The 5 hottest wedding trends for 2025

Planning a wedding in 2025? Here are the five hottest trends that will make your special day unforgettable. From eco-friendly designs to futuristic tech, weddings in 2025 are all about personalization and innovation.

1. Eco-Friendly Weddings

Sustainability is not just a buzzword—it’s becoming a wedding essential. In 2025, eco-conscious couples are opting for environmentally friendly décor, using locally sourced, seasonal flowers (which is also the most budget-friendly option!), sustainable materials like wood and bamboo, and minimizing waste. Another way to do that? Restrict the use of anything disposable – rent china, glassware and flatware instead (it looks much nicer, too!).  Expect more outdoor ceremonies where nature is the star of the show, adding a touch of elegance while remaining kind to the planet. Many of MY couples have been making this exact choice for years: look at these examples!

Megan Reeves Photography
Photo by ADLNO
Bre Thurston Photography

2. Romantic Pastel Palettes

If you’re dreaming of a fairytale wedding, pastel color schemes are here to stay. Soft hues of pink, lavender, and baby blue create a romantic, ethereal vibe. Floral arrangements and whimsical lighting add to the charm, turning your venue into a dreamy, almost magical setting. These colors pair beautifully with delicate decor, like sheer curtains and vintage table settings – AND with the trendy not-only-white wedding dresses like this dream dress by Savin of London.

Danny Dong Photography
Image generated by AI

3. Micro-Weddings with an Intimate Touch

Micro-weddings are continuing to rise in popularity, with couples focusing on quality over quantity. Fewer guests mean more intimacy and the chance to spoil your loved ones with personalized touches, such as handwritten notes, custom playlists, or bespoke meals. The cozy atmosphere of a small wedding also allows for more meaningful interactions with each guest – without guests whispering to each other, “And how are YOU connected to the couple?!” One example from this summer: a couple who invited their family and closest friends to a FIVE DAY wedding weekend at a remote resort, to spend quality time with the people they love. Another example: my smallest wedding ever – a mature couple and their grown children, 5 persons total.

Gavin Farrington Photography

4. Futuristic Tech-Inspired Weddings

For couples looking to add a modern twist, 2025 brings weddings infused with futuristic elements. Think metallic color palettes, LED lighting and dance floors, holographic decorations, and smart technology to create an immersive experience. From interactive dance floors to custom light shows (think drone shows!), tech weddings are both innovative and fun, ensuring your guests will never forget the night.  One of my couples – both mathematicians – even named their tables after their favorite algorithms!

Maria Hedengren Photography
Image generated by AI

5. Destination Weddings with a Boho Twist

Destination weddings continue to reign, especially on breathtaking beaches and exotic landscapes – among other things, because the guest count is mostly significantly lower than at a close-by wedding venue, again shifting the emphasis from quantity of guests to quality of experience. However, 2025 is bringing a boho-chic aesthetic to these getaways. Picture tropical flowers, soft textiles, and relaxed, rustic décor paired with the natural beauty of a sunset backdrop. The vibe is relaxed yet luxurious, making it perfect for adventurous couples seeking something unique. Examples? Here they are – from two of my couples of years ago. They were clearly ahead of their time!

Frank J. Lee Photography
Kevin Chin photography, bouquet by Green Petal Designs
Image generated by AI

Each of these trends brings its own special flair, so whichever direction you choose, your 2025 wedding will definitely be one-of-a-kind and “so YOU!”

Invitation Etiquette – Demystified!

One of the trickiest things in all of wedding planning: the correct wording on your invitations! Have you already thought about it?

Let’s start with who is actually HOSTING your event (aka who’s paying for it…). If that is your parents, THEY are officially inviting. So, here we go:

Wedding invitation wording starts with a host line. Traditionally the bride’s parents are hosting, and so their names come first. In any case, listing the names of both sets of parents is okay and a nice thing to do. If both you two AND your parents are contributing, you could say, “Together with their parents” or “Together with their families.”

Screenshot

What if one or more of your parents are no longer with us? A common way to honor a deceased parent is to mention him/her with the couple’s names: “Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez,” or “Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez.”

Next comes the request line where you actually extend the invitation to attend your wedding – and the wording is different for a church wedding vs. a wedding outside a house of worship.

  1. Church: “The honor of your presence” is traditionally used to denote a religious service. Using the traditional British spelling “honour” is meant to evoke a more formal feel. (Note: If you are using “honour” on the invitation, you need to likewise spell “favour,” as in “favour of your reply,” on your RSVP card.)
  2. Outside of a house of worship: “The pleasure of your company” is used to denote a non-religious ceremony venue.

Here are more wording options: “request the honor of your presence” or “the pleasure of your company”; “invite you to celebrate with them.”

After that comes the action line, explaining what the event is about:

  1. “at the marriage of their daughter” (if the bride’s parents are hosting) or “of their children” (if both sets of parents are hosting)
  2. “at the celebration of their marriage” or “their union” (if the couple is hosting)

And finally, your names! Easy, right? But what about sequence, middle names Yes or No, last names? Here are the basics:

  1. For different-sex couples, the bride’s name typically goes first, then the groom’s name. If the bride’s parents’ names are listed at the top, it is sufficient to give just the bride’s first and middle name (without last name), and the groom’s name is either stated in full, or his first and middle names are listed followed by the line “Son of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wong.”
  2. For same-sex couples, names should be listed in alphabetical order by last name – or based on what looks best with the design of the invitation.
  3. In general: For a less formal feel, use first names only.

What else? Date and time! They should be spelled out in full, e.g. “Saturday, the fourteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after five in the afternoon.” (Day of the week and the Month capitalized, year in lowercase).

Do not forget to state the location of your wedding venue, with the name of the venue and city and state (spelled OUT!) in separate lines; no street address and ZIP code, unless it is a private residence.

State either “reception to follow” or “dinner and dancing to follow” (if at the same location as the ceremony) or, if the reception is elsewhere, state the reception venue in the next line or on a separate enclosure card. More examples of reception wording: “Cake, wine and merriment to follow” or “dinner, dancing and Happily Ever After to follow.” Especially if you are NOT offering a full dinner, here is your opportunity to let your guests know: “Please join us for small bites, cocktails and dancing after.”

You should mention the dress code, too, on the line below the reception location: “Black Tie” (aka tuxedos and floor-length dresses); “Formal attire” (suits and dresses); “Cocktail attire” (suits/dress shirt/necktie and short festive dresses) or “Casual” (basically anything…)

And that’s it for your invitation card!

Chances are, there is more information to convey, so use an enclosure card for that (directions to the venue, advice re local climate, uneven terrain, transportation – like, “Uber does not service this area”…), and you might also list your wedding website and/or a QR code for it on this card.

RSVPs could either be handled via an enclosed RSVP card with pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope or electronically via your website. Clearly state the RSVP deadline; ask for the names of those attending and for their meal choices. In terms of wording, be consist in your spelling: “the favour of your reply” matches “honour of your presence” – or simply say “kindly reply.”

Now you know all the basics and are ready to get started!!

 

A Romantic Summer Garden Party for Isheeta and Alex

If ever there was a super-busy young couple planning their wedding, it’s THEM! Groom Alex is working long hours as a software engineer. Bride Isheeta was completing Medical School during our planning time and took her final exams just weeks before her wedding. Together they managed TWO cross-country moves while we were collaborating on their Big Day. Small wonder they needed the help of my company, A Day Like No Other, to plan their wedding celebration!

They had fallen in love with one of the most romantic venues in all of the San Francisco Bay Area, Thomas Fogarty Winery. Nestled into rolling vineyards, and perched high up on a mountain ridge, with endless views from the San Francisco skyline to Silicon Valley – it clearly spoke to these two nature lovers!

After nearly a year of diligent planning, the Great Day had finally arrived – a beautiful, sunny early summer day under blue skies and with a slight breeze. Just perfect.

For bride Isheeta, the day began with hair and makeup services by Vivian Sampson Beauty

… followed by dressing up with the help of her Mom – the quintessential Mother-Daughter moment!

And likewise, groom Alex and HIS Mom had THEIR moment.

Photographer Melissa Floriano and Avalos Films videographers captured all these precious scenes, from start to finish.

The first big highlight of the day was, of course, the couple’s First Look…

…. followed by many, many photos of the bride and groom…

… also with their bridal party.

Meanwhile, the teams of A Day Like No Other, Continental Caterers, Green Petal Designs florals and Big Fun Disc Jockeys were hard at work setting up the ceremony area, decorating and cooking and making sure that both the bar and the sound systems were in place in time.

Florist Janelle of Green Petal Designs had created stunning bouquets and floral arrangements with the bride’s favorite flowers – orchids and roses. So elegant… Time was going by so quickly, guests were arriving (via shuttles from Corinthian Ground Transportation), and then – the ceremony began. Groom Alex was escorted by both his parents…

… a super cute flower girl (with an orchid flower crown!) stole the show…

… and after her, bride Isheeta appeared with her parents.

Always such an emotional moment… and the scenery was simply breathtaking.

The ceremony was officiated by a longtime friend of the couple – it doesn’t get much more personal than that!

“You May Now Kiss the Bride!” – and there they are, just married!

While guests were enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres supplied by Continental Catering, serenaded by DJ Woody of Big Fun Disc Jockeys and entertaining themselves with making a Polaroid scrapbook for the couple ….

… the newlyweds had more pictures to take.

Dinner time! Our catering team had set up dinner tables in the open Pavilion with elegant chairs and tabletop items from Hensley Event Resources

… shimmering linens and napkins from Napa Valley Linens

…. and dominated by potted Phalaenopsis orchids from Green Petal Designs.

It was a really glamorous dinner setup…. and that was not the only surprise!!

After dinner, more delights awaited – first off: wedding cake and a dessert bar (from La Vie Douce)!

Once the cake had been cut, there was no holding back on dancing. The newlyweds opened the dancefloor with their First Dance…

…. and that was the beginning of one wild dance party!

The open Deck was illuminated by thousands of twinkle lights, the bar was open, and even the non-dancers were having a fabulous time.

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, Isheeta and Alex!

See it all Live!

And if you desire a wedding just as beautiful as theirs… choose A Day Like No Other – wedding coordination and design.

“When only the best will do!”

By biggest wedding ever: Christine’s and Young’s FIVE-day celebration!

After a full decade of courtship, Christine and Young, both physicians, decided that “enough was enough” and it was time to finally get married! They turned to my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them find just the right fit for their venue and vendors, plan and design the Great Day, and, of course, orchestrate the festivities. And off we went… in a (at least to me!) very unexpected direction: instead of a glamorous party, these two prioritized quality time with their “nearest and dearest” far more – they were going to invite them all to a five-day resort retreat, plus more friends to their wedding celebration. Suddenly, I was facing a HUGE project.

For their “home base,” the couple chose Ralston White Retreat, a converted mansion tucked away in the Redwoods high above the little township of Mill Valley in Marin County, accommodating 30+ guests, typically for Thursday-through-Monday retreats; exactly what they had in mind for their nuptials.

That the front lawn is heart-shaped for all the romantic weddings that this venue has hosted over the years was, of course, an added bonus! Due to its secluded location (and winding, one-lane mountain access road…) the logistics of this wedding proved difficult, to say the least – but we had about a year to plan. Two caterers for every day of the retreat. Linens, rental items, beverages, snacks, guest entertainment and a myriad details for the day before and after the wedding … to keep all house guests (including doggies!) well-fed, happy and entertained.

And then, of course, everything needed for a typical wedding celebration! And suddenly, Wedding Day was upon us – for Christine, that meant hair and makeup services (by Kary Li) to start the day.

The mansion was already filled with flowers and gifts…

… and photographer Frank J. Lee started very early to capture all these details …

… and the whole atmosphere of this exceptional wedding – INCLUDING Christine’s and Young’s delightful puppy Mochi and HIS homebase:

Once hair and makeup were done, Christine got into her elegant wedding dress..

… and jewelry…

… with the help of her friends.

Girls definitely having fun!

The experienced production team from A Day Like No Other (Nimy and Narod) orchestrated the whole event discreetly from “behind the scenes,” from start to finish – a huge task! Soon the first vendors started to arrive, to load in, to set up, in order to get everything ready in time. The Boba Guys set up their station to tide hungry guests over from brunch to ceremony. Rental items (from Bright Event Rentals) were delivered and installed, alongside all the setup that the venue team, Christy and Gabe, had to do;

parking valets (West Park Express) got ready to park the guests’ cars, Mademoiselle Colette Catering delivered both brunch for the houseguests and a dozen delicious small wedding cakes;

florist Janelle of Green Petal Designs delivered the bridal bouquet …

… and boutonnieres and installed the ceremony decor;

DJ Paul of Big Fun Disc Jockeys set up music and lights (supported here by my fabulous production lead, Nimy)…

… and Le’s Kitchen Catering under the expert leadership of Christina Hsu and Amy Tang had their hands full with cooking and setting up tables and chairs.

Christine and Young – traditionalists in that respect – had decided NOT to see each other before the ceremony, and photographer Frank went back and forth between the two, capturing a host of SEPARATE pre-ceremony photos.

And here is the undisputed star of the show: Mochi on his Mom’s arm.

Ceremony time! Here comes the bride.

Father Gerry diCaprio conducted the wedding ceremony, and – “You may now kiss the bride!”

Just married! While guests were enjoying cocktails, the newlyweds had many, many “together” photos to take. Plenty of opportunities in the beautiful woods surrounding Ralston White Retreat!

Come dinnertime, the string lights surrounding the dining area created a truly magical scene. Place cards were tied to blankets – welcome wedding favors to keep off the evening chill under the towering Redwoods.

The traditional ceremonial Cake Cutting, following the conclusion of dinner, was as unconventional as this whole wedding: in lieu of one big, towering wedding cake, the couple had opted for smaller Black Forest cakes from their favorite French bakery, Mademoiselle Colette – one on each dining table – as delicious edible centerpieces, for the guests to help themselves. Bride and groom cut the first two of the cakes …

… and not a single crumb was left from all this deliciousness!

After that, the whole party moved indoors for dancing to the tunes of DJ Paul.

The newlyweds opened the dance floor with their formal First Dance…

… and all their guests followed suit! Everyone was having a great time, and bride Christine only interrupted the dancing with her Bouquet Toss.

The party went on and on, a lot longer than anticipated… what an unforgettable celebration!

Wishing you a world of happiness on your way, Christine and Young!

Andrea and Pedro – an Elegant Country Club Wedding

When Andrea and Pedro first approached my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other, they had pretty much settled on their venue but were seeking help with everything else – and it was fortunate that they had not yet booked that venue… Being very familiar with it, it was obvious to me that this would by far not offer sufficient room and function spaces for the 180-people event that the couple was envisioning. So – we started over! Again, fortunately, Andrea and Pedro quickly found their perfect venue among the alternatives that I proposed: Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose, an elegant property with a golf course amid green rolling hills, a ceremony area with a waterfall as a backdrop, and a clubhouse with a beautiful patio for cocktails and a huge ballroom with picture windows for dinner and dancing (plus a super supportive venue manager!!).

Our planning took close to a year, and finally, finally – the Big Day arrived.

For the bride, it started with hair and makeup services by Wowpretty Salon

… and getting ready with her bridesmaids.

Andrea had chosen an elegant strapless, formfitting lace wedding dress…

… and glittery bridal shoes fit for a princess!

Photographer Frank J. Lee captured every moment from start to finish.

What’s missing? Her bridal bouquet, a very feminine, handtied summer bouquet with English Garden Roses in soft hues of ivory, pink and rust (all wedding flowers by Marie Krick of Laurel & Vine).

Ready for her pre-ceremony photos! Following time-honored tradition, Andrea had decided to let her groom first see her at the ceremony. Groom Pedro had meanwhile also gotten dressed up with the help of his groomsmen…

Ready for many photos on the beautiful grounds of the property.

Soon, their guests began arriving by shuttle (by Corinthian Ground Transportation), and many work teams – the A Day Like No Other team Haneen and Diane, the venue crew, the florist, the DJ (Henry Kim of Big Fun Disc Jockeys) – were busy putting the finishing touches on the ceremony setup.

Under a gilded circular arch in front of palm trees and a waterfall, a friend of the couple’s officiated their wedding ceremony.

Here comes the bride:

“You may now kiss the bride!”

Just married!

While guests were treated to cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres, photographer Frank took official wedding photos …

… and bridal party photos…

… and then, he took the newlyweds around the property for many more photos. And how do you get around in a golf club? That’s the fun part – in a golf cart, of course!

Again, frantic activity was happening behind the scenes – the photo booth (by Night Owl Photo Booth) had to be set up in time and the dining room had to be prepared for dinner. The couple had chosen metallic gold accents (gold Chiavari chairs and chargers) and pink napkins to go with their pink and rust centerpieces.

Grand Entrance!!

After a delicious dinner (inhouse catering at the venue), the newlyweds shared their much-anticipated choreographed First Dance.

DJ Henry Kim had learned a Spanish-language script for bilingual announcements just for Andrea and Pedro!

He kept the party going with Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Dance, the traditional Money Dance…

… and the wild “hora loca” with dance lights and glowsticks!

What a party!! The couple’s festive Send-off happened in the same spirit of joy and exuberance:

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, Andrea and Pedro!

Sheida and Homer – a Fairytale right out of 1001 Nights

A whirlwind wedding planning project for a superbusy couple and a fairytale wedding – that was my first task in 2024! Sheida had contracted my wedding planning and design company, A Day Like No Other, after I had planned her older sister’s wedding a few years back – and her first surprise for me was that we only had 7 weeks until the Big Day. The venue (Boulder Ridge Golf Club in San Jose) had been booked… but that was it so far. So we went to work! And time literally flew by…

On the morning of Wedding Day, Sheida and Homer woke up to a gloomy sky and light rain – it was such a disappointment… but they kept their high spirits and got ready for the festivities.

Sheida’s day started with hair and makeup services by Adelina Eidelman, and bridesmaids and mothers simultaneously enjoyed services by Faces by Emily.

Danny Dong Photography

Sheida had chosen a romantic Savin of London wedding dress with lavender rose applique… a real dream! (One that we were lucky enough to secure at such short notice, thanks to our friends at Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon).

Danny Dong Photography

Isn’t it fabulous? All her other accessories played into this theme of romance, elegance and soft lavender hues.

Danny Dong Photography

Photographers Danny and Julia Dong and Frame Story videographers were there from the get-go to capture every beautiful detail throughout the day.

Danny Dong Photography

With help from her bridesmaids, Sheida got all dressed up …

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

… and groom Homer got into his elegant dinner jacket – ready for their First Look!

Danny Dong Photography

That happened at their getting-ready location, the historic Dolce-Hayes Mansion in San Jose.

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

Then a little meteorological miracle happened, and the skies literally smiled on our couple: the sun came out, and the rain stopped! Just in the nick of time to prepare for their elaborate ceremony outdoors, as originally planned.

And here is their stunning sofreh-aghd (by Aroosi by Lili), honoring the bride’s Persian heriage, with every single element full of symbolism:

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

Here comes the bride, on her proud Dad’s arm, serenaded by violinist Pourya Khademi.

Danny Dong Photography

During the ceremony, female family members rub sugar over the couple’s heads – symbolizing the sweetness of marriage (over a thin cloth, actually – to prevent everything getting too sticky…)

Danny Dong Photography

It was a beautiful scene – with the sun coming out behind the clouds… drama!

Danny Dong Photography

After the ceremony, guests were treated to unforgettable entertainment – starting with an authentic Lion Dance, a nod to the groom’s Chinese heritage.

Danny Dong Photography

Meanwhile, a number of vendor teams had been working their magic behind the scenes to transform the dining room at the Club into a gorgeous scene – with draping all around, ceiling swags and twinkle lights, and suspended greenery and chandeliers over the dancefloor (all by Fine Linen Creation)…

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

… and stunning tall centerpieces from Blackistone Florist (all personal flowers and all floral decor). The couple’s Sweetheart Table received special treatment, of course!

Danny Dong Photography

DJ AMP had the music going, and the kitchen at Boulder Ridge Golf Club was ready to serve dinner.

Danny Dong Photography

On their place settings, guests found a traditional Persian bowl as their keepsake, and there were elegant chocolates as well…

Danny Dong Photography

… in addition to all the delicious Persian sweets from the sofreh.

True to form, the couple’s Grand Entrance to dinner was anything but standard: Niosha Dance Academy, a Persian dance troupe, performed to the delight of all their guests.

Danny Dong Photography

After dinner, guests were treated to an elegant wedding cake

Danny Dong Photography

… which the bride and groom cut expertly, as their first official task as a married couple.

Danny Dong Photography

Finally, what everyone had been waiting for: dancing started! The newlyweds opened the dance floor with a choreographed routine…

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

… and that was the start of a wild dance party for everyone – including a Bouquet Toss! To keep everyone energized, Bun Me Up served bao buns as late-night snacks.

Danny Dong Photography

Sheida and Homer snuck out for a few moments with photographers and videographers for some more nighttime photos…

Danny Dong Photography
Danny Dong Photography

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, Sheida and Homer – and keep celebrating!

Wedding dress parade! The most beautiful dresses my brides wore in the last 12 months

Different as all these beautiful wedding dresses are, one thing’s for sure: none of my bride opted for “minimalist” – all to the contrary! Figure-hugging silhouettes, plunging necklines, looong trains and even longer (cathedral!) veils – it was OPULENCE! Add to that expensive lace and hand-applique, and you get a veritable dream lineup of bridal couture.

And what’s REALLY new: color effects instead of pure white. Enough said; here they are!

A (nearly…) transparent lace bodice, a bare back and a form-fitting, flowing silhouette with train for an elegant summer wedding at Nestldown Estate.

A mermaid dress with a lace bodice, empire waist and a dramatic train of hand-appliqued lace.

A similar style with a lace bodice, but here with a plunging neckline and over-the-shoulder lace straps, plus an even longer train of hand-appliqued lace AND a cathedral veil. Below another look, from behind:

The next gown is in a different style, but just as feminine…

A classic ballgown style with layers and layers of tulle for the skirt; the lace from the bodice continues below the waist in elegant floral scrolls and wisps.

This very unusual wedding dress combined a bare back with a demure, covered-up (albeit transparent!) front and transparent billowing long sleeves as well as an overskirt that was then removed for dancing.

Next comes the hands-down most dramatic of all wedding dresses of the last year! Just look and be amazed… and be aware that this dress was HEAVY. Very heavy!

A train fit for royalty…

… with a billowing cathedral-length veil…

… and the most delicate pearl and sequin embroidery over a lace applique.

Last but not least, the NEW trend of adding a little pastel color to the traditionally all-white dress:

Delicate powder pink and baby blue flower motifs sprinkled all over the tulle overlay of this dress…

… and hand-appliqued lilac rose motifs in this elegant (Savin of London) couture gown.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? So what’s YOUR favorite style? Let me know!

Amina’s and Kevin’s glamorous wedding party

Amina and Kevin had already gotten (legally) married a while ago, in a very small ceremony…

Toanven photography
Toanven Photography

… but they were still dreaming of a “real” wedding celebration. This plan got postponed… and postponed… but finally they decided on a date (mid-December) and a venue, the elegant Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose. I was honored that they chose my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them put it all together and orchestrating the day.

Toanven Photography

Having waited so long, Amina pulled all the stops! Have a look… starting with her preparations early in the morning at Dolce-Hayes Mansion in San Jose where Martha Tafoya of Beauty Innovations and her team applied makeup and styled hair for the bride and her entourage, making sure each of them was looking their best ever – really, becoming Red Carpet-worthy beauties.

Toanven photography

Amina had chosen glamorous “glass slippers” (or rather: stilettos!) fit for a princess…

Toanven photography

… and a truly dramatic, sparkly dress with an enormous train…

Toanven photography
Toanven photography

… and her proud Mom helped her to get into it. Such a quintessential Mother-Daughter moment!

Toanven photography

And here she is – bride Amina in allher finery!

Toanven photography

Meanwhile, groom Kevin had also dressed up “to the nines” in an elegant tux and bow tie…

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

Isn’t he looking stunning?! Now, off to their First Look, all captured by Toanven photographers.

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

Oh… did I forget to mention her royal-length veil?! (That’s even longer than a cathedral veil – as the name says, meant for royalty!) Amina’s was, hands-down, the most dramatic wedding dress/veil of the year!

Toanven Photography

Amina’s classic-white bridal bouquet and Kevin’s matching boutonniere (as well as the elaborate floral decor for dinner) came from the Flower Divas.

Toanven Photography

Soon enough, guests began arriving to Cocktail Hour and to the lavishly decorated ballroom where the formal dinner was held.

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

The two rental companies (Pleasanton Rentals (linens) and Hamid Decor) and the Flower Divas had definitely outdone themselves!

Toanven Photography

The couple’s Sweetheart Table got, of course, extra-special treatment.

Toanven Photography

Amina and Kevin clearly enjoyed their big moment with their Grand Entrance to the ballroom.

Toanven Photography

A huge dessert buffet by MadinaBakes was waiting for the guests after dinner.

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

And then, there also was THE CAKE!! An enormous towering confection from Cake Expressions, in a buttercream lace pattern matching Amina’s dress, and decorated with a profusion of white roses by the Flower Divas.

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

More photos at the Club! The stunning spiral staircase in the Clubhouse is a MUST for all wedding photos.

Toanven Photography
Toanven Photography

Meanwhile, guests were entertained first by pianist Tin Yi and then with a photo booth by ReadySteadyPose. But – what would a party be without dancing?! THIS party definitely had the crowd on the dance floor with DJ Anthony Karabetyan by DNA Entertainment.

Toanven Photography

When finally – VERY late! – this unforgettable party came to an end, it did so with another flourish.

Toanven Photography

Here are the newlyweds, headed out with, of course, a luxury getaway car.

Toanven Photography

What a day!! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness on your shared journey, Amina and Kevin!

Elizabeth’s and George’s Joyful Fall Wedding at Nestldown

Elizabeth and George met as undergraduate students in Kansas – they were actually set up by a mutual friend and despite long geographical separation after graduation, have been inseparable ever since. Having settled in Sacramento where George is a neurology resident while Elizabeth is a traveling executive, they were finally able to plan the next, decisive step in their relationship: getting married! As dedicated outdoorspeople, they fell in love with Nestldown, an elegant venue nestled in the Redwoods of Los Gatos, California, and in order to pull it all off long-distance (from Sacramento, where THEY live, and from Kansas, where both their families live), they enlisted the help of my company, A Day Like No Other.

Finally, the Great Day had arrived. Here is Elizabeth getting ready, with our photography crew of JJ Chen Photography capturing all these precious moments throughout the day. Her Mom helped her with her preparations – such a quintessential mother-daughter experience…

Elizabeth had chosen an ultrafeminine, flowing dress …

… and with her hair and makeup (by Nicole’s Vanity) done, she was all smiles!

Groom George was likewise getting ready…

Done!

Time to proceed to Nestldown for their First Look!

Always such a special moment… After that – it was pre-ceremony photo time…

… for the couple solo as well as together with their impressive lineup of bridesmaids and groomsmen! Soon enough guests began arriving (via shuttles by Corinthian Ground Transportation), and the Nestldown crew, the florist team (from Ida Blooms), the A Day Like No Other team, The Moment Studio videography and our DJ Henry Kim (of Big Fun Disc Jockeys) got everything prepared for the wedding ceremony in the “Chapel,” a breathtaking natural Redwood grove. And here comes the bride, escorted by both her parents.

The ceremony, officiated by the uncle of the bride, was heartfelt, lighthearted and filled with joy and laughter.

Just married! And while their guests were treated to delicious drinks and hors d’oeuvres (by Poetry in Motion Catering), the newlyweds had to take some more photos, of course.

Finally the couple got to join their guests and take a bite and a sip, too!

After Cocktail Hour, the whole party relocated to a nearby restaurant – Teleferic Barcelona – for dinner and dancing. The newlyweds made a big entrance!

Everything was ready for them – the tables were glowing …

… with candlelight, with specialty linens (by NVL) in the bride’s favorite vibrant orange and with elegant floral garlands (by Ida Blooms).

Music was provided by DJ Woody Miraglia (by Big Fun Disc Jockeys), and after dinner, there was no holding back from dancing! The only exception was Cake Cutting – Elizabeth and George did not have just ONE cake; they had three – all equally delicious and artistic! (by Fleur de Cocoa).

The rest of the evening was spent dancing, dancing, dancing…

… and after that, the die-hard party girls and boys accompanied the newlyweds to an afterparty nearby. If that was not enough – the parents of the bride invited a whole local crowd to yet another wedding reception at their home back in Kansas, two days later. That’s how much Elizabeth and George are loved!! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness on their shared journey!

And here is a video of the couple’s ceremony at Nestldown:

If you are hoping for an equally beautiful wedding yourself – contact me at [email protected]!

A true “Insider Wedding” – Deanna and Brandon

Deanna is one of my assistants at my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other. Having diligently worked her way up from shadowing to assisting to ultimately leading the production of weddings (while still working her 9-5 job), she finally took the plunge – and a full-time wedding planner position at Wedgwood Events in Sacramento. This was intense training on the job for a full year, and with all this experience “under her belt,” she was ready to tackle her biggest project yet: her own wedding!

This is Deanna “on the job” and how our brides and grooms have seen her…

Deanna and her fiance Brendan met in an Intro to Acting class at UC Davis when she was a freshman and he was a junior. They dated throughout college and, after graduation, Brendan moved to LA to live with Deanna and her family for 5 years. In 2021, they moved to Sacramento for Brendan’s job as an environmental scientist for the California Water Quality Control Board; he is now working on a Master’s degree in Natural Resources online at Oregon State University. Deanna has moved on to become a catering event specialist at UC Davis and is still working as a wedding coordinator for A Day Like No Other; long-term, she is hoping to establish herself as a wedding planner and coordinator in Sacramento and the Central Valley.

And this is Deanna on her own wedding day – radiant!

In November 2023, a month after celebrating 11 happy years together, Brendan and Deanna got married at Antiquité Maison Privée, a former antiques shop – which added its own touch to the bride’s wedding aesthetic. She was inspired by her memories growing up in Southern California, her love of Spanish architecture and Mexican folk art. Her color scheme was based on sunsets and Talavera tiles. The backdrop of the former antiques shop led her to add more vintage-y elements like velvet and lace table linens and etched water goblets. The weather on November 4th, the day of the wedding, was PERFECT – Deanna and Brendan were really lucky in that respect! Everything fell into place really beautifully (Wedding Day coordination: Taylor Kelley Events).

The day began with hair and makeup services by Christy Reynolds Beauty at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, and the bride and her bridesmaids had a lot of fun together, as documented in photo and video by Lily and Lime.

The bride was helped into her wedding dress (from Sparkle Bridal Couture) by her Mom – such a wonderful mother-daughter moment!

What’s missing? Princess slippers ….

… and the bridal bouquet (by Flowers by Jordan)!

Groom and groomsmen were meanwhile also getting ready and having equal fun!

One quick pre-ceremony bridal party photo…

Soon enough, their guests began to arrive for their joyful wedding ceremony under a profusion of lavish flowers in sunset colors…

And now: “You may kiss the bride!”

Just married! Mazel tov!

While the newlyweds had many, many photos to take…

… their guests were already enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres (Jackson Catering & Events) while being entertained with live music by the Midtown Jazz Trio.

Time for dinner! Here Deanna’s artistic talents came to shine – starting with her creative escort card display:

… and “guest book” poster.

From dinner tables…

…and the couple’s antique Sweetheart Table (rentals: Blossom Farm Rentals and Barnswallow Rentals; linens: MG Linen Rentals)…

to elegant placesettings…

… with Talavera tile table numbers – everything bore the stamp of the bride’s aesthetic. Well – did I forget to mention the wedding cake (Freeport Bakery) …

… which perfectly played along with the Talavera tile theme?

The newlyweds performed their traditional first task as a wedded couple – cake cutting – with bravura, and then there was no holding back the whole crowd from dancing! DJ Buzzardball played up a storm, Deanna and Brendan performed their choreographed First Dance…

… and all guests joined them in the exuberant traditional Hora Dance, hoisting bride and groom up in the air!

What an unforgettable party! Wishing you love and happiness on your way, Deanna and Brendan!