From their first email, to their Disneyland engagement session, we have been geeking out about Dale and Chely’s Alice in Wonderland wedding. Well, now that we have a shiny new blog, we can finally share it with you! The love, stress, and tears Chely and Dale put into their wedding floored us. Every step we took into the venue led us to discover something new. Their attention to detail had our heads spinning like teacups. Here’s a little of what Chely told us about how they prepared for their very merry unwedding.
We both love Disney and wanted to incorporate it into our special day. For our first anniversary we got our first annual pass and we have spent every anniversary since at the parks. I’m not a Disney princess type but have always loved Alice. And it was a way to incorporate my love for shabby chic with all of the teapots and teacups.
Dale and I collected over 60 teapots in a span of almost 2 years. I started collecting them before he even proposed. When we bought our condo, I had a few boxes marked “Alice” and when he proposed a month later, I was able to open them and show him my ideas of a wonderland wedding. Luckily he agreed on the theme. We would take trips to thrift stores and yard sales and purchased little trinkets with white rabbits, flamingos, clocks and hearts. His best man Mario helped us design every centerpiece 3 days before the wedding. We took a picture and wrapped up each table in a box. All of the groomsmen set up the tables and Gustavo added the flowers. Everything that was printed (invitations, programs, table numbers, menus, etc.) were all of my ideas and Dale brought them to life and we printed everything at home. Dale created the “this way, that way” signs, the “eat me, cut me” squares and the cornhole game with his own hands. I made the card box and it cost me about $6. It took a village to put all of the small details together. I had a seventeen page binder with lists and ideas. Some worked and some didn’t. We rented a small uhaul trailer to get everything from our house to the venue. The day of the wedding all of the bridesmaids helped me fill up about 100 of the drink me viles with vodka and pink lemonade and midori sours. I spent about 8 hours making the bouquet I threw with an old vintage alice in wonderland book. It was honestly a labor of love.
It really was. The details were amazing, but Chely and Dale made this day unforgettable. During their processional I stood behind the last row of guests and couldn’t help but have a smile on my face as I watched the bridal party, the white rabbit, and several tiny Alices walk down the aisle. When it was time for Chely to walk down I turned my focus to Dale for a moment. Through the crowd I could see his face light up as Chely turned the corner and walked toward him. As impossible as it may seem, at that moment all the decorations, details, and months of preparation disappeared. I saw a moment shared between two people, madly in love, about to say their vows to each other. Seeing that made me want Chely to run down the aisle to Dale. I didn’t want them to be apart for another second. I don’t know if it was because we were in Wonderland or what, but this was one of those days where things happened in slow motion but finished in half the time they should have. It was a day that I wished had more hours. I seriously could go on for a week telling you about everything, but I’d rather show you. Follow us down the rabbit hole.
As if we need an excuse to go to Disneyland (we don’t btw) we wanted to do something special with Chely and Dale’s invitation, so we took it with us on a recent trip to the happiest place on earth. Rain took the invitation out, placed it on the ground smack dab in the center of the teacups, and took that last shot. Nice one Rain!
Congratulations Chely and Dale! This seriously was the best day ever!
We know you had an army of people helping you to make this day awesome, so we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone. You all rule! You know who you are.
In case you were wondering, here are the vendors:
Venue: Eden Gardens
Day of coordinator: Kay Nielsen
Caterer: Command Performance
Flowers: Hummingbird Florist (Gustavo Sandoval)
Hair: Amanda Urias from Salon HG
Makeup: Jessica Duran
Cake: Steph’s Sweet Cakes
Photographer: Ohana Photographers (that’s us!)
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Yay! I’ve been waiting for this post since I saw their engagement pictures! This wedding is more beautiful than I even pictured! Wow, the bride really is creative and definitely has an eye for design. Such a gorgeous couple and the wedding looked like so much fun! And beautifully captured!