Dawn and Meg first met through mutual friends in their community. “I found interactions with her intriguing, conversations pleasantly challenging, and our instituted Monday coffee something I waited my whole week for,” Meg says fondly. “She divulged one day she had a crush [on me], and through my blush, I realized it might be mutual.”

On what Dawn calls a “random day of doing random things,” she remembers thinking to herself, “this is the one.” She immediately began surfing the Web for ring ideas, finding a silver band from Ireland with a Claddaugh engraved with “Mo Anam Cara,” or “my other half, my true companion.” She took Meg away for a weekend in Guerneville, making reservations at the River’s End restaurant. “I was able to get out all my words without having to look at the hidden typed version I had in my pocket,” Dawn says. “I wanted to be smooth, I had the ring tucked in my pocket, and in one fluid motion wanted to be able to get it out of my pocket and give it to my girl. I felt like it all happened just right.”

That was in 2006. In 2008, you can imagine their jubilation when the Supreme Court of California granted same-sex couples legal marriage. “In the time since Dawn’s proposal so much growth had happened—we were in an entirely different connected place,” says Meg. “In a whimsical moment I felt such an amazing urge to hop in the car to Dawn’s work and throw myself at her feet in proposal.” Instead, she waited until that night at their softball game to bring everyone in a circle and declare her proposal in front of supportive friends. “As I stood to hug her our friends cheered and clapped. She grinned through shocked tears and said yes.”

The brides chose the northern California coast for their union, deciding on Schoolhouse Beach along Bodega Bay for their ceremony site. Notes Meg, “When we started this planning process we realized that we always go to the coast to replenish our energy, to let our woes go, to forgive ourselves or others, or to ask the universe trying questions, or to reconnect if life has been too busy.”

Both brides had a list of expectations for the wedding, but in no way were they going to let the stresses of planning get in the way of their joy. “In our crazy exciting and sometimes overwhelming wedding process, we were mindful to remember a basic “rule“ for ourselves in order to get the most out of our special once-in-a-lifetime day—we had to remember that we knew we would have a time for dreaming and planning, then transition into a time for creating and doing, and then a very distinct time where it would become our jobs to slow-down, breathe and enjoy,” they explain.

On their wedding day, Meg’s father began the seaside ceremony with a blessing, followed by personal vows written by the couple and overall officiated by Maya Rand. “The connectedness of the ceremony is really our predominant feeling, between our guests, us, our guests for us, our friends and family standing up there with us,” says Meg.

At Fernando’s Bed and Breakfast, music and dance filled the reception scene, including a choreographed first dance. ”Our daughter Sydney was a part of a special unity candle lighting ceremony right at sunset, which then set the moment where the entire reception and periphery of the grounds was lit up with tiny lights strung by us that morning and the tables all lit by the candles from the centerpieces,” says Meg.

There’s one particular memory of the day both Dawn and Meg say that will be with them for a long time. At the opening of the ceremony, they asked each of the guests to select a rock from the sea-pebbled beach. As they held these rocks, the couple asked them to give their well wishes in the little pieces of earth. “The vase holding these rocks now sits in our living room,” they share. “Filled with loving energy, peace, and excitement of the day, it’s there for us enjoy forever!”

Ceremony Site: Schoolhouse Beach, Bodgea Bay
Officiant: Maya Rand
Photographer: Siegel's Portrait Design   Phone: 916-772-7533
Reception Site: Fernando's Bed and Breakfast
Bridal Attire: Meg: Express and J. Jill; Dawn: Guess and vintage men's tuxedo shirt
Bride's Jeweler: Helzberg Diamonds
Invitations: Ebottles
Flowers: Safeway; designed and assembled by brides, bridal party and friends
Caterer: Fernando's Bed and Breakfast
Cake: Ettore's
Dance Lessons: Phil Seyer
Transportation/Limo Services: Triple Diamond Limousine
Favors: Small sachets of silver "kisses" surrounding hand-made scrolls
Table Rental: The Rental Place
Table Linens: The Rental Place
Chair Rental: The Rental Place
Honeymoon Location: Dawn's Ranch Lodge
First Dance Song: For You by Duncan Shiek
Cake Cutting Song: Love of My Life by Michael W. Smith

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
Along with budget planning of a wedding, we felt of even greater importance is deciding what is important to you and your spouse-to-be's heart. We realized this process was such a whirlwind and the experience would fly by, so we placed value in photographs so that we could continue to re-live our special day. As a result, our budget's first priority was a photographer we fell in love with (Rick and Lee Siegel from Siegel's Portrait Designs). The rest of the details and have-to-haves fell into place from there. At the end no one knows what you didn't include, they only feel the beauty and love from what was present and representative of the couple of honor that they are there to celebrate with! an additional tip is the idea of not getting tied down by what is expected or traditional, or even to one idea. Remember your personality and creativity when planning this major event in your lives. Some of our and our guests' favorite parts of our wedding are the ever-so-personal touches of the "invitation in a bottle," the story of us in our favors, the Web site we created and being able to track our journey toward the big day, the personalized candle labels, the US in our wedding. As we tried to make this happen and the ideas came, we thought and re-thought plans A, B and C...ride the ride, be flexible and most importantly, have fun!!

Anything else about your wedding?
One of the more special quiet moments, yet one we get to relive everyday, is our rock ceremony. At the opening of our ceremony we asked each of our guests to select a rock from the sea-pebbled beach. They proceeded to hold this rock throughout the duration of our vows by the bay. We asked that guest give their loving energy and well wishes into this little piece of earth, then then at the end of the ceremony one of our ushers had a vase in which each guest lovingly placed these "wishes." The vase now sits in our living room, filled with loving energy, peace and excitement of the day; there for us to enjoy forever! Every anniversary we plan to sift through these rocks, remembering how all of these loving family and friends had so much love and support for us.

What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
Absolutely nothing, really. We dreamed, planned, created and organized our hearts out, and in the end, the amazingly beautiful day's tiny flaws were only noticed by us -- true to form that you are your worst critic. We couldn't have put any more energy into planning that would have resulted in any more success. We are supremely happy with our wedding memories, all furthered by our 150 guests reiterating the same time and time again.