Chinh & Juan: An Outdoor Wedding in Pleasanton, CA

Chinh and Juan's festivities featured lots of personal touches -- a mariachi band played during the cocktail hour to honor Juan’s Mexican heritage, and the couple wore traditional Vietnamese attire at the reception to celebrate Chinh’s background. The Bride Chinh Do, 29, payroll manager The Groom Juan Ramirez, 34, probation officer assistant The Date June 5 Maybe there’s a reason they call dogs -- not horses -- man’s best friend. When Juan Ramirez asked his girlfriend of seven years, Chinh Do, to go horseback riding at Half Moon Bay, he had a romantic beach proposal in mind. Juan finally persuaded his full-speed-ahead girlfriend to take a break from riding on the beach, but the horses became fussy. “My horse smacked me and I fell to the ground,” says Chinh, “I was okay, but a little shaken up!” The two quickly finished their ride, and while Chinh sat in the parking lot with the car door open, Juan dropped to one knee and said, “This is what I wanted to do on the beach. Will you marry me?” Chinh’s answer was an emphatic “Yes!” “Those darn horses foiled Juan’s master plan!” Chinh says with a laugh.