We have a real treat for you all today GSS readers…Jill Bisinger from Los Angeles California sent us this beautiful wedding via Two Bright Lights and it is certainly swoon-er-riffic! Jill sent us the Q&A from Ginny for us to share with you as well…

How did the two of you meet?
The first time we met we were casually introduced in June of 2008 amongst a group of people. I (Andrew) was in a relationship at the time but there was something about Ginny that really stood out to me. She was obviously physically beautiful, but it seemed much deeper than that. By chance we met up again a few months later, this time I was single and
couldn’t believe we crossed paths again. When I saw Andrew again that second time, he looked so familiar but I wasn’t sure how I knew him. But in my head I was thinking, “wow, this guy is hot.” Over a game of shuffle board is when I think we began to hit it off. We hardly knew each other but we were having so much fun. I wasn’t too sure though if he was interested in me, but by the end of the night he was giving me these subtle hints. By the time I left I thought, “he’s totally into me.” Haha! The next morning I was so excited about Andrew I told my Mom “I met someone.” She says right then she knew Andrew was someone special. I was working at Haven Acres Bar and Grill at that time and invited him to come see me the next night. Later I found out he told his friend “I don’t care what you’re doing tomorrow night, we are going to see Ginny.”We were basically inseparable after that. We had this automatic connection but after spending more time together it was the best feeling to find out we shared the same beliefs, interest, humor, and love for our friends and family. We moved in together 6 months later, engaged 2 months after that and then married October 16, 2010 within a couple weeks of our 2 year anniversary.

Describe your engagement proposal?
I decided to propose to Ginny at one of our favorite campgrounds, Cisco Grove in Truckee, Ca. That is where I accidentally confessed my love to her. By accident I mean I said it after we had only been dating a month. I already knew I was going to be with Ginny for the rest of my life, but I didn’t want to scare her away. I was camping at Cisco Grove and saying good night to her over the phone, before we hung up those words just jumped out of my mouth. Seven months later we were both back camping at Cisco Grove. After asking for her dad’s permission my plan was to propose. The morning I proposed I cooked her breakfast and then we went for an early ride in our off road Kawasaki vehicle. I buckled her tight enough so she couldn’t reach the glove department and find her ring. It took about 20minutes to get to the special rock I had already scouted for. This specific spot gave us an amazing few over the mountains and trees. As she was taking pictures I turned our favorite song on walked over to her got on my knee and told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She said yes. We got to spend the rest of the weekend we some of our best friends and some family members.

Where did you find your inspiration for the theme of the wedding day?
Ginny: I turned to the internet a lot. Wedding Blogs were new to me and I quickly became addicted. I saw so many different themes’ and types of weddings, I didn’t think we’d ever be able to decide what we liked best. Photography blogs were amazing too, that is where I would see the true story of a wedding. Magazines were fun to go through, not just wedding but style magazines too.

Beyond that Andrew and I were looking for a little bit of a rustic feel. We both love the outdoors and wanted to include that as much as we could.

Andrew: I like nature and the outdoors. Camping, rocks, sticks and greenery. Then just followed Ginny’s lead.

What was unique about your wedding?
A. What was most unique about our wedding was how personable our favors were.During the first few months of dating Andrew bought me a rock that had LOVE inscribed on it. We called it our “Love Rock.” One night I found the rock hidden under my pillow by Andrew.So the next morning I put it in the shower for Andrew to find. We began to hide
our Love Rock in places we knew the other would find it. When we would find the Love Rock we knew it was another way we say “I love you.” Andrew works nights so this wasa great reminder that we were always thinking about one another.

Each of our guests received a Love Rock with a note that said, “Take this Love Rock and do as we do. Hide your rock around the house and when your loved one finds it, he/she will be reminded that you
love them.”

Since the wedding, we have had so many couples share their stories on where they hide their love rocks and how much they love them.

It felt great for us to give our family and friends another way to share there love, with their loved ones.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?
A. Ginny: My favorite moment of our wedding was at the very end of our ceremony.After we completed our vows and after our first kiss when we turned toward our family and friends and for the first time we were introduced as husband and wife…Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wertman. I was so happy to finally be husband and wife I felt like a little girl. I wanted to jump up and down. It was the best feeling and I will never forget it.

Andrew: My favorite moment during our wedding was our private first look. As my back was faced toward her I could hear her walking toward me. It took all I had to keep my composure.
I couldn’t wait to see her. When I finally got to turn around it was like our day was finally here, she was finally going to be my wife. She looked beautiful.

Please describe your wedding details in as much detail as possible (theme, signature cocktail, party favors, colors, food choices, serving-wear, attire, music, landscape, etc.)
We chose to have our wedding at Viaggio Estate and Winery in Acampo, Ca. Viaggio was the only venue we looked at. It is a Tuscan Inspired private estate and it was love at first sight. Walking onto the grounds of Viaggio you enter through “Main Street,” A cobble stone path that is aligned with Olive Trees, twinkle lights and gorgeous flowers everywhere. Continuing on the path you get the most gorgeous view of the estate. A large sweeping marble staircase will bring you to the grand plush lawn with the Mokelumne River sweeping to the right and walnut orchards to the left. We loved the landscape and since we love nature we really wanted to have an outdoor ceremony. Viaggio offered many different backdrops for our ceremony, but we chose, “Valley of the Trees.” It is an intimate narrow pathway in the middle of the river and walnut orchard that is draped with trees. We had 190 friends and family members at our wedding, but because of our ceremony location it still felt very intimate.

After the ceremony our friends and family enjoyed drinks and appetizers during the cocktail hour along the river. We offered high cocktail tables for our guest to rest at. Each table was draped with Topaz Iris linens, seasonal flowers and our “W” coasters. Guest were served Seared Lamb Chop Lollipops with Salsa Verde and Vine Ripe Tomato and Olive Relish Bruschetta.

Although we wanted an outdoor ceremony we wanted our reception indoors. Viaggio’s ballroom offered the perfect reception site. The ballroom has 3 separate levels. We chose to use the middle level and bottom level for our tables and the top level was for dancing, and our Zany Photo booth. Having the top level as our dance floor, really took the reception to the next level after dinner. The Zany Booth was just as popular as the dance floor. Our photographers Jill and Tony put up a white back drop for us to pose in front of. The best part: they found a variety of items around our reception and outside that we used to pose with. We used our orange and green “W” coasters, cigars, walnut shells, branches, spoon, cake, etc. Tony gave us a lot of direction and ideas, but we were free to get as ‘zany’ as we wished. People were very creative!

It was important for us to give our family and friends great food so during the reception our guest dined on:
Salad of Young Romaine and Mixed Baby Greens, House made candied walnuts with a Creamy Buttermilk Five Herb Vinaigrette
Butter Seared 28 Day Aged Top Sirloin steak, Local Aged White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes, Steamed Blue Lake Beans with Herbed Butter, Green Peppercorn Veal Reduction Sauce
or
Grilled Portabella Mushroom stuffed with Cous Cous, Roasted Vegetables and Creamy Goat Cheeses, Fire Kissed Red Pepper Cream Sauce.

During the reception we offered Viaggio’s Cabernet, Petite Syrah and Pinot Grigio along with a variety of beers and a full bar.

We chose purple (my favorite color), orange (Andrew’s favorite color) and then green for our weddings colors. Getting married in the fall these jeweled colors would fit perfectly for the season.

Our guest tables were drapped with topaz iris linens and ivory napkins. Our center pieces arrangements were a mix of purple, orange and green seasonal flowers with votives placed around the center piece. The gorgeous glass chargers gave the tables the elegant touch needed. Placed in the napkin were our menu’s. On top of the napkin was our Love Rock for each guest along with the note describing the meaning of their favor.

We wanted to give the head table a different look then the guest tables so we chose all ivory linens. We had 2 large manzanita arrangements with crystals sweeping through the Manzanita. The Manzanita gave us the outdoor feel, but draped with crystals and flowers it softened the look. The flowers attached were all in ivory and greens. The 3 low center pieces were also ivory. My favorite part of the head table was the shape. We set it up as a rectangular royal table so the whole wedding party would face eachother. This way, we were able to communicate with everyone in our table.

My bridesmaid chose between 3 different dresses in lapis from Priscilla of Boston and I wore a strapless Alfred Sung with champagne heels and simple diamond earings. Andrew and his groomsmen rented their tux’s from “Richards” a small store where Andrew grew up. My bridesmaids and I dressed in the bridal suite at Viaggio while Andrew and his groomsmen rested and dressed in the ‘Man Cave’ at Viaggio.

Our DJ/MC was from Elite Entertainment. Elite Entertainmant and especially Greg Wallace came highly recommended and did a fantastic job. We never saw the dance floor empty. Andrew and I danced to “Somone Like You” by Van Morrison.

We LOVE the photobooth…such a fun touch

Thank you so much, Jill, for sharing this amazing wedding with us!  Please stop by her blog and show her some love!  And thank you, Ginny and Andrew for sharing your breathtaking wedding with us and for taking the time to answer our questions!  We wish you both a lifetime full of love, laughter, and happiness!!!  May every day be better than the last!

If you have an engagement, wedding, day after, or anniversary session that you would like featured- Please send it to us at submissions@groomsoldseparately.com.  We HEART submissions!