It’s Magazine Monday! Here’s a peek into the featured wedding of Natasha + Samuel — featured on our 2016 glossy pages.
In Asian culture, eight is a lucky number because it has no beginning and no end — which is precisely why Natasha Dirck and Samuel Martinez chose to have their wedding on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year. The high school sweethearts met in gym class. “He was an all-around athlete, and I was a super nerd,” Natasha recalls. “He says it was love at first sight — but I didn’t want anything to do with him.” The unlikely pairing stood the test of time, and they chose a destination wedding at the Grand America to say “I do.” They tied the knot with a knot ceremony featuring a figure 8 — yet another nod to their lucky number. “Our wedding was about more than the two of us,” Natasha says. “For us, our wedding was a gift to all of our friends and family who have supported us. We wanted to give them an experience to remember. There were so many people who told us they felt privileged to attend a ‘once-in-a-lifetime event’ like this, but we are the ones who are privileged to have such wonderful people in our lives.”
GET THE PICTURE Because Natasha’s parents own a fine dining restaurant, the food had to be good. Guests were treated to an incredible menu filled with salads, soup (Port Onion Bisque with Brie Crostini? Yes, please!), cornish hen, cannelloni and a prime rib carving station. Dessert was a sampling of macarons, dulce de leche, s’mores verrine, blueberry cheesecake and strawberry mousse. Natasha chose her photographer, Tyler Rye, after admiring his Instagram photos. She loved the way he captured every detail. One of Natasha’s favorite elements was created by a particularly special vendor — her groom, Sam. He made the beautiful arch from a photo Natasha found on Pinterest. Our favorite part? How they got to it. Sam walked down the aisle to the string quartet playing “The Final Countdown“ from “Rocky.” And Natasha walked down to “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri.
SOURCES
Photography Tyler Rye Photography
Venue + Floral + Cake The Grand America
Event Planner Nicole Schamaun, The Grand America
Videography Forevermore Films
Gown Victor Harper
Groom’s Attire Jos. A. Banks
Bridesmaids’ Attire Mori Lee
Paper Suite Wedding Paper Divas
Catering The Little America Hotel
Hair Danielle Roniger
Rentals Diamond Rental
Music Rosco String Quartet
