dancing and doing karaoke until 3am!

What else would you like to share about your big day?

We couldn’t be more grateful for our vendors. They carried the event through with their professionalism.

What advice would you give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?

Plan as much as you can and then let it go into the hands of the vendors. They are professionals and will lead the way. Also, remind yourselves of why you are doing it. It’s really easy to get lost in it all as you going along. Coming back to your partner and uniting again and again helps you through the stressful times. Lastly, plan the day however you and your future spouse want it. It might not look like the traditional wedding, but it’s your day. Do it however you want!

Anything that you would have done different if given the chance?

The only thing we would have done differently would have been giving ourselves more time. Everything turned out wonderful, but it was stressful getting there in twelve short weeks.