Jimmy and Alexandria Olsen
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE STORY!
How did you know he was “The One”?
Jimmy: When I saw the owls all over her apartment. I’ve always been fascinated by birds, so I loved discovering that we shared a passion for wild life.
Alexandria: When Lucey, my dog, approved of him. I was already completely smitten with Jimmy, but seeing how much Lucey Loved him made me feel even more certain.
How long did you date?
How did he propose?
Jimmy: We were visiting my family and friends in western Pennsylvania. A month earlier, I had asked her parents for their blessings. Alexandria knew I had spoken with them but had no idea I planned to propose during our trip.
On our last day, we drove from Pittsburgh to Moraine State Park, one of my favorite birdwatching spots from my college days. I had convinced her to make the trip by promising a day of birdwatching. I chose the location because she had always said she wanted a private proposal surrounded by nature rather than a public one.
My sister and her no-husband arrived early that morning and secretly set up along the shore of the lake, disguised as park visitors. When we arrived, Alexandria became captivated by watching ducks on the water. Eventually, I guided her toward the spot where my sister was waiting. There, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. It was a perfect, intimate moment that felt both magical and personal. Alecandria said yes, and we were both overwhelmed with joy. Moments later, the photographers ran over, dramatically removing their disguises. We spent the ne=xt few minutes taking photos before heading home.
Being surrounded by nature, with the support of our family close by, made the day unforgettable and a story we will cherish forever.
Describe your wedding planning process
What planning tools did you use?
Who helped with the planning?
We hired wedding planner Jessica Posey with Heaven Sent Events, who kept us on schedule, recommended wonderful vendors, and guided us throughout the planning process.
Alexandria’s grandmother also played an invaluable role by helping design the decor and floral arrangements.
Did you hire a planner or day-of coordinator?
Did you DIY any aspect of your wedding?
We incorporated quite a few DIY elements into our wedding.
Instead of hiring a DJ, we played a carefully selected playlist through our sound system using an MP3 player. Most decorations were handmade by the bride and her grandmother, and the bride designed and assembled the bouquets and boutonnieres. Guests enjoyed thrifted board games and a custom scavenger hunt through the gardens, while the groom created a retro video game station with his old-school television. incorporated quite a few DIY elements into our wedding.
Did you have a specific theme?
How many guests were invited?
Where did you save the most?
Where did you splurge?
Why did you choose your venue?
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
The mother-son dance featured Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, the groom’s mother’s favorite movie.
We cut our cheese “cake” using an engraved knife that has been passed down through Jimmy’s family and has been used in four or five previous weddings.
I also carried a sixpence for good luck and wore a necklace borrowed from my mother.
What was your most stressful decision?
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
Having indoor backup locations for both the ceremony and reception turned out to be our best decision. It rained nearly the entire day, and the Betty Kelso Center at the Botanical Garden saved our reception from being completely washed out.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
We would have been more selective with our guest list and would have allowed guests to RSVP separately for the ceremony and reception.
Tell Us About...
Your dress:
My dress was a sparkly embroidered A-line gown with a square neckline and an elegant cathedral-length train. It was paired with a beautifully embroidered floral veil that flowed to cape length.
Your flowers:
The Food:
Breakfast for dinner was a HIT! Guests enjoyed appetizers including shrimp and grits martinis, kolcaches, and quiches. The main course featured chicken and waffles, bagels, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Dessert consisted of ice cream and a donut wall. Our wedding was alcohol-free.
The Cake:
Recap your big day for us
What made you laugh?
What made you cry?
Jimmy: Watching my bride walk down the aisle and sharing the mother-son dance were teary moments for me.
Alexandria: I was very emotional getting ready with my mom who also served as my maid-of-honor.
What were the most memorable moments?
Our first look was one of our favorite memories. We highly recommend doing one! We also enjoyed taking portraits in the Japanese Tea Gardens and sharing one final private dance after our guests had departed.
Did anything unexpected happen?
Rain. and lots of it! It rained the WHOLE day. The flooding became severe enough that some guests had to leave the reception early because of flood warnings.
Advice and Looking Ahead
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
Jimmy: Things will go wrong on your wedding day. The important thing is to savor the moments as they happen and not get caught up in every little setback or mistake.
Alexandria: Not everything can be controlled. We learned by having two coordinators that they sometimes had competing priorities. It is impossible to please everyone. You have to know when to pick your battles about what is most important. When dealing with two locations, make sure transportation between the two venues is clearly planned!
What did you look forward to most as Mr. and Mrs.?
Traveling! We look forward to a honeymoon in Japan at some point in the future!
Local Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Alamo Heights
Reception Venue: San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Planner: Heaven Sent Events – Jessica Posey
Photographer: Firefly Photography – Brandy Gray
Caterer: Spice of Life
Cake/Dessert: Otto’s Cheese Shop
Invitations: Copy Corner
Bridal Shop: Impressions Bridal
Makeup Artist: Beauty Concepts
Hair Stylist: Beauty Concepts
Bartending/Beverage Service: Spice of Life
Wedding Coordinator: Heaven Sent Events – Jessica Posey
Wedding Music:
Processional: Deck Thyself My Soul with Gladness – Greatest Commands
Bride’s Entrance: Pollyanna
Recessional: May the Lord Bless You and Keep You
First Dance: Medley of Big Jet Plane/Magnicant/Bubble Bobble
Father/Daughter Dance: I Hope You Dance
Mother/Son Dance: Edelweiss – Sound of Music
Last Dance: Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
