The Wedding That Started It All: Desirae & Joel

If walls could talk, Hillside would have one really good story to tell. 😂

On August 26, 2006, we opened the doors to our Hillside Ballroom for its very first wedding.

That wedding belonged to Desirae and Joel.

And let’s just say, we didn’t exactly ease into our first Hillside wedding. We went straight in.

At the time, Hillside was brand new. The week leading up to the wedding, landscaping was going in, sago palms were being planted, and everyone was working hard to get those final details finished.

Oh, and the power wasn’t fully connected yet.

So, naturally, we powered the entire ballroom with a generator.

No big deal. 😉

Then came the guest count.

When Desirae and Joel booked, they kept asking, “Are you sure the ballroom can hold 350 people?”

We kept saying yes.

But knowing them personally, I had a feeling 350 might be more of a starting point than a final number.

And I was right.

By the time I stopped counting, there were around 375 guests.

We added tables, rearranged things, and did whatever we needed to do to make room for everyone. At one point, Bob, our owner, was literally carrying china from Gardenside to Hillside because we needed more plates for dinner.

Our caterer, Heavenly Gourmet, worked right alongside us, and the entire team jumped in wherever they were needed.

Basically, if there was a problem, we figured it out.

And the guests?

They had an amazing night and probably had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.

Which is exactly how it should be.

And Then There Was the Dance Floor...

One of the funniest memories from that first wedding happened when the guests started doing a traditional Mexican dance that involved a LOT of jumping.

I noticed the floor moving.

My immediate thought was:

“Is the floor supposed to do that?!” 😂

So I texted the owner.

His response?

“It’s a pier-and-beam building. That’s what happens.”

Well... good to know!

It was our first wedding in Hillside, so we were learning right along with everyone else.

20 Years Later, We Got to Surprise Them

Fast-forward 20 years.

Hillside has hosted thousands of celebrations since that first wedding, but we never forgot Desirae and Joel.

For their 20th wedding anniversary, we invited them back to Hillside for what they thought was simply an anniversary photoshoot.

But we had something special planned.

We surprised them with the exact same meal that was served at their wedding 20 years earlier.

Same venue. Same meal. Same couple.

But this time, they brought the two little girls who weren’t there the first time.

Their two daughters.

Twenty years ago, Desirae and Joel walked into Hillside as newlyweds.

Twenty years later, they came back as a family of four.

That moment reminded us of something we believe wholeheartedly:

A wedding venue should be more than a place you get married. It should be a place that remembers you.

Desirae and Joel said it perfectly:

“Choose a venue that still cares 20 years later.”

And that means more to us than they probably realize.

Because weddings may last one day, but the relationships and memories can last a lifetime.

We were honored to be part of Desirae and Joel’s beginning in 2006.

And 20 years later, we were even more honored to welcome them and their daughters back home to Hillside.

The landscaping has grown. The ballroom has evolved. The generator is long gone. 😂 We’ve hosted thousands of celebrations.

But one thing hasn’t changed.

We still care.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Desirae & Joel. 🤍

Thank you for being the couple who started the Hillside story, and for letting us be part of your story again 20 years later.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🥂