You know, it’s hard to write a favorite things post about my close friend’s weddings.
I can’t remember the exact number of weddings I’ve been to, but it’s been a lot. Looking back, most of my wedding memories are fantastic and it is really hard to pick my favorite things. However, in the interest of providing highlights of stand-out experiences, there is one element from 10 weddings I’ve been to that I will choose to describe.
Now, this list of favorite things is not all inclusive.
Each of these weddings was beautiful, special, memorable. I wish I could go back in time and go to them all over again. No wedding is perfect, but these ones came close. I absolutely love seeing my friends get married and can’t wait to get back to “normal” life and attend more weddings one day.
I don’t want to disclose the names of the folks involved, so I’ll just say the location and the year that the weddings took place to help protect anonymity. If you are one of my friends reading this, hopefully you can spot your wedding. Please know I was incredibly honored just to be there and your wedding was a magical experience for all of us.
My Favorite Things From 10 Weddings I’ve Been To
1. Guest Transportation
Where: Morgan Hill, California
When: 2006
This wedding was in late July in Morgan Hill, California. Though the weather was unfortunately hot, it was also very typical for the time of year and location, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise.
Though it was difficult to dance and stay cool during the wedding, the wine was cold and I do remember one very classy thing the hosts provided – guest transportation. This meant I could drink lots of wine and not worry about driving, which was awesome.
The hosts sprung for an awesome shuttle to drive guests back and forth from the chosen hotel, which was about 5 minutes away. It was awesome to be able to drink and not have to drive. So awesome, that I made sure to provide that service to my guests at my wedding in 2017.
2. The Breathtaking Location
Where: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
When: 2011
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe? It’s majestic. So gorgeous. This wedding was a second wedding for the bride and the groom, and was during brunch time. The setting was breathtaking, as you can see in the below photo.
The golf course location had a view of sparkling and crystal clear Lake Tahoe, complete with pointy, snow dusted mountains behind it. It was a perfect sunny day in July, and the sun really danced off the lake during the ceremony. Though the ceremony was outside, the reception was inside and huge bay windows allowed you to always see Lake Tahoe. Absolutely incredible.
My bestie and me at this amazing Lake Tahoe wedding
3. Getting Ready With The Girls Beforehand
Where: Lincoln, California
When: 2017
I’m always honored when a close friend asks me to be in their wedding. For this wedding, I was one of many bridesmaids.
In order for everyone to get ready, the day started early and there were three hair and make up artists working on multiple girls at a time. We all took turns in the chairs, touching each other up as needed.
None of the other girls are among my closest friends, except for the bride. However, I loved the girl time before the wedding. It was so fun to take selfies, be silly, listening to pop and hip hop music from the ’90’s and early 2000’s. No one was taking themselves too seriously, and everyone looked so amazing for the pictures. By the time the wedding was starting, everyone felt like we had already had a great day celebrating.
4. How Relaxed The Wedding Was
Where: Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, California
When: 2017
This wedding was not a big production at all, but it fit the couple. It was a picnic setting among massive redwood trees in a state park, held during lunch time, and had none of the “wedding” stuff you would see.
Guests served themselves beverages and food, stood to watch the heartfelt ceremony, and just caught up with old friends for entertainment. There was barely any music with the exception of a harp player (okay, there was a little extra to this wedding), and no dancing, but the speeches were very thought out and articulate.
It was actually a very intimate experience and showed me that a wedding does not have to be a big production to be meaningful. One of my favorite things to do is just relax outside with friends, and this wedding allowed for just that.
5. Dessert Bar / Favors
Where: Brazilian Room, Berkeley, California
When: 2017
Though this wedding was during a crazy September heat wave, the extreme weather was rather atypical for the location and time of year. Other than the heat, it would have been pretty perfect. Because the bride and groom took so much care on their details, it’s actually hard for me to decide my favorite parts.
However, I can narrow the list of my favorite things to two minor yet significant items – dessert and favors. The dessert bar included mini cakes, pastries, mousses, and puddings in tiny little cups that were just so cute and incredible tasting.
For favors, the bride and groom gave away tiny jars of seasoning salts with spices, garlic, and jalapeno (three kinds in all). I still have some of the salts in my spice rotation years later. It was just really well done altogether.
6. The Quirky Ceremony
Where: Lafayette, California
When: 2018
The best kind of weddings are when you are close to both of the newlyweds. In this case, the groom and bride are among my best friends. They had been together for so long we all kind of assumed they wouldn’t get married at all. Though they were only engaged for one month, my friends planned a wedding that was sweet and small. It was held in the backyard of the groom’s parent’s home.
Everything about it was fun and romantic, but the ceremony really stood out. The couple decided to have a courthouse wedding in their home state (not California) ahead of the wedding, so they didn’t have an officiant, opting instead to “marry themselves”. During the ceremony, guests stood on a lawn around the newlyweds and listened carefully to what was being said.
The vows were absolutely adorable and very much representative of the couple saying them. The bride mentioned “Taco Tuesday” and their dogs during her part, which was so specific to her personality. The groom said a fraction of the words the bride said, but he said them with meaning and conviction.
The ceremony was a little different from what I would normally see. However, it worked out incredibly well and came together in the end.
7. Happy Hour for Dinner
Where: Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley, California
When: 2012
This bride was a close friend of mine who had always dreamt that she would serve a lot of appetizers for dinner at her wedding and not have a sit-down dinner. Though she had told me about this well before she even met her husband, I wasn’t sure how it would go until I actually experienced it.
Wow. These were no ordinary appetizers. There were kabobs, salads, crispy shrimps, fries, chicken fingers, and a lot more I can’t remember now, but they were elevated and no one was hungry. We ate standing up at a high “bar” tables, reminiscent of when we used to go out all the time (there were other sit down tables for those who needed to sit). It all felt so fun and yet very fancy. Definitely one of my favorite things from a wedding!
8. Emotional and Funny Vows
Where: The Lakewood, Chicago, Illinois
When: 2019
There were so many incredible moments at this particular wedding, it’s really hard to narrow down the favorite things from it.
The venue was in an industrial part of Chicago, in a super cool customizable warehouse-type building. The food was delicious, and the music and entertainment was on point all night. Though, despite all that, the best part had to be the vows.
This was a wedding of a long time friend who loves to joke around and be playful. Seeing her emotions during her vows, and how much love she had for her partner, was enough to make me tear up (along with everyone else). I can’t remember what exactly was said, but it made me feel like I was in the presence of real love.
Every single person in that room was so happy for these two women getting married, it was a special treat to watch it happen.
9. The Party
Where: Monterey Plaza Hotel, Monterey, California
When: 2018
When I was at this wedding, I was five months pregnant and wasn’t really sure how I would feel about the reception. I was honored to be my friend’s Maid of Honor, but was sure that by the end of the long day I would be very tired and not excited to stay till the end of the party.
Boy, I was wrong.
I had a great time overall. This wedding was held a really fancy hotel, and the band that was hired to perform and get the guests up and dancing was so fun. They played lots of different types of music, and the guests were very responsive to it. Because I was in the wedding I was seated at the head table. I could see the guests right in front of me dancing and having a wonderful time from where I was sitting. I even got up and danced quite a bit, because when the music is good, how could you not?
10. The View
Where: Diablo Ranch, Mount Diablo, California
When: 2012
Mount Diablo is a small mountain located very close to where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. When my best friend told me she was getting married at this mountain we see every day, I really was surprised. Little did I know there was a rustic ranch on the side of Mount Diablo that was opening up it’s services to hosting weddings.
Though my friend did an amazing job with the décor and guest experience, nothing could take away the view the vista provided. Just behind the ceremony, the view was incredible. Guests were treated to a stunning, massive landscape of trees peaking over rolling hills beyond a canyon. The timing of the ceremony was perfect and treated us to an amazing sunset. The ceremony took place with this view as the backdrop, and the reception was also privy to the same view (though just a little farther back from the ceremony spot).
It was just so cool.
Bonus: The Ambiance
Where: Wente Vineyards, Livermore, California
When: 2017
Okay, this is my wedding. The ceremony setting was unintended, as our wedding was moved inside at the last moment (see why here), but also provided the most intimate and poignant experience for our guests.
We got married in a large room filled with wine barrels, with a rustic arbor at the end of a makeshift aisle that was lined with candles. It felt cozy, even though the room is temperature controlled and actually quite cool.
We had personalized vows, and I loved saying my part to my fiancé. And I cherished what he said to me, too. It was a very magical moment in my life. Something about the words, with the love of my life, and all my friends and family as witnesses, was absolutely incredible. 
So there you have it, friends.
There are always elements that will stand out in your guest’s minds for years after the wedding. Let’s always try to remember our favorite things.
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