How did you meet?
We were set up by friends (I used to work with one of my bridesmaids, Morgan, and her husband, Ray used to work with Michael and they set us up).
When did you become engaged, and how?
Feb 16, 2023 in Sibley Volcanic Preserve in Oakland. This is a favorite hike of ours and it was at sunset with our dog, Butter.
#WeddingGoals
We just wanted to throw an amazing party for all the people that mean a lot to us. The day really exceeded our expectations; having everyone together for quality time and the entire weekend was so special.
How did planning go?
Going to our walk through at the venue, and picking out our rentals were some of our favorite parts—we could actually start to envision it coming together!
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
We hit a point of decision fatigue. There were a lot of little details to make decisions about—but details that make a difference in the long run. Spreading the decisions out, so that we didn’t get completely burnt out, was key.
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
Our dog, Butter, was the ring bearer!
We had a few friends do readings that meant a lot to us.
Any memorable moments from your reception?
The toasts were incredible! We split them across welcome party and wedding. Most of our bridesmaids and groomsmen spoke at the welcome party and they blew us away with their toasts.
We did family for the wedding (our siblings and dads) and those were really emotional and heartfelt.
Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
The dance floor was popping!! All generations were involved and it was just pure joy!
Special Songs:
First Dance Song: “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” by James Blake
Father/Daughter Dance Song: “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boy
Mother/Son Dance Song: “This Must be the Place” by Talking Heads
Pie Cutting Song: “Lovers” by Anna of the North
Last Dance Song: Love Story by Taylor Swift
What was the best part of your day?
Kelsey: Our first look and reading our vows to one another in private before we did it during the ceremony. It was such an intimate moment and helped to get out any nerves. It was also such a nice moment of calm before the whirlwind of the day took place.
Michael: Having all of our people together for the entire weekend. It was so special to have our worlds blend together and see everyone interact from these different points in our lives. Also our first look, and seeing Kelsey walking down the aisle.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
The barn just felt like a fairy tale. Our florist, Angella, did greenery on the posts to soften the barn and we just loved the way it looked with the market lights. Illuminate did an incredible job with the lighting as well, the entire evening.
#VendorRaves
Leslie Struble of Dandelion Events–she was amazing to partner with! She really understood our vision and kept us on track the whole year leading up to the wedding. Danielle from Bloom Photography, our photographer, also made us feel so comfortable and really captured our love!
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
Our guests have shared that our vows and ceremony were really emotional and personal. Our food was also a highlight–from the oysters at cocktail hour, to the pie, people really enjoyed the food, which was what we hoped for!
Advice from the Couple:
We created a Notion board to divide and conquer on tasks so we could have visibility into all the wedding tasks. We set deadlines and assigned them out to one another—that was really helpful to share the load of planning.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
Thought about signage, place cards, etc. before the last month. Anything you can do in advance will save you from stress in the last month crunch!
