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••• TELLING STORIES, SHARING LOVE •••
Fairytale Oak Glen engagement // ©2017 Sun & Sparrow Big Bear wedding photographer
FROM THE GROOM // It all started with a swipe…
Dating has become a wonderful thing in the 21st century. As a single you have the ability to connect with a diverse set of people who have similar interests and values as yourself, and who live in your general vicinity, all with the flick of a thumb. That’s how this story starts… kind of.
On a rainy day in July almost 3 years ago, in their search for love and companionship, Tim and Esther both swiped right… little did they know that they were almost polar opposites; they came from different backgrounds, had different interests and approached life with very opposing mentalities. After 3 weeks of trying to arrange a first date, they realized two things that would define the greater part of the next couple years; (1) they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and felt at ease chatting about the important stuff and (2) that they lived 100 miles apart, Tim up by New York, and Esther in Philadelphia. Most would have called it quits, and in fact Tim tried but Esther was resolute in her decision to meet and they surprisingly gave it a shot anyway… (Shout out to Coffee Meets Bagel for a massively failed geo-location component within their app LOL)
On August 2, 2014 Esther ventured for 3 hours up I-95 (in traffic) to visit Tim in Hoboken, forcing him to break his cardinal rules of first dates… I want to say it was all rainbows and unicorns when they first met, but that would be a blatant misrepresentation. Esther was… HANGRY at best and Tim was defeated.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, their time was filled with everything you’d want from a perfect first date; some Texas BBQ, live music, speakeasy crafted cocktails, some quality ‘getting to know you’ talk and most importantly a little karaoke and lot of laughs, all of which lead to the ENGAGEMENT.
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The Engagement // For months Tim told Esther time and time again that there was absolutely no point in getting married until they were ready to have kids… tax benefits or not, she still lived in Philadelphia and it just didn’t make sense. Behind the scenes, however, he was hard at work rallying their family and friends for the ultimate surprise.
On a stormy evening, October 22nd, 2016, Tim had promised Esther a much needed date night. He called her at work to make sure she’d be dressed for the fancy restaurant uptown that he knew she’d love, and like most of their story… things didn’t go that easy.
After a long day at work, with a storm brewing outside, Esther was in no mood to play dress up or listen to Tim explain why she needed to park the car and come up to the apartment before dinner. Eventually she folded and begrudgingly walked back home, fumbling with the house keys in frustration. Upon opening the door, the stage was set and four jack’o lanterns (as well as her then boyfriend) starred back at her, exclaiming “Will You Marry Me?”
Her answer: “Huh?… What?… No?!?… What?! Ummmm… is this for real? This better be real… if this is a joke that is not ok!”
And finally… after a couple more minutes of complete disbelief… she responded with a resounding “YES!”
With love, Esther
I remember waking up the morning of the wedding at 3 AM. While staring at the ceiling, I wished it was a more reasonable time to wake up. I was already so excited for our wedding day! I had been dreaming about an Fairytale Los Angeles Wedding at the Vibiana for so long. Dreaming about my fairytale wedding and all the special moments that would come with it. The day felt so long as we began to prepare. With hair, make up, and a bit of nervous anticipation, all of my heart was ready to see Matt.
One of my favorite moments was our first look. We opted to have our first look privately in the courtyard next to the RedBird Cafe. We wanted our moment to be just ours. I remember the moment with so much clarity. I came down the stairs from and met him in the hallway. When we saw each other in that first glance, there were butterflies in our stomachs and tears in our eyes. This moment was just like I had dreamed of. After so much time and effort put into every detail of the day, seeing Matt at our first look made everything fall into place. From that moment, the entire day flowed naturally. I instantly relaxed and was able to let my day happen.
I absolutely loved my wedding day decor! In creating an fairytale Los Angeles wedding at the Vibiana, I wanted our day to be classic and timeless with a bit of a whimsical element. I wanted to bring naturally lush elements, both outside and inside. I loved the ivy that we brought in to cover the marble inside Vibiana. Because the Vibiana had once been a cathedral, there were so many beautiful architectural elements. We focused most on the designs of the flowers and mixed in a touch of metals (gold and copper) to add personality. Overall, I would definitely say the flowers and greenery absolutely made the venue shine.
If I could give one piece of advice to future brides, I would say, “slow down and enjoy every moment.” It wasn’t easy for me. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer gravity of getting married. I keep remembering that while your wedding day will be wonderful, it’s just another day–it doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember that nothing is perfect. The more you can remember to be in love with your moments with the people that you love. And that’s what it’s about! It’s about your love, your moments and you’re forever.
FEATURED ON: Southern California Bride Blog | Photography: Sun & Sparrow Photography | Ceremony Venue: Vibiana | Reception Venue: Vibiana | Event Planning: Amy Greenberg | Floral: Lori’s Flowers | Stationery: Tracy Saritzy | Videography: Tim Irvin | Bakery: Redbird | Engagement Ring: Revolution Jewelry | Hair: Design Visage | Makeup: Design Visage | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Groom’s Attire: Theory | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Veil: Panache Bridal Beverly Hills | Groom’s Bow Tie: The Tie Bar| Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux | Submitted via: Matchology
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