A Cinderella Story
Ceremony- Spring Pastels
Reception- Christmas Reds, Greens, and Whites
The one where we were featured on Netflix… YES. Netflix. It is easy to say that this wedding and this couple were a highlight of my career for so many reasons. In only 6 weeks we managed to pull off a mid-COVID wedding with live Christmas trees in the beginning of November and a design/cake to remember. Thuy and Octavio will always have a place in my wedding planner heart.
Date: 11/15/20
Location: Grand Tradition Estate and Gardens in Fallbrook, CA
Guest Count: 85
Theme/Vibe: Disney meets Christmas at Grandma’s
Vendors:
Photographer: @fatestudios
Videographer: @fatestudios
Florist: @events_by_bd
Planning: @that_bliss
Design: @that_bliss
Rentals: @grandtraditionestate
Catering: @grandtraditionestate
Baker: @sweettweetscakes
Venue: @grandtraditionestate
DJ: @rayonthemic
Bar: @grandtraditionestate
HMUA: @viviantranartistry
Thuy and Octavio have such a great love story and from the consultation call we first had, I knew that this wedding was going to be epic and unique in so many ways. They both have this deep deep love for Disney and honestly, probably know all things Disney better than just about anyone else out there. Initially, they were to have their dream wedding at Disney but like so many other weddings, their plans abruptly changed when the pandemic turned everything upside down. They came to me 6 weeks before their wedding date and said they needed full planning help to completely replan all of their wedding details. The only thing they had when they came to me was a vision and their amazing photo/video team. Other than that, we were starting from ground zero with literally 40 days to pull everything together.
Since I love me a good stressful challenge, I dove straight in with them and we hit the ground running. Keep in mind, this was literally at the same time as a few other weddings that you will read about that were dealing with the same situation. My average planning length during this season was 4-6 weeks. GUYS. 4-6 weeks to plan an entire wedding. This is why I can’t help but laugh a little inside when clients approach me stressed and asking if I think we can pull their wedding off in 6 months.
Thuy and Octavio knew that they wanted to marry their love for Disney with their love for Christmas. When I was approaching vendors with this concept, I was met with skepticism and questions of how I would pull that combo off without it being cheesy or tacky. This is why design is my favorite part of the process. Figuring out how to bring a vision to life, especially a theme, without crossing that fine line into the realm of tackiness. Plus, I love being tested. It isn’t too often that we get to do a unique theme twist for a wedding design.
Initially, they wanted to go with a winter wonderland theme which fit the pastel color palette that Thuy really wanted for the ceremony. After planning through that design, however, Octavio decided he wanted the reception to feel more like an elegant Christmas dinner at grandma’s house chalk full of live Christmas trees and poinsettias galore.
Grand Tradition Estate and Gardens in Fallbrook was the perfect venue switch because it is it’s own private little oasis with the rich elegance needed for the Disney princess side of things. The ceremony would overlook their massive pond and the reception was in their indoor ballroom complete with a grand staircase. When I approached Bethany with the overall concept she was just about the only vendor that didn’t think I was complete nuts for taking on a fusion theme like this one. She just gets me. She did think I was a tad nuts for saying we could try to find the 6 live Christmas trees that Octavio wanted for the reception space in the beginning of November before any farms were open, though. She worked her magic and scored us some lush green babes.
Here are a few ways that we had subtle hints of Disney in their wedding design:
Ceremony
Each of the bridesmaids wore a pastel dress to match their “assigned” princess.
“A tale as old as time” boutonniere for Octavio.
Vintage Disney book at the altar paired with a Beauty and the Beast encased rose.
Petal design down the aisle creating a Mickey Mouse head shape.
Reception
Mickey Mouse shaped wreath on the grand staircase.
Disney themed fake presents under the trees.
Minnie and Mickey snow globes on the sweetheart table.
Disney ornaments for one of the trees.
Disney dessert table.
Beauty and the Beast backdrop.
All of our Disney design elements were very subtle and tastefully done. We made sure nothing felt like a Disney book vomited all over the place. With any theme or design concept, small details are key and you want to make sure that nothing feels over the top in a negative way.
When bringing in the Christmas elements we knew that we needed to make sure that these two themes felt cohesive. The real trees were a must because they wanted to hit every sense with their design. Sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. It would have been waaaay easier and honestly considerably cheaper to use fake trees and literally have air fresheners plugged in. I even recommended this because logistically it was way more appealing. I am so so glad we went with the live trees, though. They really brought in the rich Christmas feel. The staircase was another huge element that we wanted to make sure to hit spot on. We ended up filing it with a shit ton of poinsettias that poor Bethany had to scavenge for. We paired them with Christmas lights and the Mickey wreath.
One of my absolute favorite design elements were the little accent tea light fish bowls we designed. We filled mini fish bowl candle holders (that is the best way that I can describe them) with water, pine needles, fresh cranberries, and a tea light. These were paired with a black lantern, a tall Christmas-inspired arrangement, and tons of fresh pine cones. Seriously, Christmas overload and I’m here for it!
The design was a huge aspect of this wedding BUT we literally cannot forget the fact that we were freaking featured on NETFLIX! Midway through their planning process, I was approached by the casting manager of Bake Squad. They were looking for couples that were planning their big day and would want to have their cake made by the bakers on set. It was a surprise for Thuy, so Octavio went a couple of different days to film in the studio and select which cake he wanted to surprise her with, then they were there with us for the wedding day and the big reveal. I still cannot get over the fact that we have planned a Netflix wedding. Definitely a huge career highlight.
If I could, I would do this wedding all over again but only to live it out exactly as it went. This whole day was so magical and it was ended in the most perfect way with the same day edit videography package from Fate Studios. We literally got to relive the day before it was even over.