Bridal Couture Magazine Spring/Summer 2016

BRIDAL

Spring/Summer 2016

Magazine

COUTURE 60

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PRETTY SEXY SASSY COOL

beautiful pages of

INSPIRATIONAL Ceremonies Receptions

&

SUPER-SEXY TO CLASSIC GOWNS TO TURN UP THE HEAT

10

T IPS TAKING THE PERFECT

things every groom must do before the wedding

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Representing the Central Valley’s Leading Wedding Vendors San Joaquin, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, & Merced County Bridal Couture Magazine by Mira A Division of Mira Bridal Group Inc

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SOME PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY MEMORY JOURNALISTS

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BRIDAL

Magazine

COUTURE About the Cover

Model: Leah Layman Photography: Kori & Jared Photography, KoriandJared.com Hair Stylist: Carly Alves Streaks Salon StreaksSalon.com Make Up Artist: Brittney Jenkins, Streaks Salon StreaksSalon.com Floral & Decor:Kathie J Designs, Kathiejdesign.com Venue:The Century, DowntownCentury.com See more of our editorial shoot, PRETTY, SASSY, SEXY, COOL ON page 36

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Mira Jantz Design and Layout Mira Jantz Copy Editor Nathaniel Lloyd Contributing Writer Ceciley Smith Advertising and Sales Susan Cruz, Cruz Integrated Contributing Photographers Kori and Jared Heuvel, Lori Makabe, Jody Atkinson, Norma Cabrera, Jennifer Rapoza, Justin Souza, Melissa McKinley, William Khoury Copyright 2015-2016 Mira Bridal Group Inc. D.B.A. Bridal Couture Magazine by Mira. All rights reserved. Materials in this magazine/print publication may not be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Publisher. Any and all submissions to Bridal Couture Magazine become property of Mira Bridal Group Inc and may be used within any media. We reserve the right to edit. Any statements and opinions expressed in the publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ownership or management of this publication.

All submitted materials including logos, images, advertising and editorial content are considered property of Bridal Couture Magazine under Mira Bridal Group Inc. While we make an effort to ensure all of the included information is correct, mistakes may occur. If you notice an error, please email info@bridalcouturemag.com. Bridal Couture Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising and/or submissions. Advertisers assert that they have the rights to publish the content they have provided to Bridal Couture Magazine including advertising, editorial submissions, featured wedding submissions, and images. Advertising content is not the responsibility of Mira Bridal Group Inc and Bridal Couture Magazine and no responsibility will be accepted for arrangements, written or verbal, that readers enter into with advertisers. Mira Bridal Group Inc. and Bridal Couture Magazine can not be held responsible for any claims by its advertisers.

To our readers: Bridal Couture magazine welcomes your feedback. Please email us at info@ bridalcouturemag.com. Advertising inquiries can be sent to sales@bridalcouturemag.com.

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INSIDE

BRIDAL

Magazine

COUTURE

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12 How to Take Perfect Engagement Pictures 13 Announcements of Art-Introducing the Newly Engaged 22 10 things every groom must do before the wedding 26 Our Favorite Wedding Photographers Reveal the Most Memorable Photos They’ve Captured in 2015 30 Is It Acceptable To Ban Children From Your Big Day? 34 Health & Beauty:: Sugaring 36 About the Cover: Super-Sexy to Classic Gowns to Turn Up the Heat 41 Direct from the Runway—2016 48 BCM Preferred Vendors 51 Featured Weddings 52 Vanessa & Luis Santana 56 Elaine & Blake Barnes 58 Andrea & Henry Bambrila 62 Sydney & Aaron Finch 66 Jolyn & Caleb Flora 68 Macy & Taylor Aderholt 70 Nahrain & Tyler Kelly 74 Ariana & Derek Ford 75 Ashley & Dustin Soares 76 Jessica & Ben Sing 77 Kelly & Jake Tucker 78 Jessicca & Jason Norwood 79 Tiffany & Daniel Muniz 80 Michelle & Adam Weber 83 Megan & Jason Dole 84 Laurraine & Alexander Said 90 Lexi & Justin Vander Steen 92 Laura & Manuel Gutierrez 93 Toni & Steven Wickstrom 94 Megan & Blake Nan 96 Meredith & Joshua Weimer 98 Lori & Dave Borges 100 Kait & Aly McKay Fields 103 Meghann & Jordan Kolb 104 Rochelle & Ryan Davis 106 Erika & Daniel Suarez 107 Vanessa & Jose Guitron 108 Kristen & Travis Gonsalves

THE WEDDING PARTY

Mira by

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OU UT TU UR BBRRI I DD AA LL CC O R EE M M AA GG..CCOOMM

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EDITOR’S LETTER When you’re in your late 20s and early 30s, January means one thing: the start of wedding season. From now until June, weekends will be filled with bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners and receptions (I have my first wedding of the year this February). And if you’re planning your own wedding, you can throw in dress fittings, cake tastings, makeup trials….and I’ll stop there because I don’t want to give any of our brides-to-be an anxiety attack.

Personally, I love wedding season. All of the events that coincide with weddings give me a chance to see friends and family, and I definitely don’t hate getting dressed up and partaking in an open bar and dance floor in the name of love.

Which is why, this issue, I focus on, you guessed it, marriage and all the celebration that goes along with it. Whether you’re a bride, a maid of honor, a guest, or the date of a guest, we’ve got a featured wedding you’re sure to love. Some of the ones I’m most excited about share the diversity of todays weddings: from the extraordinary decor and jaw-dropping cake and decor at the reception of Laurraine and Alexander Said, to the intimate glow of the dramatic-yet-elegant dance floor of Vanessa and Luis Santana’s reception. And I continue to explore the constant redefinition of traditions in the wedding experience, no matter a couple’s religion, race, class, lifestyle, or culture. In this issue, we share the cherished vows of a variety of ceremonies, from the enchanted garden wedding of German Baptist couple Jolyn and Caleb Flora to the California outdoors-inspired same-sex ceremony of Kait and Aly McKay-Fields.. Celebrating love and representing love in all forms gives me the opportunity to bring the purpose of weddings back to you. But! If you don’t have white-dress fever, follow us at BridalCoutureMag. com. Weddings won’t be all we’re talking. We’re still pretty obsessed with the fact that it’s almost spring, so we’re going to continue posting about warm weather style and beauty trends, and all of our other usual topics.

Last but not least, thanks for reading BCM! We are celebrating our eleventh issue and our sixth year, and that is just awesome.

Mira Jantz

Editor in Chief @MiraJantz

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AIS L E STYLE

Perfect Engagement Pictures

You’re newly engaged, just hired your wedding photographer, and ready to schedule your engagement pictures. So how do you make sure yours will be noteworthy?

How do you avoid the super-akward images that will make you cringe years from now?

1. Refrain from lots of logos and loud patterns

Will of William Khoury Photography says his biggest piece of advice to brides-to-be is to wear something that makes you feel amazing. “Cameras like patterns but photographers love highlighting their subject. With that said, stay away from large and bold patterns,” he explains. “Monochromatic colors are the easiest to coordinate, but if you’re after more energy in your images, lean toward primary and complimentary colors, and of course, darker colors help slimming figures.”

2. Matching Outfits

Coordinating colors can be cute, but matching white tees and jeans? Err, not so much. Instead, we recommend choosing colors in the same family, as they’ll complement each other and photograph well.

3. Avoid Viewing Pinterest as a Frilly Paradise of Inspiration Pinterest is arguably more useful as a place to store your ideas, rather than a place to generate them. “Trying to recreate exactly an image you see online not only stifles the photogra-

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pher’s creativity but is nearly impossible,” Explains Jody of Jody Atkison Photography. “Images are not just something you set up and copy. A lot goes into each image elementally, such as lighting, the outfits, whether the image, shot on a breezy day, on a summer evening, a winter afternoon.”

4. Location, Location, Location

“I always tell my couples is, to think of a place that is special to them both, then take me there,” says Justin of Photos Just So. “When I engage with couples in a spot that is special to their relationship (it often ends up being the spot they met, or where they had their first date, incidentally), I find that they pay a lot less attention to me and a lot more to each other, which is a prime goal of the shoot.”

5. Steer Clear of Anything That’s Too Tight or Loose “Unfortunately, the camera captures every little curve and bulge, plus too tight pants can result in the dreaded muffin top,” points out Jennifer of Jennifer Rapoza Photography.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS of

Art

The question is popped, the ring is on and now it’s time to let everyone know.

Herald trumpets and town criers seem a bit much, but finding a creative photographer to help you design the perfect engagement photos and announcements is the first step.

BCM is delighted to showcase the following photographs as inspirations for our readers in their quest for imaginative engagement proclamations.

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Emily Guglielmino & Andrew Inman

Wedding Date::May 21, 2016 William Koury Photography

Amber Davis & Tim Rasmussen

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Wedding Date::April 16, 2016 Kori & Jared Photography

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Brittany Brahm & Patrick Nyeholt

Wedding Date:: June 18, 2016 Feather + North

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Alyssa Martin & Korey Larsson

Wedding Date:: May 28, 2016 Jennifer Rapoza Photography

Marlyn Alvarez & Armando Gonzales

Wedding Date:: June 4, 2016 Jesse Alvarez Photography

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Alex Lewis & Tucker Richardson

Wedding Date:: April 8, 2016 Kori & Jared Photography

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Gilda Lewis & William Allen

Wedding Date:: May 21, 2016 Feather + North

Laura Boere & Jeremy Antrim

Wedding Date:: February 5, 2016 Photos Just So

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Ashley Lewis & Sean Cangiamilla

Wedding Date:: October 15, 2016 Photos Just So

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Briana Stephenson & Scott Pittman

Wedding Date:: April 30, 2016 Jennifer Rapoza Photography

Tiffany Schei & John Boere

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Wedding Date:: June 4, 2016 Photos Just So

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Su Watson & Seth Davis

Wedding Date:: March 12, 2016 Feather + North

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A IS LE STYLE

10 things every groom must do before

the wedding There are countless ways grooms can get involved in wedding planning. The big ones are no surprise: getting his suit fitted, writing his vows, and helping pick a first dance song, to name a few. Smaller gestures—like leaving notes for his bride or taking her out dancing—are less established but make a big difference too!

Ask your best man to keep this kit with him throughout the celebration.

Styling your wedding party Be hands—on when selecting the wedding suit. Don’t expect your bride to every decision.

Clean Paper Please

If you and your bride decide to write your own wedding vows, write the final version on a nice, clean sheet of paper. Never ever write your vows on a tattered and worn—out piece of scratch paper.

Rest, don’t party the night before

Talk to your boys about what you do (and don’t!) want for the stag night as well as for the day of.

Hanky Handy

Keeping it clean

Hire a cleaning service for the week of your wedding and for the duration of your honeymoon. It will be so nice to come back to a clean home when your honeymoon is over.

Groom Early

Get a haircut, but not the day before. Work out what your ideal grow-out time is, and take it from there.

Surprise Your Bride

Plan something special for your bride for the wedding day.

It doesn’t have to be lavish—or even anything you spend a lot of money on—but something thoughtful like a letter and champagne will help make a special day even more magical.

Just make sure the delivery arrives at the perfect time.

Your Emergency Kit

On the wedding day, make sure that you also prepare with your own emergency kit. This should include mints, lipbalm, blotting paper, pain reliever, plasters and a mini lint remover.

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The moment you see your bride walking down the aisle, tears will definitely start to flow. So you had better have a handkerchief ready. Make sure that it is a new one and not your old and frayed hanky.

The Ring

It is your best man’s responsibility to take charge of the wedding ring, but it is your duty to ensure that he has it with him, safe and sure. If you have a ring bearer, make sure that your best man is able to place it on the pillow right before walking down the aisle.

Holding Hands

Lastly, hold your wife’s hand as much as possible. Sometimes, the grandness of the entire celebration can overwhelm your bride. By holding her hand, you give her the assurance that you are there to support her and share her emotions on the beginning of the best days of your life as a newly wed couple.

PS! Don’t forget to text her on the morning of the wedding!

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AIS L E STYLE Our Favorite Wedding Photographers Reveal the Most Memorable Photos They’ve Captured in 2015.

Your wedding flowers won’t last forever. Your tiered cake? Devoured by night’s end. But your photos will live on for generations, so splurging on your wedding photographer is worth it.

as we love to scroll through wedding albums, it’s the stories behind these pictures that can truly transform a pretty photo into something astoundingly beautiful.

Professional wedding photographers capture memories that will last a lifetime. Professional wedding photographers capture memories that will last a lifetime, from a couple’s first kiss to their celebratory first dance. And as much

To celebrate this beauty, Bridal Couture Magazine asked our favorite wedding photographers to share the most memorable moments they captured in 2015—and the stories that made each photo so powerful.

“What I love most--why I do what I do is because of the real life moments that happen in between the poses.

The ones you have to always be ready for.”

-Kori Heuvel

The music started, loved ones stood and turned, Carissa’s father wraped her arm in his as he guided her to her new husband.

As they reached the altar, Carissa’s mother met them for what would be captured as the most intimate and beautiful moment of the day for her family.

“All day long, you could see how important family was to both Carissa and Jake, and this moment just depicted how special Carissa is to her dad and what a precious gift he was giving to Jake,” explains Kori Heuvel of Kori & Jared Photography.

“I am such a sentimental sap! I love this stuff!

And I adore beautiful portraits and get giddy over lovely details, but what I love most--why I do what I do is because of the real life moments that happen in between the poses, the ones you have to always be ready for, the ones that include intimate connections, the ones that grip. The ones that grip the heart and remind us of what is truly important-the people in our lives. For our clients, these moments are some of the biggest moments in their lives, and to be able to capture such real emotion and connection makes every wedding we shoot exciting.”

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-Kori Heuvel,Kori & Jared Photography Jake & Carissa Groen Married June 28th, 2015 Pageo Lavander Farms Turlock, CA

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“These are the moments that make it an honor to be a wedding photographer” -William Khoury

“Capturing the authentic connection and love between these two was the inspiration for this image. I enjoy capturing spontaneity in weddings, and this image is one of my favorite examples. Here, Laurraine and Alexander were placed in a symmetric spot to highlight and frame them.

After making sure the details of her beautiful dress, cathedral-length veil and orchid bouquet were all included in the shot, it was time to step away from the newlyweds. Emotions naturally unfolded, and click! We have the shot,” explains Will of Will Khoury Photography.

“The story behind this image has a great deal to do with what makes it my favorite. That day, I was able to deliver something special to Laurraine and Alexander -- peace of mind. The truth is, wedding days don’t always go as planned. On their day, we were faced with a small hiccup; the location they chose for their portrait session was unexpectedly occupied. Being on a tight schedule and fearing they had missed the opportunity to take their wedding photos, they asked, ‘What do we do?!’

As a photographer I like to prepare for surprises such as this, so the day before the wedding, I scouted the area for backup locations. We were able to quickly relocate to this intimate spot away from the crowds and take the portraits they’d hoped for.

Now the happy couple not only has an incredible portrait of their love to cherish, but a story to remember every time they look at it. These are the moments that make it an honor to be a wedding photographer.”

-Will Khoury, William Khoury Photography Laurraine & Alexander Said Married June 20, 2015 Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA

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“These two are genuinely so in love, and they both just exuded the happiness they were feeling all day long" -Alyssa + Erin

“Mike and Jena are one of the sweetest couples, and she was seriously the most Bride-Chilla client we have ever worked with. She was so relaxed on her wedding day, and we loved it.

We love this shot because these two are genuinely so in love, and they both just exuded the happiness they were feeling all day long. They were like giddy little lovestruck kids, and we loved it.”

-Alyssa & Erin, Feather + North Mike & Jena Wesselink Married September 5, 2016 Spring Creek Golf & Country Club Ripon, CA

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“This casual openness is reflected perfectly in their expressions here, and it exemplifies the spirit of their wedding day.”

-Justin Souza

During thier first consultation with Justin Souza of Photos Just So, Alex and Katie made it clear that they wanted wedding photos with a sense of time and place, nothing posed or over exaggerated smiles. “This casual openness is reflected perfectly in their expressions here, and it exemplifies the spirit of their wedding day,” explains Justin.

Their event was a day of joyful serenity among the natural beauty of the redwoods. This shot is just a moment of that same emotion.

-Justin Souza, Photos Just So Katherine & Alex Moore Married September 12, 2015 Union Hotel Grove Occidental, CA

“Nicole requested a silhouette image of herself and her husband. This request pushed me to do something I had not done before, and it’s beautiful.”

-Jennifer Rapoza

“This image was at the bride’s request. She wanted a silhouette taken the day of the wedding. The arch with the greenery in front was the perfect setting.

I love this image because first they are a gorgeous couple and photograph beautifully, but also because this request pushed me to do something on a wedding day that I wouldn’t normally attempt to do. We had it printed on a 16x20 canvas, and it’s beautiful!”

-Jennifer Rapoza Jennifer Rapoza Photography Rich and Nicole Snyder Married September 5, 2015 Sequoia Mansion Placerville, CA

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AIS L E STYLE

Kids At Weddings:

Is It Acceptable To Ban Children From Your Big Day? When creating their wedding guest list, every couple is faced with the same question: should kids be invited?

Sure, letting kids come means more mouths to feed, which leads to a higher wedding bill. And if you’re planning an extravagant affair, it can be tricky—kids around crystal is never a good idea. Plus, sometimes grown-ups just want to share each other’s company. But is it really acceptable for couples to say friends and family can’t bring their kids?

Child-friendly or adults only—here’s what you need to ask yourself. What type of “vibe” do you want? Are you looking for a family affair? Or would you prefer a party crowd, with lots of drinking? Trust us, there are options for all your needs.

Here are a few things to consider when you and your fiancé sit down to create your guest list.

Check on your venue’s policy.

• Are children in your budget? Some catering companies charge you the same price for a child’s meal as the adults.

• Check to see if venue offers child friendly entrees, we don’t imagine too many children enjoying halibut.

If you decide to include children in your wedding guest list, consider these ideas.

• Could you hire sitters to support the parents so they can enjoy the day even more?

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•

Create some child friendly activities. Assign children’s tables and a specific area designed for them.

If you’d like children at the ceremony but not the reception, it’s great to have another room (hotel room, conference room, nursery room at a church, etc) for the children to go to afterwards or when they get a bit unruly.

If an adult-only is the direction you choose, keep some things in mind: • Address this on your wedding invitations and wedding website with “Adult-Reception to follow” or “Adults Only Ceremony and Reception.” To ease some of the agony some parents might feel, you can provide a card with local sitters for the parents to call and interview.

• Professional sitters can watch the children in the parent’s hotel rooms. For destination weddings, including this information in your invitations on a separate card will encourage parents to call for a sitter. Please tell your coordinator what to do if children attend.

In the end, please don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for what you want or don’t want on your special day. Honestly, most parents actually enjoy the night off! Regardless of your decisions regarding the children quandary, do keep in mind this is your day and you do have lots of options.

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AIS L E STYLE

Health & Beauty Sugaring:

A sweeter method of hair removal What is sugaring, you ask? We were dying to find out, so we reached out to Tenile, owner of Nirvana Face and Body in downtown Modesto, to find out.

Dating all the way back to the Egyptians, sugaring is a natural method of hair removal. It uses a paste made from sugar, water and lemon to gently remove unwanted hair. “When waxing,wax is applied with the direction of the hair and pulled the opposite direction to be removed; however, with sugaring, the sugar paste is applied against the hair growth direction and pulled with the direction of the hair growth, causing less breakage, which leads to less irritation and less chances of ingrown hairs,” Tenile explains. “The sugar paste only exfoliates dead skin cells, so there is fewer chance of skin lifting and less irritation.”

Why Choose Sugaring?

“It’s gentle. Using all natural ingredients and working with the hair’s natural growth, sugaring is perfect for all skin types and hair textures. It can even remove fine, light colored hairs. Sugaring is safe for clients with skin sensitivities, eczema and psoriasis.”

We all know what a struggle waxing can be, especially for those with a low pain threshold. Another benefit of sugaring is that is is far less painful. Both the stickiness of the sugar paste used and its method of application are designed to avoid the ouch so

famously associated with hair removal.

“It’s not hot either. The sugar paste is only as warm as your body’s natural temperature, so there’s no chance of burning the skin.”

Sugar paste is water soluble, so it’s not sticky, and when your service is complete, a quick wipe cleans any residue.

And wait, there is more! “Long term benefits you’ll love: due to the direction the hair is removed, more hairs are pulled out by the root. Over time, the hair follicle will start to collapse in on itself, causing thinner hair growth and ultimately permanent hair loss,” says Tenile.

Waxing is generally a much easier technique to learn, so it’s more common, but sugaring done correctly can be life changing, especially for people who can’t be waxed for any number of reasons. Before scheduling your next wax appointment, consider giving this super-sweet option a try. Call the girls at Nirvana, and they will show you the sweeter side of hair removal. Nirvana is located in downtown Modesto. Find them on BridalCoutureMag.com or call them at 209-529-3807.

FACIALS EYELASH EXTENSIONS SUGARING nirvanafaceandbody.com 1213 14 St, Ste 5, Modesto, CA 95354 // 209.529.3807 th

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"Come in and let B-Bar blow your mind.

Whether it's for a special event or an average Tuesday, we are here for you. Our B-bar offers blowouts, brows,bronzing, blushing, brides and braids." -Daydre Eastwood, Salon Owner BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM

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THE PLACE: A SWANKY DOWNTOWN MODESTO VENUE. THE PURPOSE: EVENING NUPTIALS AND AFTER-PARTY. THE FOCAL POINT: SUPER-SEXY TO CLASSIC GOWNS TO TURN UP THE HEAT.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: KORI & JARED PHOTOGRAPHY, KORIANDJARED.COM HAIR STYLIST: CARLY ALVES STREAKS SALON STREAKSSALON.COM MAKE UP ARTIST: BRITTNEY JENKINS, STREAKS SALON STREAKSSALON.COM FLORAL & DECOR:KATHIE J DESIGNS, KATHIEJDESIGN.COM VENUE:THE CENTURY, DOWNTOWNCENTURY.COM

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Slinky Watters silhouette draped with a lush Watters Merapi feather vest available at Mira Bridal Couture, MiraBridal .com or Watters. com. Erika Koesler Chandelier earrings available at at Mira Bridal Couture, MiraBridal .com or EricaKoesler.com, and La Vie Parissienne bracelets from Fleur De Lis Modesto,.

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CITY CHIC

Dramatic ivory Ostrich feather skirt with vanilla bean double-faced satin ribbon.

Fully beaded and embroidered lace lined sweetheart neckline corset, both

by Watters and available at Mira Bridal Couture, MiraBridal.com or waters.com.

Chandelier earrings by Erica Koelser, EricaKoesler.com along with Parisienne bracelets from Fleur De Lis Modesto.

SAYING “I DO’ WITH A DASH OF LACE, A SPLASH OF BEADS, AND A HANDFUL OF FEATHERS.

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UNEXPECTED SILHOUETTE

SHIMMERY DETAILS

Delicate Blossom beaded unlined tulle crop top lined with pearl button back, “Vanu” by Willowby sits perfectly above Watters soft net full A-line skirt with double-faced satin belt, “Nadia”. Available at Mira Bridal Couture, MiraBridal. com or watters.com

Glamorous Swarovski crystals, shimmering pearls and sparkling sequins drift down the tulle and lace skirt of this sheath wedding dress, accented with V-neckline and dainty, pearl encrusted spaghetti straps. “Miela” by Maggie Sottero available at Mira Bridal Couture, MiraBridal.com or MaggieSottero.com

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D IRE C T FROM THE RU NWAY

This October, couture wedding dress designers from around the world debut their latest bridal collections to buyers and press at the New York Couture Bridal Market. This season is all about the bold bride who is looking to make a statement. Delicate embroidered lace, heavy beading, plunging necklines, sleeves, sheath silhouettes and layered skirts of tulle are just a few of wedding dress trends that will make their way on to brides in

2016. Here are just a few of our editor's picks straight off the runways.

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M A GGIE SOT T E R O

S O TTERO A N D M I D GL E Y

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L AZARO

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WATTERS

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ALV INA VA LE N TA

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RESOURCES Venues, Catering, & Cakes Black Oak Casino 209.928.9348 BlackOakCasino.com

The Reata 209.845.9855 TheReata.com

The Century 209.451.2292 DowntownCentury.com

Spring Creek Golf & Country Club 209.599.3258 SpringCreekCC.com

DoubleTree by Hilton, Modesto 209.525.3037 Modesto.doubletree.com

Turlock Golf & Country Club 209.634.5471 TurlockGCC.com

Event Services at California Wine & Roses Hotel State University Restaurant - Spa 209.667.3919 CsuStan.edu/Event-Services 209.371.6117 WineRose.com Larsa Banquet Hall Waterloo Catering 209.634.7096 & Events LarsaBanquetHall.com 209.931.4019 TheWaterloo.com Edible Arrangements 1.877.363.7848 Photography & EdibleArrangements.com

Cinematography

Elkhorn Banquet Facility & Feather + North 209.479.6951 Restaurant FeatherandNorth.com 209.477.2200 ElkhornBanquet.com Jennifer Rapoza Photography 209.613.4476 Jackson Rancheria JenniferRapozaPhotography.

JacksonCasino.com com 800.822.9466

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Greens Events & Catering 209.602.9099 GreensMarket.com

Jody Atkinson Photography 209.678.7805 JodyAtkinson.com

Hurst Ranch 209.984.3016 HurstRanch.com

Kori & Jared Photography 209.253.8021 KoriandJared.com

L&M Blodgett Catering 209.838.7967 L-MBlodgettCatering.com

Lori Makabe Photography 209.370.5104 LoriMakabe.com

Pageo Lavender Farm 209.632.5052 PageoLavenderFarm.com

Melissa McKinley Photography 209.808.7774 MelissaMcKinley.com

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BRIDAL

Magazine

COUTURE

Photos Just So 510.708.1258 Photosjustso.com

TM

Photo Booth

The Platinum Photo Booth 209.648.0490 310.935.3835 ThePlatinumPhotoBooth.com

William Khoury Photography 209.614.1079 Jewelers WillKhoury.com Ciccarelli Jewelers 209.524.7746 Entertainment CiccarelliJewelers.com Sounds in Motion 209.522.5999 Vail Creek Jewelry Design SoundsinMotiondj.com 209.667.GOLD VailCreek.com Dance On Me 209.277.3280 Yonan’s Jewelers DanceOnMe.net 209.656.9219 YonansJewelers.com Florist, Event Design

& Decor

Kathie J Designs 209.608.1008 KathieJDesign.com

Gabriel Fine Jewelers 209.529.2110 GabrielFineJewelers.com

Lori Cole Events 209.480.4668 LoriColeEvents.com

Health & Beauty

Save the Date Events 209.559.9975 Unique Boutiques 209.523.3000 VintageRentalsbyub.com Willow Floral & Design 209.640.3121 WillowFloralDesign.com Yonan’s Floral 209.664.9325 YonansFloralWeddings.com

Nirvana Skin Care 209.529.3807 NirvanaFaceandBody.com Streaks Salon 209.523.9800 StreaksSalon.com

Let us help you plan the day of your dreams.

Gift Registry & Invitations Paper Habit 209.567.0605 PaperHabit.com

Resources & Investing

Andrea Jones, Realtor 209.595.7116 RealtorAndrea209@gmail.

Sunday, May 1

com

Fashion

Mira Bridal Couture 209.338.9333 MiraBridal.com

800-822-WINN JACKSONCASINO.COM ®

Sewing & More Alterations 209.523.7189 SewingandMore.com

Family Owned & Operated

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SINCE 1985

Problem Gambling? 1-800-GAMBLER

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Sewing & More

Alterations by Arte

With an eye for style and perfection.

Excellent service with a personal touch!

SewingandMore.com (209)523-7189 903 West Roseburg Ave. Modesto

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BCM presents

Featured Weddings

We have collected some of our favorite and most distinctive weddings from the past year to share with you.

Allow these intimate details to inspire your big day.

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Opposites really do attract.

Vanessa & Luis Santana Married October 10, 2015

When Vanessa, a free-spirited hairstylist, and owner of Salon Vanity in downtown Modesto, and Luis, a fashionable engineer, fell in love, he surprised them both by proposing in June of 2014 in the middle of the ocean off the Marrietta Islands near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with a horde of jellyfish to bear witness. Definitely a proposal to remember!

Both Vanessa and Luis wanted a fall wedding, and the October 10th, 2015, date suited them both just fine. The long engagement gave them ample time to make sure they wouldn’t be stressed during the planning process.

With Vanessa running her salon and working 50-60 hours a week behind the chair, they both knew that trying to plan the wedding would be hard work. They were no strangers to that as working hard was something they had learned from their parents.

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Here I am, opening you my heart filling your lack of love, closing the path to the pain do not fear I will take care of you, just accept me

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With love and dedication, the couple chose their venue, Our Lady of Assumption in Turlock, with their reception to be held at The Glass Mansion in Los Banos. It was truly a dream come true for Vanessa, who was ready to have her fantasy wedding.

With planning done, Vanessa had the chance to be creative, from DIY decorations and remodels to make-up and hair on the day of, and being able to flex her creative fingers really helped keep her connected to the wedding process. She valued the opportunity to make her wedding her own, despite her hectic day-to-day schedule.

On the day of, Vanessa received the best advice she would ever get: “Enjoy every minute of it because it will go by fast.� And it did. Before she knew it, Vanessa and Luis were happily married, and all of their hard work paid off as she got to enjoy her magical night.

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Cabrera Photography CEREMONY Our Lady of Assumption Turlock, CA RECEPTION The Glass Mansion Los Banos, Ca BRIDAL GOWN Maggie Sottero Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com VINTAGE RECEPTION GOWN Mother’s Heirloom WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Watters Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com SUITS AND TUXEDOS Rossini’s Formalwear

At her reception, in a vintage heirloom gown her mother wore when she married Vanessa’s father, Vanessa cherished the beautiful moment with her new husband, feeling extra blessed on becoming Mr. and Mrs. Luis Santana.

RINGS Geiger’s Jewelers CATERING Bliss Catering CAKE Sunrise Bakery FLORIST De la Fleur Flowers Hand Creations ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion DJ SoundsinMotionDJ.com PAPER GOODS Etsy.com SIGNATURE MOJITO BAR Hugo Zuniga HAIR STYLIST Salon Vanity MAKE-UP ARTIST Salon Vanity ROLLS ROYCE Mr Clair Johnson ALTERATIONS Sewing & More by Arte SewingandMore.com

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Elaine & Blake Barnes Married July 25, 2015 Kori & Jared Photography KoriandJared.com

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Andrea & Henry Bambrila May 9, 2015 uring a ride on Splash D Mountian at Disneyland December 20, 2013, Henry and his son Cameron surprised Andrea with a marriage and family proposal.

Andrea knew she wanted to have her ceremony at the church she grew up in and her reception at her family barn but grew anxious to ask her father, worried he would say no.

During a conversation with Andrea’s parents, her father made her dream come true by offering up the barn for her spring wedding.

“I didn’t want to take away from the natural beauty of the ranch as the reception backdrop, so we kept decorations simple and elegant,” says Andrea. “I wanted the day to be about Henry and I becoming a family and celebrating our family and friends that were there and those that we had lost.”

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I believe in love, I believe in music I believe in magic, And I believe in you

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I wanted the day to be about Henry and I becoming a family and celebrating our family and friends that were there and those that we had lost.

“The day had touches of my family everywhere, from pictures of my grandfathers and Henry’s grandparents who had passed, desserts from Aunts and Grandmothers of mine, a model T and wagons my Papa had restored, a bar made by my cousin Martin with family brandings, and a locket around my neck with my grandfather’s pictures,” explains Andrea.

Embracing Childhood Memories I have always loved the Shel Silverstein book “The Giving Tree,” so that became my inspiration for the invites that my brother created for personal touches at the reception.

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Kori and Jared Photography KoriandJared.com CEREMONY Sacred Heart Church Patterson, CA RECEPTION Beltran Family Ranch BRIDAL GOWN Essense of Australia Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com SUITS AND TUXEDOS Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com RINGS Fred Meyer Jewelers ENTERTAINMENT David Martin House Party

Creating love notes to last a lifetime.

Andrea and Henry designed table number books for each table that read, “Leave a message for Henry & Andrea to read on their anniversary.” The couple plans to pull out one book each anniversary so they can read notes from loved ones for years to come.

CATERING Mundo’s Catering FLORIST Willow Floral Design WillowFloralDesign.com DESSERTS Olde Tyme Pastries

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Sydney & Aaron Finch July 25, 2015 BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM

igh school sweethearts, Sydney and Aaron H married this summer amongst close friends in surroundings Syndey could only describe as romantic, beautiful, and peaceful.

“Planning a wedding can be very overwhelming,” shares Sydney. The couple started off with notepads and address books to ensure they stayed organized and did not forget any details. They both agreed on Monte Verde as their wedding venue, which made their theme easy to put together. “Whimsical, romantic, and magical with lots of flowers,” explains Sydney. She even decided to include floral crowns for each of her bridesmaids.

With thier picturesque theme, Sydney selected blush pink bridesmaids dresses and used blush pink, mint green, and gold as colors for floral and decor.

One thing learned

“Getting too caught up in the wedding planning: at the end of the day, it won’t matter if you decided on white or grey because at that moment you walk down the aisle all of those little things lose priority. You see the love of your life and forget everything else,” Sydney explains. “When you look back, your wedding day is comparable to a short dream. Take time to stop and look around. Take it all in.”

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Including personal touches through DIY Creating the mystical elements they desired, Sydney and Aaron strung pale shades of mint and ivory ribbon along the ceremony chairs and down the aisle, along with flower petals on the lawn that would lead Sydney down the aisle.

The couple also created twine bottle centerpieces and table numbers and added the final touches by designing signs for the bar and gift table.

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Feather + North FeatherandNorth.com CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Monte verde Inn Forest Hill, CA BRIDAL GOWN Sparkle Bridal Couture WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff Sparkle Bridal Couture SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’sWearhouse RINGS Helzberg Diamond Zales Jewelers CAKE Monte Verde Inn FLORIST Farmington Flowers ENTERTAINMENT Stewart’s Dj Service CATERING Mike’s Branding Iron PAPER GOODS Etsy.com CATERING Monte Verde Inn

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Jolyn & Caleb Flora June 13, 2015

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Feather + North FeatherandNorth.com

FLORAL & DECOR Hannah Overholtzer of Bellafleur BellaFleur.net

CEREMONY Private Residence

CAKE Tiers for Two

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Macy & Taylor Aderholt August 13, 2015

RESOURCES CEREMONY AND RECEPTION The Reata Oakdale, CA TheReata.com

did Macy realize that the short walk off of the plane Lafterittlelanding in Hawaii would forever change her life.

Macy and Taylor had dated since high school, and their families were very close.. The couple took a vacation with both sides of the family in December of 2014. As the couple walked off the plane and into the terminal, Macy realized something unusual was going on. Taylor goggled as Macy looked up and to her left and found four of her little cousins standing with signs that read “Macy, Will you marry me?”

She turned towards Taylor, who was already down on one knee in front of all of their family and airport bystanders.

Macy joyfully said yes.

BRIDAL GOWN Essense of Australia Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com WEDDING PARTY DRESSES David’s Bridal ALTERATIONS Sewing and More by Arte SewingandMore.com

Deciding on a date less than a year away, the couple began planning. They wanted to save money and opted for Thursday night wedding instead of the traditional Saturday event.

“We were worried this would hinder people from being able to attend or be a part of our big day, but we received nothing but support from all of our loved ones,” explains Macy.

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SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Zales Jewelry CAKE Village Baking Company ENTERTAINMENT The Quake Mobile DJ CATERING Grgich Family Catering PHOTOGRAPHY Ashley Crook Photography

Can You Feel the Love Growing up as “Daddy’s Little Princess,” Macy had always dreamt of a fairytale wedding inspired by her favorite Disney princesses. With that in mind, she selected Disney-themed songs to play as she and her wedding party walked down the aisle.

Pale pink, blush, and shades of grey with hints of gold and silver were incorperated throughout everything, from the gown, bridesmaid’s dresses, and tuxedos, to the reception decor inside of the beautiful brick walls of The Reata in Oakdale.

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Nahrain & Tyler Kelly September 12, 2015 W hen Tyler told Nahrain about his plans for

an exciting five-day vacation to Sacramento, she was less than thrilled. However, after the first night in Sacramento, Tyler surprised Nahrain by driving to the airport with tickets to Portland, Oregon.

After checking in to the historic Heathman Hotel, Tyler insisted that they leave almost immediately. He escorted her through the idyllic Japanese Gardens until he found a quiet spot by a waterfall to sit and talk. Tyler took this opportunity to pop the question.

When they got back to the hotel, a bottle of champagne and a bouquet of Nahrain’s favorite flower, calla lillies, awaited her. What followed was an amazing trip full of fabulous meals, great beer, activities, and zero sales tax.

With the wedding date set for one year out, the couple began planning. They started with their color scheme of ivory and gold and decided that Tyler’s parent’s home would be the ideal location for their nuptials. They then quickly decided on their florist, caterer, and one of BCM’s favorite photographers, Kori and Jared Photography.

From there, they relied heavily on help from the people they trusted.

Tyler’s parents purchased their new home at the time of the engagement and decision to hold the event there. What they would soon learn would be that this was their biggest challenge. The interior, back yard, and courtyard were all undergoing significant remodeling for the duration of their planning. They knew that if everything stayed on schedule, the house would be done just about a week before their wedding day. “Everything worked out, and we couldn’t have been happier with the results, thanks to our designer Chris Johnson,” says Nahrain.

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“We set out to make our reception feel personal, to embody the romance and passion between us.”

“We selected ivory and gold as our primary colors and surrounded ourselves in candlelight,” explains Nahrain. “This viewpoint, and the desire to complement our location, greatly informed our decisions on the style of the wedding.”

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Kori and Jared Photography KoriandJared.com CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Private Residence Modesto, CA BRIDAL GOWN Inbal Dror Bridal Galleria WEDDING PARTY DRESSES MissguidedUS.com SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Steve Padis Jewelry Cartier CAKE Creative Cakes By Debra FLORIST Infinite Creations EVENT DESIGNER Chris Johnson ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion SoundsinMotionDJ.com CINEMATOGRAPHER Thomas Hughes Films PAPER GOODS Paper Habit PaperHabit.com SPECIALTY RENTALS Grand Events La Tavola Fine Linens BARTENDING SERVICE Harry’s Affairs CATERING Surla’s Restaurant HAIR STYLIST Bethany Amaya Salon Salon

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Ariana & Derek Ford Married July 25, 2015 Scot Woodman Photography

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Ashley & Dustin Soares Married September 26 ,2015 Jody Atkinson Photography JodyAtkinson.com

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Jessica & Ben Sing

June 20, 2015 Photographed by Feather + North Manteca,CA

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Kelly & Jake Tucker

August 29, 2015 Photographed by Kori & Jared Photography Livermore, CA

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Jessicca & Jason Norwood

May 23, 2015 Photographed by Melissa McKinley Photography Oakdale, CA

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Tiffany & Daniel Muniz

October 25, 2015 Photographed by Ashley Crook Photography Modesto, CA

RESOURCES CEREMONY AND RECEPTION The Century Downtown Modesto, CA DowntownCentury.com RINGS Ciccarelli Jewlers CiccarelliJewelers.com Grooms ring passed down from grandfather

ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion SoundsinMotionDJ.com

PHOTO BOOTH The Platinum Photo Booth ThePlatinumPhotobooth.com ALTERATIONS Sewing and More by Arte SewingandMore.com

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Michelle & Adam Weber September 5, 2015

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A fter a seven-year courtship, Adam and

Michelle decided that marriage was their next big step. The couple had known each other since high school and began dating shortly afterwards. From their first date star–gazing to a surprise proposal in front of friends and family during a family BBQ, Michelle and Adam knew they were best friends and partners for life.

With a year to plan their big event, Michelle stared immedaitley. Creating a special binder devoted to all of the wedding information she could possibly need. “I also did a lot of research early in my engagement in order to find the perfect vendors to suit our personality and style,” Michelle explains. “Once I had my vendor wish list, I contacted them early.”

“Adam and I both wanted a rustic, country wedding with an intimate atmostphere. To tie in some of our favorite things, we included a cigar bar for Adam, and a coffee bar for me. All of the additional details, such as the corn hole boards, brick oven pizza, and sparkler send-off, were things that we loved,” Michelle says. “We could not have pictured a more perfect wedding day.”

I Loved You First Michelle planned an intimate surprise for her father before the ceremony.

While photographers Kori & Jared were preparing to take pictures of the bride and her father, Michelle unexpectedly gave her father a personal tie. On the back of this tie was a heart shaped patch that said, “I Loved You First 9-5-15”

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Kori and Jared Photography KoriandJared.com

CAKE Sunrise Bakery ENTERTAINMENT AMS Entertainment

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Vista Cellars Winery FLORIST Merced, CA The Flowery BRIDAL GOWN Watters Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Donna Morgan SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse BRIDE’S RING Vail Creek Jewelers VailCreek.com GROOM’S RING Yonan’s Jewelers YonansJewelers.com

HAIR STYLIST Streaks Salon StreakSalon.com MAKE UP ARTIST Blush Makeup & Beauty Lounge ALTERATIONS Sewing & More by Arte SewingandMore.com FAVORS Drink Koozies from Etsy. com PHOTO BOOTH Go Bananas Photo Booth

You're more than a lover There could never be another To make me feel the way you do

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Megan & Jason Dole

June 27, 2015 Photographed by Photos Just So Escalon, CA

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Laurraine & Alexander Said Married June 20, 2015

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas; unless you are

Laurraine. This single trip had her dreaming about tying the knot with a blind date that turned out to be the man of her dreams. Laurraine just so happened to be on the way to Las Vegas when a friend of hers mentioned a man she just had to meet, who was also visiting the city at the same time as she and staying in the same hotel. (Coincidence? I think not.) His name was Alexander Said. As soon as they came face to face in the Paris Hotel bar, Laurraine knew he was the one, and Sin City had been transformed to the “City of Love�.

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Alex proposed in July of 2014 on the beautiful Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu and the planning began soon after they set their date. June 20th 2015 was going to be there before they knew it.

Their theme: classic and traditional; reflecting their pure love for one another and with a touch of Victorian to embellish their wedding affair, Alex and Laurraine were in business.

After discussing a budget they both agreed upon, the real work began. Laurraine and Alex kept lists specialized for “Must Haves” and “Nice to Haves”, keeping the exciting planning process free from unnecessary stress on the happy soon to be newlyweds. Meetings with the vendors were planned around their work schedules, making sure that they were checking items off of their to-do lists in hopes that procrastination would not rear its ugly head. Each check brought them closer to their special day. Timing was every-

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thing, and Laurraine met with many vendors to create a proper timeline. As organized as Alex and Laurraine were, they still had a few issues of staying within their agreed budget, and then came the RSVP. Collecting addresses had taken on a life of its own, but after overcoming that hurdle, their finish line was in sight.

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The day of the wedding was magical and more than the couple could have ever dreamed of. Laurraine had no doubt in her heart, as she walked down the aisle of St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral wearing the dress of her dreams, that her wedding was perfect. As they danced their first dance to La Vie En Rose by Jerry Vale their hearts were filled with joy for the 330

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY William Khoury Photography WillKhoury.com CEREMONY St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral Los Angeles, CA

Hold me close and hold me fast The magic spell you cast This is la vie en rose guests that came to celebrate their love. “I was told the dance floor was not empty all night which made us all too happy and had us enjoying our wedding more than we ever expected, it was really the best day ever!”

Give your heart and soul to me And life will always be La vie en rose

RECEPTION The Great Caesar Banquet Hall Tujunga, CA BRIDAL GOWN Ian Stuart Panache Bridal WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Mac Duggal SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS The Diamond Outlet CAKE L’etoile Chocolatier ENTERTAINMENT Singer, Jamal Kassab Said Music & Dance Company DJ Danyy Machhour CATERING The Great Caesar Banquet Hall FLORIST L’etoile Chocolatier CINEMATOGRAPHER Boffo Video HAIR STYLIST Veronika Yebeyan Studio K MAKE-UP ARTIST Hadil Marjieh Beautified Hadil FAVORS Chocolates L’etoile Chocolatier

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Lexi & Justin Vander Steen Married June 6, 2015 Melissa McKinley Photography MelissaMcKinley.com

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RESOURCES CEREMONY Escalon Christian Reformed Church Escalon, CA RECEPTION Majestic Oaks Waterford, CA BRIDAL GOWN Sottero Midgley Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Dessy Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse

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RINGS Lexi’s, Yonans Jewelers YonansJewelers.com Justin’s, Zales Jewelers ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion SoundsinMotionDJ.com CATERING Holt Family Catering HAIR STYLIST Toni Cannella-Wickstrom & Jordan Segna of Embellish Salon MAKE-UP ARTIST Jocey Bossy Beauty

EVENT COORDINATORS Dainty Arrow Designs

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Laura & Manuel Gutierrez September 5, 2015 Photographed by Photos Just So Modesto, CA

PHOTOGRAPHY Photos Just So PhotosJustso.com EVENT COORDINATOR Lori Cole Events LoriColeEvents.com ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion DJ SoundsinMotionDJ.com

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Toni & Steven Wickstrom September 19, 2015 Photographed by Melissa McKinley Photography

RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Melissa McKinley Photography MelissaMcKinley.com BRIDAL GOWN Anna Campbell Lovely Bride WEDDING PARTY Adrianna Papell ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion SoundsinMotionDJ.com

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egan and Blake met 15 years ago in high school and have had many mutual friends, yet their paths had never crossed.

Megan moved away to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly, and Blake attended California State University Stanislaus. After college, they both purchased homes but did not realize they purchased just a few houses away from each other.

It was not until Blake went out to celebrate his birthday that he ran into Megan and they spent the evening catching up. Their relationship quickly began after that.

One year later, Blake suprised Megan with a weekend trip to Lake Tahoe to see Carrie Underwood in concert. It was during this weekend, while overlooking the beautiful blue lake, that Blake proposed to Megan.

Megan & Blake Nan Married June 27, 2015

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Megan had dreamt of her wedding since she was a little girl and knew exactly how she wanted it to look. The couple set a date, and the planning of her childhood dream of the perfect wedding began.

Once they booked Brookside Golf and Country Club in Stockton for their ceremony and reception, the rest of the details fell into place. Megan described her look as formal, elegant, and chic because of the grand ballroom, floor-to-ceiling windows and chandeliers. She then paired colors of champagne, ivory, and black with the beaded fit and flare wedding gown she had selected.

Keeping with the formal theme, Blake opted for the classic black tuxedo, and Megan found fitted champagne bridesmaids dresses for her wedding party.

“We both felt that capturing our special day and being able to look back on the memories was one of the most important aspects of the wedding,” explains Megan. “So we not only

hired the super talented photographer, Stephanie Baker Photography but we also added El Nido Productions to capture every moment on video.”

“The altar backdrop was the most important to me while planning our wedding because that’s where we would be saying our vows.”

“I wanted large floral arrangements, a chandelier to stand under, and the fabric draped around the gazebo so it would softly flow in the breeze.”

“Although all of those planning details made our wedding vision come to life, nothing was more precious to us than the vows we made to each other and the realization that our forever had just begun,” says Megan. “The best part of that day for me was seeing my husband’s reaction when he first saw me walking down the aisle with my dad. It is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

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Meredith & Joshua Weimer Married May 23, 2015

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RESOURCES CEREMONY Pageo Lavender Farm Turlock, CA PageoLavenderFarm.com BRIDAL GOWN Essense of Australia Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Eliza J Nordstrom

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FLORAL & DECOR Dana Kirkes of Le Fleur CAKE Sunrise Bakery ALTERATIONS Sewing & More by Arte SewingandMore.com PHOTOGRAPHY Brooke Beasley Photography

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Lori & Dave Borges October 24, 2015 ave and Lori, having known each other 23 D years, knew that they were going to be together for a lifetime, but who knew that a simple friendship would turn into something else? Time was never an issue, and after 13 years, their friendship blossomed into something new: a lifelong romance. You know what they say: best friends make the best partners.

Dave proposed to Lori on July 3rd, 2014, at Seven Sisters at Black Oak Casino & Resort, and he knew he had hit the jackpot. After a wonderful partnership turned relationship, they were ready to become husband and wife. Lori originally wanted a simple wedding ceremony, with only their closest friends and their families, but the minute Lori began planning, she knew that her wedding dreams were expanding into a full-blown fantasy. She wanted to go “all out,” seeing as how this would be the one and only time she would be getting married, and with the help of her daughter, a few good friends, and Pinterest, her fantasy would become a reality.

Blush and gold were the colors that caught Lori’s eye for their elegant wedding, a timeless theme that captured the essence of her relationship with Dave, her lifelong partner. When she began, she did not realize that blush and gold were in such high

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Jennifer Rapoza Photography

demand, and the worry set in. She thought she would have to change her colors! With the ceremony just around the corner, both Lori and Dave and their wedding helpers were relieved when they started to see shades of blush now available in early March and April.

The venue Lori and Dave selected was the Saddle Creek Resort in Copperopolis, CA, that also doubled as the food vendor for the ceremony. As planning continued smoothly, and the date was getting closer and closer, the two prepared for the second chapter of their lives together, and before they knew it, it was

October 24th, 2015: The Big Day. In her Mori Lee gown, Lori walked down the aisle to Ed Sheeran’s Tenerife Sea to meet her best friend, partner and soon-to-be husband.

As they danced their first dance as a married couple, swaying happily to Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, they knew that time would always be on their side. The best was still yet to come for Dave and Lori Borges, and their love would stand the test of time.

They were truly lucky to be in love with their best friends.

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Saddle Creek Resort Copperopolis, CA BRIDAL GOWN Mori Lee Bianca’s Bridal WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff & David’s Bridal SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Kohl’s ENTERTAINMENT Sound Extreme FLORIST Bear Garden PAPER GOODS Invitations By Dawn MAKE-UP ARTIST Dazzle Hair & Make-Up HAIR STYLIST Dazzle Hair & Make-Up

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Kait & Aly McKay Fields Married May 30, 2015

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ho says you can’t find love in a W bar? On a cold and rainy Saturday evening in March of 2012, Kait and Aly were begrudgingly celebrating a mutual friend’s birthday when Aly noticed a boisterous Kait conversing with everyone around her. After introducing themselves, they did what anyone else would have done in that moment and challenged one another to a beer drinking contest. As they chugged away, they forged a bond that neither knew would take them down the road to eternal happiness. As all great love stories go, there must be a conflict: Kait called

a cab to drive her home, leaving Aly only with her name and hopes that she would see her again. Persistent Aly, with the help of technology, had her number and a date set up the very next day. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kait and Aly knew they wanted their wedding to be outside in the late spring or early summer, so they decided that May 30th, 2015, would be the day that they said their “I-Do’s.” The two realized that planning wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be. Keywords that were

important to the couple helped in putting together inspiration boards to visualize different concepts.

Working together with love, communication, patience and ease, they maneuvered various obstacles and made tweaks along the way. They knew that they wanted their event to go with the flow

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and never be forced, just as their growing love had. Aly and Kait were also very ambitious, and they found that the biggest issues with planning the wedding were with the outlandish ideas they each brought to the table. At one point, Kait had patterns to make the bridesmaid’s dresses…all eight of them! Kait started DIY project after DIY project; building on a theme that fit them both so well: California Lovin. With the help of family and friends, their wedding dream was brought to life. They created and made all of their own lawn games, and their wooden California cutout acted as the perfect guest book for all of their family and loved ones to commemorate the moment.

When that glorious day in May finally arrived, Kait and Aly became lawfully wedded. As they stood, surrounded by loving

RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Photos Just So PhotosJustSo.com CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Lehman Barn at Varozza Ranch El Dorado Hills, CA BRIDAL GOWN Jenny Yoo Nordstrom SUITS AND TUXEDOS Express

RINGS Kait’s, Rogers Jewelers Aly’s, Amazon CAKE Pushkin’s Bakery FLORIST FiftyFlowers.com ENTERTAINMENT Pendulum Pro CATERING Chando’s Tacos SPECIALTY RENTALS El Dorado Hills Party Rental

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friends and family, they looked around at all of their hard work and realized what a group effort it had been to take their dream and turn it into reality. A simply superb DIY wedding was the way that this lovely, easy-going couple chose to express their love, and it went off without a hitch. Aly and Kait, with their color palette of greens, greys, browns, and blues that complemented the amazing Lehman Barn at Varozza Ranch in El Dorado Hills, felt they had embodied what sunny California has to offer. As they toasted with a cold one, they were overjoyed that their local beers, wines, and Chando’s Taco fit the vibe of their wedding so well, feeding their souls and all of their happy guests. Hearts full of love and gratitude were joined together for a lifetime here in the Golden State.

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Meghann & Jordan Kolb

October 10, 2015 Photographed by Jennifer Rapoza Photography Greenhorn Creek Golf Course Angels Camp, CA

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Rochelle & Ryan Davis Married October 24, 2015

Ryan and Rochelle met on their senior grad night in Disneyland and instantly had a connection. After going their separate ways, they reconnected in 2007 and were determined to stay in one another’s lives despite the distance. Ryan was training in Oklahoma City, living in Virginia, and Rochelle resided in California, but that didn’t stop the two Disneyland sweethearts from forming a love unlike any other. When Ryan sent Rochelle an email asking her to visit him, she took the leap of faith and got on that plane. They never looked back.

On their seven year anniversary Ryan proposed to Rochelle in a cabin in Tahoe, and their whirlwind engagement was set in motion. After initial plans fell through, Rochelle

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Feather + North FeatherandNorth.com

CEREMONY GOWN Watters, Watters.com

CEREMONY Calaveras Big Trees State Park Arnold, CA

received a sign via Pinterest and the couple rented a cabin for their entire bridal party in Arnold, Ca. They decided that since Ryan was an avid outdoorsman, it would be fitting to have their wedding ceremony at the Campfire Center at Big Trees, and their reception was to be held in Jack Knight Memorial Hall, the original lodge at Big Trees built in 1936.

With planning finished they had

one more tree to climb: the dress.

Rochelle’s beautiful ceremony gown was made by Watters. She fell in love with the gown when she saw it on the Internet and knew without even trying it on that it had to be hers.

Rochelle wasn’t out of the woods yet. While picking up a dress for her aunt at Mira Bridal Couture, she glimpsed a Maggie Sottero gown that tore at her heart, one she had seen earlier at Unveiled 2015. Deter-

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RECEPTION GOWN Custom Maggie Sottero Mira Bridal Couture MiraBridal.com

mined to stay within her budget, she pushed the dress from her mind until it arrived one day as a gift from her wonderful group of friends. The card read: “Some things are just meant to be. Like peanut butter and jelly. You and Ryan. And you and the ‘Mary’ dress.” Her beautiful wedding gift ended the process. Under the big trees at Big Trees, the couple vowed their love on October 24th, 2015, among friends and loved ones, their branches entwining for a lifetime.

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Erika & Daniel Suarez

October 24, 2015 Photographed by Melissa McKinley Photography Monterey, CA

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Vanessa & Jose Guitron

June 20, 2015 Photographed by Jody Atkinson Photography Private Residence, Modesto CA

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hen Travis Gonsalves met Kristen W Goncalves in 2009, he knew he had to get to know her better. Their dance group meeting at the Portuguese Hall in Modesto was the perfect place for him to show her his moves, and when Travis asked Kristen for her number, she happily gave it to him. The closer the two grew, however, the more Kristen realized that they were performing a different dance and that their steps weren’t exactly in time. Kristen, guarded from times before, left Travis in the dust and with his partner missing; they eventually lost contact with one another.

Kristen & Travis Gonsalves Married July 18, 2015

After a year of going solo, Kristen realized that she was ready for a duet, and she knew the perfect partner to join her. When she found out that she could potentially lose Travis, the spotlight was on her, and she stepped onto the stage, contacting him to see if they still had a chance. The two began dating on December 7th, 2010!

The couple, both sharing a love for dance, were set to perform with their Portuguese folk dancing group, Grupo Folclorico Mar Bravo de Casa Dos Acores at one of the biggest Portuguese festas on October 19, 2013, in Thornton, Ca. Travis had asked the dance coordinator if there could be a slight change in the program, hoping that he would be able to dance with Kristen in the couples song for the first time at the performance, and he allowed it! As Kristen had been a very passionate folk dancer since age 6, he knew that this was the perfect chance to blow not only the crowd away, but the special woman in his life away as well, and indeed it was! After the couple performed, he dropped down to one knee and proposed, surprising Kristen yet again with his smooth moves.

With their July 18th, 2015, wedding date set, Travis and Kristen moved on to the planning phase and immediately had to renegotiate their priorities.

Kristen had just been accepted into the nursing program at Stanislaus State, and she soon found out that going to school, working, and trying to plan a wedding was hard work. But the power

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couple prioritized well together, compromising with one another’s hectic schedules to get the difficult aspects out of the way. Kristen booked the church, venue, florist, photographer and band in the same month, making sure that she had plenty of time for all of the small details of the ceremony; of which there were many! Time being the only real issue in the process, they had difficult days where meeting with the vendors seemed impossible, with

both her and Travis working and going to school, but they managed to pull it off, making it past the obstacles, they smoothly continued their planning.

Coordinating the wedding came together easily. Combining their two favorite colors, navy blue and coral, as their color scheme and melding them together to create their rustic elegance wedding theme, Travis and Kristen were attentive to the other’s wants and

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY RINGS Lori Makabe Photography Kay Jewelers Lori Makabe.com CAKE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Burgess Baking Company The Reata Oakdale, CA ENTERTAINMENT TheReata.com Sem Duvida Band BRIDAL GOWN Sparkle Bridal Couture WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff Beautiful Beginnings Bridal

CATERING The Reata TheReata.Com ALTERATIONS Sewing & More by Arte SewingandMore.com

SUITS AND TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse

desires. They agreed on St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oakdale for their ceremony, a church that Travis had grown up in, and the Reata, with its brick walls and high, wooden ceilings, for their reception. It was perfect for their combined wedding theme! Travis being the country boy and Kristen wanting a little bling in her big day, they both knew that they were on the right track, and Kristen surprised herself by picking a gown that was something she didn’t think she would want in the first place!

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Lissette & Travis Sanborn October 10, 2015

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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Feather + North FeatherandNorth.com CEREMONY St. Mary’s Catholic Church RECEPTION The Reata Oakdale, CA TheReata.com BRIDAL GOWN Miosa Bridal ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion SoundsinMotionDJ.com CAKE Village Baking Company FLORIST Petal Pushers HAIR & MAKE UP Salon Salon

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Where Dreams Become Reality Largest Selection in the Valley ~ Custom Creations~ Wide Variety of Styles

Gabriel Fine Jewelers McHenry Village Modesto Contact Us: Phone: 209-529-2110 Email: Info@GabrielFineJewelers.com Follow us: Facebook & Instagram: Gabriel Fine Jewelers Modesto BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM

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