Where did you meet?
In the fall of 2018, during a rehearsal with the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, Jimmy was enchanted by a new member named Darwin. His cheeky smile left Jimmy captivated, but he was too timid to say hello.
Fast forward to the spring of 2019, Jimmy returns from a political campaign when fate intervenes. Jimmy Tinder-matched with that same sparkly eyed boy! Little did he know, Darwin felt the same way. It didn’t take long for Darwin to send that first message, and thus, their life-long journey began.
When did you become engaged, and how?
When: 16 November, 2022
Where: Washington, DC – BRESCA
Bresca is a one Michelin-starred modern French Bistro, offering beautiful and intimate “Greenhouses”. These small, outdoor pods only accommodate for two people, but are well insulated and nicely decorated. During a time when Covid was still very prevalent, this was the perfect setting for Jimmy to pop the question. After a few wonderful courses of dinner, Darwin could tell that Jimmy was getting anxious and excited. So between the Duck and the Dessert, he got on one knee – a difficult task in such an intimate pod – and nervously blurted out “Will you f*kn marry me!?”. Love was in the air, and the setting was perfect, but it seems the nerves had affected the execution a bit… but in a way, this was the perfect execution for Jimmy and Darwin’s sweet and aggressive love. So as Jimmy was apologizing for his french, Darwin returned with a “f*k yes!” and the rest is history.
#WeddingGoals
When we first began the wedding planning process, we knew we wanted a location that could accommodate a lot of family & friends, but nothing too large (our initial guest count goal was around 125). We also made an early decision to have the wedding in or near Sacramento, CA, since this was the city we met and currently live in. We didn’t have many other expectations, but we knew the planning process was going to be intense.
How did planning go? Favorite time? Worst moment?
Overall, we had a wonderful time planning. We ultimately had over a year of planning and I’m grateful we had plenty of time and we didn’t feel too rushed. Our favorite times during the planning process was traveling to different locations and open houses and immersing ourselves in the wedding industry. We met a lot of incredible people and learned a lot about the wedding process along the way. Talking to various vendors also sparked a lot of ideas that we ended up using in our wedding. I think the worst part was the anticipation leading up to the wedding. The closer we got to the wedding day, the more stressed and time-crunched I felt. But that feeling quickly dissipated as we were surrounded by the love from our friends and family.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
Choosing the perfect wedding venue. There were a LOT of factors to consider: price-point, style, location, convenience, vibes, etc. We saw a total of 16 venues–I know that sounds like a lot, and it was! But choosing the perfect venue was one of our top priorities.
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful we couldn’t have imagined it any other way. I think our song choices for the processional was something we thought about in length. As two musical individuals, we wanted to tell a beautiful story through the songs we chose:
Song 1 (parents): “Rainbow Connections” by Sleeping At Last.
Song 2 (Groomsmen & Flower Gals): “Here Comes the Sun” by Imaginary Future.
Song 3 (Grooms): “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver.
Jimmy and Darwin proceeded to the altar with their doggie, Bear.
Jimmy’s father, Jesse, was also our officiant. This was extra special because Jesse’s officiant was also his father (Jimmy’s grandfather).
After reading our vows and saying our “I Do’s”, we walked off to our chosen Recessional Song: “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole.
Memorable Moments
We had some hilarious entries in the audio guestbook!
Most people were not expecting a performance by The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, but it made everyone super emotional and full of love.
It was super special to sing “Sweet Caroline” with the rest of the family—it’s a tradition we do at all family weddings.
What was the best part of your day?
Darwin: The favorite part of my day was the vows. Reading my vows to Jimmy and hearing his vows in return is something I will never forget!
Jimmy: When I was reading my vows it felt like the whole world stopped and it was just Darwin and I.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
Jimmy: The first look was super special to me. Darwin tapped me on the shoulder, and turning around to see his smiling face made me cry tears of joy.
Darwin: I loved walking down the aisle with both Jimmy and our dog, Bear (as if we were solidifying our new family to the world).
#VendorRaves
A heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible vendors who cared for us so deeply and helped to make our wedding dreams come true! As we were going through the process of selecting vendors, we were drawn to the passion and talent that each individual has for their craft; and, maybe most importantly, felt an instant connection with each of them. Being a same-sex marriage, we set out to find a team that truly preached love and acceptance—and we believe that’s exactly what we found!
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
Catering, Music, Dancing, and lots of LOVE!
What tips or advice would you give to couples planning their wedding today?
Be patient with your fiancé, and no matter what you may disagree upon, always remind yourselves that you are a team!
Also, be kind and respectful to everyone you meet along the way. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who helped with our wedding day and we’ve made a lot of life-long friends too!