From ski trips to cruises, nights in cuddling the puppy, or hanging out in the lake, the adventures have been endless. Eric actually invited me on his annual sibling ski trip a month after knowing me. It was on this annual ski trip, two years later when Eric got down on one knee at the Domain Chandon winery in Napa, CA, and asked me to marry him. After laughing in his face because I didn’t think it was real, I said yes. From there, we started planning for a wedding in September 2020. As we all know how that played out, we had to postpone our big event. We decided that we would still get married surrounded by close family and friends and on our one-year anniversary host the wedding we had dreamed of and planned. Now two weddings, and one anniversary later we cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together with our wonderful puppy Ollivander. I think everyone is glad they don’t have to hear about it anymore considering this event has been in the making since January 2019 (kidding – but seriously, it was a very extended wedding planning process).

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How did the two of you meet?

We actually met on a blind date set up by a mutual family friend! We had both gone through a breakup around the same time and we were accepting that we would probably just live out life alone forever when a mutual family friend decided to play matchmaker. We were given two rules… we had to go on at least two dates, and we had to talk on the phone, not text. There were a lot of avoided phone calls and awkward voicemails before we finally got a hold of one another and after Karina learned that Eric enjoyed Harry Potter as well, we set our first date for that Sunday, December 11th, 2017 – movies and dinner.

What was your favorite memory of your wedding day?

That it actually finally happened! Considering this was our wedding part two, we were surprised how emotional it still was. Everything came out beyond perfect (minus the Buffalo Bills losing), right down to the weather waiting to let the sky open with rain literally 2 minutes after our cocktail hour outside ended. The details and decorations were even better then we had envisioned. Even though we got re-married on a Sunday, the dance floor was bumping until the end! We can’t pick just one thing that made it perfect… it was just the most amazing day surrounded by so much love and happiness. I know I would do it again in a second, not sure if Eric feels the same way haha. I think twice was enough for him!

What were the main influences behind the style of your wedding, its location and your venue choice for your big day?

I am an event planner by trade and going to conference after conference for the last 7 years I knew for a fact that I did NOT want to be in a hotel or event center ballroom. I wanted something different. I am also a giant Harry Potter nerd, so I wanted something that felt like The Great Hall – enter The Hayloft on the Arch. With tall ceilings and string lights floating above the space – it was perfect! From there I wanted a theme that was Harry Potter, but not too in your face and super classy. I also love sunflowers and fall, so combine all of that together and I had myself the classy, rustic, Harry Potter themed wedding I had dreamed of. Colors of navy and silver (I am a Ravenclaw), four long tables representing the four houses of Hogwarts, sunflowers, lanterns, and so many candles – it all came together perfectly. 

What would your top tips be for somebody planning their wedding?

Don’t stress. I know, easier said than done. Having planned so many large-scale events, and now two weddings, you will learn that no one can ever predict everything perfectly. Things will go wrong or not how you expected and that is okay. You may not get the number one vendor you wanted, or have to postpone your wedding because of a once in every 100 years world pandemic. Things are going to happen and if you let them stress you out, you are not going to be able to enjoy how beautiful your day actually is. Half of the things you will notice – 99.9% of your guests won’t. Take it all in as it goes by so fast – I know that is cliche and everyone says it, but it is true – we joke we pretty much blacked out the entire day. Remember why you are getting married and soak every second of that day all in.

What made you decide to hire a wedding videographer? Any tips for couples on the fence for a film?

This is something I wanted and Eric was on the fence about. I wanted a videographer because although pictures are amazing and they do say 1,000 words, you are so caught up in the day, looking back at photos you kind of wonder when exactly that photo was taken, what you were laughing about, what was going on in your head or what song was playing. Videos capture that movement and that fun. I wanted photos, but I also wanted a way to look back and relive the day through video. Clearly, I won the discussion and after the fact, Eric is very happy we did it because now looking back he knows exactly what I meant and has been just as excited as I have to look back and watch our special day play out. If you’re on the fence just do it! It is 100% worth it!!

Anything else you would like to share?

Gavin is amazing, I am so happy he was a part of our special day for not only wedding part 2, but our OG wedding as well. Our wedding was one of our favorite days out of all the days in our lives so far and we are so happy we will forever have an amazing video to look back at to help us relive that day over and over again. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do!!