How did you meet?
We met online.
When did you become engaged, and how?
Jordan had a beautiful plan to propose on the top of a waterfall in Yosemite, but Zoe ended up getting a cold and ruined the proposal. Instead, Jordan ordered Zoe’s favorite sushi and proposed on the couch in their home.
#WeddingGoals
We wanted the wedding to be around the time of a full moon and opted for a fall moon themed wedding. Overall, we just wanted to throw a big, slightly quirky, party for all of our friends and family to enjoy and for us to enjoy with them.
How did planning go?
The planning definitely had its ups and downs. Agreeing on vendors and the budget was the most challenging part. Our favorite part was leaning in to our fall moon theme and finding small details to bring our vision to life. We especially had fun choosing trophies for our pumpkin carving contest.
What was the biggest challenge of wedding planning?
Finding vendors that met our criteria and budget.
How would you describe the ceremony? Was there anything specific that made it unique to you as a couple?
Our ceremony was secular and heartfelt. We were so honored to have Zoe’s cousin officiate our wedding, and it was full of personal touches, including a “unity pumpkin” carved by Zoe and Jordan at the rehearsal dinner the night before. It highlighted their shared love of cats.
Memorable Moments
Everyone raved about the tarot card reader, and she had a line the whole night. At cocktail hour, we had a vote for the favorite Jack-o’-lantern carved by the wedding party and immediate family members the night before. Presenting the winners with their well-deserved trophies was a highlight for us. We were wowed and honored by the thoughtful, witty, and hilarious toasts throughout the night. The photo booth was a great addition to the reception. We provided a temporary tattoo booth and loved seeing the tattoos people opted to use. One of the biggest hits was our fiber optic light wands that everyone seemed to enjoy as they danced the night away.
Funny Moments
The hanging flower arch behind the sweetheart table became a hazard as several guests tripped over it throughout the night. Thankfully, we were able to move it out of the way of the guest’s paths, but it was quite a thrill to have someone trip behind us every few minutes. Thankfully, all of the guests had fantastic balance and no one took a nose dive.
Zoe’s Best Part of the Day
The overwhelming sense of love and support that radiated from all of our beloved friends and family. Just seeing everyone have a great time celebrating together was the best gift I could have ever asked for.
Jordan’s Best Part of the Day
Celebrating our special day with friends and family, many of whom we hadn’t seen for an extended period of time, and many of whom would not have met each other outside of this event, was the most rewarding part of the day.
Favorite Details
It’s so hard to choose just one! We were overall very pleased with all of the elements that helped make our fall moon theme shine. One of Zoe’s personal favorite small details was the cat themed tarot cards that we used as our table markers. Jordan’s favorite detail was the pumpkin carving contest and trophies.
Looking back, what do you think guests will remember most about your wedding?
We hope that what they’ll remember is a well planned, well orchestrated, joyful, whimsical and fun-filled wedding.
Advice from the couple:
You will get through it! The planning can be challenging, but at the end of the day, you’ll be starting your life together with your special person. Just remember that you already got through the hardest part, which is finding your person. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And, yes, it is worth it in the end.
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
Nothing. It was the perfect day we had dreamed of, even surpassing our expectations.
#VendorRaves
All of our vendors went above and beyond for our big day. We were so impressed by everyone. Our photographer Lauren Lindley and her partner captured our day beautifully. Our wedding planner and floral designer Kaitlin Aberle brought our wedding vision to life and kept the day running flawlessly. Our caterer Antonio Ayestaran and his team provided a delicious feast with top tier service. Everyone at Gold Hill Gardens was incredible and they provided the perfect back-drop for our dream wedding. Heather, our tarot card reader, was a hit throughout the night and we heard great reviews from guests on the transportation service as well. We worked with wonderful teams from MM Beauty, who made everyone feel beautiful. And of course, our DJ, Will from Elegant Events Media, kept everyone dancing through the night. We both had great experiences with our attire for the wedding as well.
