JIM REED
|
|
THE BRIDE: Nicole Johnson, 27, is a pharmacist.
THE GROOM: Dr. Ken Richter, 30, is a Naval physician.
Getting married on Friday the 13th didn't faze Nicole and Ken. Some difficult life experiences made worrying about the superstitions attached to this day seem trivial. The couple, who live downtown, didn't feel like anything could jinx their marriage – especially not an Oct. 13 wedding date. They embraced the date and had a little bit of fun with it.
FEARLESS FRIDAY: Oct. 13 was not the only day the church – Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Church – and the reception venue – the Bernardo Ballroom at the Rancho Bernardo Inn – were available. Nicole and Ken chose their wedding date 14 months in advance so the possibilities were wide open. They chose the date for a reason. “It appealed to us as far as luck goes,” Nicole said. “Ken went to Iraq twice. The first time he went there, he was injured by shrapnel from a mortar explosion. I was pretty sure getting married on Friday the 13th wasn't going to affect us.”
THE MYTH: The couple thought the 140 guests should know that their wedding date was no accident. “I didn't want people whispering about it,” Ken said. Without making it gimmicky, they incorporated a few small Friday the 13th details. At the reception, each table was numbered with a 13 and a letter: 13A, 13B, 13C, and so on. Information cards revealing how the myth came about and why many people consider Friday the 13th “bad luck” were placed on the tables. An explanation of triskaidekaphobia, the phobia of the number 13, was included on the cards. For good luck, guests were given packets of shamrock seeds. Ken was a little disappointed that few people commented on their superstitious wedding date. “I was hoping more people would be outraged,” Ken said. “I'm kidding – it was cool.”
BAD LUCK? The cocktail hour, which was held outside, was scheduled to end at 7 p.m. At that time, the guests were supposed to file into the ballroom for dinner. Just before 7 p.m., it began to sprinkle. The wedding coordinator decided to open the doors to the ballroom five minutes early. Not even a minute after the guests went inside, it began to pour. “When we made our rounds, we mentioned the downpour to people, and they had no idea what we were talking about,” Nicole said. Perhaps it could be considered good luck.
A LOOK, NOT A THEME: Even though there were Friday the 13th elements incorporated into the wedding, the couple do not consider Friday the 13th to be their wedding theme. Nicole didn't want a specific theme for the reception – she just wanted the room to have a particular look and feel. The reception could be described as elegant and formal, as could the ballroom even before it was decorated. Big wooden beams line the ceiling along with rustic chandeliers. Red carpet warms the room. The couple accented the room with red uplighting, flowers in rich hues and candles. The cake sat atop a gold pedestal, which was centered on a table covered in a royal blue linen. Outside, fire pits were lit, and there were tiny white lights in the trees.
LEAVE IT TO PROS: The couple let their vendors handle the details of their wedding. “We gave them our general guidelines, and then let them do their jobs,” Ken said. “I get the sense that a lot of people tell these people exactly what they want, and I think it's kind of arrogant to think that you know more about it than somebody who does this as a business.” The couple said that the vendors changed some of the ideas Nicole and Ken originally had, and it worked out for the better. “We got to walk into the room together before everyone came in, and there was nothing either one of us disliked,” Nicole said. “We were surprised in a good way that our vendors made cool, little changes.”
ADVICE FOR COUPLES: Nicole and Ken's advice for those who are getting married? Put your faith in a network of referrals, have realistic expectations and be a little spontaneous.
If you would like to talk about the planning and outcome of your wedding, please contact Nicole Reino at
nicole.reino@uniontrib.com.
