Meagan and Mark wrote their own wedding vows, and the words were anything but traditional.
“We wanted to have some humor during the ceremony and wanted to keep it a little lighter,” says Meagan.
Here’s a sample of their vows: “I love that, at the moment, our dogs are our children and we spoil them as if they were human,” said Mark. Meagan’s reply: “I love you for loving our dogs, Mimzie and Khloe, and even though Mimzie isn’t your favorite,I love you for pretending to like her.”
Their vows also joked about the bride hogging the covers in bed and the groom vowing to give her flowers.
Meagan, a dietitian, and Mark, a production and control manager, met through mutual friends and were together seven years before getting engaged during a family vacation. A year later they married in a winter wedding at Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa.
They had 190 guests in attendance, including an 18-member wedding party. The evening wedding had an elegant color scheme of black, gold, and white. “We wanted a romantic winter vibe for our ceremony look. We absolutely love Tahoe and wanted to bring a little piece of that to our wedding,” says the bride, noting the fireplace made it a cozy setting. “We had tall pine trees wrapped in white twinkle lights that surrounded the fireplace with fake snow sprinkled on the trees.”
The bride loved the venue’s chandelier and how it was decorated. Mark was impressed by “the glow and the elegance of the ballroom,” and says he was “blown away by the smell of pine trees and the glow of lighting around the room.”
The couple did a first look and love the photos that resulted. “It was the first time everything felt real,” says Meagan, who recalls her heart was racing in that moment. “I know that sounds crazy, but it all hit me at once when I saw him in his tux as I was walking up behind him. That’s the first time I started to get emotional because I knew I was marrying the man of my dreams.”
Mark felt the nerves too, explaining his “stomach was filled with butterflies,” when he saw her.
They’re also happy they hired a videographer. “The day goes by so fast, and you miss out on so much that it was totally worth it,” she says. “We are so excited that we get to re-watch some of our special moments.”
Mark suggests building in enough time to see all of your guests: “Try your best to make it around to all your tables to say hi. This was something that was important to us, but we didn’t have enough time.”
A month after the wedding, the couple honeymooned in Jamaica. They’re home now, living out their vows. Here’s hoping she’s getting flowers and he has enough blankets when he’s sleeping.
—Kristen Castillo
First Dance Song
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
Father/Daughter Dance Song
“My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw
Mother/Son Dance Song
“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Cake Cutting Song
“Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies
Bouquet Toss Song
“American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz
Garter Toss Song
“Cherry Pie” by Warrant
Details about the cake
Wedding Cake:
Layers 1 & 2: White cake with white buttercream frosting, and filled
with fresh strawberries and white buttercream frosting
Layer 3: Lemon cake with buttercream frosting, and lemon filling
Layer 4: Red Velvet with buttercream frosting and dark chocolate filling with chocolate curls
Sheet cake:
Chocolate cake with caramel filling
Details about the flowers
We used a lot of white flowers with greenery to compliment our winter theme.
Details about the favors
Candy table with a variety of black, gold, and white candies
We bought black mittens and tied bows around them for guests to use during cocktail hour.
Anything else you’d like to share about your wedding?
For our vows we did one-liners back and forth and tried to add in some humor. Everyone loved them!
Any tips you’d give brides and grooms planning their wedding today?
Bride:
Tips I would give are to do the first look! It’s a special moment that is just between the two of you. Another plus is you’re able to get some of your photos done beforehand, which makes it a lot nicer after the ceremony.
Secondly, spend the money on a good photographer and yes bite the bullet and do the videographer. Mark and I woke up the next day, and were so happy that we went spent the money on the videographer. We went back and forth on it for a while, but the day goes by so fast and you miss out on so much that it was totally worth it. We are so excited that we get to re-watch some of our special moments. Also, when we received our photos we absolutely loved them and were glad we picked such great photographers.
The day of the wedding, just have fun and make sure to enjoy the day as much as possible. The day goes by so fast!
Groom:
One piece of advice that I would give is try your best to make it around to all your tables to say hi. This was something that was important to us, but make sure you take time to eat and enjoy yourself too!
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
I would have been more specific on my tall arrangements. They turned out great, but my vision was a little different.
Also, I would have tried to communicate with my family better about doing pictures after the ceremony or I would have tried to get at least half of them done beforehand. I have divorced parents who are remarried and so I have a lot of different sides which took a long time.
Vendors
Ceremony Site:
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant & Spa Officiant:
Steven Hall, cousin Ceremony Music:
Elite DJ Entertainment Photographer:
Andrew & Melanie Photography Videographer:
Phillip Alan Films Reception Site:
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant & Spa Bridal Hair:
Summer Barker of M.U.A.H. by Summer Bridal Make-up:
Summer Barker of M.U.A.H. by Summer Bridal Attire:Anne Barge from Kinsley James Bridal Veil:Anne Barge from Kinsley James Bridal Shoes:
Shoes of Prey Bridesmaids' Attire:
Bella Bridesmaids Bridesmaids' Attire:
Nordstrom Bridesmaids' Attire:
J. James Bridal Flowergirl Attire:
Pink Peony Boutique Groom’s Attire:
Men's Wearhouse Groomsmen's Attire:
Men's Wearhouse Ringbearer Attire:
Amazon Bride's Rings Jeweler:
Derco Fine Jewelers Groom's Rings Jeweler:
Derco Fine Jewelers Save the Date Cards:
Minted Invitations:
Minted Place Cards:
DIY Menu Cards:
DIY Thank You Cards:
Party City Wedding Party Flowers:
Flowers by Gerry (bouquets, boutineers) Wedding Party Flowers:
Big Bang Events Ceremony Flowers:
Flowers by Gerry (wedding party bouquets and boutineers) Ceremony Flowers:
Big Bang Events (ceremony decor) Reception Flowers:
Flowers by Gerry (cake flowers and table centerpieces) Reception Flowers:
Big Bang Events (fireplace and chandelier) Caterer:
Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant & Spa Cake:
Something Sweet Bakery DJ/Entertainment:
Elite Entertainment Lighting:
K & T Lights (twinkle lights on trees) Lighting:
The Big Bang Event Design Favors:
Amazon Additional Resources:
Made to Measure (gown alterations) Additional Resources:
One Fancy Day (garter) Additional Resources:
Studio Chantilly (robe)