There's something special about documenting the wedding of a couple who have been together as long as Laura and Manuel have - there's an ease to their interactions, a comfort with each other that compliments the loving looks and the beaming smiles of a wedding day. The sign above really says all you need to know about these two: they may come from different backgrounds, but they're truly best friends who compliment each other perfectly.
It was important to Laura and Manuel that they find ways to incorporate details and traditions from both of their cultures into their wedding. To start, they held the ceremony at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in downtown Modesto, where the priest conducted the rites and vows in both English and Spanish. The reception took place at a family friend's barn in Oakdale and it was all bilingual - the speeches, dj's announcements and music were done in a mix of both languages - and before the bouquet and garter tosses, the guests formed a traditional Mexican la víbora de la mar, or "sea snake," where they held hands and danced in a long snaking line under the outstretched hands of the bride and groom. There was both a white wedding cake and a filled churro bar, the latter of which really stole the show! If you're in the Stanislaus County region and looking for an outside-the-box, crowd-pleasing wedding detail, look up Mely's Churros. You will not be disappointed.
Family, in general, played a huge role in the day. Laura's four brothers played/sang the song for their first dance and they both had bridesmaids and groomsmen from each other's families. Between the emotional moments, the traditional ceremony, the stunningly-lit barn and the totally fun/original details (keep an eye out for the bride and groom shutter shades!), this was a wedding to remember. Congratulations, Laura and Manuel!
