[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-gay-weddings-ana-and-gina\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-gay-weddings-ana-and-gina\/","headline":"Summer wedding in Escondido, California","name":"Summer wedding in Escondido, California","description":"Rather than having an officiant, Ana and Gina opted to have their entire wedding party marry them by taking various roles in the ceremony.","datePublished":"2013-04-02","dateModified":"2021-06-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AnaGina_0491.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AnaGina_0491.jpg","height":439,"width":659},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-gay-weddings-ana-and-gina\/","about":["Real LGBTQ+ Weddings from Equally Wed"],"wordCount":1246,"keywords":["California","DIY","lesbian weddings","summer weddings "],"articleBody":" Creativity was put to the test as Ana and Gina\u00a0planned their summer wedding in Escondido, California, and the result was more than either of them could have imagined. By Team Equally Wed | Photography by Kaysha WeinerAna and Gina tied the knot in a rustic ceremony at Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa in Escondido Calif., approximately 450 miles south from their home in Oakland. Searching online, they stumbled across the natural estate and immediately knew that it was the place they would exchange vows. \u201cWe called them immediately, long after business hours had ended, and booked it sight unseen,\u201d explains Ana of their serendipitous choice. \u201cWe made a trip the following month and loved the energy, style and gorgeous setting of Hidden Valley.\u201d\u00a0Planning over long distance was a familiar setting for Ana and Gina, whose love grew over nightly marathon Google Video Chat sessions (\u201cInterrupted frequently by Ana\u2019s old overheating laptop!\u201d adds Gina) thanks to the couple\u2019s cross-country relationship. Eventually, they loaded all of Ana\u2019s prized possessions into her tiny 1993 Mazda MX-3 and set out on a wild adventure from Ana\u2019s home in Philadelphia to Gina\u2019s in Oakland, Calif., where they settled into blissful domestic bliss.A planning process consisting of four road trips to San Diego and meticulously coordinating with the staff and their event planner, Elisa Suter, resulted in a day that was beyond their dreams by bringing their DIY vision to life. \u201cIt was absolutely exhausting but turned out gorgeously, certainly an event worthy of our love and relationship,\u201d says Gina.\u00a0Because it was a destination wedding, the lovebirds strived to make it feel like a vacation for their 60 guests. \u201cWe planned an entire weekend, with many guests arriving on Friday. We had a rehearsal dinner followed by karaoke on Friday, a pool party brunch on Saturday before the ceremony, and a brunch on Sunday. Everyone, including us, came from far away, so we wanted to spend lots of time together,\u201d says Gina. They also provided each of their guests with welcome bags for the weekend wedding, which included necessities such as soap and toothbrushes, as well as bonus items such as the couple\u2019s favorite pita chips and hummus, hand sanitizers, sunscreen and a BPA-free RED water bottle inscribed with \u201cAna & Gina 7-14-12.\u201dThey were inspired by the enchanting natural setting of Hidden Valley\u2019s grounds, and created a country rustic theme bursting with vibrant colors. \u201cWe still wanted it to be fancy and special,\u201d adds Gina. The ceremony site was festively embellished with paper lanterns and oversized tissue paper flowers, as guests sat in a semi-circle, creating an intimate atmosphere as the couple exchanged vows.\u00a0Resting on the each ceremony seat, guests were welcomed with parasols and fans thoughtfully placed by the bride and bridegroom to help battle the midday sun. The bride wore an intricately beaded white halter gown with red flats during the ceremony. For the reception, she switched into a flirty one-shouldered dress and gold shoes ideal for dancing. Gina donned a light gray Perry Ellis suit paired with a white dress shirt from Banana Republic and red tie, and finished with striking brown shoes from Aldo.\u00a0The wedding party was made up of both men and women, and featured two adorable children who walked down the aisle carrying signs made by Gina\u2019s uncle that read \u201cHere Comes\u201d and \u201cThe Bride.\u201d \u201cWith a little coaxing from their mom and some friendly members of the wedding party, the two eventually made it all the way down the aisle without any disasters,\u201d says Ana.Rather than having an officiant, Ana and Gina opted to have their entire wedding party marry them by taking various roles in the ceremony. Their ceremony script was a hybrid of various traditions that spoke to the couple. \u201cIn addition to our vows, exchanging of rings, and a number of readings about marriage and love, we signed a marriage contract that one of Ana\u2019s bridesmaids based from the Muslim tradition,\u201d says Gina. \u201cWe also had a few minutes for people gathered at the ceremony to share wishes and blessings for us.\u201d\u00a0\u201cWe were elated, exhausted, and so, so touched at how present and engaged everyone was during the ceremony. We were worried it would seem too long, or that people would be miserable in the heat, but everyone was wonderful. We felt honored and exhilarated by all of the love,\u201d says Ana. The crafty duo transformed a vintage clothing rack into a seated card display using only colorful crepe paper and creativity.\u00a0Jewel-toned crystal illuminated on neutral tablecloths, sprinkled with crochet flowers and centerpieces inspired by Ana\u2019s love for the sunny disposition of sunflowers (and for Gina), the drama of deep purple dahlias and the passion shared by the new couple, with wildflowers mixed in for a natural edge. Bulb lights were draped amongst vibrant paper lanterns adding sparkle to the room as the sun dipped below the horizon.Guests were served a medley of Mexican favorites, including fish tacos, grilled chicken, pickled vegetables, beans, rice and guacamole. \u201cOne of the biggest hits was the horchata, which was gone in about thirty minutes!\u201d exclaims Ana.\u00a0Their miniature wedding cake was carrot-flavored and covered in frothy white buttercream icing with script heart details. The cake topper was a nod to Ana\u2019s hometown accented with a LOVE statue, and highlighted with two lovebirds.For the dessert table, they converted a wooden armoire from the venue and turned it into a whimsical display featuring homemade bunting, crocheted flowers and photographs of the happy couple. Mini cupcakes in delicious flavors that matched their Mexican-themed meal, including churro, margarita and Mayan chocolate, were sprinkled amongst mason jars filled with wildflowers and vibrant paper flowers and lanterns.\u00a0Their first dance as a married pair was to Jason Mraz\u2019s hit I Won\u2019t Give Up, selected after seeing it performed on Ellen a few months prior. \u201cWe both teared up when we first heard it, and we still do to this day,\u201d says Ana. After the sweet song ended, a second dance for the two began, featuring barely choreographed hilarity to I Feel So Close by Calvin Harris. \u201cWe had everyone join us on the dance floor for that number after we exhausted our three moves,\u201d she laughs. DJ Carmin Wong, a lesbian disc jockey from Los Angeles, whom the couple sought after reading interviews with her in the queer press, kept guests on their feet throughout the night. \u201cShe has awesome style and was really fun to work with.\u201dAna\u2019s engagement ring is a diamond solitaire round cut with a tapered thin white gold band, while Gina\u2019s engagement ring features a thicker band, also white gold, with a bezel set garnet stone that Ana received from Gina\u2019s mother\u2014it was part of a charm bracelet that belonged to Gina\u2019s maternal grandmother. Their white gold wedding bands are each inscribed with a sentimental, personality-driven saying and their wedding date. Ana\u2019s ring reads \u201cSeat\u2019s taken,\u201d which is what Gina would say whenever she suspected another flirting with her beloved, while Gina\u2019s reads \u201cSoy tuya para siempre,\u201d which means, \u201cI\u2019m yours forever.\u201d  VENDORS  Photography:\u00a0Kaysha Weiner Venue: Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa Event Planner:\u00a0Elisa Suter Cake:\u00a0San Diego Desserts (cake); Calculated Whisk (cupcakes)Music:\u00a0The Ocdamia Strings; DJ Carmin Wong Attire:\u00a0Perry Ellis; Banana Republic; Aldo Hair\/Makeup:\u00a0Charlyn Sanchez Save"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Summer wedding in Escondido, California","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/real-gay-weddings-ana-and-gina\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]