Today we’re excited to have Marissa on the blog sharing her amazing wedding with us! Enjoy her interview and beautiful gallery of photos below.
Marissa, thank you for joining us on the blog today! We’re excited to feature your wedding. How would you describe your wedding decor theme?
I would describe our wedding theme as elegant, classic, romantic, and timeless. My mom and I decided that for decorations we would use hundreds of candles and gold accents. Before I even got engaged, I knew what kind of décor I wanted. We began collecting cylinder vases and white candles about a year and a half before our wedding. We bought tons of decorations from yard sales, Facebook Marketplace, and from Wedding Yard sale groups on Facebook. I imagined my ceremony and reception with a lot of cacandlelight and a warm atmosphere.
What are some of your favorite memories of your wedding day?
One of my favorite moments of my wedding was when we did our unity candle. I was on the fence about having this in our ceremony, but I am so happy we did. My cousins played “Touching Heaven” by Johnnyswim on a baby grand piano, and we were in our own little world. I always imagined that that part would be a little awkward, but it was so nice to just take a moment and soak it all in.
During our reception, we had a live jazz band and hired a professional host to coordinate the order of events for the night. He sang “LOVE” by Nat King Cole and went around to all the tables and would point the microphone to married couples and they would share a kiss. It was so sweet and such a fun way to get our guests involved.
Were there any funny moments or things that didn’t go according to plan?
I was so surprised that everything ran as smoothly as it did. We were not able to decorate until the morning of, so I was a nervous wreck because I didn’t think it would get decorated in time. Luckily, I was blessed with the most amazing mother who put together a team of ladies from my church and they got it done just in time. They were adamant that my bridesmaids and I were not to help, and that we should focus on getting ready and eating a hearty breakfast.
How did you find the perfect wedding dress?
For two years, I had my wedding dress picked out. I knew where to find it and how much it was going to cost, but I had not tried it on yet.
When it came time for me to go dress shopping, I made an appointment at a salon in Sacramento, CA, and made sure that they would have my dress there for me to try on. I brought along with me my mom, sister, grandmothers, aunt, and two of my cousins.
When we got there, they asked me which style I was going for, and I just told them, “Modest and classy.” The first dress I tried on was the one that I had thought was going to be my dress. I tried it on and was so disappointed that I didn’t like it on me. It was a chiffon gown with a lace top. I felt like it made me look like a little girl, not the classy look I was going for.
I tried on a couple more, and I fell in love with a Pronovias gown. The dress was nothing that I had in mind for myself. It was sleeveless and had a deep V back, so I knew we would have to make alterations. When we purchased it, I looked online at the designer’s website and saw that they had the exact same dress, but with sleeves and a lace back added. We immediately called the salon and asked if we could switch dresses. I was a little nervous because I didn’t try on the exact dress I was ordering, but I went with my instincts and decided it was going to be perfect. It was a simple dress, so my alterations lady added a jeweled belt and some lace details on the shoulders. It was classic, elegant, and everything I could’ve hoped for. Thank you Miosa Bride!!!
Any advice you have for future brides?
Invest in a planner, and USE it!! I am a very organized person, so having a planner with all my details was really important to me. I kept track of what I spent my money on and how much all my vendors were.
Also, don’t feel bad if you are not able to talk with every single person that’s attending. I tried really hard to go around the tables and greet people, but it’s hard to get everyone. Just be sure to take time and look around and take mental pictures, because the day really does fly by.
Anything else in particular that you’d like to share about your wedding or your love story?
Micah and I met in June 28, 2013 on an AYC trip to the Dominican Republic. He was from San Diego, CA, and I was from Loomis, CA (still about 9 hours apart). We became friends instantly, and by the time the 10 days were over, we both knew that this was not the end for us. He was the perfect gentlemen and called my dad to ask if it was okay that he come and visit me.
In August, he and his dad drove up to visit me, and he met my family for the first time. And then on September 20, I went to San Diego to visit him, and that’s when we became “official.” Throughout our 5 years of dating long distance, we were able to graduate college and even go on another AYC trip to India in 2015.
On our wedding day, it truly was that “finally” moment for us and our families. We knew we would be getting married pretty early on in our relationship, but we were determined to wait for God’s perfect timing. Everything about our day was perfect, and I couldn’t be more grateful for God’s faithfulness and love for us.
Photographer: Mount Eden Photo + Film by Lexie | https://mountedenbylexie.com/