Diane and Alex

We met on Plenty of Fish a free dating site.  We first spoke 12-17-11, met 1-6-12 moved in together 6-1-12, engaged 10-6-12 and married 5-17-14.  After we met we moved pretty quickly.  After dating for so many years, you just know when it’s right. I never believed that until it happened to me.  

A funny memory of us when we first met was I was on a date with someone and extremely bored that I kept texting Alex under the table.  Once I ended that date, had a full face of makeup and ready to go I pretty much invited myself over to Alex’s house.  The next night we went to a movie neither one of us wanted to see but we wanted to see each other.  So we sat through that horrible film.

Our one and only challenge was paying for the wedding.  How we were going to make it work?  Luckily, we had a venue that let us make monthly payments.  That was extremely helpful and stressful at the same time,  Our payment took a huge chunk out of our monthly income.  On top of that all the other expenses that needed to be taken care of.  Surprisingly it worked out.

 I wasn’t that girl that dreamed about her wedding her whole life.  So, I had no idea what I wanted.  I knew I loved, pink, silver, pearls, lace (which I never ended up using)  glitter and candy!  So my theme was simply  things I liked. From the beginning I was obsessed with my candy bar. so much that I ran out and bought some jars and things from a woman off craigslist where I later found out I was ripped off.  I found a star shaped dish at the .99 store and she charged me $5 for that same dish.  So, I am pretty sure I was overcharged for the others.  

 My plan was never to have a “cheap” wedding it was more what can I get for less.  I love a good deal and love the feeling of getting something great for less.  It’s a high.   I love to research and look and look and look.  I found an online forum called Wedding Wire that was extremely helpful with ideas, etiquette and great tools to use such as budget, guest list etc.  

 We had a long engagement so there wasn’t much stress in my planning because I had plenty of time and used it wisely.  Alex and me were in constant communication I did not plan this wedding on my own.  His input and suggestions were always heard and whenever we needed to compromise we did, but rarely had to because we were on the same page hence, why I married him 🙂 

Favorite memories:

Getting up early to go to the flower mart with my girlfriend

Doing DIY with my bridesmaid.  Sitting and laying out all the candy to pick out pink candy to match my color scheme.

My husband surprising me with the processional song.  He kept saying the guitarist couldn’t play that song and when I turned to walk down the isle and heard it I was so happy.

Seeing how happy my dad looked that day.

Unexpected surprise from co-workers with a cake and money to help with the wedding.

Seeing all my very close girlfriends at the wedding.  Even though we don’t talk all the time, each and every one of them are so very special to me.

 What I would do different.

Better explain how I wanted the tables laid out.  One particular table was too far and I did not explain to the coordinator properly.

I also would have been at the venue at the ceremony time to see where the sun was at.  If I had done that I would have chose a 6PM wedding and not 5PM.  A bit too much sun on my guests.

I would have sat down in my wedding dress while I was at the boutique

I would have not chosen a size smaller in my dress.  Thankfully it worked out due to the nutri bullet and lots of exercise,  but I cut it too close and that was unnecessary stress.

Smack the DJ when he played the wrong song for our first dance…really!?

I would have dyed my hair for my engagement pictures and wear a different top. lol

 What I wasn’t prepared for.

What to do when I got to the Altar with my Dad.  We kind of stood there.  I was waiting for the Pastor to say “who gives this woman…..” It never happened so I looked at my dad and mumbled “I guess you sit down”

 All in all  I didn’t have any of the typical challenges per se getting married at my age.  Neither of us have children.  So there wasn’t that difficultly that sometimes comes with blending families.  Thank god our parents are still with us to share the beautiful day.  Getting married at 43 was the perfect age for me.  I experienced life and knew exactly the kind of man I wanted to share the rest of my life with. 

The little things that didn’t happen like the tea lights were never set out on the table and lit. I bought these cute diamonds to lay out on my candy table that were  “lost” a day before the wedding (they did resurface at the venue.  Where the hell were they?) Oh, and since I was so obsessed with my candy bar I cringe when I see my pro pics of the candy bar and my cute pink cake pops and pink chocolate covered pretzel sticks with little pearls on them were not set out on the table. UGH!!!  I swear I want to Photoshop them in. 

Vendors:

Venue – Luxury Events 4 Less. Venue contracted chef, bartender, waiting staff, security, cake (A Sweet Design) and DJ

 Flowers – Los Angles Downtown Flower mart  DIY (my bridesmaid Davin Smith)

Photographer – Peterson Design and Photography

Makeup- “Wax” “Heather Nelson – Santa Clarita

Hair  – “Marigold” Jules – Santa Clarita

Dress – Della Curva – Tarzana

Grooms Attire – Mens Warehouse 

Best men attire – Mens warehouse 

Bridesmaids Attire – Davids Bridal 

Thank you Peterson Design and Photography for this story and beautiful pictures.