Weddings and Events
Karen and Eddie’s love can only be described as meant to be after a series of chance encounters brought them together as husband and wife. The pair met over the summer in the Dominican Republic, where Karen was on a medical trip. Eddie just happened to be leading one of the groups, and Karen recalls being “taken by his energy, compassion and work ethic” along with his good looks. After parting ways, a stroke of good luck resulted in Karen and Eddie meeting once again in Chicago. Then in March of 2014, on a day commonly known in the medical field as “Match Day” they both realized that they would both be heading to Portland, Oregon.
After exploring the city of Portland together for months, Eddie finally asked Karen out on a date, a moment that Karen had been anxiously anticipating for quite a while. The proposal came a few years later, after Karen worked an exhausting 28 hour shift. Although she was looking forward to a good night’s rest, Karen agreed to meet Eddie at the same beach they had their first date on. There, Eddie popped the question, and a new series of events- this time planned-began to unfurl.
The couple chose Casa Romantica through a recommendation from Karen’s sister, who had stumbled across the property while exploring San Clemente. The serene atmosphere of the house combined with the stunning view of the ocean enchanted Karen, who knew it was the perfect wedding venue immediately after viewing the grounds.
Karen and Eddie decided on Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano to house the ceremony. Guests were then given an abundance of time to explore the surrounding area before heading to the reception at Casa Romantica.
It was important to Karen and Eddie that the ocean be incorporated into their wedding due to the location of their first date and engagement. Casa Romantica provided the ocean oriented atmosphere the couple wanted while maintaining a classic and romantic style. The pair made sure that the natural beauty of Casa Romantica was enhanced by keeping decorations simple but elegant. The house’s location proved useful because of its close proximity to hotels and Airbnb’s, which gave the many guests that were from out of town easy access to the wedding location.
Eddie kicked off the first dance by singing “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel. Karen remembers the moment fondly, stating that “While he was still singing, we walked down the steps to the outdoor terrace, and had our dance among all of our guests on the ocean terrace. It was beautiful and very romantic”. The DJ for the night, Todd Allen from Epic1DJ took it from there, and kept the crowd’s energy up without being overbearing or loud. Throughout the event Karen says that the pair received several compliments on their choice of DJ.
Cheri from Petite Bouquet worked with Karen and used her creative, budget friendly skills in order to procure beautiful dusty pink and white colored floral arrangements. The decorations paired perfectly with the bronze key accents placed on every name card.
Carbonara catered the event, and the couple could not have been more pleased with the results. The staff was incredibly professional and attentive, and every course from appetizer to dessert was delicious.
Photographer Christian Kaysen of Kaysen Photography worked seamlessly with Eddie and Karen. He had experience with both the Mission Basilica and Casa Romantica, and according to Karen, “was able to give advice about timing and location for the best quality photographs, and answer all other questions that came up throughout the planning process”. Judging by the gorgeous teaser photos, Kaysen was the perfect person to capture the joy of the occasion.
Karen and Eddie’s wedding was just as beautiful and exciting as the story of how their relationship came to be. We wish this couple all the best, and hope that any chance encounters they have in the future result in as much fortune as those that brought them together.
Vendors
Caterer: Carbonara Catering
Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Photographer: Kaysen Photography
Videographer: Mike with Mission Visual
Florist: Cheri with Petite Bouquet
Coordinator: Karen Kupke with California Dreamin’
DJ: Todd Allen with Epic1DJ
