Archive for the ‘Featured Real Weddings’ Category

The Couple:  Jamie and Nick Esposito

Wedding Date:  May 20, 2011

Photography by The Goodness Photo & Design

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We have been dating for eight wonderful years and it has been the best eight years anyone could ask for. We have the cutest chihuahua named Tank. We love to be adventurous, we love to travel and experience new foods and wine. We also enjoy having friends and family at the house for bbqs and parties.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  The most amazing part of our day was looking around and having all of our closest friends and family all in one room. Our friends and family had waited a long time for this day and you could really feel the love in the air. Everyone was so happy and supportive of us on our big day; it was absolutely amazing.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Nick and I wrote our own vows and it made the ceremony so special and intimate. There was not a dry eye during the entire ceremony including both Nick and myself.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue & Caterer:  Brookside Golf & Country Club

Photographer:  The Goodness Photo & Design

Cake:  One of our favorite parts of the wedding was our cannoli cake. Nick is Italian and we wanted to do something different that we had never seen before. Giovanni Toccagino from Palermo Ristorante spent hours hand stuffing more than 150 cannolis for our cannoli tiered wedding cake. It was truly one-of-a-kind and looked absolutely amazing!

Flowers:  We had Amy Erman from Elk Grove High School FFA Floriculture do our flowers and she made all my dreams come true. My bouquet was gorgeous and was just what I had dreamed of! It was filled with dark red peonies, roses, tulips and callas.

Favors:  Elite DJ Entertainment came and set up a photo booth during the reception. This was by far the biggest hit from our wedding. It was so funny to see our friends and family dress up with props and have a great time taking phtotos. Each guest got to take their photos home and we have a scrapbook of all the photos from the evening.

Wedding Dress:  La Soie Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  Nordstrom

Hair:  My MOH, Megan Bollinger, did my hair and Rebecca Kelley did the bridesmaids hair.

Makeup:  Spotlight Makeup Artistry

Invitations:  The Goodness Photo & Design

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Fretty’s DJ Service & Limousine Service

Photo Booth:  Elite DJ Entertainment

Honeymoon location:  The Royal Cancun in Cancun, Mexico

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Giorgi Khokhobashvili played the violin during the ceremony and cocktail hour. I walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton and it was perfect. Nick would always play this song for me as I got ready to go out, so it meant a lot to walk down the aisle to it and it was something we had never heard before.

First Dance Song:  “Faithfully” by Journey. All of the guests were standing up and our bridal party began to sing the song and hold the votive candles in the air. Before we knew it everyone was singing along as we danced. We wish we could repeat this moment over and over again.

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Enjoy every moment of the planning process because it goes by so fast. Also, take some time during the reception to really have a special moment with your spouse. The day goes by in an instant so enjoy every minute of the day and experience.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  I would have hired a videographer. I wish I could watch the ceremony and first dance, etc. over and over because it all happened so fast. After the wedding Nick and I were wanting to relive every moment and by having a video we would be able to do that much easier.

Photos courtesy of The Goodness Photo & Design.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

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The Couple:  Erika Tungland and Ryan Taylor

Wedding Date:  October 16, 2010

Photography by 555 Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We met working at Borders Bookstore. Years later, we are still happily together, with two dogs and a cat!

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Everything was so perfect. But I would have to say the food was my favorite.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue:  V. Sattui Winery

Photographer:  555 Photography

Wedding Planner:  Little Blue Box Weddings

Caterer:  Alex’s Catering

Cake:  Inticing Creations

Flowers:  Valley Flora

Favors:  Etsy

Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid Dresses:  Miosa Bride

Hair & Makeup:  Sweetie Face Makeup

Invitations:  Fine Stationery

DJ/Entertainment:  Denon and Doyle

Band:  Terrence Brewer Trio

Honeymoon location:  Maui

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Rev. Blane Ellsworth was an amazing officiant.

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  If someone tells you no, find someone who will work with you to create what is perfect for you.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  No.

Photos courtesy of 555 Photography.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

The Couple:  Nancy and Nick Sears

Wedding Date:  May 7, 2011

Photography by Jocelyn McGregor Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  Nick’s point of view: Well, it just so happens that both of my brother’s mothers-in-law work with Nancy. Nancy’s work decided to have a Christmas party at the home of one of  mothers-in-law. Seeing as they were doing that, my brother and his father-in-law asked if I wanted to go bowling with them. I arrived at the house and before I left I saw a great set of legs enter the house. When we returned from bowling, I was able to catch a few glimpses of Nancy and ended up asking my sister-in-law to see if they could get her number for me, and that’s how it all began.

Nancy’s point of view: I went to my co-worker’s house for a Christmas party. It was really entertaining until I saw my, now, brother-in-law, staring at me from across the room. It was a little uncomfortable for the fact that I thought he was my co-worker’s daughter’s husband, and also thought Nick was married as well. After he got a hold of my phone number and we started talking, I couldn’t tell which guy it was from the party. But when I saw him waiting outside of my work for our first date with a bouquet of flowers, I was glad —  he was lean, tall, single and handsome. Then I said to myself, I am not gonna let him go! And the rest is history.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  When we were holding hands at the altar!

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Everyone really enjoyed the wedding and have said that it was a very relaxing and fun setting!

Ceremony & Reception Site:  Carriage House Gardens

Photographer:  Jocelyn McGregor Photography

Caterer:  Taqueria Espinoza

Cake:  Ettore’s

Flowers:  My friend, Jennifer Lee

Favors:  Innova Discs – Sam Ferrans (mini disc golf discs)

Wedding Dress:  David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses:  Chosen by bridesmaid after given the color

Hair:  Lily at Regis Salon

Invitations:  Gina DeCosta

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  DJ Jukey Jukes

Honeymoon location:  We have yet to go, but are planning on Monterey/Carmel, Hearst Castle, Disneyland… coastal trip.

Any other of your weddingvendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Bridesmaids’ Gifts: Etsy – Lisa Arney (handmade jewelery pouches), Betty Sears – (hand made crocheted rose pins). Groomsmen Gifts: DGA (Disc Golf Association) – Derek Kotval. Engagement Portrait Painting: Aman Smith. Decorations: La Mariposa Imports – Ray – papel picado. Cake Topper: Woodland Manufacturing – custom metal cake topper.

First Dance Song:  ”Better Together” by Jack Johnson

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Don’t stress! Everything will turn out just fine in the end! If you don’t want to take advice from anyone, don’t. Do it the way that will make you happy, not to make others happy! It’s your day, not anyone else’s. Don’t feel obligated to accommodate everyone’s opinions. In the end, they are there to be happy for you!

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  Invited more people had we had the financial ability to do so.

Photos courtesy of Jocelyn McGregor Photography.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

The Couple:  Ryanne Bradley and Nick Steele

Wedding Date:  July 9, 2011

Photography by Anderson Images

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We met in high school in 1998 because a friend of mine took Nick to prom. We lost touch about two years later….only to meet at a mutual friend’s (a bridesmaid’s) party in December of 2009.

We started dating three weeks later, in January 2010, and got engaged 4 months later in May 2010, and that’s all she wrote! We moved to San Francisco the next month. We knew as soon as we reconnected, that we were meant to be. We had both attended college and travelled the world, only to end up marrying someone from our small hometown of Hollister, California. We still had tons of mutual friends, and practically our entire wedding guest list was people who had been friends with us since high school.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Seeing my husband right before our ceremony. We did a “First Look” photo session. I also loved our Taco Truck and taking time to hide out together, and watch the party for a few minutes…taking it all in over a cocktail under the hanging lights in the trees.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  My older brother Jason surprised me, and showed up to the wedding. I hadn’t seen him in more than 10 years!!!

Ceremony Site:  Stern Grove Park

Reception Venue:  Trocadero Clubhouse

Photographer:  Anderson Images

Caterer:  El Tonayense (Taco Truck)

Cake:  Bridesmaid, Raina Overman

Flowers:  DIY from San Francisco Flower Market

Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair & Make-up:  Ariel Verrissimo, owner of Magically Babelicious

Invitations:  DIY

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  iPod

Honeymoon location:  Halfmoon Bay and Santa Cruz, CA

First Dance Song:  “By Your Side” by Sade

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Start planning and budgeting early, get a clear vision of your ideal wedding in your head, and stick to it. Search for ideas that you can do yourself. DIY as much as possible! A wedding doesn’t have to cost as much as everyone says/quotes. Take help from crafty friends and family when it is offered. Don’t let a planner or anyone else talk you out of your vision….make your day totally YOU and you wont regret anything! Stay organized, and stick to your budget.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  Nope. I loved my wedding day and all of its quirks. It had our personalities all over it…and it was obvious to our guests, and they appreciated that.

Photos courtesy of Anderson Images.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

The Couple:  Nicole and John Santos

Wedding Date:  June 25, 2011

Photography by Justin Buettner Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  John and I met in Thornton, California, at a Portuguese Bull Fight in October of 2009. From that moment on it was love at first sight. We now go to the bull fights in Thornton every year, kind of a reminder of how we met and fell in love. We now own a dairy and work with each other everyday — I wouldn’t change it for the world!!

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Our wedding day was the happiest day of our lives, we enjoyed seeing all of our family and friends dancing and having a great time right along with us. I also enjoyed seeing our whole year of planning come together as beautifully as it did.

Ceremony Site:  Saint Christopher’s Catholic Church

Reception Venue:  Our Lady Of Fatima Portugese Hall

Photographer & Videographer:  Justin Buettner Photography

Caterer:  Rayna’s Gourmet Catering and the meat was done by my friend, John Baranek.

Cake:  M & W Dutch American Bakery

Flowers:  The Flower Shop

Favors:  We had cookies with our pictures on them from The Cookie Jar.

Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid Dresses & Invitations:  David’s Bridal

Hair & Make-up:  Tammy Carter at First Impressions

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Juke Box Music and The Jay Rollers Band

Honeymoon location:  Sandals Resort in Saint Lucia

First Dance Song:  ”Amazed” by Lonestar

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Just remember that this is you and your husband-to-be’s day, people always have input —  some good, some bad. Don’t stress yourself out over the little things, because in the end you will enjoy every minute of your wedding day.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  The only thing different I would have done was have our wedding in a colder month —  it was so hot in June for the dresses I picked out for my poor bridesmaids. Everything else was perfect!!

Photos courtesy of Justin Buettner Photography.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!