When she was 22, Viv needed some “big strong men,” to help her move one hot day in July. When her boyfriend at the time declined to help, her friends asked neighbor Neriah to join in. “He agreed as long as they provided beer,” she recalls. Although he had gone to high school with her brother and cousins, the two had never crossed paths. With the encouragement of her family, Vivsoon dropped the unhelpful boyfriend and started a relationship with Neriah. “We had more in common than I could have ever imagined, and we share a love neither of us ever dreamed of having,” she says. “I knew I wanted to marry him the very first week we dated.” Their engagement would come in 2015 on a snowboarding trip to Nevada.
According to the bride, Neriah only cared about one thing: not wearing a tux in 100-degree weather. “He got his wish,” she says. “I always knew I was lucky, but if I’d known all it would take to end the drought in California was for me to plan a wedding, I’d have done it much sooner. Our wedding gift was an atmospheric river! I think it poured for 10 days straight.”
They chose to contrast a barn setting at Delta Diamond Farm with glam apparel, serving Texas Roadhouse fare in sequins and black tie. “The food was outrageous, and my guests raved about it for weeks,” she says.
Viv shares she was overwhelmed at first about the planning, but with two years to prepare and the help of a wedding planning binder, she paced herself and dug in. “Before Neriah, I never planned to get married, so I hadn’t been thinking about it my whole life, which I think caused me to be a little more realistic about my expectations,” she says. “I was always impressed by even the smallest things that everyone else seemed to just expect.”
She notes Neriah was also very easygoing about it all. “I tried to channel his attitude most of the time and ended up telling most of my vendors, ‘Do whatever you think is best, I trust you.’ That turned out great in most cases, and the lack of stress that came with that method was worth it in every case,” she says.
The bride’s favorite part of the day was just after the two were married, in the courtyard right before they took pictures. “We had a couple of quiet minutes right before the madness began,” she remembers. “There was a sense of calm, because the most important part was over, the nerves were gone, we were now husband and wife, and anything that came after would be easier to bear. He told me how pretty I was and helped me with the mirror while I removed my veil. He got to tell me a little bit about how his day had gone, and we took a few sips of Jack Daniels. We were surrounded by our closest friends and family, and about to head into the biggest and best party we’d ever thrown—and boy was it a good party.”
— Darren Elms
First Dance Song
“Mystery in the Making” by Eli Young Band
Father/Daughter Dance Song
“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
Cake Cutting Song
“Death of a Bachelor” by Panic at the Disco
Bouquet Toss Song
“Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison
Garter Toss Song
“Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen
Last Dance Song
“If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Kent Blazy & Garth Brooks
Details about the cake
We just had a small two-tier cake, for us to cut during the reception, and served our guests cupcakes, because who doesn’t love cupcakes? And even better, who doesn’t love not having to clean up cake plates? We went with Neriah’s favorite, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and some fun champagne cupcakes!
Details about the flowers
For our centerpieces I knew exactly what I wanted; for the bouquets, not so much. I thought white with some greenery would look really elegant so I gave him a list of flowers I liked and didn’t like. I asked for a cascade style bouquet, and told him to use his artistic license. I gave him the same guidelines for bridesmaids’ bouquets, and the arrangements for the altar. He did a really great job; we ended up with roses, azaleas, ferns, and the cutest “green dianthus truffles” (little puff balls). It was a little heavy, but very beautiful.
Our centerpieces were a variety of different shaped wine bottle vases, with hydrangeas, roses, baby’s breath and button-willow branches.
Details about the favors
We set up a station with an old-fashioned Polaroid Camera and a new Polaroid Instax Mini, left plenty of film, and some instructions with painted clothespin magnets (homemade with the help of a bridesmaid) to hang the pictures with.
Anything else you’d like to share about your wedding?
I know it might not be the first thing on your list, but seriously consider hiring a videographer. You absolutely need to have a photographer, and still photos are wonderful, but there really is nothing like watching live from someone else’s perspective. The videographers we hired, Standup Films, specialized in creating vintage looking 8mm films. I watched ALL of their videos, and bawled through every single one, I was in LOVE, and I had to have one. They are so talented and put together the most beautiful video of our wedding, I am so glad we chose to hire Denise and Enrico, because it’s one of my very favorite souvenirs, aside from this pretty ring of course. (It’s not as expensive as you might think!)
Any tips you’d give brides and grooms planning their wedding today?
1. Have fun! I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times, but it is good advice. Planning a wedding is so much pressure, especially for people like me who sometimes feel the need to please everyone else, but it’s not for everyone else. Your wedding is for YOU TWO!!! So of course plan, but more important than flowers, more than cake, more than the perfect first dance, just plan to have fun! Plan to enjoy each other and the best party you’ll ever throw.
2. Don’t get so wrapped up in all the little details that you forget to have fun! Because despite your best efforts and your wedding coordinator’s best efforts, and even sometimes in spite of how much money is spent, some things are still guaranteed to go wrong. Instead of focusing on the things that could go wrong, look at those things as opportunities to try something different. You might be pleasantly surprised, and it could turn out better than you imagined.
3. Also, don’t be afraid of the Wedding Industry. They all want the chance to earn your business, so don’t be afraid to ask them ANYTHING; and expect transparency when it comes to the financials.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
I hope it doesn’t sound silly, but I would have asked someone to cut me off. Everyone was so accommodating, and as a bride you frequently have to set your drink down, to hug, or take pictures. Every time I set my drink down, it disappeared, so of course, someone was always asking where my drink was and getting me a new one. Needless to say, somewhere along the line I lost track, and had more than I really needed.
In all the excitement I wish I’d paid more attention, but it was such an emotional day, and all the activity of the previous few days had finally caught up with my immune system, so I was a little under the weather and more preoccupied than normal. We had around 150 guests and I felt like I didn’t get to all of them still, but Neriah kept having to come track me down because I was trying to visit with every single one.
The end of the night ended up a little blurry and I didn’t get to fully appreciate the gorgeous limo that picked us up, or the after party at Al’s that I was so excited about, but it wasn’t all the alcohol, I ended up with a full blown sinus infection that night, and was having a hard time breathing. I spent the first few days of our honeymoon recovering, but it’s hard to be too down when you’re having Mai Tais before a couples’ massage in Maui.
Vendors
Ceremony Site:
Delta Diamond Farm Officiant:
Barney Myrick, friend Ceremony Music:
Megan Lanuza, childhood friend Photographer:
2 Girls 20 Cameras Videographer:
Stand Up Films Reception Site:
Delta Diamond Farm Bridal Hair:
Felicia Sommers at Se Bella Hair Salon (Bride) Bridal Hair:
Amber Sevey Color Bar at The Salon Suites (Matron of Honor) Bridal Make-up:
Valerie Ogamba (Bride) Bridal Make-up:
Amber Sevey Color Bar at The Salon Suites (Bridesmaids) Bridal Attire:
"Maggie Sotero" from J'aime Bridal Bridal Veil:
Gesinees Bridal Bridal Shoes:
"Guess" from DSW Bridesmaids' Attire:
Purchased at various retailers according to Bride's color scheme Flowergirl Attire:
"Amalee" from J'aime Bridal Groom’s Attire:
"Calvin Klein" jacket from Men's Wearhouse Groomsmen's Attire:
"Vera Wang" jacket from Men's Wearhouse Ringbearer Attire:
Hobby Lobby (bowties); Osh Kosh (slacks and t-shirts) Bride's Rings Jeweler:
Shane Co. Groom's Rings Jeweler:
Shane Co. Save the Date Cards:
Wedding Paper Divas Invitations:
Minted Place Cards:
DIY Thank You Cards:
Minted Wedding Party Flowers:
Brentwood Florist Ceremony Flowers:
Brentwood Florist Reception Flowers:
Brentwood Florist Caterer:
Texas Roadhouse Bar Service:
Texas Roadhouse Cake:
Suanne Schlotman, friend Cupcakes:
Suanne Schlotman, friend DJ/Entertainment:
Jaybee Events Live Band/Musicians:
Megan Lanuza, friend Transportation/Limo Services:
Finesse Limousine Service Favors:
DIY Photo Booth:
DIY Decor Signage:
DIY Rentals:
America's Party Rentals (plates and plate chargers), no longer in business