Come join the group!   http://www.projectwedding.com/groups/profile/washington-dc-brides

Our first get-together!! (photos courtesy of mydreamring!)

2dBride, Teems, scil.04.04.09, cpinkney & mydreamring   

I had to delete my previous bio from PW (there go all my old posts...), but I'm glad to be back with a new and improved bio and to share wedding pics!  This site provided me with endless ideas, inspiration, and DIY projects, and I can only hope to contribute something worthy to this fantastic site!

PHOTO CREDITS : please credit the bio and photographer Nataly Lemus if using any photos- she is amazing and deserves her credit!!! Thanks! 

*most of my bio has been made private.  If you would like to see, add me as a friend.

I loved creating a blurb album with our wedding pictures - see my review and photos in the article below!

http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/online-photobook-reviews-and-tips

FIRST LOOK

WEDDING PARTY

JUST US!

We opted to see each other before the ceremony - and we are so glad we did!!!  After our wedding party went ahead to the ceremony site, we decided to walk around the Venice Beach pier to take a few more pictures and spend a little more time together!  As we walked past a crowded beach bar, we were greeted with the loudest shouts and cheers!  Being the improper people that we are, we took up the drink offers, walked into the bar, and there was beer and petron shots all around!  It was just what we needed. And so "us."

because you've gotta have salt!

FIRST DATE STOP: Our wedding location was right near C&O Trattoria (where we went on our first date five years ago)...

We spent the rest of our time before the ceremony taking a few more photos with our wonderful photographers, Art and Nataly. 

Typical- I said something completely inappropriate (but hi-laaarr-ious!!) and he's rolling his eyes...

but he loves me anyway!!

Our ceremony was held at the Cafe del Rey in Marina del Rey, CA.  It was a perfect venue for our intimate wedding!

our godson got shy right before the ceremony... he's so cute!

this is the "things don't always go smoothly" part of the day!!  Aisle was really narrow, and my parents didn't get to technically "walk me down" (there they are behind me) and we all kept stepping on my dress!!!

we exchanged lei with our families and each other...

our flower girl (my little cousin) wrote our vows for us so we would "stop worrying about them already and have fun!"  she brought them to us on cards during the ceremony...

 VOWS: we tried being funny. tried telling a story. tried being original.  it got too complicated.  a week before the wedding, we were still stressing about it and it was even more stressful because family was flying in and we wanted to spend time with them.  One morning (three days before the wedding), my 8 year old cousin came up to our hotel room and handed us notebook paper, telling us she had written our vows and could we please now come to the pool.  We read them, I cried, and we laughed at how complicated we adults make things.  Because vows should just be simple and heartfelt. So we wrote them down, paid her $20 for her "services," and went and had ice cream!

EMMA'S VOWS:

I will love you as my wife/husband.

I will always take care of us.

I will make good choices for us.

I will always stay by your side.

I will never take our happiness for granted.

I will always respect what we do together.

I will be strong with you.

I will always have trust in you.

I will help you whenever you need my help.

I will make us last forever.

sealing the deal!

During cocktail hour, we wanted to take more photos near the marina.  While taking photos, an awesome guy asked if we wanted to take photos on his boat.  Of course we all thought this was a terrible idea...

back at the Cafe del Rey...

a love note from our flower girl... inside, she wanted to demonstrate what my new name would look like in cursive!

this handkerchief belonged to DH's great-grandmother, Flower!

our reception was a complete DIY by myself and coordinator Angie Metts!  www.absolutelyevents.net.  Angie was fantastic!  With the help of family and cafe staff, she hung all lanterns, and completely converted this room from being our sunny ceremony site to being a romantic reception area!!

 FAVORS: music is so important to us both - we compiled a song of our favorite songs - it was a hit!

GUESTBOOK: we used a coffee table book of Los Angeles because we live on the east coast and we wanted to take a piece of California back with us!

FIRST DANCE:  Our first dance was to "'Till There Was You" by The Beatles.  It's a family favorite and you can't help singing it when you hear it.

TOASTS: from our siblings

FOOD: The Cafe del Rey has the best food!!

CAKE CUTTING: Our cake was created by the Cafe's pastry chef - butter cake with fresh blackberry and raspberry filling and buttercream frosting!  Simple, slightly retro, and perfect!!

love my steelers :)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REST OF THE NIGHT

Groom and Groomsmen Entrance: "Brand New Colony" by Ben Gibbard

Parents of the Groom and Bridesmaids Entrance: "Samson" by Regina Spektor

Bride's Entrance: "Something" by George Harrison (Beatles' acoustic version)

Recessional: "Everyday" by Dave Matthews Band

First Dance: "'Till There Was You" by The Beatles

Cake Cutting: "Sweeter Than This" by Katie Herzig

Last Dance: "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green

pictures with the fabulous Mimi Nguyen - she is so much fun!

Venue: Cafe del Rey, Marina del Rey, CA www.cafedelreymarina.com

Coordinator: Angie Metts, Absolutely Events www.absolutelyevents.net

Photographer (wedding): Nataly Lemus, Nataly Lemus Photography, www.natalylemus.com 

Makeup (wedding): Colleen Erwin, friend (who is not a "pro," but always looks fantastic!)

DJ: Damon Tedesco, Mobile Disc Music Inc. www.mobilediscmusic.com

Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo, Style 1148 (but DRASTICALLY altered!)

Men's Suits: Banana Republic 

Linens: Abby Party Rentals, www.abbeyexpress.com

Cake: Cafe del Rey

Flowers: Wholesale Flowers, all arrangements created by Coordinator Angie Metts

Bridesmaid's Dresses: White House Black Market

Flower Girl Dress: www.mygirldress.com

Photographer (bridal session): Mimi Nguyen, www.miminguyen.com

Makeup (bridal session): Carina, Flawless Faces, Inc., www.flawlessfacesinc.com

 

In the summer of 2004, Girl and friends take a trip to Oahu to celebrate graduating from UCLA.  

 

Girl and friends go to luau, make new friends, and get invited to a beach bonfire on the North Shore at random Boy’s house.

 

Boy gets call from a friend, who tells him four girls from CA are on their way to his house for a beach bonfire.  What a great friend!  Boy scrambles to find firewood for the impromptu bonfire he is now hosting.

 

The group hangs out on the North Shore beach, and gets to know each other by talking music, school, and Honolulu hot-spots.  

 

Boy is intimidated by Girl, but really wants another chance to hang out with Girl. Soooo hot!

 

The next night, Boy loses all his poker money early so he can meet Girl and her friends at a bar in Waikiki. 

Girl tells Boy to have a seat (this is the last time Boy listens to Girl).  Boy and Girl begin talking and totally hit it off.  (Photo above taken on this night!)

 

Boy and Girl talk until the bar closes and continue to talk on the beach until sunrise.  Boy gets 45 minutes of sleep before work the next day.

 

For the next week, Boy and Girl continue getting to know each other and spend as much time together as possible.  Boy goes to work every day very tired from lack of sleep and the hour-long commute between the North Shore and Waikiki. Girl is worth it.

 

Girl is so worth it that Boy goes to lunch to meet Girl’s uncles who live in Hawaii.  Boy thinks he has just met the Hawaii mafia. Girl “conveniently” leaves Boy alone with “the uncles.”  When Girl returns, Uncles give girl the thumbs up. Victory belongs to Boy!

 

Sadly, Girl must return to L.A.  Girl and Boy have to decide whether to try a long distance relationship or let everything go. Both Boy and Girl have a feeling this is the beginning of something bigger, and agree to follow this gut feeling they share.  Girl returns to L.A. and large phone bills commence.

 

Two months later, Boy flies to L.A. to visit Girl.  Girl shows Boy around West L.A. Life is good.

 

One month later, Girl flies to Hawaii to visit Boy.  Girl spends an entire rainy day doing Boy’s laundry and watching movies. Lucky Boy!

 

Boy spends Christmas with Girl and meets her family.  Boy impresses family by making Christmas breakfast.  Who knew Boy had those skills?!

 

One month later, Boy flies back to L.A.  Boy and Girl decide that if things will ever work, they must live in the same state.  Boy is in the Navy and cannot move.  Girl applies to law school at the University of Hawaii.

 

Boy and Girl fly to Pennsylvania so Girl can meet Boy’s family.  Girl wakes up to morning snowfall, and Boy teaches Girl how to safely fall on her butt while skiing. Brrr!

 

In April 2005, Girl moves to Hawaii.  The day after arriving in Hawaii, Girl finds out she has been accepted to law school in Hawaii.  Success!!!

 

Boy and Girl celebrate all summer long by spending their days on the beach reading and throwing a football around, and their evenings cooking and watching movies. Oh the memories…

 

At the end of summer, Boy and Girl move to Honolulu to officially begin their “Hawaii life.”  Boy and Girl share each day, pursuing their dreams, happy and together at last!