Sweet New Year’s Wedding In Oregon

Andrea and David have the sweetest love story, just like one you would read about in fairy-tales.

They met while studying abroad in Berlin. David is from Boston and was attending college in Maine; while Andrea is from Oregon and was attending college in Los Angeles. After coming back to the U.S. they finished their programs while maintaining a long distance relationship. Once they graduated, they both moved to the Bay Area before heading east for NYC where David proposed at the park near their apartment.

Planning a wedding 3,000 miles away was no small task, so the couple had to rely on those that lived near their wedding location to help them out.

Andrea’s mom assembled a family work party to get Flinn Block Hall ready the day before and morning of the wedding. Everything came together beautifully – all the way down to the decorative sprigs of bay leaf and rosemary on each napkin. Everything had purpose and meaning making the entire day just perfect!

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

David: My favorite part of the wedding day was seeing Andrea come down the aisle with her parents. When everybody stood up and turned to look at her, it was a really special moment and one that I’m glad to take with me.

Andrea: Of course it’s so hard to break down such an intense and emotional and beautiful day and say what my favorite parts were. I think my top three moments, where I felt the most overwhelming love and emotion, were: 1) The first look! It was SO exciting and joyful to finally reconnect with David again after a morning apart, and to see how amazing he looked in his suit ???? 2) Walking into the ceremony with my parents. The moment we walked into the room, I knew it was going to be such an emotionally intense experience, and it just got more so the closer we got to all our friends and family. Seeing the love on everyone’s faces as we walked down the aisle, and being supported on either side by my wonderful parents was overwhelmingly beautiful. 3) The toasts! Each of them was so heartfelt, and being able to sit next to my new husband while we laughed and cried (happy tears) together was pure joy.

What are you most looking forward to in married life?

David: I’m most excited to have a partner in crime that I can always to to lean on, and celebrate the ups and downs for life with. Sounds corny but it’s true. Also, in the more near-term, we’re going to take our first world voyage together to Europe — to England to see my relatives who couldn’t make it to Oregon, Berlin because that’s where we met, and Paris (because we’re married and it’s romantic, duh).

Andrea: I am looking forward to continuing to make a beautiful life, home, and partnership together. I am so excited for the tangible and intangible ways that our love and relationship will deepen and expand now that we have made this formal, public commitment to one another. I look forward to continuing to learn about David, about myself, and about love through our years together, and to be able to share those years with our family and friends.

What advice to do you have for others?

David: My advice for others on their wedding day: let go of the stress! There’s so much that goes into planning your wedding day and you always want to be perfect. But letting go of the stress of having *everything* happening really lets you enjoy your big day. It’s amazing to realize the room is full of people that are rooting for you and are so happy to be there, so just open up and enjoy the day as it comes.

Andrea: Enjoy the wedding planning process! The wedding day is beautiful and joyful, but it is only one day, and it goes by quickly. So be intentional and present in the months, weeks, and days leading up to the wedding, as those are very much a part of the event as well. Be grateful for the opportunity to take on such a fun and fulfilling project with your dearest loved ones (fiancé, parents, in-laws, grandparents, friends, etc.), and cherish the quality time that it brings to you. Yes, there are stressful moments, but if you keep the big picture in mind, I think it can be such a rewarding experience, and one to look back on fondly.