Their summer wedding for 120 guests in August 2020 was planned and on track when Shae and Ryan got word that their banquet hall was rescheduling the rest of the year's events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "The remainder of the 2021 dates were booked, so the only available dates were fall 2022," Shae shares. "Ryan and I had been engaged for almost two years at that point, so we planned on eloping. However, we felt it was important for at least our parents and siblings to attend, so we opted for a micro wedding, instead." Cordiano Winery in Escondido, California, was available near enough to the couple's original wedding date and boasted a beautiful hilltop vineyard with breathtaking views. "Our vision for an intimate wedding included a romantic sunset ceremony surrounded by our nearest and dearest," explains Shae. "We wanted to have a private dinner reception to follow and as many traditional elements incorporated as possible."
Shifting gears from their formal celebration, the couple focused on creating a timeless event with a hint of modern edge—and reached out to Kimberly Sisti of Sisti & Co. for some help. "Initially, I found Kim's website and loved her designs," says Shae. "I sent an inquiry that included our budget and timeline, and she emailed me shortly after with some design ideas and a quote." Shae's Pinterest boards served as their jumping-off point, and email functioned as their primary source of communication. "The hardest part of the process was corresponding with one another remotely while being cognizant of social distancing," says Shae. "We had a few phone calls but mainly corresponded through email. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end." The easiest part of the process? Selecting from the design options that Kim provided. "She had such a keen ability to gauge what I wanted, that I never felt overwhelmed with the different design elements," says Shae. "She was incredibly personable and made the process fun for me, even in such a time crunch."
The wedding itself was a welcome respite during a profoundly complicated time. "The fact that we all had the ability to forget we were in a global pandemic just for a few hours was a highlight of the wedding," says Shae. "Remember to hold on to the important things you have, such as your significant other and loved ones. It can be devastating to have to reschedule a wedding or start from scratch, but what I have learned is that love transcends all obstacles. Everything will fall into place one way or another."
