These two cuties met serendipitously at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Vegas. Six years later, they returned to the city where Tuan proposed in one of the most breathtaking moments – during the Rise Lantern Festival. Clearly, this duo knows how to make a romantic statement, and their Tuscan-inspired wedding coordinated by LVL Events and captured by Ether and Smith follows suit. Get lost in all of the beautiful images, waiting for you in The Vault.
From the bride… The saying goes, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” but for me and Tuan, nothing could be further from the truth. In the spring of 2010, a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Vegas changed our lives forever. Six years later, we came full circle, returning to Las Vegas last fall for the Rise Lantern Festival where Tuan proposed. It was one of the most incredible and breathtaking experiences of our lives! I couldn’t have asked for a more romantic proposal.
We started planning the wedding immediately after. Although we both love our hometown of San Francisco, we wanted an outdoor wedding, so we looked to Wine Country. We fell in love with Ramekins’ intimate Tuscan charm. And, since we are foodies, it being a culinary school was a plus. Unfortunately, most dates were booked through 2018. Weeks later, serendipitously, there was a cancellation for October 7th, which happens to be the date that we got engaged!
After locking in our venue, all the big-ticket items fell into place pretty quickly. I really just went with my gut as there are so many talented vendors out there. I was also lucky to have my friend Ashley Tucker from LVL Events as our wedding coordinator. She gave me great planning advice and was available whenever I had questions. Otherwise, I’d say I was a pretty hands-on bride, from wax-sealing each invitation to DIY-ing all the acrylic wedding signage and table numbers. I wanted the wedding to feel romantic and timeless, yet reflective of my own personal style.
The day of our wedding was sheer bliss! Mother Nature graced us with the perfect fall day. Poppystone did a gorgeous collection of hanging flowers to accent the ceremony arbor. Marcus Cappellazzo performed on his acoustic guitar during cocktail hour and dinner as guests were served California-inspired, farm-to-table fare. Hundreds of candles lit up the cobblestone courtyard. In addition to Branching Out’s gold-leafed wedding cake, our friends at Churn Urban Creamery served our guests organic ice cream. We could tell all our guests had a great time, and that was really important to us. We’ve never felt as much love and support as on our wedding day with our dearest friends and family who came to witness our vows to each other.
What I learned is that no matter what you do, it’s easy to go crazy while planning your wedding – especially if you are a control-freak perfectionist doing everything on your own, like I did. But at the end of the day, you are marrying your best friend, and none of those little details will really matter in comparison. Everyone says your wedding day will pass by in a blink of an eye, and it’s so true, so our advice is to savor each moment! Luckily, we can relive the day with the beautiful pictures captured by Ether and Smith.
Photography: Ether & Smith | Cinematography: Daniel Chae | Coordination: LVL Weddings & Events | Floral Design: PoppyStone Floral Couture | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Branching Out Cakes | Invitations: test | Stationery: No.103 Creative Studio | Hair + Makeup: Chau Nguyen | Lighting: The Lux Productions | DJ: Capellen Entertainment | Venue: Ramekins Sonoma | Bridal Boutique: Bridal Galleria | Ice Cream Cart: Churn Urban Creamery | Rentals: Encore Event Rentals