How did you meet?
We met in college at UC Davis. We both studied the same major and had overlapping classes.
When did you become engaged, and how?
December 3, 2022 in Davis, CA (where we met). It was a pouring down rainy day but we needed to take our newly adopted dog (Blu) out for a walk. Since it was a Saturday we decided to take him somewhere we don’t go often. When we first started dating back in 2019, we put one of those cheesy love locks on a bridge in Davis, and threw the key into the water. So fast forward to December 3, 2022; we went on a walk to go see if we could find it. As Andrew and I knelt down to look for it, he pulled out the ring box and proposed!! Best day ever! The day got even better when two of my best friends who flew in for this, jumped from the bushes because they were filming the whole thing. Andrew then disclosed that there were more people waiting at our house for a surprise party!
#WeddingGoals
I knew that I wanted to be present and take it all in. Everyone told me it goes by really fast, so I tried to slow the day down and really enjoy it. I also knew I wanted Andrew and I to stay together and visit with our guests together, so we could experience the same moments and reminisce on the same memories.
Budget Challenges:
We tried to keep things reasonable when making choices and focused our budget on the things we really cared about which was the music, food, and bar choices. Some of the challenges of staying within budget was the little details that added up towards the end. The main thing we wish we could have had was transportation to and from the venue and church for everyone. We provided this for our wedding party and immediate family only. The budget definitely got higher as we went through planning, we realized that even the “cheapest” options were going to be expensive. We battled staying within a budget for just one day of our lives but also knowing we were only doing it once!
How did planning go?
The planning was really fun! We made the most of all the tours, cake tastings, food tastings, etc. The hardest part was keeping my dress from my husband and not getting his opinion when I was trying them on.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
Narrowing down the guest list.
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
The ceremony was very traditional since we did it in the Catholic Church. I really liked that I was able to walk down the aisle with both my mom and dad. We also were able to have our cousins do two readings. The priest that officiated us was a family friend, who had also baptized Andrew, and married his parents and aunts and uncles. Another thing I thought was really special is that my mom altered her wedding dress (which was also my grandma’s wedding dress) into a short dress for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Memorable Moment
When it got dark, I went into the house and changed into a short sparkly dress. Our band, Golden Bell Music, played “Levels” by Avicii, and I came out on Andrew’s shoulders and passed out glow foam sticks—that was a big highlight. The band also came out onto the dance floor for many songs and played next to us while we danced, and it really got people dancing.
Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
Everything happened according to plan! Nothing unexpected really happened.
What was the best part of your day?
Dominique: The best part was when we finally got to sit down at the sweetheart table and eat the highly anticipated food, and really talk and take it all in, and reflect on the day so far.
Andrew: When we did our first look, and then sat down on these vintage couches and read our personal vows to each other alone, since we didn’t read them at the church ceremony.
Favorite Detail
Our first dance. We had so much fun learning and practicing it in the months leading up to our wedding. On the actual day, we performed it perfectly, and our guests were so amazed by the choreography along with the lifts we did, especially because neither of us are dancers.
#VendorRaves
All of our vendors were amazing. Special shout outs to our venue, Yolanda Ranch; caterers, Anderson Catering; musicians, Golden Bell Music ; and florals, Kathy with I Do Florals.
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
I think people will remember our first dance and our DJ/band. People still mention how much they liked our dance, and how they feel like they will never see one like that again.
What tips or advice would you give to couples planning their wedding today?
1. Prioritize two or three things that are non-negotiable, that you must have at your wedding. Ours was music, food, and drinks.
2. Give yourself more time than you think to plan and book vendors, there are always last minute things that come up.
3. Plan the wedding for you as a couple, not for your guests.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
We wish we were able to eat more appetizers during our cocktail hour. We did a first look and took photos ahead of time, but still were busy mingling during that hour.
