Susie and Max met on their first day of work at Google. They both moved to San Francisco as transplants and connected over their southern upbringings love of their SF district: The Mission. The couple celebrated their nuptials in a destination Santa Cruz wedding with ceremony at the historic Holy Cross Church followed by a beachfront reception at the retro-inspired Dream Inn Santa Cruz. The couple let the locations chine and kept their details simple including white florals by Wild Child Flowers and Minted stationery. They enlisted the eye of This Love of Yours to capture all the special moments in these adorable photographs.
What made the wedding special and unique?
We tried to make every detail represent us. Having our wedding in Santa Cruz, a place where neither one of us are from, felt unique. Santa Cruz is a special place and we ensured that our guests experienced everything it had to offer from the moment they landed. We held small, informal get-togethers throughout the weekend that put less pressure on the actual wedding day. All three days felt like an ongoing celebration!
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
The gown is from Lovely Bride and designed by two sisters based in LA — Tara Lauren. Their style embodies a feminine, vintage vibe. The Farrow was one of the first dresses I tried on and it felt different from the rest. The long veil made me feel especially lavish.
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
We’re big winos and beer nerds. We chose all of the drinks ourselves and tried to include beverages that were local to California (the Turley Zinfandel and Trumer Pilsner were big hits). We also featured our love for travel with our guest book. We asked guests to fill out a postcard with advice or a travel recommendation. We read and reread all of the postcards; such memorable tokens from our wedding.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
Our last song stood out to both of us. We played “Shout” and every single person came out to the dance floor. We stayed close to one another but moved and danced around the room, taking it all in. What a feeling to have everyone you love in one place!
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
We met on our first day of work at Google. We both came out to San Francisco as transplants and connected over our southern upbringings and our love of living in the best district in SF: The Mission.
Susie & Max – Dream Inn Wedding from IZ Cinema on Vimeo.
Planning & Design: Katie Hillenga, Dream Inn // Reception Venue: Dream Inn Santa Cruz // Photographer: This Love of Yours // Florist: Wild Child Flowers // Stationery: Minted // Ceremony Venue: Holy Cross Church // Gown: Tara Lauren & Lovely Bride // Hair & Makeup: Urban Beauty Loft // Bakery: The Buttery // Rental Company: Alexis Party Rental // Lighting: Bay Area Event Lights // Videographer: IZ Cinema // Reception Music: Elite Entertainment // Photobooth: 143 Photobooth