Tell us a little about yourselves!
We were both freshly new to the area, Odil having recently moved to the US from Mexico for work, and Brandon having recently moved back to his hometown. Our first date was shared at a small Mexican restaurant in Rochester. We barely spoke the other’s language, but laughed and bonded over our shared experiences as we passed google translate back and forth on a phone to communicate. Despite the language barrier, we both left that restaurant and told our families that we thought we had just met the person that we would marry.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
The most important aspect for us was to make sure that Brandon’s Dad was able to be at the wedding.
We weren’t as concerned about having a specific venue or location as much as we were concerned with making sure that our wedding happened in time for Brandon’s father to attend, as he’d been recently given a terminal cancer diagnosis. We decided to have the small dinner reception in our first apartment together, which we still live in. For the ceremony, our cousin, who planned many of the details with us, found a spot in Highland Park in a grove of Magnolias not too far from the road - which we wanted to keep in mind for Brandon’s dad and the guests all gathered there as they waited for us to arrive. We walked down the aisle together, and actually didn’t know the exact ceremony location in the park until we arrived. We loved this element of surprise to our day, and loved that the first thing we saw in our ceremony was this small gathering of our closest people.
How many guests did you have?
15 People.
Tell us about your outfits.
Since Odil’s family is in Mexico, we decided to do a traditional wedding in Mexico with her family and one in the US for Brandon’s family. For our wedding in Mexico, Odil wore a more traditional dress that was handmade by her Aunt. For this wedding in Rochester, Odil chose a simple white dress from Reformation. She loved that it was more casual for our elopement, yet still made her feel elegant.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
The most important aspect for us was to make sure that Brandon’s Dad was able to be at the wedding.
We knew he didn't have much time. Above all else, we wanted him to be there to experience this special moment with us. This is part of the reason we decided to have our wedding when we did and why we chose a place close to home, since he couldn't travel far. It was exactly one month after our wedding Brandon’s father passed away. We are so grateful that he was able to be there for our day.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
The most important elements for us were to have a wedding that was intimate and simple. One of the things we loved was having our reception in the comfort of our home. The time following our ceremony was so enjoyable because of that. Since our wedding was so small, everyone that was there got to speak encouraging words over us as we entered this new season of our life together.
Any tips for couples getting married, particularly during the pandemic?
One of the best decisions we made was to keep our wedding small and keep it simple. We also trusted our vendors to do what they do best. We can truly say we didn't have any stress on our wedding day or the days leading up to it because of those two things. We were able to enjoy the moment and our wedding was better than we ever expected it to be.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Yes. Juliana Cole Photo. Juliana Cole was our photographer and she did an incredible job. Not only is her work amazing, but she is so good at making you enjoy your time taking pictures. She knew the best places for us to take photos and helped so much with bringing the photo vision we had to life. She knew how to bring out the best in us and when we got our photos we were blown away. There is not a single thing we would change about our experience with Juliana– we are so grateful we chose her.
Joelle Eats Cake - Joelle Eats Cake is another vendor we would like to thank. Joelle Cole not only made a beautiful cake for us, but she planned every detail of our reception and collaborated with our photographer to plan the ceremony. She was so thoughtful about all the details of our wedding and created the best atmosphere for our day. The day was flawless and stress free thanks to her.
Photographer :Juliana Cole Photo @julianacolephoto | Ceremony Location : Highland Park Bowl Public Park | Reception Location :The couples home | Catering + Beverages : Neno’s Taco @nenosroc | Cake : Joelle Eats Cake @joelle_eats_cake | Bride's Dress : Reformation @reformation | Engagement + Wedding Rings : Mann’s Jewlers @mannsjewelers