Real Weddings Magazine - Summer/Fall 2018

eal weddings
JULIE & JONATHAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LOLITA VASQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
“Have you seen Forrest Gump?” asks Julie. “Like peas
and carrots!”
That’s how Julie describes her relationship with Jonathan,
and their happiness together couldn’t be more
evident. What started out, in Julie’s words, as a “silly
schoolgirl crush” blossomed over the year they knew
each other as friends, and they started dating in June
2015.
Fast forward to a year and a half later, and Julie and
Jonathan visited Disney World’s Animal Kingdom hotel
in Orlando, Florida. One evening, while watching the animals
roam outside their window, Jonathan got down on
one knee. Julie thought he was just tying his shoe—until
he pulled out a ring and asked her to marry him! As the
Disney World evening fireworks show went off behind
them, Julie of course said yes.
For the beginning of the wedding planning process,
Jonathan was deployed overseas, so Julie was on her
own to plan some major details including the location.
Fortunately, she found the perfect venue: Willow Heights
Mansion in Morgan Hill. “Walking through the mansion,
it rang out elegance and romance,” says Julie, “which is
exactly what we were looking for for our wedding day.“
Romance was the right theme for these two, because
what they both remember best is that their wedding day
was filled with love. Julie was overwhelmed with emotion
when she heard the letter written by her matron of honor
who was unable to attend (and yes, it made her cry like
crazy), while Jonathan recalls that his favorite memory
was “finally being able to kiss Julie”—though he’s pretty
proud of how perfectly they cut their red velvet and
burnt almond cake, too. Their color scheme—deep cabernet
reds and shades of off-whites and creams—was
carried into everything, from the bridesmaid’s dresses
and the place settings, to the wooden “Mr. & Mrs.” sign on
their sweetheart table. Subtle jeweled and crystal details
throughout the reception completed their romantic,
elegant motif.
Despite hosting her dream wedding in an elegant
mansion and all the details that went with it, Julie’s wedding
day memories are more about her husband than
anything else. “When I saw Jonathan for the first time on
our wedding day, I was so giddy,” says Julie. “I wanted to
run down the aisle and jump into his arms!” Fortunately,
Julie was escorted down the aisle by her mother and
grandfather, who were able to keep her calm while she
made her way to the front.
Their ceremony, which included elements of Julie’s
Jewish faith, was a time for them to acknowledge each
other, as well as family members unable to attend. “We
felt that it encompassed both of us while still representing
some of the traditional
Jewish wedding customs.”
Julie says her giddiness continued
through the ceremony
until she reached her favorite
part—getting to finally walk
down the aisle with Jonathan
as a married couple. “Being
able to call Jonathan my husband
created a whole other
feeling that left me on cloud
nine!” OO
—Suzie Dundas
144 | REAL WEDDINGS SUMMER/FALL 2018 REALWEDDINGSMAG.COM