How did you meet?
We met through a mutual friend.
When did you become engaged, and how?
We became engaged in January 2023. We were on a weekend ski trip with my whole family to celebrate my birthday when Andy proposed to me. We were staying at an Airbnb on Donner Lake and he popped the question on a dock at the lake with my family and his mom there to witness!
While planning the wedding, was there anything in particular you knew you wanted for the day?
I wanted bright and bold flowers, and lots of romantic lighting. My florist and day-of coordinator helped to make this vision come to life.
How did planning go?
Bittersweet. I loved being creative with figuring out floral colors, linens, decorations, etc. It was also very stressful, because I truly didn’t think I wanted a big wedding and really just wanted to elope. I didn’t like the stress of being the center of attention, and I anticipated that I would be very stressed out the day-of. In the end, though, I felt relaxed and enjoyed every minute of the day. It was so worth it, and I am so glad we celebrated the way that we did.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
Additional vendors being added on at the last minute that increased the budget.
How would you describe the ceremony?
The ceremony took place on the view deck at the venue that was set upon a hill top that overlooked Placer County. It was a short and sweet ceremony that lasted all of five minutes which was perfect for us.
Memorable Moments
Andy’s garter toss performance was a moment that all of our guests still talk about, because everyone was so impressed and surprised by his dance moves. Also, we sent a group video to Andy’s daughter who lives in Poland so that she could feel like she was part of the celebration.
Any funny or unexpected wedding moments that happened throughout the day?
Andy ripped his pants while dancing from dropping it low!
Special Songs:
First Dance: “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke
Father/Daughter Dance: ” Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“L-O-V-E ” by Nat King Cole
Paige: The quiet moment that Andy and I shared in between the ceremony and the reception. We ate appetizers from our caterer and drank our signature drinks while watching the sunset. My mom joined us and bustled my dress at this time, so it was nice to enjoy the moment before the excitement of the reception began.
Andy: Sitting at our sweetheart table looking out at all of our guests and taking it all in while eating our food from OakHouse BBQ.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
The decor on the tables.
#VendorRaves
All of our vendors were amazing and made our day so special and perfect. I am so glad I went with every vendor that I chose!
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
The food, everyone still brings up that it was the best food they have been served at a wedding!
Advice from the couple:
This day is all about you guys. You do not have to follow every tradition if it doesn’t fit with your taste or personalities. If you are not hiring a wedding planner, create a binder with all of your vendor’s information, a timeline of the day, and pictures of table settings, so those that are helping can help your vision come to life.
What would you do differently if you had the chance?
I wish I would have sat down at a guest table to see how it felt to be a guest at our wedding. The decor was different on the guest’s tables, and I would have loved to take it in from their perspective.
