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One of the great things about my job is on occasion someone will ask me to travel with them to do a destination wedding. When Fiona and Sean told me they wanted me to come with them up to Bass Lake, I started packing immediately! Not just because the photos of their venue, The Pines Resort, looked amazing, but because I knew this was going to be a super fun wedding, as I had done Sean’s brother’s wedding the year before. However, getting to know Fiona and Sean really made me want to help them throw the most spectacular wedding possible. Fiona absolutely loves to read and so a book themed wedding by the lake seemed like a great place to start. They did not want a lot of formalities and decided only to do the ones they did because of tradition. Fiona was a little worried because her family was very religious and conservative, and neither Sean nor Fiona were big dancers. I was certain this would not be an issue, because I knew the rest of Sean’s family and their friends were.

 As the wedding drew near, a bigger problem loomed on the horizon. Wildfires in Yosemite were blazing out of control the week before the wedding. Yosemite Park was closed to visitors, and the possibility of their wedding being moved was very real. Sean and Fiona didn’t sweat it, and sure enough, the fires were almost completely contained the night before the rehearsal dinner. As you can see, it was a clear day with a spectacular view. The perfect setting for Fiona and Sean to finally say “I Do.” What made this moment even more special was the ceremony was presided over by Fiona’s mom, Felicity.

The party was moved to the Gazebo Deck, an open-air patio right on the waterfront. The guests enjoyed each other’s company, a delicious meal, and several heartfelt toasts. When it was time to dance, they wasted no time in flooding the dance floor. The excitement was building because Fiona and Sean had one more big surprise in store for their guests.

 

A couple of months before the wedding, Fiona and Sean found out they were expecting. The wedding was timed perfectly…just one week after they found out the baby’s gender. They decided to have some fun, and in lieu of a money dance, they asked their guests to “Place Their Bets” in one of two jars…Boy or Girl. At 8:00pm, we gathered everyone onto the dance floor. I asked for everyone who bet “Boy” to stand on Sean’s side and everyone who bet “Girl” to stand next to Fiona. After a few words of thanks, Fiona and Sean exclaimed together…”IT’S A GIRL!!!” The crowd went absolutely wild. At that moment, I turned on the lights, which were pre-programmed to pink to light up the tent. The song “Run The World” by Beyoncé played, which led to a “Girl Power” dance set.

 

 

Another fun alternative to a tradition came at dessert time. Rubia’s Churro Parties set up a cart and made everyone fresh churros with ice cream. OMG, they were DELICIOUS!!! (Diet starts tomorrow!) Fiona and Sean wanted most of all for their guests to have multiple options of things to do aside from dancing. Some went down to the wedding garden to play some corn-hole, others hung out by the lake, some hung out at their tables and talked, many drank and had yummy churros, but the overwhelming majority stayed right in front of me on the dance floor. We all had a blast! When it was finally time to wrap up the night, the shouts for “One More Song” kept coming. Fiona and Sean picked out “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen to end the night and EVERYONE sang along, danced, and even a few really got into the spirit by head banging. The night was warmed not only by the summer air but by all the love floating around for Fiona and Sean. Thank you guys for an unforgettable night!

 

 

 

Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding included:

• The Pines Resort Bass Lake – For a spectacular destination wedding, contact Jessica Trettin – www.basslake.com
• Rubia’s Churro Parties – And yes, they travel! – www.rubiaschurroparties.com