When did you become engaged and how?
He asked me to marry him at a wine event at Cakebread Winery in Napa, December 2021. We were in Napa for my birthday weekend and attended a wine club event [there]. We were talking to another couple, [and] he left to get more wine. I did not know, but he asked another guest to video the proposal. He came back, got on one knee behind me and said, “Gayliene Cunningham will you marry me?” I turned around (at first I thought he fell), [and] when I realized what he was doing I said, “You’re doing that here?” He replied, “Yes!” (in my defense I don’t remember saying that — I was in shock! I screamed, “Yes!”
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
The ceremony was romantic and very us. Both my parents have passed away so it was very special to have my daughter in the wedding and my son give me away. Also, Shasta stole the show — he was so good. Our flowergirl was a former student of mine. Our minister was my best friend’s sister (and they are both like sisters to me). We got married on the first tee of our country club (Northridge Country Club) which is our happy place. Our painter painted our first kiss (that probably got the second most compliments, no one had seen that done before), and my daughter and I picked the music out together. I walked down the aisle to “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding.
Memorable Moment
Our first dance! We practiced so hard for it — every week for eight months!
Favorite Detail
We put wine on each table from our collection with a poem I wrote hung on each bottle; and our favor was a small wine glass. We told our guests hat one of our favorite things to do is go wine tasting, so we wanted to share some of our favorites with them, hoping they would find something they love as much as we do.
#VendorRaves
Our florist made my vision come true! Other florists did not want to do what I wanted, but Angel worked with me and it looked amazing! She and her family were very professional! I got nothing but compliments all day about the flower arrangements.
What was the best part of your day?
Gayliene: When the wedding party was introduced, the flower girl and our dog, Shasta, came into the ballroom to “Who Let the Dogs Out!” The place was roaring!
Advice from the couple:
Details matter! What I loved most about our wedding was all the little details; the memory table, the guest book (Celtic tree of life), [and] our favors. Also, get a wedding planner. She was a lifesaver especially on the day of the wedding.
