What happens when two people from different countries, different cultures, and different religions, get married? For Christine and Cesar Gutierrez, it meant getting everybody together for a big, fun party!
Chrissy’s first brush with Cesar occurred on her first day as a German exchange student at Maxwell High School in Maxwell, California, a sleepy little town just north of Williams. He boldly approached her and delivered his best pickup line: “Do you know who I am? Because you should!” She didn’t fall for it, she says, but it turned out to be an encounter that she will always remember.
Eventually, the school year came to an end and Chrissy returned home to Friedrichsfehn, a small town in northern Germany. That could have been the end of the story, but fate had romance in store for Chrissy and Cesar. A series of chance encounters between the two during Chrissy’s return visits to the U.S. to see her host family led to dating and sparked a long distance relationship. They grew so close that eventually, even though she had been accepted by a private university in Germany, Chrissy decided to follow her heart and move to California to be with Cesar.
They were a natural fit, both being the active and outdoorsy types, “You’ll usually find us doing something like skiing, riding dirt bikes or playing golf on the weekend. We love traveling and spending time with friends and family – Cesar’s family is quite large, so it seems like there’s always a gathering or two to go to,” Chrissy tells us. “Chrissy is a good travel companion and we always have fun adventuring together.” says Cesar.
Their relationship became more serious as time passed, and it was on a spontaneous weekend trip to Monterey that Cesar planned to propose. “At the time, we were financially embarrassed college students. I came up with a plan to propose on the 17-Mile Drive, and I snuck away while Chrissy was enjoying a massage and bought the cutest ring I could afford. It wasn’t easy, walking around with the box from the jewelry store in my pocket, hoping she wouldn’t notice. We set out on the 17-Mile Drive, and in searching for the perfect spot to propose, I drove right through the first sixteen miles – each vista point had too many people! I was getting really nervous, but finally I found a spot to pop the question. Fortunately she said yes – if she hadn’t, that would have been a really awkward ride home!”
Chrissy’s version of the story goes like this: “Cesar took me for a wonderful weekend in Monterey and I fell in love with that gorgeous town and the coast. We went on the scenic 17 Mile Drive, but he kept driving right past the vista points, saying he was looking for the “right spot”! When he finally stopped at Pescadero Point, the last stop before Pebble Beach, I ran out to the ocean cliff, spread my arms out and yelled “This is so beautiful! Look at this!” When I turned around to see if he was coming, there he was, down on one knee! I was completely surprised and I remember myself flushing and feeling butterflies. He asked if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him and be his wife and I said yes. It was so unexpected – afterwards I was sitting in the car, looking at the ring and I blurted out: “Wait, this means we are getting married!” which made Cesar laugh!
As they started the process of planning a wedding, their habit of exploring paid off – they were driving around the back roads of the Sacramento River Delta and chanced upon the Grand Island Mansion which just happened to be holding a bridal open house. They knew instantly that this was the place they wanted to get married. They chose and booked their date that day!
Now the planning process really took off, with Chrissy in charge and Cesar there to support her every step of the way. “I just had to say “I love it” or “I hate it” and she did the rest,” he says. His advice for other grooms: “Don’t tell her to ‘do whatever you want’ – it may get more expensive than you expect!”
As planning progressed, the couple realized the importance of the involvement of family and friends in the event. They explain: “Once we understood that this day is special to everyone, it became easier to manage the flood of opinions. We specifically sought out ways to make everyone have their special moment: From Dad walking his daughter down the aisle, to honoring the Mothers with the rose ceremony, to selecting the speakers for the toasts, to walking around the dining room thanking each table individually for coming, and smiling through countless pictures – everyone will remember the wedding, because they were a part of it.”
Chrissy and Cesar come from very different backgrounds, and trying to balance elements from both was making things difficult. Trying to blend German, Mexican, Catholic and Lutheran elements became very complex and stressful, so they did the opposite: Chrissy decorated the tables with little Moroccan lanterns reminiscent of her family’s travels, the food was French, the ceremony was non-secular and in English, and the music was predominantly American. And you know what? It was okay! “Our guests loved the food, the ceremony was personal, everyone was dancing and having a great time!” They ended the night with a romantic tunnel of sparklers with our friends and family. “The wedding day was seamless and beautiful – in great part because of our great vendors. They were a great source of knowledge, and when they made a suggestion, I listened. ” Chrissy adds.
The wedding was an event that Cesar, Chrissy, and their families and friends will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. Among Chrissy’s favorite moments: “when the DJ had everyone rocking out on the dance floor to “YMCA” (even my parents!) and when we presented roses to my mother, mother in law, stepmother and host mother during the ceremony, which brought tears to everyone’s eyes.” The bridal party stayed the night at the mansion, enjoying an unforgettable after party hosted by Michel Smanio, the mansion’s very entertaining bartender, and a fantastic breakfast the next morning. Chrissie tells us that to this day, people are still talking about that!
But maybe the most cherished memory of the day, Chrissy says, is “My father’s expression when he first saw me in my wedding dress just before he walked me down the aisle. I was so nervous that he wouldn’t like it because it’s modern and edgy with high-low style and the knees showing, but he loved it! He told me that I looked beautiful, that the dress fit my personality, and that he was proud to be my Dad. Hearing that meant the world to me.”
VENUE: Grand Island Mansion
FLORALS: Beautiful by Nature
[PHOTOS] Rachelle Photography
