The Couple: Kristin & Dean
Wedding Date: June 11, 2016
Photography by Aria Photography
Tell us a little about you and your beloved: Dean and I met swing dancing in September 2012. We were learning how to dance at the Ballroom of Sacramento and started social dancing at Sactown Swings every Tuesday night. Our first date started with a private dance lesson with Johnny Ochoa who runs Sactown Swings and was the DJ at their wedding.
Dean proposed to me in 2015 on Christmas Day in Rome, Italy.
I was leaving for a Fulbright grant in Slovakia in autumn 2016, so there wasn’t much time to plan. Luckily, the venue we wanted was available in June 2016. Dean and I did the planning with the help of our bridesmaids and groomsmen.
What was the most amazing part of your day? Seeing my husband for the first time on our wedding day. We did a first look photography session before the ceremony. Walking down the steps in the Crocker Art Museum to see my soon-to-be husband standing in the foyer, dressed to the nines, was something I’ll never forget.
What else would you like to share about your big day? We had a blast. There was live music, lots of dancing, and plenty of smiles. I wasn’t stressed a bit. Everything went off without much concern, despite not having a wedding planner. The staff at the Crocker Art Museum, the musicians, and the DJ made sure everything went smoothly.
Also, the food was amazing. Everyone was well-fed and enjoyed their meal. It was the first wedding I’ve been to in which the cake was actually finished!
Ceremony and Reception Site: Crocker Art Museum
Officiant: Pastor Wes Nordman from Westminster Presbyterian Church
Photographer: Aria Photography
Caterer: Supper Club
Cake/Desserts: Freeport Bakery
Flowers: The Posh Posey
Favors: We made them ourselves. We had bandanas for the gentlemen and fans for the ladies. Most of our guests were dancers, so we break a sweat!
Bridal Attire: The Whirling Turban
Bridesmaids’ Attire: House of Fashion
Hair: James Wilkinson from Salon Kosmo
Make-up: Toni Cisneros from Allure Salon
Invitations and Signage: Angela Dal Bon Custom Invitations and Announcements
DJ: Johnny Ochoa
Band and MC: Peter Petty and His Terpsichoreans
Linen Rentals: Celebrations! Party Rentals & Tents
Honeymoon Location: Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out that we missed in the above questions? We had our rehearsal dinner at the Grange in The Citizen Hotel. The food was lovely and it was very reasonably priced. Also, since the dining room was elevated above the main floor, it felt private, but not stuffy.
We had an informal bridal shower at Hook & Ladder on their back patio. Lovely.
The groom and groomsmen did a get away trip to Sorenson’s resort near South Lake Tahoe. Dean loves the outdoors.
We did our engagement photos with Aria Photography. We shot in the Capital Rose Garden, outside of our church (Westminster Presbyterian – although we did not get married there to save our guests from having to change venues on the day), and on the Riverwalk in West Sacramento – it has the best views of the Tower Bridge and Sacramento.
First Dance Song: “Exactly Like You” by Nina Simone
Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now? In my experience, there is a lot to do in the beginning, then nothing for some time, then a lot a few days before the wedding. Choose good vendors and all will be well. You get what you pay for.
Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance? I wished the party could have lasted longer! We closed down Crocker Art Museum at midnight and people were still out there cutting a rug having a good time.
Photos courtesy of Aria Photography.
Blog post by Real Weddings Magazine’s Social Media Maven, Aimee Carroll.
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