The Couple: Amy Kathryn Bergsten and Peter O’Leary Strawn
Wedding Date: June 25, 2011
Photography by Shoop’s Photography
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Peter and Amy are both Sacramento natives as well as English Teachers. Amy teaches middle school while Peter educates the minds of high schoolers. This past fall, both entered Master’s programs at California State University of Sacramento and are excited about continuing their own education.
You are most likely to find them sitting outside a coffee shop grading papers or reading with our dog, Toby. Peter and Amy love cooking together and pairing their meals with the perfect wine. They support several local Amador County wineries and enjoy spending weekend afternoons wine tasting. They recently moved to East Sacramento and are excited about building their life together.
What was your favorite part of the day? We chose to take all of our pictures prior to the ceremony. Our photographer arranged a private photo session hour for just the two of us. We set up a wonderful “first glance” moment. When Peter knocked on the door and I walked out, I knew I was walking into a beautiful future. The quiet moments we were able to share before the ceremony began were priceless. And the photos really capture what we were feeling.
Ceremony & Reception Site: The Heirloom Inn
Photographer: Shoop’s Photography
Caterer: Motherlode Market and Deli
Brewery: Jack Russell Brewery
Cake: Cupcake Craving
Flowers: Esther’s Floral Designs
Favors: Favor Warehouse
Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Tina Holt
Invitations: Kimi’s Creations
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Robert O’Connell
Honeymoon location: Florence, Rome, & Eastern Mediterranean Cruise (Royal Caribbean)
Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out? Sherry, owner of The Heirloom Inn — not only does she own and run a beautiful venue, but her personal dedication to our wedding truly made the preparations and the actual wedding day run seamlessly. Sherry’s number one priority is her bride. We had full access to the venue for 24 hours which made the day before the wedding and the actual wedding day a relaxing and joyous time. We were able to soak in every minute without ever feeling rushed.
First Dance Song: “Set Me as a Seal” by Matt Maher.
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? Your wedding is exactly that — yours. Take to heart all the advice you will receive from family and friends, but ultimately your wedding day is a celebration of you and your spouse. Make it what you want.
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? Honestly . . . nothing. Both Peter and Amy have been in numerous weddings over the past ten years and those experiences helped enormously. Peter and Amy knew exactly what they wanted and their personal involvement in their friends and families’ weddings helped guide what they chose to prioritize.
Photos courtesy of Shoop’s Photography.
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