These high school sweethearts knew exactly what they wanted when they envisioned their big day: an impressive venue, a classic Great Gatsby like party, and their English bulldog, Frank front and center in a tux. They got all that and then some for their super gorgeous and glamorous day. Emily Dawn Photography captured all the meaningful moments and beautiful details and there’s a whole lot more right here in the full gallery.
From the Bride… Jon and I have been dating since we were 14 years old, which means on the day of our wedding we had been dating for nearly 13 years! The anticipation for our wedding day was very high for the two of us, as well as our friends and family that have followed our high school sweetheart love story for over a decade. Our wedding took place at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. Kohl Mansion was the first venue we saw, and just like when we found one another, the first choice was the keeper. We loved the unique and elegant architecture right away, noting that it would look beautiful whether the weather was rainy or sunny (we had to be prepared for downpour since our wedding was going to be in April). The thematic idea for our wedding was to take a page from the glamorous garden parties from The Great Gatsby, and the Kohl Mansion was definitely the perfect backdrop.
Because the venue is impressive all on its own, I knew that I wanted to really spend my time on the details that would mean a lot to Jon, me and our families. For instance, I carried my great-grandma’s hankie down the aisle with me and was so thankful for it when Jon’s vows brought tears to my eyes. We also used the cake topper from my grandparents’ wedding as our own. Their 50th wedding anniversary was only two weeks after our wedding, so we thought it would be fun to have them share in the cake cutting to commemorate this special date! And my aunt made my money dance purse out of her bridesmaids’ dress from my parent’s wedding.
Each of my bridesmaids carried a bouquet of one type of pink flower. My bouquet was then a compilation of all of their flowers, but in white (the center pieces were copies of my bouquet but in pink). They each wore a wrap dress to accentuate their own style — I loved how the flowers and their dresses really honored who they were individually while staying within the theme of the wedding. I am a huge Elvis fan, and as a nod to my love for the king, I wore blue suede shoes, and we walked away from the altar to Elvis’ song, “Happy Ending.” The lyrics go, “Boy meets girl and then, they’ll never part again, and live forever happily, like you and me!” I couldn’t think of a better song for two high school sweethearts like us … and it didn’t hurt that it was an Elvis song either.
One of the most special aspects of our wedding was that our three-year-old English Bulldog, Frank, was a witness to our nuptials. After going back and forth beforehand about whether or not to include him in the festivities, we decided we wouldn’t feel right without him there (we are crazy dog people, we know!) So he was there, front and center, tuxedo and all! It was a day we will never forget, and it gave us memories we will cherish for a lifetime. We felt it was the perfect way to end a courtship that began so long ago, as well as kick off a marriage that will last even longer.
Wedding Photography: Emily Dawn Photography (No Longer in Business) / Wedding Venue: Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California / Floral Design: Flower Divas / Wedding Cinematography: 5 Slugs Videography / Wedding Dress: La Sposa “Detalle” / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini