Wedding

Kellie and Jack: Half Moon Bay Micro Wedding

A day drenched in family legacy and tradition. A collection of first responders. An ode to those that came before them and continue to watch over them in love and in life. That’s exactly what Kellie wanted their micro-wedding to represent. The love she felt for Jack, as well as the love and immense respect for her family’s legacy, her grandparents and more. From fleeting moments of butterflies, to visiting grandpa in his nursing home, it was impossible to maintain a dry eye throughout this romantic and heartfelt micro-wedding in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Kellie and Jack faced the turmoil that many 2020 couples did. With the world continually changing, they were forced to reschedule their luxurious Tahoe wedding until next year. But these two knew something – they didn’t want to sacrifice love, marriage, or family due to postponing. So they banded together, with the help of family and long-time family friends, to unite in marriage – even if it was masked and surrounded by only 10 people.

As California continued their shutdowns, the bride and groom were unsure if they were going to be able to tie the knot. But thanks to the long-time family friend and firefighter chaplain, they were able to say their vows in the Catholic Church, which was opened up just for them. The Chaplain officiated, a man who has known and worked with multiple generations of Jack’s family.

Kellie wanted to honor her late grandmother, so throughout the day Kellie had sprinkled in butterflies from her invitation suite to her reception. Draped around her bouquet laid a locket with a photograph of her grandma and grandpa and they recreated that classic wedding photo during their own wedding recessional. After the ceremony was complete, they visited her grandpa at his nursing home, even if it meant a drive across town for just a moment of greetings because of having to social distance. Family always came first with these two.

And no detail honoring family was left for chance. Inside the top of her gown, Kellie carried a Scicilian cross from her grandmother – a tradition spanning generations in her family. Every female has carried this cross in the bosom of their gowns for every special occasion from graduations to proms, weddings and more.

Following their family visit to grandpa, the bride and groom snuck away to the coast for some romantic portraits, a place special to their love story and down the street from where the groom grew up. They then returned to the groom’s childhood home for wonderful wedding traditions including first dances, cake cutting, and an intimate dinner soiree.

While the two had to sacrifice their large lakeside nuptials this year, they still wanted to celebrate every part of a wedding day in this calendar year. They surprised their family members with a choreographed dance, something the groom has suggested and was eager to show off their newly-learned moves. The groom then danced with his mother to a song very special to them, a song she had gifted him on the day of his birth and will forever be their song. Kellie thought of every detail when it came to this day. One of her favorite aspects of her dress was the deep vee back and found the perfect matching flower girl dresses that had that same v-back as well.

Although their friends and the majority of their family could not be there, they certainly did contribute to Kellie and Jack’s love story. Kellie’s friend created beautiful invitations to share in the celebration of their micro-wedding, complete with butterflies to honor Kellie’s late grandma, who showed Kellie she was watching over her as a white butterfly arrived on the patio as Kellie was getting her hair and makeup done. Another dear friend whipped up custom cookies for Kellie and Jack’s family to celebrate with as well. Kellie and Jack also took the time to invest in their micro-wedding, knowing that this would forever be their special day, their wedding day. From custom calligraphy place cards, gorgeous blooms, a cake to cut, special details honoring their family, and more, Kellie and Jack certainly knew how to make their micro wedding just as romantic and special.

Check out some of my favorites from their day below