Wedding | Julia & Anthony

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met on a foggy June night in San Francisco and bonded over being the eldest children of immigrant families, growing up in the Bay Area, and a shared love of vintage German cars. Anthony immediately reminded me of my beloved grandfather, so he has always felt like home to me. 

In the 7 years since, we’ve created a life full of love and adventure—traveling the world with our sweet pup, riding the motorcycles we've built together, and capturing our memories on film. We fall in love over and over again during road trips, where we talk for hours about design, architecture, and the dreams we're shaping together.

Anthony is gentle, steady, and a force of quiet strength—a true Cancer. I’m a determined Taurus, grounded and full of heart. We balance and inspire one another and it was only natural our wedding emerged as an earthly and heart forward celebration.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Like many Californians, we feel incredibly grateful for the life we’ve built in the state that shaped us. It was important to us that our wedding take place somewhere meaningful—somewhere we could return to, share with the people we love, and where our dog, Poppy, could frolic alongside us.

My grandparents’ home in Occidental felt like the perfect setting for our Western Disco welcome dinner—full of family history and warmth. The next day, we held our wedding in Monte Rio, a place close to our hearts. We’ve spent many summer days swimming that exact bend in the river, so getting married there felt like adding another beautiful memory to a place already full of them.

How many guests did you have?

100 guests.

Tell us about your outfits.

We wanted our outfits to feel like true reflections of who we are—personal, playful, and a little DIY. 

For our Western Disco welcome party, Anthony rocked a vintage '70s suit he found on eBay (complete with the lingering scent of cigarettes), while I wore a white sequin dress from a consignment shop that I personalized by sewing on fringe to complete the disco/western vibe. 

For the wedding day itself, Anthony wore a custom suit paired with his favourite bolo tie and well-loved cowboy boots—an homage to his Sonoran Mexican roots. My bridal look was years in the making, sparked by trying on a vintage cape at a flea market, one of our favourite pastimes. I found a simple gown at BHLDN that would let the cape shine, sourced silk chiffon from Etsy, and used fabric from my wedding dress to create a custom collar.

As for the afterparty, I discovered my corset-style party dress—originally a full ball gown—in a Goodwill on Oahu during my bachelorette trip. I crammed it into my carry-on, brought it home, and spent countless late nights transforming it into a mini dress for dancing. Customizing each piece—my cape, the sequin dress, the party dress—was such an act of love. It made the final reveal feel even more personal and meaningful.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

From the very beginning, we spent countless conversations not just imagining how the wedding would look or flow, but how it would feel—and how we’d feel once it was all over. More than anything, we wanted this celebration to bring our world of cherished people closer together. Our deepest hope was that by the end of the weekend, strangers would feel like old friends, and that this moment would plant the seeds of new connections, shared laughter, and lasting memories.

We envisioned something that felt like a joyful blend of summer camp and garden gala—playful, intimate, and grounded in nature. To make that dream real, it was essential for everyone to stay onsite, sharing space and time in a way that allowed for both spontaneous connection and peaceful solitude.

With river access and open space, our venue let guests move through the weekend at their own pace—some spent mornings paddleboarding, others reading in the sun or hiking nearby trails.

No detail was too small to be infused with meaning. Our altar was built by the loving hands of friends. The flowers came from our home garden, the cocktails made with passion fruits grown and hand-pollinated in my mother’s garden the summer before. The beauty was in the details, not because they were perfect, but because they were personal. 

Because for us, a wedding wasn’t just about a ceremony. It was about weaving together love, intention, and a little bit of magic—just as we have vowed to do in our marriage, every single day.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

One of the most important elements for us was honouring the loved ones who are no longer with us. We created an Ofrenda as a tribute to the grandparents and family members who helped shape who we are—it was our way of including them in our celebration, knowing they were with us in spirit.

Another meaningful touch was our Welcome Dinner: Anthony’s Aunt Romelia prepared a traditional Mexican wedding meal, served in the very home where my German grandfather, Theo, spent his final years tending with love. It became a beautiful blending of our cultures and a tribute to the legacy of those who came before us.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Embrace the magic of doing things your way. Tradition is beautiful—but so is breaking the rules to create something that feels undeniably you. That’s what makes a wedding unforgettable.

We chose to read our vows privately before the ceremony—a quiet, grounding moment just for the two of us to set the tone for our marriage. We skipped the formal wedding party entirely, and our beloved friend and officiant Virginia put it perfectly: “Everyone here today IS the wedding party.” Instead of cutting a cake, we blew out candles—because it was the birth day of our union. At our river float, we served hot dogs (or glizzies, if you will) on silver platters. And we ended the night skinny dipping under the stars with our closest friends—because why not??

Our advice is to indulge in your quirks, your inside jokes, your wildest and most heartfelt ideas. Let your wedding be a mirror of who you are as a couple. For us, the goal wasn’t perfection—it was authenticity. We wanted everyone to walk away feeling like they knew us even more deeply. We stayed true to ourselves, and in doing so, created the most joy-filled, soul-nourishing weekend we could have ever imagined.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Our photographer, Jake Fosmire, did far more than take beautiful pictures—he told the story of our wedding exactly the way we felt it. His passion for photography is undeniable, and it shines through in every frame. Together with Gage, they captured not just moments, but emotions—the kind of images that let us feel the weekend all over again. They were with us through every joyful, chaotic, and quiet moment—more like dear friends than vendors—offering steady guidance and genuine care the entire time. We’ll be forever grateful for the way they helped us hold onto memories we never want to forget.

And fabulous Veronica and Aspen of FM-AM Catering, who made our dream of a candlelit meadow dinner a glowing, delicious reality. We came to them with a vision, and they embraced it with heart and creativity—elevating every detail beyond what we imagined. Their dedication and passion was felt everywhere.

Photographer: Jake Fosmire @jakefosmirephoto | Planning & Styling: by Julia | Flora: by Julia ,purchased from San Francisco Flower Mart | Ceremony & Reception Location: Inn on the Russian River @innontherussianriver | Celebrant: friend of the couple | HMUA: Katya Rich @richbeautystudiosf | Catering & Beverages: FM-AM Catering | Cake: Altamont General Store @altamontgeneralstore | Stationery:  DIY via Canva | Dress: DIY & BHDLN @bhdln | Suit: Suit Supply @suitsupply | Veil: DIY & Etsy @etsy | Afterparty Outfit: sewn by Julia | Rings: (Bride) Cuellar Jewelry @cuellarjewelry & (Groom) Bloedstone @bloedstone