Ciera and Bruce may have had to alter their wedding day plans due to Covid, but they kept their wedding date and made the best of it! After getting ready, they decided to do a first look, which was made even sweeter with love letters they read out loud to each other. They were still able to have their church ceremony and included live streaming services for guests who were not able to attend. After a portrait session with their family and bridal party, they headed over to Ciera's parents' house for a backyard reception. After the dinner, speeches, dancing, and cake cutting was over, it was time for epic sunset photos at the Fullerton Panorama Trail before they left for their honeymoon.
I absolutely loved how effortless and joyful the day was. The sunflowers Ciera chose for her florals echoed that sentiment, with the yellow theme conveying such a carefree and happy vibe. She even wore yellow Converse! The splashes of blue in the florals and bridesmaid dresses perfectly complemented it, too. One unique feature I loved was the puzzle pieces that were signed by guests with a sign that said, "Without you, our puzzle isn't complete." It was obvious how important to them their families and friends were from the love that was shown and the heartfelt speeches.
One of my favorite quotes that really summed it all up was from Ciera's brother's speech. From the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows he quoted:
Ginny – “Seems silly, doesn’t it? A wedding. Given everything that’s going on.”
Harry – “Maybe that’s the best reason to have it, because of everything that’s going on.”
Q&A with the bride
Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day? A: I wanted our wedding to be cheerful and happy in the color scheme and style...it is a joyful occasion!!! We had a simple rustic vibe with dusty blue, navy and sunflower yellow. There were touches of burlap and natural woods, but a lot of white and casual elegance.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY? A: We kept decorations pretty simple. The main focal point was a rented ivy wall and large “B”. We added wood carved name tags for each family member in attendance. We had sunflower centerpieces and our guest book puzzle.
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding? A: We loved our floral design for the wedding. I knew what I wanted but couldn’t find any Inspo photos online. With the information I had in my head, our florist Kevin Reeder created the most beautiful pieces. The traditional bouquets with a few sunflowers made for a cheery and summery look.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding? A: A month before the wedding, we sent out original guest list (200+ people) a puzzle piece and a piece of paper. We asked that they return the paper with words of advise and well wishes and return the puzzle piece signed for our guest book. It was awesome having everyone “there” at our reception in some way. We read the marriage advice on our minimoon and can cherish the letters for many years to come.
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail. A: My dress was from Love & Lace Bridal in Irvine and Bruce’s tux was from Friar Tux. I wanted an A-line feminine dress that would dress up well for our church wedding yet dress down for our reception. The 90 in Cathedral veil added a more dramatic look. We wanted the men to wear a deep navy.
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal. A: Bruce & I met at work actually! He was in the marketing department and I was in sales. When he saw me in the hallway for the first time he literally stopped dead in his tracks! A few days after our first encounter we officially met at an office happy hour. 1 hiking date later and the rest was history! On a trip to Alaska (where Bruce had lived for a number of years before moving to California) we were out on a hike in the middle of the Alaskan Tundra when Bruce got down on one knee as he said how special it was to have the girl he loved in a place he loved and then asked if I would marry him. I was so surprised and shocked, I actually said “Oh my gosh, No way!” first. “No” probably not the first word he wanted to hear from me, but my next words were YES, OF COURSE
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day? A: Bruce’s dad was unable to make it to our wedding due to the pandemic. He surprised us and filmed a rehearsal dinner speech that played the night before the wedding. At our newfound small reception dinner, nearly everyone gave a speech or toast. With less people and pressure, our families were able to share which lead to many years and hearty laughs!
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day? A: COVID wedding planning is hard...it’s just the truth. However, our day was so special and we appreciated every moment because we worked hard to get there. Don’t get discouraged and remember what is most important about the day.
VENDORS
Photo: @lisetteocphoto Florist: @kevinreeder Video: @storytimemotions Live Streaming Services: @socalvirtualweddings Wedding Gown: @wtoowatters @loveandlacebridalsalon Menswear: @friartux Beauty: @divinebridalbeauty Linens: @createaparty Catering: @craftsman.pizza.bar.grill Wedding Cake: @pacificpatisserieofficial Invitations: @popfizzlegifts Jewelry: @costco @manlybands