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Updated Oct 14, 2024Exclusive: Inside 'Yellowjackets' Actress Samantha Hanratty's Wedding
The Knot Magazine's Winter 2023 cover star married her fiancé in California. See the first photos.
Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda have a lot to buzz about… because they're officially married! The Yellowjackets star wed her fiancé, a post-production assistant, on November 11, 2023, in Paso Robles, California. The elegant nuptials took place at Terra Mia Vineyards just weeks after the actress graced the cover of The Knot Magazine's Winter 2023 issue. We're giving you an exclusive look inside her big day here.
In this article:
- Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda's Wedding Photos & Details
- Samantha and Christian's Wedding Venue
- Samantha Hanratty's Wedding Dress
- Inside the Ceremony and Reception
- Samantha and Christian's Engagement
- Samantha Hanratty's Wedding Vendors
Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda's Wedding Photos and Details
Photo: Michelle Roller
,Venue: Terra Mia Vineyards
,Coordinator: Casey Nance, Blush & Twine Designs
,Florist: Diane Lannon
After getting engaged in 2021, Christian DeAnda and Samantha Hanratty's wedding planning journey lasted about two years. Leading up to the fall 2023 nuptials, the very first vendor the couple "hired" was the bride's mother, Ellen Hanratty, who helped plan four weddings prior to Samantha's. "I'm the fifth daughter to get married, so she knows what she's doing," Hanratty tells us. "My mom loves doing DIY projects and we've been so lucky to have her do it all," she adds. A seasoned mother of the bride, Ellen had a role in just about every aspect of the big day, from making the stationery and signage to coordinating with vendors. She collaborated with the couple's wedding coordinator, Casey Nance of Blush & Twine Designs, to bring their dream vision to life.
The couple invited 140 loved ones—including plenty of Hanratty's Yellowjackets castmates—to celebrate the wedding in San Luis Obispo County. In her cover story interview with The Knot Magazine, the bride opened up about the people she requested to be in attendance at her big day. "I wanted to make it very clear that if you don't believe in love for all, and you don't celebrate love for all, we'd rather you send your best wishes," Hanratty says. "I'm bisexual and really wanted the people there to be ones who would have supported me no matter who I ended up with. A lot of my friends happen to be queer, and I didn't want a situation where anybody feels any way other than loved and respected. And so I've had quite a few declines."
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Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda's Wedding Venue
The couple's wedding venue was particularly sentimental. They landed on Terra Mia Vineyards, a picturesque resort tucked away in the rolling hills of California wine country. The location was a suggestion from DeAnda, who worked at a catering company in college and served a handful of weddings at this particular venue. At first, Hanratty—who is sober—wasn't totally sold.
"I wasn't sure I wanted to have my wedding at a vineyard, but the moment I saw the property, I knew it was the place," she recalls. "I had three other venues to go view and I canceled them immediately." In fact, the couple was so intent on making this their setting that they booked it over a year in advance to ensure it was theirs. "We reserved it 18 months before our wedding to hold it," she shares. "It was definitely worth it, because it was magical."
Photo: Michelle Roller
,Planning: Ellen Hanratty,Coordinator: Casey Nance, Blush & Twine Designs
,Florist: Diane Lannon
Leaning into the vineyard's natural, rustic charm, they kept the decor to a minimum, instead focusing their attention on seasonal floral displays, fairy lights and gold votives. They enlisted the help of a family friend, Diane Lannon, to curate the flower arrangements, which included lush strands of eucalyptus, airy baby's breath and classic white roses.
Samantha Hanratty's Wedding Dress
The bride's wedding dress was a seamless extension of the romantic aesthetic. She was a vision in Chic Nostalgia's Dior wedding dress, a strapless ball gown with a plunging V-neckline and wispy tulle. Swiss dots and 3D flowers adorned the skirt and bodice, which had a corset back, creating a look that was effortlessly whimsical and playful.
Photo: MIchelle Roller
,Wedding Dress: Chic Nostalia
,Florist: Diane Lannon
"I had planned to get my wedding dress in the Los Angeles area, but while I was visiting my mom one weekend, we decided to stop into Epiphany Boutique in San Luis Obispo to try on a few dresses and find a style I liked," she shares of the dress shopping experience. It didn't take long to find the perfect one. "When I put on the first dress, we all loved it. But when I put on the second dress, everyone gasped. It was the dress!"
As the fifth daughter to marry, all of Hanratty's sisters—Danielle, Ashley, Kayla and Brianna—were included in the bridal party, along with her best friends Stephen and Mark. The women looked elegant in emerald green Birdy Grey dresses, while the men matched in emerald green suits. DeAnda's groomsmen donned suits in corresponding jewel-tone colors from Men's Wearhouse.
Inside Christian DeAnda and Samantha Hanratty's Ceremony and Reception
Family played an integral role throughout the entire wedding. As guests arrived, Hanratty's father performed musical selections alongside his best friend from high school. Then, when the ceremony began, the bride's parents walked down the aisle together while she followed closely behind.
Thinking back on her favorite memory from the big day, Hanratty says it was "the moment I turned the corner to walk down the aisle and our eyes met." She adds, "It's not something you can really describe—it's something that's felt, and I think everyone there felt it too."
Photo: Michelle Roller
,Florist: Diane Lannon
The personalized ceremony was officiated by Hanratty's cousin, Christopher Senderling. Her friends Kevin Alves and Alexa Barajas walked the couple's beloved dogs, Kota and Olive down the aisle, while Ren Soto shared a bible verse and a blessing over the couple. The bride's cousin Dylan Senderling recited a message honoring loved ones who had passed away.
The couple exchanged emotional vows they wrote themselves, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. "The tears were flowing," Hanratty recalls.
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As guests transitioned into the reception, they enjoyed sips from Sextant Wines and Firestone Walker Brewing Co., with the couple saying it was "really important" to them that they infuse their big day with local vendors.
The dinner menu was a highlight for the newlyweds, who hired Rib Line Catering to create a lavish spread of bites for every palette. "The food was absolutely incredible. Our chef, Brian Appiano, is a master at his craft," they share. Guests enjoyed oak grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, a pasta bar, salad and grilled vegetables. Before the night was over, everyone indulged in jackfruit tacos as a late-night snack.
Much like the ceremony, the reception included plenty of sentimental touches. The couple shared a choreographed first dance to "The Nearness of You" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. "Christian sent me this song shortly after we began dating, and it's had a special place in our hearts ever since," Hanratty recalls. The father of the bride also wrote an original song for her and debuted it during the party.
The couple's DJ, Joel West, took over with a mix of R&B, jazz, pop and country—a perfect playlist for the newlyweds, who consider themselves music lovers. One non-negotiable was the song "Shout," which has become a raucous Hanratty family tradition over the years. "I have a huge family. My mom is one of nine kids," she previously explained in a video interview with The Knot. "All of my aunts and uncles get into the song."
The couple sliced into a gluten-free semi-naked chocolate cake with vanilla frosting from Crushcakes, which Hanratty says was "so good." It was hardly the only sweet offered. The couple's loved ones enjoyed a sprawling dessert spread, including Crumbl Cookies, cupcakes from Sweet Pea Bakery, macarons from Monika's Macarons, and candy from No Whey Chocolate.
When the party came to a close late in the evening, the newlyweds exited through a bubble send-off and spent the night in Terra Mia's honeymoon suite.
Now, they have their sights set on a tropical honeymoon in Mo'orea, a tropical island in French Polynesia before they settle into married life.
Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda's Engagement
Samantha Hanratty and Chrisitan DeAnda's road to the altar began three years ago—and they have a dating app to thank for their modern meet-cute. "We met on Bumble during COVID, which was such a lonely and isolating time," Hanratty tells us, adding that they planned a "social distance hike" in California for their first date. "We laughed a lot and had an amazing time, but I have asthma and really needed some water. Christian offered me his water bottle and I drank from it without really thinking."
A true sign of the times, it was that moment that the actress knew she and DeAnda were in it for the long haul. "We were in the middle of a pandemic and I just shared a bottle of water with a stranger!" she says with a laugh. "I turned to him and said, 'We're stuck together now.'"
The actress' foreshadowing was correct. By mid-2021, DeAnda shared his intention to propose by the end of the year. But as November rolled around and Hanratty still didn't have a ring on her finger, her senses were on high alert. When her team notified her of a "photoshoot" happening near her parents' house, she had a hunch of what was to come. "I called Christian and said, 'I know you're proposing to me today.' He put on the acting performance of a lifetime, saying I was making him feel really bad and that he felt like he kept letting me down, making me think he was going to propose when he's not."
Photo: Michelle Roller
,Engagement Ring: James Allen
,Wedding Band: Jared
,Shoes: Aldo
,Florist: Diane Lannon
She shared her suspicions with the photographer, who played into the bit. After taking a few preliminary photos, they moved to a cliff overlooking Shell Beach—the location of their second date—and Hanratty's prediction was confirmed. "As we were walking, I turned around and saw Christian walking toward me. I just immediately start saying, 'No, no, no, no,'" she recalls of the emotional proposal. "I fell to the ground, and he got down on one knee while I was still down on both knees. He helped me up and said some sweet things that I can't remember, because I was sobbing and crying. It didn't fully click until he opened the box and I saw the ring."
The bauble in question was a stunning pear-cut ring on a gold split-shank band from James Allen. "I thought, 'Oh my God, he bought this ring and he's doing this, and he loves me.'"
Samantha Hanratty's Wedding Vendors
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Terra Mia Vineyards; Photographer: Michelle Roller; Videographer: Justin and Kristen Calamia, Love in Focus Films; Coordinator: Casey Nance, Blush & Twine Designs; Event Designer: Ellen Hanratty; Florist: Diane Lannon; Officiant: Christopher Senderling; Wedding Dress: Chic Nostalgia via Epiphany Boutique; Bridal Shoes: Aldo; Groom's Suit: Men's Wearhouse; Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey; Engagement Ring: James Allen; Wedding Rings: James Allen and Jared; Hair: Katie Knaupp via Tigerlily Salon; Makeup: Mary Kula; Invitations: The Knot and Paperless Post; Catering: Rib Line; Cake: Crushcakes; Desserts: Monika's Macarons, Sweet Pea Bakery, Crumbl Cookies, No Whey Chocolate; Beer: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.; Wine: Sextant Wines; Music: Joel West; Entertainment: TJ Booth, Bumble; Custom Cake Cutter/Server and Champagne Glasses: Elana Honch; Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Patina at Cal Coast Beer Co.
