Monterey Bay Aquarium

Daytime Outing

Fish Hopper

Evening Festivity

Our Wedding

Chris and Jennifer had been active on dating apps and were matched together using the algorithms developed by the founders of Coffee Meets Bagel. Chris had been watching an episode of Shark Tank where he watched the CEO pitch her product of a new way of dating that used machine learning based on the user's preferences as opposed to just showing every person on the platform to each other. One cold December evening, Chris had invited Jennifer for their first meeting after a successful campaign of witty back and forth texts. Jenn showed up at Heroes and Legends, a local low key sports bar with a wide arrangement of beer and large portion meals, straight from crossfit. Chris had already taken a seat at the bar and waited patiently to meet this internet stranger. Would it be love or murder? Quickly getting past the awkward shortness that is veritably Jenn, Chris invites her to have a seat. Jenn immediately starts to feverishly review the many meal choices and beer menu, eventually settling on sharing a bowl of Chili Spaghetti. They quickly hit it off and spent the night talking and discussing everyday life, goals and aspirations. The night ends with a handshake and Chris is left wondering if he would ever hear from Jenn again. The next day, Jenn reaches out to thank Chris for sending her home with the leftover chili spaghetti... and the rest is history!

BEER AND CHILI SPAGHETTI

How It Started

The One Where Jenn Gets Married

She said "Yes!" in December 2019,and they set the date early 2021. After consulting various sources on auspicious dates (as well as cross-referencing birthdays and special occasions), they decided on 10-11-21. It had a nice ring to it and was conveniently a Monday - perfect for the small courthouse wedding they envisioned. It was not until after they had their hearts set on the date that they realized it was actually a federal holiday - and the courthouse would be closed! Now what?! In typical Jennifer style, the resulting "Jenn &amp; Chris' Day of Fun" would be a complex orchestration of photoshoots in multiple locations, several outfit changes and progressive ceremony officiated by Jenn's longtime trusted friend (who could easily grasp/support Jenn's intricate plans). The day started how you would expect a planned event organized by Jenn, a detailed itinerary down to the minute. Like busy bees, the couple set out to conquer their quests of hair and makeup, wedding cakes pickup (yes, cakes, plural - couldn't just have one!), and travel to different locations where they would be making memories throughout the day. With the cakes secured, the hair and makeup looking sharp, Chris, Jennifer and Minister Anna set off to the first location - a donut shop! A new Randy's Donuts in Costa Mesa, CA. Jennifer started using her luck on this first stop where an empty donut shop with display cases packed to the brim with freshly decorated yeasted cakes was the perfect backdrop. This is where the couple meet their lensman, James, for the first time; he would be responsible for documenting the rest of the day. Jenn and Chris began their vows over a giant donut covered in strawberry icing and sprinkles. This would be the first set of four that Minister Anna had artfully scripted for the occasion. It was a pleasant, short and sweet moment much like Jenn. Chris remembers the donuts they bought that day and forgot to eat; he mourns this memory. With Jenn's trademark sense of urgency, the group moves from the iconic giant donut to a small strip mall that holds the gem of an Italian ice shop, Confetti. The group is welcomed by the store owners and the overwhelming task of deciding the flavors of Italian ice and custard immediately begins. Chris spends his time looking around at the checkerboard floor, vertical striped wallpaper and high wainscoting; Jenn spends her time debating which of the 100s of flavor combinations she would most likely least regret not getting. Eventually, Jenn would reluctantly cave to getting the strawberry shortcake and Chris, the cactus cooler. James quickly springs into action to capture the fleeting moments of the short lived frozen treats with Chris and Jenn still needing to do the second part of vows. Minister Anna quickly takes her place and starts her second verse while the couple holds hands. Just like that, the ice cream shop stop is complete and they are one step closer to the courthouse, but first! Off to Noguchi Garden. Hidden behind a large parking structure and tucked between high rise buildings, you will find an art installation that brings a variety of terra to an otherwise lifeless patch of concrete, Isamu Noguchi's California Scenario (locally known as Noguchi Garden). Jenn and Chris step into another world where a forest, desert, badlands, dried river beds and a rolling hill make up the outdoor sculpture oasis. The desert hill would be the main attraction as Jenn is the first to summit the loose gravel, in sparkly dress and heels, while the world watches Chris bumble his way uphill like he was walking on ice. The brave Minister powers through her third installment of the vows and the lensman channels his inner MFA . With the time in the Garden wrapped up, Chris and Jenn prepare for a final costume change into their formal wedding attire for the final vows at the foot of the oldest courthouse in Orange County. With a popup changing tent, and a mostly deserted parking structure, Jenn successful changed into her wedding dress. And Chris jumps into his suit. This is where the day finally suffers a setback from Jennifer's meticulous planning and introduces the chaotic evil that is Chris' inability to remember his tie for his wedding suit. Sadly, a trip back home and finally arriving at the courthouse, they were an hour behind schedule. Chris is still hoping Jenn will forgive him one day. Old Orange County Courthouse, the oldest court building in Orange County, California is the site of the couple's final vows and ring exchange. Chris and Jenn are greeted with an empty parking lot during rush hour, the Monday holiday having cleared the living monument of the usual newlywed traffic and allowed for free reign of the entire grounds. James had been used the delay in schedule to scope out some choice backdrops and was in guerrilla photographer mode by the time the wedding party scrambled up the giant staircase to take their places. As Minister Anna starts reciting the final set of vows, Chris and Jenn exchange rings and seal the extended ceremony with a kiss, finally. As Chris and Jenn descend the staircase there is a familiar trail marker, the El Camino trail bell. The Bells line the trail of all 21 original California Missions that scatter all along the state. These Missions and the trail are a part of Chris and Jenn's early dating history as they spent vacation time making their way to each of these Missions, collecting memories along the way. The courthouse history makes no mention of the El Camino Real trail or the trail marker; it was truly an incredible happenstance to commemorate the day.

Our Wedding Story

Photos

Will there be a wedding ceremony?

This event is not a traditional wedding, instead Chris and Jenn will be hosting a day at the aquarium followed by a dinner with friends and family. Chris and Jenn encourage you to treat this as your own vacation and explore Monterey and surrounding areas, and enjoy the local scenery and activities as they do.

Do we have a registry?

We are not planning on having a formal registry. Our apartment is full of 2 lives worth of collecting (hoarding) our interests and hobbies. Our current goals are focused on finding a forever home where we can get started making memories and raising dogs.

Aquarium Vaccination Guidelines

The Aquarium's current policies can be found <a href="https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/visit/visitor-faqs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Is there going to be dancing?

Many of you know us, we are not the dancing type. There is no dance floor or music. We will be enjoying wildlife, food, and each other's company.

What are we eating?

We will be hosting a dinner at the Fish Hopper, once an original sardine cannery, that offers spectacular views of Monterey Bay. They specialize in seafood and steak.

How many people are going?

We are keeping this an intimate affair with the small group of family and close friends that have been apart of our relationship over the years.

What should we wear?

The dress codes for the outing at the Aquarium and the dinner at the Fish Hopper are as follows: Monterey Bay AquariumCasual, be comfortable for exploring and enjoying the exhibits. The Fish HopperDressy Casual, it will be nice night out with new friends and family. Let's all make a good impression.

What is Dressy Casual?

While the phrase "dressy casual" might sound contradictory, consider it to be the style in between casual attire and semi-formal. "Dressy casual is a modern approach to the dress code that allows the guest to wear special event clothing that is on-trend, relaxed and comfortable but still within the structure and guidelines of etiquette in regards to the time of day and elegance of the event and location," says Steele Haley Stevenson, Director of Catering and Conference Services at the Willard InterContinental in Washington D.C.<a href="https://www.theknot.com/content/what-to-wear-dressy-casual" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theknot.com/content/what-to-wear-dressy-casual</a>

F.A.Qs

Alta Bakery & Cafe

502 Munras Ave. Monterey, CA<a href="http://altamonterey.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">altamonterey.com</a>

Revival Ice Cream

463 Alvarado St. Monterey, CA<a href="https://revivalicecream.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">revivalicecream.com</a>

Whaling Station Steakhouse

763 Wave St. Monterey, CA<a href="https://thewhalingstation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thewhalingstation.com</a>

Alvarado Street Brewery - 2 locations

Location 1:426 Alvarado St. Monterey, CALocation 2:Carmel Plaza @ Ocean Ave &amp; Mission St. Carmel, CA<a href="http://asb.beer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">asb.beer</a>

The Butter House (Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch only)

1760 Fremont Blvd. B-1, Seaside, CA<a href="http://thebutterhouse.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thebutterhouse.com</a>

Nacho Bizness

470 Alvarado St. Monterey, CA<a href="http://nachobiz.biz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nachobiz.biz</a>

SUR Restaurant

3601 The Barnyard, Carmel, CA<a href="http://surcarmel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">surcarmel.com</a>

Things to Eat

Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walk the wharf to enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean and the harbor, browse the shops (the saltwater taffy is great!), and dine on fresh seafood by the water. Fisherman’s Wharf is the departure point for Monterey whale watching cruises. You can also enjoy sailing trips, fishing charters, and glass-bottomed boat tours from the wharf.

Cannery Row

Today’s Cannery Row is full of restaurants, shops, and hotels, but once it was the center of a large-scale sardine canning industry. The setting for John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name, Cannery Row used to be called Ocean View Avenue.

Rent An E-Bike

Rent an electric bike to discover the downtown area, Cannery Row, or Fisherman’s Wharf on your own, or take a guided bicycle tour of the Pacific Grove coastline, Pebble Beach, or another scenic area.

Wine Tasting

A Taste of Monterey showcases the fine wines of Monterey County wineries with a wine bar, educational center, market, and bistro. You can also take the River Road Wine Trail, located less than 20 miles from Monterey.

Monterey State Historic Park

An aggregation of a number of historic buildings, Monterey State Historic Park is a must-tour if you enjoy local history. Guided walks may be offered when you visit: join one if you can, for a fascinating peek into the city’s past.

17-Mile Drive

The 17-Mile Drive through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach features beautiful coastal scenery. Starting at the Sunset Drive gate in Pacific Grove, the drive takes you past Spanish Bay to provide stunning vistas of beaches, the ocean, and golf courses, before finishing up in Carmel.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is super picturesque, with charming storybook cottages, a village square with secret passageways and flower-filled courtyards, and a pristine sandy beach. Visit the Carmel Mission and stroll Carmel Village to admire the architecture.

Chris & Jennifer

Chris & Jennifer

Photos