It’s been a little over two months of wedded bliss, and while it’s flown by- it also feels like we have been together forever.  Looking back on our special day, I can still feel the excitement, the love, the nerves, and the relief once we hit the reception & got to sit back and relax.


We are both pretty shy people, so being on the other side of the camera getting our pictures taken for hours & being the center of attention was nerve-wracking to say the least.  But looking back, I wouldn’t trade these photos for the world!

We had such a perfect day:  it was intimate (around 75 of us total), full of family & love, casually elegant, and comfortable.  We ate good food, drank good wine, and soaked in every second.  I’m so excited to finally share it all with you!

Getting Ready



I spent the night before our wedding at The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort & Spa.  Having that night before & morning of to myself really gave me the chance to let it all sink in.

I looked through old pictures, I listened to our wedding music, I cried happy tears, and I actually got the best night’s sleep.  Then I had a slow morning, ate a delicious in-suite breakfast, and even did a mini hotel room workout to keep my mind calm & clear.



I started getting ready (hair first), and then my mom (and little brother!) came to join me.  I did my own hair & makeup, which I loved.  I even did my mamaโ€™s makeup which was so special.  

My brother laid on the couch in my suite & watched random car shows while we got ready, before heading over to pick up Dathan.  It just felt so normal & calming to have those two with me getting ready, which is exactly what I wanted before such a big, exciting day. 


Rain was in the forecast the whole week leading up to the wedding, but we only got a few drops.  The sun even peeked out right as it set before the ceremony.




The First Look


Dathan knew the look I was going for-  casual yet elegant, and simplistic.  But he hadn’t seen the actual dress, and I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping it a secret & not showing him the pictures before the wedding!



I couldn’t believe how beautiful our floral arrangements were.  It seriously brought everything together just how I had pictured.  That, and the music!  ๐Ÿ˜‰



I helped Dathan choose his shoes, belt, and tie- but he surprised me with his suit.  And I could have just stared at him all night long!


We took tons of family photos all night long, which was so important to us!



The Ceremony


Our ceremony took place at sunset, so I loved our florist’s idea of placing candles all around us.  Did I mention she’s my mom’s best friend?  She did such a beautiful job, she was like the fairy godmother for the night!

Murrieta’s Well is a historic wine estate in Livermore, CA- very close to our home.  We love the character and the natural beauty, and knew it had to be our venue!

Our nephew, Casey, was the star of the night (we were so grateful he stole some of the attention) and our ring bearer.
We had a small, intimate wedding with only our family and closest friends-who-are-like-family.  No bridal party, so first down the aisle was Dathan’s parents, followed by my mom & brother.



I walked down the aisle to my favorite song of all time, “Stand By Me”, which gets me every time.



We had just met our officiant, Chris, when we started planning our wedding- but we felt like we had known him forever as we stood up there.  He made us feel so comfortable, and fit right in with our families.

Seeing all of our loved ones together in one place was my favorite part of the night.


& just like that, he’s stuck with me. 





 Cocktail Hour




We mingled with our guests for a bit on the upstairs terrace while everyone ate hors d’oeuvres & sipped their drinks under plenty of heat lamps.  


Then we were able to sneak away and get the first glimpses of the reception setup while the finishing touches were still happening.  It was breathtaking.




Dinner Reception



My dad gave a beautiful, heartfelt toast, complete with a little jab at Dathan for taking so long to pop the question!  ๐Ÿ˜‰



We shared our first dance to an Otis Redding song, “For Your Precious Love”.  And the whole world disappeared.

We chose a Van Morrison song to dance with our parents, and invited the rest of the mothers & sons and fathers & daughters in the family to join us.  One of my favorite moments of the night.

There are so many more details I cannot wait to share with you!  From the little touches like stationery, a charm of my sweet Grandma, & our beautiful favors- to breaking down my hair & makeup products used and all of my accessories!  Stay tuned.  & Thank you for coming along on this journey with me!

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If you are reading this & married yourself, I would love it if you’d leave any wedding advice for us in the comments.  Also, what were your most memorable wedding moments that you’ll never forget?  I’d love to hear.  xo

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