Jennifer and James first met on a blind date set up by mutual friends (whom would later get a special thank you at their wedding). In 2008, after going out to lunch and doing some window shopping in Tiburon, James suggested that he and Jennifer check out the Marina. “It was a beautiful day walking along the water looking at all the sailboats,” she remembers. “All of a sudden he started talking about how he couldn’t imagine spending his life without me, and then he took out a ring box and proposed.”

Though all of Jennifer’s family is local, James hails from Oklahoma so it was important to create memories not only for the couple, but for all of their wedding guests. “We really just wanted our family and friends to relax and enjoy themselves,” Jennifer says. “I had heard from so many that the wedding day just flies by and that we should really take time to soak it up.”

Jennifer notes that she was fortunate to have her mom, sister and three best friends at her side every step of the way. “Every once in a while I had to pinch myself because everything really fell in place throughout the planning process,” she says. “My favorite moments were seeing my visions come to life. I really thank my vendors for that!”

The couple’s ceremony took place at La Provence underneath a beautiful oak tree. “The trees and French country ambience really reflected who we are,” says the bride. “The sun was shining through as James and I said our vows with our friends and family looking on. I feel that set the tone for what I would call a very intimate, tranquil ceremony.”

The reception, also held at La Provence, created an ambience not unlike stepping away into the South of France. “We ate dinner outside on the terrace underneath the stars and twinkling lights,” says Jennifer. “It was very romantic.”

As their friends and family enjoyed the evening, Jennifer and James took a moment to soak it all up. As Jennifer recalls, “James leaned over to me and said, ‘look around at all of these people who care about us.’ It was an overwhelming feeling of love and appreciation.”

An homage to James’s country roots, Jennifer slipped out of her heels and into a pair of cowboy boots. “Everyone got a kick out of that,” she says. And, to honor the friends that first introduced them on that blind date, they forwent a toss and handed them the bouquet and garter.

Though the memories were countless, Jennifer and James especially enjoyed the private time they had before the ceremony taking pictures. “Sharing this time was very special to us both because it was just the two of us having a quiet moment before everything started,” Jennifer says. “It calmed our nerves so that we could really focus on the ceremony and the rest of the day. I married my best friend.”

Ceremony Site: La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
Officiant: Chaplain Ricardo Villarreal
Ceremony Music: Extreme Productions
Photographer: Jacqueline Photography   Phone: 916-390-2228
Reception Site: La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
Hair: Kim Sasse, The Gallery
Make-up: Amanda Lee, Byuti Salon
Bridal Attire: Downtown Gowns
Bridesmaid Attire: Alfred Angelo
Flowergirl Attire: Alfred Angelo
Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Ringbearer Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Bride's Jeweler: DeBartolo & Co.
Groom's Jeweler: DeBartolo & Co.
Invitations: The Paper Garden
Flowers: Ambience Floral Design   Phone: 916-786-6851
Caterer: La Provence Restaurant & Terrace
Cake: Village Cake Shoppe
DJ/Entertainment: Extreme Productions
Favors: Fleur de Lis matchboxes from Elizabeth's Embellishments with tags from The Paper Garden
Table Linens: Celebrations! Elegant Party Rentals
Table Decorations: Ambience Floral Design   Phone: 916-786-6851
Chair Covers: Celebrations! Elegant Party Rentals
Honeymoon Location: British Virgin Islands
First Dance Song: All The Way by Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion
Father/Daughter Dance Song: My Special Angel by The Vogues
Mother/Son Dance Song: Mama by BJ Thomas
Cake Cutting Song: Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
Bouquet Toss Song: See
Garter Toss Song: See

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
I would tell them that once they have set a budget to get out there and start looking and talking with people. I'm a very visual person so I really needed to see places and talk to the event managers in person. Start with what's important to the both of you and go from there. One good bit of advice that a friend told me was to really put photography high on my priority list and I am so glad that I did. Now that our wedding is over we are left with wonderful memories and fabulous pictures that captured our entire story from engagement pictures to our special day.


Details about this couples flowers:
Katie from Ambience Floral Design was amazing! She knew I was driving from Vacaville and was very accommodating when I would meet with her. After showing her some picture samples she knew exactly what my vision was for my wedding. Keeping with my romantic vintage look she used Juliet Drouet garden roses, green tea roses, tulips and hydrangeas all throughout the wedding. Katie also helped me with some unique details that touched my heart. The first one was how I wanted to make each of my bridesmaids' bouquets unique and special (just like they each are to me), so I bought each of them individual pendants that Katie attached to their bouquets. Even though it was a small detail, my bridesmaids appreciated the thought and uniqueness of their bouquets. What touched my heart the most was when I gave Katie a piece of lace from my mother's wedding dress and asked if there was some way she could incorporate it into my bouquet. (My mom didn't know exactly what I was going to do when I asked her for a piece of lace.) Katie worked her magic and wrapped the piece of lace around the stem of my bouquet. It looked gorgeous! I will never forget the look on my mother's face when she saw the bouquet with her lace wrapped around it. Tears filled her eyes as well as everyone else's in the room. It was so special to me that Katie was able to incorporate something special from my mother's wedding and combine it with mine. That is something my mom and I will remember forever.


Anything else about your wedding?
Instead of doing the traditional bouquet and garter toss, James and I really wanted to do something special for the two people that introduced us. After all, without them, we wouldn't have met! they are mutual friends of ours and they also just happen to be a couple so we decided that we would present them with the bouquet and garter as a "thank you" for introducing us to each other. James and I both said a few words on how much they mean to us and then we presented them with the bouquet and garter. The guests were in tears and all cheered. It was a great moment for us all.

What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
If I had a magic wand I would have made the day just a couple hours longer! Ha-Ha! It all just went too fast and I wish I could have spent more time with our family and friends.