Amy and Ryan felt like family from the moment we met them. In addition, they were really careful and exacting and specific about what they were looking for in all their wedding vendors and thet picked US- and that felt great.

The engagement portrait they did with Michael in Santa Cruz was unbelievable, both for the great locations and Michael’s artistry, and for their willingness to play with him and really enjoy the process. It made a gorgeous guest signing book- we are so pleased we started including those in our packages as they have been a huge hit at every wedding.

Something about their wedding really touched us as it was beautiful to see their plans unwind and most especially to behold Amy’s complete delight, joy and excitement at being a bride on her wedding day- shared by her bridesmaids. She stopped frequently during her transformation into drop dead gorgeous bride in the lovely Clos la Chance Winery bridal room to really drink in the fact that this really was her wedding day. Her joy was infectious to everyone around her.

Meg wrote to Amy afterwards about some of the things that touched us so greatly and among the things she mentioned-

-Amy’s wonderful foot attire- black and white tennies for the bridemaids, and pink for her. In concert with the hot pink bridesmaids dresses and the fabulous flowers the visuals were a photographers dream! We knew Amy would be beautiful but she really was a fairy tale bride.

-The prayers Amy shared during her getting ready with her mother and Ryan’s mother- real, moving, full of the love they all obviously shared.

-The fact that her mother and Ryan’s parents stood with Ryan as Amy approached with her father. It was a moment of pure magic.

-The way Ryan and Amy stood for a few moments forehead to forehead in a prayer, feeling the moment as they stood ready to marry. Time stopped, it seemed to be just the two of the in the world just then.

-Even during the ceremony there was an obvious sheer delight in being there- wanting to stop and behold the guests, to drink it in, the look of amazement from Amy as her new husband put her wedding ring on her finger.

-The foot washing ceremony as they washed the feet of their best man and maid of honor, and of each other, an act of service and tenderness that was so very moving as to have Meg in tears.

-The sign hanging as Ryan lifted his new wife to hang a sign her father had made with their newly shared name.

After the wedding party boogied back down the aisle the beautiful reception just flew by- and their celebration was just as fun and fabulous as their ceremony had been profound and moving. Especially memorable were the heartfelt toasts at dinner- when Amy said she would truly be married for life you knew it was true, and we shed a few tears again as we did all day

As ever, the able energetic DJ’ing by Woody of Big Fun powered the partying and some serious dancing was happening in Big Funs fabulous lightshow. All too soon Amy and Ryan was leaving friends and family through a gauntlet of bubbles. It was a memorable day from start to finish.

Not only do we thank you Amy and Ryan for including us in your day, but we also know you are now friends of ours and so appreciate you making us feel like family that day.