Alia & Cory // Ethereal Gardens Wedding
Cory + Alia met while working at one of our nation’s most romantic culinary establishments, BUFFALO WILD WINGS. With all due respect to the wings, I do believe their love is the best thing BWW ever produced.
When I met up with this sweet couple in San Diego for their engagement session, we quickly grew extremely comfortable around one another. They are both delightfully friendly, warm, and gentle people with HUGE hearts and joyful spirits. When I reflect on their engagement session + wedding, there was really not a single second of it that felt like “work.” Through every beautiful moment of their celebration—whether that was taking photos with their PERFECT golden retriever, eating chicken nuggets mid-day, or watching Alia run barefoot through the grass at sunset—I felt like I was simply hanging out with pals who happened to be getting married. It was heaven.
Getting to know their incredible families and friends was also a huge highlight. With a super relaxed schedule that allowed for quality time with their loved ones and zero stress, I actually got to chat with their people and get to know their wonderful personalities and eccentricities. It was all such a TREAT.
It’s hard to adequately describe how lovely Cory + Alia are as a couple and as individuals. Separately, they are both uniquely charismatic and magnetic. Cory is a hilarious storyteller and an even better listener, and Alia is equal parts deeply thoughtful and delightfully playful. Together, they exude pure love and positivity, making sure everyone in their circle feels seen and important. In a grand gesture of care and consideration, they even took the time to write 80+ personalized letters for their cherished guests to read before dinner. As everyone entered their tent for the reception, I looked on as friends and family absorbed the words from their notes, teary-eyed and impressed that the couple found time to make them feel so special on their day.
Their wedding was now over a year ago, but I am so grateful to still call them my dear friends. Just a few weeks ago, the three of us met up in San Diego and had a brunch that included equal parts laughter and tears as we reminisced about their wedding and covered every topic known to man… all while eating scrambled eggs and biscuits.
A & C, I am lucky to know you and I truly adore you. Thanks for letting me third-wheel your perfect wedding.
I couldn’t share this without acknowledging that Cory’s effervescent, kind, loving father Jim passed away just a couple of months after his beautiful wedding. Spending the day with Jim and observing as he watched his son get married was a true gift. He got to share a “father-daughter dance” with his only daughter, as the couple selflessly wanted to make sure the two of them had the chance. He was the best, and I am so grateful I got to know him. May his memory be a blessing.
