Liliana & Hiroshi - A Real Summer Wedding at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden Cal State LB
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Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography
Lilly&Tom_Real Wedding_Nathan Nowack Photography

Lilly&Tom_Nathan Nowack Photography

From their first meeting via Match.com, to a beautiful wedding in Long Beach at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach, this couple had a great time planning their rustic and woods surrounded garden wedding in Southern California. The Real Weddings Project is showcasing the beautiful wedding and reception photos shot by Nathan Nowack Photography in Fullerton, Orange County.

Here’s their Story and details they have shared with us…

1. How did you meet?

We met on Match.com.

2. How long did you plan the wedding after the proposal?

We got married almost 9 months after he proposed so we planned the wedding in a somewhat short period of 8 months.

3. The top 3 challenges/difficulties of planning the wedding.

A. The seating chart. Seating is very tricky at the Japanese Garden.

B. Deciding on centerpieces. In the end, it wasn’t worth the stress. I ended up just going with my original idea, simple red roses. I loved them!

C. Invitations. It is always a challenge having to cut out family members that you’re not so close to. Unfortunately, the downside of the garden is that the seating capacity is limited – I couldn’t invite everyone in my family, even if I had the means to do so. No regrets though!

4. The top 3 most fun/easiest parts of planning the wedding.

A. Doing hair and makeup trials. Expensive but so fun!
B. Bridal gown shopping. I knew what type of dress I wanted (classic simple lace) so it was really easy to narrow down.
C. Taking dance lessons for our first dance. I think every couple should do it, it was so fun and my husband and I really bonded. My husband didn’t want to do it at first, in fact he was upset I signed us up. However, he ended up enjoying it even more than I did. Our dance was simple and romantic.

5. What fun/unique feature of your wedding made you the proudest?

Our venue. It is such a unique and gorgeous venue that it really didn’t need much décor – the venue is your centerpiece at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. Friends and family still talk about how unique and gorgeous the garden was. Also, I have to say that having a live mariachi band really added a fun touch to our wedding and incorporated both of our cultures.

6. If you had it to do over, what would you change, add or do differently?

I would have definitely hired a wedding coordinator. There were some details that were missed the day of and that was very disappointing. For example, my mother-in-law made 1,000 cranes for our wedding and only about 1/3 were displayed, the rest were misplaced/forgotten about at the garden.

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