Michelle Dang and Stephen Krase met on a dating app that matched people according to their mutual friends. During their first interactions, the two discovered they shared a mutual love of good food – especially sushi and ice cream – and good conversation. For their first date, which was over coffee and ice cream, Michelle and Stephen both noticed how the other was nervous; although Stephen also noticed Michelle’s smile. Over the course of the next week, they managed to see each other five times and talked on the phone every night.
The couple’s first trip together was to Chicago, so when it came time to propose, Stephen decided to re-create that weekend for their two-year anniversary – complete with a surprise proposal along the river.
“THE TWO DISCOVERED THEY SHARED A MUTUAL LOVE OF GOOD FOOD AND GOOD CONVERSATION.”
After setting the wedding date for a year after their proposal, Michelle and Stephen picked Calamigos Ranch in Malibu for their wedding venue, since Stephen’s grandparents lived near Los Angeles. The wedding process felt surreal as they pieced together a celebration in a place that “felt like a treehouse,” and the couple had a wonderful team of wedding vendors to help them through the process. Their main focus was creating a wedding that was intimate, simple, and elegant.
As it turns out, their wedding day took place during a heat wave in California when temperatures were predicted to reach a high of 118 degrees. Fortunately, despite the heat, the bride and groom were able to enjoy their special day surrounded by loved ones. For the bride, her favorite moment was when her son Colin walked her down the aisle. Throughout the wedding, there were also personal “Texas in California” details added, including bluebonnet favors, Texas shaped cookies, and a Houston skyline guestbook painting.
After the wedding, Michelle and Stephen took off on a European honeymoon, touring Paris, Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Split, Milan, and Bordeaux.
WEDDING TALENT
Planner and Event Design: Sugar Branch Events Orange County, CA
