Real Weddings Magazine - Issue #27-F20-DIGITAL - The Best Wedding Vendors in Sacramento, Tahoe and throughout Northern California are all here

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ERICA &
NICHOLAS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
FACTORY 404 COMPANY
For many couples, the moment when one person pops
the question is a huge surprise. But that wasn’t the case
for Erica, who Nick proposed to on a secluded cliffside
in Ireland. “I know Nick well enough that I was definitely
expecting it,” she says, “but I couldn’t have asked for a
better spot to get engaged to my best friend.”
Erica and Nick first met in college at the University
of Nevada in Reno, and Nick recalls taking Erica out
to dinner for their first date. “My pickup truck was old,
the driver’s side door didn’t open, and the passenger
window was permanently stuck down,” says Nick.
“Even though the car ride was freezing, and I had to
climb through the passenger seat, she didn’t complain
once. I knew she was a keeper after that first night.”
The two tied the knot in an October celebration at
The Barn at Second Wind. They both wanted a rustic,
country-themed wedding, and the venue was a perfect
fit. “Our wedding designer Lindsey from Getting
Hitched Design + Rentals set up a display in front of
French doors underneath a huge, shady tree. It was so
beautiful,” says Erica. It was also during the ceremony
that both experienced their favorite moment of the
day: Erica’s entrance. “Nick looked so happy to see
me walking down the aisle, which made me even more
emotional,” she says. “I’m not normally an expressive
person, but I definitely was at that moment.” Nick says
that Erica absolutely interpreted his expression correctly.
“I was so happy to finally see her after waiting
for so long!”
The party moved inside the barn for dinner, with a
few quick moments dedicated to speeches and cake
cutting. But then it was right to dancing; Erica recalls
that guests were on the dance floor the entire night.
“We kept the traditions to a minimum because most
people enjoy drinking and socializing the most,” she
says. “We had hip-hop hits playing so people would
dance as much as possible.”
Though the wedding was just what the couple
wanted, Erica says that their short, seven-month engagement
did make planning a bit harder. “Since so
many people plan their weddings over a year or longer,
lots of vendors were booked for our wedding date,” she
says. She recommends that other couples with short
engagements be flexible and open-minded when it
comes to selecting vendors. “Don’t stress too much
over the details,” she says, “because you’re not going
to notice them on your wedding day anyway. In the
end, everything turned out perfect.” OO
—Suzie Dundas
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