An Elegantly Planned Affair
By Shawn Gadberry
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Every wedding is special - beautiful and memorable in its own way. But for some local couples, thinking outside of the box - or, at least, outside of the chapel - has led to some of Fresno's most unique wedding venues and ceremonies.
Love in bloom
Outdoor weddings are nothing new, but it is the uniqueness of the location that makes them so memorable. Fresno has its share of favored outdoor spots at which to get married. Erin Higley wanted an outdoor wedding and the spot she chose to become Mrs. Ivan Janssens was the Shinzen Garden in Woodward Park.
"The guests entered from the main gate where we had our guest book and gift table set up," Janssens says. "The guests were able to enjoy the gardens on their way to the seating area."
After crossing streams and wandering paths amid the springtime foliage in the Japanese-style garden, the guests made their way to the seating area, which was set up in a grassy portion at the rear of the gardens. "The chairs were facing the main garden area," Janssens says. "The guests had a view of numerous lush plants and trees and a view of the lake. It could have easily held 200 seats, but we only set up enough for 100."
The ceremony was simple. There was no special music, no candle lighting. An archway was brought in to stand as an altar, but beyond that there was nothing but the beauty of the surroundings to mix with the simple vows Erin and Ivan made to each other.
A toast to the happy couple
When Bret Engelman opened his Englemann Cellars winery in 2001, he realized it was missing something. Three years ago, he built a 1 1/2-acre park next to the winery to hold special events. "We have plenty of land out here and other wineries elsewhere have places for weddings or concerts or whatever," he says.
It wasn't long after the park area was completed that Stefani Rebensdorf and Justin Galan were looking for a place to get married. "We knew we wanted to get married outside," Stefani Galan says. "My husband actually suggested [the winery]. I grew up on a vineyard. I thought, 'that's perfect.' "
Galan says the winery was the perfect place for her. "I kind of had a vision of what I wanted," she says. "I put up a tent in the center of the area. We strung up Chinese lanterns and made a little reception area."
The ceremony was held in the tent and the reception was set up just a few yards away.
"It was beautiful," Galan says. "The sun was setting behind the vineyards. In the evening there was a breeze. It was just gorgeous."
For Engleman and Galan, renting the space was a win-win situation. The price is the purchase of 10 cases of Englemann Cellars wine. For Galan, the price was right. It gave her the outdoor wedding she'd dreamed of and wine to serve her guests.
Take a bow
For the wedding of Amber Pittman and Bonner Creager, the couple was looking for something elegant, beautiful and theatrical. It just so happened that Creager was working for the Warnor's Centre for the Performing Arts at the time and the theater seemed like the perfect place for their nuptials.
"She thinks it's one of the most beautiful buildings in Fresno," Creager says of his wife. "It's fancy and elegant. She's also a big fan of 'Phantom of the Opera.' Warnors Theatre sort of had all of these elements."
To create the perfect atmosphere for the couple to be married in, they opted to use a burgundy and gold backdrop the theater supplied. To that was added a small alter with roses and a unity candle for the couple to light. The rest of the stage was decorated simply but elegantly with candles. The theater's Robert Morgan organ was also utilized.
"The really nice thing was it didn't take much decoration," Creager says. "It's already so pretty.
Following the ceremony, the couple, family and friends adjourned to The Star Palace next door for the reception, one of two banquet facilities available at the center. "It was very convenient," Creager says.
p>"The theater was so pretty," Creager says remembering his wedding. "I had so many people come up to me afterwards and say it was the most beautiful wedding they'd ever seen."A home run
Incorporating a life-long passion into a wedding is always a nice touch. Jose Valadez has always loved baseball - particularly the San Francisco Giants. When he asked Adrianne Loza to be his bride, it was only fitting that they were married at Chukchansi Park.
"He even picked the colors," Adrianne Valadez says. With the groomsmen in black and the bridesmaids in orange - the Giants' team colors - the couple's baseball-themed wedding was a home run. "The flower girl held a basket in the shape of a baseball," she says. "My son walked in with the rings in a baseball glove."
Andrew Melrose, director of special events for the Fresno Grizzlies, says that the stadium has seen a few weddings since it opened. He says couples can do anything they'd like - from instant replays on the video board to home run lights flashing or even fireworks. "If you pay for them, they'll do them," he says.
But for Jose Valadez, marrying Adrianne in Chukchansi Park was his fantasy baseball dream fulfilled. "It was exactly the way I wanted it," he says, "on the pitcher's mound out on the field."
A storybook ending
Once upon a time, Brian Baker asked Sheri McClure to be his wife. Even though they went to the same church and Brian even worked there, they didn't want to get married there.
"There were a lot of people getting married around that same time and we were tired of going to the same wedding over and over," Sheri Baker says.
The couple mulled over where to tie the knot and one location above all others seemed like the ideal choice - Storyland.
"I have a long history with Storyland," she says. "I used to go there all of the time with my grandmother. Brian and I are both very literate. My master's was in literature."
Barry Falke is the executive director of Storyland. He says that while weddings are rare at the park, they are not unheard of. "There are some people who want to get married with a fairytale theme," he says. According to Falke, there are several favorite wedding spots in the park such as the chapel, the castle and Simple Simon's courtyard.
For the Bakers' wedding, they chose to get married after Storyland was closed for the night and to give their guests free reign over the park. "The idea was to create a carnival-style event and to disburse it throughout the park," says Brian Baker. "People were encouraged to explore and relive their childhoods. All of the guests were given golden keys to listen to the stories and a piratey treasure map with the times and locations of all of the events."
The wedding and reception utilized the entire park. The wedding was done in front of King Arthur's castle, the cake-cutting was done on Gulliver's ship. Beverages were served in Alice in Wonderland's court and dancing was held in the Simple Simon courtyard in the center of the park.
"I still love the experience," Sheri Baker says. "We look back on it fondly."
And Mr. and Mrs. Baker lived happily ever after.