12 years ago. Greenville to California. 10 guests. A wedding dress in the cockpit, and a Mustang convertible with a guitar in the back seat. The ultimate intimate destination wedding.
We ended up getting married at Andretti Winery in California, but choosing the spot was quite a journey! Living in South Carolina, we were torn between Germany, Ireland, Denmark, and Hawaii. The deadlock broke a few months earlier on our way home from a skiing trip. Freshly engaged, we stopped in Napa Valley for lunch, sat in a vineyard, and instantly fell in love. It just felt right. And of course, we ate big fans of California.
And besides, it never rains in (Southern) California.
We hired a wedding planner and officially kicked off the planning! My only wish: Saying “I do” right in the middle of a vineyard. Hubbys conditions: a vintage Camaro and a key lime pie wedding cake. Spoiler alert: we managed to get all three! 🥰
Talk about a leap of faith! 😅 Right up until the last minute, we were pure nerves. We had never seen our venue, tasted the restaurant’s food, or met my makeup artist in person. Plus, we were just crossing our fingers that our paperwork was actually correct for a US wedding!
What can I say? We did everything right! An old, beautiful Camaro brought us to the vineyard – and even though the brakes barely worked, we arrived safe and sound. My dad walked me down the aisle, but not before offering me a getaway ride to the airport just in case I changed my mind. He actually had his car keys ready in his pocket, parked and set to storm off! My makeup was absolutely perfect (I still use that same lipstick brand today). It was a gorgeous day filled with deep purple accents and beautiful hydrangeas.
August 1st, 2024, started as a beautiful, sunny, but windy day. My sister-in-law was playing the flute for us until the wind completely blew her sheet music away. Hey, something has to go wrong, right?
The next morning, my mom told us that she had fallen down the stairs. (Classic “something has to go wrong” energy!) Luckily, she was okay, just left with a very sore ankle.
To top it all off, both of our moms almost wore the same dress! That’s what happens when you celebrate your engagement in Ireland, and your families meet for the first time only to realize they have the exact same taste. Lol! Thankfully, my sister-in-law remembered the coincidence, and my mother-in-law found a different outfit just in time.
Once the official ceremony wrapped up, the real magic began. We gathered our ten closest loved ones around one long table nestled beneath lemon and olive trees. The evening flowed perfectly through five delicious courses, each paired with incredible wine. There were plenty of happy tears during day and especially during my dad’s speech, followed by more wine, a slice of key lime pie, and the sweet sound of flute songs carrying us past midnight. It was pure amore.
A very beautiful day.
Afterwards, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge for our honeymoon. We stayed in a beautiful little apartment right on the beach. Though it was only for a few days, it was the perfect getaway. It was all we needed.
PS: 2 weeks later was an earthquake in our wedding location… lucky us!!!
Cheers to 12 years! 🍾🕺🏻💃🏻🥂
How did the last 12 years look like?
Marriage is work. But it’s worth it with your person.
Let’s see what’s next 💜
Stuttgart547 