Cara’s best friend Molly and the Jon’s best friend Tim introduced the future bride and groom about five years ago, and the rest is, as they say, history. Cara was living in Boston and visiting friends in Sacramento, and Jon had just moved to the area when they met over a Halloween weekend. “We spent a lot of time together right after we met,” Cara explains. “It was pretty much love at first sight,” Jon adds.

They continued their long distance romance through letters, emails and lots of phone calls. She returned to the area for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays before she decided to move to Sacramento. Jon flew to Boston to help her move, and they drove to their new home together. “The trip was so fun,” Jon says, “we just laughed across the country...it felt so natural to be together.”

“Cara just lights up a room, and she has the best laugh...I love to hear her laugh,” he says. “It may sound cliché, but she loves life and is just a sweetheart.” Cara says about Jon, “[he] has the best sense of humor, and he has such a big caring and giving heart.”
It was important to them both to have the symbol of their love be a “conflict-free diamond.” So, they traveled to San Francisco and spent the weekend shopping for the perfect ring and celebrating their engagement. “I love the city,” Cara says. “It was a perfect weekend.”

They chose Yosemite National Park and the Ahwahnee Hotel for their ceremony and reception. “It is the perfect destination,” Jon says, “to reflect our love for nature.” It was supposed to be a low-key destination for their nearly 100 guests. Yosemite was a midway destination for everyone and a beautiful, peaceful place to wed and relax.

“I knew there had been rock slides to the valley floor in the past,” Jon notes. And then a co-worker called to tell him the news. “I thought she was kidding me,” he says. But it was true; two days before the wedding, the Ahwahnee Hotel’s parking lot was filled with boulders; guests were evacuated, and the hotel was closed for 24 hours.

The rock slide was not quite enough to pile on the stress. A controlled burn went out of control and closed Highway 120, one of the few roads into the valley and filled the area with smoke. “Nature really threw us a curve ball,” Jon says. However, despite the rocks and the haze the whole affair went off beautifully.
The smoke evaporated into a bright blue sky just in time for the ceremony. With their family and friends looking on, Cara and Jon were married just as they dreamed. The couple’s first dance was to “Stand by Me.” The lyrics say it all: “If the sky that we look upon, should tumble and fall. And the mountains should crumble to the sea, I won’t cry, I won’t cry. No I won’t shed a tear. Just as long as you stand, stand by me.”

Ceremony Site: The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park
Officiant: Pastor Pat Higgins
Ceremony Music: Processional - Cannon in D on Acoustic Guitar; Recessional - I'm Yours, Jason Muraz, DJ
Photographer: Lexigraphics Photography   Phone: 916-505-2846
Videographer: Family Member
Wedding Planner: Adrienne Kar, The Ahwahnee Hotel
Reception Site: The Ahwahnee Hotel
Hair: Carol Cardinale-Ruiz, Bellissimo Brides   Phone: 559-641-7721
Make-up: Carol Cardinale-Ruiz, Bellissimo Brides   Phone: 559-641-7721
Bridal Attire: Bella Donna Bridal Salon (Dress), Nordstrom's (Shoes)
Bridal Veil/Headpiece: Bella Donna Bridal Salon
Bridesmaid Attire: Macy's
Groom's Attire: Macy's
Groomsmen Attire: Macy's
Bride's Jeweler: Brilliant Earth
Groom's Jeweler: Brilliant Earth
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Flowers: Sweet Pickins Florist
Caterer: The Ahwahnee Hotel
Cake: The Ahwahnee Hotel
DJ/Entertainment: Yosemite Entertainment
Favors: DIY Favor Boxes with Chocolate Truffles
Table Linens: The Ahwahnee Hotel
Table Decorations: Sweet Pickins Florist
Honeymoon Travel Agent: The Bride: Cara Martinson
First Dance Song: Stand By Me by Ben E. King
Father/Daughter Dance Song: The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
Mother/Son Dance Song: The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
Get help! Doing everything by yourself can be exhausting. Enlist your friends and family to help you with the little things like making favors or assembling programs.
Details about this couples cake:
Vanilla Cake with Lemon Filling and Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling finished with a buttercream frosting.
Details about this couples flowers:
Yellow and Cream Colored Roses.

Anything else about your wedding?
Our wedding was especially memorable because Yosemite Park had just experienced a serious rock slide very close to the Ahwahnee several days before our wedding. There was also a large forest fire near the entrance of the park that, for a short time, jeopardized the entire wedding. However, despite all the near-natural disasters, we were able to get married where we planned and the entire day went off without a hitch! And, it was amazing!
What would you have done differently if you had the chance?

Nothing, it was perfect (except maybe better cooperation from Mother Nature)!