Austen & Garret
• Wedding Date November 9 •
LOCATION CANFIELD CASINO
PHOTOGRAPHER KERENSA RYBAK PHOTOGRAPHY
• OUR STORY •
Garrett and I met in the most romantic way these days; on a dating app. I was in my senior year of college at Arizona State and Garrett had recently moved to Arizona for baseball training. On our first date Garrett picked me up at my college apartment, dressed in all black with a black car. Before saying hello or anything at all I decided to lead with “Wow, you look like you’re going to rob a bank.” and he still says it was love at first sight.
Our relationship was meant to be from the beginning. We started dating two days before he left for nine months. Nine months where he couldn’t leave the team, was working 12+ hours a day and was travelling to a new city every few days. I think that’s part of what gave us such a strong foundation! I visited Garrett as much as I could during the 2023 MLB season and after we got our first home together in Scottsdale, Arizona, the same routine continued for the 2024 season but during the following off season… Garrett proposed!
Knowing how fond I was of Saratoga in the Winter, we flew back to visit for Christmas. My family has a beloved tradition when getting our Christmas tree… we all decide which one, and then everyone cuts some of the tree. We picked our favorite and oddly Garrett liked a tree on the other side of the farm. I knew instantly what was happening and got so nervous I actually ran away! However, when I knelt to cut my part of the tree Garrett made his move and once I stood up, he was behind me with a very important question. After an obvious yes, he had set up a fire with champagne, charcuterie and hot cocoa on the farm. It was just magical.
Once we were engaged, we headed back to Arizona to pack up our home and move for the 2025 season, this time I was with him full time, finally!! The season was a dream and perfectly closed a beautiful chapter. Garrett retired in June of 2025. We spent some time in California with his family (he hadn’t seen his family in the summer since 2017!) and then decided to make Saratoga home.
DETAILS
LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
WEDDING GOWN
Kleinfeld Justin Alexander / custom
BRIDESMAIDS' DRESSES
HAIR
MAKEUP
Brittany Zalewski, LC Beauty Co.
GROOM'S ATTIRE
RINGS
Private Jeweler / Glennpeter Jewelers
WEDDING PLANNER
Heather Hart
EVENT DECORATOR
Heather Hart
FLOWERS
DIY
STATIONERY SUITE
CATERER
CAKE
PARTY FAVORS
DIY - locally picked and sourced salt blend
DJ OR BAND
Upbeat Occasions / Demetria Koninis
FIRST DANCE
"Joy of My Life" by Chris Stapleton
HONEYMOON
Bali and Thailand
• SPECIAL TOUCHES •
HELLO DEAR
We made sure to include lots of special touches, like an Easter Egg Guide for guests that featured deer antlers — an element of our wedding crest inspired by our nickname for each other, 'Dear.'
COCKTAIL HOUR
Our cocktail hour bites we’re Asian inspired by our honeymoon destinations.
GENERATIONS OF LOVE
My pearls were my mom’s, from her and my dad’s wedding day.
I surprised my mom with a dance to our special song – “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.
FIRST LOOK
I did a first look with my dad - one of my favorite moments!
ALL ABOUT THE DRESS
My dress was strapless, with an overlay custom made by Kim Vanyo, who was AMAZING!
LOVE & TIME
Garrett’s wedding gift was a Patek Philippe watch from 1925 - 100 years before our wedding date
• ADVICE TO PASS ALONG •
Know that at the end of the day you are marrying your very favorite person and love of your life, that’s what matters. Otherwise lean in and accept the chaos because it will happen, but it makes for good stories!
