HOW DID YOU MEET?
We met in the fall of 2020, shortly after I graduated from college. I had originally planned to move to San Francisco, but due to COVID-19, I returned home to Yuba City. Not long after, we met.

Ryan was an avid golfer, and I had just recently picked up the sport, so for our first date, we decided to play a full 18 holes of golf—yes, all 18 for a first date! It turned out to be one of the most memorable and effortless rounds I’ve ever played, and the perfect beginning to our story.

WHEN DID YOU BECOME ENGAGED, AND HOW?
We became engaged in November 2024. Ryan surprised me with what I thought was a trip to San Francisco to meet friends, but instead, he had planned a beautiful, private proposal at the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. He even coordinated a hidden photographer, Alexandra Stav Photography, to capture the moment, making it all the more unforgettable.

The surprises didn’t end there—after the proposal, he revealed that our family and some close friends were waiting to celebrate with us at a beautiful oceanfront restaurant. It was such a thoughtful, joy-filled day from beginning to end, and a proposal I’ll never forget.

 

#WEDDINGGOALS
Early on, I created a mood board on Pinterest that helped guide the overall design and aesthetic of the day. While it’s easy to get swept up in perfectly curated inspiration, I quickly realized the importance of balancing that vision with what felt realistic for our budget and venue.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted a timeless palette: white florals, bridesmaids in rich chocolate brown dresses, and groomsmen in classic black tuxedos. With those key elements in place, everything else naturally fell into place.

HOW DID PLANNING GO?
Overall, wedding planning was such a fun and rewarding experience. I’ve always loved planning events, so I was excited to take it on, and it made it even more special that we approached every step as a team. From touring venues to cake and catering tastings, and even taking dance lessons together, we really embraced every part of the process and didn’t want to miss a thing.

One of my favorite parts was designing our invitations—it was a creative outlet I truly enjoyed. If I could do anything differently, I would have started that process a bit earlier to give myself more time to explore and refine the designs.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
The biggest challenge of the planning process was staying within budget. It’s so easy to fall in love with all the beautiful details, but we had to be intentional about prioritizing what mattered most to us. That meant making thoughtful decisions and, at times, finding creative ways to bring our vision to life without overspending. In the end, it helped us stay grounded and focus on what truly made the day meaningful.

MEMORABLE MOMENT
One of the most memorable and personal touches from our reception was how we chose to release tables for dinner. Instead of calling tables in order, we asked one married couple from each table in advance to share their first dance song from their own wedding. Our DJ then played those songs one by one to invite each table to the dance floor and into dinner.

It became such a meaningful way to honor the love stories of our guests while weaving their memories into our celebration. It was incredibly special to watch each couple light up when they heard their song, and it ended up being one of the most talked-about details of the night.

SPECIAL DANCE SONGS
First Dance Song: Lover by Taylor Swift
Father/Daughter: I Hope You Dance by Chris Stapleton
Mother/Son: Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw
Last Dance Song: Love Story by Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DETAIL
One of our favorite details that we incorporated was naming our reception tables instead of numbering them. We chose to name each table after a golf course we’ve played together over the years, which felt like a meaningful nod to the start of our love story. It became such a fun conversation starter for our guests, who enjoyed learning the story behind each course. Our own table was especially sentimental, as it was named after the course where we played on our first date. This was a full-circle moment, and we loved seeing it come to life on our wedding day.

#VENDORRAVES
Our photographer, Susie Mendoza, truly exceeded all of our expectations. She captured the most beautiful moments from our day with such care and intention. We are incredibly grateful to have those memories! Another vendor we would like to highlight is Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo. We bought or rented all of our attire and the bridal party attire from them. They were incredibly easy to work with, gave great suggestions, and constantly went above and beyond. Thank you AE Bridal for helping us look and feel our very best on our special day!

ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE
Looking back, I would trust my instincts more and begin sooner. My advice to anyone planning a wedding and incorporating DIY elements is to go with your gut and give yourself plenty of time. Having those pieces completed early makes the entire experience far more enjoyable and stress-free.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
If I could do anything differently, I would start designing and creating much earlier. I took on a number of DIY projects—from the welcome sign and bar signage to the escort card display and much of the stationery—which I truly enjoyed. However, I often found myself delaying the process in case a better idea came along.