Dayna &and Jonathan

When and how did the two of you meet, and what is most memorable about your first meeting?

Jon: We first “laid eyes” on each other from across a conference table at work, but we didn’t truly “meet” until a few days later when Dayna somehow found her way into my company’s exclusive media party for buyers and sellers from FOX networks. Had we not initially met in that conference room just 72 hours before who knows what would’ve happened!

Dayna: Jon and I met when I was working in advertising. I was an ad buyer and Jon came to my office with his team from Fox Sports for a sales pitch. He wasn’t supposed to be there, but he decided to join the meeting at the last minute. I didn’t think we would see each other again after that meeting, but I ran into him at a work event a few days later. We were dating ever since!

On your day, what was your first thought when you woke up in the morning?

Dayna: I remember thinking “I can’t believe it’s actually December 1st”! We had been talking and thinking about this date for so long and it was finally here! I got ready in my parents house and I slept in the room I grew up in the night before, so when I woke up it kind of felt like an ordinary day. I had coffee in my pajamas with my sister and parents and we were all really relaxed and calm. Then all the craziness set in!

Jon: I woke up an hour or so after Dayna’s day was already in full swing, so my first thought was “ I hope that she’s having the best start to her day!”. I remember texting her sister to check in to see how things were going. Of course, it was going great, and it was only going to get better! After that, I just remember thinking about how excited I was to finally marry Dayna.

What was running through your mind when you saw your bride for the first time?

Jon: I was really nervous leading up to the first look because this meant the day was really about to start. But when I saw Dayna for the first time, all my nerves melted away. She was the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.

What did you base your choice of location on?

Dayna: Jon and I always like the idea of getting married at a country club. My parents are members at Glen Oaks, so it was an easy decision. We spent a lot of time at the club before the wedding and got to know the staff members really well, so it really felt like home on our wedding day. It was also really nice to get ready for the day with my friends and family in my childhood home, which is only a 5 minute drive from the club. I’m so happy Nathan encouraged us to do our first look there. The photos are so much more special now!

Jon: I think Dayna’s parents being members of the club where we tied the knot may have had just a LITTLE to do with it. Having said that Glen Oaks was the most perfect venue. Although it’s a country club, it has a modern feel and the food and drinks are amazing! We wouldn’t have dreamt of having it anywhere else.

If you had to choose, what would you say was the best part of your wedding day?

Jon: Looking back on the whole night everything was amazing, but if I had to pinpoint one moment I would say it would be reading our vows to each other during our ceremony. Dayna and I discussed for a while if we should write our own vows and read them during the ceremony. I was nervous about reading something so personal in front of a large crowd, but in the end I’m so glad we did. I knew I did a good job when I had Dayna’s bridesmaids sobbing in the front row 🙂

Dayna: There were so many amazing parts of the day! Getting ready with my bridesmaids, seeing Jon for the first time and obviously walking down the aisle were highlights. One moment that stood out in particular was when Jon and I saw the reception room for the first time. The SBK team had been setting up the room for 3 days before the wedding, but Jon and I had no idea what they were doing in there! When we finally saw the finished room for the first time a few minutes before the reception began, we were floored. It was beyond our wildest dreams.

Which quality do you most admire about one another?

Dayna: Jon is one of the most positive and kind people I’ve ever met. He cares so much for his friends and family and is always putting others before himself. I love that he always sees the good in everyone and that he can always make me laugh no matter what!

Jon: I admire Dayna’s sense of humor and her genuine kindness, but most of all I admire her huge heart and generosity. Dayna always goes above and beyond to make her friends and loved ones happy, especially me. Even during all the craziness of getting ready for our wedding, Dayna went out of her way to set up an UNFORGETTABLE 30th birthday surprise party for me. I’ll never forget that, and it meant so much to me, that even with everything going on, she was able to pull that off, just 1 month before our big day.

What wedding planning decision was the easiest one to make? What was the most difficult?

Dayna: I am a very bad decision maker so every decision was hard for me! The first hard decision to make was the date! Jon and I couldn’t decide if we should have a winter wedding or wait until spring. I’m so happy we decided on December. It’s such a festive and magical time of year! The band was the easiest decision to make without a doubt. We never heard Marianne’s band before the wedding, but when we met with Element Music we knew we found the right one. Her band is so talented and their energy is incredible. The dance floor was packed the whole night!

Jon: I’m the opposite of Dayna, I make decisions very quickly. With that said, the hardest decision to make for me was who to invite. I wanted to share this day with all of my friends, but I still wanted there to be an intimate vibe. It was hard for me to narrow down my list.
The easiest decision was hosting a golf outing for my groomsmen and family from out of town the day before the wedding. When we decided to get married at Glen Oaks, I knew we had to do this!

What was the best planning advice you received?

Dayna: Someone told me to enjoy the wedding planning process because the night goes by so fast! They were so right. You spend months and months planning all for one day and then it’s over before you know it! Make sure to enjoy the entire experience!

Jon: The best wedding day advice we got was actually from one of Dayna’s bridesmaids who is a wedding planner and got married herself a few weeks before us. She told us to make sure to stay together as much as possible throughout the night. It’s easy to get seperated because people will be pulling you in different directions the whole night. You want to make sure to experience all the same moments together and look back with the same memories.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Dayna: Everything was perfect. I remember thinking on that day that even if something didn’t go exactly as planned, it still would have been perfect!

Jon: To make the party longer! We didn’t want it to end. The day could not have been more perfect.