In 2009, Alyxcia—a junior at Escalon High School—was enjoying the first football game of the season, when someone caught her eye. It was Tim, a recent graduate of nearby Ripon High School, and the attraction was mutual. They met briefly after the game and then parted, but stayed on one another’s minds. Alyxcia found out just how much she was on Tim’s when she went to her car after school a week later and found a single red rose on her windshield—a sweet gesture from the man who would eventually become her husband.
Alyxcia describes her connection with Tim as instant and natural. “From the beginning, we were always so comfortable around each other, and have always had an ease with one another,” she says. “It was like we had known each other our whole lives. We always knew we would get married.”
In 2011, that knowledge turned to reality, when Alyxcia discovered photos of engagement rings in Tim’s office at his family’s hot tub manufacturing business. “He was trying to surprise me, but I always seem to find a way to ruin any surprise he has planned,” Alyxcia says. The engagement came following her high school graduation, during a trip to Malibu. “We were sitting on the beach watching the waves when Tim got on one knee, told me how much he loved me and asked me marry him,” Alyxcia recalls.
The couple decided on a long engagement and planned their magical day for early fall at the historic and romantic River Mill in French Camp. The bride had a specific vision for the romance she wanted to convey in the setting, and made the dream a reality with abundant flowers in shades of white and purple, and theme lighting that bathed the indoor venue in a magical violet hue. The attention paid to the interior turned out to be even more important, as an ill-timed storm forced the ceremony inside instead of outdoors as planned, which “ended up being the most romantic setting,” Alyxcia says.
The couple’s 150 closest friends and family comprised the treasured guests, and one very special member of the wedding party was there too—Alyxcia and Tim’s two-and-a-half-year-old son. As a special touch, “We chose to have a unity heart with three pieces and had our son place the third and final piece,” the bride explains.
Their son was with them throughout the wedding and reception, and was there for the moment they recall as the most special of the entire day. “I was walking down the aisle and saw my future husband and our son hand in hand,” Alyxcia recalls. “I have never been so happy, and I knew how bright our future was going to be.”
— Carrie Poggio
First Dance Song
"You're Everything" by Keith Urban
Father/Daughter Dance Song
"Daddy's Angel" by T-Carter Music
Mother/Son Dance Song
"Twenty Years Late" by David St. Romain
Cake Cutting Song
"Sugar" by The Archies
Details about the cake
We had a candy bar and all of the candies were white and purple. Our cake was strawberry swirl (with fresh strawberry filling) and triple chocolate (with raspberry compote filling). With buttercream icing, the cake had icing flowers and crystals all over.
Details about the flowers
I had white calla lily, white roses, white hydrangeas, white gardenias, white peonies.
Details about the favors
We had small olive oil and balsamic vinegar in cream bags, decorated with crystals. We purchased the olive oil and balsamic vinegar from The True Olive Connection (Santa Cruz, CA), and my mom and I put the bags together with decorations we bought at Michaels.
Anything else you’d like to share about your wedding?
We had a very intimate wedding with everyone we loved, and that was so important to us. Our beautiful boy, Timmy (2 ½ years old), was a big part of our day; from getting ready to the last dance.
We would not have been able to have such an amazing wedding if we didn’t have our wedding planner, Jennifer Verdon. She is so kind and knows how to get the job done in a short amount of time. She was great at staying calm, even though I got nervous at times.
Creative Cakes by Debra also did a fabulous job on the cake. I went into the bakery with 3 pictures that I loved, and she was able to create a cake that had a little of each. Our cake was beautiful and so much more than I expected.
During this wedding planning we would not have been able to complete everything without my mom, Jina. She worked day and night along with Jennifer to create our dream wedding. Being a full time mom to a toddler and also being a student at California State University Stanislaus, left me with a tight schedule. My mom and I are very close and she knows what I love, so she was able to help a great deal with the wedding when I needed her.
Any tips you’d give brides and grooms planning their wedding today?
Things will go wrong on the day of the wedding, but it is important to not stress about every little thing. The most important thing to remember is that you are marrying the one you love. The day goes by so fast; so enjoy every minute of it and take it all in.
While planning, trust your instincts and choose what you love, while still being flexible. There are so many small details to planning a wedding that you have to be organized. If you can have a wedding planner or on-site coordinator; they really do help take some of the stress from planning.