“I felt confident,” recalls Jaime of her first date with Rudy. “I made sure to give myself ample time to get ready—hair, make-up, clothes, the perfect shoes.” You can imagine the panic when Rudy arrived in basketball shorts and a t-shirt, apologizing for coming straight from practice. “During lunch I discovered Rudy loves sports. I knew nothing about sports. In fact, I hated sports my entire life,” she says. “I left thinking he’s really nice and hilariously funny, but we’re just going to be very good friends.”

After seeing him at work and talking with him on the phone, she decided to give it another chance. She thought, “Maybe I could teach him a few things about art and music, and he could teach me things about sports.” On their second date, they saw the movie Ocean’s Eleven. Not only did they both enjoy the film, they found a common theme that would stick with them throughout their relationship.

It started in Vegas—the setting for Ocean’s Eleven. In town for Rudy’s coaching conference, the couple put one night aside for dinner and dancing. At the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel, with the strip glittering below them, Rudy got down on one knee and asked Jaime to marry him. His gamble proved to be a winning bet. They would go on to name their two English bulldogs Tess and Rusty after two characters in the film.

Back home in Sacramento, the couple found the perfect venue for their wedding in the General’s Garden at the Lions Gate Hotel. “I hated weddings where the dinner, formal dances, toasting, cake cutting took forever, then there would be less time to dance and visit. I wanted things to flow as quick as possible so we could party,” says Jaime.

The couple broke traditions right out of the gate when they decided to take photographs before the ceremony. “We had a quiet moment together for our ’big reveal,’ accompanied with heavy emotion,” she remembers. “People were jokingly telling Rudy it looked like he was going to pass out and that his parents were holding him up. I, on the other hand, couldn’t even look at him or I would cry.”

Continuing the Ocean’s Eleven homage, the bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Claire de Lune,” a song from the film.

The couple couldn’t have asked for a better ceremony, one that was light-hearted, funny at times, but ended on a loving and sincere note. “The day itself was a true celebration,” Jaime recalls. “What made it so amazing was the family and friends who attended. It was a great mesh of people who were happy for us and ready to party!”

Jaime truly loved the results of their vendors, from the beautiful flowers in shades of pink, to the images captured by their photographer, Jaclyn. “The pictures were exactly what I wanted—candid, sweet, romantic and not too posed or formal,” Jaime says.

As the evening came to a close, the idea of Jaime and Rudy ever just being good friends seemed to disappear with the parting guests. Jaime recalls, “Even though our photographers were standing there clicking away and a couple of bridesmaids were in the room smiling and giggling a little, we felt like no one else was in the room except us.”

Ceremony Site: The Lions Gate Hotel   Phone: 916-643-6222
Ceremony Music: Stewart's DJ
Photographer: Jaclyn Photography   Phone: 916-769-2224
Videographer: Grape Video
Reception Site: The Lions Gate Hotel   Phone: 916-643-6222
Hair: Tina Jiosa
Make-up: MAC Counter at Nordstrom, Arden Fair Mall
Bridal Attire: House of Fashion
Bridesmaid Attire: House of Fashion
Flowergirl Attire: Formal Kids
Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Bride's Jeweler: Max's Gallery
Groom's Jeweler: Max's Gallery
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Flowers: Jackie's Flowers
Caterer: The Lions Gate Hotel   Phone: 916-643-6222
Cake: Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs
DJ/Entertainment: Stewart's DJ
Favors: Our Wedding CD
Table Linens: Mimi & Co.   Phone: 916-525-1235
Chair Covers: Mimi & Co.   Phone: 916-525-1235
Lighting: Stewart's DJ
Honeymoon Location: Kauai, Hawaii
First Dance Song: Can't Help Falling in Love With You by Elvis Presley
Father/Daughter Dance Song: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
Mother/Son Dance Song: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
Cake Cutting Song: Candy Girl by Four seasons
Bouquet Toss Song: Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Garter Toss Song: It's Getting Hot in Here by Nelly

Any tips you'd give to brides and grooms planning their wedding:
Everyone tells you, "Take in the entire event because it's only one day!" I echo that sentiment, but really it's even LESS than one day, it's more like 12 hours -- four hours preparing and hanging out beforehand and then eight hours of party. It goes by so quick, try to take it in!!

Supposedly it's bad luck to have the bride and groom see each other before the wedding, but we're glad we did. At the wedding we're together, but surrounded by hundreds of people. It was nice to have a romantic and emotional meeting before pictures and before the madness of the day begins.

What would you have done differently if you had the chance?
Absolutely nothing! The day was perfect.