Angelina and Ryan’s wedding wasn’t the first time they walked down the aisle together. In fact, the first time they met was escorting one another down the aisle at Ryan’s sister’s wedding.
After a long courtship, Angelina admits she began to get antsy waiting for the proposal. During a day of shopping at the mall, Angelina ventured into a jewelry store with Ryan’s mom and sister-in-law. After she found the perfect ring, Ryan’s mom called him into the store and sent Angelina away. When they later met up at a bookstore, Ryan, who can’t keep a secret, leaned over to Angelina and said, “I bought it.” It may not have been the romantic proposal Angelina was waiting for, but to her it was perfect.
Though eager to get engaged, Angelina and Ryan were not in a huge rush to actually get married. They both had a few things they wanted to accomplish, including buying a home together.
While working toward their goals, they took time to plan the wedding—more than two years—and were able to really enjoy the experience without feeling rushed or frantic. The only truly stressful part of the planning was when Angelina discovered she wasn’t quite as crafty as she had hoped for, making all of her DIY décor a bit more difficult than she’d bargained for.
Since Angelina had only been to a handful of weddings, waking up the morning of her own was especially surreal; or maybe it was the fact that she had to wake up at 4 a.m. that brought on the strange feelings. Either way, she was eager to see it all finally come together. While the groomsmen enjoyed a leisurely morning, Angelina and her bridesmaids hustled to get through hair and makeup and take pictures in order to beat the heat.
The couple shared a “first look” and both agree that it was one of their best wedding decisions, as they relished having time together before the rush of the day. The wedding party then joined them for group photos and some time to be silly. The ceremony took place on the hilltop at Taber Ranch, providing vast views in an intimate setting, which was exactly what they wanted.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a “gelato hour,” which was a welcomed treat amidst the hot, hot weather. They continued the Italian theme with a tasty family-style meal. The rest of the night was filled with lots of dancing and laughter. Their mission of wanting guests to leave full and happy had been accomplished.
Our favorite part of this love story, however, is the fact that Angelina and Ryan, who aren’t big drinkers, were the sober drivers for their wedding party. The visual of Angelina in her gorgeous gown driving her bridesmaids home is too cute to handle.
—Kelley Saia
