Joanna and Dave’s traditional wedding in San Rafael

Joanna and Dave were married in an elegant and traditional ceremony and celebration coordinated by My Dandelion Event at St. Vincent’s School for Boys in San Rafael, California. Joanna recruited long time friends and bridesmaids to design the florals and calligraphy. Alyssa with Ginger Rose created pink florals with Italian vibes to honor the groom’s heritage. The color palette is soft and romantic filed with blush, ivory, and green. Set against the amazing grounds of the venue, the effect is stunning. Courtney Stockton Photography worked her magic behind the lens to capture these gorgeous images.

What made the wedding special and unique?

Dave and I envisioned an intimate, traditional Catholic wedding that reflected his Italian heritage. The Most Holy Rosary Chapel, and St. Vincent School for Boys where it is situated, are each imbued with a rich historical European ambiance that tied in perfectly with this vision.

It was very important to us that our families be a part of our special day. My cousin had been ordained as a Catholic priest just one month prior to our wedding, so ours was his very first wedding to officiate. Dave has two sisters – one of them sang the responsorial psalms and the other eloquently performed the liturgical readings. Two of my young cousins added very memorable charm to the occasion as they proceeded down the aisle as flower girls.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The whole day was so memorable for us, but there are two moments that really stand out.

The first was when the church doors opened and we saw each other for the first time. Neither one of us had seen each other’s attire before the wedding, so just seeing each other was breathtaking.  Then, different but just as memorable, being announced as husband and wife and walking out on the balcony – seeing all of the people our marriage has brought together – it was spectacular!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

At the very outset of my engagement, as I was flipping through bridal magazines, I spotted the Lela Rose “Woodlands” gown, and I instantly knew it was the dress for me! Several months later my mom and I planned a weekend of dress hunting. I hadn’t yet told her about the Lela Rose gown because I wanted her to be completely unbiased in my selection. I had lined up an appointment at Jin Wang in San Francisco. I tried on many dresses and my mom loved each one. But I will never forget the moment when I walked out in the Lela Rose gown – her eyes instantly welled up and we both began to cry.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

The first time we met was at a Mexican restaurant in Berkeley, CA called Comal. We sat down and ordered drinks, then being a gentleman, Dave let me select the appetizer. He didn’t tell me that he hated shrimp, and of course, I ordered the shrimp ceviche. Because Dave didn’t eat much, I began to worry that maybe he wasn’t that into me – but all turned out well on our second date!

The story on how we became engaged is pretty special for us. Dave planned a picnic at one of our favorite spots in Tiburon. It was a gorgeous sunny day when we arrived – and, it was just the two of us. Dave laid down a quilt and began unpacking things. He suddenly got down on one knee. He told me that I was the love of his life and asked me to marry him.  Of course I said yes!! He followed that up with a bottle of our favorite champagne (that he’d hidden away in our picnic basket), put on some music, and we spent that afternoon gazing at the Bay. Next to getting married, this was by far the happiest day of my life!

Photography: Courtney Stockton Photography // Coordinator: My Dandelion Event // Florist: Ginger Rose // Calligraphy: Kendall Cameron Calligraphy & Design // Venue: St. Vincent’s School for Boys // Caterer: Ray’s Catering // Baker: Mariposa Baking // Ceremony Music: Marin String Quartet & Ensembles // Hair & Makeup: Meaganne McCandess Hair & Makeup Artist // DJ: DJ Saint Patrick at Golden State Productions // Dress: Lela Rose via Jin Wang