How did you meet?
We met floating on the Sacramento River. Giovanni was on a boat with coworkers and Valeria was floating with friends, and the groups came together to enjoy the day.
When did you become engaged, and how?
Giovanni proposed on September 5th with a sunset picnic at the beach.
#WeddingGoals
I had always wanted Chick-fil-A at my wedding, but there isn’t one in Chico. My uncle was able to bring catering trays to the cocktail hour prior to the wedding—I was thrilled! Giovanni and I were able to arrive to the ceremony in the 1931 Ford that his father restored. The planning took all of two months and was relatively easy, as Giovanni’s mom was very helpful with providing vendors for all our needs.
How did planning go?
The planning went very well for the time given. Our favorite time of the planning would have to be the set up the day leading up to the event.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
There were no real challenges to planning the wedding. I think being able to plan the “engagement party” without everyone knowing it was going to be our wedding allowed us to do what we truly wanted.
How would you describe the ceremony?
We chose to keep the ceremony short and sweet, as we did not want to burden our guests since it was a chilly day in November. Lucky for us it had been raining the days prior and continued after, but it did not rain on our wedding date.
Memorable Moment
Our favorite memories from the day were the reactions of our friends and family members as they arrived to our “engagement party” and found out it was actually our wedding.
Special Dance
First Dance: “Forever You and Me” by The Teskey Brothers
What was the best part of your day?
Valeria: My favorite part of the day was getting to drive around in the 1931 Ford, and of course, getting to promise forever to my best friend.
Giovanni: My favorite part of the day was getting to turn around to the first look, and seeing my beautiful bride smiling, telling me that I can’t cry because everyone is watching.
What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
The table decor really brought everything together and was everything we had hoped for.
Looking back, what do you think your guests will remember most about your wedding?
The hidden speak easy in the basement of On Broadway, as well as the surprise of a wedding.
Advice from the couple:
You’re planning your perfect day, so do as you want and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
