The Parker's Wedding Day

06.02.2012

Cara and I picked this date not because it had any significant meaning, but because it allowed us to get married on a Saturday that wasn’t in the middle of summer and on a day our photographer (and our venue) was available. After getting engaged back in October 2011, we knew we’d have to work quick if we wanted to have our wedding in 2012, otherwise, it would have been pushed back to 2013. We put in many hours after work getting all the details finalized and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Both of our days began in different places: Hers at the hotel starting their preparation and mine getting ready at home. One thing we both decided we wanted was a first look and it was such an amazing start to our day and would highly recommend it to other couples. I’m sure some will disagree but it really helped put us at ease as we began our “big day”.

Now, we begin…

We chose Sunset Cliffs as our ceremony location as we both knew we wanted a wedding on the beach. San Diego isn’t very flexible on how and where you can get married on public land so you have to reserve your spot well in advance and from their specific list of locations. Lucky for us, this location was available and accommodated the number of guests we were preparing for. Though the day was overcast and a little chilly, it was perfect for photos and we got some amazing shots from our amazing photographer (yes, two amazings in one sentence…it was that amazing). Our ceremony went off without a hitch as we kept it simple, intimate and very much “us”. We were officially married and by no other than our good friend (and the one who introduced us to each other), Emily.

It’s time to party…

The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Resort & Spa hosted the “Best Wedding in San Diego History” (we’re a little biased) as we took up their main ballroom just steps from their pool area, the marina, and the bay shore. We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where we wanted our reception as we were looking for something specific but later found out it wouldn’t be obtainable unless we were willing to fork over a great deal of cash. I worked some magic through some of my contacts while working at SeaWorld and got a great deal…a deal so good we would have been stupid to pass it up.

The party began with cocktail hour serving our signature drink “The Cara”, named by our good friend Patrick. It’s a mixture of blueberry vodka, 7-up and a splash of cranberry shaken and served in a high ball glass. We offered a [limited] open bar but that limit quickly diminished by the time our actual reception started…guess we underestimated the drinkers in our group of friends. We entered, we danced, we ate and we had an incredible time while spending it with some of the most important people in our lives.

Before we get to the photos, we must thank a few people for making our day extra special:

• JWL Photography (www.jwlphotography.com) – Jason was amazing…I knew I could trust him from the beginning. As a fellow photographer, I knew I was going to be highly critical of the person hired for this task but I never had to worry about a thing with him. He truly is a man of his craft and I know Cara and I are forever in his debt.
• Hyatt Regency Mission Bay (missionbay.hyatt.com) – I’ve been working with this property for just under 4 years and have always enjoyed the courtesy, care, and attention they provide their guests. I always recommend this hotel to anyone who comes in town and couldn’t be happier with our decision. Hillary, our coordinator, made sure the night went off without an issue and her staff took great care of our friends and family. I can’t recommend this place enough.
• Kayella Entertainment (weddings.kayella.net) – Ron and Nick definitely took care of us. With a very flexible and thorough playlist, we had every song we were wanting (and those we didn’t) ready to go and timed just right to keep our night flowing like it was supposed to. Very professional, fun, and energetic, i’d recommend them to anyone looking for a great DJ.
• Dexter’s Cakes (Dexter’s Cakes on Facebook) – Dexter came in from Seattle, back to his San Diego roots, and created an awesome cupcake display along with one of the best cakes i’ve ever had as our wedding cake. You can definitely tell he takes pride in his work because not only did it show visually, it shined edibly (is that a word? Who cares, it is now!). Dexter, you’re hired for life. If I ever order another Costco cake, it’s only because of our long-distance relationship.
• String Sisters (www.sensatonalstringsisters.com) – Considering Sunset Cliffs wouldn’t allow amplified music, we had a dilemma on how to have music playing at our ceremony. Along came the String Sisters who did an amazing job battling the gusty ocean winds. Can’t thank you enough!
• Emily Aldrich – A long time friend and the reason why Cara and I are together, she did the job no one else could have done…she married us. We couldn’t have found anyone more qualified to do the job you did and we both love you very much!
• Aimee Reed – Another long time friend helped make our day run smoothly with coordinating vendors and setting up our ceremony. Aimee is always quick to take care of her friends and we’re glad to have you as one.

Photobooth Photos