Sacramento Wedding Inspiration: Haute Couture {Get To Know the Real Couple Models} from the Summer/Fall 2016 issue of Real Weddings Magazine

Oh how we love our real bride and real couple models, and Karen Compagno & Frankie Medina from our “Haute Couture” styled shoot was no exception!

This couple radiates love—for each other and for life! They were so incredibly easy to work with and game to do pretty much whatever we asked of them (wait until you see the behind-the-scenes video!)—we love you Karen & Frankie! Thank you for being our real couple models on our “Haute Couture” styled shoot!

Now, you, our dear Real Weddings readers, can get to know more about this dynamic couple!

RW: What made you want to model for this shoot?
KC: A friend of mine tagged me in a Facebook post for the Real Weddings’ cover model contest. I decided to enter, but was selected for this shoot instead. When I found out that my fiancé, Frankie, got to do it with me, I was so excited. I’d never modeled before; I just thought it would be a really fun experience for us to do together.

RW: What was your favorite part of modeling?
KC: Number one was the dresses! I also loved seeing how beautiful the shoot was. And, of course, being able to do it with Frankie was a bonus.

RW: What was your favorite part of this shoot? Did you relate to the concept?
KC: I’ve always loved the 1920s era. When I found out what the shoot was about, I was so excited. I love all things classic and timeless.

RW: What was it like modeling with Frankie?
KC: He was totally excited. The first time he saw me walk out in a wedding dress, he said, “Wow!” He was actually very cute and confident throughout the entire shoot. We had so much fun, and I am so glad I got to do it with him.

RW: What do you do for a living?
KC: I manage a custom garage door company and am in the process of getting my master’s degree in business management.

RW: What do you do for fun?
KC: My fun life revolves around my kids. I have a one-and-a-half-year-old and a five-year-old. We are always having barbeques with our extended families and friends. I also like to garden and do DIY projects.

RW: Tell us about your love story. How did you meet? What was the proposal like?
KC: Frankie and I met 14 years ago. We have supported each other through career goals, personal goals and two kids, and now is the perfect time for us to get married. He proposed two years ago. He called both sides of our family and set up a dinner at a restaurant. We are very close with our families, so I did not suspect anything. Toward the end of dinner Frankie suggested a champagne toast and that is when he proposed.

RW: Tell us about your own wedding.
KC: We will be getting married in the fall. The colors are black and white with touches of gold, because Frankie loves the San Francisco 49ers, and I thought those colors were romantic. When I started to research the 49ers, I realized that their mantra about their fans was “Forever Faithful,” and it really hit home. We will be forever faithful to our family team, so it became the theme for our wedding too. Through the wins and the losses, we will never give up on our family team.

RW: If you could offer any advice to future brides, what would it be?
KC: Don’t stress, enjoy the whole process, look at the bigger picture, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

—Interviewed by Kelley Saia

“Haute Couture” was produced by produced by Amrit Dhillon-Bains—Anaïs Event Planning & Design, Liezet Arnold—Bloem Decor, Emily Peter and Wendy Sipple—Real Weddings Magazine.

The Details // Venue
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium | 916-808-5291 | 916-446-1215 | sacramentoconventioncenter.com

Photographer
Amy Nicole Photography | 916-803-1282 | amynicolephotography.com

Design, Styling, Coordination, Rentals, Linen Rentals, Signage and Flower Wall
Anaïs Event Planning & Design | 415-894-9254 | anaisevents.com

Styling and Floral Design
Bloem Decor | 916-447-2001 | bloemdecor.com

Cake and Desserts
Something Sweet Bakery | 209-745-9000 | somethingsweetgalt.com

Catering and Cocktails
Classique Catering | 916-446-1215 | classiquecatering.com

Hair
Lea Buehler BGorgeous | 916-705-5827 | lbgorgeous.com

Makeup
Happily Beautiful Makeup Artistry & Skin Studio | 530-632-0607 | happilybeautifulmakeup.com

Gowns (Karen’s Main Look)
House of Fashion | 916-554-7440 | hofbridal.com

Gowns (Karen’s Additional Looks)
Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo | 530-755-4282 | alwayselegantbridal.net
Second Summer Bride | 916-330-4422 | secondsummerbridesac.com

Frankie’s Tuxedo
Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo | 530-755-4282 | alwayselegantbridal.net

Jewelry (Karen’s Main Look)
Style Avenue Studios | 916-812-1114 | styleavenuestudios.com

Jewelry and Hair Accessories (Karen’s Additional Looks)
Hair Comes The Bride | haircomesthebride.com
Pink Beauty Bridal | 916-402-0785 | pinkbeautybridal.com

Paperie
Shaadi Papery | shaadipapery.com

Custom Chair Sashes
Swoonable | swoonable.net

Cake Stand Rentals
West 12 Hoopla! | 209-479-3220 | west12ranch.com

Videographer
JB Wedding Photography | 916-220-0159 | jbweddingphoto.com

Special thanks to our real couple models, Karen Compagno and Frankie Medina, and to all of the professionals who contributed to this feature!

Click here to see more from our “Haute Couture” styled shoot, and stay tuned for more posts from our “Haute Couture” styled shoot!

Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Editor/Publisher Wendy Sipple.

Photos by Amy Nicole Photography / copyright Real Weddings Magazine.

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