Wine Cellar Restaurant

Rehearsal Dinner

Loma Brewing Company

Welcome Party

Saratoga Springs Events & Weddings

Wedding Day

CEREMONY

HAPPY HOUR

RECEPTION

Fall

Our Wedding

When Tim and Melissa first laid eyes on each other, they did not instantly fall in love, time did not freeze, and the two do not even remember the encounter. Their story involves years of cultivating a friendship that grew into a significant relationship and, ultimately, a commitment to each other as life partners. Here are the highlights!

Their story begins where most stories end – Florida. Tim and Melissa met while interviewing for a graduate program in Jupiter in February 2015. While Melissa had more options than Tim did, they both decided to matriculate to the same program in the same cohort. While their graduate careers were fraught with traumatic experiences, constant stress, and unyielding existential dread, Tim and Melissa got to enjoy the first two years attending classes, retreats, and social gatherings together. Importantly, their relationship was initially platonic since Melissa was already in a relationship. Because of this, Tim and Melissa did not hesitate in getting to know each other as friends. It turned out that Tim and Melissa had many common experiences and traits! Both Tim and Melissa were D1 collegiate athletes (Melissa a competitive springboard diver and Tim an accomplished ultimate frisbee athlete), both got to experience fun internships (Melissa interned internationally in Germany while Tim got to live in San Francisco – basically a foreign country to Tim’s origin in Iowa), and both played trombone as kiddos. Over these shared experiences, Tim and Melissa came to know each other very well as friends.&nbsp;

Exposition

Tim and Melissa’s friend zone barrier obviously did not last but the story is no less of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Three key events needed to occur. First, Melissa’s initial relationship came to an end. Second, Tim’s insightful roommates needed to tell him to stop considering Melissa as a friend and, instead, see Melissa as a potential partner. Third, Tim and/or Melissa needed to make a move to start something more serious. You see – one of Tim and Melissa shared traits is social ineptitude, and so knowing the other party was interested would not be enough for either to make a move. The magnitude of their impediment is similar to that of the immovable object. Thankfully, an unstoppable force – fate – interjected. Tim and Melissa learned of their compatibility during a fateful night at a bar called Jumby Bay (they would not recommend going there). Tim asked to meet Melissa the following day for coffee and tea where he told Melissa that he was interested in getting to know her more, Melissa agreed, and the two began on the path that they tread to the current day. While the date that they officially started dating is debatable, both consider it to be September 2017.&nbsp;

Falling in Love

After two years of casual dating, Tim and Melissa were anticipating the necessary next steps in their careers and relationship. Tim and Melissa decided to live together to see if they were compatible roommates and life partners. Tim, Melissa, and Frankie (Melissa’s wonderful kitty) moved in together in October 2019. The three got along beautifully such that Tim and Melissa decided to move to a big city together after graduation where could both get a job. Tim graduated ahead of Melissa and went on the job market first. He selected a job in San Diego to bring their little family back to Melissa’s home state of California in August 2021. After several months enduring a long-distance relationship, both Melissa and Frankie moved out to San Diego where the story of their little family continues. Tim and Melissa became engaged on top of Mount Corte Madera on February 24th, 2022.&nbsp;

Getting Engaged!

Our Story

Engagement photos by Nicole Reyes Photography

Some of our adventures!

&lt;3 Here is our special kitty cat Frankie &lt;3

Random photos throughout the years

We hope to see you at our wedding!

Photos

Fancy Boy Dr. Cochrane left California to grace the state of Florida and the lives of Tim and Melissa with his presence during graduate school. Wes and Tim became fast friends when the two decided to buy a case of wine and split it via snake-style draft. Wes and Tim continue to work together in the same institute in San Diego as postdocs and even collaborate! 

Wes Cochrane

Merissa and Melissa have known each other Melissa’s entire life. Their mothers are best friends and so are they! Merissa is an energetic, adventurous, and loyal friend who has bought Melissa all her cute clothes, drove across the southwest USA with Melissa last year, and has been the sister Melissa’s parents never gave her. When you meet Merissa, she will likely tell you a story about how Melissa was named after her - a story that Melissa rarely agrees with ;)

Merissa Keller

Zack not only has the smartest mind of any person that Tim knows, but also has the strongest stomach. Zack has eaten not only one, not two, but several buckets of oysters in front of Tim. Only one of those sent Zack to the hospital. Very impressive. 

Zack Tickner

Jessica and Melissa met in middle school band and have been friends ever since. Jessica is the most lovable goofball you’ll meet. Melissa and Jessica have been to Disneyland together three times and are always up for a trip to Harry Potter World. Now that they are both cat moms, Jessica and Melissa send each other lots of snapchat photos of the cute things their cats do.

Jessica Clark

Tim and Max grew up just down the street from each other! Being in Max's orbit filled Tim's childhood with amazing experiences, incredible people, and countless times rolling on the floor crying with laughter. Tim spent many nights crashing on the floor at Max's place. Max's parents, Steve and Marilyn, are like second parents to Tim. 

Max Smith

Jen (or Jenny as Melissa and Jessica call her) and Melissa met their freshman year of high school, and as fellow nerds, took many honors and AP classes together. Every day in high school, Melissa, Jen, Jessica, and a few other friends would meet in the quad to eat our lunch together, discussing school/life/friend drama/boy drama. Jen now lives in Boston and is the executive director of a Quaker nonprofit organization. 

Jennifer Newman

If you spend the time to know Jeremy, you will realize that he is the most caring and most compassionate person that you will ever meet in your entire life. Jeremy is a social worker and serves in a program that helps high risk children prepare for school. Jeremy is also one of the most consistent friends in Tim's life. Tim and Jeremy spend many hours discussing philosophy and playing video games online together. 

Jeremy Boal

Maren and Melissa started as adversaries competing for opposing high school and club springboard diving teams. As one of the few teenaged girls competing for their respective club teams, Maren and Melissa found themselves at the same meets with hours to kill between dives and events, building a friendship that has surpassed our love of diving, through college studying biomedical sciences, and into the real world. Maren has taken Melissa on many adventures in which copious amounts of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream and Jamba Juice were consumed.

Maren Kjell

Tim became painfully aware of Charlie as a kid when Charlie would try to crush Tim to what felt like the brink of death. People familiar with Charlie know that he likes to make a splash in your life, so this isn't surprising. Charlie paved much of the way through Tim's life and has been a near perfect older brother, mentor, and friend the whole time. 

Charlie Strutzenberg

Risa and Melissa met in the front row of their cell biology class sophomore year of college, and they quickly developed a friendship over various late-night study sessions cramming for exams. Some of Melissa’s favorite memories from college are from the Friday nights when Risa, Melissa, Keithen, and Danny would make dinner together at Risa’s apartment and study until our night ultimately devolved into a real party. Always our group’s mother, Risa is now a nurse practitioner and recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. 

Risa Lazaroff-Bhutta

Claire is Tim's little sister! Tim has gotten the pleasure of watching Claire grow to be a beautiful women. Claire has always had an impressive intellect and maturity. Claire waited to go to college until she was ready, then she powered through undergrad and a masters program with honors, matriculated in a top PhD program, and then left when she realized that it wasn't what she actually wanted. Claire currently teaches at her local university and raises her baby boy Leo. Tim is very proud of his sister and convinced that she will be the greatest mother on the entire planet. 

Claire Moore

Nolan (Melissa’s brother) came to Washington, D.C in 2013 to visit Melissa in her third year of college, during which time Melissa and her roommates tried to convince him to ask out a girl (Alyssa) he had a crush on. Fast forward to July 10, 2022, that same girl became Nolan’s wife, and more importantly, Melissa’s sister-in-law! Alyssa is a second-grade teacher who shares Melissa’s love of reading, country music, and hatred of soda.

Alyssa Parker

Tanner is the oldest and wisest of Tim's brothers. Tanner set the precedent in the family to spend time abroad outside of Iowa by living in San Diego, Myrtle Beach, and Chapel Hill. Tim has benefitted greatly from Tanner's experiences and brotherly support. When Tim first moved to San Diego, Tanner came out not only to help Tim move in, but also to show Tim what proper San Diegans do for fun. Tanner helped install Tim's AC unit which turned out to be very import. A quote from Tanner during that trip, "You picked the right brother for this job."

Tanner Strutzenberg

One fateful day in April of 1997, Melissa awoke to find that Granny was home instead of her parents. Don’t worry, she had prepared for this day – Granny made pancakes for breakfast and her parents brought home a baby brother, and 3-year-old Melissa was ecstatic. Despite not being named Pillow like Melissa had asked, Nolan turned out to be a great younger brother, wrestling partner, dress-up companion, bickering assistant, financial advisor, and family comedian.

Nolan Parker

Tim and Patrick became friends as roommates in Jupiter. Patrick has saved Tim (and the other Graduate student puppies) from the brink of existential dread and general poor life planning. Patrick's behavior caused the puppies collectively refer to him as "Uncle Patrick". A good example is when Patrick whisked the puppies away to Nashville when when a Cat5 hurricane was predicted to hit Jupiter. Patrick drove the entire way in evacuation traffic. The trip was one of the most fun in Tim's time in Florida.  

Patrick McEnaney

Adam, Melissa, and Tim attended graduate school together and matriculated in the same cohort. In addition to being an incredibly talented immunologist, a phenomenal cook, and an expert on the best bagels, Adam always comes prepared with a pun (or ten). Melissa genuinely enjoys Adam’s puns, especially when he is forced to text them to people while attending a science talk or because he can’t find anyone nearby.

Adam Getzler

Andrew has an old gentle soul that was born in the wrong era. Andrew's many hobbies and skills would have make him a formidable force in the 19th century. In the 21st century, Andrew applies himself to doing outreach as a missionary in Edinburgh by feeding people experiencing homelessness. Andrew has also been raising a beautiful family of 4 kids with his wife Kali.  

Andrew Strutzenberg

Tim and Melissa initially thought Annabelle would be a flower girl. However, Anabelle's CV was so impressive that she earned a promotion. Congratulations, Anabelle!

Annabelle Strutzenberg

Asher is Tim's oldest nephew. Asher and Tim have bonded over putting Legos together and watching some of their favorite movies together. 

Asher Strutzenberg

Wedding Party

Q + A

To book with our hotel block rate, please call the hotel at 800-238-6111 and explain that you are with the Parker/Strutzenberg Wedding. 15-20 minute drive to wedding venue RatesKing Room: Friday and Saturday ($229/night) Sunday ($189/night)Queen/Exc King Room: Friday and Saturday ($239/night) Sunday ($199/night)

Toll House Hotel Los Gatos

This hotel is a straight shot down this road to the venue. Two blocks from downtown Los Gatos and more family friendly.&nbsp; To book with our hotel block rate, call the hotel and indicate that you are with the Parker/Strutzenberg Wedding. The hotel is offering limited services such as the restaurant being closed (not sure if it will be open in time) but currently have a Grab-N-Go breakfast. 15-20 minute drive to the wedding venue

Los Gatos Lodge

Accommodations

The wedding venue is in the Santa Cruz Mountains outside of Saratoga and the hotels are located in the nearby town of Los Gatos. Below are a few fun things to do in the area. If anything below sounds interesting, please click the hyperlink in the underlined title for more information. <a href="https://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2308/LG- Downtown-Guide-10-18-2012?bidId" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los Gatos Town Guide</a>Los Gatos is located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains 20 miles from SantaCruz, 10 miles to downtown San Jose. <a href="www.hakone.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hakone Estate and Garden</a>21000 Big Basin Way Saratoga - Down the road from thewedding venue. One of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s premier sites and 100 years old,Hakone is one of the old Japanese estate, retreat and gardens in the Western Hemisphere.&nbsp;Hakone has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since2013. 18 acres of magnificent beauty is nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. <a href="https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/villa-montalvo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Villa Montalvo</a>15400 Montalvo Rd SaratogaVilla Montalvo, once the grand estate of Senator James Phelan, is a166 acre park offering a peaceful environment among formal gardens with hiking trails above the villa. Villa Montalvo was built in 1912 and was Senator Phelan's favorite home. It became a center for artistic, political, and social life in Northern California. The Montalvo Arts Center has continued to nurture this artistic oasis and provides opportunities for creation and presentation of arts of all types. <a href="https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/sanborn-county-park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sanborn County Park</a>16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 950703,453 acre county park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains with over 22 miles of hiking trails, second-growth redwoods, creeks, and picnic areas. <a href="https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Castle Rock State Park</a>15451 CA-35, Los Gatos, CA 95033Castle Rock State Park is a land of sculpted sandstone, lush forests, and sweeping vistas. From one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, park visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Rock climbers explore the park's caverns and rocks, including the namesake Castle Rock. Plant-lovers come for California black oaks, knobcone pines, and high-elevation coast redwoods. The park’s 34 miles of rugged trails conveniently connect to an extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys to nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park and open space preserves on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. <a href="www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Big Basin Redwoods State Park</a>21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA 95006Established in 1902 and is California’s oldest state park. There are 18,000 acres with ancient coast redwoods and miles of hiking, History and Nature center, and Bicycling. Check the website for parking and reservation information. <a href="https://www.losgatosca.gov/910/Oak-Meadow-Park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Oak Meadow Park</a>110 E. Main St. Los Gatos, CA 9503012 Acre City Park with Access to&nbsp;Vasona county Park&nbsp;and the Los Gatos Creek Trail, BBQ and picnic facilities, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Bocci ball courts, Large grass fields, Large playground area with a real, decommissioned USAF T-33 Jet and fire truck to climb on, W.E. Bill Mason Carousel <a href="https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/vasona-lake-and-los-gatos-creek- county-parks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vasona Lake County Park</a>333 Blossom Hill Rd Los Gatos, CA 95032Located next to Oak Meadow Park. 152 acre park with lake including 45 acres of lawn, paddle boats and row boat rentals, fishing, bird watching, picnic tables, walking and hiking. <a href="https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/?utm_medium=organic&amp;amp;utm_source=google&amp;amp;utm _campaign=gbp-website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Winchester Mystery House</a>525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128The Winchester Mystery House is the bizarre home of Sarah Winchester. Built between 1886 and 1922. She was instructed to build this home by a psychic? Was she haunted by the ghosts of those felled by the “Gun that Won the West”? Did construction truly never stop? There are160 rooms including 40 bedrooms, 40 staircases, 13 bathrooms, 6 kitchens, 10,000 window panes, 2,000 doors, 52 skylights, 47 fireplaces, threeelevators, two basements and just one shower.&nbsp; <a href="www.cagreatamerica.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">California’s Great America</a>4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054Amusement Park and Water Park <a href="www.mountainwinery.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Mountain Winery</a>14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070A concert and wine tasting venue located next to the wedding venue. Wines of Paul Masson growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There are lots of wineries in the greater area. <a href="https://www.santacruz.org/things-to-do/beaches-parks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beaches</a>!Santa Cruz County has some of the best beaches in Northern CA. The Santa Cruz Beach connects prominent county landmarks:&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.santacruz.org/things-to-do/beach-boardwalk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk</a>, the Santa Cruz Wharf, and the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.&nbsp; Museums!<a href="https://egyptianmuseum.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum</a>1660 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95191 <a href="https://www.cdm.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose</a>180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA, 95110 <a href="www.computerhistory.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Computer History Museum</a>1401 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 <a href="www.intel.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intel Museum</a>2200 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Shopping malls.Valley Fair – 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050Santana Row – 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95125The Pruneyard – 1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell, CA 95008Old town Los Gatos – 50 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 94030

Melissa & Timothy

Melissa & Timothy

M&T

Welcome Party

Wedding Day

5:00 PM–5:30 PM

CEREMONY

5:30 PM–6:30 PM

HAPPY HOUR

6:30 PM–10:00 PM

RECEPTION