Hannah and Michael first met 10 years before they would end up married. Set up by mutual friends in St. Louis, the two were headed off to different colleges. They dated for nine years before getting engaged on Christmas Eve.
More than a year later, the couple married at the bride’s grandparents’ house in Elk Grove.
“My grandparents live on a beautiful piece of property, located on the Stone Lakes Wildlife Refuge, in a Spanish-style house that they built themselves,” says Hannah. “I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up and Michael visited there early on in our relationship, so it felt like a special place for us.”
The majority of the 85 wedding guests were from out of town including Los Angeles, Illinois and New York, as well as Australia.
Seeing each other for the first time was emotional. “I was so happy,” says Hannah. “My jaw hurt from smiling after our first look.” Michael says he was “the happiest I had ever been.”
Their friend Tom officiated the ceremony, which was, “short and sweet,” says Hannah, whose best friend’s son was the ring bearer.
Another friend, Taylor Goldsmith, who plays in a band called Dawes, performed two songs during the processional: “Let It Be Me” and “Sea of Love.” The newlyweds exited the ceremony to The Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?”
The wedding had many beautiful elements including the ceremony arbor, built by the bride’s grandfather; flowers and greenery from planner, designer and floral designer Jenn Robirds from Jenn Robirds Events, including Italian wreaths with place cards on each plate. Hannah and her mother dyed the napkins indigo shibori. The bride even designed the invitations herself, including the calligraphy, calling the project, “a labor of love.”
Food was a focus at the reception. They had a family-style dinner complete with wood-fired pizzas, salads and sides. “The menu was inspired by our favorite restaurant in LA, and also the restaurant where my sister works as a cook, Jon & Vinny’s,” says Hannah.
Dessert was a treat too. “My mom and sister are skilled bakers so we had four different cakes: coconut cake with cream cheese frosting was the main cake that we cut into, along with devil’s food, lemon meringue and flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream and berries,” says Hannah, noting they also nibbled on s’mores by the bonfire for a late night snack.
“Hannah had such a great vision for the wedding and did such a great job of executing the details,” says Michael.
“We really got to enjoy every moment,” says Michael, explaining that their planner told them everything would be taken care of. “Jenn really came through. I felt no stress and really was able to cherish the time I spent with Hannah, our family and friends. I didn’t know it would be that easy.”
—Kristen Castillo
