Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 0
The Couple: Kelly and Erin
Wedding Date: April 11, 2014
Photography by True Love Photo
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Sometimes you don’t get it right the first time. Sometimes you get a second chance at life and love. Sometimes it takes almost 4 decades to find it.  That is true for Erin and I.  We met through a mutual friend and were smitten from the start. But when you already have children, you are finding a partner, not just for yourself but another mother (or father) for your children. Getting it right is important, very important.
Erin and I got engaged and started planning our wedding before marriage equality was passed in California. We wanted a ceremony for our family and friends, especially our children, and whether California voters agreed with us or not, it was going to happen. . .and it was going to be awesome!
Here’s an excerpt from our wedding ceremony about how we met:
Let me now share a little love story.  Titled Erin and Kelly.
If you ask Kelly, she will tell you their love story is not unique. A city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and Erin’s rebellious spirit shakes up the populace and in turn Kelly’s heart.  Oh, wait.  Kelly did say that dancing did take center stage in their courtship.  Up until their first date (that wasn’t really a date) Kelly had seen Erin on her friend’s Facebook page and they joked a bit over a few months.  Later she met Erin in person when their mutual friend brought her along to help Kelly move . . . yes, a Uhaul was involved.  Soooooo, back to the date (that wasn’t really a date), Erin and Kelly went dancing, where Erin observed “the slow roll” that you will all have the pleasure of viewing tonight at the reception. Kelly is pretty sure that is what sealed the deal for Erin. For Kelly it was Erin’s sense of humor, gorgeous smile and open heart that made Kelly fall hard. It didn’t hurt that Erin was, and still is, an amazing mother. Kelly says there is nothing more incredible, than having a partner who knows how to love and be loved in return.
Of course, there are two sides to every story.
When you ask Erin, she will tell you that she met Kelly through a mutual friend. They bantered on Facebook for quite some time before actually meeting in person. After giving Kelly her number multiple times and NEVER  getting a call or text, Erin finally asked her out when Kelly mentioned she wanted to go dancing. They had a great time!
Erin said they laughed until their faces and stomachs hurt and she knew right away that she was hooked. She was pretty sure her fabulous robot dance skills sealed the deal.
Erin says that anyone who knows Kelly, is instantly drawn to her. She has an amazing sense of humor, is incredibly intelligent, has an infectious laugh, and her breath always smells like cookies. She admits that it sounds cliché to say that she really did know pretty early on in their relationship that Kelly was the woman she was meant to share her life with. Erin said that Kelly has brought more into her life then she ever could have imagined and each day is better than the one before. She loves Kelly with everything she has inside of her.
And that is how it all went down.
And the rest is history.
STD
What was the most amazing part of your day? It’s too hard to pick just one. .  . Our wedding was amazing because our guests were amazing. We surrounded ourselves with genuine, loving, giving people who want nothing but the best for us.  You could feel it during the ceremony.  With the laughter and tears, everyone was “all in”.  Many guests, including several of our vendors, talked about the overall vibe at our wedding.  That is was phenomenal and we agree!
Anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? Our wedding date is a Palindrome, it’s the same number whether you read it backward or forward {4.11.14}.
As a blended family, it was important for us to make sure our children were part of the ceremony, so a section of our ceremony was devoted to them.  We also wanted to make sure that they were able to enjoy our reception.  At the same time, we wanted to make sure that we could enjoy the night as newlyweds as well.  We had arranged to have the kids leave about two hours early so we could dance and hang out with friends and family instead of being on “mom duty” all night.  (We don’t drink alcohol when our kids are around and we certainly don’t dance the same in front of them).
Kelly is a 3x Gestational Surrogate, carrying 5 babies for three different families. At the wedding, several surrogates attended and Beth took a few great group shots where everyone held up (sign or fingers depending on the shot) how many babies they had birthed for other families.
Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 1 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 2 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 3 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 4 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 5 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 6 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 7 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 8 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 9 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 10 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 11 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 11A Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 12 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 13 Kelly and Erin by True Love Photo on www.realweddingsmag.com 14


Ceremony and Reception Site: The Westin Sacramento
Officiant: A Friend
Photographer: True Love Photo
Flowers: Accents by Sage
Bridal Attire: Kelly’s gown is from Sparkle Bridal Couture and Erin’s outfit is from Old Navy, Macy’s and Mudan Blossoms on Etsy.
Children’s Attire: David’s Bridal, Old Navy and Clip A Bow Tie on Etsy.
Wedding Party Shoes: Converse!
Hair and Make-up: I Make Beautiful/Makeup by Jenifer Haupt
Save-the-Dates: VistaPrint
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Caterer: Scott’s Seafood
Cake: Crazy Mama Unlimited. We showed our baker pictures of what we wanted it to look like.  She called us back later asking if she could surprise us with “something”.  We were game and on our wedding day, when we cut into our cake, it was a rainbow. Our baker wanted to do something that showed she was for marriage equality.  We thought it was great and our kids thought it was awesome!
Favors: J’s Custom Cakepops
DJ, Photo Booth, and Lighting: Music & More Entertainment
Rentals: Celebrations! Party Rentals & Tents. We rented specialty table clothes and chargers for the cake table and our table with the kids. We wanted them to feel like they had the best seat in the house!
Honeymoon Location: Capitola, CA.
First Dance Song: “All of Me” by John Legend.
Reception Entrance Song: “It’s Raining Men” — We entered using a rainbow umbrella of course!
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? Several of our friends told us to make sure to have people assigned to pick up our things at the end of the night (our rental items, friend’s cake plate, signage, etc).  We did have a friend who took all the gifts but we ended up staying behind to gather our things . . . always moms apparently!
Pick a #hashtag and let everyone know through signage, program, social media, etc.  Ours was #ekwed14.  That way, friends can post pictures throughout the night and people who couldn’t make it can see candid photos of the evening. This is also great as a pacifier while you wait for your photographer’s pictures.
Make sure you stay true to what you and your fiancé want.  Do not plan things around what others may or may not like.  It is your day.  Have it be EXACTLY what you want.
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? We would have hired a videographer.  It wasn’t in our budget but looking back, we wish we would’ve found a way to make it happen.  Our ceremony was great and we would love to hear our friends and family laughing and crying… not to mention our kids would have loved to watch it over and over.
Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Social Media Maven, Aimee Carroll.
Photos courtesy of and copyright True Love Photo.
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