Behind every fairy tale is a lot of hands at work. For me, that’s an understatement.
A year ago I decided I wanted to do what most guys would be terrified of … plan a surprise engagement AND wedding on an island across the country, with Kayla, (known by most as KK) the love of my life and the best step-mom my 4 year old (Corbin) could ever have.
We had spoken over and over about our love of Catalina and she thought there was no way to have our big day there being from Nashville, Tennessee. So I started saving.
Behind every fairy tale is a lot of hands at work. For me, that’s an understatement.
A year ago I decided I wanted to do what most guys would be terrified of … plan a surprise engagement AND wedding on an island across the country, with Kayla, (known by most as KK) the love of my life and the best step-mom my 4 year old (Corbin) could ever have.
We had spoken over and over about our love of Catalina and she thought there was no way to have our big day there being from Nashville, Tennessee. So I started saving.
Four months before the wedding I started telling her friends and family about the idea, and they knew it was perfect. I convinced KK that we would be able to have a small wedding at home early next year, and that we should start knocking out some of the tough financial purchases so it didn’t hit us all at once … like her dress and my suit. Beyond that her mom started taking care of all kinds of details, while I spent my 45 minute ride home from work every day calling vendors and getting everything setup.
She thought we were coming in to shoot a promo video for the Chamber of Commerce and to shoot a video about how we met.
While she was on camera sitting on Front Street talking about our relationship, my sister, her sister, and my little boy came out from behind her.
I played her a video from some of her family that said they missed her and wished they were here, but that she needed to turn around.
When she did our little boy and sisters came out, and me and Corbin got down on one knee and he asked if she could marry daddy (because who could say no to that?).
After a minute or two I showed her another video from Monte of “Say Yes to the Dress,” and he said she had another big surprise.
I told her I had been working on a surprise over the past year, and that I wanted her to marry me two days later on the island.
However, I would not dare think of doing it without all the people standing behind her.
When she turned around her family, and mine (most of whom have never been on a airplane) were all behind her. During this whole process it was also streamed live on Facebook.
It then became a whirlwind of three days, including another surprise the next day when all the girls went to sightsee in LA for the day and made a surprise stop at LAX to pick up three of KK’s best friends, and then one more later that day.
That evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal from Jessica and her staff over at The M Restaurant (Zest Catering), and Mark from Wed On Catalina was kind enough to come do our license, and also let me borrow some tools.
The day the girls were in LA my father-in-law, son, and myself built an Arbor for KK and I to get married under, and I would then have it shipped back to put in our garden. Cathy and Havier (Pebbly Beach Supply) were a HUGE help in making this happen.
On the morning of the wedding we set it up at Casino Point, and with the use of Pinterest and some of the best vendors in the world, we made her dream wedding.
The flowers were to die for (thanks so much Bloom, Tracy was so awesome to work with), and one thing KK had always wanted at our wedding was a good pastor friend of ours to officiate, but he had moved out to Orange County. Thankfully Randy was able to come across and do our wedding.
The wedding was perfect, in every way, and at the end of the day I had finally married my best friend in the world…and we could stop lying to her and sneaking around to plan this wedding.
As I sit here and watch the sunrise from behind the city I know that this place will always be like a second home to us, and maybe one day a first.
We could not be more grateful for the residents of the island, for the setting, and the beauty that has wrapped around us all week. We will miss it, but every Nov. 16 you will see a beautiful blonde girl and a tall goofy looking guy wearing a Tennessee Vols hat running around the island, because this place will always be “our place.” Thank you Catalina!
Feel free to stalk me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LukeTheVideoGuy) to see photos and video, and even the livestream from the engagement and wedding. Plus make sure to add me and let me know you are from here; we love meeting the people who make up our dream island!
