Dream Wedding

Tatiana Sanchez ’10 always dreamed of getting married at the historic Mission Church. She writes about how the pandemic threw a wrench in those plans.

Like many Santa Clara alums, I dreamed of getting married one day in the historic Mission. As a student overwhelmed by tests, class loads, and other college life woes, the Mission was always a place of refuge and clarity. When my partner, Francisco, proposed nearly three years ago, I knew I wanted to marry him in that sacred, magical place. The coronavirus pandemic upended those plans.

Francisco and I had set a wedding date in fall 2020 because we thought it would be a memorable year to marry. Twenty-twenty just had a ring to it, you know? It sounded lucky. Ha!

Three months into the year, the pandemic caused nationwide shutdowns. Big events were cancelled. So were small ones. We postponed our wedding and wondered, for months, if we would have one at all as we saw our plans shrink and change in a myriad of ways.

County regulations limiting social gatherings meant we had to cull the invite list—our 175-person winery reception ultimately became a backyard celebration for 30.

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With some event restrictions lifted, there’s been a surge in demand for wedding planners, florists, and more, with many couples having to book well into 2023.Photo by Lauren Weber.

After months of lockdown and the vaccine making it safer to gather again, Francisco and I tied the knot in the Mission on April 18, 2021, before an intimate group of masked, socially-distanced loved ones. The unusually warm spring day made the lush gardens burst with color. Just like I’d always imagined.

Tatiana Sanchez-Rivera ’10 married Francisco Rivera on April 18, 2021. Fr. George Aranha, pastor of Santa Teresa Parish, officiated.

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Richard Riordan ’52 leaves a lasting California legacy as a distinguished leader, committed philanthropist, and a visionary innovator.