Yvette and Sean - Bristol Hotel
So, last August I received an email from Yvette about their October wedding. She let me know that they were a young, untraditional couple, looking for a personalized unique ceremony, maybe combining traditions from both of their backgrounds. Perfect! Exactly the kind of ceremony I love doing!
They were based in Orange County, while I live all the way through San Diego County, close to downtown San Diego (in North Park), so we made plans to meet in Oceanside. I loved them the moment I met them - their energy and love for each other was so clear, and contagious! When we chatted, they emphasized the desire for something unique and that fit them. They were looking for simplistic beauty, and to celebrate their different heritages. They also let me know that they were not very religious, but that "God should be there," so we talked about ways to do that. They also wanted a unity candle, with their mothers involved, and to maybe have one of the Grandpas do a reading. We also talked about other traditions they could include, as well as whether we should ask a question of her father after she came down the aisle with him, and discussed those options.
So, what did we end up creating? Their families are very important to them, so we made that clear upfront with a beautiful family blessing, acknowledging their influence on Yvette and Sean, and how the love and caring given to them would not only be shared with each other, but also passed on to their future children. We decided to ask Yvette's father the more modern question ("Who supports this woman as she joins this man in marriage?" for him to answer with "Her mother and I do."). They included a unity candle, having their mothers light the two individual candles as they came down the aisle, and then after Yvette and Sean together lit the larger one, they allowed the flame of the two smaller candles to remain lit, as to also accept the individuality of each other as a means to fulfilling their oneness.
They asked Grandpa Arthur and Grandma June to read the Art of Marriage, with each reading a section. They included a stone blessing ceremony, in order to involve all of their family and friends in the ceremony, and to have their blessings and good wishes in their home. They wrote their own vows, reading them to each other beautifully. And they added a unique piece after the ring exchange, which they read together, acknowledging and honoring their heritages, as they join customs to form a trusting relationship. I loved it! And, as always, we included stories about their relationship, gathered from their homework assignment for me. I received so many comments from their families and friends about how fun that part was, as we shared so much of who they really are, and how they feel about each other.
It was a beautiful wedding, and it really set the tone for how unique their entire celebration was going to be! They brought in so many fun details and ways to represent them, throughout the celebration. I loved how they really made it them (even if the groom's cake showed how Sean was a Giants fan, while I love my Padres...). Perfect for such a fun-loving, connected, sweet couple! The photo gallery below by the very talented Katya Williams will show some of those unique touches.
Yvette and Sean, it was an amazing honor to not only be a part of your celebration, but of your fun and loving and supportive relationship! Thank you for making me a part of it! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together!
There was a fabulous team of wedding professionals on this wedding, and I so appreciated working with them!
Venue: Bristol Hotel - Lisa Knoer
Wedding Planner: DeShai Roberson of Oh So Chic
Photographer: Katya Williams Photography (look at her gorgeous work below)
DJ: Brian Fallon of No Limit DJ Productions
Entertainer/Magician: Kevin Viner - Magician and Mentalist
Cakes: Edelweiss Bakery (wedding cake) and Frost Cake Co (groom's cake)
