How did you meet?
Online dating (met in Oakland, CA)
When did you become engaged, and how?
November 2021, an outdoor surprise engagement at Panoramic Hill in Berkeley, CA (one of our favorite spots in the Bay Area, beautiful sunset views of Oakland and SF/Bay).
While planning the wedding, was there anything in particular you knew you wanted for the day? Did you have expectations?
Yes, we had a very clear vision from the start about what we wanted. As Sara described it, “Palm Springs mid-century meets Northern California.”
How did planning go?
Planning was incredible, thanks to our planner, Sara with Rainbow Weddings & Events, and also the fact that we had ample time to plan everything. Once we hired Sara, we knew we were in great hands. She kept us on track, helped us talk through everything and decide as a couple when we had differences or weren’t sure how best to proceed, and generally made sure she brought our vision to life with minimal stress and worry on our part.
#WeddingGoals
Yes, we had a very clear vision from the start about what we wanted. As Sara, our wedding planner, described it, “Palm Springs mid-century meets Northern California.”
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
Intimate and authentic. We kept it short and sweet, getting married under a beautiful California sunset in front of our closest family and friends, in the place where we met and have come to call our home in the last five years together.
Did you have any special cultural features to your wedding or factors that celebrated the heritage of you or your family?
Chris is Jamaican, but this didn’t play prominently into our wedding, other than ensuring we had a good mix of Jamaican music to get his family up and dancing.
Memorable Moments
Having our closest family give toasts, especially Mark’s mom who had never spoken in public and spoke from the heart in a way that made Mark super proud and honored for her to be there. Chris is Jamaican and we both love EDM, so DJ Justin did an awesome job threading those two elements together — many of our guests said it was the best music they’d ever heard at a wedding. So fun, that one of our guests split his pants from dancing so hard.
Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
At one point in the evening, Chris and I spontaneously met upstairs on the balcony above the dance floor at our venue, just watching everything we’d created and seeing our favorite people together having an awesome time. This was such a special moment for us, and one that our photographer captured beautifully in our photography.
What was the best part of your day?
Chris: Getting to see my family from the east coast all in one place—in California, the state I’ve loved to call home and where I’ve built an incredible life with Mark. Many of Chris’s family had never been to California before, so it was an extra special treat for them.
Mark: Having my mom there from NC to support Chris and me, and celebrate our love.
Favorite Detail
The custom-designed LED arch that Chris envisioned and built entirely himself. It provided a super nice accent for our ceremony, and had multicolor syncing with music during our ceremony.
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
The party vibe. We set out to make our reception feel like a mini EDM festival, and DJ Justin delivered.
Advice from the couple:
You’ll encounter so many details along your wedding planning journey. Take each one as it comes, and remember to keep your eye on your overall vision—some decisions are critical (your planner, venue, photographer, caterer) and others may not make a significant difference to the overall experience. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and remember why you’re doing it in the first place: to celebrate your relationship and love for each other, and to make a commitment.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
Honestly, nothing — it was absolutely everything we envisioned!
