Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Jeff and Melanie first met in 2015&nbsp;at the busiest restaurant in California -&nbsp;Rainforest Cafe! A little background story is that although Jeff had already been working there, Melanie needed&nbsp;a new part time job to help her through college. Melanie remembers&nbsp;walking through Downtown Disney, asking if any restaurants were hiring as well as&nbsp;dropping off applications. She was ready to take any job.&nbsp;Rainforest Cafe was the only restaurant to seriously interview her and eventually give her the job as a Tour Guide (Hostess). 

Jeff was a Safari Guide (Server)&nbsp;and took notice of Melanie. Jeff would constantly say, "Hi"&nbsp;to Melanie in the break room, on the floor, etc. Melanie remembers other employees asking, "Where's my 'hi' Jeff?"&nbsp;This made Melanie smile and feel special.&nbsp;















Melanie thought it would be a bold&nbsp;move to visit Jeff with her friends at work. This meant that Melanie had to go to her coworkers, put her name down, and awkwardly ask to sit in Jeff's section. Melanie was with her friends Roxy (Matron of Honor)&nbsp;and Alex. Melanie felt like she was putting herself out there and almost didn't go through with it. In addition, the wait was around two hours!















Jeff was waiting his entire shift to see Melanie sit in his section. Hours had gone by and he was beginning to think she wouldn't show up. Finally, Melanie and her friends were seated at table 512. When Jeff approached the table, the first people he saw were Roxy and Alex. He thought to himself, another table and no Melanie.&nbsp;















Jeff turned his head and had to catch his breath, it was Melanie!&nbsp;This moment was different for Jeff because Melanie had her hair down.&nbsp;At work, women are required to have their hair in a ponytail or bun so having her hair down. Jeff finally saw Melanie and Melanie finally had the guts to put herself out there.&nbsp;





















Roxy and Alex approved of Jeff and his charming good looks. When Jeff would walk away from the table, Melanie's friends kept saying that they were googly eyed for each other!



















From there, Melanie and Jeff knew they had feelings for each other. They made their relationship official on February 10th, 2015.



















They have been through many trials, joys, and hardships. Nothing will beat the love and respect they share for one another as well as their faithfulness to God.&nbsp;







God has blessed Melanie and Jeff in many ways and they feel so honored&nbsp;to be getting married on July 17, 2020.&nbsp;

How They Met 

In April 2019, Jeff and Melanie were visiting family in Oregon and began to go&nbsp;ring shopping! Melanie was not expecting to fall in love with a ring so quickly as it was their first jewelry store they visited&nbsp;- Shane Company.&nbsp; This was also the first time Melanie had ever&nbsp;been in a jeweler store so this was a very intimidating experience. Once they got back home in California,&nbsp;Jeff later asked for her Dad's blessing to have her hand in marriage.&nbsp;









In July 2019, Jeff and Melanie took their first major road trip together to Sun River, Oregon. The plan was to vacation with family in celebration of some birthdays. Happy birthday Ron and Linda!&nbsp;&nbsp;











Jeff asked if Melanie can pack a picnic dress for the trip. What's a picnic dress?&nbsp;Melanie's suspicions were rising but did not want to get her hopes up.&nbsp;Later, Jeff and Melanie set off to have their special picnic.&nbsp;When they got there,&nbsp;Jeff took Melanie's hand and starting walking her to a blanket that had their pictures on there, rose petals on the ground, and a bottle of pinot noir.&nbsp;





Melanie noticed Jeff's fingers trembling as he reached for his phone to play some music. Jeff played Marry Me by Train.&nbsp;Jeff took Melanie's hand and spoke about their journey together, how far they have come, and how much he loves her. Good thing they were both wearing sunglasses, the&nbsp;tears were everywhere!











On July 17, 2019, Jeff went down on one knee and asked Melanie if she would marry him.&nbsp;





Guess what, she said YES!!&nbsp;

The Proposal 

Our Story

Our Wedding

Please read

Wedding Update - July 2021

We are so excited to host all of our family and friends for our second wedding!&nbsp;Our wedding venue has been safely hosting weddings, following county guidelines, and will continue&nbsp;to do so for our own wedding date. We appreciate all of your support and kindness during this crazy journey!&nbsp;We look forward to celebrating with you all on July 9, 2021.&nbsp;Love,&nbsp;

Melanie and Jeff

If you have any questions, text Melanie at 714-253-2773 or Jeff at 503-709-9717

Wedding Update - July 2020

To our friends and loved ones,&nbsp;

Due to the pandemic, our wedding is unfortunately canceled on July 17th, 2020 in Menifee, CA. Although weddings are canceled, love isn't! We will still be getting married this July in a small, family setting and whoever else would like to join. Thank you for being patient with us during this process. We look forward to sharing our new date with you so we can celebrate with everyone! Our goal is to reschedule for July 2021. We hope that you stay safe and appreciate all of your love and support.&nbsp;





Love,&nbsp;





Melanie and Jeff





If you have any questions, text Melanie at 714-253-2773 or Jeff at 503-709-9717

COVID-19

How They Met

The Beginning

Jeff and Melanie first met in 2015&nbsp;at the busiest restaurant in California -&nbsp;Rainforest Cafe! A little background story is that although Jeff had already been working there, Melanie needed&nbsp;a new part time job to help her through college. Melanie remembers&nbsp;walking through Downtown Disney, asking if any restaurants were hiring as well as&nbsp;dropping off applications. She was ready to take any job.&nbsp;Rainforest Cafe was the only restaurant to seriously interview her and eventually give her the job as a Tour Guide (Hostess).

Jeff was a Safari Guide (Server)&nbsp;and took notice of Melanie. Jeff would constantly say, "Hi"&nbsp;to Melanie in the break room, on the floor, etc. Melanie remembers other employees asking, "Where's my 'hi' Jeff?"&nbsp;This made Melanie smile and feel special.&nbsp;









Melanie thought it would be a bold&nbsp;move to visit Jeff with her friends at work. This meant that Melanie had to go to her coworkers, put her name down on the waiting list, and awkwardly ask to sit in Jeff's section. Melanie was with her friends Roxy (Matron of Honor)&nbsp;and Alex. Melanie felt like she was putting herself out there and almost didn't go through with it. In addition, the wait was around two hours!









Jeff was waiting his entire shift to see Melanie sit in his section. Hours had gone by and he was beginning to think she wouldn't show up. Finally, Melanie and her friends were seated at table 512. When Jeff approached the table, the first people he saw were Roxy and Alex. He thought to himself, another table and no Melanie.&nbsp;









Jeff turned his head and had to catch his breath, it was Melanie!&nbsp;This moment was different for Jeff because Melanie had her hair down for the first time.&nbsp;At work, women are required to have their hair in a ponytail or bun so having her hair down was completely different. Jeff finally saw Melanie and Melanie finally had the guts to put herself out there.&nbsp;









Roxy and Alex approved of Jeff and his charming good looks. When Jeff would walk away from the table, Melanie's friends kept saying that they were googly eyed for each other!









From there, Melanie and Jeff knew they had feelings for each other. They made their relationship official on February 10th, 2015.

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We have been through many trials, joys, and hardships. Nothing will beat the love and respect we&nbsp;share for one another as well as our&nbsp;faithfulness to God.&nbsp;









God has blessed us in so&nbsp;many ways and we&nbsp;feel so honored&nbsp;to be getting married on July 17, 2020. God is good!&nbsp;

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey!&nbsp;

The Proposal

The Ring on Her Finger 

In July 2019, Jeff and Melanie took their first major road trip together to Sun River, Oregon. The plan was to vacation with family in celebration of some birthdays. Happy birthday Ron and Linda!&nbsp;&nbsp; 





Jeff asked if Melanie can pack a picnic dress for the trip. What's a picnic dress?&nbsp;Melanie's suspicions were rising but did not want to get her hopes up.&nbsp;Later, Jeff and Melanie set off to have their special picnic.&nbsp;When they got there,&nbsp;Jeff took Melanie's hand and starting walking her to a blanket that had their pictures on there, rose petals on the ground, and a bottle of pinot noir.&nbsp;







Melanie noticed Jeff's fingers trembling as he reached for his phone to play some music. Jeff played Marry Me by Train.&nbsp;Jeff took Melanie's hand and spoke about their journey together, how far they have come, and how much he loves her. Good thing they were both wearing sunglasses, the&nbsp;tears were everywhere!







On July 17, 2019, Jeff went down on one knee and asked Melanie if she would marry him.&nbsp;







Guess what, she said YES!!&nbsp;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God is wonderful.&nbsp;

Melanie told Jeff that she wanted to be engaged for one year. Jeff didn't see the big deal (hello, planning a wedding!) but we both kept in mind each others preference.&nbsp;

When we were looking at wedding venues, we feel in love with The Orchard by Wedgewood weddings. We originally had another July date in mind but was told all weekends were unavailable except for July 17th.&nbsp;

Exactly one year from when Jeff proposed.&nbsp;

Instantly, July 17th became much more significant to us. We asked ourselves, how did we plan that?&nbsp;We didn't, that was God! He just loves to surprise us in these subtle ways, reminding us that He is here.&nbsp;Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us during this special season in our life.&nbsp;

Our Story 1

The Guest App

Sharing Photos 

If you would like to share photos on our special day, please download "The guest"&nbsp;app on your phone's app store.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.theknot.com/photo-sharing-app/?first_name=Melanie&amp;last_name=Riesch&amp;email=melanie_riesch@csu.fullerton.edu&amp;event_time=07-17-2020&amp;utm_source=theknotcom&amp;utm_medium=dashboardmodule&amp;utm_campaign=WWSdash" target="_blank">The Guest Website Link</a> 

The Guest app will notify everyone when the event starts - everyone takes photos with their regular phone camera, and are shared in real time during the event. Easy!&nbsp;









Photos you take with your phone camera between 5:00 PM&nbsp;and 10:00 PM&nbsp;will automatically show up here (and you'll be able to see everyone else's, too!). You can also change your sharing settings on the app at anytime.&nbsp;









This is a fun way for us&nbsp;to see the fun while we wait to share the wedding photos with you.&nbsp;









The following is the event link:&nbsp;in.veri.com/to/herdina2020









The following is the event code:&nbsp;HERDINA2020





We would love for you to use our hashtag! #happilyherdina&nbsp;

*PLEASE&nbsp;NOTE:&nbsp;We will have an unplugged ceremony. We kindly ask that all cell phones, cameras and any other devices are turned off. You are more than welcome to take photos during the reception.&nbsp;

Details

Registry

I have known Jon for my whole life. In a lot of ways, he has challenged me to be a better man.&nbsp;I envy his patience, his perseverance, and most importantly his forgiveness. As I share the most special day of my life, I cannot think of anyone more special (other than Mel) that I&nbsp;want standing by my side. Jon, you are my ride or die, I love you, and thank you for being the best brother a man could ask for.&nbsp;

Jon Herdina 

Roxy and I&nbsp;first met through Alpha Delta Pi at Cal State&nbsp;Fullerton in 2013 and soon became best friends throughout the course of my undergraduate career. Roxy is always so welcoming and friendly, she is a true friend and will never let you down! She was the first person I gravitated toward when I&nbsp;first joined a sorority.&nbsp;Roxy is&nbsp;there&nbsp;through thick and thin and will always encourage you to follow your dreams. I&nbsp;admire Roxy's strength, smarts, and confidence. I&nbsp;am so blessed to have such a wonderful woman in my life!&nbsp;I&nbsp;had the privilege of being in Roxy's wedding party for her wedding on July 8, 2017. Now, I am so honored to have Roxy be my wonderful Matron of Honor! Love you, Roxy!&nbsp;



Roxy Konovaloff

Although Travis is not related by&nbsp; blood, I&nbsp;think of him as my taller, better looking brother. Travis and I&nbsp;have always shared a love/hate relationship, but I think that is primarily due to our unwavering competitive nature. He and I both have to be the best at everything, ALL&nbsp;THE&nbsp;TIME. He pushes me to be better and for that, he has earned my respect. Travis definitely earned the right to be my co-best man and he will always be a pivotal part of my growth as a man.&nbsp;

Travis Toedtemeier 

Nicole and I first met in the Multiple Subject Credential Program through Cal State Fullerton in 2017. We were more acquaintances during this time than best friends as we had different student teaching assignments and other immediate friends. I&nbsp;had no idea that we would become lifelong friends in a few short months. We both got hired at the same school teaching 6th-grade together! Our friendship has blossomed both professionally and personally. Nicole is my next door teaching neighbor and I&nbsp;could never imagine teaching without her. I&nbsp;admire her faithfulness to God and her willingness to help you with whatever you need. Nicole is a stand up woman and is your go-to girl for anything. Thank you for always being there for me!&nbsp;

Nicole Smith

Ali and I first met in Multiple Subject Credential Program through Cal State Fullerton in 2017. We instantly became friends and sat at the same table for each of our classes. We also started to develop&nbsp;weekly Target trips together, scoping out the dollar section and the entire store as a matter of fact. Ali is such a fun person to be around, she will cheer you up any day! I admire her&nbsp;passion for helping others, her joy for life, and her work ethic. I&nbsp;am so blessed to have Ali as a best friend!&nbsp;

Alexandria Druckenmiller

Darabin-laden... where to begin. This is a guy I have literally shared my entire childhood with. We have traveled together, we have worked together, and we have bled together. Whether it was working on cars, dirt bikes, sand rails, quads, or just playing "Guitar Hero" at 3 AM&nbsp;after working a close shift at Domino's, some of my fondest memories in life were&nbsp;lived with Chris as my wingman.&nbsp; His adventurous nature has lead to more epic memories than I could possibly ever describe. It is truly an honor to call him my friend.&nbsp;

Chris Daraban 

Chris is my future business partner.&nbsp;I met Chris when I was working at Domino's. He has always been the hardest worker I&nbsp;know and if I&nbsp;ever get the chance to be his business partner in real life, I know whatever we decide to do will be wildly&nbsp;successful because he will put his heart and soul into it. Just as he has to be my friend. He is always helpful, always caring,&nbsp;and most importantly&nbsp;always a good time. Whether it was grabbing beers at the local honkey-tonk, riding motorcycles across Oregon, or paddling out to the other side of a lake during a bachelor party, he is always good company to have around. Truly a stand-up guy through and through.&nbsp;

Chris Rasor 

Jasmine is my first little sister. She is rare because she is one of three girls in a family that&nbsp;has seven boys! I&nbsp;am looking forward to strengthening our bond as we both grow older and I&nbsp;hope I&nbsp;can be a role model for her. I&nbsp;admire Jasmine's make-up skills and her willingness to learn and grow in anything she puts her mind to!&nbsp;I feel honored to watch Jasmine grow&nbsp;to be&nbsp;the beautiful young woman that she is. Jasmine, I&nbsp;love so much!

Jasmine Riesch 

Wedding Party

Q + A

Most people are booking through Airbnb. Due to the high volume of friends and family booking through Airbnb, we are not having a room block at a hotel. The hotels mentioned on our website are some recommendations if you choose to stay somewhere else.

Airbnb

Please plan on who will be safely driving to and from the venue.&nbsp;

Download Uber and Lyft ahead of time if you prefer not to&nbsp;drive.&nbsp;

The Orchard by Wedgewood Weddings

When you stay at Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Murrieta in Murrieta, you'll be within the vicinity of Promenade.  This hotel is within the region of Thorton Winery and Callaway Vineyard and Winery.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary weekday newspapers, and housekeeping is provided daily.Amenities Take advantage of recreational opportunities offered, including an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center.Dining A complimentary hot/cold buffet breakfast is served daily.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Free self parking is available onsite.

Hampton Inn & Suites Murrieta Temecula

When you stay at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lake Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, you'll be close to Canyon Lake Country Club.  This hotel is within the region of Tenaja Falls.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 73 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Cable programming and iPod docking stations are provided for your entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms have deep soaking bathtubs and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include desks and complimentary newspapers, as well as phones with free local calls.Amenities Don't miss out on recreational opportunities including an indoor pool and a fitness center. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access and discounted use of a nearby fitness facility.Dining A complimentary buffet breakfast is included.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and multilingual staff. Free self parking is available onsite.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lake Elsinore

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Murrieta

When you stay at Best Western Plus Lake Elsinore Inn & Suites in Lake Elsinore, you'll be close to Canyon Lake Country Club.  This hotel is within the region of Tenaja Falls and Promenade.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 71 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary newspapers, as well as phones with free local calls.Amenities Take advantage of recreational opportunities offered, including an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center.Dining A complimentary breakfast is included.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.

Melanie & Jeff

Melanie & Jeff

Photos