Sam and Derek first met at a Folsom High School basketball game in December 2009. Much of their early relationship was spent long distance while each attended separate colleges, but they both made it back to Northern California together by summer 2014. Shortly before Sam completed her training to become a licensed marriage and family therapist, they took a trip to Maui where Derek proposed on the beach.

As they planned their wedding, both Sam and Derek put fun with friends and family as a priority for the day. “We wanted to honor those who had an impact on us and our relationship,” shares Sam. Working as a team, they picked their venue, menus and guest list. “I showed him my plans for décor, but he pretty much trusted me with the design details,” adds the bride.

The couple’s ceremony, performed by Sam’s uncle, Matthew O’Leary, incorporated both traditional and contemporary elements. “Matt did a beautiful job outlining our story and incorporating Bible verses that reflected the values we identified as pillars of our relationship in the message he wrote,” says Sam. “Derek and I separately named three values. He wrote: trust, communication and support. I wrote: honesty, communication and kindness. Matt highlighted how comparable these values were!”

  The reception was held in a tent outside at Winchester Country Club right above the grass landing where the ceremony was held. For their first entrance as a married couple, the pair danced in to the Sugarhill Gang’s cover of “Apache (Jump on It),” followed by a first dance to “Speechless” by Dan + Shay. “This sums us up perfectly,” explains Sam. “We can have fun together doing something ridiculous, and in the next moment we are calm and composed taking in the moment.”

Sam then danced to “Ku’u Home O Kahalu’u / Ku’u Lei Awapuhi.” “My grandparent’s have lived on the island of Kauai since I was two years old,” she says. “If there is ever live music when we are out to dinner with them on Kauai, this song is most likely always played.” Sam’s grandmother joined them by the end of the song. “My grandpa ended up passing away four months after our wedding and having pictures and video of us dancing together to my grandma’s favorite song is so priceless.” 

—Darren Elms

Bright and Airy Country Club Wedding Kylie Compton Photography Samantha & Derek

Bright and Airy Country Club Wedding Kylie Compton Photography Samantha & Derek

Bright and Airy Country Club Wedding Kylie Compton Photography Samantha & Derek

Bright and Airy Country Club Wedding Kylie Compton Photography Samantha & Derek

Bright and Airy Country Club Wedding Kylie Compton Photography Samantha & Derek