The California sun shone brilliantly on that July afternoon for Kirk Anderson and Lindsey Johnston's wedding day. Nearly two hundred guests entered the grand mahogany doors of St. Francis of Assisi Chapel in Riverside, California to witness the union of Kirk and Lindsey. The ornate chapel is embellished with precious treasures from around the world. The smitten groom stood at the Rayas altar adorned with 18-karat-gold that dates back to the mid-eighteenthcentury. Lindsey was a classic bride in a strapless gown with delicate pearl strands around her neck. Her bouquet was a lush mix of dark purple calla lilies, cymbidium orchids and roses tied with ivory ribbon. The ceremony processional included not one—but eight—adorable flower girls. Lindsey comments, “We could not possibly choose just one of our cousins, so we had the cutest gaggle of flower girls!” For Kirk, the best moment of all came when he glanced up from the altar to see his bride at the grand entranceway, the soft light flooding through the doors. “I felt so incredibly overwhelmed seeing her for the first time,” he reminisces. “The culmination of us meeting, falling in love and now looking at the most beautiful woman I could ever imagine…it was surreal.” A lively cocktail and dinner reception followed in the Spanish-colonial style courtyard known as the Atrio. The lovely outdoor setting was steeped in a vivid palette of deep purple and burgundy. The wedding was a family affair from start to finish, with loved ones contributing their wonderful talents throughout the day. The couple’s dear friend, Jolene Hilliard, created spectacular flower arrangements in varying shades of purple. The bride’s only instruction for the floral design was, “Make them beautiful!”. The four-tiered cake created by Michelle’s Custom European Bakery matched the theme perfectly. Lindsey’s high school friend performed live music for all to enjoy. Guests were delighted to find a vellum envelope containing a lottery ticket and a shiny penny placed at their seats, with several of their guests winning $50 to $100 in prizes! It was a fabulous evening of dinner and dancing that no one wanted to end.