B R I D A L COUTURE M ag a zi ne
TM
Spring / Summer 2014
The
Glam Outdoors
2014 Bridal Style Direct from the Runway The Central Valley’s Mo s t D is tin c tive W e d d ing s
Announcements of
Art
Engagement Sessions from Valley Couples
Representing the Central Valley’s Leading Wedding Vendors
San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced Calaveras & Tuolumne County BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
Bridal Couture Magazine by Mira A Division of Mira Bridal Group Inc
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At Wine & Roses, we have the picture-perfect venues to make your wedding dreams a reality.
We offer award-winning creative cuisine, exceptional service, luxurious hotel rooms & suites for you and your guests, full service resort spa with preparatory and bridal services & unique gifts, and a B A L L R O O M • I N T I M AT E C E L L A R R O O M W E D D I N G G A R D Ebride’s N S & changing P A T I O S room. private Wine & Roses also offers a variety of
have the picture-perfect venues to make your wedding dreams a reality. Wevenues offer awardindoor/outdoor to accommodate
rehearsal dinners, showers, ne, exceptional service, luxurious hotel rooms & suites for you and your guests, fullbridal service
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f indoor/outdoor venues to accommodate rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, groomsmen
ding gatherings.
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winerose.com
2 5 0 5 w. T u R N E R R O A d , L O d I , C A L I f O R N I A 9 5 2 4 2
CONTACT: 209.371.6117 OR EMAIL: sales@winerose.com winerose.com
WINE & ROSES 2505 W. TURNER ROAD B RPI D C O M CALIFORNIA 95242 WEDDING GARDENS & AATLICOOSU T U R E M A G .LODI,
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yonan’s floral yonansfloralweddings.com 209-664-9325 2425 geer rd turlock ca
floral
IDALCOUTUREMAG.COM linens B R rentals decor draping
lighting
B R I D A L COUTURE Mag a zi ne TM
Spring / Summer 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
15 A nnouncements of A rt -T he N ewly E ngaged 24 A isle S tyle ::T he F irst L ook 29 A isle S tyle ::T he G lam O utdoors 35 F rom the R unway of N ew Y ork 42 P remier V endor R esources 46 A isle S tyle ::P interesting W eddings 47 F eatured W eddings 48 R iki & J ason Y oung 52 R achelle & B eau D avis 56 J essica & C arlos H ampton 60 K atie & K yle R otan 62 M arie & M ark S criven 68 J ulie & J oseph S imonton
64 R osalind & S pencer M c S herry
71 C orryn & A aron B urnell
76 M eghan & K urt B audler 80 M egan & P eter E ngstrand
Home & Garden
72 A llyson & M atthew H augrud
Holiday Open House
84 L aken & N elson F urtado 88 A mie & E ric G rout
90 K atie & S hane O lesen 94 T omi & Z achary M aldonado 96 S arah & K ion K ashefi 100 S arah & D aniel G odfrey 102 K irsten & J acob C ook
104 A licia & L ena W heeler 108 T risha & B rett F ucillo
Saturday, Nov. 10th thru Sunday, Nov. 11th
&
Friday, Nov. 23rd thru Sunday, Nov. 25th
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Home Garden Holiday& Refreshments
Wonderful Holiday Décor and Gifts Fresh Topiaries � Fresh Wreaths � Ornaments & Much
Holiday Open House Home & Garden Holiday Hours
Monday thru am toNov. 6:0011th pm Saturday, Nov.Saturday 10th thru10:00 Sunday, Sunday 11:00&am to 4:00 pm
Holiday Open House
WishingFriday, You and Your Family a Wonderful Nov. 23rd thru Sunday, Nov.Holida 25th
10:00 am to 5:00 pm the I will be CLOSED Nov. 5th thru 9th 11th Saturday, Nov. 10th thru Sunday, Nov. in preparation for the open house.
&
105 North 3rdRefreshments Avenue, Oakdale Holiday Friday, Nov. 23rd thruDécor Sunday, Nov. 25th 209.845.8179 Wonderful Holiday and Gifts
to 5:00 pm & Much Fresh Topiaries �10:00 Fresh am Wreaths � Ornaments
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Holiday Hours Holiday Refreshments BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
Wonderful Holiday Décor and Gifts
2485 Geer Rd., Turlock, CA 95382
209-656-9219
www.yonansjewelers.com BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
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Serving Northern California . Watters Maggie Sottero . Sottero and Midgley Jim Hjelm . Lazaro . Essense of Australia WTOO . Enzoani . Blue by Enzoani . Cristiano Lucci Endorsed by the following BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
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About the Cover Model
Carlyn Babin
Hair Stylist Kaleesa Utz
Make-Up
Katie C Make-Up Artist
Photography
Scot Woodman Photography
Gown
Allegra by Watters
Hair Accessory Erica Koesler
Fashion Editor Mira Jantz
On Location
Dry Creek Park, Modesto, CA Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Mira Jantz Contributing Writer & Copy Editor Betty Mantel Lee Layout Design Mira Jantz Contributing Photographers Scot Woodman, Stephanie Baker, Jamie Bearg, Kori & Jared Heuvel, Charleton Churchill, Amanda Collins, Holly Smith, Lori Makabe Account Manager Dawn Ramirez
Copyright 2012-2014 by Mira Bridal Group Inc. D.B.A Bridal Couture Magazine by Mira. All rights reserved. Materials in this magazine may not be reproduced in any form with out written consent from the publishers. Any and all submissions to Bridal Couture Magazine become property of Mira Bridal Group Inc. and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit. The opinions expressed in the editorial of this 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 images, logos, and test for advertising and editorial are assumed to be the property of the provider and Bridal Couture Magazine and Mira Bridal Group Inc. While we make every effort to ensure that the information contained through out the magazine and with in the content is correct, mistakes may occur. If you notice an error, please e-mail us at info@bridalcouturemag.com so that we may make any necessary corrections for the future. Bridal Couture Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising and/ or submissions. Advertisers assert that they own and/or have the rights to and are authorized to publish the content in which they provide to Bridal Couture Magazine, including advertising, editorial submissions, featured wedding submissions, and images. Advertising content is not the responsibility of Mira Bridal Group Inc. or Bridal Couture Magazine and will resume no responsibility for any arrangements, written or verbal, that readers enter into with advertising partners/vendors, and cannot be held responsible for any advertising partners/vendors business practices. Mira Bridal Group Inc. and Bridal Couture Magazine cannot be responsible for any claims made by its’ advertising partners/vendors. To our readers: Bridal Couture Magazine welcomes your feedback. Please e-mail us at info@bridalcouturemag.com. If you prefer snail mail, do not hesitate. Our mailing address is 1201 J Street Modesto, Ca. 95354. Advertising Inquiries: Advertising inquires can be sent to Sales@bridalcouturemag.com. Subscriptions/Back Issues: Please e-mail your mailing address along with list of issues requested to info@ bridalcouturemag.com
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For your Black Tie Affair Forget the traditional wide-leg slacks. The ideal choice for the stylish gentlemen is our new Modern Slim Fit Looks
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Color
Aisle Style
E ditor’s Picks
We are thrilled about the beading and texture we are seeing from Monique Lhuillier and Maggie Sottero for the 2014 bridal collections. Playing peek-a-boo with your bridal party are our favorite’s by Occasions by JLM and Monique Lhuillier. Finally making our pre-teens happy to be in a wedding is the new Seahorse Collection from Watters. Modest, mature, and still fashion forward for sizes 2T-14.
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Monique Lhuillier Eva satin double strap sandal with Swarovski Crystals. Diamond Flame Earrings Sunday Rose Toasting Flutes Bourior Lace BowHeel by Freya Rose . London Brooke Crystal Clutch by Benjamin Adams
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Now accepting Engagement & Featured Wedding submissions for the Fall/Winter 2014 issue. BridalCoutureMag.com/Submissions
for details on how you can be in the next BCM issue! Join . Follow . Friend . Like . Pin .#BridalCoutureMag
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ANNOUNCEMENTS of
Scot Woodman Photography
Art
P aving
your way to happily ever after starts with a day of documenting your
style through modern - day engagement photos .
M ore
and more couples are
seeking alternative roads to express their love through themed , innovative , and artistic means .
F rom
a themed photo shoot
inspired by your favorite rock star or flaunting your love for one another in an exaggerated display of your hobbies
&
passions ‌
engagement photos are becoming more art than obligation .
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Mary Adams & Jake Matthewson
Wedding Date::June 21, 2014 Kori & Jared Photography
Jessica Kaiser & Billy Foulds
Wedding Date::August 26, 2014 Scot Woodman Photography
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Caitlin Smith & Steven Thompson
Wedding Date::April 12, 2014 Delona Photography
Wedding & event floral designer servicing
northern california
209-640-3121 elyse@willowfloraldesign.com www.willowfloraldesign.com
B BR R II D DA A LL C CO OU UT TU UR RE EM MA AG G .. C CO OM M
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Amanda Yedinak & Jiaan Rajabzadeh
Wedding Date::May 3, 2014 Scot Woodman Photography
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Alyssa McElwain & Nick Haag
Wedding Date::June 6, 2014 Amanda Collins Photography
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Maddison Crooker & Ross Brayton
Wedding Date::July 19, 2014 Kori & Jared Photography
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Angelica Smith & Tim Padgett
Wedding Date::May 3, 2014 Kori & Jared Photography
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KCRA A-L ist M ost R equested dJ
ExCEEdinG ExpECTATiOns OnE WEddinG AT A TiME.
in
n oRtheRn C A .
W edding W iRe ’ s M ost R evieWed dJ C oMpAny C ALifoRniA ! p RofessionAL dJ/W edding d iReCtoR ’ s
1315 J Street B R I D A L CO OU UT TU U R EM MA AG G .. CC O OM M BRIDALC Modesto , CRaE. 95354
in
Aisle Style
Look
The First
L
Love usually begins with a first look, a second glance, and then lingering eye contact. A wedding day normally begins with the same. The bride steps out in that first moment to audible gasps from her partner. The couple rounds corners to catch the first glimpse of one another before their ceremony begins.
Each glance is filtered through love and caring. Without words they show their guests how committed they are to cherishing the relationship for life. For a suspended moment in time, the focus is exactly where it should be: on each other. We’ve gathered some of our favorite moments captured by some of our BCM premier photographers and as always, congratulations to the newly married couples featured. For more on our favorite “First Looks” visit us at BridalCoutureMag.com.
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Images provided by Charleton Churchill Photography, Scot Woodman Photography, Alison Yin Photography, Grover Style Photography, and Kori & Jared Photography
3200 Sisk Road, Suite C • Modesto, California 95356
Tuesday - Saturday, 10-6 • Thursday & Friday, 10-8 • Open Sundays, 11-4
(209) 524-7746 • www.ciccarellijewelers.com • follow us on Facebook!
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of
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G i f t ove
Images provided by Ashley Crook Photography
Erin and Clint had been planning their wedding to be a spring affair, scheduled for May 22, 2013. During the planning process, however, they were told that Erin’s brother’s kidneys were failing and that he would need a transplant. Her brother was born with polycystic kidney disease and the doctors had told their parents that he wouldn’t live past a year. Her brother had always been a fighter so he defied the prognosis and made it to five years old. Then he continued to fight and graduated high school and then grew into his twenties. At the age of thirty-two he went to his regular check-up and the doctor told him that his kidneys were functioning at only nineteen percent. At nineteen percent a patient can be put on the wait list for a donor, understanding that typically fifty percent of candidates for an organ transplant die waiting for a deceased donor. Erin’s mom was with him at this particular doctor’s appointment and called Erin instantly to tell her the news. Though Erin’s brother never asked her to, she immediately began filling out the paperwork and completing exams at UCSF to attempt to qualify as an organ donor. Once the nephrologists at UCSF reviewed the results, she was contacted by a representative appointed to the case by the UCSF transplant team. The transplant team told Erin
Hair by Jordan Segna 209-620-6009
Bridal Styling Packages Travel Jordanp_2@hotmail.com Facebook: Hair by Jordan
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that they were going to try to do the transplant sometime in spring or summer of 2013, but because they could not guarantee the date, she should clear her schedule of any major events in that time frame. Clint and Erin did not hesitate to pick a new date for their wedding. Erin’s brother received her kidney on August 1, 2013. Clint slept by her bed in the hospital in a wooden chair for the entire three nights she stayed at UCSF. Erin firmly feels she could not have asked for a better man. The couple was finally married on 11-12-13. The only major hurdle as they approached this date was Erin’s weight gain from post-surgical swelling. She found that fitting into her Pronovias gown from Mira Bridal Couture was a bit of a problem. Family stepped in to help each other once again, though, and Erin’s grandma (who is an excellent seamstress) let the gown out so that Erin could walk up the aisle to marry Clint in the dress of her dreams.
Congratulations the entire Mingham & Young Family
4346 Spyres Way Modesto, CA. 95356 BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
Sewing & More Alterations by Arte
With an eye for Style, and passion for Perfection and Service. We offer Expert Service with a personal touch!
SewingandMore.com 903 West Roseburg Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 (209) 523-7189
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F
The
Glam
Outdoors
T
Tying the knot in an outdoor locale? With Mother Nature
providing the backdrop, you’ll want to command attention amid the sprawling grounds with your glamorous look.
Fashion Shoot Photographer Scot Woodman Photography Model Carlyn Babin Make-Up Artist Katie C MakeUp Artist Hair Stylist Kaleesa Utz Fashion Shoot Editor & Stylist Mira Jantz On Location Dry Creek Park, Modesto, CA
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For an outdoor wedding at a more traditional venue, opt for a gown that is glamorous yet refined. The jewelencrusted bodice of this Cristiano Lucci ball gown evokes Old Hollywood imagery, while the hint of theBsoft R blue I D Atulle L Coverlay O U Tadds U aRtouch E MofAsweetness. G.COM
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Forest FĂŞte
V
Voluminous layers of champagne, clush, and ivory tulle and a brilliantly beaded waist line create the perfect look for a woodland-bound bride. Finish it off with carefree, tousled hair cascading down your back.
Page 29. Oatmeal pleated A-line multi-layered raw-edge ball gown. Davia by Watters. Sonali Classic teardrop earrings gracefully set in concentric ovals dotted with round-cut cubic zirconia and sparkling silver beads by Tejani. Flutter cut, raw edge cathedral blush pink tulle veil with blusher, 3mm scattered rhinestones by Erica Koesler Page 30-31. Kiera by Cristiano Lucci ivory and sky colored tulle and satin classic call gown featuring an elegant beaded bodice. Features pear shaped CZ accented with small stone bezel and cushion cut stone at post. by Tejani. Flutter cut, raw edge cathedral veil with blusher, 3mm scattered rhinestones by Erica Koesler. Page 32-33. Antique pleated shimmer tulle bodice with a beaded trim at the dropped waist. Allegra by Watters, WTOO. Tarini Vintage Chandelier Earrings by Tejani. Intricate vintage chandelier earrings embellished with open scrollwork, cubic zirconia and faceted crystal. Gold hairpins with metal vines, navette rhinestones & freshwater pearls by Erica Koesler.
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Aisle Style
D irect from the R unway
October 2013 hosts to New York’s Bridal Fashion Week for the 2014 bridal collections. From plunging backs, peplums, legs and illusion necklines, to bold texture and color, ethereal silhouettes and more. Let these runway picks inspire your bridal look.
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LAZARO
TARA KEELY
JIM HJELM
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ANNE BARGE
ANNE BARGE BLACK LABEL
MONIQUE LHUILLIER
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ALVINA VALENTA
HAYLEY PAIGE
BLUSH BY HAYLEY PAIGE
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MAGGIE SOTTERO
SOTTERO AND MIDGLEY
DID BY WATTERS
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WATTERS
WTOO BY WATTERS
ENCORE BY WATTERS
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AMSALE
KENNETH POOL
CHRISTOS
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Premier Vendor Resources Finding the perfect vendor to assist you in your planning is not always easy. With referrals from friends & family, websites, magazines, bridal shows, and more the entire process can become overwhelming. We have pulled together some of the Central Valley’s leading professionals and BCM Premier Vendors and Partners in hopes to ease some of the workload for you.
VENUES, CATERING & CAKES Bare Ranch by Michael David Winery (209)482-8725 BareRanchLodi.com
DoubleTree by Hilton, Modesto (209)525-3037 Modesto.DoubleTree.com
The Reata (209)847-1025 TheReata.com
Black Oak Casino (877)747-8777 BlackOakCasino.com
Pageo Lavender Farm (209)632-5052 PageoLavenderFarm.com
Turlock Golf & Country Club (209)634-5471 TurlockGCC.com
Diablo Grande Golf & Country Club (209)892-4653 DiabloGrande.com
The Glass Mansion Estate (510)797-9999 TheGlassMansion.com
University Plaza Waterfront Hotel (209)944-1140 UniversityPlazaWaterfrontHotel.com VenU at CSUS (209)667-3808 CsuStan.edu/venu Vista Cellars (209)722-8200 VistaCellars.com Wine & Roses Hotel . Restaurant . Spa (209)371-6117 WineRose.com Creative Cakes by Debra (209)985-6692 CreativeCakesbyDebra.com Greens Events & Catering (209)579-9090 GreensMarket.net L & M Blodgett Catering (209)838-7967 L-MBlodgettCatering.com
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FLORIST, EVENT DESIGN & DÉCOR
PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMATOGRAPHY Amanda Collins Photography (209)200-3377 AmandaCollinsPhotography.com
Lori Makabe Photography (209)370-5104 LoriMakabe.com
Charleton Churchill Photography (209)603-1741 CharletonChurchill.com
Rumble Cinematography (209)614-3178 RumbleCinematography.com
Delona Photography (209)222-8303 DelonaPhotography.com
Scot Woodman (209)550-1222 ScotWoddmanPhoto.com
Jamie Bearg Photography (209)543-2914 JamieBeargPhotography.com
Stephanie Baker Photography 209.648.4844 SBakerPhotos.com
Kori & Jared Photography (209)253-8021 KoriandJared.com
ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion (209)522-5999 SoundsinMotiondj.com
Alexandra’s Home & Garden (209)845-8179 alexandrashomeandgarden@ gmail.com Fiore Event Design (209)988-7044 FioreStyle.com JCD Atmosphere Studios (209)550-5957 JCDstudios.net Willow Floral & Design (209)640-3121 WillowFloralDesign.com Yonan’s Floral (209)664-9325 YonansFloralweddings.com
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FASHION
GIFT REGISTRY, INVITATIONS, & PAPER GOODS
Kenneth’s Fine Menswear 1-800-930-Suit KennethsCouture.com
An Inviting Design (209)489-2134 AnInvitingDesign.com
Mira Bridal Couture & The Wedding Party by Mira (209)338-9333 MiraBridal.com Rossini Menswear . Formalwear (209)529-6860 RossiniMenswear.com Sewing & More Alterations (209)523-7189 SewingandMore.com
PHOTO BOOTH The Platinum Photo Booth (209)648-0490 (310)935-3835 ThePlatinumPhotoBooth.com
Paper Habit (209)567-0605 PaperHabit.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY Brenda Athletic Club Merced (209)230-5280 Modesto (209)409-3377 Turlock (209)417-1181 BrendaAthletics.com Hair by Jordan (209)620-6009 JordanP_2@hotmail.com
JEWELERS Ciccarelli Jewelers (209)524-7746 CiccarelliJewelers.com Vail Creek Jewelry Design (209)667-GOLD VailCreek.com Yonan’s Jewelers (209)656-9219 YonansJewelers.com
KatieC Make-Up Artist (209)204-1458 MakeUpbyKatieC.com Studio V Wellness Pilates . Fitness . Day Spa (209)526-2664 StudioVWellness.com
Now accepting Engagement & Featured Wedding submissions for the Fall/Winter 2014 issue. Visit BridalCoutureMag.com/Submissions for details on how you can be in the next BCM issue! Join . Follow . Friend . Like . Pin .#BridalCoutureMag
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For the stylish bridal party
Mira COUTURE BRIDAL
MiraBridal.com
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Aisle Style interesting Weddings::Unique or
-dictable?
Young women of decades past used to collect magazine clippings and photographs of dresses and flowers and décor ideas to organize them into wedding binders, preparing for the special day they knew someday would come. Modern women no longer keep collections such as these in their hope chests, and instead turn to Pinterest to create their dream wedding visions. On Pinterest, one of the trendiest internet sharing sites, users go digital and create vision boards of elements they wish to include in the planning of their ceremonies and receptions. Everything from the perfect color palette to the style and flavor of cake is captured on boards. Floral arrangements, dress designs and every DIY idea a bride could imagine is pinned on cyber-walls for all to adopt and then adapt to their personal tastes. Does all of this pinning and sharing make a wedding too “pin-dictable?” One bride explained that Pinterest allowed her to keep all of the ideas she liked stored in one place, easily accessible for the moments when she needed to give visual explanations to vendors, planners and parents who essentially pulled her entire vision together. This allowed her to have the wedding of her dreams all while maintaining her hectic work schedule. To the Pinterest bride we offer a little suggestion… perspective. When implementing said ideas you either have to do it yourself or pay a vendor to do it for you. Remember to keep a little perspective handy when you’re pinning away and trust the advice you receive from your wedding planner or vendors about that “great idea” you got from Pinterest. Have you started pinning yet? Some of the ideas featured on BridalCoutureMag.com may inspire you to begin.
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F eatured W eddings
We have collected some of our favorite and most distinctive weddings from the past year. Allow these intimate details to inspire your big day. BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
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F eatured W edding
Riki & Jason Young Married August 24, 2013
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Riki and Jason met in 2009 while at Lake Don Pedro. It was love at first sight for the two who couldn’t be separated after that day. Just after three years together Jason surprised Riki with a weekend getaway to Monterey were he proposed at Lovers’ Point. When the newly-engaged couple started planning their special day, they knew one thing: it had to be an all-white wedding with just a hint of gold for the color scheme. The color palette stayed true throughout the décor and all the way to the desserts. Before saying “I DO” the couple shared personal vows they had written for one
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Jamie Bearg Photography jamiebeargphotography.com 209.543.2914 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Del Rio Country CLub Modesto, CA BRIDAL GOWN Maggie Sottero WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff Watters Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 SUITS & TUXEDOS The Wedding Party by Mira Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333
another. After the ceremony Riki and Jason were incredibly eager to be swept away by their photographer and have their first moment together as husband and wife captured as the sun set behind them.
FLORIST Alexandra’s Home and Garden 209.845.8179 CAKE & DESSERTS Creative Cakes by Debra creativecakesbydebra.com 209.985.6692
After returning from pictures and being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Young, Jason was surprised with a gift from his wife. Riki had arranged to have a light-up dance floor for the evening, which is just up Jason’s alley, as he loves to dance.
ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion soundsinmotiondj.com 209.522.5999 CINEMATOGRAPHY J Reel Eyes Media SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals PHOTO BOOTH The Platinum Photo Booth theplatinumphotobooth.com 209.648.0490 DRAPING JCD Studios www.jcdstudios.net 800.331.6255 DANCE FLOOR Boogie Lights Entertainment
The entire ceremony and reception was exactly what the couple had envisioned during their year of engagement and planning.
HAIR STYLIST Cassie Fullen Electric Beach Day Spa MAKE-UP ARTIST MAC Make-Up, Ashley For more of Riki & Jason’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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F eatured W edding
Rachelle & Beau Davis Married October 19, 2013
R
Rachelle and Beau met in college as neighbors. When Beau proposed, Rachelle knew that planning their wedding was going to be an absolute blast. She knew the style she was going for and went all in. Rachelle had a to-do list of what their priorities were, what the theme would be, and deadlines to keep the couple on task. She knew how to make her and Beau’s “Pinterest” dream wedding a reality, but tackling each task one at a time, staying organized, and really exploring new creative outlets wasn’t something either had ever experienced before.
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The decision to have the wedding at Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, California was made so that Rachelle and Beau’s out-of-state guests could fly in close to the venue and see some outdoor beauty while visiting for the wedding. The bridal party fashion was an Anthropolgie-inspired, relaxed, eclectic feel because Rachelle wanted every
choice in the wedding to be a reflection of her and Beau’s unique tastes. They like to mix it UP! One of the biggest challenges they faced was finding a get-away car! After months of researching someone in the Auburn area for an antique car, they found a sweet man that kindly acted as their chauffeur.
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“Our wedding was an absolute dream come true”
Rachelle and Beau’s wedding was an absolute dream come true for the bride, leaving her hoping that every woman could sit back and say that about their wedding day. One feeling that Rachelle could put into words about their ceremony and reception: pure bliss. As many couples say, take mental snapshots of the entire event because it really does move so quickly, and is over before you know it.
Congratulations Rachelle & Beau
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Kori & Jared Photography koriandjared.com 209.253.8021 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Winchester Country Club, Meadow Vista, CA BRIDAL GOWN Enzoani Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Xenia Boutique SUITS & TUXEDOS Bow Ties Style Lab Tulsa, Oklahoma Groom’s Jacket BarIII RINGS Mitchel’s Jewelers FLORIST Batanica Floral Event and Rentals CAKE & DESSERTS Sweet Cakes By Rebecca ENTERTAINMENT Sounds in Motion soundsinmotiondj.com 209.522.5999 CINEMATOGRAPHY Johnny Andow-Barker SPECIALTY RENTALS Batanica Floral Event and Rentals PHOTO BOOTH The Platinum Photo Booth 209.648.0490 theplatinumphotobooth.com For more of Rachelle & Beau’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Jessica & Carlos Hampton Married September 28, 2013
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Jessica and Carlos met in the ER at Memorial Medical Center he was working as an EMT and she a medical assistant. They would often see each other in passing when he brought patients in from the ambulance. One day, Carlos bumped his gurney into Jessica’s computer, apologized, and promptly introduced himself. Soon after, they had their first date, and the rest is history. Jessica’s main wedding-planning tool was Pinterest. She used the site every opportunity she had, as it really was a fantastic way to see a ton of ideas all together. For both Jessica
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and Carlos, the process of planning their wedding was fun and exciting. They were both involved and went to every appointment and made all of the tough decisions together. They agree that this took away a lot of the stress and made it fun. Jessica worked hard to keep everything as straightforward as possible; she organized everything in spreadsheets, including vendors, address lists, payment records, and anything that could be listed which made everything easily accessible. Things were very systematic. The couple chose their photographer first, then Jessica’s dress, and everything
fell into place from there. The most important thing for Jessica and Carlos was remembering that it was a big party to celebrate their commitment to one another. They wanted to focus on everyone having a good time and enjoying themselves. They made an effort to go with the flow and floated in a good direction. Both the bride and the groom loved the idea of an outside wedding and Jessica had always loved the idea of a reception in a tent, they found a location in Brentwood that offered both. Since their families are in different geographic
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locations, Brentwood was a perfect meeting point, almost equal travel distance from both directions. Jessica and Carlos wanted an elegant feel to the day and to keep everything clean and simple, they chose not have a color scheme. For dÊcor, they opted to go with white flowers with rhinestones and other accents. Jessica gave her girls total control over their dresses. She preferred neutral colors and they liked purple, so they all compromised and went with different shades of purples for the bridesmaids’ dresses and the men wore a light grey. One of the biggest challenges for the couple was attending a wedding every weekend in September leading up to theirs, that made things a little crazy and Jessica was feeling a bit disorganized the week of, but things worked themselves out.
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Jessica and Carlos really believe that getting married is a unique event; everything from planning to the actual day is an experience. They loved every moment, and think sometimes it is easy to forget the reason for the big day. “Loving someone is wonderful; sharing your love with others is a remarkable gift. Your wedding day is the start of a journey, so always take time to enjoy it.�
Congratulations Jessica & Carlos
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Charleton Churchill Photography charletonchurchill.com 209.603.1741 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Newberry Estate Vineyards BRIDAL GOWN Miosa Couture WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Pretty Maids & Liz Fields Starlet Bridal SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse WEDDING CAKE Creative Cakes by Debra creativecakesbydebra.com 209.985.6692 RINGS Samuel Jewelers & Z Jewelry FLORIST Flowers by Geri ENTERTAINMENT SF Bay D.J. CATERING Elle Dees Catering CINEMATOGRAPHY George Street Photography PHOTO BOOTH Hot Shot Photo Booth AIR SHOW Patriots Jet Air Team INVITATIONS & PAPER GOODS VistaPrint.com For more of Jessica & Carlos’s wedding, visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Katie & Kyle Rotan Married September 14, 2013
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Jamie Bearg Photography jamiebeargphotography.com 209.543.2914 CEREMONY & RECEPTION Private Residence Waterford, CA BRIDAL GOWN Maggie Sottero Trudy’s Brides WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Rogers Jewelers Countryman’s Village Jewelers CAKE Deny Cake’s by Cindee Prader FLORIST Yonan’s Floral 209.664.9325 yonansfloralweddings.com ENTERTAINMENT Rod Riley PHOTO BOOTH RENTAL Fancy Faces photo Booth CATERING L & M Blodgett Catering l-mblodgettcatering.com 209.838.7967 SPECIALTY RENTALS & LIGHTING Yonan’s Floral 209.664.9325 yonansfloralweddings.com
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Marie & Mark Scriven Married September 7, 2013
Marie and Mark met through online dating and built a relationship that resulted in a lovely engagement. As they began to plan, the couple realized that one of the most important elements for them was the look and feel of the entire celebration. They felt that setting an early timeline for the wedding would give a seamless flow into the wedding day. Marie was very excited to have the celebration in her parents’ backyard because it was a beautiful location and the couple was able to extend the invitation to more friends and family. Their theme was based on a Midsummer’s Night Dream and Marie and Mark were able to achieve the perfect look with flowers and whimsical touches like birds, moss, and mushrooms, which tied together elegantly. The bridesmaids wore wreaths in their hair and after the ceremony, Marie took off her veil and
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Delona Photography delonaphotography.com 209.222.8303 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Private Residence BRIDAL GOWN Marisa Bridal SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Ciccarelli Jewelers ciccarellijewelers.com 209.524.7746 ANTIQUE ENGAGEMENT RING Lang Antiques CAKE Classy Cakes Malinda Delinger CATERING Appetez Enrique Garcia FLORIST Emily Duncan ENTERTAINMENT Neil Buettner LIVE BAND Meatwood Flac SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Events CINEMATOGRAPHY Melissa Lively INVITATIONS Wedding Paper Diva’s For more of Marie & Mark’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
put on a wreath with a floral sash. Mark wanted to look like James Bond so he went with a very traditional slim-cut tux. The only challenges the couple faced were planning a wedding in six months; that is not a lot of time. Marie also found that purchasing her dress out of town proved to be a complicated process. Marie and Mark were grateful to have had an amazing rehearsal dinner at their favorite restaurant, Concetta, and to have had so much help from friends and family.
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Rosalind & Spencer McSherry Married September 14, 2013
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Spencer and Rosalind had shared mutual friends for a few years, but had never really had an opportunity to connect when they attended a birthday party and finally had the chance to better get to know each other, they really hit it off. When Spencer offered to cook dinner for their first date, Rosalind thought she had died and gone to Heaven, she almost instantly knew the two of them had something special. Not only do they love each other, but they love each other’s families, as well. Which is so important! With Rosalind’s experience as a model for Unveiled and a stylist for Bridal Couture Magazine, when it came time to plan their wedding she and Spencer were able to adopt a very relaxed attitude. The couple shared with their vendors the basic feel they were going for, and then let them run with their expertise. It actually made the evening that much more special because they felt they walked into new surprises the whole night. One strong desire the couple had was for their guests to feel as though they’d been invited to share in a family dinner with them. Their venue was
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so naturally beautiful, they chose not to overpower it with any individual color and instead chose an all-neutrals palette for fashions and decor. The only real challenges they had were to narrow down the guest list because of their venue being a private residence. Also, it is easy to underestimate the amount of power needed to ‘juice’ a large function, there was a slight scramble for last-minute generator rentals. Always take that into consideration when hosting a private residence party! For Rosalind and Spencer, they wanted to end the day having not lost sight of the vows they had made before their family and friends. The party that followed was just an added bonus.
Congratulations Rosalind & Spencer
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Nfinity Photo CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Private Residence BRIDAL GOWN Watters Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Dessy Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 SUITS & TUXEDOS Rossini Menswear . Formalwear rossinimenswear.com 209. 529.6860 RINGS Harland Jewelers GROOM’S BAND Groom’s Late Father’s Wedding Band CAKE Burgess Baking Company CATERING Galletto Ristorante FLORIST Simple Flowers ENTERTAINMENT Johnny and Kelly Darrin Morris SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals CINEMATOGRAPHY El Nido Cinematography INVITATIONS Willey Printing HAIR STYLIST Ramee Flores Stages Salon MAKE-UP ARTIST Christa at Blush Make-Up & Beauty Lounge ALTERATIONS Sewing and More sewingandmore.com 209.523.7189 For more of Rosalind & Spencer’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag. com
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Julie & Joseph Simonton Married September 28, 2013
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Julie and Joe met at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California and credit soccer for being the force that brought them together. They both attended the university to participate in the soccer program, and played on the men’s and women’s teams. The couple dated for six years before getting engaged in July 2012, and married a lit-
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tle over a year later in September 2013. Julie and Joe share a love and passion for all things competitive, especially sports, and push each other to exceed their best efforts each new day. The couple planned their wedding from Arizona, so the distance alone between Modesto and Phoenix made the process challenging. Julie’s parents
played a huge role in helping plan the wedding, from organizing vendor meetings, to helping narrow down choices, and to make decision-time easier for them, Julie and Joe were lucky to have a supportive and happy family throughout the months. The couple decided to have their reception at Julie’s parents’ home.
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While a wedding reception at home can be challenging, with unexpected expenses and adjustments to original ideas, Julie and Joe felt it was well worth it. Having a wedding at home is a very personal and meaningful and an experience that no one vendor could ever provide. As soon as the couple got engaged, their goal was to secure a videographer and photographer. They chose the talented Rumble Cinematography and Kori & Jared Photography and found both vendors fun to work with. Another vendor Julie and Joe immediately secured was Athena from Life’s First Impressions, their wedding coordinator. They felt having a day-of wedding coordinator would be worth it, considering how fast the day’s events go by. Like most couples Joe and Julie wanted their wedding to truly reflect them, their love and commitment to each other, and their personalities. They wanted something romantic, simple, and elegant. They are so grateful to everyone who helped make their special day one they will never forget and will reflect on often throughout their marriage. To their parents, families, bridal party, and friends, they say thank you for the years of love and unwavering support.
Congratulations Julie & Joe
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Kori & Jared Photography koriandjared.com 209.253.8021 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Private Residence BRIDAL GOWN Essence of Australia WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bari Jay SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse FLORIST Country Shelf Floral CATERING Branding Iron Catering by Wanda CAKE Tiers for Two CANDY BAR Gimbals Fine Candies CINEMATOGRAPHY Rumble Cinematography rumblecinematography.com 209.614.3178 ENTERTAINMENT D.J. Arturo Ramirez Band TradeWinds Dance Band INVITATIONS Jessica Ringer Designs EVENT COORDINATOR Life’s First Impressions MAKE-UP ARTIST Amber Cromwell-Special Events HAIR STYLIST Crystal Marty For more of Julie & Joe’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Corryn & Aaron Burnell Married June 29, 2013
RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Jamie Bearg Photography jamiebeargphotography.com 209.543.2914 CEREMONY LOCATION Holy Cross Parish Linden, CA RECEPTION LOCATION Sorelle Winery Stockton, CA. BRIDAL GOWN Enzoani Blue FLORIST Vineyard Loft Events ENTERTAINMENT Premier Entertainment & Video SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals
Congratulations Corryn & Aaron
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Allyson & Matthew Haugrud Married July 6, 2013
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Allyson and Matt officially met on the popular dating site, Match.com, but had their first face to face encounter in a coffee shop. Both left that first meeting in March 2011 with the intuitive feeling that they had just met “the one.� After a Kings game and a kiss in the pouring rain, Ally and Matt fell more and more in love each day and were engaged in December of 2012. Following their engagement, Allyson started planning right away with help from her maid of honor, Ashley. The couples groomsmen and bridesmaids were so helpful not only during the week of the wedding, but also in putting the entire vision together! Friends Rachel and Kaylie did the day ofcoordinating so that the timeline of the days events would flow seamlessly. Because Allyson and Matt wanted to have a romantic, rustic, very intimate wedding, they decided to host it in a backyard at Stone Ranch in Lodi and decorate with burlap and
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Amanda Collins Photography amandacollinsphotography.com 209.200.3377 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Stone Ranch Lodi, CA BRIDAL GOWN David’s Bridal SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Kay Jewelers & Sharif Jewelers ENTERTAINMENT Alan Thompson of D.J. Sticky Buttons CATERING Tin Roof CAKE Sweet Mels CINEMATOGRAPHY Miligan Cinema Co.
lace. Committed to supporting local businesses, they used almost all Central Valley vendors and their wedding venue was only about a half-mile from their house. Lining the walkway to the ceremony site were chalkboards with quotes about love and the couple’s engagement pictures to help set the romantic feel. Then all the guests entered through a beautiful rod iron gate with a path that led to the backyard. It had an elegant, secret garden-type feel to it and with the backyard with the lake and beautiful willow trees it feel like a dream.
FLORIST The Flower Basket HAIR STYLIST Jena Reid RECEPTION RENTALS Guiffras Rentals DECOR & RENTALS Simply Country Wedding Rentals Shabby Zanny Rentals ALTERATIONS Sewing and More sewingandmore.com 209.523.7189
For more of Allyson & Matthew’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
Congratulations Allyson & Matthew
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JCD A TMOSPHERIC S TUDIOS E D | E P | E VENT
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Meghan & Kurt Baudler Married September 1, 2013
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met in the second grade and she still has the letter he wrote to her in the 3rd grade to prove that love endures, going through all of elementary school together they then reconnected years later. With such a history together, they wanted their wedding to focus on “going back to their roots.” Since they had met at such a young age, they decid-
ed to incorporate their shared childhood memories into their special day and on display at the ceremony was a childhood love letter. The couple arranged a reading of the childhood classic, The Giving Tree, and as part of the décor they included chalkboard accents and used photos of themselves growing up for the table numbers. The tree-theme was used throughout the invitations, programs, decorations, and readings. Meghan and Kurt wanted the wedding to be simple and casually elegant, they chose Pageo Lavender Farms (their venue) as a starting point to help
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“I ’m going to love you for the rest of my life” “I ’ll be your boy, you’ll be my girl ”
with deciding on the tone of the wedding and their colors of soft ivory, blush pink, and chocolate brown. All of the elements came together and complemented the beauty that the farm already offered. The only challenge for the couple in planning their event was knowing where to stop with the DIY even though they were having so much fun with it!
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Congratulations Meghan & Kurt BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHER Kori & Jared Photography koriandjared.com 209.253.8021 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Pageo Lavender Farm Turlock, CA pageolavenderfarm.com 209.632.5052 BRIDAL GOWN Pronovias Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bill Levkoff SUIT & TUXEDOS Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 RINGS Yates Jewelers ENTERTAINMENT The Nines Special performance by Billy D. from Billy D. and the Hoodoos FLORIST Infinite Creations CATERING Mustard Seed Catering Co CAKE Mother of the Bride INVITATIONS & PRINTABLES DIY SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals MAKE-UP ARTIST Katie C Make-Up Artist makeupbykatiec.com 209.204.1458 HAIR STYLIST Beauty by Rosalind
For more of Meghan & Kurt’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Megan & Peter Engstrand Married October 12, 2013
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of their families and closest friends. After five years together, Megan was more Megan and Peter met in a speech class at than excited to finally start planning their dream wedding! Modesto Junior College in 2007, as they The most difficult part of the were each just beginning their college journeys. After they both graduated; Pe- planning was deciding on a location. ter with a degree in Criminal Justice and Megan knew she wanted a fall ceremony with an indoor reception at a winery and Megan in Dental Hygiene, Peter finally after looking at many venues, Viaggio popped the question at a party in front
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Estate and Winery turned out to be the perfect fit! The bride and her mother then planned all of the details themselves, foregoing the venue’s vendor package. Megan would come up with an idea, and Mom would work her magic to bring the vision to life. Megan desired a classic, neutral color scheme of dark brown and ivory to
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compliment the venue, with just a hint of soft blush pink to match her bridesmaid’s gowns. She spent a year collecting antique mercury glass vases and candlesticks for the centerpieces, incorporating her own personal touches with the addition of luxurious linens, fine china, and comfortable guest seating. She loved the look of the open beam ceiling in the
reception venue, La Vita Bella, but felt it was far too simple for the grand experience she wanted to give her guests. Six magnificent crystal chandeliers were eventually hung, with lavish ivory draping completing the ceiling’s “wow factor.” One of the most memorable moments at the celebration was when
Megan’s father surprised guests (and got a big laugh) for his unexpected response when giving her away. When asked “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” he replied “She gives herself, with the blessing of her mother and I.” The bride’s father also handed out Father of the Bride business cards to the guests while the mothers of the bride
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and groom participated in a sand ceremony to signify the combining of their families. These were just a few of the many unique ways the couple and their fun, close-knit families turned an otherwise traditional ceremony and reception into their very own. After an unforgettable evening of joy spent with family and friends, the couple dashed away under a sparkler send-off, their only regret being that their dream party couldn’t last all night.
Congratulations Megan & Peter
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Grover Style Photography RECEPTION & CEREMONY VENUE Viaggio Estate and Winery Acampo, CA BRIDAL GOWN La Sposa Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Dessy Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS & WEDDING BANDS Costco Fine Jewelry Metal Factory LaRaso & Co. ENTERTAINMENT Elite Entertainment FLORIST Embellish Floral Design EVENT COORDINATION Life’s First Impressions CAKE Something Sweet Bakery INVITATIONS & PRINTABLES Paper Habit paperhabit.com 209.567.0605 CINEMATOGRAPHY Rumble Cinematography rumblecinematography.com 209.614.3178 PHOTO BOOTH Perfect Pixel Photo Booth SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals MAKE-UP & HAIR STYLIST Ciao Bella Salon TRANSPORTATION Baja Limo
For more of Meghan & Peter’s wedding, visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Laken & Nelson Furtado Married July 20, 2013
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Grover Style Photography
Ceremony
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
Reception Location
Private Residence
BRIDAL GOWN Pronovias Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Dessy Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 TUXEDO & SUITS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Samuel Jewelers FLORIST Fiore Event Design 209.988.7044 fiorestyle.com CATERER Bon Appetite Skewers Surla’s ENTERTAINMENT Neil Buttner Savage Sounds CAKE & DESSERTS Creative Cakes by Debra creativecakesbydebra.com 209.985.6692 EVENT COORDINATOR Fiore Event Design 209.988.7044 fiorestyle.com PHOTO BOOTH Manteca Photo Booth HAIR STYLIST & MAKE-UP ARTIST Mena & Co. INVITATIONS Creations by Sandy
Laken and Nelson met in the fall of 2006 through mutual friends. They were very good friends until Thanksgiving 2009 when Nelson declared his love for Laken and the romance began. Planning a wedding with a guest list of over 300 wasn’t as stressful as Laken thought it would be. Fiore Event Design helped and did so much, especially with all the little details that are often overlooked. The couple told them their tastes, what they liked and didn’t like, and the team at Fiore Event Design would present ideas for the couple to approve. Laken’s aunt, Norik,
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(who was also her Matron of Honor) helped a with final decisionmaking and it was great for the couple to always have her there as a second opinion. Choosing the venue was easy because it was held in Laken’s grandparents’ backyard. Nelson and Laken wanted to keep the wedding closer for the families and felt it was the perfect location, the backyard had many memories and meaning to it. The couple aimed for the rustic garden theme and the backyard came equipt with an amazing garden already the couple was careful to no overdo it with the center pieces and décor. Nelson and Laken chose the color coral as there is so much greenery in the backyard and they knew the two would complement each other well. Laken has always been a huge glitter and jewel person and she loved how Fiore tastefully incorporated some large broaches on the flower vases. For Nelson and Laken, everything turned out better than they could have ever imagined and they have their family, Fiore, and everyone who helped make that day possible to thank for that!
Congratulations Laken & Nelson
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For more of Laken & Nelson’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Amie & Eric Grout Married August 18, 2012
Eric met Amie by total chance when he walked into the salon where Amie had worked as a hair stylist for nearly two years. Little did they know that simple encounter would be the beginning of the rest of their lives together! Following a year of dating, they were engaged and then married eleven months after on their two-year dating anniversary. The engagement itself was nothing short of spectacular, carried out on the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Carib-
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bean’s Oasis of the Seas, somewhere between Labadee, Haiti and Falmouth, Jamaica. Eric and Amie could not wait to get to the next port of call to tell their families and to start the next chapter... planning their dream wedding! The first thing Amie bought when we they arrived at the airport was The Knot magazine and immediately started looking at wedding dresses to get an idea of what she hoped to find. The weekend after the couple returned
home, they visited Viaggio Estate and Winery, and immediately fell in love with everything about the venue. It was a perfect location for their perfect day and Amie has always loved the color aqua. She thought that it would look beautiful with crystals and chandeliers, complemented by pale pink, pale yellow, and white flowers. The hardest part for Amie and Eric about planning their wedding was creating the seating chart. The pressure was
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Lori Makabe Photography lorimakabe.com 209.370.5104 VENUE Viaggio Estate & Winery Acampo, CA BRIDAL GOWN Sottero & Midgley Enchanted Bridal Shoppe WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Enchanted Bridal Shoppe SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Jared & Ben Bridge ENTERTAINMENT Elite Entertainment FLORIST Embellish Floral Design SPECIALTY RENTALS Embellish Floral Design Lynda’s House Of Balloons PHOTO BOOTH RENTAL Moomp Photography
For more of Amie & Eric’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
on to make sure everyone had a great time at the wedding and, sometimes, who one sits near makes the experience! The best advice Amie and Eric would give to couples planning their wedding is to not stress about the small details. While centerpieces and dessert stations are important, they are minor considerations when contemplating that a wedding brings together two people in love.
Congratulations Amie & Eric BRIDALCOUTUREMAG.COM
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Katie & Shane Olesen Married August 10, 2013
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Shane and Katie met at the lake. As Shane pulled his boat next to Katie’s, all she could think of was how handsome he was and Shane remembers that she was all he could see as the rest of the world faded away. They loved each other from that very first moment eight years ago, and since then have been inseparable. The couple has always loved San Francisco, often just driving around the city for hours enjoying each other and the scenery. When Shane told Katie they were going to San Francisco for her birthday, she was so excited to see what he had planned for them. Shane took her to some of the most beautiful spots in the city and treated her to a romantic
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for their wedding and she made all their dreams come true. It was truly a wonderful experience. Shane had one more surprise for Katie right before their wedding day. He knew she still needed to get wedding shoes and champagne flutes. Katie came home one day and found sitting on their bed Swarovski toasting flutes and Giuseppe Zanotti heels he had picked out just for her. Katie’s prince had found her glass slippers.
Congratulations Katie & Shane
dinner at their favorite restaurant. Afterwards the couple drove to the most breathtaking spot on top of a hill overlooking the entire city. They got out of the car and while looking at all the dazzling lights, Shane got down on one knee and said, “I loved you from the very first day. Everything I’ve ever wanted I’ve found in you, will you marry me?” Katie’s answer of course was yes! The couple knew they wanted to get married in San Francisco and found the perfect venue in the gorgeous Clift Hotel. It was romantic, elegant and perfect for the celebration they desired. Their color palette was black and pewter and floral choices were white orchids and hydrangeas with lots of ‘sparkle’ woven through. Crispy at Natalini flowers was absolutely amazing to Katie and Shane. They brought her the wedding decor they had bought, talked about how the visions they had
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Stephanie Baker Photography sbakerphotos.com 209.648.4844 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Clift Hotel San Francisco CA BRIDAL GOWN Maggie Sottero FLORIST Natalini Flowers INVITATIONS LamaWorks CALLIGRAPHER The Pretty Paperie ENTERTAINMENT & LIGHTING Jason Mitchell
For more of Katie & Shane’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Tomi & Zachary Maldonado Married August 10, 2013
Tomi and Zachary were both going to college in Maryland and were each on their way home for the holidays to Northern California where both of their families lived and by chance, they ended up sitting together on the same flight and they talked to each other for the entire six-hour plane ride, and when they got off the plane they were separated in baggage claim and Zach hadn’t asked Tomi for her phone number. As she stood disappointed, she spotted him across the airport and went to get it immediatley. When the couple each got back to Maryland after the holidays, they went on their first date and began a relationship that resulted in an engagement on December 7th, 2011. 94 BR
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Tomi and Zachary began planning almost immediately after the engagement and since they were planning the wedding in California (from Maryland) they could only plan during their vacation times. They visited the venue that January and settled on a date for August 2013, and began planning during the summer of 2012. That summer they met with most of the vendors to get an idea of what they were like and which were best suited for them as a couple. However, most of the real planning occurred when Tomi was home the summer of the wedding when she was able to meet with all of the vendors to go over final details, coordinate with all the bridesmaids to get the DIY things done
(programs, favors, bubbles). Everyone worked so hard the entire summer so that the final week before the wedding wasn’t very stressful at all. Zach was on leave for that last week and helped finalize most of the details. When considering dÊcor, the couple aimed for a modern spin on the European gothic era, with lots of dark reds and blacks woven throughout the ceremony elements. The Grand Island mansion was the perfect place for them because it had an old world and elegant feel that and was an incredibly romantic setting.
Congratulations Tomi & Zachary
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Charleton Churchill Photography charletonchurchill.com 209.603.1741 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION The Grand Island Mansion Walnut Grove, CA BRIDAL GOWN Alita Graham Kleinfeld’s CUSTOM VEIL Artistic Southern Veils WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Mary’s Bridal SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse ENGAGEMENT RING Helzberg Jewelers WEDDING BANDS Samuels Jewelers Tiffany & Co. ENTERTAINMENT Sound Image Entertainment CAKE Sweet Cakes by Rebecca BRIDE’S BOUQUET Blue Petyl Bouquets FLORIST Jackie’s Flowers For more of Tomi & Zachary’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Sarah & Kion Kashefi Married May 18, 2013
“It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me It feels like I ’m all the way back where I belong”
Sarah & Kion
met through mutual friends the night before Thanksgiving five years ago. Sarah is an Event Coordinator and Kion is a Manager for an agriculture company. Both of their jobs keep them very busy which meant
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that staying ahead of the game with wedding planning was crucial. They gave themselves at least one project to complete each week from the time they got engaged to the wedding day. This made the final stretch more enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. The planning process was tough because as an Event Coordinator, Sarah is very particular about the details. The most important detail for the couple was to get all of their preferred vendors, such
as their florist Natalie Galasso, locked in. Once they did this, it gave them great peace of mind. Deadlines for all projects helped keep them on track and reduce the last minute stressors. Sarah works at The Vista Ranch and Cellars, so it was a natural choice for the couple’s celebration. The 20 acre estate is absolutely stunning and provides breathtaking views which they were certain they wanted featured on
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their special day. Their colors were inspired by the timeless romantic concept, with neutrals and metals carried throughout the decor. The couple truly feels that having the best vendors prevented any challenges on their wedding day, and made the entire occasion seamless for them. The only wish they have is to relive the magic that happened that night because it truly flew by so fast!
Congratulations Sarah & Kion
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Jonathan Abshire Photography CEREMONY & RECEPTION The Vista Ranch and Cellars Merced, CA vistacellars.com 209.722.8200 BRIDAL GOWN Mira Bridal Couture mirabridal.com 209.338.9333 WEDDING PARTY DRESSES Bianca’s Bridal SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse CAKE Deny Cakes RINGS Ciccarelli Jewelers ciccarellijewelers.com 209.524.7746 FLORIST Natalie Galasso Designs INVITATIONS & PRINTABLES Paper Habit paperhabit.com 209.567.0605 ENTERTAINMENT Good Times Entertainment BAND Donnie and the Wayrads PERSIAN DANCERS Niosha Dance Academy PROFESSIONAL BELLY DANCER Avery Lamar SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rentals
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Sarah & Daniel Godfrey Married August 3, 2013 We’re a dream come true Suited perfectly, for eternity, me and you
S
Sarah and Daniel met in a philosophy class at MJC and began talking and hanging out through interactions in the class. When choosing her dress, Sarah knew she had always loved Pronovias, so she started there. She was sure she wanted a strapless, sweetheart, drop-waist gown with a fun skirt. She is a fan of the play on textures and shape and looked for a dress which reflected that but also remained in her budget. Planning their wedding presented challenges due to the couples distance from home and the venue. Both were attending school in Long Beach at the time and decided to have their celebration at Pageo Lavender Farm in Turlock. Because Sarah has always loved summer and the outdoors she and Daniel decided on an outdoor, August wedding. They also wanted their wedding to reflect everything they love about where they are from so they incorporated elements of agriculture, farming and the country fair into the dĂŠcor of their wedding. It gave their celebration the country-farm feel they were hoping for. Sarah and Daniel had a day that was simple, traditional, fun and colorful. It was everything they had hoped for.
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Congratulations Sarah & Daniel
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Scot Woodman Photography scotwoodmanphoto.com 209.550.1222 CEREMONY & RECEPTION Pageo Lavender Farm Turlock, CA pageolavenderfarm.com 209.632.5052 BRIDAL GOWN Pronovias The White Dress SUITS & TUXEDOS Men’s Wearhouse RINGS Zales ENTERTAINMENT Moises Martinez CATERING Mike’s Branding Iron SPECIALTY RENTALS Unique Boutique Elegant Events MAKE-UP ARTIST Katie C Make-Up Artist makeupbykatiec.com 209.204.1458 HAIR STYLIST Kristle Borba For more of Sarah & Daniel’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Kirsten & Jacob Cook Married May 2, 2013
Kirsten & Jacob
best, versus what others thought they should do. Kirsten and Jacob also kept in mind that everything would have their personal touch and that the wedding met at the local kiteboard- would be very intimate. Priscilla Watts ing beach in Hood River, Oregon and and Kirsten’s mom helped the couple knew from the first time they spent tostay on track with decisions and stick gether that their feelings for one another with the idea that if you ‘over plan’ it, were for real! that’s when the process can become over Being a laid-back couple, they whelming with choices and expense. made a commitment to not stress about Once Kirsten and Jacob figured the planning of their event. The most out where they wanted to get married important thing to them was that the everything else fell right into place. They location and the wedding were original found the more simple they could make and what reflected them as a couple the arrangements and planning, the
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better all the elements came together and the less stress they all felt. Once the basics were covered, they picked out a few fun events that they knew would make the wedding special, different and original. Since the couple met on the beach, they wanted a beach theme for their special day, and kept it very simple and clean. As for color choices, blue is Kirsten’s favorite color they picked a dark blue for the girls’ dresses, knowing the color would “pop” against the white sand and the sunset light of their destination in Cabo, Mexico.
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Lori Makabe Photography lorimakabe.com 209.370.5104 CEREMONY & RECEPTION The Inn at El Rincon, El Rincon Baja California Sur BRIDAL GOWN Maggie Sottero WEDDING PARTY ATTIRE David’s Bridal Cubavera RINGS Apland Jewelers
Planning in Mexico proved to be one of the only challenges for Kirsten and Jacob. Because they wanted to stick with the local feel of Cabo They hired a local florist, and caterer/baker, since they knew what works best in the area and could make recommendations of what should and should not be used. The couple rented the eleven rooms at the Inn at El Rincon for one week and invited their closest family and friends to make a vacation out of it. They also chose a remote location that was on the beach and that would have a little wind so everyone could all enjoy kiteboarding together. For Kirsten and Jake, the whole experience of getting married was amazing and they made sure to have a ton of fun with every moment.
INVITATIONS & PRINTABLES Oblation Papers ENTERTAINMENT Flat Dog CATERING Guadalupe Vargas CAKE Guadalupe Vargas SPECIALTY RENTALS Baja Pantry
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Alicia & Lena Wheeler Married November 12, 2013
Planning a wedding involves months (sometimes years) of endless details, pressing deadlines, family drama and— far too often—enough stress to make you just want to elope. Not for Alicia and Lena. Following an 8 year courtship, Alicia and Lena decided on 11-12-13, giving them just eight days to plan their nuptials. Loyal readers of BCM will most likely recognize the featured couple from our premier issue published in January 2011. Our story, “Overdue I Do....A Bridal Couture Unveiling of Obstacles to the Altar” centered on Alicia and Lena and the hurdles and heartaches they faced when trying to set a wedding date
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during the drawn out appeals process of Proposition 8. Almost 3 years later, Alicia and Lena decided not to miss another opportunity to stand in front of their closest friends and family and say their I do’s. Lena easily recalls sitting at lunch on November 4th and begging Alicia to elope, tossing her destination ideas, locations, painting extravagant pictures of what their honeymoon would look like if they just “bagged the whole wedding ordeal.” No matter what she said, she could not convince Alicia to buy into her intricate vision. Alicia could not carry out such an important moment without her friends and family.
Lena’s strong spontaneous streak and an irresistible impulsive nature, alongside her obsession with unique number combinations, made the date 11-12-13 an obvious choice and Lena declared to Alicia that this had to be the date. A compromise was reached and with the generous help of a close circle of friends the wedding date set and preparations put in motion. Planning for Alicia was difficult because she had a full work schedule during the week of all the decisions being made. Lena took care of all the details and made every difficult decision. Concetta was Lena’s very first stop, as nothing is more important to the couple
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than food and wine. They were thrilled that Paul Tremayne agreed to host the reception at Concetta, as it is their absolute favorite spot to dine in Modesto. Their close friend Tiffani helped Alicia pick out her dress and had it altered 4 days before the wedding. “My hair and makeup were
done that morning and all I had left to do was slip into my dress and show up,� explained Alicia. More of their closeknit friends, Julie, Marci, and Scott, arranged the set-up of the ceremony site, complete with a champagne station while Shannon, Diane, and Rachel arranged flowers in antique milk bottles,
strung white lights, and hung pennants at Concetta. Lena arrived as everyone would have expected, a few minutes late and riding across Kewin Park on her cruiser bike with their two dogs, Porter and Pippa, trotting by her side. Friends and family immediately burst out in cheers
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as she took her place adjacent to their friend and Minister, Kate Trompetter. As Alicia made her way down the long staircase escorted by her parents, the group circled around the altar and joined Lena in drying tears of joy. “My bride, Alicia, was beyond breathtaking and our nuptials unfolded exactly how I hoped they would.” Lena looks back at the eight-day planning process and references the 1991 American comedy “Father of the Bride.” “At one point or another, I identified with each character in the film but mostly, I identified with George Banks. I did my fair share of complaining about the mounting cost of everything and wasted a lot of time wondering why in the heck we couldn’t just elope.” Lena shares her thoughts for other newly engaged couples going through the motions of planning their special day. “Get married. Get married in the company of your family members who may or may not be around next year. Get married and gather your friends around you. Their presence will strengthen your union and deepen your bond. They will rally around you and do things that make you wonder what amount of good you ever did in this life to be so incredibly lucky.”
Congratulations Alicia & Lena
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Alison Yin Photography CEREMONY LOCATION Kewin Park Modesto, CA RECEPTION LOCATION Concetta Modesto, CA BRIDAL GOWN Alfred Angelo RINGS Platinum Diamond Band by Ivan Gems Vintage Signet Ring by Fluer de Lis FLORIST Janet’s Flower ‘s CATERING Paul Tremayne of Concetta SOUNDS SYSTEM Russell Irwin CINEMATOGRAPHY El Nido Cinematography WEDDING CUPCAKES Frost
For more of Alicia & Lena’s wedding visit bridalcouturemag.com
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Trisha & Brett Fucillo Married October 12, 2013
Trisha and Brett met at the Los Banos Ag Booster Dinner in 2011. Brett walked up to the bar and spotted his friend Amanda talking to this group of girls that he did not know. Intrigued, he walked up and, he believes, probably obnoxiously introduced himself. That’s where he met this gal named Trisha and knew from that very first moment this girl would be a good kind of trouble for him. They talked for a few moments and shared a drink or two. An amazing country band had been playing all night and he finally grabbed Trisha by her hand and asked her to dance. They spent the night danc-
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ing their butts off and having the time of their lives. That night at the dance, Brett and Trisha shared a connection that defies explanations and now every year go back to that boosters event. After the couple got engaged, they went right into planning. They knew they wanted to get married in October which gave them only ten months to plan. Brett and Trisha both had the vision of a rustic, gorgeous setting, and a celebration that included wine. Calaveras County is one of their favorite wine regions, and is set in the gorgeous California Foothills and it was the area they decided to focus their venue search.
After finding that many of the wineries they loved could not accommodate their guest list of 300, they became quite discouraged, but when Trisha’s mother found Prospect 772 on the gocalaveras. com website, Brett and Trisha knew it was perfect. At this time it was January, the ground was frozen, muddy, much of the foliage was dead; but they still knew they had found their perfect spot. Their wedding would be the first at this winery and there was lot of work to be done; the construction of the dance floor, the cocktail and bar area, and even the leveling of much ground. Ron Pieretti and Wendy Sanda, the founders of Prospect
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RESOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY Stephanie Baker Photography sbakerphotos.com 209.648.4844 CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION Prospect 772 Winery Angels Camp, CA BRIDAL GOWN Paloma Blanca WEDDING PARTY DRESSES ModCloth.com SUITS & TUXEDOS JCrew RINGS Peraino’s Jewelers Goldsmith Jeweler FLORIST Caitlyn Freeman CATERING Lila and Sage
772, were instrumental in getting their property to look perfect. The vision of the rustic-meetscountry-meets-classic was helped by Classic Party Rental and their farm tables and plates, both were exactly what Brett and Trisha had in mind helping pull it all together. The burlap runners and garland put the finishing touch to the tables. Most of the decorations were from families and friends; the wagon was a seeder wagon Trisha’s grandfather had built, and her father had later reassembled. Many of the pillows and blankets on the hay bale couches were made by Brett’s mother. The wagon wheels, vases, old boxes, and suitcases, from Trisha’s parents’ house. Many of the frames used on their photo wall were borrowed from Trisha’s mother. The wooden box centerpieces were made by Aimee Cozens-Stromengher and the students of Pacheco FFA. The cow and pig table numbers were made by Atwater FFA and then numbered by their coordinator and dear friend, Erin Larrieu. All the wooden signs were built by Brett and written/painted by their dear friend Krystal Pimentel. The bouquets were made by Caitlyn Freeman. The baby’s breath centerpieces were assembled by the couple’s mothers, Trisha’s aunt and sister. The wheat center pieces were put
together by Brett and Trisha. The wheat was donated by their dear friend Brent Fukushima. Brett and Trisha took on many projects for this wedding, and did much of the work themselves, with help from friends and family. They spent the two days before putting the venue together. It turned out more beautiful than either could have ever imagined. As they both agreed, they had a vision, they worked
WEDDING PLANNER Erin Larrieu WEDDING CUPCAKES Lila and Sage SPECIALTY RENTALS Classic Party Rental INVITATIONS minted.com FAVORS Rook Design Co
very hard for ten months to put it together, and it turned out to be the flawless day.
Congratulations Trisha & Brett
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EVENTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY STANISLAUS Whether your next event is the wedding of your dreams, a small informal gathering, or an offsite business meeting, the grounds and facilities of California State University, Stanislaus offer everything you need to make your event memorable.
• Convenient location • Park-like setting • Experienced staff • Indoor & outdoor venues • Professional catering • Private and corporate events
Catering by Chartwells ~ Featuring superior cuisine and impeccable service, Chartwells offers catering packages for both formal and casual dining.
Dates still available for 2013
(209) 667-3913
events@csustan.edu www.csustan.edu/VenU
CSU Stanislaus alumni receive a 5% discount on rental fees!
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Advice from one
B ride to
Another
Congratulations on your engagements! Planing a wedding is such an exciting time but can sometimes be overwhelming. We’ve asked one of our Featured Wedding couples, Rosalind and Spencer McSherry what advice they would offer. Here is what they had to say. Hire a Wedding Coordinator! For some couples this may not fit into the budget. However, a close friend could always be enlisted to help with day-of checklists, communications and vendor relations. With all of the details that go into a wedding day, it is a huge help to be able to rely on someone who is not a member of the bridal party. The Venue: Hire Smart: The venue is one of the single most important elements of the celVendors that you hire can make or break your day. ebration. It sets the stage and will be the backdrop for the lifetime of Ask people you trust for opinions and recommenmemories that will be created on your wedding day. Keep in mind that dations. Make sure your vendors have all of your choosing a venue is more than find a “spot” you like. It needs to meet details lined out in contracts. You need to be able your needs as a couple. Do you need an all-inclusive venue, or is that to trust that the professionals entrusted with the too limiting? Consider everything that the venue offers and everymost important day of your life will deliver what thing that would need to be brought in to make it the day of your you expect of them. dreams before making a final decision. Find a Patient Seamstress: There are many horror stories about alterations gone wrong. Make sure to do your research and find professional seamstresses and tailors who will make sure your wedding day attire is fitted perfectly to you and is ready in a timely fashion. Stay Organized: Make sure to keep all contracts and receipts for payment in one, safe place. With so many details flying by during the planning process it is easy to lose track if you do not keep clear records. Have a Vision: If you have a vision versus a theme it is far less limiting when choosing decor. For example, if your vision is inviting your family to take part in an intimate dinner with you, plan to have soft candlelight and family-style dinner service. Gather Inspiration: Keep visuals of your vision. It will not only be a great reference for you, but will help you explain to all of your vendors the look and feel you are trying to achieve. Take Help When It’s Offered: Because the day is such a personal experience, it may be hard to let go of some of the planning process. Decide what you ARE willing to let others handle, and turn it over to them. Trying to do it all will lead to the bride and groom being overwhelmed and For more on Rosalind & Spencer’s wedding, sea their feature on page 64 or visit bridalcouturemag.com stressed, and that isn’t the experience anyone would want. Day of Schedule: Remember to have a printed timeline for all your vendors and those involved in carrying out the details of your day. You may have it all worked out in your head but everyone must work cohesively. It’s so important to have a detailed schedule to give everyone involved. This will help cut down on any confusion between vendors or even family members or the bridal party. Keeping everyone on the same page reduces questions, or worse, wrong answers. Don’t Lose the Big Picture: Planning a wedding can be a long, stressful, strenuous task. It’s one of the biggest days in your relationship. In the end, remember what you are there for. It’s about making promises and vows to the person you plan to spend the rest or your life with. The party that follows should be a stress-free celebration.
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Dream Wedding Giveaway Win your 2014 Wedding Wednesday February 19, 2014 VIP 6:00 PM ~ General 6:30 PM For more information , visit us at
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