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

We both agree that we cannot
choose just one favorite part! The entire
day was so great from start to finish.
.
—Sam & Derek
Sam and Derek first met at a Folsom High School
basketball game in December 2009. Much of their
early relationship was spent long distance while each
attended separate colleges, but they both made it
back to Northern California together by summer 2014.
Shortly before Sam completed her training to become
a licensed marriage and family therapist, they took
a trip to Maui where Derek proposed on the beach.
As they planned their wedding, both Sam and
Derek put fun with friends and family as a priority
for the day. “We wanted to honor those who had
an impact on us and our relationship,” shares Sam.
Working as a team, they picked their venue, menus
and guest list. “I showed him my plans for décor, but
he pretty much trusted me with the design details,”
adds the bride.
The couple’s ceremony, performed by Sam’s uncle,
Matthew O’Leary, incorporated both traditional and
contemporary elements. “Matt did a beautiful job
outlining our story and incorporating Bible verses
that reflected the values we identified as pillars of
our relationship in the message he wrote,” says Sam.
“Derek and I separately named three values. He wrote:
trust, communication and support. I wrote: honesty,
communication and kindness. Matt highlighted how
comparable these values were!”
The reception was held in a tent outside at Winchester
Country Club right above the grass landing
where the ceremony was held. For their first entrance
as a married couple, the pair danced in to the Sugarhill
Gang’s cover of “Apache (Jump on It),” followed
by a first dance to “Speechless” by Dan + Shay. “This
sums us up perfectly,” explains Sam. “We can have
fun together doing something ridiculous, and in the
next moment we are calm and composed taking in
the moment.”
Sam then danced to “Ku’u Home O Kahalu’u / Ku’u
Lei Awapuhi.” “My grandparent’s have lived on the
island of Kauai since I was two years old,” she says.
“If there is ever live music when we are out to dinner
with them on Kauai, this song is most likely always
played.” Sam’s grandmother joined them by the end
of the song. “My grandpa ended up passing away four
months after our wedding and having pictures and
video of us dancing together to my grandma’s favorite
song is so priceless.” OO —Darren Elms
THE DETAILS //
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kylie Compton Photography
kyliecomptonphotography.com
See ad on page 84
BRIDE’S ATTIRE
The Bridal Box | thebridalbox.net
See ad on page 70
SELECT RENTALS
Celebrations! Party Rentals and Tents
celebrationspartyrentals.com
See ad on page 7
TURN TO PAGE 183 FOR MORE OF
SAM & DEREK’S WEDDING PROFESSIONALS
> VISIT OUR WEBSITE REALWEDDINGSMAG.COM
FOR A FULL LIST OF SAM & DEREK’S WEDDING
PROFESSIONALS ALONG WITH MORE DETAILS,
PHOTOS AND TIPS FROM THE COUPLE.
REALWEDDINGSMAG.COM // REAL WEDDINGS | 163