From Real Weddings Magazine, www.realweddingsmag.com

When Bryan made reservations at Ella Dining Room and Bar for a romantic anniversary dinner, he sent Jamie, his girlfriend of two years, into proposal preparedness mode, but her suspicions weren’t easily confirmed. “I got sick and we had to cancel our reservations and reschedule for the following week,” she says. “We ended up going to a late dinner there. It was romantic and the food was superb, and I thought, ‘maybe tonight’s the night,’ but we were both really tired.”

It was the night, but Bryan decided to hold off until they were both rested enough to truly enjoy the moment. The next day at his sister’s house, Bryan proudly showed the ring to his family. The new plan was to propose in two weeks on Jamie’s birthday, but when his soon-to-be-fiancée stopped by for a visit, he realized he couldn’t wait any longer. Later that night, as they walked to their cars and said their goodbyes, Jamie made a shocking discovery. “He was wearing a pair of cargo shorts, and for some reason, I stuck my hand in his left pocket and felt a box. I turned it once to make sure it was square, and then I asked, ‘What is this box?’” she says. “I never in a million years thought he would propose in the street on some random night, but that made the surprise all the better. He absolutely blew me away.”

Although they toyed with the idea of a small, immediate family-only wedding, the couple ultimately decided on a more traditional, all-inclusive vow exchange at the breathtaking Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. Their approach to choosing a date, however, was decidedly unique. “We were looking for a day out of the year that had the highest possible chance of not being too hot or too cold for our guests,” Bryan explains. “After referencing the Farmers’ Almanac and becoming amateur meteorologists, we settled on May 10.”

Their attention to weather patterns paid off. Following a week of rain, the skies cleared just in time for the bride’s walk down the aisle in a crystal beaded, ivory lace gown. After exchanging rings from Placerville’s Randolph Jewelers, the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. were ready to revel in the “rustic elegance” (think satin linens meet the great outdoors) of their reception, a nod to the couple’s shared love of nature.

“One of the highlights of the wedding was the hula my mother-in-law did during the reception,” Jamie shares. “It was beautiful, and I was so happy to be able to share some of Bryan’s family’s Hawaiian culture with our guests.”

“As I was eating dinner and dancing, I kept looking around the room and was so blessed by all of our family and friends who traveled to celebrate our wedding with us,” the bride remembers.

—Morgan Cásarez

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