The Couple: Kate & Jonathan
Wedding Date: November 4, 2017
Photography by Lixxim Photography
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Jonathan and I grew up in the same small town, went to the same university, and worked a block apart but somehow never met until we attended mutual friends’ birthday party at an Irish Pub. Our families had even known each other for years. We quickly fell for each other over shared love of hiking, nature, cooking, public policy, trivia, and faith. Jonathan proposed overlooking the Russian River at Sonoma Coast State Park.
What was the most amazing part of your day? Jonathan wanted to write our own vows which surprised me! He’s not a public speaker but I was game and it ended up being the most meaningful part of the whole wedding. Hearing and saying our own promises in our own words made them mean that much more.
What else would you like to share about your big day? I imagined we would have some kind of funny mishap that wouldn’t go according to plan, but everything actually went according to plan to the point that it exceeded expectations. At the moment when the final slow song of the night started to play, West Sacramento started a fireworks display that played behind Etta James. It was magical! Our people showed up ready to party and hit their cues. We couldn’t be more thankful.
Ceremony and Reception Site; and Caterer: The Firehouse Restaurant
Officiant: Jonathan’s Youth Pastor and his Wonderful Wife
Photographer: Lixxim Photography
Cake/Desserts: Kate’s grandmother made the cutting cake, The Firehouse Restaurant provided petite desserts.
Flowers: I Do Florals
Favors: Cookie Company
Bridal Attire: Second Summer Bride
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Assorted! Each was asked to buy their own.
Hair and Make-up: Samantha at Bella Capelli Salon
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
DJ/Entertainment/Band: Javier Tarango-Sho
Honeymoon Location: Costa Rica
Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out that we missed in the above questions? Bridal alterations by Rebecca Wendlandt and floral hairpiece by Magaela Accessories.
First Dance Song: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” covered by Ingrid Michaelson.
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? If you don’t know what song to choose, pick an evening when you and your partner can be alone with a good sound system and play songs and try dancing to them. It was one of the most romantic nights to dance to love songs in my living room.
Also, our vendors were all AMAZING and people should absolutely look into using them.
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? I felt like every decision should be agonized over and had to be the best. I wish I’d just tried to enjoy the process more.
Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Social Media Maven, Aimee Carroll.
Photos courtesy of Lixxim Photography.
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