Halloween night, freshman year, in Chico, is definitely not the time you want to inadvertently get separated from your friends. With masquerading partiers crowding the streets and her friends nowhere in sight, Jenna Schwan was more than relieved to see a familiar face break through the masses. An acquaintance at the time, Rob Dittman offered to walk a crying Jenna back to her dorm.

Fast forward five years and a move back to Sacramento later. “One random Saturday night, a bunch of friends convinced me to go with them to the Pine Cove downtown for some karaoke. We had been there for a while when I saw Rob walk through the door,” Jenna remembers. “I stood on my chair and yelled his name across the bar. That night we talked, exchanged numbers and made plans to hang out again soon.”

A three-year courtship followed that fateful night. In September 2008, the couple traveled down to Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos to spend the weekend at Jenna’s family’s beach house. “It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday and I couldn’t wait to go down to the beach,” she recalls. “We walked along the shore, and I got sentimental telling Rob about all the wonderful memories I had on that beach as a child.” Rob took his cue and created another memory for Jenna right then. “I was nervous I’d drop the ring in the sand,” he says. “I had it tied around the key holder in my board shorts, and I was touching my pocket every 10 seconds to make sure it was still there. I don’t remember exactly what I said to her before I asked her to marry me, but I do know she said, ‘yes!’” Rob adds with a smile.

When the big day finally arrived, the thought of walking down the aisle with everyone looking at them made both of them nervous. “As I heard the quartet start to play “Canon in D,” my nerves kicked in, but my dad grabbed my hand and said, ‘Ready?’ I nodded my head and as I rounded the corner and saw Rob standing at the end of the aisle, all my nerves left me—I didn’t even notice everyone looking at me,” Jenna says.

The couple exchanged vows in a Catholic ceremony, and many things—down to what Jenna wore at the altar—reflected family custom. “My veil was made by Katie Campbell, Rob’s maternal grandmother, and I was the eighth bride in the family to wear it—his grandmother, great aunt, mother, aunt, cousin and two sisters all wore it before me,” Jenna explains.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests continued the celebration at The Firehouse Restaurant, where Jenna’s parents held their ceremony 25 years prior. Guests dined on a heavy appetizer buffet that included everything from salad and oysters to chicken skewers and sushi rolls, and a late-night snack of sliders and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Looking back, Rob fondly remembers the day Jenna became his wife. “I will never forget being introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Dittman,” he says. “Walking into a room full of all our family and friends...” he trails off. “We wouldn’t change a thing,” Jenna adds. “The day was everything we had hoped for, and more.”

Ceremony Site: Holy Spirit Parish
Officiant: Fr. Greg Bonfiglio, S.J.
Ceremony Music: Mersonacta Quartet
Photographer: Sharpe Photographers   Phone: 916-772-3934
Videographer: DIY by a friend of the Bride & Groom
Reception Site: Firehouse Restaurant Courtyard
Hair: Kelly Villalovos, Cut Loose Hair Design
Bridal Attire: House of Fashion (Dress), J Crew (Shoes)
Bridal Veil/Headpiece: Family Heirloom
Bridesmaid Attire: Jessica McClintock, Neiman Marcus & David's Bridal
Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse & Macy's
Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Bride's Jeweler: Luxury Design and Jewelrymart
Groom's Jeweler: Adam's Jewelers
Invitations: Designed by the Bride, Printed by Alphagraphics
Thank You Cards: Designed by the Bride, Printed by Alphagraphics
Flowers: Simply Blossoms
Caterer: The Firehouse Restaurant
Cake: Freeport Bakery
Desserts: Freeport Bakery
DJ/Entertainment: Music on the Move DJs
Transportation/Limo Services: MGM Limousine Company
Table Linens: The Firehouse Restaurant
Table Decorations: Simply Blossoms
Honeymoon Location: Kauai, Maui, Oahu
Honeymoon Travel Agent: DIY by the Bride & Groom
First Dance Song: Send Me by Shawn Kane
Father/Daughter Dance Song: My Girl by the Temptations
Mother/Son Dance Song: Combined with Father/Daughter Dance
Cake Cutting Song: That's Amore by Dean Martin
Bouquet Toss Song: Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) by Beyonce
Garter Toss Song: Black Betty by Ram Jam

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
Remember that anything goes - make it your own and make sure it reflects you and your husband-to-be!
Details about this couples cake:
Golden buttermilk cake, fresh strawberries and whipped cream filling with Italian buttercream frosting.
Details about this couples flowers:
Florist chose flowers in season.

Anything else about your wedding?
A great free resource is marthastewartweddings.com. Not only did it allow me to input all of our guests and track their responses, but it also let me enter in all of the gifts as we received them and kept track of who I had sent thank you cards to. I recommend it to every bride!