Serra Plaza is easily one of our new favorite venues. Only a short drive away from the San Juan Capistrano Mission, it’s the perfect place for an Orange County wedding. We loved the bistro lighting and the open courtyard it has. Not to mention the beautiful fountain which was adorned with flowers for the ceremony. As an Orange County wedding photography team, we loved working with the fantastic staff at Serra Plaza and Jay’s Catering for Nick & Lyndsey’s special day. Their Serra Plaza wedding was absolutely perfect and we are so glad we got to be a part of it. I had the chance to ask our lovely bride Lyndsey a few questions before her wedding day and I thought I would share that and some of the wonderful moments we captured on the wedding day. Enjoy!
How did you both meet? Who liked who first?
We met in college and were friends for a few years before we progressed to dating. Nick definitely liked me first and spent many frustrating months trying to convey his feelings. I was totally oblivious (looking back now I don’t know how I missed it) but felt the same way.
Tell us about your first date. Who was more nervous? What did you guys do?
We have different definitions of our first date. If you ask Nick it was at an Italian restaurant in Brea (Lomelli’s), at which point I thought we were still friends. If you ask me it was the dinner we had after we admitted our feelings for each other during one of our weekly Sunday beach trips.
What’s the proposal story? Give us all the details! Who cried first?
Nick was living in Colorado at the time and planned a trip back to California to propose. I was totally oblivious to the real motivation (my obliviousness is a common theme here) and took Friday off so we could spend time together while he was here. He wanted to head up to LA and revisit some of our favorite spots and then watch the sunset.
He had his good friend Sara hiding with a camera behind us when he pulled out the ring and proposed on Dockweiler Beach in LA at sunset. He was grinning like an idiot the whole time. I started to tear up but managed to pull it together. All in all, not many tears. But lots of smiling!
As you approach the wedding day, what have you both enjoyed most about the wedding planning process?
I think we have both enjoyed the excitement of planning our future and an event that brings our whole family, near and far, together for one weekend.
Why did you choose Serra Plaza for your wedding day?
I am obsessed with bistro lights and wanted an outdoor venue that could incorporate that in. I loved the idea of an outdoor courtyard with trees, somewhere where you weren’t sitting in air conditioning.
Where did you draw some of your inspiration from for your wedding day?
Family! We wanted a celebration that had a combo of old school and new school, something that can bring everyone together. You’ll notice that focus in our décor, which incorporates old family photos, our rings (my ring has a stone that goes back 3 generations and is heavily influenced by family ties), and the music we play (lots of Frank Sinatra and classic Italian).
What has been the hardest part about planning your wedding?
Planning it from Colorado!
Where are you going for the honeymoon? Are you excited? Why did you choose that destination?
We are heading to Morocco and we cannot wait! We have had this destination on our list since we began dating. We got the idea from watching an episode of Anthon Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown”. We fell in love with the uniqueness of the culture, the food, the people, and the landscape. And we feel like it’s a bit off the beaten path, not your usual European or Hawaiian honeymoon.
A Special thanks to our amazing Serra Plaza wedding vendor team:
PHOTOGRAPHY | Three16 Photography
WEDDING VENUE | Serra Plaza
WEDDING PLANNER | Andrea Lanfriend
CATERER | Jay’s Catering
CAKE | Jay’s Catering
MUAH | Design Visage
DJ | Wave Form Events
FLORIST | Xcentric Designs
DRESS | David’s Bridal
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About the Author:
Jerrick O’Connor is the owner of Three16 Photography and has 15 years of experience in the world of photography. He specializes in Weddings, Engagements, Family and Corporate photography and loves connecting small business owners with other small business owners in hopes they can benefit each other’s production. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife Josie, playing board games or just spending time with his many friends.
