Sometimes a submission comes my way that makes me want to stand up and scream “yes!!!!” This was one of those submissions.
This tiny wedding is everything a wedding should be which is exactly what you want it to be! Don’t ever be afraid to personalize and include a theme or details that you love. Because if the two of you love it, it will be the best day ever.
So not only did they share their love that day, the included their love of Star Wars! Even Baby Yoda makes an appearance. Be sure to check out the Q&A below to see how this amazing day came to be. Enjoy!
Photography: Stephanie Lagares Photography LLC
Venue: Private Residence
Design & Decor : 9 Lives Designs
Floral Design: La Hostess
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We met online. We met for an early dinner and I knew he was different than anyone I’d ever met. We clicked instantly and were inseparable after our 2nd date.He proposed at Morikami Japanese Gardens on a sunny Saturday afternoon. He played “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver (one of my favorite songs) on his phone speaker. At a beautiful spot near a little waterfall, he dropped to one knee and popped the question. I said, “Oh &$!@ “ and then of course, a very elated“Yes!”
Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette?
A: Well, COVID 19 really changed the scope of our wedding planning. We had wanted something on a grander scale, but after being in lockdown quarantine for a few months we decided that a large party wasn’t as important to us as we thought. What mattered most to us was our love and our desire to start our lives together as spouses. With that in mind, we still wanted something unique to match our personalities. I’m (bride) a big sci-fi, Star Wars, Marvel comics fan and aspiring author. I definitely wanted something out of this world because our love story feels cosmic in a way. So Star Wars-specifically the Mandalorian Disney+ series, worked out nicely as a theme. I love tropical flowers and the South Florida setting was a perfect Mandalorian/Floridian combo. If I had a theme, I’d say “tropical boho Mandalorian.”
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: Yes, again, a pandemic wedding with 6 weeks of preparation meant a lot of the decor was DIY. A family friend was generous with letting us use her backyard. I love the flora of South Florida and I’m glad so much natural beauty was able to shine. We went for simple and elegant with bright pops of tropical colors and Star Wars flourishes where we could. Many things came from a large online retailer that could be shipped quickly. We hung lots of lights. We had a pre-dusk ceremony, so when the sun began to set, they looked amazing. We did have some professional help from La Hostess who added lots of Star Wars figurines to tropical arrangements and charcuterie board.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: Yes! I chose June 7 as our wedding date because I’m a big Prince fan it’s his birthday. “Diamonds and Pearls” by Prince, “Somebody” by Depeche Mode, and “Binary Sunset” by John Williams were on the ceremony playlists and meaningful to us. The Star Wars elements were personal to me. The pandemic allowed us to get creative in ways that we normally wouldn’t have. We just embraced the chaos and changes, and decided to have fun. His family priest was not available due to COVID, so a Jedi officiant was the next best thing! My family wasn’t physically present because COVID hit my family pretty hard. Having Din Djarin, the titular Mandalorian himself and (best father figure in the galaxy) walk me down the aisle in my dad’s place was especially poignant for me. And of course The Child, himself, Grogu! (Commonly referred to as Baby Yoda)
Q: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look?
A: Our look was pretty simple. My dress and cape came from that large online retailer. I wore bedazzled flip flops down the aisle. Anthony went for a classic blue blazer, maroon floral bow tie, white shirt, and grey pants. We wanted a look that would not look out of place in other decades. Like maybe if the pictures were sepia or in black and white, you might mistake the picture for being from another time period. To summarize, I think we both wanted a look that was simple, timeless and breathable. June in South Florida can reach the humid high 90s, so comfort was important as well.I did really enjoy my Kyber Crystal earrings and Mythosaur necklace as subtle Star Wars nods. Earrings courtesy of TheDesertViolet on Etsy (Kyber Crystals are used to power lightsabers and Mythosaur skulls are a Mandalorian symbol)
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: Just seeing everything come together so beautifully and saying our vows was just magical. The Force was strong with us that day.
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: Have fun! Don’t be afraid to do something that might not be traditional. Also, if doing a virtual ceremony, test the technology out thoroughly beforehand!
