What’s better than a beautiful wedding, filled with love, laughter, and inexplicable joy? How about all that PLUS a beautiful Same Day Edit. And I’ll raise you one more. How would you like to see how this California love story began? Yep. Double videos today. That’s what happens when Aqua Vivus teams up with their sister company Amari Productions. We get so much sensory overload (grab a tissue – that was your warning) we can’t just keep it at one video. And of course, first we have the fantastic affair as Scot Woodman Photography saw it. Oh my goodness, I am so excited to share this post with you! Click here for the gallery.

I warned you once, but here it is again, grab a tissue!

Dave + Kristen Engagement from AQUA VIVUS on Vimeo.

And for more of your viewing pleasure, we have a fabulous Same Day Edit, shot by Aqua Vivus, and edited by Amari Productions. Definitely enjoy!

Dave & Kristen from Amari Productions & Aqua Vivus on Vimeo.

When Dave and I met, we just knew. The week after we met, though, Dave flew to Kentucky to work for the summer, and I flew to Europe to study abroad. Our relationship started out with European post cards and letters back and forth, until I flew out to Kentucky at the end of the summer. We spent one weekend together, and I knew that Dave was the one for me. We went on a road trip back to California, met each other’s families, and went skydiving together. Great first week together, right?

A short eight months later, Dave was down on one knee proposing to me. Aqua Vivus Productions captured the beautiful moment, and it’s still a video we watch now. Of course I said yes, and the planning began. My mom drove to San Diego for a week for wedding dress shopping and planning. My mom had always envisioned something very traditional and formal for her daughter’s wedding, so that’s what we excitedly started planning. I am so thankful for that trip she made because six months before our big day, she very suddenly passed away. Without my mom to help with planning, it just wasn’t as much fun. I found myself unmotivated to plan such a formal, grandiose affair. Three months before the wedding, I decided to change the entire theme to our wedding to something more whimsical, fun, and laid back. This is what I came up with!

I decided that little details would be my focus. Our photographer, Scot Woodman, did a phenomenal job capturing everything, from the big moments, down to all the small details. There was a white dove release in honor of my mom during the ceremony, and an empty birdcage hanging from the trees at the reception. Lace from my mom’s wedding gown was sewn onto mine, and I put a locket with her picture in my flowers. We had a small cake to cut, made by my talented sister, and many small cupcakes (with cupcake flags) for our guests. Mason jars with cute, colorful flowers, vintage books scattered on the tables, skeleton keys hanging from the trees, a vintage luggage piece for cards on the gift table, wash buckets for the glass coke bottles, banners and clotheslines hanging throughout the garden…it was just so much more mine and Dave’s style. Everything came together to make a beautiful setting for where Dave and I would celebrate our never-ending love for each other!

Photography: Scot Woodman Photography / Cinematography: shot by Aqua Vivus, edited by Amari Productions / Flowers: DIY from Modesto’s Farmer’s Market / Ceremony Location: McHenry Mansion / Reception Location: McHnery Mansion / Shoes: Electra, by Nina / Dress: Moonlight Bridal / Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal / Tuxedos: Vito’s Tuxes / Birdcage Veil: Etsy / Catering: Tahoe Joe’s Steakhouse / Cupcakes: Swirls Cupcakes by Kym Wolf / Cake: Bride’s sister, Nicole Chacon / Wedding Stationary: Jenifer Hunsinger / Menu Board: DIY / Ceremony and Reception Signs: made by Kevin Chacon (father of the bride)