A Traditional Summer Wedding at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California

Lauren Giangrande (28 and account executive) and Salvatore Spinelli (35 and a musician & vocal instructor) both were at a restaurant where Salvatore was performing and were introduced by mutual friends. They reconnected several months later and have been together ever since! In July 19th, 2013, Salvatore joined Lauren and her friends for his first visit to Yosemite. The group hiked to one of Lauren's favorite spots, a 315 foot waterfall, Vernal Fall. Salvatore and Lauren were in the middle of a "photo" when he knelt and proposed to Lauren with her Grandmother's ring! To this day, they still joke about what would have happened if it accidentally fell over! The couple decided to have their ceremony at the St. Francis of Assisi chapel and reception in the Galleria, adjacent to the chapel at The Mission Inn in Riverside, California. They fell in love with the architecture and ambiance of the venue. Their neutral color palette of cream, ivory, and light pink with purple accents was seen throughout the bouquets and centerpieces. The cocktail hour was serenaded by a harpist and violinist that played hand picked songs by Lauren and Salvatore to reflect their Italian heritage, love for classical and nostalgic music. To further acknowledge their Italian culture, each place setting was set with five Jordan almonds, which signifies five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. One piece of advice Lauren has for all future brides is to go unplugged! "We went back and forth about this topic, and we wish we would have! Have your guests be fully present during your day without the distractions of technology. You hired a photographer and/or videographer for a reason; let them do their job!" says Lauren.