Mark and Christina are an incredible couple. They are so sweet to each other and their tenderness and love for their children just oozes out of them. They appreciate one another, they laugh together, and when they catch each other’s eye from across the room, their energy is electric.

With all this in mind, it makes perfect sense that their wedding was full of romance, warmheartedness, and wild and free kids! Oh, did I mention the kids? Because half of their guest list were – kids!

A Match made in…

The couple met on Match.com. What they love most and foremost, of course, is their kids and spending time with them. On rare occasions when Mark and Christina are alone, they like to eat at great restaurants, hike in Carmel and Big Sur, and go kayaking. For them, Carmel is such a special place and the perfect location for their wedding.

Mission Ranch Wedding in Carmel

The Mission Ranch Hotel & Restaurant was rustic elegance itself, outdoors at the meeting of land and sea in beautiful Carmel. Decked out for the wedding in pastels of cream, light blue and peach, the décor accented the natural beauty of the place. I especially loved the delicate, perfectly arranged florals by Melody King of Fleurish Floral Designs.

The mastermind behind this delightful celebration was the fabulous Deidre Von Rock, Christina’s Maid of Honor and best friend extraordinaire. She may or may not have lived on Pinterest and Etsy for several months!  Well done Deidre, well done!

A little snippet from the fabulous Deirdre’s toast that I loved: “So now, I am stealing a line from the English poet WH Auden, and while he puts it in a more sorrowful ode, I find it in this context to be immensely uplifting. It goes, ‘He was my north, my south, my east, my west, my working week, my Sunday rest.’  In a word, he was everything. That is what Mark is to Christina. Mark, and Ella, the lovely, smart, charming, insanely athletically talented, beautiful Ella, are the pieces that will make my adored Christina, Colin and Celine, whole.”

A Family Affair

Family played a huge part in this Mission Ranch wedding. Mark’s daughter was a junior bridesmaid, while Christina’s son held the role of junior groomsman, and her daughter as the flower girl. As you can see from the photos, the kids are just as natural and happy together as their parents are!

Christina’s father wrote and officiated the wedding ceremony himself, which was incredibly sweet and loving.

Eat your heart out…

Food was catered by the venue and it was out of this world! Stations included a taco bar, fresh pasta made to order (!), and exquisite cuts of meat. The cake was wonderful too. It was hysterical to turn around while Mark and Christina were cutting the cake, then seeing all of the wide-eyed children holding their breath and waiting for their slice!

Of course, with everything else so wonderful, the music couldn’t be any less! Mark and Christina’s DJ was Darion Bonnet of DNA Entertainment. After the first dance to “All I Need Is the Girl”, he had everyone boogying down on the dance floor. There were super-fun glowing favors for the kids and when the lights went down, the fun started up!

Congratulations, Mark and Christina! May you and your family live, long and happy, in the love you’ve created.

xoxo

close up of bride and groom smiling

outdoors of mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

groom tying his wedding shoes

groom looking into the mirror

groom outdoors at mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride getting ready with flower girls in black and white

bride getting ready with flower girls in black and white

wedding boutonniere by Fleurish Floral Designs

outdoors of mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride getting ready in black and white

bride getting ready in her wedding dress

bride getting ready in her wedding dress

maid of honor Deidre Von Rock helping the bride get ready

wedding dress details

wedding dress details and shoes

first look with bride and groom at their mission ranch wedding in Carmel

first look with bride and groom at their mission ranch wedding in Carmel

bride and groom in front of the mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

groom and flower girl

close up of the bride and groom in black and white

maid of honor Deidre Von Rock and the mother of the bride

flower girls playing

wedding party and flower girl

bride, wedding party, and flower girl outdoors

flower girls and junior groomsmen

wedding party jumping outdoors

wedding guests

bride and groom kissing at mission ranch wedding

wedding aisle with flowers by Fleurish Floral Designs

maid of honor Deidre Von Rock and bride

sheep in field

bride and wedding party walking down the aisle

wedding bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

wedding party waiting

flower girl walking down the aisle

mission ranch wedding in carmel

mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride walking down the aisle with wedding bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

bride walking down the aisle at mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride walking to the altar

bride walking to the altar

mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride and groom at the altar

wedding party walking down the aisle

bride and groom exchanging vows at the altar

bride and groom first kiss at mission ranch wedding in carmel

bride and groom married and walking down the aisle

bride and groom married and walking down the aisle

bride and groom hugging flower girl

bride and groom kissing with children laughing

bride and groom with wedding bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

bride and groom outdoors

wedding favors

wedding cake with roses

Darion Bonnet of DNA Entertainment

flower girls playing outside at mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

flower girls playing outside at mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

wedding speeches and guests

mother of the bride and bride

wedding speech by maid of honor Deidre Von Rock

bride and groom giving speech

children lined up outside at mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

flower girls and wedding flowers by Fleurish Floral Designs

bride and groom first dance

bride and groom first dance

bride and groom first dance

bride and groom first dance

wedding table decorations with flowers by Fleurish Floral Designs

wedding guests outdoors

bride and groom kissing outside at mission ranch wedding

grounds at mission ranch hotel and restaurant in carmel

wedding rings

maid of honor Deidre Von Rock dancing

mother of the bride

wedding bouquet toss

wedding guests with bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

wedding guests with bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

wedding guests with bouquet by Fleurish Floral Designs

wedding guests dancing to music by DNA Entertainment

wedding guests dancing to music by DNA Entertainment

wedding guests with glow sticks

wedding guests dancing to music by DNA Entertainment

wedding guests dancing to music by DNA Entertainment

VENDORS

Venue: Mission Ranch Hotel & Restaurant 

Wedding Flowers: Melody King, Fleurish Floral Designs

DJ: Darion Bonnet, DNA Entertainment