“When I first saw her walk into my life, I thought Lori [Apple] was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen,” Hector Maldonado, bassist of Train, says of his wife. As Lori once worked as a tour manager, she had been acquainted with Hector for two years before they began dating. Upon realizing they would be in Miami at the same time, the two spoke on the phone for a marathon 12 hours and knew they were meant to be together. “I believe Hector was made for me,” confirms Lori. 

It wasn’t long before the Grammy Award-winning musician knew that he wanted to spend his life with her. After a romantic dinner in Santa Monica and a playful moment in a local park, the couple arrived back at their home. “I got down on one knee in front of the kitchen sink,” tells the groom. “Lori had no idea what was happening because the ring was stuck in my back pocket.” Despite her being taken aback in shock and confusion, she of course said “yes!” to his proposal. 

With just seven months to plan, the affianced pair brought on Linda Howard of Linda Howard Events to coordinate their nuptials. The bride cites their planner as an invaluable part of the process. “She really listened and understood what we wanted and didn’t want,” Lori gushes. “Her impeccable taste helped us achieve our dream wedding.” With an expert planner to guide their decisions, the bride and groom found a team of vendors they felt comfortable with and confident in – including The Hidden Garden, who created stunning floral arrangements for the ceremony altar and elegant low centerpieces that wouldn’t inhibit conversation at the reception. The flowers were “elegant, textured, and romantic,” notes Lori. Garden roses, hydrangeas, and dahlias in varying shades of ivory, blush, burgundy, and eggplant perfectly complemented the black and gold color scheme chosen by the bride and groom. 

Wearing a chic gown gifted by her mother, Lori walked down the aisle with her father to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, a song they had picked for the occasion when the bride was just a little girl. With a small guest list and no wedding party, the vow exchange was intimate and emotional. The couple held hands throughout the service, which was full of sweet moments. "While exchanging vows I started to cry and Lori wiped my tears,” admits Hector. “I couldn’t get over the fact that [it] was really happening."

Two of Lori and Hector’s shared loves are music and their dachshund, Emmy. Thus, they were sure to incorporate both into their big day. Not only was the beloved pup walked up the aisle after the ceremony, but also dachshund-shaped signs advertised everything from the sweets table to restrooms. A guitar served as the guest book, as loved ones were encouraged to write messages with metallic ink. Cookies designed to look like guitars were also attached to the place cards, although that is far from the only favor attendees received. Instead of a grand exit, the newlyweds took an opportunity to thank their friends and family for celebrating with them. Each individual guest received a large gift box with goodies like ring holders, personalized wine glasses, notepads, lollipops, emery boards, snacks, hand soap, temporary tattoos, stickers, and more. “It was like they were leaving our home after a night of fun,” smiles the bride.