How did you meet?
We matched on Tinder. Cassandra’s only photograph was on the ground squirrels she researched, but Dylon swiped anyway. Her opening line was “How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice!” And Dylon was instantly smitten. We had our first coffee date later that week where we chatted until closing, and we’ve been together ever since.
Tell us about your engagement.
We were engaged on August 18th, 2022. We got engaged doing our annual hike around Pinecrest Lake where Dylon proposed on top of Cleo’s Bath. We had previously discussed engagement and Cassandra knew it was coming, but she accidentally gave the wrong ring size so the engagement ring was too big. Cassandra was so worried about it falling off that she made Dylon carry it down himself since she’s a bit clumsy.
#WeddingGoals
We wanted an inviting space that prioritized the guest experience with great food and drink, and easy accommodations if anything went awry. The Elderberry at Chateau du Sureau – which catered our event – has won several awards so we were most excited about the food, and it was an absolute hit.
How did planning go?
Truthfully, planning was difficult. Both of us were in graduate school working on our PhDs and it was difficult to prioritize other aspects during that time. It led to arguments over silly things like which stationery to use for the invites. It was frustrating because we knew it was silly, but “I don’t care” can’t be the answer for all of the decisions that need to happen. Those were the worst moments, but luckily they were pretty rare. The favorite time was when we toured the Chateau du Sureau for the first time. It was the first time we could picture what the wedding would look like, and it finally felt real for us.
Biggest Challenge?
Dylon and I are in graduate school so money is a little tight, and weddings are expensive. Even if you decide on a budget and are fortunate to have financial help, it can lead to a lot of complicated feelings about how to spend the money in a meaningful way. We both were so happy with our wedding, and chose a budget that was appropriate for us, but it took several conversations to get to that point and really reflect on what we were willing to cut.
How was the Ceremony?
We like to think that it felt intimate. It was a beautiful summer day in the gardens, and the bride walked down to “Concerning Hobbits” from Lord of the Rings, which caused some people to laugh. This was perfect because Dylon surprised the bride by speaking Elvish in his vows.
Memorable Moments
For Dylon, it was seeing his father dance for the first time in his life, as well as seeing his younger brother doing swing dancing. His friends took turns dipping the other men, and it was really funny. Also, when Dylon tried to grab me for a fast dance, he leaped over a small ledge and ripped the inner seam of his pants. Luckily, no one else knew and it didn’t stop the party. We also learned how much the day meant to our parents. There were more tears than expected from both sides of the family, and it meant the world to us.
Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
The man-in-honor, Chester, tried to find us while we were taking our sunset pictures and tried to hunt us down for nearly 20 minutes. The thing he needed to tell us: it’s almost time for the next course!
Special Dance:
Family Dances: Give Me Away by Riley Roth (Father/Daughter) and Growin’ Up Raising You by Gabby Barrett (Mother/Son)
What was the best part of your day?
Dylon says that it was obviously seeing Cassandra for the first time in her dress as she walked down the aisle.
Cassandra agrees, seeing Dylon’s face when she walked down the aisle was really special. We chose not to do a first look, and it made that moment very special.
Special Moment
Dylon said some of his vows in Elvish, which was a special surprise! I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan!
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
Hopefully, the food and beautiful scenery, but we’ve also heard that many people enjoyed the ceremony and the vows themselves. It was a three-year engagement, so many were just happy that we finally did it!
#VendorRaves
Our photographer, P.J. with Fits & Stops Photography, was phenomenal—not only for capturing so many wonderful moments, but also for keeping us on track and wrangling all the guests. We chose not to have a coordinator, and we wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without P.J.’s expertise.
We also loved the reception site—they were so easy to work with, accommodating many dietary restrictions and delivering absolutely delicious meals and drinks.
Advice from the Couple
Dylon’s advice is to have patience, and to be prepared to have the same conversation many times.
Cassandra’s advice is to choose only a few aspects that the couple would love to prioritize, and let that dictate the major expenses. We chose great food and a beautiful venue, and we don’t regret it.
What would you have done differently?
We originally intended to do a first look and take our wedding pictures beforehand, but due to time we omitted this. I love the pictures we took, but it was time away from our guests, so I wish I would have tried harder to make sure we got most of our pictures out of the way before the ceremony.
