#VendorRaves
Our photographer and videographer, Philippe from Philippe Studio Pro, is absolutely amazing! Philippe and his crew were so professional and captured the day so beautifully. Every time we look at our photos or wedding video, it feels like we are right back at our wedding.
Bryanna from JQ Events did a wonderful job coordinating our wedding day. She met with us every step of the way to make sure she had all the details to make things run smoothly and stress free. We didn’t have to worry about anything the day of our wedding.
Our floral designer, Gina from Inspirations by Gina, was absolutely gorgeous! She went above and beyond and even delivered my hair piece to me at the hotel so my hair stylist could place it before our first look.
Maya from Gorgeous Hair Studio did stunning work on my hair and make up! I take pride in my natural hair texture and she amplified my curls that day. Maya did so good with giving me a natural glam for make up as well!
DJ StaceLace kept the groves going all day! She was so smooth with her transitions.
The desserts that Bianca from Biancaakaa Bakes created were so delicious. We had a dessert bar with options for everyone and she created delicious options.
Lisa and John from World Fare Catering were so easy to work with for catering and their food was excellent. Our guests still rave about the dinner!
How did you meet?
We met through a mutual friend in high school. We were really good friends for a long time, and then shortly after we graduated high school we decided to date. We’ve been together ever since!
When did you become engaged, and how?
We got engaged while on a family vacation with Daniel’s family in Maui, HI. Daniel and I were watching the sunset one evening and he took me to the water to propose. Daniel had planned for his family to surprise us after the engagement with flowers, a congratulations sign and a lei.
#WeddingGoals
The biggest thing we wanted was just for our family and friends to be able to come together and celebrate with us to have positive energy and love around us. We also wanted the day to run smoothly and not have to feel stressed, so having a day-of coordinator was important to us. We are also big foodies so we made sure to pick a delicious catering company. We also wanted our venue to represent a part of us. We enjoy being outdoors together, so Nancy’s venue (High Sierra Iris & Wedding Gardens) was the perfect setting.
How did planning go?
I am a planner so I loved every moment of it. Our favorite part was our tasting for catering—Lisa and John with World Fare Catering had it all set up as if it was a date night, which made it feel really special.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
The biggest challenge was hearing everyone’s input about our wedding and having to set boundaries around those request. We wanted our wedding to represent us and we had to be clear of vision for the day. However, we were flexible and able to compromise on most requests.
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
The ceremony was very peaceful. The venue was so serine that it just created these sense of calmness.
Any memorable moments from your reception? Toasts? Fun dances? Performances?
We only had our family members do toasts which made it really special. These are the people who know us the most and have the most love for us. Hearing their kind words about us and our relationship really touched our hearts.
Special Cultural Features
We did have a Native American prayer that our officiant included during the ceremony. Our favors had items that represented my (bride) Creole culture with pralines, tabasco and creole seasoning.
Daniel’s Best Part of the Day:
My favorite part was seeing my wife walk down the aisle in her beautiful dress.
Jeneille’s Best Part of the Day:
My favorite part of the day was our first look and private vows because it gave us an opportunity to connect before the ceremony and take everything in.
Favorite Detail
Our wedding date. We got married one day before our 11 year anniversary, and we chose the date 9/16 to represent 916, which is the area code for Sacramento where we met.
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
Our guests really enjoyed the venue. It was truly such a beautiful garden and so peaceful. They also loved the catering we had and always talk about how delicious it was.
Advice from Jeneille:
Start planning early so that you can take things slow—it makes it easier to manage when you don’t have to do/pay for everything at once. Also, create a wedding website to help you plan and provide details to your guests about your wedding day. I know a lot of our wedding guests loved being able to get information from one source, and it decreased people asking us questions frequently. Lastly, hire a day-of coordinator so that you have a point person who is handling all the logistics on the day of the wedding—this allows you and your families to truly enjoy the day.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
We talked about maybe eloping of having a micro wedding instead. We truly loved our wedding day, but the costs add up and at the end of the day it all about you both more than anybody else.