On Saturday, June 4, 2022, Miss Shannon Cosgrove became Mrs. Jacob Whitener. The ceremony and reception took place at Elliston Vineyards in The Bay Area in California where the groom hails from. Their wedded bliss was achieved after eleven years together.
How They Met
Their story began with a story. Jacob wrote Shannon about a band, Dawes, that Shannon interviewed for UCLA’s Daily Bruin school newspaper. They had a mutual friend from high school and fossil hunting, so Shannon trusted him to drive her to a guitar shop in Los Angeles where she met Jacob.
After eleven years, a Los Angeles-to-New York move followed by a pandemic and a diabetic rescue chihuahua, the two were finally married!
Engagement
The very guitar shop in Los Angeles where Shannon and Jacob first met is where Jacob would propose seven years later. He proposed with the rings from his mother and biological dad, who sadly passed when he was eight. Shannon remembers it was a full moon with a ring around it the night of their engagement. How perfect!
The Wedding
Venue
Shannon and Jacob were married at Elliston Vineyards in The Bay, where Jacob is from and was complete with ostriches, a century-old mansion, wine from the vines onsite, and karaoke.
Photographer
Their talented photographer was Lisa Vortman.
Florist
Their brilliant florist was Mari Robinson.
Music
Best Man Kenny was from the band Goon, who also played guitar as they walked down the aisle, alongside his wife Emmy who was their cellist. She plays with Halsey, Weezer, and Olivia Rodrigo, and had to fly out the next day to play Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jacob created the amazing flyers that contained the Spotify scan code to a wedding playlist we created as well as the seating chart. Each table was marked by a favorite album of the couple.
The reception had a s’mores pit and dive bar karaoke afterward, where a stranger immediately sang “You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago to the bride, a favorite of Jacob’s late father. According to Shannon, it felt as though he was there celebrating with them.
Lovesick Deejays spun amazing tunes on vinyl for the reception.
Cake
The happy couple even ended up picking the same cake shop and flavors as Jacob’s mom did 30 years prior without either the bride or groom knowing this connection. How fitting!
Most excitedly, the custom cake topper with their dog, which was somehow shipped from the Ukraine during the Russian invasion, arrived in time!
Wedding Dress & Accessories
Shannon chose her Stella York fairytale dress which was from Kleinfeld. Stunning!
The bride is thankful to Etsy which is where she got her earrings and hairpiece. Beautiful!
Groom’s Suit
Jacob wore a Vera Wang suit. Handsome!
Officiant
Shannon’s father Steve officiated the wedding. What a gift from a father to his daughter!
Registry
This unique setup for the registry revolved around music which emerged as the wedding’s theme.
Toss the Bouquet
As the tradition suggests, the bride tosses the bouquet for all the attending single women to attempt to catch. Folklore says that the single lady who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. Here the bride, Shannon, is preparing to toss the bouquet!
Wedding Hashtag and the Mishaps Surrounding the Wedding
There wedding hashtag #ShakeItUp came a little too true.
- The week before, Jacob’s uncle broke a rib trying to save a snapping turtle
- His stepdad went to the hospital for an allergic reaction
- One of Shannon’s bridesmaids got COVID before flying out the day before.
- Her friend with all-around skills who was already doing hair & makeup, Meredith Schneider, stepped in and got a bridesmaid dress the night before.
- A bridesmaid’s dress broke right before the ceremony, but another who happened to be a Broadway dresser fixed it.
For everything that went “wrong,” I was so grateful to have someone to make it right. So the venue messed up the seating…people made new friends:)
