Real Weddings Wednesday: Presenting Sofia and Blake E. Lim

The Couple: Sofia and Blake E. Lim
Wedding Date: May 27, 2012
Photography by The Studio
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Blake and I started dating about six years ago. At the time we started dating, I had decided to go back to school to get my degree. I went back full time while maintaining my full-time job as well. For five years he picked me up at school and had dinner ready for me every night. He proposed the day of my graduation in front of my family. He is the most caring and nicest man I know.
What was the most amazing part of your day? Walking down the aisle to my husband.
What else would you like to share about your big day?  It was the perfect weather. I’m from Peru and I only have two siblings here. I had many uncles and aunts that came from all over the world — Canada, Peru, Colombia, New York, Washington, Hawaii, etc. — to celebrate our happy day. Also, my wonderful grandma was able to come from Canada and my mom was here from Peru for the first time ever. Also, my in-laws gifted us with the wedding of our dreams. My husband’s grandpa who had been ill for a while made it to the wedding. He passed a couple of months after but we were so happy he made it to our wedding.

Ceremony Site, Reception Venue & Caterer: Croatian American Cultural Center
Photographer:  The Studio
Cake: Ettore’s European Bakery and Restaurant
Flowers: Fresh Floral
Favors:  We did a candy bar.
Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid Dresses: House of Fashion
Hair & Makeup:  I Make Beautiful/Makeup by Jenifer Haupt
Invitations: Family Custom
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Fretty’s Disc Jockey & Limousine Service. He was awesome!
Drummer: Justin Barnes. This was a great way to make the wedding different.
String Quartet:  Camellia String Quartet
Photo Booth:  Perfect Pixel
Honeymoon location: Costa Rica
Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out? Rev. Bob Oshita from Sacramento Buddhist Church. My husband and I are not very religious, and Rev. Bob was perfect for us. He met with us four times prior to the wedding. He asked us to write letters to each other with specific indications. The day of the wedding he read excerpts from our letters — it was beautiful.
First Dance Song: “Lucky” by Jason Mraz
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? Relax and enjoy the day. All that matters are the good memories you create surrounded by your love ones.
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  I wish I would have asked my photographer to go around the table and take pictures with the guests.
I would like to mention that I was very lucky. All of my vendors were excellent. My DJ was so funny and kept the dance floor full the whole time. The Studio was very patient and nice and took beautiful pictures. Everybody still talks about how talented my drummer was. I can’t believe he did not have the music list prior to the wedding but he was able to play to the beat of the music. I Make Beautiful/Makeup by Jenifer Haupt was great! She even let my bridesmaid use her products. The venue was spectacular. It was ready to go at 11:00 a.m. and my wedding wasn’t until 5 p.m. Everyone said that my photo booth people were very friendly and nice. My cake was delicious. The Camellia String Quartet was beautiful. Everyone was excellent! It was the most fun wedding I’ve ever been to!

Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Social Media Maven, Aimee Carroll.
Photos courtesy of and copyright The Studio.