HOW DID YOU MEET?
Steven and I have known each other since we were kids, we even have a photo together from when we were about five years old! Our relationship grew over time, but things became more serious when he asked me to senior prom. We spent that summer together before heading off to college, and the rest is history.
WHEN DID YOU BECOME ENGAGED, AND HOW?
We got engaged in Park City, Utah a little over a year before we got married. Steven’s family has been going there for years, and during their annual trip that year, he surprised me with a proposal at the top of a snowy ski mountain. As if that moment wasn’t special enough, he had my family and some of our close friends waiting to surprise us afterward. We spent the evening celebrating together with a horse-drawn sleigh ride to dinner, followed by a night out on the town, it was unforgettable.
#WEDDINGGOALS
From the very beginning, we knew we wanted a big wedding. After nearly ten years together, it felt incredibly important to celebrate not just our marriage, but all the family and friends who had supported us along the way. More than anything, we wanted the day to feel meaningful and centered around the people we love most.
HOW DID PLANNING GO?
We really tried to make the planning process something we could enjoy together. About a year out, we started a tradition of going on a date night on the 26th of each month, our wedding date, which gave us dedicated time to talk through wedding plans and stay connected throughout the process. I loved trying on my mom’s wedding dress and revamping it for my reception dress, one of my bridesmaids’ grandmothers, who is incredibly talented, was the seamstress. I also enjoyed combing through family memorabilia to use throughout the day, from old wedding photos to my grandparents’ guest book and heirloom pieces like teacups and a champagne bucket.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
With a larger wedding, the biggest challenge was definitely the guest list and seating chart. Our dining room table was taken over for weeks with a sticky note seating chart that we rearranged more times than we can count, but it all came together in the end!
HOW WAS THE CEREMONY?
Our ceremony was originally planned to take place outdoors overlooking the bay, but about 30 minutes before it began, it started raining and didn’t let up. Plans quickly shifted, and at one point it felt like everyone, from family to vendors, became part of the setup crew. It turned into a true team effort, and looking back, it was actually such a memorable and funny moment seeing everyone jump in to make it happen.
One of the most special parts of our ceremony was having Steven’s cousins sing and play “Hallelujah” on the piano. Despite the last-minute change, the ceremony felt so calm and intimate. It was perfect for us.
MEMORABLE MOMENT
There were many memorable moments throughout the reception, but the toasts were a highlight, especially my dad’s that turned into a hilarious take on livestock judging (Steven competitively judged livestock in college), which had everyone laughing. We also had dueling pianos later in the evening, which completely transformed the energy of the night.
SPECIAL DANCE SONGS
First Dance: “Forever and Ever Amen” by Randy Travis)
Family Dances: Father/Daughter – “Blue Skies” by Willie Nelson; Mother/Son – “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
Cake Cutting: “Love & Marriage” by Frank Sinatra
Bouquet/Garter Toss: “Hollaback Girl” / “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” — both performed live by Dueling Pianos
BEST PART
Amelia: When the rain cleared just in time for sunset photos, Steven and I were able to go back out to the ceremony site overlooking the bay. That quiet time together felt incredibly special and intimate after such a full, emotional day.
Steven: Watching Amelia arrive to the ceremony with her dad was unforgettable. They drove up in a vintage Ford Model A that her Grandpa restored. I also loved getting to enjoy great food, especially the oysters, with our friends and family, and then dancing the night away!
SPECIAL DETAIL
Both of our families have deep ranching roots, so incorporating that into our wedding felt especially meaningful. We created a custom brand and used it alongside our family brands to mark a redwood slab during the reception. Guests were even invited to bring their own brands and take part. It became such a special, collaborative piece that we hope to one day turn into a table for our home.
FAVORITE DETAIL
It is so hard to pick one, but overall, we loved how intentionally we wove the people we loved and our heritage into every part of the day. Those details made the celebration feel uniquely ours.
#VENDORRAVES
Our wedding planner, Kendall from Kendall Melissa Events, was truly the best. She had also planned my sister’s wedding, so we began with a strong sense of trust, and she immediately understood how important it was for us to center our day around family. We had a lot of moving pieces, with many loved ones playing meaningful roles throughout the celebration, and she embraced that wholeheartedly. Rather than guiding us toward a more traditional or streamlined approach, she encouraged those personal touches and helped us weave everything together in a way that felt intentional. Her calm presence and flexibility made such a difference, especially when unexpected rain rolled in on the day of!
LOOKING BACK, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR GUESTS WILL REMEMBER THE MOST?
We think our guests will remember how it felt like a true ranch-style wedding. Being right on the bay made it very special, and we still have people talking about the food, especially the oysters!
ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE
Lean into all the classic wedding planning things—go on date nights during the planning process, take dance lessons, consider premarital counseling, and find ways to enjoy the season instead of just getting through it. It goes by so quickly, and those moments along the way end up being just as meaningful as the wedding day itself.
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
One small thing we would have done differently is make sure we ate the late-night tacos! The day goes by so quickly, and it’s easy to miss little things like that.
