This May, Dan and I were joyous to celebrate the wedding of my favorite brother, Nick, and his stunning, genuine, talented financee, Laura. We had the pleasure of watching their relationship blossom and grow, loving the two of them individually and together more each day. So when they decided to get married, we were honored to be asked to be part of their celebrations: Dan as the officiant and me as the best woman.
Nick and Laura wrote their own ceremony, with all the heart and music you can put into words, holding the marriage ceremony with a small group of family and friends in the misty redwoods at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland. We had to practice for weeks in advance with Dan reading and ceremony while I listened so that we wouldn’t both break into uncontrollable weeping at the beautiful images and promises this ceremony created. Although, let’s be honest, when they each read their personal vows and commitments to each other, I was lost.
“The marriage ceremony has been an important event across nearly every culture, religion, and generation. Thousands of important moments happen throughout our lives, and this one moment is so meaningful, that we acknowledge it by sharing it with the very people who taught us how to love.”
— written by Laura Wasserman and Nick Loomis
The happy couple!
Photo credit: Forty-Third Ave. Photography (http://www.43rdphoto.com)
After the ceremony, they hosted a family-style Italian dinner and drinks where we celebrated, signed the marriage license, and toasted!
The next day they held a reception in the peaceful and unique Piedmont Community Center venue. They had a small re-ceremony (with a twist on vows, but still a “hell yes” to getting married), dinner, photos, drinks, toasts, and dancing. This ceremony reflected Nick and Laura so well, and was so much fun to be part of!
Ceremony and reception at the Piedmont Community Center.
Family photos with this good looking group!
Photo credit: Forty-Third Ave. Photography (http://www.43rdphoto.com)
Truly, Oakland missed a promotion opportunity with this couple, who planned a local wedding and reception complete with a food truck from the first food truck they went to in San Francisco, Das Bus photo booth (a VW van turned photo booth), cake from a local vendor AND ice cream sandwiches from a local vendor, with an Oakland-based photographer, and local beers and wines.
Six years later, we’re still just as fun. Jazz hands!
Photo credit: Forty-Third Ave. Photography (http://www.43rdphoto.com) and Hot Metal Studio (http://www.hotmetalstudio.com)
The next day (because planning two packed days of events isn’t quite enough?!), these two newlyweds had arranged a Mother’s Day Brunch in Jack London Square at Il Pescatore, followed by a hike overlooking Oakland and San Francisco in Sibley Volcanic National Park.
The group hiking at Sibley in the lovely Oakland sun.
If you ever need someone to plan your Oakland-based event or write a marriage ceremony that will move you to tears, call on these two! It was a weekend of joy, family, friends, and love.
We are thrilled to officially welcome Laura as a sister-in-love to this crazy family, and to extend our family through Laura’s cheerful, Wasser-cheering fam! We love you, Nick and Laura!
Sprocketts by the Bay 