Holy Family Catholic Church

Wedding Day

Wedding

The Westin Pasadena

Reception

Our Wedding

Every love story you read in books, see on T.V. or in movies starts with a chance meeting. It all happened one summer night on the kickball field in 2013... Vanessa and Dan were both new to the area. Vanessa had recently moved back after completing grad school in New York City and Dan had just moved to Pasadena after a short stint in Sherman Oaks after moving back from San Francisco. They both wanted to try something new and hopefully meet new people, so they signed up to play on a co-ed kickball league in Pasadena. Vanessa's friends told her about the league and asked her to sign up, and Dan found the kickball league online and joined with his coworker, Husam - now one of his groomsmen. As fate would have it, both landed them on the same team.You would think that they would have met on the field, but Dan and his buddy were uncharacteristically late to the first game (if you know Dan) and so the first time they met was at the after-party for the kickball league. As everyone probably knows, Dan and Vanessa are super competitive, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they first got to know each other by playing a game at the party. Dan and Husam were playing a game against Vanessa and another teammate. Dan thought he and Vanessa were flirting. Vanessa thought she was just being nice. Haha!Eventually, Husam (aka Cupid) got the bright idea to switch partners, so eventually Vanessa and Dan ended up as teammates and that's where their story began....

The Meeting 

Long story short, Dan proposed to Vanessa in Rome on New Year's Eve. If you want to know more, keep reading!Dan had no idea what it took to get the proposal going. He didn't even know how long it would take to get an engagement ring. But he did know that he wanted to marry Vanessa and had actually asked her family for their blessing prior to getting the ring. It wasn't until he was in San Francisco, where his best man, Adam, and his wife told Dan that he couldn't put buying the ring off until the last minute because it could take time to find the right ring, or even time to get it sized. So during that San Francisco trip, he went to the jewelry store and found Vanessa's ring. It was the first ring he saw, and while he looked at other rings, he knew which ring was Vanessa's! :)So now Dan had the ring, but he didn't have the exact proposal location and idea. He knew he wanted to do it around New Years, but the question was where. By the way, during this time, a few months before the proposal, Vanessa kept asking Dan about buying homes, or even mentioning that Dan wasn't serious about their relationship and that it wasn't leading to marriage. It was a tough time trying to keep the proposal a secret. With Estelle, Vanessa's cousin, singing for the Pope in Rome, it worked out perfectly that Dan and Vanessa could travel to Rome with the family. The day they flew out to Rome was nerve-racking. The whole family knew what was going down, so thank goodness no one mentioned it to Vanessa. Dan was nervous about losing the ring so he carried it with him everywhere. At one point, Dan got pulled aside by security at the London airport and he thought his secret was going to be blown, but Vanessa had no idea and the guys at the airport worked with him to keep it a secret.They arrived in Rome on New Year's Eve and after taking a little nap, went to a nice dinner in the city. It was getting close to Midnight and Vanessa was getting a little upset that Dan hadn't planned their evening correctly. Vanessa was hoping to celebrate New Year's at Trevi Fountain, or the Colliseum. She even said, "I want to be somewhere special at midnight. I don't want to be behind a dumpster." All Dan could think was that anywhere they were would be special because he was going to propose. At the end, they ended up at Trevi Fountain and as the count down to midnight started, Dan proposed. Vanessa said yes at 12:00 a.m. January 1st, 2016.

The Engagement Story

Our Story

Details

After meeting over a mutual dislike of Adam's college roommate their first year at Cal Poly, over 14 years ago, Adam and Dan became close friends, roommates, and brothers for life!   

Adam Azofeifa

Friends since freshman year in high school when Vanessa asked her for a pen in Spanish class, these two have remained at each others side through thick and thin for over 17 years. No one knows Vanessa better than the Maid of Honor! 

Erica Lopez

What is there to say!!!!  Bijan is Dan's younger brother, and Dan knows that Bijan always has his back.  Even though Dan has lived all over the country to go to school, Bijan is the one who has really taken the plunge and has relocated to Utah for work.  Bijan is always on an adventure and will be happy to tell you about them.  He even went to England for the weekend just because!

Bijan Gavahi

After Vanessa was surrounded by boy cousins for over a decade of her life, Solei was the first girl cousin Vanessa had.  She is fun and full of energy and life.  Given that her namesake is "Sun," this girl sure brightens any room she walks into.

Solei Ocegueda

Tatiana and Vanessa met playing kickball and they instantly hit it off.  She is a no nonsense type of girl, who always has her friend's back.  Even when you're sick, she is right there next to you holding your hair back! Tatiana is the Ethel to Vanessa's Lucy and are always trying to find ways to get there groove on.  If you didn't know, Tatiana is Vanessa's favorite dance partner, next to Dan.

Tatiana Hernandez

Dan and Husam became fast friends when Dan started working for KPFF in Pasadena.  Their friendship transcended the typical office friendship as they became friends outside of work!!!  For those who don't know, Husam was on the same kickball team with Dan and Vanessa.  He was also with Dan when he first met Vanessa, and played a great wingman!

Husam Ghanim

Another fun girl Vanessa met at kickball!!!!  She always has a smile on her face and is ready for an adventure.  Cynthia is a spur of the moment type of gal, always on the go and exploring new places and events.  It will be hard to miss her at the wedding since she will be greeting everyone at the door!!!!!!

Cynthia Ramos

Keene has been friends with Dan and Vanessa since they all met on the kickball field.  He has grown into an integral part of Dan's and Vanessa's lives and they even helped him find his girlfriend, Liz....even though Husam will take credit for it.  

Keene Tso

Greg and Dan have been best buds for over 19 years when they first met in 8th grade.  Greg and Dan (or Danny if you ask him) have been though a lot together.  Through all the years, these two have always been there for each other.

Greg Porter

Erika and Vanessa met while they were working on a UCLA public health research project.  Erika is a sweet, fun-loving gal.  Her's and Vanessa's drive to find their side hustles, side gigs is what instantly connected these two girls together!!!

Erika Granados

This little dude is Vanessa's brother and Dan's new brother-in-law.  He's a little soccer star in the making.   We're just hoping he doesn't kick the rings around and lose them....

Marky Macias

Estelle is Vanessa's cousin, you know, the one who sang for the Pope!  When she isn't singing a song, you'll probably see her at Disneyland.  By the way, if you want custom Mickey ears, she has a knack for making them.

Estelle Ocegueda

This little lady is Vanessa's little sister and Dan's new sister-in-law.  She's sweet, smart, and always ready to do a backflip, afterall.... she's a future world champion gymnast!!!!  Maybe she'll do some tumbling down the aisle!

Madeline Macias

Aaron is a future world leader.  He is a master chef, master musician, and wants to travel the world.  His best trivia section is world geography, and I wouldn't be surprised if we found him living the globe-trotting life.  Get to know him now before he flies away!

Aaron Iglesias

Wedding Party

Photos

Q + A

Registry

When you call for our room block, let them know you are part of the Vanessa Macias and Daniel Gavahi wedding room block!

Call and mention that you are a guest for the Macias/Gavahi wedding. The rate should be $150 plus tax for our room block.

Vanessa & Daniel

Vanessa & Daniel

V&D

Wedding Day

1:00 PM

Wedding

Reception