Long Beach Professional Wedding Photographer
August 3rd, 2018 Mauricio and Yoselin tied the knot at their Gondola Getaway Wedding in Long Beach, California. Exactly one year later, we’re celebrating their anniversary on the blog! Keep reading to learn about their love story and see photos from their gorgeous gondola celebration!
Yoselin and Mauricio have been together for an entire decade now, but have known each other even longer! On one particular day during their sophomore year of high school, they both happened to be absent from science class. When they returned to school, their teacher partnered them together to complete the project they missed. That day was the beginning of their friendship! Although Mauricio was crushing on Yoselin from the beginning, it wasn’t until years later that Yoselin finally realized she had feelings for him, too. Because they were such good friends, they were hesitant to step into dating at first for fear of ruining their friendship. But, it’s a good thing they did! These two fell in love shortly after and never looked back!
Mauricio planned an epic proposal in Temecula wine country on Yoselin’s birthday that included a horse-drawn carriage, a tour of the vineyard, wine tasting, and a gazebo overlooking the vineyards. After taking in the view together, he got down on one knee. Before Yoselin could even say yes, there were tears flowing! Afterward, the carriage lead them to a picnic at the winery! What a truly beautiful proposal!
While planning their beautiful wedding day, Yoselin was searching for intimate and unique wedding ideas and came across Green Wedding Shoes– a wedding site with plenty of gorgeous inspiration! While exploring the site, she found a wedding that was showcased with a couple who got married on a gondola! 8 years prior, on Mauricio and Yoselin’s 1 year dating anniversary, they celebrated at Gondola Getaway in Long Beach, California. When they saw the gondola wedding online, they were inspired to do something similar, especially since the gondola holds such a special sentiment to them.
Mauricio and Yoselin’s intimate Gondola Getaway Wedding was absolutely gorgeous! The fact that they celebrated their first milestone as a couple there, and now another huge milestone of tying the knot, made this wedding venue even more perfect! Little Thistle Design crafted elegant floral arrangements to decorate the gondola and create the perfect backdrop for their beautiful ceremony. With everything set on the gondola, the only thing that was needed was the beautiful bride and her groom! Yoselin was dressed in an elegant Vera Wang gown from David’s Bridal, and Mauricio awaited her in a navy blue suit with gray accents. After their stunning ceremony on the water, it was time to celebrate with their closest friends and family! Their reception was held at La Traviata Restaurant in Long Beach, where they enjoyed dinner and shared a slice of cake from Sweet Lady Jane Bakery. DJ Jorge Chavez kept the party going with tunes for the evening, and our team at Three16 Photography captured the celebration on photo and video for Yoselin and Mauricio to enjoy for years to come!
Mauricio and Yoselin’s Love Story
1) How did you both meet and who liked who first?
Mauricio and I met in high school during our sophomore year. We had two classes together, but never spoke to each other. As fate would have it, we were both absent on the same day for biology class, and when we came back, our teacher partnered us to complete the project we missed the day we were absent. We continued talking to each other and became friends. We both agree that he definitely liked me first. We were friends for many years before I realized my feelings for him. When I did, we both were nervous about dating for fear of ruining such a beautiful friendship; however, we are both grateful we decided to take a risk.
2) Tell us about your first date. Who was more nervous? What did you guys do?
On our first date, I was without a doubt more nervous than he was. I worried that if things didn’t work out, I would lose such a special person in my life. However, in the one and a half hours from Los Angeles to San Diego we talked, laughed, and sang our hearts out. We were already so comfortable with each other as friends that the transition was so natural. We had a great time together and seemed to never run out of things to say to each other. We held hands for the first time that day, and we have never looked back.
3) What’s the proposal story? Give us all the details! Who cried first?
Mauricio told me he had a surprise birthday gift for me. He told me the time he would pick me up and nothing else. I was excited about my birthday and was ready to have an amazing time with him. I never expected he had planned to propose that day. We arrived in Temecula, CA at South Coast Winery, where a beautiful horse and carriage awaited. We took a tour of the vineyard, went wine tasting, and then were taken to a beautiful gazebo overseeing the vineyards. We stood together hand in hand taking in the wonderful view, and as he let go, I turned to look at him and he went down on one knee. I was extremely excited and started crying before I could even say “YES!” We then were taken back to the winery, where we had a picnic.
4) As you approach the wedding day, what have you both enjoyed most about the wedding planning process?
We both agree that the best part about this process has been working together to make our vision become reality.
5) What has been the hardest part about planning your wedding?
The most difficult part of the wedding process was the initial stages, during which we had to decide whether we would follow the expected traditional route of having a large wedding or choose something that was intimate and meaningful to us. Once we decided to forgo the pressure of having a large wedding, everything fell into place.
6) Why did you choose your particular wedding and reception venue?
We chose to have our wedding ceremony on a gondola at the same location we celebrated our 1-year anniversary 8 years ago. We are thrilled to get married where we celebrated our first milestone as a couple.
7) Where did you draw some of your inspiration from for your wedding day?
When searching for intimate and unique wedding ideas, we came across the Green Wedding Shoes site, which showed a couple who married on a gondola. We were inspired to do something similar, as the gondola holds such a special sentiment for us.
8) Where are you going for your honeymoon? Are you excited? Why did you choose that destination?
We are excited to be traveling to Aruba and Curacao for our honeymoon. We choose these two islands because they offer a romantic and relaxing atmosphere perfect for a honeymoon.
Thank you so much again for inviting us to capture your beautiful day, Mauricio and Yoselin! Happy 1 year Anniversary from the Three16 Photography Family! We wish you both the very best!
Vendors used for Yoselin and Mauricio’s Gondola Getaway Wedding:
Ceremony Venue: Gondola Getaway
5437 E Ocean Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90803
Reception Venue: La Traviata Restaurant
301 N Cedar Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY: Three16 Photography
FLORIST & DECOR: Little Thistle Design
DJ: Jorge Chavez
CAKE: Sweet Lady Jane Bakery
DRESS: David’s Bridal – Brand / Designer: Vera Wang
MAKEUP: Gabriela Gutierrez
Loved reading about Yoselin and Mauricio’s Gondola Getaway wedding? Show them some love by liking and commenting below! Also, check out another recent blog- also a Long Beach Wedding – Jackie and Mike’s Reef Long Beach Wedding.
