Real Weddings Magazine - Winter/Spring 2019 - The Best Wedding Vendors in Sacramento, Tahoe and throughout Northern California are all here!

eal weddings
LILIANA & RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE ALYSSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Lily and Ryan met via online dating. After three days of
intriguing online conversations, they went out on a first
date. Five and a half years later, they married in front of
150 guests at Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, in
the city where Lily grew up. “Growing up in the Catholic
faith it was important for us to receive the sacrament of
marriage in the church in front of our family and friends,”
says Ryan, explaining it was the same church where Lily
received her First Communion and Confirmation.
Lily was ecstatic. “Knowing that I was going to marry
Ryan made all of the stress of the wedding day go away,”
she says. “The love radiating from all of those in attendance
made me feel so blessed, and I couldn’t wait to
marry my best friend.” Ryan felt happy and fortunate on
the big day. “My favorite part of the wedding day was
waiting at the altar for the love of my life to make her way
to me,” he says, “I was overtaken with emotion when I saw
how beautiful she looked.”
Deacon Ron Panziera, Lily’s family friend, officiated
the ceremony, which featured many of the bride’s Mexican
traditions including las aras matrimoniales which is an
exchange of 13 gold coins, and el lazo, which symbolizes
an everlasting union.
In addition to their family-only wedding party, the
couple’s four-year-old rabbit, Bandit, was ring bearer. He
was dapper in a custom suit made by Lily’s aunt. Both
Lily and Ryan wore bunny-themed socks on the big day,
a nod to Bandit!
The elegant color scheme of cream, light green,
peach and pink was a fit for the rustic ceremony venue.
The reception was held on a patio under an oak tree
at Lily’s aunt’s private ranch in the foothills of Soledad,
surrounded by vineyards, farmland and white barns. Lily’s
mother created the floral arrangements, including the
bride’s bouquet and the centerpieces.
At the reception, the couple shared a dance with
their mothers at the same time to the song “We Are
Family” to symbolize the families uniting. They also had
a traditional Mexican money dance. The buffet, including
chicken fajitas, birria, rice
and beans, as well as pan dulce
and other treats, reflected the
bride’s Mexican heritage. The
groom’s taste was reflected in
the banana wedding cake—his
favorite flavor.
The day went fast
but the newlyweds
soaked it all in. “Fortunately,
Lily and I took
time to enjoy the moment
and all the hard
work that we put into
the wedding,” remembers
Ryan. OO
—Kristen Castillo
148 | REAL WEDDINGS WINTER/SPRING 2019 REALWEDDINGSMAG.COM