Castillo Love
Everyone has a story, especially couples. Let’s face it, it takes a lot of hard work and communication to get from the first date to saying “I do!” This couple’s story is very special to us because they are one of the out-of-town couples that we had the pleasure of working with and they definitely gave us a great challenge of coming up with a design that suited their unique style. Read on to hear their beautiful story, how they tackled planning a wedding, and get some sage advice from a couple who have conquered the wedding planning process.
How did you and Johnny meet?
Carolina: We met on Catholicmatch.com
Were either of you nervous to talk to each other?
Carolina: He noticed my profile first and made the first contact by sending a message through the website.
Johnny: I wasn’t nervous because I was used to talking to girls.
What happened, what did you think when you first met or talked to each other?
Carolina: I made the first phone call. I was nervous of course. When he answered I decided to play a little trick on him and say that I was a girl that he met at a bar. He said he didn’t remember meeting a girl at a bar. I started to laugh and revealed that it was me. I later found out, that the day I called him, he was on his way home, devastated by the way, from a date in which a girl he had been trying to get with turned him down. Her lost, my win!
How did Johnny propose?
Carolina: Johnny proposed in Austin while I was visiting. He proposed on a Sunday, my last day in Austin, at a restaurant called The Oasis overlooking Lake Travis. After dinner he asked if I would like to go for a walk and watch the sunset. While watching the sunset Johnny said he needed to ask me something. That’s when he pulled out the ring box and asked me if I would marry him.
Were you completely surprised?
Carolina: I have to admit, I kinda knew. Only because I had asked him that if he ever proposed I would rather him do it in Austin. Plus I knew he had asked my parents’ permission to marry me earlier. And since we only saw each other every other month, I knew it was coming.
Do you remember what you were feeling in that moment?
Carolina: I was screaming inside my head, “Oh my God! Oh my God! This is really happening!” But I was happy! And I cried.
Johnny were you nervous at all?
Johnny: Yes, I was. During dinner I had to order a margarita to calm my nerves.
How was the wedding planning for you both?
Carolina: One word, stressful! I actually wanted to elope to avoid all the stress but Johnny wanted to get married through the Church. At the end I’m glad we did.
Did you have help or did you take it on your own?
Carolina: I took most of it on my own. But, I did have help from his sister and parents. Even though my sister was in Chicago, she made a great effort to come to Austin every time I wanted to go wedding dress shipping! Plus Jackie was helping me keep my sanity with our phone calls.
Let’s talk invitations! We loved designing your unique invitation suite and since you are actually one of our out-of-town couples, let’s talk about that process. Were you a little nervous at all or did you have any reservations, especially when it came to narrowing down a style?
Carolina: I had seen the work XOXO had done in the past and they all seemed to show each couples’ unique ideas. I knew I wanted a unique and fun theme. At the end, Johnny brought up the idea of a Tron wedding theme. Jackie helped me brainstorm. When she sent us her ideas…we were blown away! She really listened to us and gave us unique and cool looking invitations. Getting our invitations was one of the easiest things that I had to get done for our wedding.
Do you have any advice for couples who are starting their wedding planning journey?
Carolina: While planning our wedding I was reading a book written by a comedian who told her experience with planning her wedding. One of the things that stuck with me that she wrote was that no matter what you do in your weeding, people are going to talk shit and criticize. So do what YOU want to do. Take your time and be realistic with what you can afford. The most important thing I can say is don’t forget that this is about both of you and not the dress, food, venue, presents, etc.
“So do what YOU want to do. Take your time and be realistic..”
Such great advice for any couple planning a wedding, because it can be very stressful and there are a ton of pieces involved and a lot of people telling you different things at once. I had so much fun with this couple who is now expecting a little girl very soon. We wish you guys a HUGE congrats on the new addition that will be joining you family and we wish you both a happy and blessed life together and a safe and smooth delivery! :)