From Real Weddings Magazine, www.realweddingsmag.com

Love on the tennis court normally means zero, but to Morgan and Alex it’s the story of their life. They played the sport growing up, met each other because of it, and eventually held their wedding reception on a tennis court in a charming backyard ceremony.

Some of Morgan’s friends had mentioned a new guy at work named Alex. All too familiar with their rush to set her up with someone, she rolled her eyes and brushed it off. Already an avid attendee of Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis (where Alex worked), it was only a matter of time before they met. After several encounters at matches, he asked her out, and their journey to wedding bliss began.

In August of 2011 they went to Foresthill for a hike and picnic lunch overlooking Lake Clementine. In hindsight, Morgan recalls Alex acting a little jumpy when she reached into the backpack for some water. She was walking ahead of him when he called out to her, and when she turned he was down on one knee. “I was so floored that I could barely process what he said. He told me that he loved me and would always love me and asked me to be his wife. We had never talked about rings or anything, and Alex is not good at keeping secrets. I never thought he would be able to keep a secret like this from me.”

On a warm September day—checklists completed and DIY heart-shaped ceremony programs/fans keeping guests cool—the couple exchanged personalized vows in front of a pond with a graceful willow tree leaning over it.

“My parents both walked me down the aisle. I was nervous and jittery, but as soon as I locked eyes with Alex and when I put my hands in his, calmness came over me and everything felt right…like this is the way it should be. I am home,” the bride remembers.

The evening came back to where their relationship was rooted: the tennis court. With the net removed and chairs and tables sporting small bites (like Alex’s beef sliders and Morgan’s vegetarian mushroom version)—the scene was set for a down-home celebration.

During the reception, Morgan’s father surprised everyone by taking the stage with the band and performing on guitar. (He played when he was younger, and had been secretly taking lessons.) “We joke that my sisters, my mom and I were his ‘groupies’ because we were in the front row cheering and screaming—it was very exciting.”

Everyone (Grandma included) danced the night away, and before they knew it the clock read 3 a.m. and just the wedding party was left. With their feet in the pool, lounging and relaxing, the bride couldn’t believe it was over. Her dad came out to remind her that while the wedding was over, the early morning flight to Maui was on the horizon—along with her happily ever after with her newly minted husband.

—Jennifer Resnicke

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