Kate & Victor | Safari Wedding in Downtown Detroit

Kate & Victor met at an internal medicine luncheon on the 1st day of residency at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, June 25, 2009 at ~12:25 pm. By 12:55 pm, Victor knew he wanted to marry her after just their first encounter. Victor knew how much Kate loved Tigers, so Victor took her to her first Tigers game. She even put her hair up in pig tails so that she could get Victor a Tigers lunch box (given only to children up to age 14; she nearly had that lunch box as well), Kate however insisted on a “real” tiger for her to keep. Victor kept insisting that maybe if they kept going to Tiger games, her wish may come true. She waited a long long time (Victor kept waiting for a deal on baby tigers to show up on SlickDeals/Amazon). Eventually she had waited long enough, and when the 2013 playoffs came, though the Detroit Tigers lost, it was Victor who won the tiger (Kate) to keep for himself.

Through salsa dancing, Tigers games and episodes of Glee, an unbreakable bond quickly formed, and they became best friends for the next three years. Kate knew from the beginning she had found a soul-mate; however, she did not quite know just then how to handle this discovery. Even miracles take a bit of time. She told her parents long before they officially started dating that she would marry him someday if she was not such a confused hot mess.

Towards the beginning of her 4th year of residency in Michigan, God sent Kate a miracle including the realization that for the first time in forever, she actually wanted to spend time with Victor instead of only her girlfriends or by herself.  Even her childhood best friend and truth-teller Laura told Kate this was strange. And after that, what was even more bizarre, Kate and Victor would spend nearly entire weekends together attending concerts, visiting with friends, eating frozen yogurt, and at the end of these weekends, she found she was not exhausted and wanted even more! This concept of closeness and comfort was something quite new to Kate. Victor had slowly been thawing her heart for four years and finally had melted it completely.

Their engagement story is just as adorable, read it here, and while you’re at it, check out their SWEET engagement session in downtown Kansas City last winter 🙂

You can’t beat a wedding that starts off with a rehearsal dinner at the Detroit Tiger’s stadium, complete with a fireworks show!! Victor and Kate’s wedding day was full of laughter and friends, dancing on the party trolley, a tour around downtown Detroit including lunch at one of the best pizza places ever, and one of the BEST dance performances I’ve ever seen put on by a bridal party.. including a choreographed first dance to a song from the Frozen soundtrack! Congratulations you two and thanks for inviting me to celebrate along with you on your epic wedding day!

Order and view all of the photos from Kate and Victor’s wedding at
www.pureinart.smugmug.com/Weddings/Mangona-Wedding

Photography | Pure in Art Photography

Getting Ready Venue | Somerset Inn

Ceremony Venue | Sweetest Heart of Mary Church

Reception Venue | Somerset Inn

Videographer | George J. Fox

Band | Motor City Soul

Caterer | Somerset Inn

Cake Artist | Holiday Market

Florist | Susana Mangona  (Groom’s Mother)

Makeup Artist | Elizabeth’s Head to Toe

Hair Stylist | Greg

Dress | Victoria´s Bridal & Boutique, Designer: Alfred Angelo Piccione

Men’s Suits | Barongs from the Philippines & Barongsrus.com

Stationary | Bride & Groom

Cantor | Carmen Golden

Violin | Sofia & Bianca Pokrzywa

Harp | Klara Pokrzywa

Trumpet | Antonio Galinato

 Organist | Ronald Weiler