Archive for the ‘Featured Real Weddings’ Category

The Couple:  Jennifer and Christopher Tredennick

Wedding Date:  October 29, 2011

Photography by Lexigraphics Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  Christopher is a computer engineer working for Hewlett Packard and I (Jennifer) am a freelance court reporter. We dated for a year and a half before we got engaged, and we are proud to say we planned our wedding in five months.

The story about how we met is pretty fun. Jennifer’s younger sister, Heather White, went to University of the Pacific in Stockton with Christopher. Heather had become friends with several people in Christopher’s fraternity at UOP and eventually befriended Christopher as well. Heather went to visit Christopher at his home in Santa Clara one weekend while she was driving through town where he treated her to – apparently – an absolutely memorable dinner where he prepared cheese meatballs. Heather visited her sister Jennifer a week later and reported with enthusiasm, “Jennifer, I have someone I really would like to introduce you to. He makes amazing meatballs.” Eventually, an introduction was arranged with a gathering of mutual friends, and Christopher and Jennifer were attached from that moment forward. Heather’s inclination was spot-on while trusting her match-making intuition.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Well, of course, it was spectacular to get to marry a man that I admire, love and respect so much. But one of my favorite and most memorable parts of the wedding was when it came time to feed cake to each other. My husband cut a bite out of the slice we had cut together, and looked at me, and without hesitation, gulped down the piece of cake without a second thought. Christopher is a huge cake enthusiast and actually picked out the flavors for the wedding cake, so it was completely appropriate that he would get so caught up in his enthusiasm about eating cake that he’d forget to feed it to his bride first. When discussed later, Chris exclaimed, “You practice every other part of the wedding, but we never practiced feeding cake to each other. We hardly even talked about it. You can’t really blame me, right?”

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Our mantra for planning our wedding and wedding day was the following:  We have two goals for this wedding: We want to get married and have a really fun party.

We abandoned the goals of perfection for our day and encouraged everyone in our family and bridal party to abandon it also. As long as we ended up married at the end of the day amongst all those we love and adore, that’s all we could hope for. I am so grateful we adopted this attitude and would give every bride and groom the same advice.

Remember that the day is about celebrating the commitment and vows you’re making public, it’s not about the pomp and circumstance, and it will not be perfect. We put our faith and trust into great vendors and a wonderful venue; we delegated our wishes out to friends and family; and our wedding came together so wonderfully and we had SUCH A BLAST! Hold on loosely to the details and perfections, what is important at the end of the day is that you’re married to the love of your life.

I was also so humbled by all the amazing people who were eager to offer up their talents and gifts to help us with our amazing wedding. My mom, Charlene White, and “second mom” Heidi Leveroni spent hours planning and putting together a beautiful candy buffet as a gift to us; two women who have been doing my hair since I was a young girl insisted on offering up their skills for my special day and helped make me and all my loved ones look stunning. A long-time family friend — who works for Renfro’s bridal shop in Placerville and has been doing alterations on all my special-occasion dresses since my eighth grade graduation — did an absolutely spectacular bustling alteration and dress alteration to help me feel beautiful on my perfect day. Christopher’s parents threw an absolutely generous and amazing Texas-style rehearsal dinner for all the bridal and extended families, which ended up being about 100 people in total. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were so supportive and loving, they were drama-free and couldn’t have been more helpful. We are so grateful and humbled about how much love was showered on us, and we are so grateful for everyone’s contributions.

Ceremony & Reception Site, & Caterer:  Lake Natoma Inn. We selected the Lake Natoma Inn in Old Folsom. It was so convenient and we were very happy with our choice. We had about 2/3 of our guests coming from out of town or out of state, so we chose a location where no one would have to drive anywhere for anything. They could stay at the hotel and walk to anything we needed. Old Folsom had a lot of fun fall activities going on during the weekend, and the ambiance of the town, restaurants and shopping was great for everyone. It was so convenient, and no one had to worry about driving anywhere if they didn’t want to. The staff at Lake Natoma Inn were great, and we can’t say enough about how easy they made everything and how reasonably priced they were.

Photographer:  Lexigraphics Photography. We loved working with them. A dear friend of ours recommended them to us, and it was a great recommendation. The fact that they’re a husband-and-wife team made it so easy to work with them because they could divide up on the day of the wedding and work with the groomsmen and bridesmaids. You hardly noticed they were there unless you wanted to talk to them. They were so sweet and supportive, I can’t say enough about them.

Cake:  Cakes by Angie. Our cake was made by Angie Cain, and we got raving reviews about how it was the best cake that people had had at a wedding. It was very moist and so yummy. Our flavors were chocolate chip cake with peanut butter butter cream filling, and white cake with Oreo butter cream filling.

Flowers:  Camino Flower Shop. Dottie was so fun to work with, and you can really see her enthusiasm and artistic abilities shine through her beautiful flower arrangements. I would highly recommend her.

Favors:  I dipped Oreos in chocolate as party favors for my guests. This was a surprisingly uncomplicated process and I really had a lot of fun doing it. It was a very inexpensive way to send party favors with our guests, and it was nice that it had a personal touch to it. We also had a candy bar.

Wedding Dress:  Renfro’s Bridal. All the dresses were so reasonably priced compared to all the other dress shops we’d gone to, and the service was so much better. I did all of my other shopping in Bay Area bridal shops, and the service I got at Renfro’s was so much more genuine and enjoyable.

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  My dear family friends, Lynda Frandsen and Eileen Skates-Gervasi, who are very gifted and talented hair stylists who did a magnificent job on my hair.

Makeup:  My gifted and talented, Whitney Egbert, (we’ve been friends since kindergarten) flew all the way from New York to help me with my makeup, and I had NO CLUE she was coming until I was getting my hair done on my wedding day. I was facing a wall while Lynda was doing my hair and all of a sudden I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and turned around to find my friend had flown in from New York for 48 hours to be at my wedding, and my husband was the only other person that knew about it. It was one of the most amazing surprises that day.

Invitations:  DIY from Vistaprint

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Function 45. I cannot say enough about our experience with our DJ Steve Schon. We had more people comment on our DJ and how amazing he was than about almost any other part of our wedding. His selections in music were great, and he really took a decent amount of time to get to know Chris and me before our wedding, and he played a huge role in getting the guests up and grooving. He helped make it so much fun, and we are so grateful for what he did for us. Our first dance was literally magical with the creative touch he adds. He had Chris and me record audio messages about our feelings about each other, and then fused the messages throughout the song we chose for our first dance, I was in tears because they were some of the most tender words I’ve ever heard Chris say to me was during that recording. Steve was absolutely professional, and I am happily recommending him out anywhere and everywhere I can. He was worth every penny!

Honeymoon location:  Chris actually planned the whole honeymoon, and we spent a week on an island in Belize. Chris told me what to pack and how long to pack for, and I didn’t find out where our final destination was until we landed in Atlanta for our connecting flight to Belize. We stayed at an all-inclusive island in a thatch hut over the warm water, and we had a spectacular time. We got to snorkel four times, we went on a really fun river cruise, we toured the Mayan ruins, and the food and staff was amazing! The price was extremely reasonable as well.

First Dance Song:  ”When You Got A Good Thing” by Lady Antebellum

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  We wish we would have had one more hour to dance. We tried to save money by having everything go from 5:30 – 10:00, and Chris and I hardly got to dance at all because we were talking with our guests so much.

Photos courtesy of Lexigraphics Photography.

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

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The Couple:  Kelly and John Holden

Wedding Date:  August 13, 2011

Photography by Shoops Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We went on a blind date on August 13, 2006 and haven’t stopped dating since that first date. We knew we had met our perfect partner and friend for life. We support each other in life and business and everything in between. Kelly is a commercial transportation insurance broker and part-time massage therapist in Folsom and John is self-employed and owns Holden Sheetmetal Custom Car Restoration in Shingle Springs. We recently moved to property in Placerville which is close to quadding, camping and rafting. We truly represent the statement, “they are perfect for each other…they have so much fun.”

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Coming home to be with each other. We just moved in together for the first time just four weeks before the wedding. Living on acres takes work and we both like the effort it takes to make a house a home.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Our day was special in that we got married at a special friend’s estate. The fact that we had 125 close family and friends there to share it with us, in 106 degree heat, was amazing. The day was perfect in every way.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue:  Private Home

Photographer:  Shoop’s Photography

Caterer:  Family friend

Cake:  Family friend

Flowers:  We went to the flower mart and then all handmade by Jaimie Bailey.

Favors:  Palm Tree favors assembled with a picture taken by our amazing photographer from our engagement shoot.

Wedding Dress:  House of Brides

Bridesmaid Dresses:  BCBG

Hair:  Lynn McShane-Freeman

Makeup:  Rachelle Ruggles

Invitations:  Andrea Jones

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Robert Vela

Honeymoon location:  Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  Ted our amazing bartender for keeping everyone happy in the heat.

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Take your time and go with your heart — you will change your mind a dozen times. Let friends help — they want to and you will need it. Have fun with it. We had nine classic cars at our wedding, all cars John had restored. It was like a car show and wedding. People wore flip flops and Hawaiian shirts,which tied into our theme. People told us that our wedding was the most fun wedding they had been to in years!

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  Nothing. The day was perfect — too short, but perfect.

Photos courtesy of Shoop’s 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:  Kami Burgess and Sam Cadeaux

Wedding Date:  September 4, 2011

Photography by Capture Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  A childhood friend of Kami’s was in town visiting her parents and met Sam at a church function. Something told her that Kami and Sam had to meet. Of course she presented the situation differently to each of them. She told Sam she had this cute friend and was wondering if he was up for a blind date. However, knowing Kami would turn down a blind date, she told Kami that Sam was new to the area and asked if she could show him around. After exchanging many emails, the two finally met for a picnic in Capital Park. Two and a half years later, Sam proposed under the same tree where they first met.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Dancing through the line of our wedding party to “Beautiful Day” right after being announced and seeing all of our friends and family standing. It was amazing to see how many people love and support us.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  We were married on Labor Day weekend, so we had a lot of family and friends in town a few days prior to the wedding. It was a great time to hang out, share stories, eat and really blend our families. Our wedding party didn’t really know each other before that weekend and by the end they were teasing one another, swapping numbers and had created memories of their own.

As hectic as things got closer to the wedding day, it was nice to be with friends to help calm us down and remind us of what is most important…each other. It was great to get to share our special day with people who really love and support us as individuals, as well as a couple. It was an amazing weekend.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue & Caterer & Cake:  Monte Verde Inn

Photographer:  Capture Photography

Flowers:  O’Shays Flowers

Favors:  Chocolate chip cookies made by the bride’s father

Wedding Dress:  House of Fashion

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  Amanda from Sleek Salon

Makeup:  Johnny Nicely

Invitations:  DIY by the bridal party. Designed by Somer Loen (friend of the bride) with calligraphy by Emily Loen (friend of the bride).

DJ:  Rich Carlson

Honeymoon location:  Whistler, Canada

First Dance Song:  “When You’ve Got a Good Thing” by Lady Antebellum

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Decide very carefully on the items that are most important to you and splurge a little. Photography, food and music were our top three most important items, and we made sure to allocate a good part of our budget for those items. Your vendors are an integral part of your day, so choose wisely. Our wedding would not have been nearly as stress-free or beautiful without the professionalism and experience of our vendors.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  I would have taken home the leftovers from my meal. The food was amazing, but with everything going on I didn’t get to finish my meal. It would have been great to have a late night snack.

Photos courtesy of Capture 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:  Rhea Ramsey-Lewis and Chris Reinbold

Wedding Date:  August 27, 2011

Photography by Andrea’s Images Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  We met at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Chico in 2005 and have been together ever since. We live in the Sacramento area with our three dogs: Jackson, Brutus, and George. We enjoy hunting together and spending time outdoors.

What was the most amazing part of your day?  The reception, just having a big ole party with our friends and family.

What else would you like to share about your big day?  Just what most everyone else says…it goes by too fast!

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue:  Wilson Vineyards

Photographer:  Andrea’s Images Photography

Wedding Planner:  An Impressive Event

Caterer:  Ludy’s BBQ

Cake:  M&W Bakery

Flowers:  About 90 percent were grown by my brother — the bouquets and arrangements were done by Flowers by Annette.

Favors:  Wilson Vineyards. Wine glasses with our initials and date.

Wedding Dress:  Cocco’s Couture

Bridesmaid Dresses:  David’s Bridal

Hair:  Danielle Pinkston from Sinor Salon

Makeup:  Simple Serenity Spa

Invitations:  Done by a friend

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Elite DJ

Honeymoon location:  Malta, MT. Antelop Hunting Trip booked through Cabela’s.

Any other of your wedding vendor(s) you’d like to call out?  They weren’t a wedding vendor per se, but we did have to send our dogs somewhere that could be trusted so we could focus on the day and our honeymoon without worrying about their well-being. Dogwoods Resort is where they went, that place is FANTASTIC! They treat the dogs well, they aren’t cooped up in any type of cage, and best of all – they come home tired and happy.

First Dance Song:  ”She’s Really Something” by David Lee Murphy

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Keep it simple and hire a planner. It’s the marriage that ultimately counts — the wedding is just a big party for everyone to celebrate.

Photos courtesy of Andrea’s Images 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:  Crystal Golightly and Noel Figueroa

Wedding Date:  May 19, 2011

Photography by White Daisy Photography

Tell us a little about you and your beloved:  Noel is a native New Yorker born and raised in Brooklyn. I (Crystal) am a Bay Area girl who moved to NYC in 2004 shortly after graduating college.We met in 2005 at a local bar/restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn where we almost instantly knew that we’d just stumbled upon one that we’d share the rest of our lives with. After few months of dating, we very quickly moved in together and have been together ever since!

What was the most amazing part of your day?  Having all of our family and friends together in one place since we are all scattered across the country!

What else would you like to share about your big day?  One of my girls from the Bay Area and the best man found love at our wedding! They may actually have some wedding bells in their future as well.

Ceremony Site & Reception Venue & Caterer:  Estate Restaurant

Photographer:  White Daisy Photography

Wedding Planner:  Kellie Whelan, who was just amazing!

Cake:  Sweetie Pies Bakery

Flowers:  The maid-of-honor, Elizabeth Fletcher, who did some amazing things with flowers that we purchased at Trader Joes, Whole Foods and a local florist. (she is also a great blogger evasaidit.com very cheeky, urban and hip!)

Favors:  DIY. An eclectic mixed “tape” CD of salsa, pop, r&b and reggae finished off with a photo of us.

Wedding Dress:  Mihca Cho, a local NYC designer

Bridesmaid Dresses:  Mori Lee (purchased from various bridal boutiques throughout the country)

Hair & Makeup:  Knotty Hair Salon

Invitations:  Wedding Paper Divas and Paper Source. I did a LOT of DIY.

DJ/Entertainment/Band:  Raquel and Bolero y Más

Photo Booth:  No photo booth, but we bought some pretty disposable cameras and let everyone go wild! It was a great to develop the photos and see what every one did when we weren’t hanging out with them!

Honeymoon location:  Planning to go to the Dominican Republic this year, we’ve had a bit of a crazy year with new jobs and a puppy!

First Dance Song:  “At Last” by Etta James

Any advice you’d give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?  Have fun and don’t stress out. If you are true to yourself, your likes and your taste, you will have a great time. For us it was really important to keep it simple since we live in NYC and were planning this day from 3,000 miles away. I knew that I wanted a low-key intimate, yet beautiful, day so what better place then Sonoma?

When I came across The Estate and read the history of this 100-year old Victorian house I was mesmerized! I actually didn’t see the property until about three months before the wedding. Not only was the location gorgeous, but it was very convenient because we were able to buy out the restaurant which included coordination, cocktail hour, dinner and wine, and even a dessert course.

A few years back I went to a wedding where they served Champagne as the guests were entering the garden ceremony and I knew that I NEEDED that. So we served Prosecco as our guests waited for us to arrive. It turned out great because not only were we late (I forgot my veil), but also because we knew our friends were getting a little tipsy so if we happened to trip or giggle it would be okay.

Anything that you would have done differently if you were given the chance?  I would have liked to slow the whole thing down and enjoy every single moment. Everyone told me to take a moment look around and absorb it all — that was probably the best advice and I wish I would have done that more.

Photos courtesy of White Daisy Photography.

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

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!