Fall Wedding at the Villa San Juan Capistrano

Venue: The Villa San Juan Capistrano
Event Planning: Merren Events
Photography: Koman Photography
Menswear Style: Grey Notch Lapel Suit with a matching grey striped bow tie

Write Up from the bride: To be honest, I never saw myself getting married and then all that changed when I met my husband, Charlie. It took about three dates for us to realize we were meant for each other and six months later, Charlie proposed. (Spoiler alert: I said yes!). From the moment we got engaged, we agreed that our wedding needed to reflect our personalities and taste. Our choices were based on feelings vs. traditional expectations. We did what felt like us, which ended up being an elegant, romantic party to celebrate our love with close friends and family. When we started the search for venues, I was having a tough time connecting with any location because nothing felt special. I had no preconceived notions about what I wanted nor how it had to be but I figured I would just know when I found it. Like when I met Charlie… I just knew. The minute I walked into the Villa San Juan Capistrano, everything started to click and I got a sweet warm buzz. For the first time, I could envision my wedding day. The Villa is a timeless and effortlessly stunning space. I had the perfect man and now I had a gorgeous backdrop for us to become husband and wife. (I know, I know, insert eye roll here). Not gonna lie, it was a lot work and there were some frustrating moments but we wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding day. We had the most perfect day and it all still feels like a dream! While I don’t think there is anything that can fully prepare someone for the overwhelming emotions that come with a wedding (not to mention the days leading up to it), my hope for other brides is to try to remember the little, important moments that take place. Soak in every minute because it all goes by so quickly. The most valuable piece of advice I received was from my best friend/Maid of Honor. She said, “Try not to get so caught up in the wedding that you forget to be excited about the marriage.” That really hit home and helped me refocus on what mattered when things got stressful. It’s hard to believe it took 11 months to plan something that is over in just five hours but you make memories that will last the rest of your life. With the help of some amazing vendors, Charlie and I were able create a wedding day that stayed true to who we are as people and was reflective of our love. It was a massive effort, handmade details (thanks to my bestie) and everyone in the family pitched in to make it happen. We wanted it to be an experience rather than an event – a place to make memories. I think we nailed it.