When we first got engaged, we thought it would be fun to plan a secret wedding with just us and then throw a surprise reveal party about a month later. In our heads, it was the perfect plan. We’d have an intimate ceremony, and then we’d get to shock everyone with the best “by the way, we’re married” moment. But after five months of planning two separate events, we realized something. We were dividing our attention between these two days and due to our budget constraints, neither of them were going to be exactly how we wanted them to be. And the stress was starting to take over. We took a step back and asked ourselves what really mattered. The answer was simple. We wanted to get married. Not to throw a giant party. Not to impress anyone. Not to get a bunch of gifts. We just wanted to celebrate our love with our closest friends and family. So we let the big reveal party idea go, and the second we did, everything felt lighter. The planning felt more joyful. The weekend felt more like us. On a clear, but extremely windy day in May, with just 19 of our closest people, we stood on top of Donner Summit and said our vows. No permits. No venue cost. No frills. Just a few chairs, a PA system so everyone could hear, and a veil that hilariously flew off the side of the mountain. We asked Mark’s best friend Andy Lazos, to officiate. He got ordained in both California and Nevada just to make sure it was legit from all angles. Mark’s sister, Nicole stood by his side as his Best Woman and Julia’s sister, Elyse was her Matron of Honor. The ceremony was simple and perfect and full of so much love. Mark cried, like, a lot. We are so thankful for Susie, our photographer, and Jonathan from Emerald Cinema Weddings. They captured every moment so beautifully and made us feel like absolute rockstars while doing it. After the ceremony, we headed to Moody’s in Truckee. We had dinner in the back room, shared stories, danced a little, cried a lot, and soaked up every second with our family. It was cozy and beautiful and exactly what we hoped for. Of course, we wish everyone we love could have been there. But at the same time, we wouldn’t change a thing about our day. Keeping it small made the entire weekend feel even more personal and special. It was never about the big celebration. It was always about us. We want to thank our amazing parents. Ken and Teresa, thank you for helping sponsor the day and for supporting us every step of the way. Dan and Cheryl, thank you for raising Mark into the kind of man Julia could fall in love with. None of this would have been possible without you. So, no big party announcement. No registry. No need to send a toaster. Just a little note from us to say we got married, we are incredibly happy, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you whenever and however that celebration happens. We hope to be moving to Sacramento in the near future, so perhaps a housewarming party will get everyone together! With love, Mark & Julia…Davis!