Double Duty: Bridesmaid/Coordinator

I still remember the moment I learned that my dear friends, Wendy and James were engaged. I was walking around Blockbuster when I got the text; news that I had been waiting to hear for a long time. I jumped around so excitedly; almost as if I had been the one just proposed to.

I have known Wendy and James from our days at UC Davis, and our friendship has grown over a decade. I was extremely honored to be asked to be a part of the wedding party, and surprised when they asked me to be their coordinator. I'm not sure if I was more excited to be a bridesmaid or the coordinator. Then when it all sunk in, I realized how daunting of a task it just may be.

My toughest challenge as a coordinator is being in two places as once; I still haven't been able to do it. So how would I be able to get my hair and make up done, complete set up, make sure everyone was supposed to be in the right place, AND have a good time?! The answer is simple: have AWESOME vendors (which they did), and a SUPER wedding party and family (that lent so many helping hands, I think they ran out!).

Wendy and James' wedding was so unique and very San Francisco. The day started with traditional Chinese door games at Vitale Hotel. James and his groomsmen had to perform a myriad of tasks including passing seaweed to each other using only their lips, so that James could win entrance to retrieve his bride. The games were followed by the traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

The ceremony took place in Levi plaza with cocktail hour next door at Il Fornaio, where they celebrated their one year anniversary over a decade ago. The first and only wedding to ever take place under the beautiful row of trees, their ceremony could not have been more stunning with a wall of almost 350 paper pom poms of royal purple, white, and green as their background.
The couple exchanged personal words, and tears flowed down my cheeks as both expressed extremely touching words of what each meant to the other, and how both touched on similar stories and instances of their relationship over the past 13 years. Often times as a coordinator, I am not able to stay and listen to a couples' vows, but it definitely means so much more to know the couple.

The reception took place at Palomino, where guests had their Polaroid picture taken and put into a guestbook, everyone had great time playing in the photobooth, James and Wendy mirrored their guests’ kisses in a game of Copy Kiss, and everyone danced the night away. We were all pooped by the end of the night, but I wouldn’t change any moment of the entire day. First time as a bridesmaid/coordinator, and I would do it all over again! I could not be happier for my dear friends, Congratulations Wendy and James!

Ceremony: Levi's Plaza
Reception: Palomino Restaurant
Photographer: Alfred & Emma Photography
Florist: Poppy's Petalworks
Cake: Cake Croquette
Chairs: Especially Yours Chair Covers & Chivari Chairs
Dress: Amy Kuschel
Hair & Make Up: Joli de Jackie

Thank you Alfred & Emma Photography for all the Awesome pictures!!